1. (0) Amsterdam Smugglers 3-0
The Smugglers passed their first in-conference test with flying colors. A 24 point win over the Matadors represents their closest game of the season but it was still a comfortable margin for them. The bar has been set for the other teams that think of themselves as contenders in Zeta. Amsterdam has to know that they are the game that everyone will be marking on their schedule starting with this week when they head to Mannheim to take on the only other undefeated team in the conference. They will look to continue to roll in this one though.
2. (+1) Barcelona Blaze 2-1
The Blaze are riding a nice two game win streak and their game against the Pride can be viewed as something of a statement. This week was their first competitive game. A loss in week one was pretty much a foregone conclusion as was a win in week two, but week three could have gone either way. Instead they crushed the Pride by 42 and announced to the conference that they should be considered in the elite. They should continue to put themselves in that conversation with a game against Zagreb in week 4.
3. (+3) Mannheim Sharks 3-0
The Sharks put a beat down on Budapest to keep their hope of an undefeated season alive. Unfortunately that is most likely going to come crashing down this week as they take on the Smugglers, but it is still a good start for this team. Fortunes can always reverse but a strong start will really help you out down the stretch. They really showed they will make an impact on this league and are a team to keep an eye on.
4. (0) Lexington Metalheads 2-1
The Heads don't move up this week because I am more impressed with the Sharks win over Budapest than Lexington crushing the Ligers. Regardless, they have rediscovered their offensive mojo in the past two games which is significant even if it was against two of the worst teams in the conference. They'll have a chance to prove that they can continue that trend against a better opponent in week 4 with the Pride coming into town but I don't think that is going to be much of a problem for these guys. I am looking forward to their week 6 match-up with Barcelona but they better not be, the Pride and Scorpions could trip them up if they do.
5. (-3) Madrid Matadors 2-1
The Matadors dream of a perfect season came to a crashing halt as they stumbled into the brick wall that is Amsterdam. Some questionable play calling came back to bite them as Amsterdam wore them down over four quarters. That Matadors get a break in the next two weeks with the Ligers and the Thunder due up. They are going to look to get back on track against the bottom half of the league in the next few weeks before they gear up for a tough middle run as they have they sights firmly set on the number 2 seed.
6. (+1) Indianapolis Stampede 2-1
I am actually somewhat disappointed by the Stampede's slim margin of victory over Liverpool. Winning by one touchdown was not really what I envisioned for this match-up and not being able to take care of business against the bottom of the league doesn't bode well for their chances against quality teams. Despite that, they did notch the W and move up one spot in the rankings since the Pride stumbled in front of them. Week 4 gives them their shot at sinking Budapest but they better bring more to the table in this game than the last if they want to send Budapest to 0-4.
7. (+1) Jersey Mammoths 2-1
The Mammoths are finding their place in the league. They lost a close game to the Stampede a week ago and then pulled out a close one over the previously undefeated Empire this week. They seem destined to fall in that in between ground of not really being good but better than bad as well. It was a big win for them though as gives a big boost to their playoff hopes. Winning the winnable games will be key for this team and they have another one coming up in week 4 against the Hellboys. If they can win those kind of games, they'll sneak into the playoffs.
8. (+3) Zagreb Scorpions 2-1
The Scorpions improve to 2-1 on a strong win against the Hellboys. Starting a win streak will be difficult though as the Blaze are due up next. They will have to play a competitive game in week four for me to have any faith in their ability to compete for a playoff spot. They need to find their week one form and put their week 2 humbling behind them. At this point, I see Zagreb as being one of the teams that just misses out on the playoffs completing their disappointing slide that really started in the second half of season 6.
9. (0) Western Roman Empire 2-1
The Empire played the Mammoths tough but just came up short. This game could not have been bigger for this team and they just let it slip through their fingers. It would have been their first quality win and they would have been given a huge boost to their playoff hopes. Instead they look like they are going to be another borderline team that just doesn't have enough to make the post season. It is still nice to see that they come out and give it their all in these games and don't just pack it in because of the level difference.
10. (-4) Nashua Pride 1-2
The Pride have a pretty tough opening schedule and I am still confident they will make the playoffs but this was a tough loss. I have a hard time believing they are 42 points worse than the Blaze so something needs to change in Nashua or their fans are going to start getting restless. It starts in week 4 as they head to Lexington to take on the tough Metalheads, people in Nashua might not be expecting a W but they at least want to see some improvement. One bright spot is the play of TE Zack Attack Miller who must feel like he was snubbed by being left out of last seasons pro bowl. He is playing at a pro bowl level right now and is at least giving the fans something to be happy about.
11. (+1) Paris Elves 2-1
Fans in Paris must be ecstatic, three weeks into the season they are already halfway to their season 6 win total with another easy game due up in week 4. Their win ceiling is probably 5 but that still tops their season 6 total by one, so Paris has to be happy with some improvement. A big market team like Paris won't be satisfied with baby steps for long though as fans are going to demand marked improvement in season 8. It will be interesting to see if they take any strides in that direction or if we'll see a change in management down the road.
12. (-2) Budapest Tizenhetedikkerület 0-3
What is the deal with this Budapest team? They need to figure things out in a hurry as they have failed to be competitive in any of their first 3 games. They are going to have to turn it around this week or they will be staring at a 0-4 start through the first quarter of the season. The Stampede game is winnable but not if they continue to sleepwalk through their games like they have been so far. I had high hopes for this team preseason and it looks like I missed completely.
Still Defeated
Liverpool Warriors
Natal Hellboys
Porto Thunder
LAZER LIGERS
Liverpool looks like the best of the bunch as they have at least competed in their games. The rest look pretty hopeless and the only wins they'll have a shot at are against each other. The good news is that every other team will have a shot at 4 easy wins this season.
