AFL Power Rankings: 2006 Week 3
John Hoh
Thursday February 16, 2006
And why couldn’t NBC air an Arena game this last weekend? I was left with Daytona time trials or bowling on ESPN. I just want my Arena fix—I’m really not asking for much. Fox Sports in my area was no help, either.
Speaking of asking and prayers, some promising news this morning. I heard on the radio that Brian Noble (ex-Green Bay Packer and one-time af2 Green Bay Blizzard coach but now part owner of same af2 team) is leading an investor group to bring the glorious game back to Milwaukee. I’ll write more after I find out more details.
Herein are the 2006 week 3 Power Rankings. And remember, these are only my opinions and are not scientific. Any attempt to use this information for betting purposes is solely at the gambler’s discretion.
| Rank | Team | Record | Previous Rank | Next Up |
| 1 | Colorado Crush (COL) | 3-0 | 1 | @NAS |
| Crush rolls on. Take to the road at Nashville. | ||||
| 2 | Dallas Desperados (DAL) | 3-0 | 5 | AUS |
| Texas teams at 6-0, but unbeaten streak can’t last. Intra-state rivalry week. | ||||
| 3 | Austin Wranglers (AUS) | 3-0 | 6 | @DAL |
| Wranglers now 3-0. Take on cross-state rival for Lone Star bragging rights. | ||||
| 4 | Nashville Kats (NAS) | 2-1 | 3 | COL |
| Tough OT loss at Chicago. The Kats come home to host the strong Crush. | ||||
| 5 | Philadelphia Soul (PHI) | 2-1 | 4 | NY |
| Soul stumbles in Florida. Host the Dragons for a key divisional showdown. | ||||
| 6 | Orlando Predators (ORL) | 2-1 | 9 | @TB |
| Predators help keep the Southern division the toughest in the AFL. Go across state along I-4 for another intra-state matchup in the league thisweek. | ||||
| 7 | Tampa Bay Storm (TB) | 2-1 | 10 | ORL |
| Key divisional game in the War on I-4 again this week. | ||||
| 8 | New York Dragons (NY) | 2-1 | 11 | @PHI |
| Dragons have two wins in a row and take on the Soul in a key Eastern division matchup. | ||||
| 9 | Georgia Force (GA) | 1-2 | 2 | @LV |
| ArenaBowl runner-up getting off to slow start. The Vegas desert should help. | ||||
| 10 | Chicago Rush (CHI) | 1-2 | 12 | @LA |
| Rush get a quality win (in OT) against a spirited Kats team. Trip to LA is critical for the Rush. | ||||
| 11 | Los Angeles Avengers (LA) | 1-2 | 7 | CHI |
| Co-leaders of surprisingly "weak" Western division host Chicago in a key game for both teams. | ||||
| 12 | Utah Blaze (UT) | 1-2 | 8 | @AZ |
| Homecoming weak for Danny White and several Blaze players who used to play in the Valley of the Sun. | ||||
| 13 | San Jose SaberCats (SJ) | 1-2 | 15 | @GR |
| The SaberCats travel to Grand Rapids, setting up a meeting between two teams who entered the season with high expectations. | ||||
| 14 | Grand Rapids Rampage (GR) | 1-2 | 18 | SJ |
| Rampage gets key win over LA. Can they show the same inhospitality to the S’Cats? | ||||
| 15 | Las Vegas Gladiators (LV) | 1-2 | 13 | GA |
| Glads host the surprisingly slow starting Force. Will Las Vegas find Georgia to be a Force too strong for them? | ||||
| 16 | Columbus Destroyers (CLB) | 1-2 | 14 | @KC |
| Destroyers have an opportunity to win this game. | ||||
| 17 | Kansas City Brigade (KC) | 0-3 | 16 | CLB |
| I’m surprised that this team, starting with the nucleus of last year’s VooDoo squad, is 0-3. They could get their first win against Columbus. | ||||
| 18 | Arizona Rattlers (AZ) | 0-3 | 17 | UT |
| Arizona fans will see some familiar faces again. Unfortunately for Phoenix fans, the faces will be wearing the visitor’s uniforms. | ||||
John L. Hoh, Jr., is a free-lance writer from Milwaukee who grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, as an avid Dolphins fan. He followed Arena Football since its inception, at one point watching tape-delayed games on low-powered WAV-TV in Waukesha. His happiest day was when Milwaukee was awarded the Mustangs franchise; his saddest when the Mustangs were contracted out of the league. John is married to his wife Maija (13+ years) and has a young son, Matthew. John pines for the return of the Arena Football League to Milwaukee.
