PHILADELPHIA – With the clock winding down in the first half, the Washington Redskins’ field-goal unit hurried onto the field only to watch time run out before attempting a short kick.

That about sums up the season for the Redskins.

Michael Vick threw three touchdown passes, including a 62-yarder to DeSean Jackson, and the Eagles beat Washington 34-10 Sunday for their fourth straight win.

While the Eagles (8-8) go home feeling positive about a strong finish, the Redskins (5-11) have fewer bright spots. They finished last in the NFC East for a franchise-worst fourth straight year. It was Mike Shanahan’s worst full season in 18 years as a coach.

“I think the last five, six games we’ve done some good things, run the football against some good teams, not as good as we need, though,” Shanahan said. “We talked about adding a few pieces on offense, we need a few pieces on defense, a good draft, but we made some strides. Our football team is a lot different than a year ago, and that’s a positive.”

The Redskins had one more win last year, but feel they made strides this season.

“Oh yeah, tremendously,” linebacker Brian Orakpo said. “Even though our record’s worse, I feel like our defense is tops in the league. Statistically, we kind of fell off toward the end, but I really feel like we got the core guys we can build off of and really look for a bright future for this team, especially with all the young guys you see this year.”

It’s the first time since 2007 that Philadelphia didn’t qualify for postseason play and just the fourth time in coach Andy Reid’s 13 seasons.

“We have to get better all the way around, starting with me,” Reid said. “This wasn’t good enough.”

One of four NFL games on the final day that had no playoff ramifications, this had the feel of a preseason game. There were thousands of empty seats at the always sold-out Linc, and there was far more interest in the Mummer’s Parade on Broad Street.

The Winter Classic alumni game between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers across the street at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday generated more excitement.

Playing without NFC leading rusher LeSean McCoy, the Eagles relied mainly on their passing attack. Vick threw for 335 yards, becoming the second player to have consecutive seasons with 3,000 yards passing and 500 yards rushing.

Rex Grossman had 256 yards passing, one TD and one interception, and Evan Royster had 113 yards rushing for Washington.

“I’m not sure what my opportunities are going to be,” said Grossman, who will be a free agent. “I hope this is the best opportunity. It’s a very good team. I’m proud of every single teammate that I played with. Everybody worked hard, nobody gave up. We have great character in that locker room. Even though we finished where we finished, I was proud to be a part of this team.”

The Redskins were 3-1 and leading the NFC East when the teams met on Oct. 16. A 20-13 loss to Philadelphia started their six-game losing streak and knocked them out of the playoff picture.

“I think it was encouraging to see how we played in the first half of games this season, but was disappointed that we did not finish some games,” linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said. “We did not always play up to par this season.”

Vick’s 7-yard TD pass to Chad Hall in the second quarter gave Philadelphia a 10-0 lead after Derek Landri blocked Graham Gano’s 36-yard field-goal attempt.

Vick connected with Jackson to make it 20-10 in the fourth quarter. It could’ve been Jackson’s last game with the Eagles. The two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver played the final year of his rookie contract and never got the extension he wanted after holding out in training camp.

A 4-yard TD toss from Vick to Brent Celek made it 27-10.

Roy Helu turned a screen pass into a 47-yard TD to get Washington to 10-7 on the opening drive of the second half.

The Redskins turned the ball over on downs at the Eagles 35 in the final minute of the second quarter. They got the ball back when Brian Orakpo sacked Vick and forced a fumble. Perry Riley recovered at the 17, but the Redskins wasted the field position.

An unsportsmanlike penalty on Santana Moss for taking off his helmet and arguing a non-call for pass interference pushed the ball back, and the clock expired before Gano could attempt a field goal after Jabar Gaffney was tackled at the Eagles 7. Long snapper Nick Sundberg wasn’t on the field as players scurried to the line of scrimmage.

“A little mix-up there relative to communication, coupled with not getting the play,” Shanahan said, explaining that the headsets weren’t working at the time.

NOTES: Grossman finished with 20 interceptions despite not starting three games. … Shanahan’s previous worst season was 6-10 last year and with Denver in 1999. … Orakpo left with a left shoulder injury. He’ll have an MRI on Monday.

