JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - With the game on the line and playoff implications at stake, David Garrard threw an interception.

It was a turning point in overtime and maybe in Garrard's up-and-down career.

Kevin Barnes intercepted Garrard's second pass in overtime, setting up Graham Gano's 31-yard field goal that gave the Washington Redskins a 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars and snapped a four-game losing streak Sunday.

"I told the defense somebody has to be the hero, and when the chance came I made the play," Barnes said.

Garrard, asked to do more with Maurice Jones-Drew sidelined with a right knee injury, came up short. He completed 22 of 38 passes for 299 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. He ran for a score, but also took four sacks and fumbled twice.

His last error was the most troublesome. Under heavy pressure, Garrard floated a pass to the sideline. Barnes stepped in front and put the Redskins in position for Gano's winning kick. Gano drilled it through a swirling wind on third down, finding a little atonement after missing two short field goals in a one-point loss to Tampa Bay two weeks ago.

Special feature Playoff projections Who's in, who's out, who's in contention, and the AFC and NFC matchups if the postseason started today. NBCSports.com

"In hindsight, you wish you could hold onto it and not throw that pick," Garrard said. "But we're just trying to make plays. I was trying to make a play and that's how the game is."

Washington (6-9) made just enough plays. Rex Grossman had a touchdown pass early, and Ryan Torain added a 1-yard plunge on fourth down late. But the Redskins won this one with defense. They played without several starters, including linebacker Brian Orakpo and safeties Reed Doughty and Kareem Moore, and lost cornerback Carlos Rogers during the game.

They hardly seemed to miss them. The Redskins stuffed Jacksonville's running game, pressured Garrard and came up big when it mattered most.

The win was Washington's third in four overtime games this season.

NFL Week 16 roundup David Goldman / AP Back to the playoffs Defending champs keep Atlanta from clinching top seed in NFC while clinching their own berth in the postseason. Full story Packers thump Giants, keep hopes alive Bears stay hot, but Jets back into playoffs PFT's Quick Slants: Bears peaking, Jets look lost Woeful Bengals KO Chargers from contention Flacco, defense get Ravens into playoffs again 'Skins damage Jags' hopes   |   McNabb: Release me Rams eliminate 49ers   |   Singletary firing imminent Bucs rout Seahawks to stay in playoff hunt Pats secure No. 1 seed   |   Brady sets non-INT record Cassel throws 3 TD passes, Chiefs top Titans 34-14 Manning's 3 TDs get Colts closer to playoffs Tebow rallies Broncos past Texans in 1st home start Lions capitalize on Dolphins' home haplessness Cardinals squeak past Cowboys in final seconds No surprises as Steelers beat Panthers 27-3

The Jaguars (8-7) have lost two in a row and need help to make the playoffs. They need to win at Houston next week and have Tennessee upset Indianapolis to win the AFC South.

The Titans lost 34-14 at Kansas City, a score that caught Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio's eye during the game.

"I did peek up one time and I saw Kansas City was just rolling on Tennessee," Del Rio said. "The first thing I thought was we can't count on Tennessee for anything next week in Indianapolis."

The Jaguars had a chance to clinch the division last week against the Colts, but faltered in every phase of the game.

They came out flat against the Redskins and looked mostly uncomfortable in the coldest home game (38 degrees) in team history. They had seven penalties, allowed four sacks, fumbled twice, had two turnovers and missed a field goal.

The Redskins were much more efficient.

Grossman completed 19 of 39 passes for 182 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. Torain ran 20 times for 65 yards. Santana Moss had five receptions for 85 yards.

"When you play a game like this, where one team is playing for the playoffs and the other team for pride, you see what type of character you have," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said.

Jacksonville tied the game at 17 on Garrard's 20-yard run with 2:44 remaining. The quarterback draw seemingly caught the Redskins by surprise, and a key block by center Brad Meester created enough of a crease for Garrard to reach the end zone.

Slideshow   The Year in Pictures - Sports View the best sports images from around the world and close to home and vote for the best.

Jacksonville sacked Grossman on the ensuing drive and settled for overtime. The Jaguars won the toss, took the ball and then watched things implode. Rashad Jennings gained a couple of yards, Garrard hit Jennings in the flat for a few more, then on third-and-4, the Redskins blitzed Garrard and got the pick.

The Jaguars probably were fortunate to keep the game close, considering they recovered both of Garrard's fumbles and were on the positive side of three close calls near the end of the first half.

"Inconsistent football," Jaguars cornerback Rashean Mathis said. "It's too late in the year to do that, regardless of whether we were already in the playoffs or not fighting for anything. That's not good football to play."

Washington managed just 251 yards, punted nine times and made only four third-down conversions. The Redskins used a long kickoff return and a turnover to jump out to a 10-0 lead and then turned to defense to seal the win.

"This was a game we should have won," Jaguars defensive end Jeremy Mincey said. "We let them get energy too early, gave them hope to win and they took that one little spark and ran with it."

NOTES: With wind gusts reaching 29 mph, it felt considerably colder than 38 degrees. The previous record of 40 degrees was set Dec. 26, 2004, against Houston. ... Rogers (calf) and DL Anthony Bryant left the game for the Redskins. ... Jaguars TE Zach Miller (concussion) and G Uche Nwaneri (finger) were hurt for Jacksonville. Nwaneri missed a series before returning. ... Redskins have won three consecutive overtime games.