Giants are the best, but easy to forget

Hellooo. It's us, the New York Giants. Remember? Defending Super Bowl champs, vanquisher of the mighty Patriots, undefeated so far this season. Can't quite place us? We understand. Not sure why, but somehow we're still forgotten in all of this Dallas hype and these Redskins Hallelujahs.

Let us refresh you, OK? Go to the stats. Look, there we are, No. 1 in offense - 431 yards, 31.8 points per game. Third-ranked in defense - 236 yards, 12.2 points allowed, about four sacks per game.

There's running back Brandon Jacobs, who gains nearly six yards a carry. Our quarterback Eli Manning? Sixteen touchdowns and three interceptions in his past nine games.

And Eli gets his best receiver, Plaxico Burress, back this week from his one-game suspension. Yes, Plaxico has some issues with being on time to things like meetings and practices, but he'll slice you on the field. We deal with it.

Now, as for the three jamokes - Rams, Bengals, Seahawks - we've played since we beat the Redskins, don't hold that against us. You play who the NFL puts in front of you. Don't worry, our challenges are coming; we've got Pittsburgh, Dallas, Philly and Baltimore in a row soon.

Believe us, though; Those teams know what's waiting for them. We just don't want you to forget.

Tom Robinson, (757) 446-2518, tom.robinson@pilotonline.com

1. New York Giants

(last week: 1; record 4-0)

G-Men overwhelmed Seattle 44-6, running up 342 yards in the first half alone. QB Eli Manning is on pace for best season by far: production, efficiency, everything. Browns and 49ers are next before tough four-game run starting at Pittsburgh. Quirky stat: Only Giants and Patriots have yet to recover an opponent's fumble. Can't say it has hurt them much.

This week: At Cleveland.

2. Tennessee Titans

(last week: 2; 5-0)

You go to Baltimore and outbash the Ravens 13-10 and you've done something, but why be surprised? In its past 10 regular-season games, Tennessee is

9-1. Quirky stat: Offense is ranked just 25th, but Titans thrive on plus-6 turnover margin, best in NFL along with Redskins.

This week: Bye.

3. Washington Redskins

(last week: 3; 4-1)

Jim Zorn's Wonders are done with division road games. Don't get too hysterical but, with one win among next three opponents (Rams, Browns, Lions), first 7-1 start since 1996 could happen. Quirky stat: Of course, '96 team collapsed and missed playoffs under Norv Turner. The same Norv Turner who's steering Chargers into the ground. But I digress.

This week: Home vs. St. Louis.

4. Dallas Cowboys

(last week: 4; 4-1)

Fragile psyche of this team being tested after Redskins' loss and struggle to beat winless Bengals 31-22.

Clock ticking, too, on 17th-ranked pass defense to pull it together; 'Boys have allowed six TDs with just one pick. Quirky stat: Felix Jones leads rookie RBs with 9 yards per carry and longest TD run, 60 yards. QB Tony Romo's 11 TD passes tied for second in league.

This week: At Arizona.

5. Pittsburgh Steelers

(last week: 5; 4-1)

Gotta love Mike Tomlin's battered troops, surviving beatdowns with Baltimore and Jacksonville the past two weeks. The rest of the way? Oh, only Giants, Redskins, Colts, Chargers, Patriots, Cowboys, Ravens (again), Titans, among others. Nothing to it. Quirky stat: Third-most penalized team (331 yards).

This week: Blessedly, a bye.

6. Carolina Panthers

(last week: not ranked; 4-1)

Panthers bolt back into rankings, not just for swamping Chiefs but for their gathering momentum. Fourth-best defense (254 yards per game) has allowed no TDs in past nine quarters; RB DeAngelo Williams produced team's first 100-yard rushing day last week (123). Quirky stat: Panthers need to click better in red zone; they have scored just six TDs in 13 shots from inside 20.

This week: At Tampa Bay.

7. Denver Broncos

(last week: NR; 4-1)

Broncos deliver what we've been waiting for, a good defensive effort in 16-13 win against Tampa Bay. Held RB Earnest Graham, coming off 111-yard game, to 59. Denver has allowed just one actual sack - controversial inadvertent whistle against Chargers in Week 2 was also ruled a sack. WR Eddie Royal is up to 30 catches, most among rookies.

This week: Home vs. Jacksonville.

8. Buffalo Bills

(last week: 6; 4-1)

Bills fall two spots after 41-17 waxing at Arizona, which concussed QB Trent Edwards on game's third play. Three lost fumbles - two by backup QB J.P. Losman - led to 17 points and trends Bills the wrong way on turnover chart (minus-3). Quirky stat (courtesy espn.com): Bill have yet to play AFC East game while all division foes have played at least two.

This week: Bye.

9. Chicago Bears

(last week: (NR; 3-2)

Bears already think they should be 5-0; both losses featured blown late leads. So confidence is high after 34-7 thrashing of woeful Lions that put Bears atop NFC North. Nitty gritty coming soon: Four of next seven are against division foes, including Vikings twice. Good for QB Kyle Orton; career day vs. Lions, 334 yards, two TDs.

This week: At Atlanta.

10. New England Patriots

(last week: NR; 3-1)

Power-rankings love is back for Pats, who beat 49ers 30-21 and get to stay in California all week for next game at Chargers. WR Randy Moss had best day with backup QB Matt Cassel: five catches, 111 yards and 66-yard TD. Pats played keep-away, controlling ball for two-thirds of game. Careful, though; Cassel was intercepted twice and sacked five times.

This week: At San Diego.

Dropping out: No. 7 Philadelphia Eagles (2-3): Manhandled by Redskins, already close to buried in NFC East; No. 8 San Diego Chargers (2-3): Bolts have exhausted benefit of doubt; No. 9 Baltimore Ravens (2-2): Offense can't support punishing defense; No. 10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2): Just one TD against limp Denver D? Be gone from this Top 10!