AFL's Inside the Numbers: Week 17
July 21, 2016 - Arena Football League (AFL) News Release
LAS VEGAS - Kevin Guy and the Arizona Rattlers are continuing to build their legacy as one of the top dynasties in the history of the Arena Football League. They are going to enter the playoffs in two weeks as the top seed in the National Conference, but prior to that game against Portland, they will have a chance to make a little bit of AFL history this weekend at home against Cleveland.
Rattlers Offense One of the All-Time Greats
The Arizona Rattlers have an outside chance to break the all-time scoring record in a season in terms of points per game. The mark to beat is 68.2 set by the Philadelphia Soul in 2012, and in order to reach that mark, the Rattlers would have to score 92 points this weekend against Cleveland. It certainly is a longshot, but the Rattlers have scored at least 56 points in all of their games this season, something no other team has done in the history of the AFL.
In a related story, Nick Davila also has an incredibly slim chance to reach the record for the most touchdown passes in a 16-game season in AFL history. The record is held by Chris Greisen, who threw for 117 touchdowns in 2007. Davila would need 13 touchdowns to match that mark. More realistically, the "Latin Laser" will have to settle for the second most passing TDs in a 16-game season. He needs five scores to surpass Justin Allgood's 108 set in 2010.
Sharks Receivers All Seeking Milestones
Arizona's offense is stealing all of the headlines in Week 17, but Jacksonville is a close second with all of the milestones its receivers are set to amass.
Joe Hills still has a legitimate chance to reach the scoring record in League history, though he has a lot of work to do in these last two games to get there. He is sitting on 51 TDs for the season and needs nine in his last two games to match the mark set by Damian Harrell in 2006. Hills is now at 66 consecutive games with a touchdown, the second-longest in the history of the AFL.
Tiger Jones has 1,030 career receptions, five shy of moving into third place all-time in League history. Lawrence Samuels retired with 1,035 receptions.
The third member of the Sharks' triumvirate of receivers, Reggie Gray needs one reception to join an elite crew of receivers to post 700 receptions in a career. There are only 19 other men who have done it in the past. Last week, Gray joined a list which now includes 17 men who have made it to at least 9,000 receiving yards in their careers.
Not surprisingly, with receivers like this, Tommy Grady is on the verge of some history as well. Grady needs 11 touchdown passes to reach 700 for his career. Only seven men have thrown for that many touchdowns in their career in AFL history.
Week 17 Milestone Watch
There are only three men in the history of the AFL who have at least 300 touchdown receptions for their careers. Damian Harrell, Chris Jackson and Eddie Brown help make up the de facto Mount Rushmore of AFL receivers, and now, T.T. Toliver can join that bunch as well. Toliver needs two touchdowns to run his career total to 300 and five to run down Brown for the third most in AFL history.
Rod Windsor is only one touchdown behind Mike Horacek for No. 9 in AFL history in TD receptions. Windsor is one of the 10 men who have amassed at least 250 receiving scores.
Portland's Jared Perry needs 32 receiving yards to reach the 5,000-yard plateau for his career. Just 10 active players have made it to 5,000 receiving yards.
Week 16 Quick Hitters
KISS receiver Donovan Morgan surpassed Mike Horacek for ninth place all-time in AFL history. Morgan, who announced his retirement effective the end of the season, now has 882 career receptions and counting. He also has the longest active streak of consecutive games with at least two touchdowns in the AFL at 11.
Arizona head coach Kevin Guy won game No. 116 in his illustrious coaching career last week moving him past Mike Dailey into fifth place all-time in coaching wins in League history.
Collin Taylor extended his streak of consecutive regular season games with a receiving touchdown to 30, a Gladiators franchise record.
Rattlers' receiver Rod Windsor moved past his offensive coordinator, Siaha Burley into 11th place all-time in AFL history in receiving yards with 10,823. To catch James Roe and move into the Top 10, Windsor needs 347 more yards, a mark which will have to wait until next season to reach.
About the AFL
The Arena Football League enters its 29th Season in 2016. Since its inception in 1987, the Arena Football League has showcased a fast-paced and exciting game to millions of fans in a myriad of markets across the country. The ESPN family of networks and CBS Sports Network nationally broadcast AFL games each week, culminating with the ArenaBowl on ESPN. For all the latest news and discussion on the Arena Football League, follow the AFL on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@aflarenaball).
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The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
