NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Saints played like they already were looking forward to next season.
Stephen Davis rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown and Ki-Jana Carter ran for two scores as the Washington Redskins rolled to a 40-10 rout of the mistake-prone Saints.
One day after being eliminated from postseason contention, the Saints (7-8) were their own worst enemy Sunday as they committed four turnovers en route to their third straight double-digit loss.
"We need winners here. We need people who want to play here every week," Saints wide receiver Joe Horn said. "We're doing dumb things, making dumb mistakes. The blame is everywhere. It's not just on the players. The blame is everywhere. Last year, more people were hungrier. The last three weeks I didn't see that hunger."
Aaron Brooks was the main culprit, throwing three interceptions, with two leading to 10 points for Washington. He went just 14-of-128 for 127 yards and one touchdown.
Horn also defended Brooks, who did not speak to the media.
"This is Aaron's third year in the NFL," Horn said. "He's not Brett Favre. He's not John Elway. He's going through growing pains. A lot of young guys are."
Ricky Williams, who was selected by the Saints after they traded all their draft picks to Washington in 1999, also got into the act by losing a fumble in the second half that led to a Washington field goal. He finished with 74 yards on 17 attempts.
Davis, meanwhile, continued to prove productive for the Redskins and carried 21 times, including a six-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter.
Carter added two touchdown runs of two and one yard and quarterback Tony Banks also ran for a score for the Redskins (7-8), who could finish at .500 with a win in next week's season finale against Arizona. Washington started the season with an 0-5 record.
"We're playing for pride and respect," said Redskins cornerback Champ Bailey, who had two interceptions. "We give it our all, regardless of what's on the line. We're capable of doing anything we want. We've been 0-5 and come back to win five in a row, so that says a lot about our team."
Redskins coach Marty Scottenheimer spoke of his team having success at on the road, where they went 4-4 compared to a 3-4 mark so far at home.
"It seems like it goes like this throughout the league," he said. "I don't have any idea what it is. I will say that I think FedEx Field and our fans should give us a decided edge, and it hasn't."
Behind Davis and Carter, the Redskins rushed for 173 yards. Banks needed to go just 9-of-15 for 94 yards and one interception.
Washington, which establised a season high for points, scored on its last seven possessions before downing the ball in the game's final minute
The Saints have surrendered 122 points in their last three losses, the most in a three-game span in club history.
Despite being eliminated from the postseason, the Saints came out inspired and opened a 10-0 lead in the first quarter on Brooks' 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Deuce McAllister and John Carney's 29-yard field goal.
The Redskins got moving late in the first quarter, going 76 yards in 12 plays. Banks kept the march alive with third-down completions to tight end Zeron Flemister and Kevin Lockett.
Davis capped the march 48 seconds into the second quarter, running six yards for a touchdown to pull the Redskins within 10-7.
The mistakes started for the Saints on their next possession when Carney missed wide left on a 42-yard field goal.
Later in the quarter, Toby Gowin got off only a 25-yard punt, giving Washington the ball at the Saints 40. That short punt resulted in Brett Conway's 53-yard field goal with 2:47 left in the half.
Brooks gave Washington the ball right back on the next possession after getting intercepted by cornerback Champ Bailey, who returned the ball 12 yards to the Saints 21.
Conway converted from 22 yards with 10 seconds left in the half, giving the Redskins a 13-10 advantage.
On their first possession of the second half, the Redskins moved 35 yards in seven plays. Conway capped that march with a 34-yard field goal.
It did not take long for the next mistake. On a 3rd-and-11 from their own 11, Brooks was under heavy pressure from 19-year veteran cornerback Darrell Green. He tossed up an ill-advised pass that was intercepted by defensive lineman Dan Wilkinson at the 16.
Six plays after the turnover, Banks ran for a two-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 23-10 with 6:48 left in the third quarter.
Carter got into the act later in the third quarter, capping a six-play, 49-yard drive with a two-yard run for a 30-10 bulge. The former first-round pick barrelled over 5-9, 181-pound corner Kevin Mathis, who took a shot to the head and was carried from the field on a cart.
Carter capped the scoring with a one-yard TD run with 2:33 left in the contest. He rushed for 51 yards on 15 attempts.
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