The Football Forge Power Rankings: Week 14Some tight games this week
Relatively little movement in the rankings this week. Don’t mistake that for stability in this crazy league.
| Rank | Team | Previous | Change | Record | Forge Factor | Note |
| 1 | Indy Eleven | 1 | 0 | 8-4-2 | 22.57 | Indy Eleven were perhaps a little lucky to keep the streak going in Birmingham but they continue to show their class. They get San Antonio next. |
| 2 | Loudoun United | 3 | 1 | 5-6-2 | 20.12 | Loudoun United were on a bye. Las Vegas this week. |
| 3 | Louisville City | 6 | 3 | 10-1-2 | 20.01 | Lou City beat North Carolina 2-1 but their attacking play was just as evident as ever. Back on top of the East now. A big game in Tampa Bay next. |
| 4 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 2 | -2 | 5-5-2 | 17.58 | The Switchbacks scored early and hung on for the 1-1 draw in Memphis. The win streak is done but that was enough to stay above the playoff line. Orange County coming up. |
| 5 | North Carolina FC | 5 | 0 | 3-5-5 | 17.42 | North Carolina had a few chances but couldn’t keep the Louisville powerhouse at bay in the 1-2 loss. Monterey Bay next. |
| 6 | El Paso Locomotive | 11 | 5 | 3-9-2 | 16.67 | El Paso remained mired at the bottom of the West but have two impressive road wins under Wilmer Cabrera, this time 1-0 over San Antonio. Phoenix this Saturday. |
| 7 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 4 | -3 | 6-3-4 | 16.08 | In the biggest upset of the week, Tampa Bay lost 0-1 to Oakland Roots and didn’t look themselves at all. NOt a good way to prepare for Louisville. |
| 8 | Oakland Roots | 12 | 4 | 5-7-2 | 15.21 | Oakland were without Paul Blanchette and missed a late penalty but it didn’t make any difference as they surprised Tampa 1-0. Out of the playoffs on tiebreakers only now. Sacramento next. |
| 9 | Birmingham Legion | 7 | -2 | 5-5-3 | 15.18 | The Legion had just one shot on goal, but several others were very close. They also kept the Eleven from scoring in open play, but that PK was legit. Off this weekend before San Antonio on Wednesday. |
| 10 | New Mexico United | 9 | -1 | 8-3-1 | 12.90 | New Mexico’s 1-0 win over Hartford came on a rather flukey 68th-minute goal. Not too convincing. They head to Memphis next. |
| 11 | Sacramento Republic | 15 | 4 | 6-1-6 | 12.75 | SacRep ended the 4-game winless streak 2-0 over Monterey Bay, although the game was closer than the score. They get Oakland this week but will play without red-carded Jack Gurr. |
| 12 | Memphis 901 | 8 | -4 | 5-6-2 | 11.69 | Memphis bombarded Colorado Springs with 28 shots but only managed a 1-1 draw. They have the final playoff spot in the West, but just barely. New Mexico this week. |
| 13 | Las Vegas Lights | 13 | 0 | 4-7-3 | 11.34 | The Lights came from behind to beat Miami 3-1. Not quite back to early season form, but it’s a good start. Loudoun coming up. |
| 14 | Phoenix Rising | 14 | 0 | 5-5-4 | 11.08 | Phoenix got an early goal and a late short-handed goal in a comprehensive 2-1 win over Orange County. They move up to 4th in the West. El Paso next. |
| 15 | Monterey Bay Union | 16 | 1 | 5-6-4 | 9.70 | Monterey Bay kept it fairly tight with Sacramento but blew a PK chance and ended up 0-2 losers. Still 3rd in the West. They cross the country to North Carolina next. |
| 16 | Detroit City | 22 | 6 | 6-3-2 | 7.82 | Detroit ends the 5-game winless streak easily in the 2-0 win in Rhode Island. They could have had a couple more too. Charleston this week. |
| 17 | Charleston Battery | 10 | -7 | 8-1-5 | 7.69 | The Battery and Riverhounds slogged to a tedious 0-0 draw. Three straight without a win and two straight without a goal. They slip from 1st place. Detroit next. |
| 18 | Rhode Island FC | 17 | -1 | 1-4-8 | 7.01 | Rhode Island never really threatened in the 0-2 loss to Detroit. Still only one win on the season for the debutants. Memphis tonight. |
| 19 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 21 | 2 | 3-5-5 | 6.27 | The good news: they stopped Charleston from scoring. The bad news: they still can’t score themselves. Is Bob Lilley heading to MLS? Even more bad news. Hartford coming up. |
| 20 | Hartford Athletic | 20 | 0 | 4-7-1 | 5.96 | Hartford showed little attacking power in the 0-1 loss in New Mexico. Very erratic but still only 1 point out of the playoffs. Pittsburgh next. |
| 21 | Orange County | 19 | -2 | 5-5-3 | 5.21 | Orange County had one shot on goal in the 1-2 loss in Phoenix. That’s not good enough and they slip below the Rising in the standings. A trip to Colorado this week. |
| 22 | San Antonio | 18 | -4 | 4-5-5 | 4.59 | A very bad week for San Antonio. They lose 0-1 El Paso Locomotive 0-1 and 1-2 to FC Tulsa in two lackluster performances. And they go to Indy this weekend. |
| 23 | FC Tulsa | 24 | 1 | 3-5-4 | 0.85 | Tulsa’s 2-1 win over San Antonio looked fairly comfortable. They end the 3-game losing streak but there’s a hill to climb. Off this week. |
| 24 | The Miami FC | 23 | -1 | 2-11-1 | -2.12 | An early lead was blown as Miami FC went down 1-3 in Las Vegas. A league-worst 6-game losing streak and fewest points in the league. They need this week’s break. |