Michael Vick threw three touchdown passes, including a 62-yarder to DeSean Jackson, and the Eagles beat Washington 34-10 Sunday for their fourth straight win.

While the Eagles (8-8) go home feeling positive about a strong finish, the Redskins (5-11) have fewer bright spots. They finished last in the NFC East for a franchise-worst fourth straight year. It was Mike Shanahan’s worst full season in 18 years as a coach.

“I think the last five, six games we’ve done some good things, run the football against some good teams, not as good as we need, though,” Shanahan said. “We talked about adding a few pieces on offense, we need a few pieces on defense, a good draft, but we made some strides. Our football team is a lot different than a year ago, and that’s a positive.”

The Redskins had one more win last year, but feel they made strides this season.

“Oh yeah, tremendously,” linebacker Brian Orakpo said. “Even though our record’s worse, I feel like our defense is tops in the league. Statistically, we kind of fell off toward the end, but I really feel like we got the core guys we can build off of and really look for a bright future for this team, especially with all the young guys you see this year.”

It’s the first time since 2007 that Philadelphia didn’t qualify for postseason play and just the fourth time in coach Andy Reid’s 13 seasons.

“We have to get better all the way around, starting with me,” Reid said. “This wasn’t good enough.”

One of four NFL games on the final day that had no playoff ramifications, this had the feel of a preseason game. There were thousands of empty seats at the always sold-out Linc, and there was far more interest in the Mummer’s Parade on Broad Street.

The Winter Classic alumni game between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers across the street at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday generated more excitement.

Playing without NFC leading rusher LeSean McCoy, the Eagles relied mainly on their passing attack. Vick threw for 335 yards, becoming the second player to have consecutive seasons with 3,000 yards passing and 500 yards rushing.

Rex Grossman had 256 yards passing, one TD and one interception, and Evan Royster had 113 yards rushing for Washington.

“I’m not sure what my opportunities are going to be,” said Grossman, who will be a free agent. “I hope this is the best opportunity. It’s a very good team. I’m proud of every single teammate that I played with. Everybody worked hard, nobody gave up. We have great character in that locker room. Even though we finished where we finished, I was proud to be a part of this team.”

The Redskins were 3-1 and leading the NFC East when the teams met on Oct. 16. A 20-13 loss to Philadelphia started their six-game losing streak and knocked them out of the playoff picture.

“I think it was encouraging to see how we played in the first half of games this season, but was disappointed that we did not finish some games,” linebacker Ryan Kerrigan said. “We did not always play up to par this season.”

Vick’s 7-yard TD pass to Chad Hall in the second quarter gave Philadelphia a 10-0 lead after Derek Landri blocked Graham Gano’s 36-yard field-goal attempt.

Vick connected with Jackson to make it 20-10 in the fourth quarter. It could’ve been Jackson’s last game with the Eagles. The two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver played the final year of his rookie contract and never got the extension he wanted after holding out in training camp.

A 4-yard TD toss from Vick to Brent Celek made it 27-10.

Roy Helu turned a screen pass into a 47-yard TD to get Washington to 10-7 on the opening drive of the second half.

The Redskins turned the ball over on downs at the Eagles 35 in the final minute of the second quarter. They got the ball back when Brian Orakpo sacked Vick and forced a fumble. Perry Riley recovered at the 17, but the Redskins wasted the field position.

An unsportsmanlike penalty on Santana Moss for taking off his helmet and arguing a non-call for pass interference pushed the ball back, and the clock expired before Gano could attempt a field goal after Jabar Gaffney was tackled at the Eagles 7. Long snapper Nick Sundberg wasn’t on the field as players scurried to the line of scrimmage.

“A little mix-up there relative to communication, coupled with not getting the play,” Shanahan said, explaining that the headsets weren’t working at the time.

NOTES: Grossman finished with 20 interceptions despite not starting three games. … Shanahan’s previous worst season was 6-10 last year and with Denver in 1999. … Orakpo left with a left shoulder injury. He’ll have an MRI on Monday.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan was asked about his team’s miscues Saturday.

