AFL Playoff Preview

Jason Moyer
Wednesday June 27, 2007

The marathon is over and now the sprint to ArenaBowl XXI can begin.  Twelve teams have earned they way into the second season and this weekend the starters gun will sound and the Wild-Card round of the playoffs will begin.

The following is a team-by-team breakdown and predictions for the upcoming playoffs.

American Conference

#1 San Jose SaberCats (13-3): San Jose enters the playoffs with a ten game winning streak and a record of 7-2 against playoff teams.  The SaberCats are lead by Mark Grieb who finished the season as the third ranked quarterback.  He threw 100 touchdown passes while suffering only 12 interceptions.  WR James Roe finished in the top ten in receptions (127), yards (1562), and touchdowns (40).  The defense, led by Clevan Thomas, finished with 22 interceptions and 18 sacks.

#2 Chicago Rush (12-4): Defending champion Chicago was 7-3 against playoff teams this season and were 3-1 in their last four games.  The Rush are lead by WR Bobby Sippio who was the leading touchdown maker in the AFL this season with 53.  The defense recorded 24 interceptions to the lead the league and recorded 14 sacks.  Ironman DeJuan Alfonzo is a player to watch on both sides of the football.

#3 Kansas City Brigade (10-6): The Brigade are the AFL’s surprise team of the season.  Coach Kevin Porter led the team to a seven game improvement from last year and an impressive 5-4 record against playoff teams.  Quarterback Raymond Philyaw and Rookie of the Year candidate Charles Frederick lead the offense, while veteran Kenny McEntyre has solidified the defense.

#4 Los Angeles Avengers (9-7): The Avengers finished he season 3-1 in their last four games, but have a poor 3-7 record against playoff teams.  The return of WR Kevin Ingram to the lineup will help ignite the offense.  Ingram finished in the top 20 of receptions and touchdowns despite missing four games.  Silas Demary recorded seven of the teams 18 sacks on defense.  

#5 Utah Blaze (8-8): Utah finished the season with a 3-1 record in their last four games all against playoff teams including a victory over their first-round opponent Los Angeles.  Joe Germaine finished tied for second in the league with 107 touchdown passes.  Siaha Burley set the record for receiving yards in a season with 2,129 and led the league with 166 catches.

#6 Colorado Crush (8-8): The Crush are stumbling into the playoffs with a four game losing streak and is 3-6 against playoff teams.  John Dutton suffered the most interceptions (18) by any of the playoff quarterbacks.  Damien Harrell finished in the top 10 for receptions (132), yards (1575), and touchdowns (47), as usual.  Rashad Floyd led the defense with 141 tackles and nine interceptions.

American Conference Predictions

Wild-Card Round

#3 Kansas City vs. #6 Colorado: The Crush have the edge when it comes to playoff experience, but are playing poorly at the wrong time.  Look for Kansas City to come away with a victory to keep their Cinderella season alive.

#4 Los Angeles vs. #5 Utah: Utah beat the Avengers last week to qualify for the playoffs and they will do so again.  Coach Danny White has the Blaze playing well entering the second season and Los Angeles does not have an answer for the combination of Germaine and Burley.

Divisional Round

#1 San Jose vs. #5 Utah: Utah is on a roll, but San Jose is simply better.  The SaberCats are undefeated at home and will end the Blaze’s season.

#2 Chicago vs. #3 Kansas City: When Bobby Sippio plays, the Rush do not lose.  Kansas City will gain playoff experience for the future, but the defending champs will advance to the Conference Championship.

American Conference Championship

#1 San Jose vs. #2 Chicago:  It is hard to pick against the defending champions, that’s why I am not going to do it.  San Jose comes up short as the Rush head to New Orleans with the opportunity to defend their championship.

National Conference

#1 Dallas Desperados (15-1): The Desperados had the best regular season and played eleven games against playoff teams going 10-1 in those contests.  Dallas is lead by quarterback Clint Dolezel who finished the season ranked second in QB rating and touchdown passes.  Will Pettis is the games premier Ironman and Cee Weatherington finished third in the league with nine sacks.  

#2 Georgia Force (14-2): The Force are the lone team to beat Dallas and posted a record of 8-2 against playoff teams.  Chris Jackson, Troy Bergeron, and Derek Lee make life difficult for any secondary in the league.  Quarterback Chris Greisen set the single season touchdown record (117) throwing to these three receivers.  Georgia’s defense led the league with 29 sacks placing three players in the top 10 of that category.  

#3 Tampa Bay Storm (9-7): Rookie quarterback Brett Dietz took over in Week 9 and led the Storm to an 8-1 record down the stretch.  Veteran WR’s Lawrence Samuels and Terrill Shaw are Dietz’s primary targets on offense and combined for 223 receptions and 2,558 yards.  And by the way, Tampa Bay’s coach Tim Marcum is the winningest coach in AFL history.

#4 Philadelphia Soul (8-8): Philadelphia was 3-7 against playoff teams this season, but have won the last two.  The Soul were led by Tony Graziani who was 8-4 in games he started and finished.  Charles Pauley became Graziani’s favorite receiver setting the Soul’s single-season record for yardage (1457).  The defense is led by Dwayne Missouri (9 sacks) and Eddie Moten (9 interceptions).

#5 Orlando Predators (8-8): The Predators limp into the playoffs finishing 1-3 in their last four games and are 2-7 against playoff teams.  The addition of Shane Stafford was supposed to bring a championship to Orlando, but too many injuries during the season has caught up with the Preds.  Greg White (12.5 sacks) led a defense that finished second in the league with 25 sacks.

#6 Columbus Destroyers (7-9): Columbus is the only team to enter the playoffs with a losing record and a poor 2-7 record against playoff teams losing six straight.  Damien Groce finished in the top 20 in all receiving categories 115 receptions, 1317 yards, and 26 touchdowns.  Ken Jones recorded 10 sacks to finish behind only Greg White in that category.

National Conference Predictions

Wild-Card Round

#3 Tampa Bay vs. #6 Columbus: The Destroyers are the only team with losing record for a reason.  Tampa may have a rookie quarterback, but it is good enough to beat Columbus.

#4 Philadelphia vs. #5 Orlando: The Soul beat Orlando to earn a home playoff game last week and that could be the deciding factor in this game.  It is tough to beat a team two weeks in a row, but Philadelphia is playing better at this point.  

Divisional Round

#1 Dallas vs. #4 Philadelphia: Dallas is a machine this season and while Philadelphia may give them a battle.  There is no monkey wrench in the Desperados path.

#2 Georgia vs. #3 Tampa Bay: Three good receivers. Three good pass rushers.  Who do you cover?  Who do you block?  Not even Tim Marcum will figure this one out.  Georgia advances.

National Conference Championship

#1 Dallas vs. #2 Georgia:  Dallas learned a valuable lesson losing to Orlando in last seasons Conference Championship.  Look for them to stay focused and move on to New Orleans.

ArenaBowl XXI

#1 Dallas vs. #2 Chicago:  The Orlando Predators finished the 1994 season with one loss only to lose in the ArenaBowl to the Arizona Rattlers, but don’t look for that to happen this season.  The Desperados have the talent, experience, and determination to be one of the best teams in arena football history.  A win in ArenaBowl XXI will have many people debating where this teams ranks in Arena Football League history.