THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

SAM FARMER’S NFL RANKINGS WITH COMMENTS

Rk Team (Record) Comment

1 Pittsburgh (10-2) All this, and the Bus isn’t at full speed.

2 St. Louis (10-2) Defense is thriving in the shadows.

3 Green Bay (9-3) Kicking game is a concern.

4 Miami (9-3) No interceptions thrown in last three games.

5 Oakland (9-3) Gannon is starting to force things a bit.

6 Chicago (9-3) Stubbornly sticking to shaky offensive plan.

7 New England (8-5) Tom Brady getting more comfortable by the week.

8 San Francisco (9-3) Garcia took backward steps in loss to Rams.

9 Philadelphia (8-4) Depth of defensive line will be tested.

10 Baltimore (8-4) Return of DTs Burnett and Adams should help.

11 New Orleans (7-5) Can they stun the Rams again?

12 Tampa Bay (7-5) Ten of 12 games have been decided on final drives.

13 Denver (7-6) Success hinges on whether Griese is ready to go.

14 New York Jets (7-5) There’s no shame in losing to Pittsburgh.

15 Cleveland (6-6) Defense should have been better against Patriots.

16 Washington (6-6) Back on track? Philly will test that theory.

17 Seattle (6-6) Running backs are talented but inconsistent.

18 Atlanta (6-6) Lately, no staying power in the second half.

19 Arizona (5-7) Need to tighten up return game.

20 Minnesota (5-7) Zero heart. Vikings are explosive, but only when they care.

21 New York Giants (5-7) Are 0-2 since Fassel’s “guarantee.”

22 Tennessee (5-7) Might as well write off Eddie George this season.

23 Dallas (4-8) Quincy Carter good enough to keep job, but is he the future?

24 Jacksonville (4-8) Defense is a MASH unit.

25 Kansas City (3-9) Chiefs kicking themselves over kicking game.

26 Indianapolis (4-8) Dog-tired defense had nothing left against Dolphins.

27 Cincinnati (4-8) Five consecutive losses ... and counting.

28 San Diego (5-8) Oakland next, then it’s Drew Brees time.

29 Detroit (0-12) Average margin of loss in last nine: 4.4 points.

30 Buffalo (2-10) Alex Van Pelt is an adequate Band-Aid.

31 Carolina (1-12) So long, Seifert.