“Which plays are you referring to?” Shanahan asked.

The inquiring reporter named a few plays, and Shanahan added a couple more.

It was that type of day for the Redskins, who lost to the Minnesota Vikings, 33-26. Washington committed eight penalties for 64 yards, lost a fumble and threw an interception – the mistakes often coming at the most inopportune times.

Washington (5-10) has lost six straight at home, its longest such skid since 1994.

Tied at 10 at halftime, the Redskins appeared to catch a break on the first two plays of the third quarter, when running back Adrian Peterson and quarterback Christian Ponder suffered game-ending injuries for the Vikings (3-12).

Peterson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee after taking a direct hit from Redskins safety DeJon Gomes on a 3-yard gain. An MRI showed the ACL tear after the team returned to Minnesota.

On the next play, Ponder was sacked by Adam Carriker and London Fletcher. Ponder remained in the game for one more play – a third-down incomplete pass – before heading to the locker room.

The Redskins allowed Minnesota’s backup backfield of running back Toby Gerhart and quarterback Joe Webb to lead the Vikings to 23 second-half points.

Washington struggled to slow Webb, who completed 4 of 5 passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 34 yards and a touchdown on five carries.

“When they bring in a weapon like that – not a secret weapon, we’d seen him on tape and we had a feeling – but it’s hard to prepare fully on a short week for two quarterbacks,” linebacker Perry Riley said.

Could the Redskins change their defense against the dual-threat quarterback?

“You can’t change it,” Riley said. “It’s hard to change it midstream like that.”

Gerhart had 109 yards on 11 carries, but his Redskins counterpart, Evan Royster, outran him. Royster had 132 yards on 19 carries after running for just 83 yards on 17 carries entering the game.

The sixth-round pick from Penn State joined injured Roy Helu to give the Redskins two rookies who have rushed for 100 yards in a game in a season – a first in franchise history.

Royster, who began the season on the practice squad, was asked whether he ever was discouraged.

“Absolutely,” Royster said. “I never thought that I’d start a game this year, to be honest. But that’s not to say I wasn’t prepared to.”

Rex Grossman completed 26 of 41 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns, and the Redskins gained 397 yards offense. But either their drives stalled – Graham Gano made four field goals – or Grossman turned the ball over. Grossman, who entered the day tied with San Diego’s Philip Rivers with 22 turnovers, lost a fumble and threw an interception.

Grossman was asked to explain his interception, a fourth-quarter pass that sailed over Santana Moss’ head and into the hands of Vikings safety Mistral Raymond.

“It was high,” Grossman said. Then, he paused at the podium.

“I can elaborate, but it’s pretty simple.”

The Vikings kept alive their hopes to not finish with the worst record in team history. A win next week against Chicago would put them ahead of the dubious 1984 Minnesota team that went 3-13.

The Vikings hadn’t lost seven in a row in the same season since their expansion year of 1961.

Webb’s 8-yard pass to Percy Harvin broke a 23-23 tie early in the fourth quarter, and rookie Mistral Raymond’s first career interception set up Ryan Longwell’s 23-yard field goal. That gave the Vikings a 10-point lead with 4:05 to play. Minnesota had gone nine games without a pick before Raymond’s big play.

The Redskins pulled within a touchdown on Graham Gano’s 47-yard field goal with 1:25 remaining. They got the ball back after a punt, but Grossman’s final long fling to the end zone fell incomplete.

Grossman completed 26 of 41 passes for 284 yards with two touchdowns. He also had two more giveaways – a lost fumble and the interception – to put his total at 24 for the season. He was already tied for the most in the NFL entering the game.

Peterson had 12 carries for 38 yards when he left. He also had a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Ponder was 8 for 13 for 68 yards.

The Vikings were also short-handed along the offensive line, with guard Steve Hutchinson inactive with a concussion, and guard Anthony Herrera sidelined in the first half with a lower back injury. Rookie Brandon Fusco, playing his second NFL game, entered at right guard and committed a personal foul with a late shove in the final minute of the first half.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

The inquiring reporter named a few plays, and Shanahan added a couple more.

