Drew Brees isn't sure about voodoo. Destiny and karma? His long NFL career has made him subscribe to both concepts, and the New Orleans Saints' wild undefeated season has only made him more of a believer.

Especially after their improbable 33-30 overtime win Sunday over a Washington Redskins team as snakebit as the Saints are charmed.

New Orleans trailed by 10 in the fourth quarter and played more than four quarters without holding a lead _ until Garrett Hartley kicked an 18-yard field goal 6:29 into the extra period for the victory.

Brees led a no-timeout, 80-yard drive in just 33 seconds to tie the game late in regulation. The Saints are now 12-0, with the NFC South title in hand.

How to explain a badly shanked punt that turns into a 29-yard gain? An interception by Brees that somehow becomes a touchdown for teammate Robert Meachem?

"Crazy plays," linebacker Jonathan Vilma said. "When you're hot, you're hot. And sometimes it's better to be lucky than good."

New Orleans also showed it can brave the cold, winning a sub-40 degree game for the first time since 1995. Well, maybe. The defense, led by former Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, offered minimal resistance, allowing Washington to pile up 455 yards and score 30 points for the first time in Jim Zorn's 28 games as coach.

The biggest number for Washington (3-9) was three _ as in the number of consecutive losses in which they've blown a fourth-quarter lead.

"I don't think the best team won today," Redskins center Casey Rabach said. "We had some bad breaks, some bizarre things happened."

Leading 30-23, the Redskins marched downfield and set up the gimme field goal that would have put the game out of reach. But Shaun Suisham pushed the attempt wide right from 23 yards with 1:52 to play.

Brees went right to work, moving quickly before hitting Meachem wide open over the middle for a 53-yard touchdown with 1:19 to go.

The Redskins had the ball to start the extra period, but Mike Sellers fumbled when he was upended by Chris McAlister after making a catch _ a turnover that was only verified after a meticulous replay reversal _ giving the Saints the ball at the Washington 37. Brees needed only seven plays to march New Orleans to the 1 before Hartley made the winning kick.

Meachem's first-half touchdown was just as big, but much more unorthodox.

The sequence started when the Saints punted from their 30. Thomas Morstead shanked the kick so badly that it hit Washington's totally helpless Kevin Barnes flush on the back near the sideline. New Orleans recovered at the Redskins 41.