Cardinals’ Defense Keys 36-6 Victory : NFC: Phoenix recovers three of Washington’s fumbles and sweeps the season series with the Redskins for the first time since 1974.

Washington’s desire for revenge didn’t mean much after the Phoenix Cardinals stopped talking about making plays and started making them.

The Redskins came into Sun Devil Stadium bent on atoning for a 17-10 loss Sept. 12 in RFK Stadium that started their skid. But the Cardinals made all the big plays and routed Washington, 36-6, to sweep the NFC East series for the first time since 1974.

It was the fifth consecutive loss for the Redskins (1-5), their worst start since 1981. Phoenix (2-4) has been unable to beat anyone else.

“I think the key to the game was turnovers,” Phoenix Coach Joe Bugel said. “Our defense was dominating . . . they came up with the turnovers we needed.”

Defensive lineman Eric Swann set up three scores with key plays and scored two points when he tackled Reggie Brooks for a safety.

The two points gave Phoenix a 22-6 lead only 53 seconds into the fourth quarter. Swann also had 12 tackles, including two sacks.

Garrison Hearst, Johnny Bailey and Ron Moore ran for touchdowns of one, 14 and one yard, respectively. Steve Beuerlein completed a 42-yard touchdown pass to Ricky Proehl in the third quarter and Greg Davis kicked 23- and 45-yard field goals.

But it was the defense, led by Swann and linebackers Freddie Joe Nunn and Ken Harvey, that controlled the game. Nunn had two of the team’s five sacks and forced two of four fumbles, three of which Phoenix recovered.

The only Redskins points came on 43- and 38-yard field goals by Chip Lohmiller.

The Cardinals kept up the pressure in the second half. The Redskins had 154 yards, including 95 rushing in 16 carries by Ricky Ervins, in the first half and only 92 in the second half.

Ervins had one carry for three yards after halftime.

After the Redskin punted following Swann’s safety, Beuerlein directed a 68-yard drive in seven plays to make the score 29-6 on Bailey’s run.

Hearst, the Cardinals’ top draft choice, suffered a sprained left knee in the third quarter. Moore took over from then on, gaining 80 yards in 13 carries.

The Redskins had not scored in a first quarter this season until Lohmiller’s 43-yard field goal midway through.

Beuerlein passed to Ricky Proehl for 21 and 31 yards before Davis kicked his first field goal to tie the score.