Jack Brown, Jett Zero, Mike Improta, Ray Bentley
Banner Image by J.R. Lawless
Here at the SFL’s Power Rankings, we normally feel very confident about how we determine who’s ranked where. For Week 5, things got a little tricky…But who else should we believe in? Who should take up real estate in the Top 10? Whose fan base will soon recognize The Beat Team’s unfashionable case for style, as we fall in with a group of revolutionaries and sacrifice ourselves to their cause? Remember, The SFL is never the same once a week of Power Rankings has been released. We understand your rage … but we cannot be manipulated or coerced by it. We’ll do our best to sort this out. Let’s get to it!
(Movement) | Recap |
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1 |  | (▲ 3) | Although the Jacksonville Kings stumbled a bit out of the gate, they’ve been consistently steamrolling the field since Week 2, knocking off Top Tier opponent after opponent on their way to dominating the league. With a convincing victory over the Aztecs last week, the Kings cemented their status as the best team in the league – earned after travelling to the homes of both Seattle and Florida and dominating. Their next test will come in the form of a New Orleans Pharaohs’ squad that has been struggling to find consistency as of late.. although, they have seemed to work the kinks out in their passing game, topping the league in Passing yards per Game, Total Yards and Total Yards per Game. However, barring something extremely unlikely, the Kings will be right back at the same spot in our Power Rankings next week, riding a lethal Air Attack of their own against a NO Defense that is worst in the league in Points per Game and tied for 2nd in Allowed TDs. |
2 |  | (-) | They’re the only undefeated team in the league left standing. They’ve been absolutely bombarding their opponents with points, both in home games AND away games. They’ve got a bruising running back in Sudo Nakai and an opportunistic defense that always shows up to play. We know - There are a LOT of reasons why VAN could be considered the best in the league in Season 14… and believe me – they’re RIGHT there… but. For the Power Rankings team, the one thing we can’t get away from is who the wins have come against. Heading into Week 5, their victories over Charleston and Carolina are enough to have them in the conversation, and a Win against the Tyrants, who were in the SFL Championship last season, should push them to the top of the pile. They’ve got a high probability of success, and all of us here feel like the Legion will continue to roll in the coming weeks. |
3 |  | (▲ 2) | Kudos to this Baltimore squad. After taking a hard knockdown in Week 3 against an overlooked Denver Nightwings team, the biggest question was how they would respond. Last week, against the Swarm, the Vultures answered the bell in emphatic fashion – containing a dangerous ATL team and winning handedly at home. They continue their homestand this week against a visiting Houston team that is always a threat, every season. Expect the Vultures to continue their rise back up the Power Rankings next week, riding a +46 point advantage on the season and the #1 Pass Defense in TD’s allowed. |
| 4 |  | (▼ 3) | THE CURSE OF FIRST STRIKES AGAIN! The Swarm had looked unstoppable… until last week. Against a BAL franchise looking to stay in the “Best of” conversation after dropping a perplexing game to DEN, ATL didn’t have enough to hold the Vultures back in their 1st loss of the season. Unfortunately, this is not the point in the season for the Swarm to falter, as this week they play host to the perennial SFL powerhouse – the Florida Storm. Although the Storm hasn’t been at peak Cat 5 strength this season, they’re always capable of putting up points and thoroughly controlling any game they’re in. If ATL can get by FL this week, we’ll have a lot to figure out here in the Power Rankings Team, because they’ve still got the only win over the Kings this season – and that weighs heavier as the Kings continue to stockpile Ws. |
