With three weeks to go in the AFL season, the playoff-picture plot thickens.
The only certainty is that the Arizona Rattlers, Austin Wranglers, Columbus Destroyers and Grand Rapids Rampage are out of contention.
A few details could clear up this weekend. The Colorado Crush, loser of three straight games, is among three teams that could clinch a playoff spot this weekend. The Crush needs help from the San Jose SaberCats and Dallas, but more importantly, Colorado needs to snap its losing streak by winning at New Orleans.
If Colorado beats the Voodoo, San Jose beats Los Angeles and Dallas beats Las Vegas, the Crush would have one of the four playoff spots from the American Conference.
The Georgia Force and the SaberCats could clinch playoff spots this weekend, but otherwise the playoff options are wide open.
The Force, with the league’s best record at 9-4, can clinch the Southern Division title by beating Tampa Bay in conjunction with losses by Orlando and New Orleans. But Georgia is traveling the most difficult road of the 12 teams in contention. The Force’s three remaining opponents – Tampa Bay, Dallas and San Jose – have a combined winning percentage of .605.
The Crush faces the same type of obstacle in trying to clinch a playoff place out of the American Conference.
Colorado’s last three opponents – New Orleans, Nashville and New York – have a .553 combined winning percentage.
The SaberCats have the next toughest road to the playoffs, facing opponents with a .538 combined winning percentage.
The Chicago Rush, which is tied with the Crush atop the Central Division and owns the tiebreaker, has the easiest road to the playoffs in the American Conference.
Chicago plays at Arizona, plays host to Grand Rapids and finishes at Nashville. That trio has a .289 combined winning percentage, although Nashville has made a late-season run toward .500.
Passing out awards
The Crush is helping opponents bolster their résumés.
Grand Rapids quarterback Michael Bishop earned the league’s offensive player award after throwing five touchdown passes Saturday night and scoring twice on runs in his 58-52 triumph over the Crush.
Two weeks ago, Chicago’s Etu Molden was the offensive player of the week after catching five touchdown passes in the Rush’s 75-51 victory over Colorado. A week ago, San Jose’s Rodney Wright was the league’s Ironman for a performance that included two touchdowns on kick returns and quarterback Mark Grieb was the offensive player of the week after completing all of his 15 passes, eight for touchdowns in the SaberCats’ 89-41 victory.
As for other Week 14 winners, Los Angeles’ Kevin Ingram was the league’s Ironman winner in the Avengers’ 59-56 victory over Arizona and Nashville’s Kahlil Carter was the defensive winner in a 57-55 victory over San Jose.
Irv Moss can be reached on 303 820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
