Playoff Picture Breakdown – After Week 16
Andy Lopusnak
Sunday July 18, 2010
Week 16 settled all but one playoff spot with three teams qualifying for postseason play, while two others were eliminated. Three teams are tied for the final playoff position with two of them playing in Week 17 - all three lost this weekend. Spokane locked up the top spot in the National Conference as well.
Jacksonville's win over Tampa Bay propelled the Sharks into the driver's seat in the South Division by sweeping the Storm by a combined five points. Tulsa clinched a playoff berth and the Southwest Division title thanks to Oklahoma City's loss at Cleveland. The Talons become the second division champion of the season joining Spokane, which did the same last week. Both Tulsa and Spokane also won their respective divisions last year when they were members of the af2.
Cleveland finally won a game when it scored less than 68 points (beat OKC 44-39), but the Gladiators were eliminated from playoff contention about an hour later when Milwaukee beat Orlando - Iowa was also eliminated with the Iron's win. However, the Yard Dawgz did move up in the playoff standings because of losses by Alabama and Orlando. OKC is now the #4 seed because of the common opponents' tiebreaker thanks to Alabama losing to Tulsa. The winner of the Week 17 match up between OKC and Orlando will clinch a playoff berth if Alabama loses to Tampa Bay.The loser no matter what is eliminated.
With Chicago losing in overtime (by 13 points no less), Spokane earned the top seed in the National Conference.
WEEK 16 PLAYOFF RECAP
· Arizona, Milwaukee and Tulsa clinched playoff berths
· Cleveland and Iowa were eliminated
· The National Conference playoff teams are set (SPO, CHI, AZ, MIL)
· Jacksonville jumped Tampa Bay to take the lead in the South Division
· Spokane clinched home-field throughout the National Conference playoffs
· Tulsa clinched the Southwest Division and first-round home playoff game
· Orlando, Oklahoma City and Alabama all lost and remained tied for the final playoff spot
· OKC moved into the #4 spot thanks to Alabama's loss to Tulsa
CURRENT PLAYOFF STANDINGS/REMAINING SCHEDULES
Top four in each conference make playoffs
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AMERICAN CONFERENCE
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TEAM
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WK 16
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WK 17
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WK 18
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X - 1. Jacksonville (10-4)
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WON vs. TB
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at B-S (3-11)
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SPO (12-2)
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Y - 2. Tulsa (9-5)
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WON at BAMA
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AZ (8-5)
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at OKC (6-8)
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X - 3. Tampa Bay (10-4)
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LOST at JAX
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BAMA (6-8)
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ORL (6-8)
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4. OKC (6-8)
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LOST at CLE
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at ORL (6-8)
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TUL (9-5)
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5. Orlando (6-8)
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LOST at MIL
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OKC (6-8)
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at TB (10-3)
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6. Alabama (6-8)
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LOST vs. TUL
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at TB (10-4)
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UTAH (1-13)
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NATIONAL CONFERENCE
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TEAM
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WK 16
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WK 17
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WK 18
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YZ - 1. Spokane (12-2)
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WON at IOWA
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CHI (10-5)
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at JAX (10-4)
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X - 2. Chicago (10-5)
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LOST vs. DAL
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at SPO (12-2)
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BYE
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X - 3. Arizona (9-5)
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WON vs. UTAH
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at TUL (9-5)
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IOWA (6-8)
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X- 4. Milwaukee (9-5)
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WON vs. ORL
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at IOWA (6-8)
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at CLE (7-8)
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X - Clinched playoff berth
Y - Clinched division title
Z - home-field advantage in conference
Eliminated: Utah (1-13), Dallas (1-12), Bossier-Shreveport (3-10), Iowa (6-8). Cleveland (6-8)
WEEK 17 PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
Alabama: eliminated with a loss
Chicago: wins Midwest Division with a win AND a Milwaukee loss
Jacksonville: wins South Division and home-field advantage throughout American Conference with a win AND a Tampa Bay loss
Milwaukee: wins Midwest Division with a win AND a Chicago loss
Oklahoma City: clinches playoff berth with a win AND an Alabama loss
Oklahoma City: eliminated with a loss
Orlando: clinches playoff berth with a win AND an Alabama loss
Orlando: eliminated with a loss
Spokane: clinched the number-one overall playoff seed with the ability to host ArenaBowl XXIII with a win OR a Jacksonville loss
TIEBREAKERS BREAK DOWNS
· Jacksonville is ahead of Tampa Bay based on sweeping season series.
· Arizona is ahead of Milwaukee because the Rattlers beat the Iron 68-67 head-to-head on June 5.
· Oklahoma City is ahead of Orlando and Alabama because of the #2 tiebreaker when three teams are tied (record in common opponents since the three have yet to play head-to-head).
· All three have played six common opponents: B-S, JAX, IOWA, TUL, TB & DAL.
· OKC and Alabama are both 4-5 (44.4%), while Orlando is 3-4 (42.9%) thus, Orlando is bumped out.
· Next, revert to step one in the two teams procedure and since OKC beat Alabama 65-39 on May 28 then OKC is the #4 seed.
· That leaves Alabama and Orlando for the #5 and #6 seeds and since Orlando swept Alabama, Orlando goes to #5.
IF THE PLAYOFFS STARTED RIGHT NOW
AMERICAN CONFERENCE
#4 Oklahoma City (6-8) at #1 Jacksonville (10-4; South Division leader)
#3 Tampa Bay (10-4) at #2 Tulsa (8-5; Southwest Division champion)
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
#4 Milwaukee (9-5) at #1 Spokane (12-2; West Division champion)
#3 Arizona (9-5) at #2 Chicago (10-4; Midwest Division leader)
Andy Lopusnak is an 11-year AFL front office veteran, spending time with the Tampa Bay Storm, San Diego Riptide and Grand Rapids Rampage. He works as a statistician for NFL and college sports for CBS Sports and is a freelance photographer. Lopusnak received two Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of South Florida and has been a fan of ArenaBall since its inception.
