2020 Power Rankings-Week 2

## Introduction

Congrats to all the week one winners. For those who claimed victory, the path to the playoffs is easy. Just go .500 the rest of the way and you are guaranteed a spot in the Festival of Champions. Easy, right? But math is math. There is a 100% chance that a team that lost will make the playoffs. Wow, I like those odds! So also congratulations to the teams that lost. Three of the five losing teams from week 1 made the playoffs in 2019.

Special shoutout to GBM, MMS, RIP, Idiots, P9, and Shotti. You all got outscored by teams in Headhunters, a ***NINETEEN-TEAM LEAGUE.***

 Last season, Paddock 9 sat in first place after one week. They went on to win the trophy. Sitting in last place this year? Paddock 9. But who sat in last place in 2019? Pain Train, and he had himself a spectacular season as well. So who can say for sure if week one is fact or fiction. Unless you're my arch rival Jared, in that case we can safely say his 171-point performance is fact.

## Opening Day Standings (Minimum Two Games)

Updated 9/20/20

While Duck sets the record for most consecutive opening day wins, Momma sets the record for most total opening day losses.

## Series Recaps (Revenge is a Dish best Served Week One)

It was a big week for vengeance in the LOC, with three teams striking back after 2019 defeats. H2H records in (parentheses).

* GBM doesn't impress, but walks away with a revenge W against MMMS (6-8). **Next Matchup: Week 13**
* Duck Punchers snaps a 9-9 series tie in a rematch of the 2019 Festival Semis, knocking out the defending champ P9 (10-9). **Next Matchup: Week 11**
* Pain Train blows through the first station with a third consecutive win against Shotti (5-9). **Next Matchup: N/A**
* Stupid Idiots avenges 2019's 0.49-point opening week loss to RIPDab with a narrow victory of his own (5-1). **Next Matchup: N/A**
* Sweet Dee needed all the points she could get against the week's best-performing loser, Papa's Posse (8-6). **Next Matchup: N/A**

## The Greatest Game - Week One

In honor of the 10th season of the League of Champions, I am running a season-long feature highlighting some of the best matchups ever. At the end of the year, one game will be given the title of "Greatest Game Ever Played."

Here are the Nominees for Week One Games:

### 2011: Garoppoblow Me vs. B-2 Hallway Gangstas

* Final Score: 271.72-264.88 (GBM)
* Why it's Nominated: In the inaugural week of the LOC, Commish comes back on MNF from down 97 points using one player.

In his quest to create a league to rival all others, Commish unveils a scoring format that hums like the engine of a Ferrari. Then, trailing by close to 100 points heading into Monday night, star QB Tom Brady throws for 517 and 4 TDs in the only year of the PCE (Point per Completion Era). He finishes with an otherwordly 104.02 points. Not the team. JUST TOM BRADY. The demonstration of power serves as the starting bell for a league that has survived the test of time.

### 2014: Ma ma momma said vs. Papa's Posse

* Final Score: 249.15-249.13 (MMS)
* Why it's Nominated: Momma secures a 0.02 point margin of victory on the last completed pass of the MNF double-header.

With 2:25 left in the late Monday night game, Keenan Allen catches a pass over the middle for 12 yards. It brings Allen's total to 8.70, just enough to complete a comeback and give momma a win. The insane 0.02 margin of victory withstood the scrutiny of the score-adjustment period and is a record that will likely never fall in the LOC. The NFL game itself was Arizona vs. San Diego, which Arizona won 18-17.

## Stat Chat

* RIPDab becomes the fifth team to lose 70 games.
* Momma becomes the fourth team to lose 60 regular season games.
* Duck Punchers becomes the second team to score over 200 in 80 regular season games and 90 total games.
* Stupid Idiots has now played 46 total games, tying Jar Jar Stinks! JJS finished 22-24. Idiots is currently 18-28.
* After not winning two straight games all of 2019, Dee starts off with a victory in 2020. I like her odds (MATT JINX BE GONE).
* Paddock 9 ties momma and Papa for the most total weeks spent in last place (17). All three lost in week one, so someone will likely notch week 18 in a few days.

