This is a thought exercise of how a weekly power rankings would be done over these last 4 weeks of the prospect bowl, heading into the playoffs.
Week 1 was not exactly a competitive week in the Prospect Bowl, with two of the three games being blowouts in the end, with the 4th quarter essentially being meaningless. That being said, the remaining game had an amazing ending.
No. 1: Tiburon Landsharks -0
Is anyone surprised by this ranking? Anyone at all? They were preseason favorites and just won by 21 points over a team that isn't even expected to be a bottom feeder. They looked dominant both on defense and offense.
No. 2: Amarillo Tumbleweed +2
If the Landsharks made their opponents look silly, the Tumbleweed made their opponents look like they didn't belong on a football field. While the offense of the Tumbleweed was nowhere near as dominant as the Landsharks, the defense held their opponent to 3 points. I feel the Landsharks were slightly more dominant and the Tumbleweed's opponent was a bit weaker, so they only get second.
No. 3: Calgary Cavalry +2
I agonized over this ranking for a while. The Cavalry were considered one of the worse teams in the league, but they won their game. It feels like the Cavalry got lucky on turnovers and on getting a lucky safety, but they won their game. It doesn't half hurt that they beat the team we had 2nd in the rankings coming into today.
No. 4: Tokyo Drifters -2
Considering the Drifters were the best team over the course of preseason, this was a bit of a shock. The high powered offense just could not get anything going against a surprisingly stout Calgary defense, and while the Defense held fast and did their job, the Drifters offense, considered by some to be even better than the Landsharks, ended up giving the Cavalry the points they needed to win.
No. 5: Liverpool Llamas -2
OK, as a middle of the pack team you weren't supposed to beat the Landsharks. Being tied at halftime might have even been a nice surprise. But giving up 21 points in the second half while scoring none and getting run out of the building is flat out unnacceptable for any team in this league. The Llamas were decently close to being rated last on this Week 1 ranking, that's how atrocious their second half was.
No. 6: Brooklyn Atlantic -0
You were rated poorly going into the season. You were matched up against a middle of the pack team. Your defense isn't terrible, albeit not great. But your offense was the worst unit in the entire league this week. 3 points. Even that was only gotten on a drive that was handed to you in Amarillo Territory thanks to your decent defense. You score any more points and I'd have you over the Llamas. As is, you're staying at the bottom. Hopefully your next trip to Amarillo goes better...next week? And they're away again? Who made this schedule?
Week 2
That's...not much better to be honest. The teams we thought were good performed well, the teams we thought were bad didn't, let's see how that shows in the rankings.
No. 1: Tiburon Landsharks -0
If the Landsharks' domination against a team that was supposed to be a middle of the pack team wasn't enough for you, let's see how you feel about their game against a team that is supposed to be the bottom of the league. Jumping out to a 26-0 lead through 3 quarters, then letting off the gas pedal and letting them get a field goal for their only points of the game late on? Yeah, about as much as we all expected. The Landsharks are number 1 and they are here to stay for a while.
No. 2: Amarillo Tumbleweeds -0
Well, this wasn't as dominant as their last game. There were long stretches where the Tumbleweed looked like they might let the Atlantic back into this game. For a while in the 4th quarter they were only 3 points apart. Then the Tumbleweed defense showed up and intercepted the Atlantic inside their own Red Zone and got 7 easy points out of it. Another stop and 3 more easy points later and the game's scoreline doesn't look as close as it felt for most of the game. However, the Tumbleweeds were definitely the better team the entire way through.
No. 3: Liverpool Llamas +2
What a game! This was easily game of the week and I wouldn't be surprised if it was game of the season, too! The Llamas offense wasn't really all up to par, but it's very very hard to argue with that Defense. Honestly, though, the win did not look confident. If not for a couple other teams slipping up, they wouldn't be in the top half.
No. 4: Tokyo Drifters -0
Okay, they are winless, but they've had an awful lot of bad luck come their way to get to that point. That being said, Jackie Daytona needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror after last game. Not one, but two pick sixes, one turning what looked like a win into a loss, he's probably getting chewed out by his locker room right now and he deserves it.
