Joe Gibbs interrupted Christmas Day, his only day off in the entire season, to make an anxious phone call about the status of Mark Brunell's knee. "I was concerned," Gibbs said. "I wanted to see what happened overnight. He gave me a good report." Washington Redskins director of sports medicine Bubba Tyer told Gibbs the knee had very little swelling. There was more good news Monday, when an MRI confirmed the original diagnosis: a mild sprain of the MCL in Brunell's right knee, with no further damage. "Just a sprain. Nothing really serious," Brunell said. "Just kind of what we thought going in." Gibbs and Brunell tried to be as vague as possible, but there were clear hints of optimism that the quarterback will ready to start the game that could clinch the Redskins' first playoff berth in six years. A victory Sunday over Philadelphia guarantees Washington (9-6) at least a wild card spot and would mean the NFC East title if the New York Giants lose at Oakland on Saturday night. "You can't hold me to it," Gibbs said, "but I would guess that he'll take some time off early in the week and hopefully we'll able to work him in (to practice) toward the end of the week."