## Power Rankings - Week 2 (Taylor Swift Edition)

Taylor Swift is set to perform at the CMA's for the first time in a billion years, so for today's rankings I have chosen the song title from her hit album "Folklore" that best fits the week one performance for each team. And to be quite honest, that is the extent of the theme. I'm not really expanding upon any of the song choices. I mostly just did the titles and left it there.

### 1(4). Pain Train

* Taylor Swift Song: "The 1"

Good start for a team trying to take that final step in 2020. They weren't the top scorer, but they were one of just a few teams whose success came out of their top picks as opposed to boom performances from sleepers. They are set up nicely in week two with a game against the lowly Paddock 9.

### 2(2). Sweet Dee

* Taylor Swift Song: "Mad Woman"

A case could be made that Sweet Dee is cheating since she is pregnant and technically 1.5 people right now. I don't think that co-ownership of teams is allowed. Collusion? Either way, stellar week one performance from a team that notoriously comes out the gate hot. Let's see them keep that same fire going in week two.

### 3(1). Garoppoblow Me

* Taylor Swift Song: "Hoax"

The 3rd lowest score of the week, but GBM comes away with a W. Is this team, which features three of the top six players by ADP, really a super-squad? Or are they a complete hoax, destined for another year of disappointment?

### 4(7). Duck Punchers

* Taylor Swift Song: "Peace"

Duck is at peace with "his guys." What more can I say? The regulars came through for him.

### 5(3). The Stupid Idiots

* Taylor Swift Song: "Invisible String"

Blessed by the Fantasy Gods? Or a puppet for the dark forces? There has been a lot of talk by Butt over where his allegiance lies, and he should choose wisely or face the wrath of the all-powerfuls.

### 6(5). RIPDab

* Taylor Swift Song: "My Tears Ricochet"

If there is any team that needs a victory for his mental health, it's RIPDab.

### 7(9). Papa's Posse

* Taylor Swift Song: "Seven"

Pretty straight forward reason. He's ranked 7th. And perhaps that isn't fair. After all, he outscored most of the league. But that's why we let him have the spot above Shotti, his week two challenger. Let's see which of these two former champs can come away with a 1-1 record.

### 8(8). The Shotti Bunch

* Taylor Swift Song: "The Last Great American Dynasty"

    You hate to see your heroes go full Brett Favre and refuse to hang up the jersey while they're on top. Seeing Shotti go down week one was like seeing KG and Paul Pierce in Nets uniforms. When I was watching Gronk move like he was in quicksand on Sunday, I was thinking "wow, this is exactly what it felt like watching Shotti take Lev Bell in the 2nd round." Sad stuff.

### 9(6). Paddock 9

* Taylor Swift Song: "August"

August was a simpler time, wasn't it? Hopeful for the draft. Defending champ. Trophy on the way maybe. Well now it's September, and this team is in big trouble. Lucky for them, they were infused with some much needed talent when momma had to throw a man overboard just to field a team.

### 10(10). ma ma momma said

* Taylor Swift Song: "This is Me Trying"

Is it though? Momma made a crucial error in dropping Aaron Rodgers for Carson Wentz. He clicked "keep on bench" instead of putting him in the lineup. As a result, 1pm came and went with no one in the QB spot. He had to drop Dionte (or as the cool kids call him, Keanye) Johnson just to grab a QB. Ultimatley, he ended up with no Johnson and no win.

## Matchup of the Week - Glory Bowl IX Redux

On paper, this doesn't look like a matchup to write home about. And it probably won't be (Pat's team looks really, really bad), but we have to give the matchup of the week to Pain Train vs. Paddock 9. Teams at opposite ends of the success spectrum in week one, PT and P9 always keep the thread interesting (or at least active) and will no doubt be sending insults back and forth this weekend. Paddock 9 can ill afford to lose and be down 0-2 in the standings with such a low point total.

## Conclusion

With first round picks already going down and a lot of key players struggling with injury, 2020 is looking like it's going to be the wild and unpredictable year we all were promised. I'm excited and nervous for the year ahead. I hope everyone enjoys the rest of the week and see you all next time!