Arizona improves to 8-0; keeps top spot in AFL Power Rankings
Mike Delrio
Friday May 16, 2014
While Arizona had little difficulty in downing Portland to improve to 8-0 and keep the No.1 spot in this week’s Arena Football League Power Rankings, Cleveland had a close call, beating Los Angeles by just three, to remain No. 2. Spokane lost to Pittsburgh which resulted in movement in the three, four, and five slots.
All 14 AFL teams will be in action in Week 10 with Cleveland @ Iowa and Spokane @ Arizona being the games that have the potential to scramble the rankings.
Power Rankings: Week 10
1. Arizona Rattlers (8-0) (LW: W @ POR 61-32) – Arizona continued their march toward the post season with another impressive outing in beating Portland by 29 points. The Thunder had battled back from an 0-5 start to win back-to-back games before the loss to the best team in the AFL. Arizona will host Spokane in Week 10.
2. Cleveland Gladiators (7-0) (LW: W vs. LA) – Cleveland came away with a three-point win at home against the Los Angeles KISS, a team that had lost four straight games coming in, to hold on to the No. 2 position. While any win is good, the Gladiators seemed flat coming off a bye week. Cleveland will travel to Iowa this week.
3. San Jose SaberCats (5-3) (LW: BYE) – San Jose moves up a spot during their bye week courtesy of the Pittsburgh win over Spokane. The SaberCats will be trying to win their fourth straight game when they host the Power this week.
4. Pittsburgh Power (5-3) (LW: W @ SPO 52-41) – Pittsburgh defeated Spokane on the road to move from No. 5 to No. 4 in this week’s rankings. After back-to-back battles with the Soul and Shock in the last two weeks, the Power will be home this week against the KISS.
5. Spokane Shock (5-3) (LW: L vs. PITT 52-41) – Spokane dropped their second home game of the season, losing to Pittsburgh by nine. The Shock have the opportunity to knock the Rattlers from the ranks of the undefeated when they travel to Arizona this week.
6. Philadelphia Soul (4-4) (LW: W vs. NO 79-60) – Philadelphia gave up a lot points, but hung 79 on New Orleans in another solid offensive performance. The Soul will be home again this week as they host Tampa Bay.
7. Orlando Predators (5-3) (LW: BYE) – Orlando was inactive this week, but moved from No. 8 to No. 7 because Jacksonville defeated Iowa. The Predators and Sharks will meet in Jacksonville in a game that should be a heavyweight fight.
8. Jacksonville Sharks (3-5) (LW: W @ IA 68-48) – Jacksonville was in a must-win situation and stepped up in a big way, beating Iowa by 20 points in Week 9. Orlando and Jacksonville will be a battle of evenly matched teams that should go to the final minutes.
9. Iowa Barnstormers (4-4) (LW: L vs. JAX 68-48) – Iowa was unable to deliver a win in their contest with Jacksonville, losing by 20 points in front of the home fans. With Cleveland headed to Des Moines for Week 10 action, the home fans are likely to go home unhappy again.
10. Portland Thunder (2-6) (LW: L vs. AZ 61-32) – Portland lost to top ranked Arizona last week, but the effort should keep the Thunder on track after a 0-5 start to the season. The Thunder faces another character builder this week as they head to San Jose to take on the No. 3 team in the rankings.
11. Tampa Bay Storm (3-5) (LW: BYE) – Tampa Bay had a much needed bye week following four consecutive losses, five in six games, and will be trying to get back in the win column in Week 10 when they travel to Philadelphia.
12. San Antonio Talons (1-7) (LW: BYE) – San Antonio, like Tampa Bay, was on a bye in Week 9. The Talons have been improving week to week and will be home against New Orleans, a team that is 0-4 on the road, in Week 10.
13. Los Angeles KISS (2-6) (LW: L @ CLV 45-42) – Los Angeles fought hard to snap a four-game losing skid, but Cleveland was able to come away with a surprisingly close three-point victory. The KISS will travel to Pittsburgh to play the Power this week.
14. New Orleans VooDoo (1-6) (LW: L @ PHL 79-60) – New Orleans lost to Philadelphia, but put 60 points on the board and has now scored 108 points in their last two games. The VooDoo desperately needs a win when they visit San Antonio, but will have to limit mistakes against the Talons to pick up their second W of the season.
The Power Rankings are determined by a formula that considers Total Wins, Division Wins, Road Wins, Home Losses, and results against common opponents. The rankings were first released after Week 2 action. Thus far, the higher-ranked teams in the rankings are 33-13 for the season and 15-3 since Week 8.
Mike began his third season reporting on the Georgia Force in March, 2012. Coverage includes weekly game previews and recaps, exclusive interviews and AFL news. Mike has been a Gwinnett County resident (the home of the Force) for two decades and provides coverage of the counties other pro sports franchises, the Gwinnett Braves (Braves Triple-A affiliate) and the Gwinnett Gladiators (ECHL, player development deals with both the Phoenix Coyotes and Buffalo Sabres) as well.