No. 5: Calgary Cavalry -2
This is what we expected from the Cavalry. Coming off of a high where they won their opening game against a team thought superior in the Drifters, they walked into the Landsharks stadium and got gobbled up. 26-3. That is a terrible score that probably won't be surpassed by another team over the short prospect bowl season, and it definitely earns your drop all the way down to the bottom, along with...
No. 6: Brooklyn Atlantic -0
You almost had it, you know. You had the ball and could have won or at least tied the game on a long drive. Instead, the drive lasted one play and directly set up a Tumbleweed touchdown. You held the Tumbleweed to 3 points at halftime. Then your special teams decided to give a free touchdown to the Tumbleweed and you went down by 10. Every time you answered back, something happened to put the game further out of reach. You scored a touchdown at least, but it was on a drive that started at the 40 due to a great kick return.
Week 3
Well, we're going to have some shakeups here. Only one of the games went the way we expected, and that one was a bit unexpected in how it went. Confused? Well, we'll explain below.
No. 1: Tiburon Landsharks -0
You know, some of the Amarillo Tumbleweeds were confident in their ability to give the Landsharks their first loss. They went with it to the media, knowing it would make them look silly if they failed. And then the Landsharks held them to 3 points while returning an interception for a touchdown. Granted, the Landsharks had some cracks show in their offense, it was not a stellar showing from them. But even then, against the number 2 team, they still dominated the game.
No. 2: Amarillo Tumbleweeds -0
You deserve to fall down the rankings after that last performance. Your offense literally gave more points to the Landsharks than it got on its own. The only problem with that, is that you were playing the Landsharks, and the teams below you played even worse.
No. 3: Calgary Cavalry +2
What am I going to do with you? You've won 2 games by a combined 5 points and your one loss was by 23. However, everyone below you has a worse record and an even worse point differential. Or, if they have a better point differential, then it's a team with a worse record and the only team expected to do worse than you AND the only team that was below you last week! Either that, or they're the team that you have SOMEHOW managed to beat twice. It feels kind of weak to put you here due to your 2 wins over a team that has shown itself to be a paper tiger, but those 2 wins exist and it's hard to argue with them, even if they both feel like they were more handed to you by the Drifters than by your own proficiency.
No. 4: Brooklyn Atlantic +2
OK, where was this team? Does it only come out to play at home? While 12 points isn't a great total for your offense to score, it's more than it has yet, and combine that with a touchdown from your defense and special teams, you not only won a game, you dominated it. That being said, your defense was the real standout, especially during the 4th quarter. You're finally off the bottom, let's see if you stay there.
No. 5: Liverpool Llamas -2
Is that really all you have? You played the worst team in the league and you go out like THAT? I know the Atlantic have a decent defense, but you had all of one play against them the entire game. The 4th quarter was literally more beneficial to the Atlantic to have your offense out on the field than theirs! That was disgusting to watch.
No. 6: Tokyo Drifters -2
Well, I finally bit the bullet. You're winless with 2 games against the team we thought was not even in your league. Granted, right now you only have a -9 point differential. Technically that's 3rd in the league. However, that 0 in the win column is glaring, too glaring to have you higher than the bottom now that you're the only winless team in the league. Now watch as now that I did this, the Drifters stomp the Atlantic.
Week 4
The only game that wasn't an upset would have been one of the biggest upsets possible before the season began. This is a very, very hard ranking to do now.
No. 1: Tiburon Landsharks -0
Except for this. Granted, you finally look mortal. You scored a decent amount, but you actually scored LESS than the average that the Llamas usually give up as the worst D in the league. And your defense which hasn't given up more than 10 points all season gave up 30. Maybe that's not entirely fair, considering that 3 of the 4 touchdown drives started in your own side of the field, but somehow almost everything went wrong for you guys. The Offense and the Special Teams really left the D out to dry, and if this was the first week of the season I might have put you guys last. Definitely 2nd to last.
