AFL Power Rankings: 2006 Week 8
John Hoh
Wednesday March 22, 2006
The Western division is finally showing some respectability, especially the Arizona Rattlers. Dallas holds the best record in the league and almost everyone is still in the thick of the playoff race. Just like the games themselves, the season ain’t over until it’s over (hey, maybe the Arena Football League could get Yoga Berra as a spokeman!).
By the way, only 5 of 18 teams have more wins than losses.
Herein are the 2006 week 8 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 | Dallas Desperados (DAL) | 7-1 | 2 | PHI |
| | You have to give the nod to the team with the best record which has also shown consistency. Only loss to another top-5 team. Give “Jenny” Jones his due on this one. | |||
| 2 | Colorado Crush (COL) | 6-2 | 1 | CLB |
| | Yes I realize the Crush lost on the road to a traditional AFL powerhouse, but the S’Cats haven’t been that consistent or good this year and before this had not won a home game. Next host a surprising Columbus squad. | |||
| 3 | Austin Wranglers (AUS) | 6-2 | 3 | ORL |
| | Kansas City was easy. Wranglers next try to rope in the Predators. | |||
| 4 | Nashville Kats (NAS) | 5-3 | 5 | SJ |
| | Battle of the CATS takes place in Nashville. Will it be the Kats or the S’Cats? Both have been inconsistent this year, but the nod goes to the home team. | |||
| 5 | Tampa Bay Storm (TB) | 5-3 | 7 | @GA |
| | Storm stays above .500. Travel to play the inconsistent Force. | |||
| 6 | Arizona Rattlers (AZ) | 4-4 | 11 | LA |
| | Suddenly surging Rattlers take on the defending divisional champions. Have the Rattlers come back? | |||
| 7 | Columbus Destroyers (CLB) | 4-4 | 13 | PHI |
| | Columbus makes a statement with win over Philly. Surviving the Crush is another matter. | |||
| 8 | Orlando Predators (ORL) | 4-4 | 6 | @AUS |
| | Predators go for split with the Lone Star state. | |||
| 9 | Georgia Force (GA) | 4-4 | 4 | TB |
| | Hosting the Storm may be what Georgia needs to get back on track. Inconsistencies hurt the Force. | |||
| 10 | New York Dragons (NY) | 4-4 | 8 | KC |
| | Game against Kansas City in Long Island should help the Dragons get their fire back in their bellies. | |||
| 11 | Philadelphia Soul (PHI) | 4-4 | 9 | @DAL |
| | Tough loss to the surprising Destroyers. Another divisional game on tap at Dallas. Philadelphia is in “must-win” mode. | |||
| 12 | Los Angeles Avengers (LA) | 3-5 | 17 | @AZ |
| | Avengers get much needed win against the defending champs. Need to build on momentum with a showdown with the Rattlers for the divisional lead. | |||
| 13 | Chicago Rush (CHI) | 3-5 | 10 | GR |
| | Rush hosts Grand Rapids in a battle of 3-5 teams that could be better with consistent play. | |||
| 14 | Grand Rapids Rampage (GR) | 3-5 | 15 | @CHI |
| | Much needed win against the Blaze. Travel to Chicago to take on another inconsistent team. | |||
| 15 | San Jose SaberCats (SJ) | 3-5 | 16 | @NAS |
| | San Jose gets first home victory. Next is claw-to-claw combat with the other felines in the league. | |||
| 16 | Las Vegas Gladiators (LV) | 3-5 | 12 | @UT |
| | Gladiators still have hope for the playoffs. Win over the Blaze needed. | |||
| 17 | Utah Blaze (UT) | 3-5 | 14 | LV |
| | Blaze extinguished in Grand Rapids; hope to rekindle that spark against Vegas. Odds are with the Blaze. | |||
| 18 | Kansas City Brigade (KC) | 1-7 | 18 | @NY |
| | Kansas City is singin’ the expansion team blues. Who would have thought this would happen after the Brigade received the core of a VooDoo team in the midst of the playoff hunt the last two seasons? Game at New York no easy task. | |||
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.
