Eleven Teams Battle for Final Seven Playoff Positions
Published on June 11, 2008 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
NEW YORK - The Mitsubishi Motors Drive to ArenaBowl XXII New Orleans hits the home stretch as 11 teams remain eligible for the final seven playoff positions with only two weeks remaining in the regular season.
The Arizona Rattlers (8-6), No. 7 in this week's Schutt Sports Poll, welcome the Colorado Crush (4-10) to US Airways Center on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday, June 16 at 10 p.m. ET (ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com).
Arizona is one game behind San Jose for first place in the Mitsubishi Motors Western Division and has sole possession of third place in the American Conference playoff standings.
The Rattlers are on their first four-game winning streak since 2006 and can extend their streak to five for the first time since 2004, the last time Arizona appeared in an ArenaBowl (XVIII).
Colorado is currently in fifth place in the American Conference playoff standings and holds the edge in a three-way tie with Grand Rapids and Los Angeles based on head-to-head point differential (Grand Rapids) and head-to-head record (Los Angeles).
The Crush can clinch its fifth consecutive playoff berth with a win combined with losses by both Grand Rapids (4-10) and Kansas City (3-11). Colorado leads the all-time series 4-2, having won the last four.
The Philadelphia Soul (11-3), No. 1, welcomes the Cleveland Gladiators (8-6), No. 6, to the Wachovia Spectrum on Saturday, June 14 at 7 p.m. ET (FSN Ohio - Live, CSN Philadelphia - Live).
The Soul own the League's best record along with Dallas and can clinch its first Mitsubishi Motors Eastern Division title and claim home-field advantage throughout the National Conference playoffs with a win coupled with a Desperados loss. Philadelphia is tied with both Chicago and New Orleans for the best home record in the AFL at 6-1.
The Gladiators are 4-0 all-time against the Soul, including a 67-55 victory in their first meeting of 2008 in Week 10 at Quicken Loans Arena and have won five of their last eight games.
The New York Dragons (8-6), No. 8, travel to American Airlines Center to face the Dallas Desperados (11-3), No. 2, on Saturday, June 14 at 8 p.m. ET (AFL NET, ESPN360.com, Metro Sports Local - Live).
Dallas holds the second-best home record in the AFL at 5-2 and has not lost consecutive games since Weeks 15 and 16 of the 2005 season. The Desperados can become the first team in AFL history to win at least 12 regular-season games in three consecutive seasons with a win.
After beginning their season 1-4, the Dragons have won seven of nine and hold the edge in a three-way tie with Cleveland and New Orleans for fourth in the National Conference playoff standings. Dallas leads the all-time series 8-3 and can sweep New York for the third consecutive season with the victory.
The Chicago Rush (10-4), No. 3, travels to The Arena at Gwinnett Center to face the Georgia Force (9-5), No. 4, on Saturday, June 14 at 7 p.m. ET (AFL NET, CSN Chicago - Live, CSS - Live, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130) in a possible ArenaBowl XXII preview.
Chicago has won six of its last eight games and can capture home-field advantage throughout the American Conference playoffs with a win or a San Jose SaberCats loss. Georgia can clinch its fourth consecutive playoff berth and second consecutive Mitsubishi Motors Southern Division title with a victory. The Force have won six consecutive games and eight of its last ten.
The San Jose SaberCats (9-5), No. 5, return from their bye week to welcome the Tampa Bay Storm (7-7), No. 10, to HP Pavilion on Saturday, June 14 at 10:30 p.m. ET (Catch 47 - Live, CSS - SDD at 12 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area - NDD at 9 a.m. PT).
San Jose is 6-2 all-time following bye weeks and can become the third team to clinch three consecutive division titles with a win. After a 2-5 start, Tampa Bay has won five of its last seven and need a win to stay in the playoff hunt. The all-time series is tied 5-5, with San Jose winning the last five.
The New Orleans VooDoo (8-6), No. 9, travel to Amway Arena to face the Orlando Predators (8-7), No. 11, on Friday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. ET (AFL NET, Cox Sports TV Local - Live, CSS - Live, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130) in a Mitsubishi Motors Southern Division matchup.
New Orleans can clinch its second playoff berth in team history and first since its inaugural season in 2004 with a win. Orlando is currently in seventh place and needs a victory to stay in the playoff race.
This week's other games include: Kansas City at Los Angeles (FSN Midwest - SDD at 10:30 p.m. CT, FSN Prime Ticket - Live) on Saturday; Grand Rapids at Columbus on Saturday. BYE: Utah
Following is each team's postseason-clinching scenario for Week 16:
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 scenario:
1) Colorado Crush win + Grand Rapids Rampage loss + Kansas City Brigade loss
The GRAND RAPIDS RAMPAGE clinch an American Conference playoff spot with the following scenario:
1) Grand Rapids Rampage win + Los Angeles Avengers loss
The SAN JOSE SABERCATS clinch the Western Division and a first-round bye with the following scenarios:
1) San Jose SaberCats win
2) Arizona Rattlers loss
The UTAH BLAZE clinch an American Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) Colorado Crush loss
2) Grand Rapids Rampage loss
The CLEVELAND GLADIATORS clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) Cleveland Gladiators win + Tampa Bay Storm loss + Georgia Force win
2) Cleveland Gladiators win + Tampa Bay Storm loss + Orlando Predators loss
The GEORGIA FORCE clinch the Southern Division and a first-round bye with the following scenario:
1) Georgia Force win
The GEORGIA FORCE clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) Tampa Bay Storm loss
2) New York Dragons loss
3) New Orleans VooDoo + Cleveland Gladiators loss
The NEW YORK DRAGONS clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenarios:
1) New York Dragons win + Orlando Predators loss
2) New York Dragons win + Tampa Bay Storm loss
3) New York Dragons win + New Orleans VooDoo loss by two-or-more points + Georgia Force win + Cleveland Gladiators win
The NEW ORLEANS VOODOO clinch a National Conference playoff spot with the following scenario:
1) New Orleans VooDoo win
The PHILADELPHIA SOUL clinch the Eastern Division and home-field advantage in the National Conference with the following scenario:
1) Philadelphia Soul win + Dallas Desperados loss
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