SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Forget backing into the playoffs. The Washington Redskins are going into the postseason as the NFC East champions.

Larry Centers caught a 33-yard touchdown pass from Brad Johnson in overtime as the Redskins rallied to beat the San Francisco 49ers 26-20 Sunday night.

	Washington's Brad Johnson threw for 471 yards -- the 1999 season's highest single-game total -- on Sunday night in San Francisco.

Johnson completed 32 of 47 passes for 471 yards and two touchdowns, and was at his best at the end, helping the Redskins (9-6) make up a 20-10 fourth-quarter deficit and claim their first division crown since 1991, when they last went to the Super Bowl.

"It's a stepping stone for the playoffs," Johnson said.

Johnson credited Redskins coach Norv Turner, who has been under pressure from first-year owner Daniel Snyder to deliver a winner, for stirring the team with a halftime speech.

"He said this was going to define our team and define the moment," Johnson said. "We came through."

Washington's game-winning drive began at its 22. Johnson went 3-for-3, including a 25-yard pass to Skip Hicks to get the drive going. Three plays later, Johnson found Centers wide open along the sideline, and he cruised into the end zone, jogging the final 5 yards for the game-winner.

"It was a realization of my dreams," Centers said. "Somebody just blew their coverage and I was happy to be given the opportunity to help this team. It was up to me to make it happen."

Johnson's passing yardage was an NFL season high, surpassing Jeff Garcia's 437 yards for San Francisco against Cincinnati on Dec. 5. He also broke Sammy Baugh's 51-year-old team record of 446 yards.

The loss was the 10th in 11 games for San Francisco (4-11), playing its home finale in what could be Jerry Rice's final appearance before the home crowd. The superstar wide receiver, who caught his 1,200th career pass during the game, wants to return, but he might become another salary cap casualty during the team's offseason rebuilding, according to general manager Bill Walsh.

"Hopefully, I'll be back," Rice said. "It's been a great career here. I'm not saying it's going to end but if it does, life goes on.

"I've always wanted to end my career as a 49er. I'm basically going to still work hard and see what happens."

Charlie Garner ran for 129 yards in 16 carries, but it wasn't enough for the upset-minded 49ers, whose seven-game winning streak against the Redskins was snapped.

"I would never have thought we would lose this game," 49ers safety Lance Schulters said. "It just didn't enter my mind."

With less than two minutes remaining in regulation, San Francisco was driving toward the go-ahead score when rookie Terry Jackson fumbled and Anthony Cook recovered for Washington at its own 21.

But the Redskins were frustrated by a third-down sack of Johnson, and punted the ball with 18 seconds left. San Francisco ran one play before the game went into overtime.

GAME NOTES

Norv Turner beat the 49ers for the first time in four tries as Redskins coach. The last Redskins' victory over San Francisco came in 1986, a 14-6 decision at RFK Stadium. Washington was without running back Stephen Davis, who was inactive because of an ankle sprain. San Francisco offensive line coach Bobb McKittrick, who has battled bile-duct cancer the past year, was an honorary team captain. Jerry Rice has played in a team-record 221 games for the 49ers.

Trailing 20-10, the Redskins took the ball back when Matt Stevens intercepted Garcia's overthrown pass and returned it 10 yards to the San Francisco 30. Washington drove to the 16, where the drive stalled and Brett Conway kicked his second field goal, a 34-yarder with 12:06 remaining.

Washington's next possession ended in an interception, but Johnson shrugged off the miscue and led the Redskins on a 67-yard drive, finishing it with a 1-yard sneak to tie it at 20-all with 3:28 remaining.

The drive included a diving 20-yard reception by Irving Fryar to the 11 that was initially ruled incomplete on the field before being changed to a reception by a replay review.

The Redskins closed to 13-10 when Conway kicked a 47-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, a score set up by Johnson's 47-yard completion to Albert Connell.

San Francisco answered the next time it got the ball. Garner broke free on a 40-yard run to get the 49ers close, and Garcia later teamed with Stokes on a 5-yard touchdown pass with 4:11 remaining in the third quarter.

Garner finished San Francisco's opening drive with a 4-yard TD run and he added gains of 37 and 17 yards to set up Wade Richey's second field goal, a 25-yarder with 1:38 remaining in the second quarter for a 13-7 halftime lead.

Richey also kicked a 29-yard field goal midway through the second quarter.

Rice drew prolonged cheers during pregame introductions and had the crowd chanting his name after making three catches for 34 yards, setting up Garner's first-quarter touchdown run.

Washington struck back early in the second quarter when Michael Westbrook sprinted past Schulters, and Johnson hit him in stride for a 65-yard touchdown.