The Redskins snapped a six-game losing streak and dealt a significant blow to the Eagles' playoff hopes. Philadelphia has lost three straight games since a Thanksgiving win at Dallas gave it sole possession of first place in the NFC East.
A win at home by the Cowboys against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday will eliminate the Eagles from postseason contention.
"One game left. We got to get ready and focused for the New York Giants. We got to win that game," said Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly.
The Eagles (9-6) have been prone to turning the ball over this season and cornerback Bashaud Breeland intercepted Mark Sanchez's pass at the Washington 42-yard line inside the two-minute warning.
Robert Griffin III then threw a short pass to Pierre Garcon, who spun out of a defender's grasp for a 23-yard gain. A roughing the passer penalty tacked on 15 more yards and the Redskins added one more first down, forcing Philadelphia to use each of its three timeouts before Forbath nailed the go-ahead kick.
The Eagles, who had erased a 24-14 deficit, were still alive with three seconds remaining because Forbath drilled Trey Burton with the kickoff at midfield.
Cornerback David Amerson knocked down Sanchez's pass in the end zone to end the game.
Griffin completed 16-of-23 passes for 220 yards with one interception and Darrel Young had two 1-yard touchdown runs in the third quarter for Washington (4-11).
"Love the way our team battled and competed," said Redskins coach Jay Gruden. "There's been a lot of talk about people quitting and you can see what type of guys we have. Guys didn't quit."
Sanchez was 37-of-50 for 374 yards and threw two touchdown passes to Riley Cooper. Tight end Zach Ertz set an Eagles franchise record with 15 catches for a career-high 115 yards.
A rough third quarter actually began favorably for the Eagles, who started in the red zone after Andre Roberts fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half.
Philadelphia failed to capitalize on the turnover when Cody Parkey missed a 34-yard field goal wide right.
Washington benefited from a pair of roughing the passer penalties on their next drive. The second infraction set up the first of Young's two short touchdown runs on 1st-and-goal.
The normally reliable Parkey then missed a 46-yard try wide right after LeSean McCoy was wrapped up for no gain on 3rd-and-1 at the Washington 28. The rookie had missed only two attempts (29-of-31) through the first 14 games.
On the ensuing Washington drive, former Eagle DeSean Jackson caught a 55-yard pass, beating cornerback Bradley Fletcher on the play, and drew a pass interference penalty in the end zone. Young scored to give the Redskins a 24-14 lead with 26 seconds left in the third.
The Eagles rallied as Sanchez found Cooper for a 16-yard touchdown and Parkey made a 22-yard field goal following a Griffin interception.
Philadelphia coughed the ball up on the game's opening drive. Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan forced a Sanchez fumble on a sack and made the recovery at the Philadelphia 47-yard line.
Forbath kicked a 25-yard field goal to give Washington a 3-0 lead.
The Redskins' defense then made a stop, but Breeland was charged with an illegal use of hands penalty to extend the drive.
Instead of a three-and-out, the Eagles marched 79 yards in 10 plays. McCoy ran around the right end for an 11-yard touchdown.
The Redskins regained the lead with a quick response. Jackson beat Fletcher for a 51-yard grab. The catch put Jackson over the 1,000-yard mark for the season.
Alfred Morris rumbled 28 yards for a touchdown on the next play to make it 10-7 with 19 seconds left in the first quarter.
The Eagles moved back in front with a 15-play, 93-yard drive in the second quarter. Sanchez converted a 3rd-and-25 with a 26-yard pass to Jordan Matthews and later hit Cooper on a 3-yard slant for a touchdown.
Philadelphia looked to add to its lead before halftime, but punted after reaching the Washington 40.
Notes: Philadelphia leads the league with 35 turnovers ... Morris rushed for 83 yards on 21 carries. He joined Stephen Davis (1999-2001) as the only running backs in team history to rush for 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons ... Kerrigan became the first Redskins player to record a sack in five consecutive games since Fred Stokes in 1991 ... Jackson is the fifth player to reach 1,000 receiving yards in his first season with Washington. Bobby Mitchell (1962), Henry Ellard (1994), Laveranues Coles (2003) and Santana Moss (2005) also accomplished the feat ... Parkey tied an Eagles rookie record for made field goals with 30. Paul McFadden set the mark in 1984.
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