Steve Nesius / AP

Sean Taylor runs for a touchdown after picking up a fumble.

Brunell went 7-of-15 passing for 43 yards and one interception, and Portis was limited to 53 yards rushing on 15 carries.

Simms threw for 198 yards in his first playoff start for Tampa Bay but was intercepted twice and sacked three times.

The Bucs were stopped on downs when Simms threw an incompletion on fourth-and-1 at the Washington 18 midway through the fourth quarter.

Tampa Bay’s Brian Kelly intercepted Brunell’s pass at the Redskins 35 four plays later. But Simms was stopped again when Shepherd failed to make his potential game-tying catch on third down, and the quarterback overthrew the same receiver in the end zone on fourth down.

The Bucs got one more chance, taking over at their 46 after a 14-yard punt with 1:05 to go. But Simms’ first-down pass was tipped at the line and intercepted by Washington, and the Redskins ran out the clock.

“I don’t even know if it’s sunk in yet,” Arrington said. “This is unbelievable, to come and win in such a great arena. Wow.”

Arrington picked off Simms’ first pass of the game and returned it 21 yards to the Tampa Bay 6 to set up Portis’ TD run on the next play for a 7-0 lead. Less than five minutes later, the Redskins’ defense struck again.

Washington stopped Carnell “Cadillac” Williams for a 1-yard gain, forcing a fumble that the linebacker recovered before scrambling to his feet and taking off with the ball.

Tampa Bay’s Dan Buenning punched the ball loose from Washington at the 41 before Taylor scooped it up at the 49 and raced to the end zone for a 14-0 lead. The Bucs challenged the TD, arguing that Washington was down by contact when he recovered the ball, but the score was upheld by replay.

The Bucs drove 51 yards in seven plays early in the third quarter to trim a 17-3 halftime deficit to seven points on Simms’ 1-yard run.

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The Redskins’ defense, already without injured cornerback Shawn Springs, lost defensive end Renaldo Wynn with a broken right forearm and was further depleted when Taylor was tossed for spitting in the face of Michael Pittman as the two stood face-to-face after a play in the third quarter.

Pittman hit Taylor in retaliation, but referee Mike Carey did not penalize the Tampa Bay running back.

“There was a lot of trash-talking the whole game,” Pittman said. “He spit in my face, and no man is going to spit in my face. ... He’d get a lot worse if it was on the street.”

Notes: Taylor declined to speak with reporters after the game. ...

Gibbs snapped a tie with Chuck Noll for third on the career playoff wins list. Tom Landry is first with 20, followed by Don Shula at 19.

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