NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Stephen Davis rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown and Ki-Jana Carter ran for two scores Sunday night 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, turning the ball over four times en route to third straight double-digit loss.
New Orleans quarterback Aaron Brooks threw three interceptions, with two leading to 10 points. He was 14-of-28 for 127 yards and a touchdown.
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 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 would finish at .500 with a win in next week's season finale against Arizona. Washington started the season with an 0-5 record.
Behind Davis and Carter, the Redskins rushed for 173 yards. Banks was a modest nine 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 when he was 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.
