Giants a team on rise

In Week 1, the Philadelphia Eagles toyed with the New York Giants, beating them 31-17 in a game that wasn’t that close.

About half a season later, those same bedraggled Giants might be the second-best team in the NFC. At least they’re among them, one of only three two-loss teams in the conference behind unbeaten Philadelphia, all seemingly light years behind in ability.

No, don’t put the Eagles in the Super Bowl yet, although their path looks to be unimpeded as the 2004 season nears the halfway point. The same can’t be said in the AFC, where there are several legitimate contenders after New England’s 21-game winning streak ended decisively in Pittsburgh.

Still, after eight weeks in another unpredictable season, it’s at least starting to become clear who will challenge for the playoffs and who will miss them.

That New England lost to Pittsburgh wasn’t a surprise: the Patriots haven’t played very well recently and a long winning streak builds its own internal pressure until things just go “Pop!” Bill Belichick’s team may play better now that it doesn’t have to worry about one loss, although it can’t afford to lose players like Corey Dillon and Ty Law for long.

But Pittsburgh (6-1) certainly looks like a major contender, and it’s probably time to consider Ben Roethlisberger one of those rare rookie quarterbacks who can play at a consistently high level. The one thing he hasn’t had to do yet is bring his team from behind – throw when the opposition knows he’s going to throw.

The Patriots could even have a problem in their own division. The Jets, who also have just one loss following Monday night’s 41-14 win over Miami, did everything but beat them in Foxboro, losing 13-7 but playing them even. The return game is Dec. 26, the next-to-last week of the regular season.

The most intriguing division is the South, where the third-year Texans have joined the Jaguars as challengers to the Colts. All have three losses, and the state of Indianapolis’ defense, which must face Minnesota’s offense next Monday night, has to be of concern to Tony Dungy, who won’t enjoy watching tapes of the debacle in Kansas City.

Even Tennessee (3-5) could get involved if Steve McNair can regain his health, making it a division that could be won at 9-7 and produce no wild-card entries.

Everyone talks about the New England streak, but the Eagles have been almost as good during the same period – 20-3 since starting the 2003 season 0-2. With Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse added, Philadelphia is 7-0 and clearly better than anyone else in the conference and hungry for the title after getting stopped a game short of the Super Bowl the past three seasons.

Everything else is up in the air.

Green Bay started 1-4 with three straight home losses, now has won three straight, and still plays Minnesota twice, giving the Packers reason to believe they can catch the Vikings in the North. The Vikings tend to start fast and finish slowly, but they also tend to at least split with the Packers: They are 13-11 against Green Bay since Brett Favre arrived in 1992.

Atlanta (5-2) leads New Orleans by two games in the South and Tampa Bay by three games. Credit Jim Mora for getting the Falcons up for a win in Denver on Sunday after losing 56-10 in Kansas City last week.

Seattle (4-3) and St. Louis (4-3) have the West to themselves and because they figure to beat up on Arizona and San Francisco, one of them could finish as a wild-card entry.

Figure the Giants will get the other wild card.

Seahawks receivers ailing

The Seattle Seahawks’ receiving corps is hurting after Darrell Jackson, Jerry Rice and Alex Bannister were injured in a victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Jackson, the team’s leading receiver, finished Sunday’s game, but Rice and Bannister didn’t make it that far. Jackson suffered an ankle injury, while Rice sprained his right ankle and Bannister, a Pro Bowl special teams player last season, broke his right collarbone and will miss eight weeks.

“It’s not good, but I will know way more by Wednesday,” coach Mike Holmgren said Monday when asked about the injury situation.

In addition, Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson suffered a sprained right ankle.

“I was just out there on one leg,” Hutchinson said.

Holmgren said he might place Bannister on injured reserve, which means he would miss the remainder of the season.

Ravens eager for Lewis’ return

Having survived the two-game suspension of All-Pro running back Jamal Lewis, the Baltimore Ravens are ready to make a legitimate move in their pursuit of a playoff berth.

The Ravens split two games while Lewis, their main offensive weapon, served his punishment for violating the NFL substance abuse policy. During his absence, Baltimore handily beat the Buffalo Bills two weeks ago before falling 15-10 on the road Sunday against the unbeaten Philadelphia Eagles.

That left the Ravens (4-3) two games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.

“Now we’re going to go forward and see what we’re going to make happen over the next few weeks,” coach Brian Billick said Monday. “We clearly have to be better in order to re-establish ourselves as a team that has playoff and Super Bowl aspirations.”

The return of Lewis should help. Chester Taylor and Musa Smith filled in capably, totaling 100 yards rushing against the Bills and 103 vs. Philadelphia, but neither can match the credentials of a bruising back who last year ran for 2,066 yards.

With Lewis back, Billick expects the Ravens to crank up their offense production, beginning this Sunday night against the Cleveland Browns.

“Taking nothing away from Chester and Musa, you’d probably think so,” Billick said. “Jamal Lewis is a special back. He has proven that. You’ve got to believe he would make a difference.”

Around the league

Brett Favre, who has started an NFL-record 216 straight games at quarterback, has a sprained thumb on his throwing hand, but it won’t keep the Green Bay quarterback from making his next start, against Minnesota on Nov. 14. … Broncos safety John Lynch will be out for two to four weeks after being diagnosed with a fractured tailbone. … 49ers defensive end Brandon Whiting will miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his left knee. … Robert Porcher retired, ending a 13-year career with the Lions, for whom he is the career leader in sacks.