No. 2: Calgary Cavalry +1
You were supposed to be BAD. You were supposed to be the worst team in the International Division. Somehow, instead, you're the best team, granted in the weaker division. Still, you won 3 games, tied for the most in the league, so I feel obligated to put you here even if you do have one of the worst point differentials in the league. Holding the Tumbleweeds scoreless for the entire second half is pretty good, even if it now looks like the Tumbleweeds might have the worst offense in the league, or at least second to the Cavalry.
No. 3: Brooklyn Atlantic +1
Man, how things change. Two weeks ago you were at the bottom by a ways, not it's not impossible to see you win the prospect bowl. You utterly blew out the Drifters, who, while winless, hadn't actually been blown out by anyone yet this season. Your offense looked alive, scoring 23 points with only one turnover helping you out from the Defense. Meanwhile, that Defense after a poor first drive, tightened up immensely over the rest of the game. The first two weeks you were the worst team in the league. If you were any better, right now you could be number 1 considering you've been the best team over the last 2 weeks.
No. 4: Liverpool Llamas +1
Here's the problem I have: Your wins are against 6 and 1. You are the only team to beat 1. You did so handily. But I can't put you above the Atlantic who beat you last week and this week handled an opponent better than you did earlier, especially when they were above you last week. This 2 through 4 section is all very close.
No. 5: Amarillo Tumbleweeds -3
And it all comes tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down. You have scored a total of 9 points the last two weeks, and for the playoffs are going to face another tough defense against the Atlantic. Granted, they are coming to your house and you did beat them twice, but that doesn't change the fact that you have been the worst team over the last 2 weeks.
No. 6: Tokyo Drifters -0
It'd be kind of interesting if you only lost by a small margin this week, considering at that point you could be winless and have a better point differential than the 3-1 Cavalry. However, after an opening touchdown, you ended up utterly destroying your chances of winning or even having a close game as your defense got smashed in by an offense who hadn't done that to anyone all season, and got bottled up by a defense which, to be fair, had been great all season. If your first win comes in the playoffs, that will be quite a turnaround.
(2257 Words, possible 1.5x multiplier)
Week 1 was not exactly a competitive week in the Prospect Bowl, with two of the three games being blowouts in the end, with the 4th quarter essentially being meaningless. That being said, the remaining game had an amazing ending.
No. 1: Tiburon Landsharks -0
Is anyone surprised by this ranking? Anyone at all? They were preseason favorites and just won by 21 points over a team that isn't even expected to be a bottom feeder. They looked dominant both on defense and offense.
No. 2: Amarillo Tumbleweed +2
If the Landsharks made their opponents look silly, the Tumbleweed made their opponents look like they didn't belong on a football field. While the offense of the Tumbleweed was nowhere near as dominant as the Landsharks, the defense held their opponent to 3 points. I feel the Landsharks were slightly more dominant and the Tumbleweed's opponent was a bit weaker, so they only get second.
No. 3: Calgary Cavalry +2
I agonized over this ranking for a while. The Cavalry were considered one of the worse teams in the league, but they won their game. It feels like the Cavalry got lucky on turnovers and on getting a lucky safety, but they won their game. It doesn't half hurt that they beat the team we had 2nd in the rankings coming into today.
No. 4: Tokyo Drifters -2
Considering the Drifters were the best team over the course of preseason, this was a bit of a shock. The high powered offense just could not get anything going against a surprisingly stout Calgary defense, and while the Defense held fast and did their job, the Drifters offense, considered by some to be even better than the Landsharks, ended up giving the Cavalry the points they needed to win.
No. 5: Liverpool Llamas -2
OK, as a middle of the pack team you weren't supposed to beat the Landsharks. Being tied at halftime might have even been a nice surprise. But giving up 21 points in the second half while scoring none and getting run out of the building is flat out unnacceptable for any team in this league. The Llamas were decently close to being rated last on this Week 1 ranking, that's how atrocious their second half was.
