Clinton Portis won’t list this game in his pantheon of highlight performances, but the Pro Bowl running back did score the touchdown that lifted the Washington Redskins past the visiting Philadelphia Eagles 10-3 in Sunday’s home finale.
Portis finished with just 70 yards on 22 carries, but coming on the heels of five losses in six games and against the NFC’s top defense just two days after he woke up with back spasms, it was satisfying.
“I don’t think nobody on our team had been Christmas shopping,” Portis said. “I haven’t bought one gift. [Now] you tend to buy a gift you wouldn’t normally have. Before this week, everybody would probably [have received] $50 gift certificates.”
The biggest gift Portis received Sunday was the fumble that defensive end Jason Taylor forced and linebacker London Fletcher recovered and advanced 12 yards to the Philadelphia 18-yard line 3:33 into the third quarter. Five plays later, Portis ran off left tackle and into the end zone from a yard out for his first touchdown in eight games.
“I really wanted to spike the ball, spin on my head, jump into the crowd, but they throw the flag for everything,” Portis said, referring to the $10,000 fine the NFL levied on receiver Santana Moss for a touchdown celebration a week earlier in Cincinnati.
Portis, who already had played with injuries to his knee, hip, neck and ribs and who missed time Sunday with a bruised left hand, surprised himself by overcoming his ailing back.
“I didn’t think I was going to play,” said Portis, whose 1,407 yards are the third most in a season in team history, trailing his 1,516 in 2005 and Stephen Davis’ 1,432 in 2001. “As soon as I walked in [the locker room], Santana said, ’You look like you’re walking good.’ Once you get the vibe of the locker room, guys start depending on you. Everyone looking [at you], you can’t let your teammates down.”
Plackemeier comes through
A week after booming punts of 59 and 62 yards, Ryan Plackemeier had a pair of 50-yard boots and placed five of his eight kicks inside the 20. Cut by Seattle after the opener, Plackemeier’s past two games have been the best of his eight with Washington.
“I would say so, as far as consistencywise and helping out the team,” he agreed. “The guys up front did a great job: James Thrash and Justin Tryon downing balls, Rock [Cartwright] downing balls. [Snapper Ethan Albright] didn’t miss his target all night. You put a dime on my chest, and he hit all night.”
Roster updates
Offensive tackle Jon Jansen was inactive for a second straight game with a sprained left knee. Jason Fabini started in his place again. Starting defensive tackle Kedric Golston, who expected to play with bone spurs in his right ankle as he did last week after sitting out the previous two games, was inactive and replaced by Anthony Montgomery.
Linebacker Marcus Washington returned after missing four games with a high ankle sprain. Defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin (abdominal strain) and safety Chris Horton (sprained shoulder) were back after being inactive against the Bengals. Defensive tackle Lorenzo Alexander strained a hamstring in the third quarter and didn’t return.
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