If the AFL playoffs began this week, Dallas, Austin, Nashville and Arizona would have the coveted home-field advantage as division winners.
What about the defending champion Colorado Crush? Well, Saturday’s 65-21 loss to Columbus in the Pepsi Center damaged more than just egos. If the playoffs were this week, the Crush would be the top wild-card team in the American Conference. That’s quite a comedown when you think that last week at this time, Colorado had the best record in the conference and would have the home-field advantage.
As the AFL heads down the second half of the schedule, Colorado and Nashville are tied for the best record in the conference at 6-3. But the Kats, who play the Crush Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Pepsi Center, own the tiebreaker over the Crush because of a 58-36 victory team earlier in the season.
Because of the tiebreaker, Nashville would have the Central Division title and Arizona at 5-4 would have the Western Division title. Colorado, Chicago, Las Vegas and Grand Rapids would have the conference’s wild-card spots, even though Chicago and Grand Rapids currently have losing records at 4-5.
In the National Conference, Dallas (7-2) would have the Eastern Division title, and Austin (6-3) the Southern Division. Philadelphia, Orlando, New York and Columbus would be the wild-card teams, all at 5-4. Georgia and Tampa Bay also are 5-4, but trail the others in the tiebreakers.
“I don’t think anybody in the league feels they’re out of it or that anybody feels they’re clear cut winners,” Crush coach Mike Dailey said. “It’s too hard to predict anything in this league this year.”
The Crush suffered through a three-game losing streak late last season and regrouped to win the ArenaBowl.
Dailey said the Crush has to get back to the basics of protecting the ball and the quarterback. The Crush contributed a franchise-high seven turnovers to the Columbus victory.
Dailey said he didn’t think the Crush has fallen victim to the pressure of repeating as champions.
“Our players have been very professional about that,” Dailey said. “I think if there was a problem about repeating, it would have shown up early in the season.”
Irv Moss can be reached on 303 820-1296 or imoss@denverpost.com.
