Eight Teams Battle For Six Playoff Positions
Published on June 18, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK - Every game matters! The Mitsubishi Motors Drive to ArenaBowl XXII New Orleans makes its final push as eight teams battle for six playoff positions in the final week of the regular season.
The Chicago Rush (10-5), No. 5, in this week's Schutt Sports Poll, welcome the Dallas Desperados (12-3), No. 2, to Allstate Arena on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Sunday, June 22 at 4 p.m. ET (ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com) with home-field advantage throughout the playoffs on the line for both teams in what some are saying is the first of two potential ArenaBowl XXII previews this weekend.
The Rush holds the second-best home record in the AFL at 6-1 and can clinch home-field advantage throughout the American Conference playoffs with a win. Chicago can secure at least 11 regular-season victories for the third time in franchise history with a win.
Rush WR DAMIAN HARRELL needs eight receptions to pass BARRY WAGNER and move into second place all-time with 992 while WR/DB DENNISON ROBINSON needs one interception to set a new AFL single-season record with 14.
Dallas holds the League's best road record at 6-1 and needs a win coupled with a Philadelphia Soul loss to clinch its third consecutive Mitsubishi Motors Eastern Division title along with home-field advantage throughout the National Conference playoffs.
The Desperados, who lead the all-time series 5-2 and have won the last three dating back to 2005, can also become the first team in AFL history to post 13 regular-season wins three times with a victory.
The San Jose SaberCats (10-5), No. 4, welcome the Georgia Force (10-5), No. 3, to HP Pavilion on Saturday, June 21 at 10:30 p.m. ET (CSS - NDD at 12 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area - Delay, 6/23 at 7 p.m. PT, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130) in the second possible ArenaBowl XXII preview of the weekend.
After beginning the season 3-4, San Jose has won seven of its last eight games, is on a five-game winning streak, and can capture home-field advantage throughout the American Conference playoffs with a win and a Chicago Rush loss.
In 2007, San Jose began its season 3-3 before winning its final 10 games on its way to winning the ArenaBowl XXI Championship. San Jose leads the all-time series 4-2 and is 3-0 all-time at home.
Georgia is currently on the League's second-longest winning streak of the season at seven games and can record at least 11 regular-season victories for the third time in the team's seven-year history with a win. Force WR TROY BERGERON can become the first player in AFL history to record at least 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards in his first three seasons with nine receptions on Saturday.
The Philadelphia Soul (12-3), No. 1, travel to Nassau Coliseum to face the New York Dragons (8-7), No. 8, on Sunday, June 22 at 3 p.m. ET in a Mitsubishi Motors Eastern Division rivalry that will help decide the division title.
The Soul need a win to clinch its first Mitsubishi Motors Eastern Division title and secure home-field advantage throughout the National Conference playoffs based on head-to-head record (2-0) with Dallas. A win would also mark Philadelphia's first 13-win season in team history. The Soul defeated the Dragons, 63-42, in Week 3 at the Wachovia Center.
One of the League's most notable records could fall on Sunday as Soul WR CHRIS JACKSON stands 231 receiving yards from passing BARRY WAGNER to become the all-time receiving yards leader with 13,364 career. Philadelphia holds the second-best road record in the AFL at 5-2 and has won five of its last six against division opponents.
New York has won four of its last five home games, seven of its last 10 overall, and can clinch a playoff berth with a win. The Dragons lead the all-time series 5-4, with each team splitting the season series each of the last four seasons.
The Cleveland Gladiators (8-7) welcome the Columbus Destroyers (3-12) to Quicken Loans Arena for the second "Battle of the Buckeye State" on Saturday, June 21 at 7 p.m. ET (FSN Ohio - Live).
The Gladiators lead the all-time series 8-5, and defeated the Destroyers, 59-57, in Week 3 at Nationwide Arena. The Gladiators can clinch their first playoff berth since 2003 with a victory. Columbus, eliminated from playoff contention, can take Cleveland out of the playoffs with a win.
The New Orleans VooDoo (8-7), No. 10, travels to Van Andel Arena to face the Grand Rapids Rampage (5-10), on Saturday, June 21 at 7 p.m. ET (AFL NET, Cox Sports TV Local - Live).
Grand Rapids is on a two-game winning streak and needs a win or a Los Angeles loss to secure its first playoff berth since 2003. A win would also mark the first time the Rampage won its final three games of the season since 2001, when Grand Rapids won ArenaBowl XV. New Orleans needs a win or a Cleveland loss to clinch its first playoff berth since its inaugural season in 2004.
