LANDOVER, Md. — The New Orleans Saints had no business winning. Two of their biggest plays were unbelievable flukes, bad mistakes that somehow morphed into positive results. Then they needed the other team's kicker to miss a 23-yard field goal just to stay alive, and a freeze-frame replay reversal to get the ball in overtime.

But the Saints are living a charmed life these days, and the Washington Redskins are as snakebit as can be. New Orleans trailed by 10 in the fourth quarter yesterday and played more than four quarters without holding a lead — until Garrett Hartley kicked an 18-yard field goal 6:29 into the extra period for a 33-30 win.

"I don't know about the voodoo, but I definitely believe in destiny," said Drew Brees, who led a no-timeout, 80-yard drive in just 33 seconds to tie the game late in regulation.

The Saints are now 12-0 with the NFC South title in hand. New Orleans benefitted from a badly shanked punt that turned into a 29-yard gain, and an interception by Brees that somehow became a touchdown for teammate Robert Meachem.

Washington (3-9) piled up 455 yards and scored 30 points for the first time in Jim Zorn's 28 games as coach.

Leading 30-23, the Redskins marched downfield and set up the field goal that would have put the game out of reach. But Shaun Suisham pushed the attempt wide right from 23 yards with 1:52 to play.

Brees later hit Meachem over the middle for a 53-yard TD with 1:19 to go.

The Redskins had the ball to start the extra period, but Mike Sellers fumbled when he was upended by Chris McAlister after making a catch — a turnover that was only verified after a meticulous replay reversal — giving the Saints the ball at the Washington 37. Brees needed only seven plays to march New Orleans to the 1 before Hartley made the game-winning kick.

In the first half, the Saints punted from their 30. Thomas Morstead shanked the kick so badly that it hit Washington's Kevin Barnes on the back near the sideline. New Orleans recovered at the Redskins 41.

Four plays later, facing third-and-26 at the Redskins' 44, Brees threw a pass deep over the middle toward Jeremy Shockey. Kareem Moore dived over Shockey's back to make an interception, rolled over, got up and ran before Meachem simply took the ball away from an upright Moore and started running down the sideline for a 44-yard score. The play tied it at 17-all just before halftime.