Conference Matchups Headline Week 12 As Teams Jockey For Playoff Positions

Published on May 14, 2008 under 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 key conference matchups headline Week 12 in the Arena Football League. Teams in both the American and National Conference are jockeying for playoff positioning as only six weeks remain in the 2008 regular season.

The Chicago Rush (8-2), No. 2 in this week's Schutt Sports Poll, hosts the Los Angeles Avengers (4-7) at Allstate Arena on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday, May 19 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com) in an American Conference matchup.

Chicago became the first team to clinch a playoff berth for the 2008 postseason with San Jose's victory over Arizona in Week 11 and can secure its second consecutive Mitsubishi Motors Central Division title with a win coupled with a loss by Colorado on Saturday.

The Rush, along with Cleveland, New York and Orlando, hold the AFL's second-best home record at 4-1. Chicago is 4-1 all-time after a bye week and can extend its winning streak against conference opponents to 10 games with a win.

Los Angeles defeated Chicago, 50-47, in Week 14 of 2007 to give the Rush its last conference loss as K REMY HAMILTON connected on a 29-yard field goal as time expired.

Chicago WR DAMIAN HARRELL looks to move closer to the all-time receiving yards record as he needs 13 yards to pass EDDIE BROWN and move into second place all-time with 12,731 career.

The Avengers lead the all-time series 4-3 and can move into second place in the Mitsubishi Motors Western Division with a win.

The New York Dragons (6-4), No. 7, welcome the Georgia Force (5-5), No. 9, to Nassau Coliseum on Sunday, May 18 at 3 p.m. ET in a National Conference matchup. New York can extend its winning streak to six games for the first time since 1996 with a win.

Dragons QB AARON GARCIA can join elite company in three categories on Sunday. He needs 309 passing yards to become the fourth player in AFL history to amass 40,000 career. Garcia also needs four touchdown passes to become the third player in AFL history with 850 career and can become the fourth player in AFL history to attempt 5,000 career passes with 38.

New York is 4-0 all-time against Georgia and can maintain its lead against Cleveland for the fifth position in the National Conference playoff standings with a win.

Georgia is currently on its second two-game winning streak of the season and hopes to continue its momentum from overcoming a 22-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Philadelphia on Monday.

With a victory, the Force can notch its sixth win of the season for the seventh consecutive season and pull to within one game of both New Orleans and Orlando for first place in the Mitsubishi Motors Southern Division.

The Mitsubishi Motors Eastern Division leading Dallas Desperados (9-1), No. 1 in this week's Schutt Sports Poll for the first time since Week 5, welcome the Arizona Rattlers (4-6), No. 12, to American Airlines Center on Saturday, May 17 at 8 p.m. ET (ESPN360.com, Metro Sports Local - Live).

Dallas has won 37 of its last 42 regular-season contests and can establish its fourth 10-win season in the team's seven-year history with a win.

The Desperados have also won 17 consecutive home games, placing them within three of passing the 1992-95 Orlando Predators record of 19, and potentially setting a new AFL record this season with three home games remaining this season.

Dallas, along with New Orleans and Philadelphia, hold the best home record in the AFL at 5-0 and lead the all-time series against Arizona 3-2.

The Desperados have won 13-consecutive games against American Conference opponents dating back to Week 15 of 2005.

The playoff-guaranteed Arizona Rattlers are 3-1 against the National Conference this season and can climb to within one-half game of division leading San Jose with a win.

This week's other games include: Tampa Bay at Grand Rapids on Friday; Cleveland at Colorado (FSN Ohio - Cleveland/Youngstown - Live, FSN Rocky Mountain Local - Delay at 9:30 MT) on Saturday; Columbus at Philadelphia (FSN Ohio - Live, CSN Philadelphia - Live, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130) on Saturday; Utah at San Jose on Saturday; and Orlando at Kansas City (AFL NET, CSS - Delay at 6 p.m. ET, WRDQ-TV - Live, KSMO-TV Local - Live) on Sunday. BYE: New Orleans

Following is Chicago's and San Jose's postseason-clinching scenario for Week 12:

The CHICAGO RUSH clinch the Mitsubishi Motors Central Division and a first-round bye with the following scenario:

1. Chicago Rush win + Colorado Crush loss

The SAN JOSE SABERCATS clinch an American Conference playoff berth with the following scenario:

1. San Jose SaberCats win + Arizona Rattlers loss + Colorado loss + Kansas City loss

SCHUTT SPORTS POLL

RANKING TEAM POINTS 1 Dallas Desperados (15) 190

2 Chicago Rush (1) 170

3 Philadelphia Soul 166

4 Orlando Predators 121

5 Cleveland Gladiators 120

6 New Orleans VooDoo 112

7 New York Dragons 101

8 San Jose SaberCats 99

9 Georgia Force 73

10 Tampa Bay Storm 39

11 Colorado Crush 25

12 Arizona Rattlers 22

Also receiving votes: Los Angeles (10), Kansas City (1). Dropping out: Los Angeles (12)

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from May 14, 2008

• Rattlers Sign QB Matt Sauk - Arizona Rattlers
• New York's Garcia Can Join Elite Company On Sunday - AFL I
• Conference Matchups Headline Week 12 As Teams Jockey For Playoff Positions - AFL I
• Rachal honored by AFL - Tampa Bay Storm
• Career Milestones on Tap for Garcia, Swayne - New York Dragons
• San Jose Can Clinch Playoff Spot This Week - AFL I
• AFL Week 12 clinching scenarios - Utah Blaze

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