| 5 |  | (▲ 1) | Dear QCC, Wow! What a rebound it's been for you guys! After losing in week 1 to Sioux Falls, you guys have steered the ship towards clearer waters and have rattled off 3 straight wins! Most recently keeping the Arizona Scorpions out of the end zone for the whole game with your absolutely lights out defense. Currently leading the league in points against at just 13.75! Along with holding teams to the fewest yards, too! You have also shown your might through your offense. Imposing an almost Bob Stoops like air raid offense and currently sitting in 3rd in passing yards with all of your TDs coming through the air. Along with AJ Caswell maintaining one of the league's best QBRs at 102.6. With all that we decided to give you a spot in the Top 5 for Valentines Day <3. Now to keep it this week, you have to take that magic in to Denver to face off against Denver in their home. Good news for you is that in the WhoYaGot, the community is on your side. Good luck! xoxo, ~Jack |
| 6 |  | (▲ 1) | Wake-up SFL! Your Beat Writing Team has these Predators ranked #6, are 3-1 and ranked #7 overall in the league! When you start to think about the behavior of a Killer Whale they will sometimes “play” and engage in other behaviors. Their personality includes agreeableness, conscientiousness, carefulness, and dominance. However, this Predators team has been anything like the aforementioned. A closer review indicates; No Charleston wide receiver ranks in the overall top 25 with catches, yards or touchdowns, and their Special Teams play ranks last in the league. They do not have any individual players on Defense in the top 25 for sacks, nor anyone ranked in the top 30 for total INTs or Tackles for losses. Their QB, TD Drew is tied with 11 interceptions for most in the league and they have -3 in turnover difference! How is this team 3-1? First off, kicker Amanda Moyer has been very good in the clutch making 7 of her 8 attempts. Second, running back Keith Swearingen is averaging 4.2 yards per carry for a total of 441 in 4 games (Ranking 8th overall). Most importantly, the Predators Defense as total unit has been outstanding. The Killer Whales Defense ranks 3rd overall in the SFL, having only allowed 1 passing TD and 4 rushing TDs through 4 games. They only give-up a mere 16.75 points per game and seem to always deflect passes and come up with big tackles when needed in critical situations. Owner Alan Armatys and GM Johnny Bravo deserve to be recognized. They have been very creative with their game planning and know how to get their players in position to make critical reads against opposing team’s offenses. Charleston’s coming off a nice victory versus St. Louis, and now travels to the uncharted waters of Sioux Falls who is undefeated at home. These orcas need to swim together and hunt Sparrow in their deadly pod or they’ll find themselves being held in captivity by Mt. Rushmore. |
| 7 |  | (▲ 3) | Dear Las Vegas, Great to see the Mullenax Administration has fully kicked into gear! After edging out Florida, you guys took the Vice Wars crown in a battle between two coaches new to the series. Well, you guys not only took the crown, but also asserted your dominance over the Nightwings, as well as after a rather worrying start have charged back to .500! Rather unsurprisingly, a large portion of your recent good form has come from franchise back and Week 4 OPOTW Robert Redford. In that Vice Wars showing, Redford went off and ran the rock for 167 yards and punched it in for 2 TDs. Placing him firmly among the SFL's running elites. Tom Ramen has also shown his might through the air with among the best completion percentages the league has on offer, showing a great level of efficiency when he slings the rock. You guys have also shown to have a serviceable defensive side of the ball and, given your luck this week as you hit the road to play against a struggling St. Louis, you could very easily stake your claim in the Top 5 starting next week. Wouldn't that be a recovery from Bottom 5 fodder? xoxo, ~Jack |
| 8 |  | (▼ 5) | Dear Sioux Falls, Please don't fret. Only one team in SFL History has gone all the way undefeated, and your loss was only by 3 to a very respectable Chicago squad who has been on the up and up the past 2 weeks. Even then, you played them well to the bitter end, forcing 5 turnovers and only gaining 5 yards less on offense than the Windy City Kitties. Basically. what I'm saying is that you guys did great and it'll be okay! And as a Valentine's Day gift? A game back at home! You guys always seem to do well back at Liberty Park, and now you have a home game against the Charleston Predators on Monday Night! What's that? You're telling us that this was put in place for months and it was the schedule makers who did this? No! Don't ruin this moment for us! It was the Power Rankings committee who gave you a home game Week 5 to help soothe the pain, and you're gonna thank us for it! Besides, your defense still looks fantastic and your running game is still among the best! Don't cry over the loss, Sioux Falls, you're doing great, sweetie! xoxo, ~Jack |
