by Sports Xchange

A year after Devin Thomas, Fred Davis and Malcolm Kelly combined for just 21 catches, 165 yards and no touchdowns while starting three games, the second-round picks from the 2008 draft have combined for 44 catches, 634 yards and three touchdowns.

"They're more comfortable with what's going on in the offense," quarterback Jason Campbell said. "They're not just going to the line every time thinking about what they have to do. They know what to do so now a lot of their physical abilities are starting to come out."

That was the case last week in Philadelphia when the trio combined for 10 catches, 149 yards and a touchdown. Thomas had a career-high 35-yard catch that followed Davis' career-long 29-yard grab and preceded the tight end's second touchdown. A week after grabbing a career-high 36-yarder, Kelly had a 27-yarder to set up a touchdown.

"No doubt, this was our best game," Kelly said. "We had opportunities to make plays. When your number is called, you come through and make plays."

Campbell threw 17 of his 37 passes towards Thomas, Davis and Kelly.

"Give Jason time and we'll make plays," Davis said. "That's what we came here for."

The 6-foot-2 Thomas and the 6-4 Kelly were drafted to give the Redskins the tall receivers they were missing with 5-10 veterans Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El. Davis was chosen to complement Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley. Now with Cooley on injured reserve and running backs Ladell Betts and Clinton Portis also sidelined, the young pass-catchers have become even more important to Campbell.

"It's promising for the future," Thomas said. "We're just trying to step up, trying to be the guy to make a play that will help us win the game."

Thomas and Kelly have shared the job opposite Moss that Randle El held the previous three years. But Davis has started since Cooley broke an ankle in Week 7. Davis has 20 catches, 221 yards and two scores in the four-plus games since. "Fred's a hard guy to tackle; catches a short pass and turns it into a 30-, 40-yard gain," Campbell said.

SERIES HISTORY: 23rd meeting. Redskins lead 15-7. There haven't been that many memorable games between the teams, but the fourth, a 26-20 Washington victory in the penultimate game of 1969 was noteworthy because it was the last for coaching legend Vince Lombardi. The Hall of Famer died of cancer the following year on the eve of what would have been his second season with the Redskins.