Get ready to hear this stat over the next few days: the Redskins are 3-0 for the first time since 1991. That year, of course, was the last time the Redskins won a Super Bowl championship.

Obviously, it's much too soon to mention the "P" word, meaning "playoffs," even after Sunday's thrilling 20-17 win over the Seattle Seahawks at FedExField.

Instead, players are settling on the "M" word: Momentum.

"We're building off of our momentum," cornerback Shawn Springs said. "It's not a swagger. You've got to change your ways from being a 6-10 team."

Added Santana Moss: "It's early, but I just feel privileged to be a part of something special."

Head coach Joe Gibbs was surprised to hear that it had been 14 seasons since the Redskins started a season at 3-0. Gibbs, of course, was the Redskins' head coach that year.

"[Starting 3-0] is real hard to do," Gibbs said. "Everyone is capable of winning at this level. I'm very pleased we got to this point. But it's just 3-0 and we need to focus on Denver next week."

Added right tackle Jon Jansen: "We've set ourselves up to have a special year. At 3-0, that's a pretty select group in the NFL, no matter how you get them."

Perhaps defensive end Renaldo Wynn put it best: "I haven't had this feeling in a long time. Starting out 3-0 is great for the community and the fans. We're all in this together.

"I talked to David Patten and this is what he talked about when the 2001 New England Patriots won their first Super Bowl. They had some close games that they won, and they continued to go. I think we can be as good as we want to be. It's a great start."

Still, in the afterglow of another dramatic win, it was Springs who couldn't help mentioning the "P" word.

"This was a big win for us because obviously Seattle was a playoff team last year," he said. "That's a team you may have to face again in the playoffs. Hopefully, if we play them again, we can get them at home again."

-- MORE ON SPRINGS

Springs played for the first time against his former team on Sunday, recording four tackles. He spent most of the game covering wide receiver Darrell Jackson.

Springs played for the Seahawks from 1997-2003.

Assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams said before the game that he expected to have to calm down Springs.

"A lot of times, the first meeting against a former team gets blown out of proportion a little bit," Williams said. "When you spend as long a time as he spent in one place, the first time you play them means more than the multiple times it happens over the rest of your career.

"From that point of view, I teased him about making sure that he calms down and just plays. He's a professional. Past the first play or two of the game, he'll just settle down and play football."

-- PATTERSON SIGNED TO ROSTER

With the Redskins facing a numbers crunch in the secondary due to injuries to Walt Harris and Pierson Prioleau, the team signed practice squad defensive back Dimitri Patterson.

Patterson was active for the game, but he did not play.

To make room for Patterson, the Redskins released linebacker Zak Keasey.

Patterson, 5-11 and 196 pounds, is an undrafted rookie who played his college ball at Tuskegee where he earned All-SIAC honors as a senior.

-- INACTIVES

With Walt Harris declared inactive for rookie cornerback Carlos Rogers made his first NFL start on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. The Auburn rookie had played a reserve role in the Redskins' first two games this season, logging one tackle.

As expected, the Redskins also deactivated safety Pierson Prioleau and kicker John Hall.

Ryan Clark started in place of Prioleau. Rookie kicker Nick Novak, a University of Maryland product, played in place of Hall.

Also deactivated for the game: Patterson, defensive linemen Nic Clemons and Aki Jones, offensive lineman Jim Molinaro and running back Nehemiah Broughton,

Jason Campbell was listed as the third quarterback.

The Seahawks listed the following players as inactive for the game: linebacker Niko Koutouvides, offensive linemen Wayne Hunter and Floyd Womack, wide receiver Peter Warrick, tight end Itula Mili and defensive lineman Alain Kashama and Rodney Bailey.

The Seahawks' third quarterback was David Greene.