OAKLAND – Members of the Giants’ defensive backfield weren’t the only ones last night expecting to keep a watchful eye on Raiders receiver Randy Moss. A prominent player in the Giants’ offense couldn’t get enough of seeing Moss in action.

“I love Randy; he’s one of my favorite players in the league,” Plaxico Burress said before the game in McAfee Coliseum. “Every player has a player they love to watch play and he’s one of my favorites. He’s probably the most gifted wide receiver I’ve ever seen as far as catching the football. Sometimes he leaves your mouth open with some of the plays he makes. I’m going to be standing up watching him on the sidelines.”

The exploits haven’t come as often for Moss, who is finishing up one of his worst seasons. He entered the season finale third on the Raiders with 53 receptions for a team-high 889 yards and a career-low six touchdowns. Moss was slowed for much of the season with a strained groin and never fully developed a rhythm or chemistry with Kerry Collins.

Still, the Giants knew Moss and Jerry Porter catching the ball deep was the best chance for the Raiders to pull the upset.

“Moss is Moss. Everybody knows what he’s capable of in this league,” cornerback Will Allen said. “He’s done it for so long. No matter if he’s injured or not you got to make sure you’re on top of yours because he’s capable of exploding at any time. He’s a game-changer.”

Matching up with Moss and Porter were Allen and Corey Webster, the rookie from LSU who made his second NFL start. Webster supplanted slumping Curtis Deloatch, who slipped into the nickel-back role.

Webster said all week leading up to the game he was busy studying the tendencies of Moss and Porter, hoping to glean something to help him against two potent receivers who hadn’t lived up to expectations this season.

“When you see a young guy on the field, you tend to see a guy with less experience and try to go after him,” Webster said.