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LANDOVER, Md. - Deuce McAllister did everything but score.
The only constant in a season that has seen the Saints beat losing teams and lose to winners, McAllister ran for 100 yards for the ninth consecutive game Sunday in a 24-20 victory over the Redskins.
"You know he's going to get five yards a pop," Saints cornerback Ashley Ambrose said. "Deuce is a man-child. People don't realize how strong he is, how fast he is. We're going to ride him out."
McAllister was 63 percent of the offense, earning 165 yards on 30 carries and 31 on four receptions.
"You can think about it after the season," said McAllister, who has 1,393 yards rushing. "But right now the Ws are a lot more important."
All six Ws have come against teams with losing records; New Orleans is 0-6 against teams above .500.
"I know we can make it to the show," Ambrose said. "The last couple of years, this team has faded in the end, but this is the time now to step up."
The Redskins have no such hope.
They have lost three straight and seven of eight, and the defense gave up a winning drive in the fourth quarter for the third consecutive week.
"This is new for a lot of us, trying to win the close ones," Washington coach Steve Spurrier said. "We're in a bad habit right now, and something bad's happening to us near the end of the game."
Quarterback Aaron Brooks shook off a knee injury to run for two scores and pass for another, but McAllister handled the ball on 35 of New Orleans' 67 plays. The winning score was Brooks' 15-yard pass to Boo Williams with 9:38 left to cap a drive set up by Keyuo Craver's 52-yard kickoff return.
Washington's loss marred Tim Hasselbeck's first start. With Patrick Ramsey out with a foot injury, Hasselbeck was 22-of-42 for 232 yards with an interception and a lost fumble.
The Redskins had eight penalties for 120 yards, including two pass interference calls on Champ Bailey against Joe Horn on the first two Saints touchdown drives.