Springs rescues Betts

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By Ryan O'Halloran

SEATTLE | Nobody was more relieved than running back Ladell Betts when Shawn Springs sealed the Washington Redskins' victory Sunday with an interception.

Betts fumbled with 1:28 remaining at the Seattle 22-yard line. The Seahawks had no timeouts but enough time to drive down the field for a game-tying field goal or game-winning touchdown. Springs ended Seattle's chances on the next play.

"Ladell tried to explain it away [to me] and talk to Mr. Official, but it wasn't going to be explained away," Zorn said. "It was definitely a fumble."

Betts had replaced Clinton Portis on the previous play.

"It was crazy - I remember running in there, and the only thing on my mind was to hold on to the ball," Betts said. "My momentum was stopped, and I felt everybody pulling on it, and when it came out, I thought the play was stopped. I was like, 'Come on ref, I was stopped.'

"The only thing I could hope for is they don't score. That would have been a really long plane ride home for everybody and especially for me."

Sticking together

As Sunday's game wore on, the Redskins' defensive line wore down. Right end Andre Carter and right tackle Kedric Golston limped off, and left tackle Cornelius Griffin missed time with shoulder and head injuries. The only healthy defensive line starter was left end Jason Taylor, who had missed much of the season with a calf injury.

But the group hung in there. Lorenzo Alexander, pressed into extra duty at tackle, sacked Matt Hasselbeck in the third quarter. Little-used Chris Wilson saw crucial action at left end after Carter went down, with Taylor switching to the left side.

"It shows the depth we have - in particular [end] Demetric Evans, who can go inside and play some tackle," Taylor said.