Rock Cartwright set a new Redskins record on Saturday night: he finished the 2006 season with for 1,541 kickoff return yards, besting the previous mark of 1,478 yards set by Brian Mitchell in 1994.
Cartwright also finished with 64 kick returns, which bested the previous franchise record of 59 set by Mitchell in 1998.
In Saturday night's 34-28 loss to the New York Giants, Cartwright had six kickoff returns for 135 yards, a 22.5-yard return average.
"The record is great personally, but overall I would have preferred to continue playing next week," Cartwright said after the game. "It's a credit to the other 10 guys who work hard in creating wedges. It's good to break the record but I'd rather have a win and be going to the playoffs."
Cartwright finished the season with a 23.5-yard return average. His 100-yard kickoff return in Week 2 at Dallas remains the longest kickoff return in the NFC this season.
Ladell Betts fell eight yards short of setting another franchise record. He finished Saturday's game with 92 rushing yards on 20 carries.
If he had rushed for 100 yards, it would have been the sixth consecutive game he would have eclipsed the 100-yard mark. That would have broken the team record of five, set by Rob Goode in 1951 and Clinton Portis last year.
The Redskins' defense set a dubious NFL record by forcing just 12 turnovers this season. The unit had just six interceptions and six forced fumbles, and none in Saturday's game against the Giants.
The record for fewest defensive turnovers in a 16-game season was previously 15, set by Green Bay and St. Louis in 2004.
"That is a difference making part of our season in winning close games," assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams said. "Last year we won all of our close games down the stretch because we were able to do some things in the takeaway categories, shorten the field and score on defense.
"We have had a two-point game, several three-point games and two six-point games this season. We possibly would come up on the right end of those games with a takeaway or two, because it helps with scoring opportunities."
The defense was able to stave off the team record of most defensive yards allowed in a season.
The 2006 Redskins yielded 5,688 total yards, which is just 35 yards short of the team mark of 5,723 total yards set in 1996.
