Philadelphia Soul: Week 13 Game Preview
July 16, 2019 - Arena Football League (AFL)
Philadelphia Soul News Release
Coming off a bye week, the Philadelphia Soul (7-4) will look to finish the regular season with a fifth straight victory on Saturday against the Albany Empire (9-2). Fans can watch live on NBC Sports Philadelphia+, ESPN3 or the ESPN app, or listen to the action on 97.5 The Fanatic.
While Albany has already clinched the top overall seed, Philadelphia can lock up the second spot with a win at the Times Union Center on Saturday night. Since starting 3-4, Philadelphia has rattled off four straight victories behind a much-improved defensive effort, including a Week 10 win over the first-place Empire.
The Soul defensive line put pressure on Albany's Tommy Grady in the win, limiting the quarterback to a 57.6% completion percentage, by far his lowest of the season. Philadelphia also picked off the 2018 league MVP twice while sacking him for the first time this year. After forcing just five turnovers in the first five games of the season, the Soul have recorded 15 in their last six outings while posting a 5-1 record in that span.
Offensively, Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh has completed 68% of his passes during the team's four-game winning streak compared to just 58% in his first seven outings of the season. Facing the league's best red zone defense, Raudabaugh and company scored eight touchdowns in as many trips inside the 10-yard line in Week 10.
While the all-time series is knotted at 3 wins each, Philadelphia has won two of the teams' three meetings in Albany and head coach Clint Dolezel is 9-5 overall vs Empire coach Rob Keefe. Dolezel's nine wins over Keefe are tied for his second-most vs any opposing head coach behind only Ron James (10).
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm at the Times Union Center.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
DL Sean Daniels
When these teams met last, Daniels became the first player to sack Albany quarterback Tommy Grady this season. The Blackwood, NJ native is tied for the team lead with three sacks this year.
WR Malachi Jones
The 2018 Wide Receiver of the Year leads the league with nine 100-yard receiving games this season, including four straight. Jones has recorded 17 catches for 308 yards and five scores in two meetings with the Soul this season.
BY THE NUMBERS
15 Philadelphia has forced 15 turnovers in the last six games, compared to just five in their first five
matchups of the season.
8 The Soul scored eight red-zone touchdowns in the team's Week 10 win over Albany. Philadelphia
has scored on a league-best 90% of its trips inside the 10-yard line this season.
1 Empire quarterback Tommy Grady has been sacked just once this season and that came in the
Soul's Week 10 win. Philadelphia got to Grady in the second half, limiting him to just 97 yards.
Tommy Grady By Half - Week 11 vs Soul
1st 2nd<<
Comp-Att 11-15 8-18
Pass Yds 158 97
TD-Int 3-0 2-2
>>Suffered only sack of season in the 3rd quarter
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