| 9 |  | (▲ 3) | Storming back into the top ten on a Category Five performance this week, Mighty Max Paul's team is starting to show signs of its former self once again. They held the ball for almost three less minutes than the Seattle Tyrants, but it didn't matter one bit - they held the championship runner-ups from last year to a single field goal for the entire game. It wasn't all stormy skies, however; Ron Cockren continues to uncharacteristically throw to anybody wearing a uniform, with about ten percent of his passes going to someone in Tyrants colors. Defensively, everything is clicking down in Florida, so as long as the offense can keep finding opportunities (and not the other team's corners), it might not be long before they're blowing away the competition on their way to the postseason. Here they are - will they continue to rock us like a hurricane? |
| 10 |  | (▼ 2) | Dear MXC, I am writing this as a letter of concern; are you guys okay? You haven't seemed like yourselves since that Week One dub over Las Vegas. Most recently you guys got absolutely clobbered in Jacksonville in what is usually a close and competitive game between you two. After this 3 game skid you guys have been flung down to number 19 on the website rankings however we here at the Power Rankings committee have kept you in the Top 10 since we know above all else what you're capable of and you have shown flashes of it. Ray Bentley is a beast and you should use him, Matt Willson is a gunslinger, your defense can be top of the line, but you gotta put in the work. Now here would be where I would put in something in Spanish to speak exclusively to Ramos, but I took German in high school sooooooo... das is sehr schlecht. Either way, you got what should be an easy win against London this week in Mexico, I wish you the best of luck! xoxo, ~Jack |
| 11 |  | (▲ 2) | The Wildcats enjoy a boost this week following back to back strong performances in Weeks 3 and 4. After starting 0-2, the Chicago defense took a significant step forward by better limiting opposing attacks and keeping games within reach for their own offense. The glaring weakness here has been the struggles in the passing game, most of which can be attributed to the offensive line. QB ET King has been sacked a league high 19 times through four weeks, thus leading to a higher incompletion percentage and a lower QBR. RB Ash Odom has taken advantage of his opportunities and kept the Wildcats in games. If Chicago can get more help up front, they could make a late-season surge into playoff contention. |
| 12 |  | (▼ 1) | ..aaaand we're right back to square one with Denver. Well, square twelve. What is going on in the Mile High City? The reigning champs are currently looking like the textbook definition of 'championship fatigue syndrome,' with a paltry 1-3 record to start the first third of the season out. Nightwings quarterback Josh Miller, who was with Cam Irvine on the Championship Podium just last year, tossed six interceptions on their way to a loss against the Las Vegas Fury in Vice Wars. Other than a Week 3 win against the Baltimore Vultures, there hasn't been too much to celebrate in Denver as of late, and with the dangerous Queen City Corsairs on their way this weekend, fans are hoping that performance wasn't just a fluke. Otherwise, watch out - these birds might be in a tailspin for a while yet. |
| 13 |  | (▼ 3) | At this point in the season, there are positive and negative takeaways for the Tulsa Desperados. The bad: Tulsa has a middle of the pack offense and defense that boast a negative turnover differential and a 2-2 record through 4 games, and new FA acquisition QB Deacon Nickens has not been the leader they’d hoped for coming into the season. The good: first round draft pick DE Berto DeMoura has been a sack machine, compiling 6 sacks through 4 games. LB D.J. Majesty is also T-3rd in total tackles. Also, they are 2-2. Yes, I mentioned this earlier as a negative, but it can also be a positive given how many weeks are left in the season. The key for the Desperados down the stretch will be winning close games against equally matched opponents. If Tulsa can end the season with a winning record, they have a strong chance of entering the post-season due to the lack of overly dominant teams this season. |
