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AFL I Arena Football League (1987-2008)

All Seventeen Remaining Teams Still in Playoff Contention

May 28, 2008 - Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release


NEW YORK - The Mitsubishi Motors Drive to ArenaBowl XXII New Orleans continues to heat up as the 2008 season enters the final four weeks of the regular season with all 17 teams remaining in playoff contention.

Weeks 14 and 15 (May 27 - June 9) have been designated as AFL Children's Miracle Network Celebration as the AFL and Children's Miracle Network have partnered to help save and improve the lives of children at children's hospitals throughout the United States. AFL team activities planned for "Celebration" games include: player and dance team hospital visits, auctions and special priced tickets with a portion of the proceeds going to Children's Miracle Network hospitals.

For the first time in its six-year history, the Colorado Crush (4-8), No. 12, welcome the New York Dragons (6-6), No. 11, to Pepsi Center on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday, June 2 at 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com).

The Crush is currently tied with Los Angeles for fourth place in the American Conference playoff standings and need a win to keep pace.

Colorado QB JOHN DUTTON needs 28 yards to become the eighth quarterback in AFL history to throw for 27,000 career and 276 yards to pass TODD HAMMEL for seventh all-time.

New York is 3-1 against the American Conference and sits one game out of the sixth and final playoff position. The Dragons lead the all-time series 3-1, having won each contest by an average of 15 points.

The playoff-guaranteed Arizona Rattlers (6-6), No. 10 in this week's Schutt Sports Poll, can fulfill their preseason promise to fans by clinching their first playoff berth since 2006 with a win at Amway Arena against the Mitsubishi Motors Southern Division leading Orlando Predators (8-5) on Saturday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET.

Arizona is currently 1.5 games behind San Jose for first place in the Mitsubishi Motors Western Division and holds third place in the American Conference playoff standings. The Rattlers have the best record against the National Conference (4-1) in the AFL and can extend their winning streak to three games for the first time since 2006 with a victory.

Orlando holds a one-half game lead over both New Orleans (7-5) and Georgia (7-5) for first place in the Southern Division and leads the all-time series against Arizona 6-5, although the Rattlers have won two of the last three.

The Dallas Desperados (10-2), No. 1, travel to Quicken Loans Arena to face the Cleveland Gladiators (7-5), No. 7, on Saturday, May 31 at 7 p.m. ET (FSN Southwest - Delay at 11 p.m. CT, FSN Ohio - Live, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130) in a Mitsubishi Motors Eastern Division matchup.

Cleveland is in a three-way tie for fourth place and can stay ahead of both New Orleans and Georgia with a win. Cleveland leads both teams by record versus common opponents. The Gladiators lost to New Orleans in their only meeting this season and will not face Georgia in 2008.

The Gladiators hold the third-best home record in the AFL at 4-1 and can notch their fifth home win for the first time since 2004 with a victory.

Dallas can become the second team in AFL history to record three consecutive seasons with 11 regular-season wins with a victory (San Jose - 2002-04).

The Desperados have the best road record in the AFL (5-1) and can sweep their second division opponent of the season (Columbus) with a win. Dallas has won the last two meetings to tie the all-time series 2-2.

The Chicago Rush (9-3), No. 2, welcomes the Kansas City Brigade (3-9) to Allstate Arena on Saturday, May 31 at 8 p.m. ET (FSN Midwest - Delay at 9:30 p.m. CT, CSN Chicago - Delay, 6/1 at 8:30 p.m. CT) in a Mitsubishi Motors Central Division matchup.

Chicago can clinch home-field advantage throughout the American Conference playoffs with a win coupled with a loss by San Jose. A victory will also give the Rush a perfect division record for the season at 6-0 for the first time in franchise history.

Kansas City is currently tied with Grand Rapids for the sixth and final playoff spot in the American Conference. Chicago leads the all-time series 2-1 and can sweep the Brigade for the first time in team history with a win.

The Los Angeles Avengers (4-8) welcome the San Jose SaberCats (8-5), No. 4, to STAPLES Center on Saturday, May 31 at 10:30 p.m. ET (CSN Bay Area Local - Live, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130) in a Mitsubishi Motors Western Division matchup.

San Jose can become the third team in AFL history to clinch its third consecutive division title with a win plus an Arizona Rattlers loss.

Los Angeles is tied with Colorado for fourth place in the American Conference playoff standings.

This week's other games include: Columbus at New Orleans on Friday; Tampa Bay at Georgia on Saturday; Utah at Grand Rapids on Sunday. BYE: Philadelphia

Following is each team's postseason-clinching scenario for Week 14:

The ARIZONA RATTLERS clinch an American Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:

1) Arizona Ratters win

2) Colorado Crush loss + Kansas City Brigade loss + Utah Blaze loss

3) Colorado Crush loss + Kansas City Brigade loss + Grand Rapids Rampage loss + Los Angeles Avengers loss

The CHICAGO RUSH clinches home-field advantage in the American Conference with the following scenario:

1) Chicago Rush win + San Jose SaberCats loss

The SAN JOSE SABERCATS clinch the Mitsubishi Motors Western Division and a first-round bye with the following scenario:

1) San Jose SaberCats win + Arizona Rattlers loss

The DALLAS DESPERADOS clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:

1) Dallas Desperados win

2) Tampa Bay Storm loss

3) New York Dragons loss

4) Orlando Predators loss

The PHILADELPHIA SOUL clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:

1) Cleveland Gladiators loss

2) New York Dragons loss

3) Orlando Predators loss

4) Tampa Bay Storm loss + New Orleans VooDoo loss

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Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 28, 2008


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.


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