For the first time since 2004, the Tampa Bay Storm (7-8), No. 11, welcomes the Los Angeles Avengers (5-10) to St. Pete Times Forum on Saturday, June 21 at 7:30 p.m. ET (Catch 47 Local - Live, CSS - Live, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130).
Los Angeles needs a win coupled with losses by either Colorado, Grand Rapids, or Utah to clinch its second consecutive playoff berth. If Los Angeles losses, the Avengers can still make the playoffs with a Utah loss combined with wins by Colorado and Grand Rapids. The Storm, who has been eliminated from playoff contention, can play the spoiler.
The Kansas City Brigade (3-12) travel to PEPSI Center to face the Colorado Crush (5-10) on Saturday, June 21 at 8 p.m. ET (KSMO-TV Local - Live, FSN Rocky Mountain Local - SDD at 9:30 MT).
Kansas City, who has been eliminated from playoff contention, defeated Colorado, 55-53, in Week 8 at the Sprint Center and can put Colorado's playoff hopes in jeopardy with a victory. The Crush, who leads the all-time series 3-1, currently sit in fifth place in the American Conference standings and need a win or losses by either Grand Rapids or Los Angeles to clinch its fifth consecutive playoff berth.
The playoff-bound Arizona Rattlers (8-7), No. 9, welcome the Utah Blaze (5-10), No. 12, to US Airways Center on Saturday, June 21 at 10 p.m. ET.
After beginning the season 0-9, Utah has won five of its last six, is fourth in the American Conference playoff standings and can secure its third consecutive playoff berth with a win or losses by either Colorado or Grand Rapids. Arizona, who are locked in as the No. 3 seed in the American Conference, lead the all-time series 4-1, and defeated the Blaze in their first meeting of 2008, 63-62, in Week 1 at EnergySolutions Arena.
Although Orlando has a bye, they will be watching intently. The Predators need a loss by either Cleveland, New Orleans or New York to clinch their 17th consecutive trip to the postseason.
Following is each team's postseason-clinching scenario for Week 17:
The CHICAGO RUSH clinch home-field advantage in the American Conference with the following scenarios:
1) Chicago Rush win
2) San Jose SaberCats loss
The COLORADO CRUSH clinch an American Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) Colorado Crush win
2) Los Angeles Avengers loss
3) Grand Rapids Rampage loss
The GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE clinch an American Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) Grand Rapids Rampage win
2) Los Angeles Avengers loss
The SAN JOSE SABERCATS clinch home-field advantage in the American Conference with the following scenario:
1) San Jose SaberCats win + Chicago Rush loss
The LOS ANGELES AVENGERS clinch an American Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) Los Angeles Avengers win + Colorado Crush loss
2) Los Angeles Avengers win + Grand Rapids Rampage loss
3) Los Angeles Avengers win + Utah Blaze loss
4) Utah Blaze loss + Grand Rapids Rampage win + Colorado Crush win
The UTAH BLAZE clinch an American Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) Utah Blaze win
2) Colorado Crush loss
3) Grand Rapids Rampage loss
The CLEVELAND GLADIATORS clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenario:
1) Cleveland Gladiators win
The DALLAS DESPERADOS clinch the Eastern Division and home-field advantage in the National Conference with the following scenario:
1) Dallas Desperados win + Philadelphia Soul loss
The NEW ORLEANS VOODOO clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) New Orleans VooDoo win
2) Cleveland Gladiators loss
The NEW YORK DRAGONS clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) New York Dragons win
2) Cleveland Gladiators loss
3) New Orleans VooDoo loss
The ORLANDO PREDATORS clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) New Orleans VooDoo loss
2) New York Dragons loss
3) Cleveland Gladiators loss
The PHILADELPHIA SOUL clinch the Eastern Division and home-field advantage in the National Conference with the following scenarios:
1) Philadelphia Soul win
2) Dallas Desperados loss
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 18, 2008
- SaberCats open second season July 5 - San Jose SaberCats
- Get Your Playoff Tickets Tomorrow - Arizona Rattlers
- Chicago's Harrell And Philadelphia's Jackson Can Continue Assault On Receiving Records Sunday - AFL I
- Kelly Pavlik to Attend Gladiators Season Finale - Cleveland Gladiators
- Eight Teams Battle For Six Playoff Positions - AFL I
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