The Albany Empire take their two-game winning streak to Philadelphia to face the Soul (6pm Saturday, CBS Sports Network; 97.5 FM “The Fanatic” (Philadelphia radio), ALT 105.7 FM (Albany radio)). The Soul will be facing the Empire with a streak of their own: they have won their last 20 games at the Wells Fargo Center.

The two teams faced off with each other in week one with the Soul departing Albany with a 56-35 victory. However, they will be facing a very different team than what they saw in week one: the Empire have improved on a weekly basis since week one. They now have one of the premier receiving combinations in the league with Joe Hills (all he does is catch touchdowns) and breakout rookie Malachi Jones on offense, while the defense has also gelled and the pass rush – in particular Joe Sykes – have been piling up the sacks.

Here are three things to look for during the game…

The Pass Rush… of Philadelphia: The Soul announced that DE Jake Metz would be returning to the roster after two stints in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills. Metz also spent time in China with the Qingdao Clipper of the CAFL. Metz led the league in sacks in 2016 with eight and was a big part of two ArenaBowl appearances in 2015 and 2016. What does this mean for the Empire? The Empire’s offensive line has not relinquished a sack in four games this season, so it’ll be a priority for Albany’s front line to protect QB Tommy Grady, especially against a player with a resume like Metz’s.

The Pass Rush… of Albany: What can be said about the Empire’s pass rush that hasn’t already been said? After being withheld from a sack in week one, the Empire’s pass rush has racked up seven in the last three games, six by DL Joe Sykes. The pass rush has been a game-changer for the Empire in helping them to two consecutive wins (and almost a stolen win against Baltimore). The Soul’s offensive line has been just as stout as the Empire’s, surrendering only one sack in four games. It will be important for the pass rush to be established early for the Empire to have a chance to win.

Well-Rested: The Soul are coming off of a bye week (you know, the one that was originally scheduled for ALL teams?), so they will be well rested. The Empire, meanwhile, have played three consecutive games, two on the road in Baltimore and Washington. Will the Soul be rusty after two weeks off or will the Empire gas out by game’s end? This could be a determining factor in the game.

Prediction: While the Empire have momentum on their side, the Soul is the more experienced group. The home team will start out slow and have a tough time on both sides of the ball. It’ll be an uphill battle, but the Soul will continue their home winning streak at game’s end.

Score Prediction: Soul 49, Empire 45.

Ryan McCarthy has been an on-and-off Internet columnist and blogger since 1997. He has been an avid follower of Arena Football since 1990 when the Albany Firebirds were established. Ryan currently attends Regent University, where he is pursuing his Bachelors degree in Communications with a Journalism concentration. He anticipates graduating toward the end of 2019. You can follow Ryan on Twitter at @rwhoisryanmcc