It was that type of day for the Redskins, who lost to the Minnesota Vikings, 33-26. Washington committed eight penalties for 64 yards, lost a fumble and threw an interception — the mistakes often coming at the most inopportune times.

Washington (5-10) has lost six straight at home, its longest such skid since 1994.

Tied at 10 at halftime, the Redskins appeared to catch a break on the first two plays of the third quarter, when running back Adrian Peterson and quarterback Christian Ponder suffered game-ending injuries for the Vikings (3-12).

Peterson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee after taking a direct hit from Redskins safety DeJon Gomes on a 3-yard gain. An MRI showed the ACL tear after the team returned to Minnesota.

On the next play, Ponder was sacked by Adam Carriker and London Fletcher. Ponder remained in the game for one more play — a third-down incomplete pass — before heading to the locker room.

The Redskins allowed Minnesota’s backup backfield of running back Toby Gerhart and quarterback Joe Webb to lead the Vikings to 23 second-half points.

Washington struggled to slow Webb, who completed 4 of 5 passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 34 yards and a touchdown on five carries.

“When they bring in a weapon like that — not a secret weapon, we’d seen him on tape and we had a feeling — but it’s hard to prepare fully on a short week for two quarterbacks,” linebacker Perry Riley said.

Could the Redskins change their defense against the dual-threat quarterback?

“You can’t change it,” Riley said. “It’s hard to change it midstream like that.”

Gerhart had 109 yards on 11 carries, but his Redskins counterpart, Evan Royster, outran him. Royster had 132 yards on 19 carries after running for just 83 yards on 17 carries entering the game.

The sixth-round pick from Penn State joined injured Roy Helu to give the Redskins two rookies who have rushed for 100 yards in a game in a season — a first in franchise history.

Royster, who began the season on the practice squad, was asked whether he ever was discouraged.

“Absolutely,” Royster said. “I never thought that I’d start a game this year, to be honest. But that’s not to say I wasn’t prepared to.”

Rex Grossman completed 26 of 41 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns, and the Redskins gained 397 yards offense. But either their drives stalled — Graham Gano made four field goals — or Grossman turned the ball over. Grossman, who entered the day tied with San Diego’s Philip Rivers with 22 turnovers, lost a fumble and threw an interception.

Grossman was asked to explain his interception, a fourth-quarter pass that sailed over Santana Moss’ head and into the hands of Vikings safety Mistral Raymond.

“It was high,” Grossman said. Then, he paused at the podium.

“I can elaborate, but it’s pretty simple.”

The Vikings kept alive their hopes to not finish with the worst record in team history. A win next week against Chicago would put them ahead of the dubious 1984 Minnesota team that went 3-13.

The Vikings hadn’t lost seven in a row in the same season since their expansion year of 1961.

Webb’s 8-yard pass to Percy Harvin broke a 23-23 tie early in the fourth quarter, and rookie Mistral Raymond’s first career interception set up Ryan Longwell’s 23-yard field goal. That gave the Vikings a 10-point lead with 4:05 to play. Minnesota had gone nine games without a pick before Raymond’s big play.

The Redskins pulled within a touchdown on Graham Gano’s 47-yard field goal with 1:25 remaining. They got the ball back after a punt, but Grossman’s final long fling to the end zone fell incomplete.

Grossman completed 26 of 41 passes for 284 yards with two touchdowns. He also had two more giveaways — a lost fumble and the interception — to put his total at 24 for the season. He was already tied for the most in the NFL entering the game.

Peterson had 12 carries for 38 yards when he left. He also had a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Ponder was 8 for 13 for 68 yards.

The Vikings were also short-handed along the offensive line, with guard Steve Hutchinson inactive with a concussion, and guard Anthony Herrera sidelined in the first half with a lower back injury. Rookie Brandon Fusco, playing his second NFL game, entered at right guard and committed a personal foul with a late shove in the final minute of the first half.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

LANDOVER, Md. (AP)—Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan was asked about
his team’s miscues Saturday.

“Which plays are you referring to?” Shanahan asked.

The inquiring reporter named a few plays, and Shanahan added a couple more.

