The Playoff Picture Broken Down for all 27 af2 Teams

Published on June 18, 2003 under arenafootball2 (af2)
Quad City Steamwheelers News Release


DAVENPORT, Iowa – The homework has been done, 10-11 of the 16 games have been played by the af2's 27 teams, and the playoff picture is starting to take form. With only five or six games left in the season, below is what each team would roughly need to do to either win their respective division or have a legitimate shot at the playoffs.

(The records that were determined to have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs were determined by the team(s) that are currently in the last playoff spot and what their record would be if they continued on their current pace. The American Conference teams would need about a 9-7 or 10-6 record to have the best shot at making the playoffs while the National Conference would need only an 8-8 record to have their best shot at making the playoffs.)

There are 12 teams that qualify for the playoffs, six from each conference. The three division winners are guaranteed a spot in the playoffs and the three best remaining records fill out the rest of the field in each conference.

American Conference Atlantic Division

Cape Fear Wildcats – The Wildcats are currently sitting atop the American Atlantic Division and third overall with an 8-2 record and hold a three game edge with six games to play. Their magic number sits at four in order for them to clinch the division. They would only need to go about 2-4 the rest of the way to make the playoffs. If the playoffs were to start today, they would host a first round game against the Macon Knights.

Charleston Swamp Foxes – Currently sitting in second place at 5-5, the Swamp Foxes rank eighth overall and would need some work to make the playoffs. They would need a lot of help to win the division. It would take at least three wins, one of which would have to come over Cape Fear by more than seven points, and Cape Fear would have to lose their remaining six games. Their magic number is six, as they would need at least that to have a shot at the division. They will probably have to go at least 4-2 if not 5-1 to have a good shot at making the playoffs. If the playoffs were to start today, they would not make the 12-team field.

Norfolk Nighthawks – Sharing the same 5-5 record with the Swamp Foxes and sitting in ninth place in the conference, the Nighthawks have to do the same thing that the Swamp Foxes have to do, but do one game better. The Swamp Foxes hold the tiebreaker over the Nighthawks with their 24-point win over the Nighthawks on June 6th. The Nighthawks would not make the playoffs if they started today.

Richmond Speed – Standing in fourth place in the division and tenth overall with a 4-6 record, the Speed would need to go at least 4-2, including a win by 29 points or more over Cape Fear, all with Cape Fear going 2-4 during that same span. They would need to go a perfect 6-0 or 5-1 to have a shot at making the playoffs.

Greensboro Prowlers – The Prowlers are also 4-6 and would need to do the same thing as the Speed, but one game better as they have lost to the Speed, but have a chance for redemption on July 18th at Richmond.

Northeast Division

Albany Conquest – With a 9-1 record, the Conquest are second overall in the conference and first in the division. They hold a two game edge on the Mohegan Wolves with six games left to play. The Conquest would need to go 4-2 including a victory over second place Mohegan by eight or more points as well as Mohegan going 5-1 or worse over that same span. Their magic number is five. If the playoffs were to start today, they would have a first round bye and host the winner of the Cape Fear/Macon game in the second round.

Mohegan Wolves – Chasing the Conquest, the Wolves sit at 7-3 and are in fourth place in the conference. They would need to go at least 2-4, including a win or loss by six or less points to Albany, with Albany going 0-6 over that same span. Or a more realistic plan for the Wolves would be for them to go 4-2 with the win or loss by six or less to Albany and Albany going 4-2 over that span. Their magic number is five only if they defeat Albany or lose to them by six or less. To have a shot the playoffs, the Wolves would need to go 3-3 or 2-4. If the playoffs were to start today, they would host the Birmingham Steeldogs in the first round.

Wilkes-Barre Scranton Pioneers – With a record of 3-7 and sitting 12th overall, the Pioneers would need a lot of help to win the division. They would have to win out, with Albany losing the rest of their games and Mohegan dropping five. As if that weren't enough, the Pioneers would have to beat the Conquest by 20 or more points. In order for the Pioneers to have a shot at the playoffs, they will need to win the remainder of their six games. If the playoffs started today, Wilkes-Barre would not make the field.

Rochester Brigade – With a 1-10 record the Brigade have been officially eliminated from playoff contention.

American Division

Tennessee Valley Vipers – The hottest team in the af2, the Vipers have posted an undefeated 10-0 mark. They are the only unbeaten team in the af2 and are first in the conference. They lead the division by four games with six to play and need to go 3-3 to win their division. They can clinch a playoff spot with a win and losses from Florida, Norfolk and Charleston. Their magic number is three and would have a first round bye if the playoffs started today, hosting the winner of the Mohegan/Birmingham game in the second round.

Birmingham Steeldogs – They stand in fifth place overall with a 6-4 record and chasing the hottest team in the league, Tennessee Valley. They would need to go 6-0 which includes defeating Tennessee Valley twice all while having Tennessee Valley go 2-4 during that same span. Their magic number is six to win the division and they would need to go 3-3 or 4-2 to make the playoffs. If the playoffs started today, they would travel to Mohegan to take on the Wolves.

