Final AFL Power Rankings and Playoff Predictions
John Hoh
Saturday May 28, 2005
There were some disappointments: Dallas and Philadelphia never found a groove, Arizona fell flat after three straight ArenaBowl appearances (although the Rattlers finished strong), San Jose started slow, had a nice run, but ended in a slump.
Playoff seedings as of the end of the 2005 regular season:
American:
- Colorado Crush (10-6) @
- Los Angeles Avengers (10-6)+
- Chicago Rush (9-7)
- San Jose SaberCats (9-7)
National:
- Georgia Force (11-4)@
- New York (9-6) +
- Orlando Predators (9-6)
- Tampa Bay Storm (9-6)
+ Clinched Division Crown
@ Clinched Conference Top Seed
Playoff predictions:
National Conference
Tampa Bay Storm (9-6) at Georgia Force (11-4)
Season series: split two games
Each team won at their home floor in this season's series. Tampa Bay has the edge in playoff experience. However, Georgia has surprised many in the league. Tampa Bay by 3.
Orlando Predators (9-6) at New York Dragons (9-6)
Season series: Orlando won the only meeting at the Jungle.
This game could seal a third War on I-4 for this season. New York does have the home game this time, however. Orlando by 7.
American Conference
San Jose SaberCats (9-7) at Colorado Crush (10-6)
Season Series: San Jose won the only meeting in Denver
San Jose has the experience in the playoffs—winners of two of the last three ArenaBowls. San Jose has also beaten the Crush—handily—in Denver. However, since that win, the SaberCats struggled. Experience will give San Jose a 10 point win.
Chicago Rush (9-7) at Los Angeles Avengers (10-6)
Season series: Los Angeles beat Chicago at home
Los Angeles has played solid all year. I predict the Avengers will host the SaberCats at the Staples Center.
Power Rankings
Herein are the final Power Rankings.
| Rank | Team | Record | Previous Rank | Next Up |
| 1 | Georgia Force (GA) | 11-5 | 1 | TB |
| Can the Force transfer regular season success into the playoffs? Storm is battle-tested in the playoffs. | ||||
| 2 | Colorado Crush (COL) | 10-6 | 2 | SJ |
| Colorado faces a San Jose team they have never beaten, including a thumping in Denver this season. Of course, there's always a first time for everything. | ||||
| 3 | Los Angeles Avengers (LA) | 10-6 | 3 | CHI |
| The Western Division winner this year isn't called the Rattlers or SaberCats. | ||||
| 4 | Orlando Predators (ORL) | 10-6 | 4 | @NY |
| Predators go to division winner Dragons for playoff game. | ||||
| 5 | New York Dragons (NY) | 10-6 | 5 | ORL |
| Dragons finally make playoffs as division winner, unlike last season. | ||||
| 6 | Tampa Bay Storm (TB) | 10-6 | 6 | @GA |
| Storm gets into playoffs, keeping their playoff streak alive. Have more experience than Georgia<. | ||||
| 7 | Chicago Rush (CHI) | 9-7 | 9 | @LA |
| Chicago makes the playoffs and earns trip to LA-LA land. | ||||
| 8 | San Jose SaberCats (SJ) | 9-7 | 8 | @COL |
| San Jose stumbles down the stretch. Have the Cats gotten long in the tooth? | ||||
| 9 | New Orleans VooDoo (NO) | 9-7 | 7 | --- |
| VooDoo stumbles when it counts. | ||||
| 10 | Las Vegas Gladiators (LV) | 8-8 | 10 | --- |
| Well, Las Vegas does host the ArenaBowl.... | ||||
| 11 | Nashville Kats (NAS) | 6-9-1 | 11 | --- |
| Last two games shouldn't dampen the run the Kats had this year. Watch for Nashville next year. | ||||
| 12 | Dallas Desperados (DAL) | 8-7-1 | 12 | --- |
| Disappointing season for Dallas | ||||
| 13 | Philadelphia Soul (PHI) | 6-10 | 13 | --- |
| Even more disappointing season for the Soul. | ||||
| 14 | Austin Wranglers (AUS) | 6-10 | 14 | --- |
| Austin has a decent season, considering the off-season distractions. | ||||
| 15 | Arizona Rattlers (AZ) | 7-9 | 15 | --- |
| Arizona finishes strong to salvage the season. Will they be the Rattlers in Arizona next year? | ||||
| 16 | Grand Rapids Rampage (GR) | 4-12 | 16 | --- |
| Young team finishes with three wins in four games. Will this momentum carry over to next season? | ||||
| 17 | Columbus Destroyers (CLB) | 2-14 | 17 | --- |
| Columbus has a travesty of a season. A new general manager should help. | ||||
John L. Hoh, Jr., is a free-lance writer from Milwaukee who grew up in Appleton, Wisconsin, as an avid Dolphins fan. He followed Arena Football since its inception, at one point watching tape-delayed games on low-powered WAV-TV in Waukesha. His happiest day was when Milwaukee was awarded the Mustangs franchise; his saddest when the Mustangs were contracted out of the league. John is married to his wife Maija (13+ years) and has a young son, Matthew. John pines for the return of the Arena Football League to Milwaukee.
