Joe Theismann started at quarterback for Washington and early on he was on his game as he threw two early touchdown passes and Mark Moseley kicked three field goals, Theismann replaced 38-yard-old Billy Kilmer, hit tight end Jean Fugett with a pair of 15-yard touchdown passes on Washington's first two possessions while Moseley kicked field goals of 46 and 30 yards.
The Eagles ran out of time in a bid to win, getting as close to the Redskins' 20-yard line before turning the ball over on downs with 41 seconds to play.
Later the Redskins' Mark Moseley kicked a 54-yard field goal to put the Skins ahead by 3, but back came the Eagles where they drove from their own 14 to the Washington 14 where after 3 incomplete passes.
Washington drew first blood as the well rested Billy Kilmer tossed a 14-yard touchdown pass to Calvin Hill and later a 40-yard field goal by Mark Moseley.
But back came the Cardinals, knowing that they need to win to stay in the playoff hunt, as they got a 32-yard field goal by Jim Bakken and later a 1-yard touchdown run by Steve Jones.
Then Brad Dusek intercept a Hart pass in the second half at the Cardinals' 47 to set up Moseley's 42-yard field goal and the Redskins lead.
The Cardinals tried to muster their famed come from behind victories that was their trademark from 1974 to 1976, as quarterback Jim Hart hit Terry Metcalf for a 68-yard touchdown strike.