The Smugglers passed their first in-conference test with flying colors. A 24 point win over the Matadors represents their closest game of the season but it was still a comfortable margin for them. The bar has been set for the other teams that think of themselves as contenders in Zeta. Amsterdam has to know that they are the game that everyone will be marking on their schedule starting with this week when they head to Mannheim to take on the only other undefeated team in the conference. They will look to continue to roll in this one though.
2. (+1) Barcelona Blaze 2-1
The Blaze are riding a nice two game win streak and their game against the Pride can be viewed as something of a statement. This week was their first competitive game. A loss in week one was pretty much a foregone conclusion as was a win in week two, but week three could have gone either way. Instead they crushed the Pride by 42 and announced to the conference that they should be considered in the elite. They should continue to put themselves in that conversation with a game against Zagreb in week 4.
3. (+3) Mannheim Sharks 3-0
The Sharks put a beat down on Budapest to keep their hope of an undefeated season alive. Unfortunately that is most likely going to come crashing down this week as they take on the Smugglers, but it is still a good start for this team. Fortunes can always reverse but a strong start will really help you out down the stretch. They really showed they will make an impact on this league and are a team to keep an eye on.
4. (0) Lexington Metalheads 2-1
The Heads don't move up this week because I am more impressed with the Sharks win over Budapest than Lexington crushing the Ligers. Regardless, they have rediscovered their offensive mojo in the past two games which is significant even if it was against two of the worst teams in the conference. They'll have a chance to prove that they can continue that trend against a better opponent in week 4 with the Pride coming into town but I don't think that is going to be much of a problem for these guys. I am looking forward to their week 6 match-up with Barcelona but they better not be, the Pride and Scorpions could trip them up if they do.
5. (-3) Madrid Matadors 2-1
The Matadors dream of a perfect season came to a crashing halt as they stumbled into the brick wall that is Amsterdam. Some questionable play calling came back to bite them as Amsterdam wore them down over four quarters. That Matadors get a break in the next two weeks with the Ligers and the Thunder due up. They are going to look to get back on track against the bottom half of the league in the next few weeks before they gear up for a tough middle run as they have they sights firmly set on the number 2 seed.
6. (+1) Indianapolis Stampede 2-1
I am actually somewhat disappointed by the Stampede's slim margin of victory over Liverpool. Winning by one touchdown was not really what I envisioned for this match-up and not being able to take care of business against the bottom of the league doesn't bode well for their chances against quality teams. Despite that, they did notch the W and move up one spot in the rankings since the Pride stumbled in front of them. Week 4 gives them their shot at sinking Budapest but they better bring more to the table in this game than the last if they want to send Budapest to 0-4.
7. (+1) Jersey Mammoths 2-1
The Mammoths are finding their place in the league. They lost a close game to the Stampede a week ago and then pulled out a close one over the previously undefeated Empire this week. They seem destined to fall in that in between ground of not really being good but better than bad as well. It was a big win for them though as gives a big boost to their playoff hopes. Winning the winnable games will be key for this team and they have another one coming up in week 4 against the Hellboys. If they can win those kind of games, they'll sneak into the playoffs.
8. (+3) Zagreb Scorpions 2-1
The Scorpions improve to 2-1 on a strong win against the Hellboys. Starting a win streak will be difficult though as the Blaze are due up next. They will have to play a competitive game in week four for me to have any faith in their ability to compete for a playoff spot. They need to find their week one form and put their week 2 humbling behind them. At this point, I see Zagreb as being one of the teams that just misses out on the playoffs completing their disappointing slide that really started in the second half of season 6.
9. (0) Western Roman Empire 2-1
The Empire played the Mammoths tough but just came up short. This game could not have been bigger for this team and they just let it slip through their fingers. It would have been their first quality win and they would have been given a huge boost to their playoff hopes. Instead they look like they are going to be another borderline team that just doesn't have enough to make the post season. It is still nice to see that they come out and give it their all in these games and don't just pack it in because of the level difference.
10. (-4) Nashua Pride 1-2
The Pride have a pretty tough opening schedule and I am still confident they will make the playoffs but this was a tough loss. I have a hard time believing they are 42 points worse than the Blaze so something needs to change in Nashua or their fans are going to start getting restless. It starts in week 4 as they head to Lexington to take on the tough Metalheads, people in Nashua might not be expecting a W but they at least want to see some improvement. One bright spot is the play of TE Zack Attack Miller who must feel like he was snubbed by being left out of last seasons pro bowl. He is playing at a pro bowl level right now and is at least giving the fans something to be happy about.
11. (+1) Paris Elves 2-1
Fans in Paris must be ecstatic, three weeks into the season they are already halfway to their season 6 win total with another easy game due up in week 4. Their win ceiling is probably 5 but that still tops their season 6 total by one, so Paris has to be happy with some improvement. A big market team like Paris won't be satisfied with baby steps for long though as fans are going to demand marked improvement in season 8. It will be interesting to see if they take any strides in that direction or if we'll see a change in management down the road.
12. (-2) Budapest Tizenhetedikkerület 0-3
What is the deal with this Budapest team? They need to figure things out in a hurry as they have failed to be competitive in any of their first 3 games. They are going to have to turn it around this week or they will be staring at a 0-4 start through the first quarter of the season. The Stampede game is winnable but not if they continue to sleepwalk through their games like they have been so far. I had high hopes for this team preseason and it looks like I missed completely.
Still Defeated
Liverpool Warriors
Natal Hellboys
Porto Thunder
LAZER LIGERS
Liverpool looks like the best of the bunch as they have at least competed in their games. The rest look pretty hopeless and the only wins they'll have a shot at are against each other. The good news is that every other team will have a shot at 4 easy wins this season.
Last edited Jan 6, 2009 14:51:20
