LANDOVER, Md. — The Washington Redskins did everything except hold a big neon sign to let the world know that a trick play was in the works.

The Denver Broncos still couldn't stop it. Life was so much easier when they were 6-0.

Energized by the odd sequence that somehow resulted in a first-half touchdown, the Redskins kept the momentum the rest of the game and beat the Broncos' 27-17 Sunday, ending Washington's losing streak at four and extending Denver's skid to three.

"The way we play as a team these days, with these close games, you really need momentum-builders and things like that," said holder and punter Hunter Smith, who cranked up his rusty throwing arm and launched the 35-yard touchdown pass to Mike Sellers. "I thought it was the right call."

Of course he did. He's a punter getting to throw a pass.

But it was fourth-and-20 at the 35, and the Redskins had already showed fake by splitting tight end Todd Yoder wide as a receiver in field goal formation. The attempt was initially aborted when coach Jim Zorn had to call timeout because Washington had only 10 men on the field.

Then, even though the Broncos were on notice, even though there were 20 yards to go, the Redskins still ran the fake.

Yoder split out and went in motion. Smith took the snap, rolled right and lobbed the ball deep — and back across the field — to Sellers for the touchdown that tied the score at 14.

Two hours later, the Broncos were still trying to figure out what happened.

"They were setting up something — we knew it," defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday said. "They came back, and I think they may have even yelled out on their sideline, 'Let's just punt it. Let's just punt it.' And I guess we just bought into it, because we didn't lock in on the play and what was going on. It seems like it took forever to unfold. You've got to know coming into a game like this, with a team like this, to expect it."

The fans that had booed the Redskins all season — and were booing earlier in the first half when Denver's Brandon Marshall was wide open for two long touchdown passes — cheered the trickery with one of the biggest ovations of the season.

"They definitely got the momentum," Holliday said, "and, from there on, it seems like we never got the momentum back."

The ramifications for the Broncos (6-3) were huge, and rookie coach Josh McDaniels now has his first genuine rough patch. Three weeks ago, they had a 3 1/2 game lead over the San Diego Chargers. While it was hardly an embarrassment to lose to Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the loss to the Redskins (3-6) helped the Chargers tie Denver for the division lead when they beat Philadelphia later Sunday.