by Alana Klein

Highlights of the Week

[redacted] @ Oceanside

• An absolute shootout. I think I can safely say that I was rooting for Oceanside in this one and still maintain my objectivity. It would’ve been their first win since their opening game and the Arsenal were literally playing an exhibition game. It’s too bad for Michigan that this one didn’t count because they would have clinched a playoff berth. They’ve gotta handle business when they run it back next weekend in Michigan. … Oh … also, Oceanside is now the Stealth. It might seem odd to rebrand and get new uniforms with the season practically over, but I think it’s actually a good way to show the community that they are committed to next season.

Nashville @ Albany

• This one lived up to the billing. It looked early on like Nashville was gonna run away with it, but Josh Kulka settled in and the Firebirds eventually tied the game. They went punch-for-punch the rest of the way. Even if a win was in the cards for Albany, it wasn’t going to be by the margin they needed.

Washington @ Minnesota

• Washington may have played themselves right out of playoff contention as Minnesota dominated en route to clinching the 3-seed.

Kentucky @ Beaumont

• Things are certainly not right in Kentucky, who fielded an emergency roster for the 2nd straight week. And — as shocking as this might be — Beaumont finds themselves in a situation where they control their own destiny.

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Into the Record Books

Most points scored in a game

• Michigan & Beaumont narrowly missed BOTH teams entering the top 10 or most points scored in an AF1 game. Michigan is sitting at 3rd after putting up 86.

Most combined points scored in a game

• Coming into this season, the record was 128. In a matter of a few weeks, that’s been shattereed twice. TRhe new record stands at 160 after Michigan’s 86-74 win.

Most points scored in a loss

• At 74 points, Oceanside now holds this dubious record.

There were quite likely a few individual records that were both officially and unofficaially set in the game between the Arsenal and the Stealth.


Stat of the Week
Not really a stat, but I think it’s remarkable … a few weeks ago, Washington in a battle for the 3-seed might miss the playoffs. Meanwhile, Michigan started 1-5 but is now a virtual lock for the 5-seed.

Tiebreakers
Nashville clinched the head-to-head outright over Albany.

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PLAYOFFS?! Don’t talk about playoffs! PLAYOFFS?!

Current seeds

* These seeds are all locked in.

• Albany: 2
• Kentucky: 4
• Minnesota: 3
• Nashville: 1
• Oceanside: eliminated

Best possible playoff seeding

*not considering the above listed teams

• Beaumont: 6
• Michigan: 5
• Washington: 5

Standings

Rank	Team	W%	PPG Diff	Head-tohead^
1	z-Nashville	0.917	61.25
2	y-Albany	0.750	54.33
3	x-Minnesota	0.636	41.64	Kentucky
4	x-Kentucky	0.583	40.73
5	Michigan	0.455	44.36	Washington
6	Washington	0.417	35.33
7	Beaumont	0.364	35.73	Washington
8	e-Oceanside	0.091	42.36
	Oregon	0.111	22.89

x: playoff berth
y: 1st round bye
z: 1st round bye + home field advantage
e: eliminated

^ The head-to-head tiebreakers listed now only include those that are relevant to payoff seeding.

• This doesn’t factor in the 1 point Kentucky was awarded for the forfeiture win over Oregon.
  

NOTE: I use points per game instead of total points because there will not at any point in the season be a time when all teams have played the same number of games until the final whistle of the final game. Therefore, PPG is a more accurate indication of where teams would stand at this point in time instead of using the “Total Points” tiebreaker.

While I’m not entirely sure of the tiebreaker process between 3 or more teams, this was the system the AFL was using at the time of the rebranding into AF1.

(If 3 or more teams are tied, follow steps until 1 team is eliminated. Once two teams remain, revert back to step 1 of the 2-team tiebreaker to determine who advances.)

1. Head-to-head (best winning percentage in games between the teams)
2. Highest net points in all games
3. Strength of schedule
4. Coint toss