No. 6: Brooklyn Atlantic -0
You were rated poorly going into the season. You were matched up against a middle of the pack team. Your defense isn't terrible, albeit not great. But your offense was the worst unit in the entire league this week. 3 points. Even that was only gotten on a drive that was handed to you in Amarillo Territory thanks to your decent defense. You score any more points and I'd have you over the Llamas. As is, you're staying at the bottom. Hopefully your next trip to Amarillo goes better...next week? And they're away again? Who made this schedule?
Week 2
That's...not much better to be honest. The teams we thought were good performed well, the teams we thought were bad didn't, let's see how that shows in the rankings.
No. 1: Tiburon Landsharks -0
If the Landsharks' domination against a team that was supposed to be a middle of the pack team wasn't enough for you, let's see how you feel about their game against a team that is supposed to be the bottom of the league. Jumping out to a 26-0 lead through 3 quarters, then letting off the gas pedal and letting them get a field goal for their only points of the game late on? Yeah, about as much as we all expected. The Landsharks are number 1 and they are here to stay for a while.
No. 2: Amarillo Tumbleweeds -0
Well, this wasn't as dominant as their last game. There were long stretches where the Tumbleweed looked like they might let the Atlantic back into this game. For a while in the 4th quarter they were only 3 points apart. Then the Tumbleweed defense showed up and intercepted the Atlantic inside their own Red Zone and got 7 easy points out of it. Another stop and 3 more easy points later and the game's scoreline doesn't look as close as it felt for most of the game. However, the Tumbleweeds were definitely the better team the entire way through.
No. 3: Liverpool Llamas +2
What a game! This was easily game of the week and I wouldn't be surprised if it was game of the season, too! The Llamas offense wasn't really all up to par, but it's very very hard to argue with that Defense. Honestly, though, the win did not look confident. If not for a couple other teams slipping up, they wouldn't be in the top half.
No. 4: Tokyo Drifters -0
Okay, they are winless, but they've had an awful lot of bad luck come their way to get to that point. That being said, Jackie Daytona needs to take a long, hard look in the mirror after last game. Not one, but two pick sixes, one turning what looked like a win into a loss, he's probably getting chewed out by his locker room right now and he deserves it.
No. 5: Calgary Cavalry -2
This is what we expected from the Cavalry. Coming off of a high where they won their opening game against a team thought superior in the Drifters, they walked into the Landsharks stadium and got gobbled up. 26-3. That is a terrible score that probably won't be surpassed by another team over the short prospect bowl season, and it definitely earns your drop all the way down to the bottom, along with...
No. 6: Brooklyn Atlantic -0
You almost had it, you know. You had the ball and could have won or at least tied the game on a long drive. Instead, the drive lasted one play and directly set up a Tumbleweed touchdown. You held the Tumbleweed to 3 points at halftime. Then your special teams decided to give a free touchdown to the Tumbleweed and you went down by 10. Every time you answered back, something happened to put the game further out of reach. You scored a touchdown at least, but it was on a drive that started at the 40 due to a great kick return.
Week 3
Well, we're going to have some shakeups here. Only one of the games went the way we expected, and that one was a bit unexpected in how it went. Confused? Well, we'll explain below.
No. 1: Tiburon Landsharks -0
You know, some of the Amarillo Tumbleweeds were confident in their ability to give the Landsharks their first loss. They went with it to the media, knowing it would make them look silly if they failed. And then the Landsharks held them to 3 points while returning an interception for a touchdown. Granted, the Landsharks had some cracks show in their offense, it was not a stellar showing from them. But even then, against the number 2 team, they still dominated the game.
No. 2: Amarillo Tumbleweeds -0
You deserve to fall down the rankings after that last performance. Your offense literally gave more points to the Landsharks than it got on its own. The only problem with that, is that you were playing the Landsharks, and the teams below you played even worse.
No. 3: Calgary Cavalry +2
What am I going to do with you? You've won 2 games by a combined 5 points and your one loss was by 23. However, everyone below you has a worse record and an even worse point differential. Or, if they have a better point differential, then it's a team with a worse record and the only team expected to do worse than you AND the only team that was below you last week! Either that, or they're the team that you have SOMEHOW managed to beat twice. It feels kind of weak to put you here due to your 2 wins over a team that has shown itself to be a paper tiger, but those 2 wins exist and it's hard to argue with them, even if they both feel like they were more handed to you by the Drifters than by your own proficiency.
