Portis and Moss Make Healthy Contributions to Offense

As the Washington Redskins fight for a spot in the NFC playoffs and face two must-win games to close the regular season, an offense that has struggled to be consistent all season was bolstered Sunday by the full health of its two biggest playmakers: running back Clinton Portis and wide receiver Santana Moss.

Portis and Moss have battled injuries, with Moss missing games with an injured heel and hamstring problems and Portis struggling with the effects of missing offseason workouts because of tendinitis in his knee. But Sunday night in the Redskins' 22-10 win over the New York Giants, the two University of Miami products finally looked healthy and Washington's offense looked more dynamic.

Moss gave the Redskins a deep threat, finishing with three catches for 75 yards and often adjusting to passes from quarterback Todd Collins that hung up in the strong wind -- a skill that helped make him one of the league's top receivers in 2005, when he set a franchise record with 1,483 receiving yards and prompted Coach Joe Gibbs to joke that he had a "GPS on those deep balls."

"It was good to see him back, playing with a lot of enthusiasm, going after things," Gibbs said. "I think he's back now, that's good news. We keep having injuries but getting some guys back healthy means a lot, too."

Portis, who recorded his third 100-yard rushing game of the year with 126, hit holes with power and was especially effective on a delayed draw play.

"Clinton, as the year's gone on, I think now he's probably in the best shape of the year," Gibbs said. "He's gone farther and farther, hasn't been hurt and I think now he's back playing with reckless abandon. And I think he feels good and started to make the most of things last night."

Approval for Landry

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Several defensive players supported rookie safety LaRon Landry a day after the first-round pick was flagged for another 15-yard penalty in a key situation Sunday night. "I like it, I like the attitude," linebacker Marcus Washington said. "Guys watched that last night on TV and they watch film and it kind of strikes a little fear in them when 'Dirty 30' is back there. It definitely sends a message." Defensive end Phillip Daniels agreed. "He reminds you of somebody, don't he?" Daniels asked. "He reminds you of Sean Taylor a little bit. He's just got to be smart."

Gibbs also praised Landry's aggressiveness and said he thought the rookie learned a lesson on the play. "I think the best way to kind of make a point to somebody is to have that happen to him and I think he'll get smarter and smarter as that goes," Gibbs said. "I'll tell you what I like about him. I like the fact that he does not size stuff up. He is not playing like a rookie, he plays like 'I'm going after it.' He's very, very aggressive, he's a lot like Sean from that standpoint, he is."

Injury Updates

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Tight end Todd Yoder underwent an MRI exam on his right knee yesterday and Bubba Tyer, the Redskins' director of sports medicine, said Yoder has a cartilage defect and is day-to-day . . . Tyer said quarterback Jason Campbell, who dislocated his kneecap Dec. 6, is "doing real good" and has improved over the past week. Gibbs said the team does not plan to place Campbell on injured reserve yet. . . . Guard Mike Pucillo (back), defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin (dislocated finger) and safeties Pierson Prioleau (hamstring), Reed Doughty (shoulder) and Landry (quadriceps) were treated for minor injuries and will be fine by the weekend, Tyer said. Cornerback John Eubanks has an infected foot and is day-to-day. . . . Guard Randy Thomas, who was placed on injured reserve on Thursday, had an MRI last night to make sure there was not serious damage done to his triceps in the Dec. 6 game against Chicago, Tyer said.