Power Rankings Pre-Playoff: Coach Rainbow is the One to Beat

Well the regular season is virtually finished and bar an astonishing victory by the Colts in their final regular season game the lineup for the post season has now been decided. Here are the rankings as we go into the playoffs:

PFL Power Rankings: Pre-Playoff
	RK	COACH	REC	COMMENT
	1 (1)	Rainbow Doc	6-0	Finished out his regular season with a tough 13-6 victory over Berty's Seahawks. The most experienced online coach and probably the top player in the league but that does not guarantee success in the minefield that is the playoffs.
	2 (2)	Kirchoffs69	6-0	The only other team with an unbeaten record in the regular season. He will be hoping that CJ will continue his impressive season and help this team reach the Superbowl in this coach's first impressive season in the big league.
	3 (3)	Lisburngamer	5-1	Will have to get through some very tough matches to even make it to the Superbowl. Was well beaten at the same stage last season but has shown continued improvement this season and goes into the post season with realistic hopes of bringing the Superbowl across the Irish Sea.
	4 (4)	xElnino9x	5-1	Has enhanced his reputation significantly this season by guiding the worst rated Lions team to a 5-1 record. One of the most competent online players he has now transferred his proven top level FIFA skills to the Madden game and is a tough opponent nobody fancies to come up against.
	5 (5)	english redskin	4-2	Another very experienced online player who has realistic Superbowl aspirations. In fact although he is only fifth rated in the power rankings I think that when crunch time comes his experience will be central to him probably being the coach representing the Red conference in the Superbowl.
	6 (6)	Burnzee	4-2	Finally gets a chance to play against Berty44 with the Bears in a league season. Has lost to Berty in every competitive match with a various line up of teams but finally now with da Bears under his wing he is an entirely different proposition. With two top defensive coaches this should be a very low scoring affair.
	7 (7)	themouth1888	4-2	Air Bengal as they have become know this season have the most potent aerial assault in the PFL. Early season difficulties have long been forgotten and Mouth will be hopeful of doing better than last season when he was just one play away from upsetting the eventual champion Tuscan in the Conference Final.
	8 (-)	Berty44	4-2	Completed the regular season earlier this week with a comprehensive defeat of the Browns ( Hulldofan ) and then ran the Rams (Rainbow Doc) close in a tremendous contest before losing out by a TD. Strong defensive coach but ineptitude on the offensive side of the field will probably scupper chances of a long postseason run.
	9 (9)	DiodeX	3-3	A poor team may hinder this good coach's hope for a long run in the playoffs. Still he is a regular to madden playoffs and that experience will stand to him.
	10 (-)	TuscanRaider74	3-3	Written off in many circles as a has been Tuscan has struggled badly with the 49ers. In fact had the Seahawks been able to kick a 30yard FG with a 20mph tailwind in the 49ers first game the champion would not be in the playoffs. Form is temporary but class is permanent and for that reason I think Tuscan cannot be discounted and it would be no surprise if the two time reigning champion does it again and gain an unprecedented third consecutive PFL title.

The remaining playoff contenders are San Diego (da 3gnrul3) and Baltimore (mark182roberts). For coach da 3gnrul3 it is very hard to fathom that he is making his first ever postseason appearance. A fine coach with the Chargers in his hands he will be a difficult opponent for anybody. Mark182roberts has made the playoffs in his first season in the big league. With the strong Ravens defence he will not be an easy opponent. There is also a mathematical chance that the Colts with coach AdeyL will get the last playoff spot in the red Conference but they would need to win their last game by more than 80 points, but lets face it, that is not going to happen !

My prediction is for an all old LA battle between the Rams ( now of St. Louis ) and the Raiders ( now of Oakland ), the Rams against the Raiders, the Doc against the Trooper. The best of luck to all, hopefully everyone will play to the best of their ability and remember, be humble in victory and gracious in defeat, at the end of the day its only a game.

Some thanks now to Burnzee and Drastic for keeping this column going for me when I was on vacation. You guys wrote some great stuff, which made for some very enjoyable reading. Also a word to Burnzee and Mouth for running the league so competently this season. It takes time to post up all the fixtures and results and keep it all up to date so a big thank you on behalf of all the participants in this season's league.

Soapbox Rant of the Week
It was great to see we have had some new winners over the past few weeks. This is the most entertaining forum on the site so keep posting here to give us all a good laugh. This week Burnzee had us all chuckling at his Chicago on the road for Wildcard game article and scoops the award. Also special mention goes to Kirchoffs69 for his efforts this week.

Finally this coming week we have one of the most exciting Madden events ever. To mark the end of the Madden 09 season the cream of Scotland / Ireland / Wales take on England in an 8 v 8 contest for the glory of winning the Anglo-Celtic Cup. The games will be played in the coming week and with big bragging rights on the line it is sure to be vigorously contested. With seven playoff contenders in their squad the Celtic nations will go into the battle as slight favourites but England will not lie down easily, it should be good fun. The next power ranking will be at the end of the playoffs, so until then happy madden balling.

Berty44
XBLN PFL Correspondent