No. 4: Brooklyn Atlantic +2
OK, where was this team? Does it only come out to play at home? While 12 points isn't a great total for your offense to score, it's more than it has yet, and combine that with a touchdown from your defense and special teams, you not only won a game, you dominated it. That being said, your defense was the real standout, especially during the 4th quarter. You're finally off the bottom, let's see if you stay there.
No. 5: Liverpool Llamas -2
Is that really all you have? You played the worst team in the league and you go out like THAT? I know the Atlantic have a decent defense, but you had all of one play against them the entire game. The 4th quarter was literally more beneficial to the Atlantic to have your offense out on the field than theirs! That was disgusting to watch.
No. 6: Tokyo Drifters -2
Well, I finally bit the bullet. You're winless with 2 games against the team we thought was not even in your league. Granted, right now you only have a -9 point differential. Technically that's 3rd in the league. However, that 0 in the win column is glaring, too glaring to have you higher than the bottom now that you're the only winless team in the league. Now watch as now that I did this, the Drifters stomp the Atlantic.
Week 4
The only game that wasn't an upset would have been one of the biggest upsets possible before the season began. This is a very, very hard ranking to do now.
No. 1: Tiburon Landsharks -0
Except for this. Granted, you finally look mortal. You scored a decent amount, but you actually scored LESS than the average that the Llamas usually give up as the worst D in the league. And your defense which hasn't given up more than 10 points all season gave up 30. Maybe that's not entirely fair, considering that 3 of the 4 touchdown drives started in your own side of the field, but somehow almost everything went wrong for you guys. The Offense and the Special Teams really left the D out to dry, and if this was the first week of the season I might have put you guys last. Definitely 2nd to last.
No. 2: Calgary Cavalry +1
You were supposed to be BAD. You were supposed to be the worst team in the International Division. Somehow, instead, you're the best team, granted in the weaker division. Still, you won 3 games, tied for the most in the league, so I feel obligated to put you here even if you do have one of the worst point differentials in the league. Holding the Tumbleweeds scoreless for the entire second half is pretty good, even if it now looks like the Tumbleweeds might have the worst offense in the league, or at least second to the Cavalry.
No. 3: Brooklyn Atlantic +1
Man, how things change. Two weeks ago you were at the bottom by a ways, not it's not impossible to see you win the prospect bowl. You utterly blew out the Drifters, who, while winless, hadn't actually been blown out by anyone yet this season. Your offense looked alive, scoring 23 points with only one turnover helping you out from the Defense. Meanwhile, that Defense after a poor first drive, tightened up immensely over the rest of the game. The first two weeks you were the worst team in the league. If you were any better, right now you could be number 1 considering you've been the best team over the last 2 weeks.
No. 4: Liverpool Llamas +1
Here's the problem I have: Your wins are against 6 and 1. You are the only team to beat 1. You did so handily. But I can't put you above the Atlantic who beat you last week and this week handled an opponent better than you did earlier, especially when they were above you last week. This 2 through 4 section is all very close.
No. 5: Amarillo Tumbleweeds -3
And it all comes tumbling down, tumbling down, tumbling down. You have scored a total of 9 points the last two weeks, and for the playoffs are going to face another tough defense against the Atlantic. Granted, they are coming to your house and you did beat them twice, but that doesn't change the fact that you have been the worst team over the last 2 weeks.
No. 6: Tokyo Drifters -0
It'd be kind of interesting if you only lost by a small margin this week, considering at that point you could be winless and have a better point differential than the 3-1 Cavalry. However, after an opening touchdown, you ended up utterly destroying your chances of winning or even having a close game as your defense got smashed in by an offense who hadn't done that to anyone all season, and got bottled up by a defense which, to be fair, had been great all season. If your first win comes in the playoffs, that will be quite a turnaround.
(2257 Words, possible 1.5x multiplier)
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