"Some people might be angry about it, some people might just say we lost that game and it's another game," the Giants safety said yesterday. "But me personally, I think we owe them a good licking. We owe 'em a physical game. We need to be physical with 'em. Because they out-physical-ed us last game."

Last week, leading up to the Cowboys game, the Giants' lack of physicality defensively was an issue, with defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan admitting that his defense hasn't been consistently physical this season. Johnson said against the Eagles "we didn't play physical enough" and even said he believed "sometimes guys were maybe playing a little soft."

"You've just got to butter up, play - everybody just copy off of [linebacker] Danny Clark, put your face on everything," Johnson said. "Make tackles with your face. Got to play hard. Play more physical."

It should help that Johnson will be playing. Last week against Dallas he missed the first game of his three-year NFL career because of a groin injury. Johnson is listed as questionable for tomorrow night, but he practiced yesterday on a limited basis and said he felt fine.

"I'm going to play on Sunday," Johnson said.

The question is whether Johnson will return to the starting lineup. Johnson said he expects to start, but it's possible Aaron Ross, who has been converted from cornerback to safety over the last few weeks, could get the nod this week.

"We'll see," coach Tom Coughlin said when asked whether the Giants would assign Ross more responsibility against the Eagles.

Ross said his transition to his new position is progressing.

"The biggest thing for me is transferring my eyes from the receivers to the quarterback," Ross said. "I am starting to get a feel for it."

Added safety Aaron Rouse of his teammate's new role, "I think Ross is a player. I think he just wants to be on the field."

With the Giants at 7-5 and the Eagles and Cowboys (who play host to the 9-3 Chargers) tied for the NFC East lead at 8-4, tomorrow night's game is very important.

"Both teams are going to want it. I don't think anybody's going to come over, lay over and die. You've got to go out there and take it," cornerback Corey Webster said. "I think it'll be a good game on Sunday, and we'll be up for the challenge."

Especially when it comes to playing physically.

"This time [against Philadelphia] we'll go out there and play a lot more physical and basically try to intimidate one-on-one every play and win one-on-one battles every play," Johnson said. "So just intimidate 'em and try to beat 'em up, play aggressive the whole game, win the physical battle."

Asked how you play more physically, Johnson said, "Be physical on your assignment. If you've got to set the edge, then you set the edge hard as [heck] and don't give ground when you set the edge."

---

WHO'S NEXT: Eagles at Giants - Tomorrow - 8:20 TV - NBC Radio - WFAN (660 AM) Line: Giants -1 O/U: 44 Low 33. Light

NFC playoff picture (m)

TEAM RECORD

Division leaders

Saints 12-0

Vikings 10-2

Cowboys* 8-4

Cardinals 8-4

Wild-card leaders

Eagles* 8-4

Packers 8-4

Contenders

Giants 7-5

Falcons 6-6

* Cowboys hold tiebreaker

Giants schedule

DATE OPP

Sunday Eagles

Dec. 21 at Redskins

Dec. 27 Panthers

Jan. 3 at Vikings