It was that type of day for the Redskins, who lost to the Minnesota Vikings,
33-26. Washington committed eight penalties for 64 yards, lost a fumble and
threw an interception—the mistakes often coming at the most inopportune times.

Washington (5-10) has lost six straight at home, its longest such skid since
1994.

Tied at 10 at halftime, the Redskins appeared to catch a break on the first
two plays of the third quarter, when running back Adrian Peterson and
quarterback Christian Ponder suffered game-ending injuries for the Vikings
(3-12).

Peterson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee after taking a
direct hit from Redskins safety DeJon Gomes on a 3-yard gain. An MRI showed the
ACL tear after the team returned to Minnesota.

On the next play, Ponder was sacked by Adam Carriker and London Fletcher.
Ponder remained in the game for one more play—a third-down incomplete pass—
before heading to the locker room.

The Redskins allowed Minnesota’s backup backfield of running back Toby
Gerhart and quarterback Joe Webb to lead the Vikings to 23 second-half points.

Washington struggled to slow Webb, who completed 4 of 5 passes for 84 yards
and two touchdowns and ran for 34 yards and a touchdown on five carries.

“When they bring in a weapon like that—not a secret weapon, we’d seen him
on tape and we had a feeling—but it’s hard to prepare fully on a short week
for two quarterbacks,” linebacker Perry Riley said.

Could the Redskins change their defense against the dual-threat quarterback?

“You can’t change it,” Riley said. “It’s hard to change it midstream like
that.”

Gerhart had 109 yards on 11 carries, but his Redskins counterpart, Evan
Royster, outran him. Royster had 132 yards on 19 carries after running for just
83 yards on 17 carries entering the game.

The sixth-round pick from Penn State joined injured Roy Helu to give the
Redskins two rookies who have rushed for 100 yards in a game in a season—a
first in franchise history.

Royster, who began the season on the practice squad, was asked whether he
ever was discouraged.

“Absolutely,” Royster said. “I never thought that I’d start a game this
year, to be honest. But that’s not to say I wasn’t prepared to.”

Rex Grossman completed 26 of 41 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns, and
the Redskins gained 397 yards offense. But either their drives stalled—Graham
Gano made four field goals—or Grossman turned the ball over. Grossman, who
entered the day tied with San Diego’s Philip Rivers with 22 turnovers, lost a
fumble and threw an interception.

Grossman was asked to explain his interception, a fourth-quarter pass that
sailed over Santana Moss’ head and into the hands of Vikings safety Mistral
Raymond.

“It was high,” Grossman said. Then, he paused at the podium.

“I can elaborate, but it’s pretty simple.”

The Vikings kept alive their hopes to not finish with the worst record in
team history. A win next week against Chicago would put them ahead of the
dubious 1984 Minnesota team that went 3-13.

The Vikings hadn’t lost seven in a row in the same season since their
expansion year of 1961.

Webb’s 8-yard pass to Percy Harvin broke a 23-23 tie early in the fourth
quarter, and rookie Mistral Raymond’s first career interception set up Ryan
Longwell’s 23-yard field goal. That gave the Vikings a 10-point lead with 4:05
to play. Minnesota had gone nine games without a pick before Raymond’s big play.

The Redskins pulled within a touchdown on Graham Gano’s 47-yard field goal
with 1:25 remaining. They got the ball back after a punt, but Grossman’s final
long fling to the end zone fell incomplete.

Grossman completed 26 of 41 passes for 284 yards with two touchdowns. He
also had two more giveaways—a lost fumble and the interception—to put his
total at 24 for the season. He was already tied for the most in the NFL entering
the game.

Peterson had 12 carries for 38 yards when he left. He also had a 1-yard
touchdown run in the second quarter. Ponder was 8 for 13 for 68 yards.

The Vikings were also short-handed along the offensive line, with guard
Steve Hutchinson inactive with a concussion, and guard Anthony Herrera sidelined
in the first half with a lower back injury. Rookie Brandon Fusco, playing his
second NFL game, entered at right guard and committed a personal foul with a
late shove in the final minute of the first half.