The Football Forge Power Rankings: Week 21A relatively quiet week in the Championship
Goals were at a premium in the Championship this past week, with only three teams scoring more than twice, 12 scoring just once and seven teams failing to score at all.
| Rank | Team | Previous | Change | Record | Forge Factor | Note |
| 1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 3 | 2 | 11-4-5 | 23.66 | The Rowdies were totally outplayed for 30 minutes or so before roaring back to beat 10-man Charleston Battery 4-2. Off to Monterey Bay this Saturday. |
| 2 | Las Vegas Lights | 1 | -1 | 7-7-7 | 20.65 | Las Vegas scored on a horrific error by Colorado Springs’ Christian Herrera and didn’t get another shot on goal until second-half stoppage time, ending 1-1 and remain tied on points. To New Mexico Wednesday. |
| 3 | Rhode Island FC | 2 | -1 | 6-4-10 | 20.46 | Rhode Island FC beat North Carolina 2-1 and have the league’s best record over the past 6 games, dropping just 2 points. They go to Detroit Saturday. |
| 4 | Sacramento Republic | 8 | 4 | 9-3-8 | 19.54 | It took SacRep 84 minutes to break the deadlock, but the 1-0 game in Detroit was nonetheless entertaining. They stay in contention for #1 in the West. Pittsburgh at home late Saturday. |
| 5 | New Mexico United | 5 | 0 | 12-4-2 | 17.86 | #1 v. #12 in the West ended exactly as you would expect, New Mexico winning easily 2-1. Still 3 points clear at the top with 2 games in hand. Louisville visits Saturday. |
| 6 | Louisville City | 7 | 1 | 14-4-2 | 16.36 | Louisville were 2 goals up in under 7 minutes and cruised to a 4-1 win over Monterey Bay. They have scored 52 goals and have a GD of 28, which is more than 17 teams have scored. They go to New Mexico Saturday. |
| 7 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 9 | 2 | 5-9-7 | 16.27 | Pittsburgh’s only goal in the 1-1 draw with Loudoun was a slightly questionable penalty. Are the scoring problems back? They travel to Sacramento Saturday. |
| 8 | Charleston Battery | 6 | -2 | 12-3-7 | 13.34 | The Battery beat a combative Loudoun United 2-1 Wednesday. They were up 2-0 over Tampa Bay Rowdies Saturday but allowed two fast goals, then lost keeper Adam Grinwis and went down 2-4. They get Indy Friday. |
| 9 | Birmingham Legion | 12 | 3 | 9-8-4 | 12.99 | The Legion got arguably its best home win of the season so far, 3-0 over Orange County. They are 1 point out of the home playoffs. Hartford Saturday. |
| 10 | Loudoun United | 4 | -6 | 7-7-6 | 12.29 | Loudoun were down 2 goals by the 25th minute against Charleston Wednesday. They battled back to get within 1 but couldn’t find the equalizer. Then a close 1-1 draw with Pittsburgh Saturday. Home against Miami on Saturday. |
| 11 | Memphis 901 | 17 | 6 | 9-8-4 | 11.79 | Memphis came close several times but had only one shot on goal. That’s all they need though to beat San Antonio 1-0. El Paso comes in Saturday. |
| 12 | FC Tulsa | 14 | 2 | 5-6-7 | 11.62 | Phillip Goodrum missed the game’s best chance and Tulsa ended with no shots on goal in the 0-0 draw with Indy. A trip to San Antonio Saturday. |
| 13 | Monterey Bay Union | 15 | 2 | 7-9-5 | 9.01 | Monterey Bay were Louisville’s latest victim as they get pounded 1-4 on the road. Still clinging to the last playoff spot in the West. Tampa Bay incoming Saturday. |
| 14 | North Carolina FC | 11 | -3 | 5-7-8 | 8.89 | North Carolina scored first but were largely outplayed, going down 1-2 in Rhode Island. 4 points below the playoff line now. To Orange County Saturday. |
| 15 | Detroit City | 13 | -2 | 8-6-4 | 8.67 | Detroit were for some reason upset about the Sacramento’s goal in the 0-1 loss, but it was entirely fair. 3 points behind the Legion but with 3 games in hand. To Hartford Wednesday, then home against Rhode Island Saturday. |
| 16 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 16 | 0 | 8-8-4 | 8.11 | Las Vegas Lights’ Raiko Arozarean had a career game and Ronaldo Damus was denied a goal on an iffy offside call and the Switchbacks have to settle for a1-1 draw. They welcome Phoenix Saturday. |
| 17 | Orange County | 10 | -7 | 8-10-3 | 6.91 | Orange County got rained on literally and figuratively in Birmingham, although the 0-3 scoreline perhaps overstates the difference. They host North Carolina Saturday. |
| 18 | Indy Eleven | 18 | 0 | 9-6-5 | 6.88 | Indy had 2 shots on goal but neither were very convincing as they drew 0-0 in Tulsa. 0-2-3 in the last 5 and the Legion are within a point. To Charleston Friday. |
| 19 | Phoenix Rising | 21 | 2 | 6-7-7 | 4.76 | Phoenix probably had the best scoring chance in the uninspiring 0-0 draw in Hartford. That’s not saying much though. Off to Colorado Springs Saturday. |
| 20 | San Antonio | 20 | 0 | 5-10-5 | 3.91 | San Antonio had their chances but couldn’t convert in the 0-1 loss to Memphis. The nightmare season continues. They host Tulsa Saturday. |
| 21 | Oakland Roots | 19 | -2 | 10-10-2 | 3.73 | Need tog et back on track after shipping 10 goals in 2 games? Go play Miami. Unfortunately, the 2-1 win was not very impressive. A bye this week. |
| 22 | Hartford Athletic | 22 | 0 | 5-11-3 | 3.44 | The 0-0 scoreline against Phoenix says it all. Very little offense was generated by either team. 6 games without a win. Detroit visits Wednesday, then to Birmingham Saturday. |
| 23 | The Miami FC | 23 | 0 | 2-17-2 | -1.10 | Miami has ONE point from its last THIRTEEN games. The 1-2 loss to Oakland was pretty close though. To Loudoun Saturday. |
| 24 | El Paso Locomotive | 24 | 0 | 3-14-3 | -2.27 | The good news? They scored, which they had not done in the past 3 games. They still lost 1-2 to New Mexico, and also gave up a red card. To Memphis Saturday. |
