Redskins keep playoff hopes alive, 32-21

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Sean sure would be proud.

Playing the kind of hard-nosed, harder-hitting defense that fallen teammate Sean Taylor was famous for, the Washington Redskins shut down Adrian Peterson and set up two early touchdowns with interceptions to take control of their playoff fate with a 32-21 victory over the sloppy Minnesota Vikings Sunday night.

Todd Collins was 22-for-29 for 254 yards and two touchdowns and Clinton Portis had 124 total yards, threw a TD pass and ran for another score for the Redskins (8-7), who can clinch a playoff spot with a win over Dallas next week.

Peterson had nowhere to go all night, gaining just 27 yards on nine carries. Tarvaris Jackson’s rebound from a disastrous start came too little, too late for the Vikings (8-7), who could have clinched a playoff berth with a win.

Antwaan Randle El caught a 15-yard option pass from Portis in the final minute of the first half, the finishing touch on a lopsided 30 minutes.

Jackson threw two interceptions, the second on a diving catch by Shawn Springs that set up a leaping grab by Santana Moss over rookie Marcus McCauley for a 32-yard score midway through the second quarter.

The Redskins led 25-7 through three quarters before Minnesota made the score a little more respectable over the final 15 minutes.