| 14 |  | (▼ 5) | Well, Seattle definitely resembled their mascots on the field this previous week against Florida: extinct. Zack Sandlin, running back extraordinaire, was nowhere to be seen most of the night, and was held to under a hundred rushing yards by the Storm defense, and no touchdowns. In fact, there were no Tyrants touchdowns at any point in the game, just a single field goal - something that should put fear into any Seattle fan looking at their upcoming games. A visit to the highest ranked offense in the league next week will be the ultimate test for this squad - their defense is ranked 5th worst, and that offense? Well, suffice it to say that they better hope it comes back to life, and quick. |
| 15 |  | (▼ 1) | Heading into Week 5, Houston is one of three teams (Carolina and Mexico City) with the worst losing streak in the SFL. After a narrow Week 1 win at home over the Arizona Scorpions, the Hyenas failed to eat a W in three straight weeks. QB Kentez Johnson has had the worst 4-game streak statistically in his career, posting a dismal 45.4 QBR, averaging 4 interceptions a game. A force to be reckoned with at the beginning of the season, RB Warren Murray has become a ghost in recent weeks, only scoring 2 rushing TD’s since Week 1’s monster 4 TD performance. Not much has been going right for this Houston squad. With an away game in Baltimore on tap this week, the Hyena offense will have to limit the turnovers and keep up with a Baltimore team that will likely roll up the score this weekend. |
| 16 |  | (▲ 4) | Dear London, You know, you guys have been looking way better than I think a lot of people expected you to be. After going through all that off season turmoil, many in the league would've been surprised if you won a game at all. But not only have you won one game, but 2! The most recent victory coming without your big money man Gabe Manning against New Orleans in a shootout. You guys currently have the 5th best total passing offense in the league as far as yards per game are concerned. With Seren Storm leading the league in YPC with a whopping 23.3. You guys have a very solid offense to build off of not only this season, but future seasons. That defense however? Well Anthony Fantano would have to put on his red flannel to talk about it. You guys have let up nearly 200 more yards more total yards than the next worst defense in Carolina. You've only let up less than 30 points once so far this season. If you want to have any shot at being competitive with the big boys this season you have to be able to stop them or else that great offense will get tired. This week you go up against a Mexico City team desperate to prove they can still hold their own. Can you prove you can hold up your end of the bargain, too? xoxo, ~Jack |
| 17 |  | (▼ 2) | Arizona only managed to put up 9 points at home versus the Corsairs, and the number 9 seems to be showing up quite a bit for them, too. They were only 1 for 11 on 3rd conversions for 9%. DJ Moses rushed for a total of 36 yards with his longest being a 9-yard carry. They only managed to move the chains 9 times for a first down, and Quarterback Ashley Jackson, #9 only threw an average of 6.9 yards per attempt for an overall, 129 yards. It’s the offense that is last in the league in total yards per game, and when you do the math, it just doesn’t add up to winning. Things got hot as Arizona’s defense played well, intercepting Queen City’s QB, AJ Caswell four times and limited the SFL’s top wide-out, Stephen Hacker to 28 yards. Nevertheless, things cooled off as it was QCC’s other Wide Receiver, Chris Curtis, who compiled 12 receptions for 140 yards and touchdown. The dust has settled in the dessert, and after four games, the Scorpions find themselves sitting at 1-3. However, let us not forget, the Scorpion is a sign of good luck! The meaning of the scorpion represents the need for you to let go of the old to make room for something new. This is the sign that Arizona fans are waiting for and they’re hopeful that the dangers in the desert won’t allow the Chicago Wildcats to survive at Fatality Field in Game #5. |
