I know this is a little late, but wanted to get this in before the games were played. Last week, we had Gladiatori Roma get past the Fargo Knights. We have some shaking up to do, so let's get to it!

On to the rankings:

10. STEELERS (3-2)) - Last week's rank #10
Yes, they lost to Rostov Rednecks, but this team still has potential this season. Maybe the loss motivates them?

9. Stuttgart Stormtroopers (4-2) - Last week's rank N/A
The Stormtroopers storm back into the rankings with a convincing win over knuckleheads, who unfortuantely drop from the list this week.

8. Rostov Rednecks (4-2) - Last week's rank N/A
The Rednecks got to work in their matchup with the STEELERS, holding the STEELERS to a single score in the 4th quarter. The Rednecks get the blazing hot Glastonbury Knights next game.

7. Niceville Norsemen (4-1) - Last week's rank #7
Bye week. Gotta love 'em.

6. Bonaval Acorns (5-1) - Last week's rank #6
The Acorns edged the upstart Pumas.The Acorns have it easy for a couple of weeks with bots, but face neroverde afterwards.

5. Glastonbury Grail Knights (5-0) - Last week's rank #2
Bye week. Can't help, but sure can't hurt you. Except in power rankings that don't mean too much anyway. The Knights take a bit of a drop based on the performance of these top tier teams this week.

4. Aberthaw Dolphins (6-0) - Last week's rank #5
Dolphin on Dolphin violence! Aberthaw came to play though and blew out their counterparts in Pisa. Next up, the Fargo Knights in the first big test for this surging Dolphins team.

3. Pitcairn Bounty Mutineers (6-0) - Last week's rank #3
The Mutineers took care of frenchkiss, who has now gone bot. Having to play the Mutineers does kind of make you think about quitting. They hold steady at #3.

2. Fargo Knights (5-1) - Last week's rank #1
What a game between the Knights and Gladiators! The Knights jumped out to an early lead, but the second half was all Roma! Either team has the ability to win when these two meet this season. I am certain they will meet again.

1. Gladiatori Roma (6-0) - Last week's rank #4
A new number one folks! These guys are the real deal this season. Bring your A game when you see this team on your schedule. And thank your lucky stars if you don't have two regular season games against them! This team has the ability to promote to Elite for the first time since season 41! We have a lot of football left to play though!

Thank you for reading!

Ughhhh hahaha,

I have the impalers next which should hopefully be a win, but after that I get Glaston, Fargo, Alberthaw, Then the you (Norsemen), then hopefully a win against Texas A&M, then Alberthaw again. I'm going to somehow need to go 4-3 over this stretch of games... I should have 2 locked up with the Impalers and Texas.

But I need to somehow win 2 of the other 5 which is going to be absurdly tough to do. I do usually play the Dolphins fairly hard, but they have been tough this season. Man it's gonna be rough even trying to get a wildcard spot in my division.

Halfway through the season and we have several teams jockeying for a spot in the playoffs. That AC conference is getting crowded at the top! Everyone is tightening up their game and this looks to be one of the most competitive seasons I have personally seen. Haven't seen many to be honest though. Most anyone could still win it all, although it looks like if you want to, you will have to get through the high flying Gladiatori Roma team. The sleeping giant has awoken!

The most difficult part of this edition of the rankings was sorting out Champ Chompers, Glastonbury Grail Knights and the Niceville Norsemen after the Chompers upset of the Grail Knights. Some may be surprised at what I came up with. You could make arguments for any of these three teams, but I think I did get it right. There is still plenty of time for team managers to prove me wrong this season. Including myself. I hate arguing with myself. It really is not a good look.

10. STEELERS (5-2) Last Ranking #10
The STEELERS are pushing for a wildcard spot at minimum. It is crowded up there in the AC though. Their best bet to make the playoffs would be to steal a game from the Grail Knights while keeping their PD high. I like their chances for the playoffs, but they cannot afford any misteps in the AC going forward. Their second matchup with the Grail Knights this season is going to be critical.

