Power Rankings! (Week 11)

The playoff runs begin as the top teams in each divisions gear up for the final games of the regular season. The Inscrutable Drama Kings Division is seeing a heated race to the wire as the top 4 teams in the league are separated by only 2 games. On the other side of the ocean, the Spunky Misunderstood Geniuses are brewing a drama of their own as the Angels are feeling the heat as team Skool has somehow managed to rake off two straight wins to pull even with the Angels. However, close behind are team TAGHeuer and the Green Team, both two games behind and fighting desperately for that last playoff position.

1. Buffy (8-3) Buffy has been awesome all year long and seems to show no signs of slowing down. Despite failing to surpass the century mark after 5 straight weeks, Buffy is still averaging an impressive 120 points the last 5 games, highest in the league.

2. Chunky Monkeys (7-4) The Monkeys have been stumbling the previous two weeks, with a stunning loss to the Green Team and barely managing a win over the struggling Jammers last week. However, the Monkeys are clearly the second best team as they are the only team besides Buffy to have averaged over 100 points per contest throughout the season. The Monkeys are also currently on an incredible streak of 8 consecutive games with over 100 points scored. The Monkeys will attempt to reclaim their top position as they face division rivals, the DIRTeByRDeeZ and Buffy, in the last two weeks of the season. The much anticipated showdown against Buffy will give the Monkey's a chance to show who's truly the top dog in the league. (The Monkeys holds the advantage and are 1-0 against Buffy this season)

3. Battle Angels (6-5) Despite a mediocre record, the Angels are still first in their division while featuring one of the top offensive lineups in the league. The Angels, despite losing last week, have averaged an amazing 117 points per game the last 3 weeks! 2nd only behind team Buffy.

4. DIRTeByRDeeZ (6-5) After a 5 game winning streak, the Birds have cooled while enduring two consecutive losses. However, the DIRTeByRDeeZ still feature one of the most explosive lineups in the league with young rbs Ahman Green and Corey Dillon leading the way. Bolstered by the surprising play of FA Tom Brady, the solid receiving unit (Harrison, Carter, Ward) have seen plenty of action the past couple of weeks. Despite the recent slump, the Birds are one of the few teams to have averaged over 100 pts per game the last 5 games. The key to the Birds rests with the QB -- if Brady can perform consistently at a high level, the Birds will be a tough team to play. This week's matchup with the Monkey's will be the Birds first big test before the playoffs.

5. Tiiite End Jammers (6-5) Even amidst a disastrous slide in the standings, the Jammers are still in the hunt for that last playoff spot. The Jammers have been heating up the past two weeks, as the team posted a respectable 97 points per game. The Jammers are staring at a relatively easy schedule in its last two weeks of regular season play (Ante Up and Skool). To have a chance at landing that last playoff position, the Jammers must prove that it is playoff worthy and put teams like Ante Up and Skool away.

6. Skool (6-5) Skool has been the model of efficiency ... or luck, whichever works for you. Defying all odds, Skool has managed a 6-5 record and a tie for first place with the Angels despite only exceeding the century mark once this season. While the rest of the league has averaged over 100 points per game in games they have won, Skool has averaged only 90 points. Even more astounding is the fact that in the games that Skool has lost, Skool is averaging 86.4 points per game, 3rd highest in the league! Is this a team that plays only as much as it needs to? Or is it just a mediocre team that gets lucky? It probably won't matter -- with a 2 game lead over Tag and the Green Team with weeks to go, Skool is almost a lock to make the playoffs. Go figure.

7. Ante Up (5-6) A solid team in the wrong league. If Ante Up were to have been fortunate enough to be in the Spunky Misunderstood Geniuses division, Ante Up would almost surely be a lock for a playoff berth. Unfortunately, despite being the 4th best offensive team this year, Ante Up is toiling in the cellar trying to catch divisional powerhouses such as team Buffy, the Chunky Monkeys, the DIRTeByRDeeZ and the Jammers. Hopeless? Actually, the team is only one game behind the Birds and the Jammers. But Ante Up will have their backs to the wall as they face the Jammers and Birds in the last two games of the regular season. A sweep will garauntee them a position for the playoffs, while a loss will almost surely knock them out.

8. Green Team (4-7) The Green Team has been hot, but it might be too late. The Green Team has averaged over 104 points per game in its last 3 weeks but is still 2 games behind 2nd place. With two playoff berths all but locked up by the Battle Angels and Skool, the Green Team will have to duke it out with TAGHeuer and Flaming Shrapnel for the final position. The team will be counting heavily on the resurgence of RBs Duce Staley and Mike Anderson.

9. Flaming Shrapnel (3-8) Analysts argue that team Shrapnel, with 997 total points scored this season, good for 7th overall, certainly does not deserve the worst record in the league. However, despite its efforts and the inspiring play of Terrell Owens, Anthony Thomas, Garrison Hearst and teen heart-throb Alex Van Pelt, Shrapnel has been unable to string any kind of winning streak together all season. Facing likely elimination, the Shrapnel team will still battle to the end. GM Liao refuses to give up and if anything, analysts around the country fully expect team Shrapnel to be a force to be reckoned with next year.

10. TAGHeuer (4-7) This has been a dismal season for team Tag. With its running back core combining for an astounding 1 touchdown all season, its leading receiver, Keyshawn Johnson scoreless this season, few are surprised at Tag's ineptitude at being able to put the rock in the endzone. With a league leading 5 games in which it has scored less than 80 points, team Tag will almost certainly have a busy off- season. However, building his team around talent including Donovan McNabb, Stephen Davis and Keyshawn Johnson, GM Ping Shen will have a few tricks up his sleeve for next year. I gaurantee it.