Getty Images

The Redskins needed something special to snap their six-game losing streak and they got it in Seattle on Sunday.

Down 10 points in the fourth quarter, the ‘Skins pulled off a pair of spectacular plays to retake the lead. First up was Roy Helu’s first NFL touchdown, which came after he hurdled a would-be tackler and sprinted 28 yards to draw Washington within a field goal. After the defense held, Rex Grossman uncorked the kind of throw that keeps him employed.

It was a pinpoint 50-yard bomb to Anthony Armstrong who fought off Seahawks corner Brandon Browner, flagged for interference on the play, and hauled in the go-ahead touchdown. Graham Gano’s extra point got blocked by Seahawks defensive tackle Red Bryant, who now has four blocked kicks on the season, so the defense had to come up with a couple of big holds to keep the 20-17 advantage.

They did it, getting some help from a pair of costly penalties on the Seahawks and a big fourth down sack from Brian Orakpo and Stephen Bowen. The sack meant the ‘Skins were in position to get a Gano field goal that extended the final margin to 23-17.

Mike Shanahan won’t have to answer any questions about his quarterback this week. Grossman threw two picks, but he did more good than bad offensively and moved the team pretty well all day. Shanahan will have to answer questions about why Helu wasn’t given a bigger role in the offense sooner. Helu ran for 108 yards and caught seven passes for 54 more in one of the most productive games of the year for a Redskins back.

Pete Carroll also won’t have to answer too many questions about his quarterback. We’ve all known Tarvaris Jackson isn’t the long-term answer to the position for some time and his erratic day, which ended with a DeAngelo Hall interception, only confirmed those suspicions. Marshawn Lynch had his third 100 yard-plus rushing day in the last four games, though, so all is not lost with the Seahawks offense.