Macon Knights – Currently sitting in sixth place in the conference with a 6-4 record, the Knights would have to do the same as the Steeldogs, but have Birmingham drop a game in that span. Their magic number is six and need a 3-3 or a 4-2 record to have a shot at the playoffs. They would travel to Cape Fear for a first round bout.

Florida Firecats – At 5-5, the Firecats have a glimmer of hope of winning the division. They would have to win out, Tennessee Valley would have to go 1-5, and the Firecats would have to beat the Vipers by more than six. They will need to go 4-2 or 5-1 to make the playoffs and would not make the playoffs if they started today.

Columbus Wardogs – With a 2-8 mark, the Wardogs are officially eliminated from playoff contention. They sit 14th overall in the conference.

National Conference Central Division

Tulsa Talons – Currently 9-2, the Talons are second in the conference behind the Quad City Steamwheelers, who hold the tiebreaker. The Talons need to go 3-2 and defeat the Arkansas Twisters or lose by no more than 13 points. Their magic number is four and can clinch a playoff spot with a win or a loss combined with a Cincinnati loss. If the playoffs started today, they would have a first round bye and host the winner of the Hawaii/Bakersfield game in the second round.

Arkansas Twisters – Sitting fifth overall with a 6-4 record, they need to go at worst 3-3, including a victory over Tulsa by 14 or more points with Tulsa dropping the remainder of their games. Their magic number is six and would need to go 2-4 to make the playoffs. If they were to start today, the Twisters would travel to Wichita.

Memphis Xplorers: With a 3-7 record and two losses to Tulsa all ready this season, the Xplorers cannot win the division, but can make the playoffs with a 5-1 record. They would not make the 12-team field if the playoffs started today.

Bossier City Battle Wings – Sitting at 3-8 and 11th in the conference, the Battle Wings are eliminated from divisional contention, and would need a 5-0 record to have a shot at the playoffs. They would not make the playoffs if they started today.

Midwest Division

Quad City Steamwheelers – The second hottest team in the af2 and winners of nine straight (after dropping their first two), the ‘Wheelers are 9-2 and first in the conference, holding the tiebreaker over the Talons. Unlike any other divisional leader, the Steamwheelers can clinch their division this weekend with a Peoria loss. The best part about this is that this week is the ‘Wheelers bye week. If Peoria wins, the ‘Wheelers would only need to win one more game this season. The ‘Wheelers would have a first round bye and host the winner of the Wichita/Arkansas game in the second round.

Cincinnati Swarm – Despite a 4-7 record, the Swarm cannot win the division as the ‘Wheelers have defeated them twice all ready this season and at best the Swarm could tie the ‘Wheelers and the ‘Wheelers hold the tiebreaker. They need to go 4-1 to have a shot at the playoffs and would not make the playoffs if they started today, sitting in eighth place overall.

Peoria Pirates – Only team left that has a shot at winning the division, but would need a lot of help. At 3-7, they would need to go undefeated, Quad City would have to lose their last five games including a regular season ending contest between the two teams. The Pirates would need to win by four or more as well. They are currently ninth in the conference and need to go 5-1 to have a shot at the playoffs. They would not qualify if the playoffs started today.

Louisville Fire – They sit at 3-8 and have no shot at winning the division and would need to win out to have a shot at the playoffs. They sit 12th in the conference and would not make the playoffs if they started today. Green Bay Blizzard – With a 1-9 record the Blizzard sit in 13th place in the conference and have officially been eliminated from the playoffs.

West Division

Hawaiian Islanders – With an 8-3 record and third overall in the conference, the Islanders need to finish one game better than the Wichita Stealth as the Stealth hold the tiebreaker over the Islanders. Their magic number is five and can clinch a playoff spot with a win and a Memphis loss. If the playoffs were to start today, they would host Bakersfield in the first round.

Wichita Stealth – Sit fourth in the division at 7-4 and only need to finish tied with Hawaii, whom they trail by one game, to win the division as they hold the tiebreaker over the Islanders. They need to finish 1-4 to have a shot at the playoffs and their magic number is five as well. If the playoffs started today, the Stealth would host Arkansas in a first round match-up.

Bakersfield Blitz – At 5-6, the Blitz sit at sixth place in the conference and would make the playoffs if they started today, traveling to Hawaii to take on the Islanders in a first round bout. Would need a lot of help to win the division, but the glimmer of light is still there.

San Diego Riptide – Sitting seventh overall with a 4-7 record, the Riptide would need to go 4-1 to have a shot at the playoffs. There is a very small glimmer for them to still pull out a divisional championship, but would need a lot of help. If the playoffs started today, the Riptide would just miss the playoffs by one game.

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