Now that we have looked at the South Division, let's take a look at the Eastern side of the American Conference.
American Conference - East Division
Philadelphia Soul - (9-5), first in the East Division, clinched the East
For most of 2013 the Soul have been an inconsistent bunch. For a short spans they have shown some form from the 2012 conference champs, but have also had spans of exactly the opposite. Entering July it seems as if this year's Soul team might have finally found its stride. After the summer started with a frustrating 64-57 loss vs. Arizona and a very fortunate 65-56 comeback to beat New Orleans, the Soul cruised through the next two weeks with a 59-21 win at Pittsburgh and a 54-30 demolishing of Iowa, and wrapped up June with a 66-57 win over Cleveland that locked up a second straight division title. The Soul head into July on a four-game winning streak and with one thing on their mind, home-field advantage.
Key Stats
- Dan Raudabaugh 313-454, 3800 yards, 76 TD, 9 Int (14 games)
- Derrick Ross 122 rush, 442 yards, 29 TD; 56 rec yards, 4 Rec TD (14 games)
- Tiger Jones 121 rec, 1755 yards, 30 TD (14 games)
- Andrae Thurman 87 rec, 856 yards, 10 TD; Kick-ret TD (14 games)
- Ryan McDaniel 65 rec, 819 yards, 21 TD (12 games)
- Rayshaun Kizer 68 tackles, 6 Int, Def TD, Fumb Rec (14 games)
- LaRico Stevenson 5 Int, Fumb Rec, Def TD (11 games)
- Joe Goosby 56.5 tackles, 2 sacks 3 Int, 3 Fumb Rec, Def TD (14 games)
- Bryan Robinson 10 sacks, 4 blocked kicks (13 games)
- James Romain 3 Int, 3 FF, Def TD, Kick-ret TD (13 games)
- Carlos Martinez 98-109 PAT, 4-5 FG (33) (14 games)
July Schedule
Week 16 -
vs. Chicago
Week 17 - vs. Utah
Week 18 - @ San Jose
Week 19 - @ San Antonio
Home Stretch Outlook
- The Soul have finally appeared to hit their stride and peak at the right time, winning six of seven games and entering July on a four-game win streak
- To go along with the winning in June, Derrick Ross broke the career AFL rushing record in week 13 against Pittsburgh
- Tiger Jones is having another elite season, while Andrae Thurman is also quietly performing at a high and reliable level
- The Soul already have the east locked up, so now the main concern is making the road to Arena Bowl 26 be through the city of brotherly love
- Entering week sixteen all three phases of the game are clicking for the Soul, if they can maintain this level of play then there is little reason to pick against them in the postseason
- A big test for the Soul will their two-game road trip that will end the season, an unsuccessful trip could undue everything accomplished in the last seven weeks
- The, very big, x-factor of Larry Brackins. Brackins hasn't had the big flashy numbers of an Arena Football receiver, but when he gets his chance he always makes plays regardless of offense, defense, or special teams and can single-handedly change a game
Prediciton
I feel the Soul have finally hit their stride and can see them getting homefield, but the tough two-game road trip might be enough to keep them as a two seed in the American Conference. I think they will finish the regualr season with 12 wins, and regardless of their seed the Soul will be the favorites to return to the Arena Bowl.
Pittsburgh Power - (3-11), second in the east, trail Orlando by two-games in the A.C. wild card
This has been another rough season for the Power, but despite being 3-11 there is still mathematical hope. Pittsburgh began June with an alright 3-6 record and a one-game lead in the race for the final playoff spot in the American Conference. Here we are on the brink of week sixteen and the Power now sit two games behind Orlando with a 3-11 mark. The month of June got off to a tough start for Pittsburgh with back-to-back road losses that featured a 70-48 spanking by Jacksonville and a close 68-54 loss at San Jose the next week. Returning home didn't help as Philadelphia came to town and put on a clinic that ended in a 59-21 loss for the steel city. Pittsburgh finished the month with a 50-35 loss at Orlando and a 59-54 defeat at the hands of New Orleans. The Power are still in it, but will have to try and turn the page on a five-game losing streak heading into July.
