The Football Forge Power Rankings: Week 22The Championship is back to being wild
Five teams stood pat this week, but everyone else moved around a fair amount. And there was lots of scoring again, although not by Louisville City.
| Rank | Team | Previous | Change | Record | Forge Factor | Note |
| 1 | Tampa Bay Rowdies | 1 | 0 | 11-4-6 | 22.15 | The Rowdies’ 2-2 draw with Monterey Bay was about as even as the scoreline. But they are 7 points out of 2nd now. Another trip west to Phoenix Saturday. |
| 2 | Las Vegas Lights | 2 | 0 | 8-7-7 | 22.14 | Las Vegas took it to New Mexico, winning 2-1 on the road and looking solid in the process. Only 2 points dropped from the last 15. They host Detroit Saturday. |
| 3 | Louisville City | 6 | 3 | 15-4-2 | 22.05 | Louisville had most of the attacking chances in a generally cagey match of conference leaders, winning 1-0 over New Mexico. They welcome Sacramento Saturday. |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Riverhounds | 7 | 3 | 6-9-7 | 20.11 | Pittsburgh got just one goal and relied on Eric Dick’s goalkeeping for the clean sheet win in Sacramento. To Detroit Wednesday, then San Antonio Saturday. |
| 5 | Rhode Island FC | 3 | -2 | 6-4-11 | 19.05 | Rhode Island had several good chances but needed a stoppage-time banger from Clay Holstad to keep the 7-game unbeaten run going 1-1 in Detroit. To Indy Wednesday, then Hartford Saturday. |
| 6 | Charleston Battery | 8 | 2 | 13-3-7 | 18.95 | The Battery cruised to a 5-0 victory over Indy. They stay just 1 point behind Louisville, but they have played 2 more games. Memphis visits Saturday. |
| 7 | Sacramento Republic | 4 | -3 | 9-4-8 | 17.35 | SacRep had 8 shots on target but couldn’t convert as they go down 0-1 at home to Pittsburgh. They stay 2nd in the West but go to Louisville Saturday |
| 8 | FC Tulsa | 12 | 4 | 6-6-7 | 16.58 | Edwin Laszo got the obvious GOTW candidate as Tulsa beat San Antonio 3-1. Phillip Goodrum with a goal and an assist too. 3 games in hand and just out of the playoffs. Orange County visits Friday. |
| 9 | Birmingham Legion | 9 | 0 | 9-8-5 | 12.68 | The Legion had Hartford on the ropes and completely let them off the hook to finish 2-2. A chance for a home playoff spot blown. To Monterey Bay Saturday. |
| 10 | Loudoun United | 10 | 0 | 8-7-6 | 12.51 | Loudoun probably didn’t need 2 red cards and 2 PKs to beat Miami 4-1, but they got them. They did miss one of the PKs though. To Oakland Saturday. |
| 11 | North Carolina FC | 14 | 3 | 6-7-8 | 11.99 | North Carolina had all the attack in the comfortable 1-0 win in Orange County. Getting closer to the playoffs. They get Colorado Springs Saturday. |
| 12 | Colorado Springs Switchbacks | 16 | 4 | 9-8-4 | 11.89 | The Switchbacks needed some good saves from Christian Herrera but beat Phoenix 2-0. Also got the rare manger red card. Knocking on the home playoff spots. They travel to North Carolina Saturday. |
| 13 | New Mexico United | 5 | -8 | 12-6-2 | 10.81 | New Mexico were well-beaten 1-2 by Las Vegas Wednesday. They lost again Saturday 0-1 to Louisville. Still top of the West with a game in hand though. They head to Indy Sunday. |
| 14 | Hartford Athletic | 22 | 8 | 6-11-4 | 10.51 | A good week: they handled Detroit easily 1-0 and came from behind to tie Birmingham 2-2. Still well out of playoff reach though. A short trip to Rhode Island Saturday. |
| 15 | Monterey Bay Union | 13 | -2 | 7-9-6 | 8.58 | The Union got some good saves from Antony Siaha and stayed close to end 2-2 at home with Tampa Bay. They stay in the last playoff spot. A new manager (Jordan Stewart) and the Legion Saturday. |
| 16 | Memphis 901 | 11 | -5 | 9-8-5 | 7.79 | Memphis’ atypically attractive new kit was about the only interesting thing in the tedious 0-0 draw with El Paso. They head to Charleston Saturday. |
| 17 | Orange County | 17 | 0 | 8-11-3 | 5.20 | Orange County were toothless with no shots on goal as they lose 0-1 at home to North Carolina. Scoreless in 3 of the last 4. Away to Tulsa Friday. |
| 18 | Phoenix Rising | 19 | 1 | 6-8-7 | 4.19 | Phoenix are proof that you don’t rebuild a championship-winning team. They lose 0-2 in Colorado Springs. 1 win in the last 7 games. Off to Tampa Bay Sunday. |
| 19 | Detroit City | 15 | -4 | 8-7-5 | 4.16 | City deserved the 0-1 loss to Hartford but also deserved at least the 1-1 draw with Rhode Island. Above the playoff line with games in hand. Pittsburgh Wednesday, to Las Vegas Saturday. |
| 20 | Oakland Roots | 21 | 1 | 10-10-2 | 3.61 | Oakland Roots were on a bye this week. They get the surging Loudoun Saturday. |
| 21 | Indy Eleven | 18 | -3 | 9-7-5 | 1.61 | Indy looked shambolic in the 0-5 thrashing by Charleston. No wins since June 15th now. Rhode Island Wednesday, then New Mexico Sunday. |
| 22 | El Paso Locomotive | 24 | 2 | 3-14-4 | 1.44 | El Paso had no really good scoring chances and Jahmali Waite made a couple of good saves to preserve the 0-0 draw in Memphis. Cellar-dweller derby Saturday with Miami. |
| 23 | San Antonio | 20 | -3 | 5-11-5 | 0.39 | San Antonio got an early goal from Luis Solignac but gave up 3 to Tulsa. 8 losses in the last 9 games. To Pittsburgh Saturday. |
| 24 | The Miami FC | 23 | -1 | 2-18-2 | -2.05 | Miami scored in under 2 minutes but went downhill fast. 2 red cards including Frank Lopez, 2 PKs given up. They lose to Loudoun 1-4. Can they get a win in El Paso Saturday? |