9. Stuttgart Stormtroopers (6-2) Last Ranking #9
The Troopers are back on track and racking up wins. They are in the driver's seat in the NC West and should be a favorite to take the division title. They still have a few divisional matchups that are must wins now. The Troopers control their own destiny though and look to be headed back to the playoffs.

8. Niceville Norsemen (7-1) Last Ranking #7
The tough part of my schedule just got tougher with the Chompers win. Until I play against the top tier teams, I am probably not going to move myself anywhere but down in these rankings. More on this below.

7. Champ Chompers (5-2) Last Ranking N/A
Wow! What a freaking win against the Grail Knights! I know a few may think they should be ahead of the Grail Knights, but remember, Chompers lost to an unranked team early this season. I feel like this win puts the Chompers back in control of their destiny, but what a stretch of upcoming opponents! Next up for Chompers, divsional rivals Fargo Knights on the 8th and Aberthaw Dolphins on the 11th.

6. Glastonbury Grail Knights (6-1) Last Ranking #5
The Grail Knights got blown away in an upset by Champ Chompers. Let's be honest here though, this is a good team led by a good manager. I fully expect that by the time we get to the playoffs, these guys will be back near the top of the rankings. I don't want to take anything away from the Chompers, who put on an absolute clinic, but I feel like if this game was played 10 times over, The Knights would win the majority of them. I am sure ArthurPengragon is still kicking himself over this one.


5. Bonaval Acorns (7-1) Last Ranking #6
The Acorns move up a spot here. They are feasting on bots right now, but have two tough contests against the Pitcairn Bounty Mutineers that will decide the division. The Acorns are currently a game behind, but in this "anything is possible" season, no one can stumble if they want a shot at the playoffs. The Acorns are 0-10 against the Mutineers over their last ten meetings.

4. Aberthaw Dolphins (6-2) Last Ranking #4
Ok, this is a little contraversial, I agree. They are coming off two losses in a row. But those two losses are high quality losses. The Dolphins led most of the game against a very strong Gladiatori Roma team and lost in the final minutes of the 4th quarter. I expect these guys to get back on track, but as mentioned, they do face the surging Champ Chompers on the 11th.

3. Pitcairn Bounty Mutineers (7-0) Last Ranking #3
No surprise here. The Bounty Mutineers keep right on chugging towards the playoffs. While the level of competition they have faced so far does not measure up to other top tier teams, you can only play the opponents that you are scheduled. I think other than Gladiatori Roma, this might be the only other undefeated team at the end of the season. They do have to play the Acorns twice still.

2. Fargo Knights (7-1) Last Ranking #2
The Knights handled the white hot Aberthaw Dolphins after a close loss to Gladiatori Roma. Twas but a flesh wound for these guys. They are back on track and steaming towards the playoffs. The only obstacle may be that they are still in the toughest division in Fire with a lot of football left to play.

1. Gladiatori Roma (8-0) Last ranking #1
GR stays on top. They have had two very close games against top tier opponents already this season. No one seems to have an answer for this team and as I have said before, good managers win the close games. That game against Aberthaw Dolphins is an instant classic in my book. Great comeback win!

Parting thoughts:

Looks like the Tennesee Frontiersmen will end up taking the division title in the NC East now that frenchkiss went bot. This is a newer manager (Season 49) who looks to be developing talent within. In my mind, that is the best way to come up. Slow and cheaply. I for one am glad to have them in Fire and hope that they stick around. I look forward to seeing how well they adapt come time for the playoffs.

Likely NC conference championship matchup this season will be two undefeated teams with history going at it. My money is on the Gladiators and the Bounty Mutineers. The Gladiators have had a tougher schedule, but the Mutineers have racked up a nice PD headed towards the playoffs. Only the Fargo Knights come close.

