Redskins Turn the Tide With Turnovers, 10-9 : NFC: Bears intercept five passes but lose to Washington on field goal after Muster fumbles.

The Chicago Bears entered their game against the Washington Redskins leading the NFC with a plus-17 turnover ratio, a big reason for their turnaround from last season’s 6-10 finish.

And the Bears lived up to their billing by intercepting five passes thrown by Mark Rypien.

But the Redskins took advantage of fumble by Brad Muster and two late interceptions of their own in rallying for a 10-9 victory.

“Our defense and special teams bailed us out today,” Washington Coach Joe Gibbs said.

Muster’s fumble came one play after kicker Chip Lohmiller was short on a field-goal attempt from 54 yards, which left the Bears with a 9-7 lead. Tackle Darryl Grant poked the ball out of Muster’s hands and Todd Bowles fell on the bouncing ball at the 25.

That set up Lohmiller’s 35-yard field goal with 2:14 remaining for the winning margin.

“It’s my first turnover, my first fumble,” Muster said. “I’ll be lucky if it’s my last.

“He (Grant) just hit the top of the ball and I didn’t have a good hand on it.”

Jim Harbaugh had two passes intercepted in the final minutes as the Bears (10-3), who already have clinched their sixth NFC Central title in seven years, fell behind San Francisco and the New York Giants in the race for a bye in the playoffs.

The Redskins’ rally resulted in Chicago’s first defeat in 15 games after holding a halftime lead.

The Redskins (8-5), who routed Miami last week, got a second consecutive victory for the first time since early in the season. With losses by Green Bay (6-7) and Minnesota (6-7), Washington has some breathing room in the wild-card race.

“We played two great teams and were victorious in both games,” said linebacker Greg Manusky. “Something like this should build a lot of confidence.”

Redskin running back Earnest Byner, who rushed for 157 yards last week, gained 121 yards in 28 carries against the Bears, including the last seven to put Lohmiller in position.

A.J. Johnson intercepted Harbaugh’s pass on the next series and Brad Edwards sealed the victory by picking off Harbaugh’s last-ditch pass at the Redskins’ 15.

“In the fourth quarter, we felt like we had to make the big plays,” cornerback Martin Mayhew said. “We did that and pulled it out.”

Kevin Butler kicked three field goals, all after interceptions, to give the Bears a 9-0 halftime lead. Butler’s field goals gave him 131 for his career, breaking a tie with Bob Thomas for the Bears’ record.

Rypien, who was 12-of-25 passing for 148 yards, got Washington to within 9-7 on a 12-play, 7:37 drive to open the second half.

Rypien completed four passes in a row, the last an eight-yard slant over the middle to Gary Clark for the touchdown.

Rookie Mark Carrier had three interceptions and Donnell Woolford and Markus Paul had one each for the Bears.

“We needed one more,” said Carrier, who tied the team record for interceptions in a game and has eight this season. “Right now it’s a stat thing--we needed a win.”

Carrier’s first two interceptions cut short Washington drives and set up Butler’s first two field goals.

Woolford’s second interception of the year led to Butler’s last field goal as the second quarter ended.

Carrier beat Gary Clark to a long pass in the end zone for his first interception.

Neal Anderson picked up 33 yards on a burst up the middle to Washington’s 20 on the ensuing drive and Butler got the first score with a 29-yard kick.

Carrier got the next interception in the second quarter on a shoestring catch at Chicago’s 30. Harbaugh took Chicago to the six and Butler made it 6-0 with a 23-yarder.

The Bears were the last NFC opponent this season for the Redskins, who finish with three consecutive games against AFC teams.

With his 121 rushing yards, Washington’s Earnest Byner went over 100 yards for the third time in his last four games.

Byner has 882 yards for the season, the Redskins’ best rushing total since George Rogers had 1,203 in 1986.

Redskin wide receiver Art Monk had a 16-yard reception in the third quarter that gave him at least one catch in 113 consecutive games, the third-longest streak in NFL history.

Clark caught six passes for 85 yards, giving him 1,012 yards for the season, his fourth year over 1,000 yards. He also went over 4,000 yards for his career.

Harbaugh completed 17 of 33 passes for 187 yards. He also rushed for 30 yards in six carries.

Wendell Davis had seven receptions for 96 yards for the Bears and Neal Anderson rushed for 57 yards in 11 carries.

The Redskins are 29-7 over the last 10 Decembers under Gibbs, the best in the NFL.