LANDOVER, Md. — Even the margin of victory reminded the playoff-bound Washington Redskins of Sean Taylor.

"I was on the sideline and guys were talking about the score, and then it hit me — we won by 21," veteran left tackle Chris Samuels said. "I came in the locker room and I yelled it out, and immediately I just kind of broke down in tears. Because I miss Sean, you know."

From disarray and heartache to confidence and dominance, the Redskins will enter the playoffs as the hottest team in the NFC after yesterday's 27-6 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

And with a defense coming off a game in which it allowed exactly 1 yard rushing.

And, perhaps most importantly, on a mission for the teammate who wore No. 21. It's been four weeks since the Redskins attended the funeral of their best defensive player, and they haven't lost since.

"Win for Sean" was as strong yesterday as it was when the four-game winning streak began Dec. 6, reinforced by everything from the fiery speech given by kick returner Rock Cartwright on the field before the game to the white "21" on the front of the black baseball cap worn by coach Joe Gibbs at his postgame news conference.

"Play for the guy who's on your jersey — the guy who's not here, who should be here," Cartwright said he told his teammates. "We know how he played the game. That's why I think guys came out and played so hard."

Clinton Portis ran for two touchdowns and had 104 yards on 25 carries for the Redskins (9-7), who will travel to Seattle Saturday.

"To think four weeks ago, where we were, and where we are tonight, it was a great experience and a great ride," said Gibbs. "To get in the playoffs was a dream of ours, and four weeks ago, obviously everybody would have said, 'You know, it looks next to impossible.' "

But beat the Cowboys (13-3) they did, albeit a Dallas team that rested anyone who was questionable with an injury because it had clinched home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Still, the Cowboys played their healthy starters most of the game and were trailing 20-3 when quarterback Tony Romo (7 for 16 for 86 yards and an interception) was pulled in the third quarter.

"The word for us was uninspired. It shows when one team is fired up to play and one team isn't," coach Wade Phillips said.

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