The NC is quickly becoming a race for the second wildcard spot. It will likely go to a NC West team, but which one?

That's it for now! Let's go crack some heads on the field!

Ouchhh,

I got put into my place by Fargo, looks like I will have to try and take back control of my fate with the two upcoming games against the Dolphins.

Don't know what happened, jumped out to an early 10 point lead and then just could not score after that. Will need to take a deep dive into the game to see what happened .

Not much movement this week. There were a lot of bye games and a lot of bot games. The big game for Fire this week was the matchup between Fargo Knights and Champ Chompers. The Chompers got off to a good start, but it was all Knights after the 1st quarter.

Let's go rolling with number 10:

10. Stuttgart Stormtroopers (6-3) Last Ranking #9
The Troopers drop a spot after a disappointing defeat on the road against the Kamloops Mad Dogs. Congrats to the Mad Dogs on a much needed win, but the Troopers retain the top spot in the division.

9. STEELERS (6-2) Last Ranking #10
The STEELERS defeated the Romanian Sharks 38-22 this week and represent the only move in this edition of the rankings. STEELERS move up to number 9!

8. Niceville Norsemen (7-1) Last Ranking #7
Bot win this week. Playing Texas A&M next week.

7. Champ Chompers (5-3) Last Ranking #6
The Chompers got brought down from last week's high with a loss to Fargo Knights. They don't move here in the rankings due to that being a high quality loss and the fact that they scored more than the Norsemen did against the Knights!

6. Glastonbury Grail Knights (6-1) Last Ranking #5
The Grail Knights played a bot and Champ Compers dropped a game, so the Grail Knights sit pat at #6 this week.

5. Bonaval Acorns (7-1) Last Ranking #6
Sure had a lot of byes in the rankings this week. This is another one. The Acorns take on neroverde on the 11th.

4. Aberthaw Dolphins (6-2) Last Ranking #4
The Dolphins also got a rest this round. Next up, Champ Chompers in what looks to be a must win game for both teams.

3. Pitcairn Bounty Mutineers (8-0) Last Ranking #3
The Bounty Mutineers are laying waste to every opponent that steps up. They sport the #2 Rush Defense and the #4 Pass Defense. This is the stingiest defense in the league right now, having allowed only 69 points through 8 games, while putting up 487 points of offense.

2. Fargo Knights (8-1) Last Ranking #2
The Knights are now in a three game win streak where they have beaten their opponents by 39 points on average. That should scare everyone.

1. Gladiatori Roma (8-0) Last ranking #1
Bye week and some well deserved rest for this squad. Although they do not appear to be losing any steam headed into the stretch.

That's it for now!

Bleh, losing my starting QB for so long during training before this game really hurt.

A lot of close drives that ended in field goals for me, guess it's time to go back down the rankings!

Still a shot I guess, but it's gonna take a lot of luck to make the playoffs now, looks like my team still needs a season or two of... seasoning till they are ready to compete!

Whewwwww.

What a close game BoaTek!

Both our defenses really stepped up in the 2nd half to slow down the scoring, 7 sacks from your guys really hurt! But, my QB came back to play while injured and I think it made all the difference. 2 Interceptions in the 3rd quarter, and one to seal the game in OT really made the difference, but that game was really close!

Well played, and good luck in wrapping up the rest of the season.

Great game! Congrats on the win! No one wants to lose, but if you do, this is the way you want to lose. I had opportunities and just could not get it done against your team. Well done sir!

I have family in town and haven't had a chance to get to rankings, but I will try and get an u p d a t e out tomorrow.

Sorry folks. I am dealing with some pretty heavy issues right now and likely will not be able to continue the rankings. Hopefully I will be in a better situation come playoff time and can do something more fun then.

Good luck to everyone and thanks for reading.

No worries Boa!

Take care, hope everything gets sorted out for you, I appreciate the rankings you've done, but real life always comes first, so take care!