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Thunder Enter Playoffs in Inaugural Season

July 31, 2014 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Portland Thunder News Release


PORTLAND, Ore. - One season, one playoff appearance.

The Portland Thunder begin the 2014 Arena Football League (AFL) playoffs this Sunday, August 3rd at 3:00 p.m. when they take on two-time defending ArenaBowl champion Arizona Rattlers at US Airways Center in Phoenix.

The franchise continues to establish records. Fresh off a Moda Center crowd of 12,848 for the July 26th regular season finale (the largest crowd in Portland's AFL history), the fourth-seeded Thunder's Quarterfinal Round appearance represents a first in the Rose City -- the AFL's Portland Forest Dragons (1997-99) did not achieve a post-season berth in their three-season tenure.

Despite an underdog seeding, recent odds actually favor Portland. Over the last nine seasons, teams that have entered the playoffs with a sub-.500 record have gone 10-9, with the 2006 Chicago Rush earning wins all the way to an ArenaBowl championship.

Quarterback Kyle Rowley rested in Week 20 to get ready for an Arizona defense that has surrendered 50-plus points in each of its last four games, including 55 to the Thunder in Week 19.

He'll be targeting the returning Jeffrey Solomon, who was the singular Thunder wide receiver to finish the season with over 1,000 yards despite an injury that kept him out of the team's final two contests. Douglas McNeil III will be heavily featured as well, especially after his last performance in Arizona, where he caught nine passes for 104 yards and four touchdowns, along with two two-point conversion passes. Jamar Howard continues to be the team's deep threat, averaging 15.1 yards per reception on his 44 catches this season.

The defense will attempt to contain Arizona's league-leading offense. They'll be focused on the Rattlers' top wide receiver, Rod Windsor, who leads the league in touchdown receptions with 44, four of which came in the Week 19 matchup against the Thunder.

They'll also be facing the most efficient quarterback in the league. Nick Davila is the only quarterback to make it through a game against the Thunder defense without throwing an interception, and he's done it twice. He also leads the league in touchdowns and passing yards, posing a threat anywhere on the field.

These are the top two passing offenses in the league - the Thunder hope they're the ones getting past the first round and into the conference finals.

Sunday's game will air on CSNNW at 3 p.m. PDT. It will be streamed online on ESPN3, and broadcast via radio on 750 AM and 102.7 FM The Game. For all the latest news and discussion on the Portland Thunder, follow the team on Facebook (facebook.com/PDXThunder), Twitter and Instagram (@PDXThunder).

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