THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

SAM FARMER’S NFL RANKINGS AND COMMENTS:

*--* Rank Team (rec.) Comment (last week’s rank) 1 PHILADELPHIA (11-3) After McNabb went down, the defense picked up the pace. (2) 2 GREEN BAY (11-3) Terry Glenn has come on strong in the second half of the season. (4) 3 TAMPA BAY (11-3) No defense is quicker sideline to sideline. (3) 4 MIAMI (9-5) Jason Taylor isn’t just the defensive MVP, but an overall MVP candidate. (5) 5 OAKLAND (9-5) Raiders won’t run into a lot of teams with cover corners like Miami’s. (1) 6 INDIANAPOLIS (9-5) Colts cause a lot of fumbles but don’t recover many. (11) 7 DENVER (8-6) In last two weeks, Broncos have gone from also-rans to contenders. (13) 8 TENNESSEE (9-5) Robert Holcombe is a great complement to Eddie George. (14) 9 NEW ORLEANS (9-5) Every so often, Saints lose a game they have no business losing. (6) 10 SAN FRANCISCO (9-5) With nothing at stake, the 49ers will coast until the playoffs. (7) 11 ATLANTA (8-5-1) All of a sudden, Michael Vick looks very human. (8) 12 PITTSBURGH (8-5-1) If Steelers don’t win at Tampa, it could be do or die against Baltimore. (15) 13 NEW ENGLAND (8-6) Patriot line did a poor job of protecting Tom Brady vs. Titans. (9) 14 SAN DIEGO (8-6) No Priest Holmes this week? What a break. (10) 15 N.Y. JETS (7-7) Three fights at practice before the loss to Chicago. (12) 16 KANSAS CITY (7-7) Losing Holmes could be a devastating blow to this offense. (16) 17 BUFFALO (7-7) Bill defense is just starting to come around. (17) 18 N.Y. GIANTS (8-6) Flickering playoff hopes should be doused by Sunday night. (18) 19 BALTIMORE (7-7) Ravens lost three best defensive players but still held together. (20) 20 SEATTLE (5-9) Late surge still might not save Holmgren’s job. (22) 21 ST. LOUIS (6-8) Now that the pressure’s off, let’s see if Bulger can continue to shine. (23) 22 CLEVELAND (7-7) This was supposed to be the season the Browns hit their stride. (19) 23 JACKSONVILLE (6-8) Technically, Jaguars are alive. Really, they don’t have a playoff prayer. (24) 24 CAROLINA (5-9) Panthers have to start thinking draft position. (25) 25 DALLAS (5-9) Dave Campo is definitely on his way out of town. (21) 26 WASHINGTON (5-9) Redskins won’t be breezing past Houston. (26) 27 MINNESOTA (4-10) Vikings will, ahem, welcome Cris Carter back to the Metrodome. (28) 28 DETROIT (3-11) Lions are moving on up ... in the draft. (30) 29 CHICAGO (4-10) Chris Chandler didn’t look too bad against the Jets. (31) 30 ARIZONA (5-9) For one game, made the new Rams look like the old ones. (27) 31 HOUSTON (4-10) David Carr is almost sure to break the record for times sacked. (29) 32 CINCINNATI (1-13) Hello, Carson? What do you mean, wrong number? (32)

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