Power rankings indicate that if two teams face off with all things neutral, the higher team should win, does that happen? It’s why we play the game.
By the index power rankings, the Hawks sit at 1.
1. Baltimore Hawks (5-1) ?+2
It should be interesting to note that the only team that has one loss is the Hawks. Bear in mind, the Hawks have mainly been at home, and home field advantage is tangible but the win against the Outlaws and the fact that they were able to dispatch the Otters in Orange County and still having a regular season winning record against the Outlaws, as well as the only NSFC team with a positive point differential means that Hawks fans have a lot to celebrate about. I don’t know if this is their year, but based on how they’re playing if there was ever a year, this is it. Plus, let’s be real, unless there is a major collapse by the Hawks, the NSFC is theirs.
2. Orange County Otters (4-2) ?+1
The race for the ASFC #1 is wide open. And while Outlaws fans may get a little angsty about this ranking, I stand by it. Of the three 4-2 ASFC Teams, the Otters are looking the strongest. Yes, the Outlaws defense is better, but the Otters Offense is making short work and causing a lot of opponent drives to end in punts. Moreover it’s not that the offense is just good, it’s so much better than every other team out there. Do you know the team with the fewest punts? It is the Otters at 40. How about the fewest interceptions? Ok it’s the Legion and Outlaws, who sit at 5, compared to the Otters who are tied with the second lowest at 6. But the difference is this, the Otters have had 33% of their offensive drives end with a touchdown, and with 45% ending with a scoring attempt, the Otters are the most dangerous offense in the league.
3. Arizona Outlaws (4-2) ?-2
The Outlaws are good, but I’m not so sure that I back the 4-peat claim. Yes, they lead in sacks and yes they lead with a monstrous +70 point differential. But there are a few issues, the offense isn’t scoring as much as it should and relying on the defense to bail them out, it’s their bread and butter, but when it falls apart, it falls apart hard. Keep in mind, the Outlaws lost against the Wraiths without an offensive score. One cool fact, no one is throwing the more Yards per Completion than Bronko.
4. San Jose SaberCats (4-2) ?-2
The Sabercats are still in the Hunt in the contentious ASFC. It’s still on them to win, but the game against the Liberty was a much needed win to keep them in the hunt. The Sabercats defense has still been able to consistently get their turnovers. No team has caused more interceptions than the Sabercats. Couple this with the fact that the only team with more pass deflections is the Hawks, and they have one more deflection. The pass rush is suspect, as they are bottom half in sacks. The passing game is a bit weak as they sit in the bottom half of passing yards and touchdowns too.
5. Yellowknife Wraiths (3-3) ?+1
What a win. For the first time, the Wraiths have no strong offense as their win came slowly on field goals. They need to work on their red zone efficiency if they plan to win and get their long-awaited playoff appearance.
6. Philadelphia Liberty(2-4) ?-1
There’s a lot to say about the Liberty, but I want to keep it brief. The team is the only team to still be in double digit points scored. They’re not performing well and Rove is still struggling. They’re getting yardage, but cannot find the endzone. Moreover, it’s apparent that Rove has ways to go before he can compare with the quarterbacks of years past.
7. Las Vegas Legion (2-4) ?0
Finally, some normalcy, among the million of moving parts. The Legion are not good, and the Yeti may be passing them soon if Stone can’t get his act together.
8. Colorado Yeti (0-6) ?0
I know a lot of Yeti fans are sick of being last, and I get it. I think by the end of the season, the Yeti could be the force of nature that Sandoval saw starting last season. However, they still are the only team with a three digit point differential, and that’s a negative differential.
@acki edited this, please send the first million his way.
Graded
By the index power rankings, the Hawks sit at 1.
1. Baltimore Hawks (5-1) ?+2
It should be interesting to note that the only team that has one loss is the Hawks. Bear in mind, the Hawks have mainly been at home, and home field advantage is tangible but the win against the Outlaws and the fact that they were able to dispatch the Otters in Orange County and still having a regular season winning record against the Outlaws, as well as the only NSFC team with a positive point differential means that Hawks fans have a lot to celebrate about. I don’t know if this is their year, but based on how they’re playing if there was ever a year, this is it. Plus, let’s be real, unless there is a major collapse by the Hawks, the NSFC is theirs.
2. Orange County Otters (4-2) ?+1
The race for the ASFC #1 is wide open. And while Outlaws fans may get a little angsty about this ranking, I stand by it. Of the three 4-2 ASFC Teams, the Otters are looking the strongest. Yes, the Outlaws defense is better, but the Otters Offense is making short work and causing a lot of opponent drives to end in punts. Moreover it’s not that the offense is just good, it’s so much better than every other team out there. Do you know the team with the fewest punts? It is the Otters at 40. How about the fewest interceptions? Ok it’s the Legion and Outlaws, who sit at 5, compared to the Otters who are tied with the second lowest at 6. But the difference is this, the Otters have had 33% of their offensive drives end with a touchdown, and with 45% ending with a scoring attempt, the Otters are the most dangerous offense in the league.
3. Arizona Outlaws (4-2) ?-2
The Outlaws are good, but I’m not so sure that I back the 4-peat claim. Yes, they lead in sacks and yes they lead with a monstrous +70 point differential. But there are a few issues, the offense isn’t scoring as much as it should and relying on the defense to bail them out, it’s their bread and butter, but when it falls apart, it falls apart hard. Keep in mind, the Outlaws lost against the Wraiths without an offensive score. One cool fact, no one is throwing the more Yards per Completion than Bronko.
4. San Jose SaberCats (4-2) ?-2
The Sabercats are still in the Hunt in the contentious ASFC. It’s still on them to win, but the game against the Liberty was a much needed win to keep them in the hunt. The Sabercats defense has still been able to consistently get their turnovers. No team has caused more interceptions than the Sabercats. Couple this with the fact that the only team with more pass deflections is the Hawks, and they have one more deflection. The pass rush is suspect, as they are bottom half in sacks. The passing game is a bit weak as they sit in the bottom half of passing yards and touchdowns too.
5. Yellowknife Wraiths (3-3) ?+1
What a win. For the first time, the Wraiths have no strong offense as their win came slowly on field goals. They need to work on their red zone efficiency if they plan to win and get their long-awaited playoff appearance.
6. Philadelphia Liberty(2-4) ?-1
There’s a lot to say about the Liberty, but I want to keep it brief. The team is the only team to still be in double digit points scored. They’re not performing well and Rove is still struggling. They’re getting yardage, but cannot find the endzone. Moreover, it’s apparent that Rove has ways to go before he can compare with the quarterbacks of years past.
7. Las Vegas Legion (2-4) ?0
Finally, some normalcy, among the million of moving parts. The Legion are not good, and the Yeti may be passing them soon if Stone can’t get his act together.
8. Colorado Yeti (0-6) ?0
I know a lot of Yeti fans are sick of being last, and I get it. I think by the end of the season, the Yeti could be the force of nature that Sandoval saw starting last season. However, they still are the only team with a three digit point differential, and that’s a negative differential.
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@acki edited this, please send the first million his way.
Graded
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