THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

SAM FARMER’S NFL RANKINGS AND COMMENTS:

*--* Rank Team (record) Comment (last week’s rank) 1 SAN DIEGO (6-1) Chargers have matched combined win totals of 2000 and 2001. (1) 2 GREEN BAY (6-1) Packers have won 18 in a row when leading at halftime. (5) 3 PHILADELPHIA (5-2) The Eagles are running well, and often -- 73 times in the past two games. (7) 4 DENVER (6-2) Brian Griese has thrown touchdown passes in 23 consecutive games. (9) 5 SAN FRANCISCO (5-2) On third down, Jeff Garcia leads league with passer rating of 137.6. (6) 6 MIAMI (5-2) Dolphins need Cris Carter to get up to speed ASAP. (3) 7 NEW ORLEANS (6-2) Deuce McAllister has five runs of at least 46 yards each. (2) 8 TAMPA BAY (6-2) Bucs catch scheduling break -- one road game in the next six weeks. (8) 9 BUFFALO (5-3) Drew Bledsoe is on track for 5,000 yards passing. (10) 10 PITTSBURGH (4-3) In three-game win streak, Steelers have outscored opponents, 93-35. (12) 11 KANSAS CITY (4-4) Don’t adjust picture: Trent Green tied for AFC lead with 16 scoring passes. (11) 12 OAKLAND (4-3) Flashback to 1995: Raiders started 8-2 before losing six in a row. (4) 13 ARIZONA (4-3) Secondary could use some help from pass rush that’s gone cold. (13) 14 ATLANTA (4-3) Michael Vick Show continues against Ray Lewis-less Raven defense. (16) 15 ST. LOUIS (2-5) Rams have scored 65 points in last two games after scoring 74 in first five. (21) 16 INDIANAPOLIS (4-3) Edgerrin James has injured hamstring; burden on (other) Ricky Williams. (15) 17 BALTIMORE (3-4) Jeff Blake has strong arm, but will the O-line give him time to use it? (14) 18 NEW ENGLAND (3-4) Patriot defense is almost nonexistent in the red zone. (17) 19 JACKSONVILLE (3-4) Since starting the 2000 season 2-1, Jaguars are 14-22. (18) 20 DETROIT (2-5) Harrington has fast starts down pat. He has to show he can finish strong. (22) 21 SEATTLE (2-5) Matt Hasselbeck to make first start of season, without Darrell Jackson. (23) 22 DALLAS (3-5) Bad news for Chad Hutchinson: Dallas poised to start rookie center. (20) 23 TENNESSEE (3-4) Steve McNair has looked particularly sharp over the past two games. (24) 24 WASHINGTON (3-4) Even Skins’ average ground game should move chains at Seattle. (30) 25 N.Y. GIANTS (3-4) With Ike Hilliard out, 17th-ranked Giant offense is hurting even more. (27) 26 CAROLINA (3-5) Panthers lead the NFL with 31 sacks, 27 by defensive line. (26) 27 CLEVELAND (4-4) New Browns at home 8-20. New Browns on the road 8-20. (25) 28 MINNESOTA (2-5) Vikings have lost last two games at Tampa Bay by a combined 82-27. (29) 29 CHICAGO (2-5) Bears are last in the league in rushing; that won’t help hobbled Jim Miller. (19) 30 HOUSTON (2-5) David Carr, the human bruise, has been sacked 44 times. (31) 31 N.Y. JETS (2-5) Chad Pennington’s first road start at San Diego. (28) 32 CINCINNATI (0-7) When all else fails, guarantee a victory. (32)

*--*