LANDOVER, Md. (AP) -- No team forgets losing 50-21.

Especially not the New York Giants, whose pride is their defense. Especially not the players who endured the humiliation -- at home against a hated division rival in the second game of the season.

Especially not all-pro defensive end Michael Strahan, who got pushed around by a rookie all day and heard trash talk in the fourth quarter.

So, forget for a moment that Sunday's rematch against the Washington Redskins is for first place in the NFC Least. For guys like Strahan, this one is also about dignity.

"That 50 points is still with me," said Strahan, who gets his own personal rematch against Redskins right tackle Jon Jansen. "I haven't forgotten it yet. This week is going to be special."

Strahan said there was a "lot of talk" from the Redskins in the final minutes of that blowout nine weeks ago, and defensive tackle Keith Hamilton accused Washington of running up the score. Motivation has not been a problem this week.

"I haven't forgotten about it," Hamilton said. "We've never had a team go through us like that. That was one game that really left a bitter taste in my mouth. They jumped on us and some of the guys lost faith. We can't let that happen again."

The Redskins know it probably won't. Suitably warned that their visitors will be angry, Washington expects this game to be more like the grind-it-out nail-biters usually associated with this storied rivalry.

"We were very hot that day, and we just kind of took it to them," said quarterback Brad Johnson, who led touchdown drives on Washington's first three possessions for a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. "That was a very special day for us. Fifty points just doesn't happen very often. Any time you lose in that fashion, they were embarrassed. There will be a revenge factor for them."

In the 1980s, fans got used to great Giants and Redskins teams battling for first place. The only way to make a great team out of the 1999 versions would be to somehow combine Washington's offense and New York's defense on the same roster. Both are ranked second in the NFC.

The Redskins (5-4) don't have much of a defense -- they're rated last in the league -- and the Giants (5-4) are offensively challenged.

There were such demoralizing comments from both locker rooms last Sunday -- Washington lost to Philadelphia and New York fell to Indianapolis -- that it's sometimes hard to believe that first place is actually on the line.

"The way we've done it is ugly," New York cornerback Jason Sehorn said. "Up and down, up and down. We'd be out of it by now if we were in the AFC East."

The Redskins have dropped three of four since a 4-1 start, bringing back memories of similar collapses in 1996 and 1997.

"The people around us have an attitude like we're 1-8," fullback Larry Centers said.

Nevertheless, this is by far the biggest game either team has played in almost two years. The loser will drop to .500 and start wondering whether playoff hopes are realistic, while the winner can control its own destiny.

"It's huge," New York coach Jim Fassel said. "I don't know if we've played a game or will play one in the near future that will have the impact on us that this one will. You're looking at potential ties, so you're looking at division records. This one, as much as any of them, carries all that."

Once again, the Giants have to field an undermanned secondary against the Redskins high-powered attack. Andre Weathers and Conrad Hamilton are out, although Percy Ellsworth might return from a knee injury. Jeremy Lincoln, who struggled in the first meeting, may get to redeem himself playing nickel back.

"Yeah, if I had played it would have only been 43-21," Sehorn, now healthy after missing the first game, said with a laugh.

The Redskins' offense won't be at its best because leading receiver Michael Westbrook has a broken wrist. He's wearing a cast and is determined to play, but he's essentially a one-handed receiver trying to ignore pain.

The Giants have shaken up their offensive line, replacing first-round draft pick Luke Petitgout with fifth-rounder Mike Rosenthal at left guard. Across the line, the Redskins might not start their two sacks leaders: Anthony Cook has replaced flashy but inconsistent end Kenard Lang, and tackle Dan Wilkinson's status is uncertain because of a strained back.

Either way, one team will find itself in a different type of game. The average score of a Redskins game this season is a shootoutlike 31-28, while the miserly Giants hover around 18-17.

"We're 5-4, and this is where you've got to separate yourself," Sehorn said. "Both teams realize that."

NY GIANTS Season schedule and results

WASHINGTON Season schedule and results

September 12 @Tampa Bay W 17-13 September 19 Washington L 21-50 September 26 @New England L 14-16 October 3 Philadelphia W 16-15 October 10 @Arizona L 3-14 October 18 Dallas W 13-10 October 24 New Orleans W 31-3 October 31 @Philadelphia W 23-17 November 14 Indianapolis L 19-27 November 21 @Washington 4:15pm ET November 28 Arizona 1:00pm ET December 5 NY Jets 1:00pm ET December 12 @Buffalo 1:00pm ET December 19 @St. Louis 1:00pm ET December 26 Minnesota 1:00pm ET January 2 @Dallas 4:05pm ET

September 12 Dallas L 35-41 September 19 @NY Giants W 50-21 September 26 @NY Jets W 27-20 October 3 Carolina W 38-36 October 17 @Arizona W 24-10 October 24 @Dallas L 20-38 October 31 Chicago W 48-22 November 7 Buffalo L 17-34 November 14 @Philadelphia L 28-35 November 21 NY Giants 4:15pm ET November 28 Philadelphia 1:00pm ET December 5 @Detroit 1:00pm ET December 12 Arizona 1:00pm ET December 19 @Indianapolis 1:00pm ET December 26 @San Francisco 8:20pm ET January 2 Miami 4:15pm ET

Records source: STATS, Inc.

Copyright 1999 STATS, Inc. Commercial distribution without the express written consent of STATS is prohibited.