| 18 |  | (▼ 1) | Week 3 saw the overall #1 Draft Pick of the Season 14 Draft, Johnny Pichler complete 86% of his pass attempts going 19 for 22 with 284 yards and 3 touchdowns and a Win…Week 4, we didn’t see Pichler do much of anything. Losing 20-10 to the Charleston Predators on the road, Pichler and the Gladiators' offense were only able to score an abysmal 3 points. It seemed there wasn’t any form of entertainment (to Charleston’s delight) from the visiting team, and the Gladiators looked more like toy soldiers. Although Pichler didn’t throw any interceptions, he was sacked four times and wasn’t able to throw downfield to create any momentum. There were 8 plays where they tackled for losses, and most of the yardage came in the fourth quarter after a spectacular 99-yard kickoff return from Chase Earl cut the lead to 10 points giving the Gladiators a bit of life, but it was too late in the battle. Diesel Dawson ran for 82 yards on 28 carries and Nick Finch ended up with a stat line of 6 for 91. Franco Sonati and Tony Roberto each recorded a sack and cornerback, Evan Arthur continues to play well, proving a couple of picks. The Red-Hot Fury are next to blaze into St. Louis, and if the Gladiators forget to bring their weapons to this war, they’ll find themselves falling on their swords for the fourth time in 5 weeks. |
| 19 |  | (-) | Within :15 seconds the Pharaohs found themselves down 7-0 after London’s Gabriel Manning took the opening kickoff back to the house. New Orleans went three-and-out, but it was cornerback Rolamin Hood who intercepted London QB, Angus MacLaine for a pick-6 to tie it at seven. On the ensuing drive three plays later, the London crowd saw Gabriel Manning get behind the New Orleans secondary for a 70-yard bomb, making the score 14-7. In the blink of an eye, the Pharaohs were again playing from behind. New Orleans raced back down inside the 9-yard line but failed to get the ball into the endzone settling for a field goal, closing the gap to 14-10. London scored on the next possession with MacLaine throwing a touchdown pass to WR, Vin Calia, and it was 21-10 at the end of the first quarter…These two horses were running at full speed! New Orleans started the second quarter from the London 5-yard line and when Xander Gold was sacked on third down, the Pharaohs were forced to kick a field goal cutting the deficit to 8 points. Again, New Orleans kicked the ball back to the Knights and again, it was London who scored increasing their lead to 28-13. The half ended 28-20, but New Orleans was never able to stop the bleeding, and eventually fell short 37-23 on the road. They came into the game scoring an average of just over 33 points per game, good for fourth most in the SFL. However, their defense is unfortunately giving up 38.5 points per game, and that puts them last in the league. Captain Obvious would tell you that this team can score points. He’d also tell you this team is having major trouble keeping their opponents off the scoreboard. The Jacksonville Kings roam into New Orleans for week 5 and are scoring through the air with ease. The Pharaohs will need to bring the infantry to defend their land or it’s the Kings who will triumph, riding chariots out of the kingdom. |
| 20 |  | (▼ 2) | Sully Richardson must be banging his head against the wall? Something doesn’t seem right. That should be evident after watching his performance against the Legion in a dispiriting loss. Richardson was able to spread the ball around to 6 different receivers and complete just under 74% of his pass attempts, but he repeatedly missed gimme completions with inaccurate throws and for the second straight week stayed glued to the pocket instead of using his athleticism to extend plays and improvise big gains with his feet. Most disconcertingly, his arm strength was suspect. This was most notable throwing 5 interceptions, which isn’t going to help your team win the game. Jack Flash and Harish Prasad, tight end and receiver respectively, continue to ball-out for the offense scoring one touchdown each for the Carolina offense, but fluky plays and untimely injuries have plagued this team after their thrilling week one win over the Gladiators and have now dropped three in a row, falling to 1-3. On Defense, Rachelle Colston added an interception, and superstar Corner, Zan Doty continues to show the SFL why he’s Season 14’s best defensive back in the league corralling 3 more picks, totaling 8 in just 4 games! “The Early Bird Gets the Worm…Or do they get depressed” as the Skyhawks must wake up and fly with their wounded wings to meet the Desperados for Game 5, and if this bird doesn’t get the worm in Tulsa, it’ll be the cowboys who are singing their way to victory. |
