NFL divisional standings can be viewed as a four-story apartment building. Fresher air and more comfortable surroundings are for tenants at the top.

Although consistent penthouse or upper-floor residents like Denver (4-1), Indianapolis (4-1), New England (4-0) and Philadelphia (4-0) have remained well above street level for years, other teams this year have been packing suitcases and moving upstairs.

Since the NFL adopted the 12-team playoff format in 1990, the most new playoff teams from one season to the next were the eight of last season. There are presently eight teams at 3-2 (.600) or better that did not qualify for the playoffs in 2003:

Former New York Jets defensive lineman MARTY LYONS (1979-89), a cog in the Jets’ "New York Sack Exchange" and the club’s current radio analyst, sees similarities between this year’s team that tops the NFL’s list of improved clubs and past winning Jets teams. "The defensive ends (JOHN ABRAHAM and SHAUN ELLIS) remind me of JOE KLECKO and MARK GASTINEAU," says Lyons. "They’re coming after the quarterback from the corners, pushing him into the middle of the pocket and then you’ve got DEWAYNE ROBERTSON and JASON FERGUSON there to meet him.

"The Jets have added youth and speed, a good mixture of young players and veterans. That’s the chemistry that wins."

Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers tackle TUNCH ILKIN (1980-92), who calls Steelers action on radio, also sees common Black & Gold threads between today’s AFC North leaders and Pittsburgh teams of the past. "The one thing that jumps out about this team is that they make plays they have to make," says Ilkin. "Last year they didn’t always do that. They’re forcing turnovers (AFC-best 12 takeaways), which is something that successful Steelers teams have done in the past."

Ilkin also is a fan of 3-0 rookie quarterback BEN ROETHLISBERGER. "What’s impressive to me about Ben is his poise," he says. "He’s not awed by playing in the NFL. He looks comfortable. He knows that he belongs.

"Everyone talks about his size and arm strength, but more than that, if he makes a bad play, he doesn’t tank over it. He keeps his cool."

Jacksonville is another club on this year’s "improved" list. "This team is different than a lot of Jaguars teams of old," says former Jaguars linebacker JEFF LAGEMAN (1995-98), now the team’s radio commentator. "The defense – I don’t know if it’s the most talented group, but they play so hard. You have to credit (head coach) JACK DEL RIO and (defensive coordinator) MIKE SMITH for that."

There’s a second New York team that was not in the playoffs last year but is at .800 this season -- the 4-1 Giants. And their defensive end MICHAEL STRAHAN thinks he knows the reason for the improvement.

"I think the biggest factor is making fewer mistakes," says Strahan in discussing his team’s ascent in the NFC East, one-half game behind the Eagles (4-0). "It seems that our teams that have done well coming out of the gate, guys have committed fewer turnovers and made fewer mistakes. It’s a matter of playing smarter and better."