Key Stats
- Steven Sheffield 136-225, 1602 yards, 32 TD, 12 Int; 74 rush yards, 2 Rush TD (6 games)
- Mike Washington 112 rec, 1283 yards, 28 TD (14 games)
- Julian Talley 56 rec, 622 yards, 11 TD (6 games)
- P.J. Berry 24 rec, 329 yards, 4 TD (6 games)
- Alvin Ray Jackson 59.5 tackles, sack, 2 Int, Fumb Rec, TD; 10 rec, 130 yards, 2 TD (14 games)
- Chris LeFlore 53 tackles, 2 Int, 2 Fumb Rec; 921 kick-ret yards, 2 kick-ret TD (14 games)
- Sergio Gilliam 72.5 tackles, 6 Int, 3 Def TD (14 games)
- Neil Purvis (11 games)/Dominie Pittman (8 games) 4 sacks each
July Schedule
Week 16 - @
Cleveland
Week 17 - vs. San Jose
Week 18 - @ Tampa Bay
Week 19 - @ Spokane
Home Stretch Outlook
- The Power have dug a huge hole that might be too deep to climb out: they enter July on a five-game losing streak, do not own the head-to-head against Orlando, and have three of their final four games on the road
- Injuries have definately played a deciding role this season for the black and gold: Mike Washington is the only receiver who has appeared in every game
- The receiving core is so beat up that Alvin Ray Jackson has had to step in at times this season and its at the point were it's a guessing game to see who will be the third starting wide receiver
- A disappointing 1-7 home record should say enough, if you can't win at home then where can you win
- The Power have nothing to loose and will need the Steven Sheffield from May to show up for the final stretch and not the one from June who threw some untimely interceptions
Prediction
There are just too many things against the Power to pick them as a sneaky four seed. Between the injuries and July's schedule I see them finishing with four wins, five if they benefit from any resting of opposing players.
Cleveland Gladiators - (2-12), last in the east, trail Orlando by three-games in A.C. wild card
The Gladiators entered 2013 as the youngest team in the AFL and throughout the season have tried to get more experience with a some key acquisitions and a change at quarterback. Unfortunately for Cleveland the get-experience movement has produced many wins, but there is still a chance at qualifiying for the postseason. Brian Zbydniewski started the eight of the first nine games until he suffered a season-ending injury in week ten, but during his time he struggled to produce points and completed under 60% of his passes. It looked like Chris Dieker's dual-threat ability might be able to sneakily turn this season around for the Glads, but a winless June that ended with zero wins in five tries said otherwise. Cleveland suffered losses at New Orleans (69-40), to Iowa (37-33), at Orlando (62-55), at Jacksonville (43-41), and to Philadelphia (66-57). Cleveland heads into the home stretch of July on a seven-game losing and having the League's worst record, but still has a mathematical chance at the playoffs; losses to New Orleans and Orlando are two huge road blocks to those chances.
Key Stats
- Chris Dieker 151-230, 1622 yards, 27 TD, 7 Int; 178 rush yards, 10 rush TD (9 games)
- Brian Zbydniewski 178-310, 2001 yards, 34 TD, 14 Int; 35 rush yards, 6 Rush TD (9 games)- Dominick Goodman 120 rec, 1022 yards, 18 TD (13 games)
- Thyron Lewis 74 rec, 1051 yards, 17 TD (14 games)
- Carlese Franklin 31 rec, 432 yards, 6 TD; Kick-ret TD (6 games)
- LaRoche Jackson 74.5 tackles, 5 Int, Def TD, 4 Fumb Rec (12 games)
- Lenny Wicks 58.5 tackles, 2 Int, Fumb Rec, Def TD (11 games) - Kris Cooke 4 sacks, FF (13 games)
- Randy Colling 4 sacks, 3 FF, 2 Fumb Rec (12 games)
July Schedule
Week 16 - vs. Pittsburgh
Week 17 - @ Chicago
Week 18 - vs. Orlando
Week 19 - @ Utah
Home Stretch Outlook
- It's tough to be optimistic towards a team who is 2-12 and has lost seven in a row, but you still have a chance until your finally out
- Both quarterbacks have struggled for the Glads this season, but Chris Dieker has been the better performer
- Thyron Lewis and Dominick Goodman have been two reliable receivers this year, both having prolific seasons to go along with their durability (combined to miss just one game)
- LaRoche Jackson may have been one of the best pickups by any team this season; he leads the team in tackles and interceptions while providing leadership and experience in the secondary that has kept things from getting any uglier
- The opportunity for a late playoff push is here in July with home games against Pittsburgh and Orlando, and a week nineteen trip to Utah, who has already been eliminated in the National Conference
- At the same time as opportunity, the odds are slim and Cleveland is just one more loss any from their own elimination
Predicition
There is a reason why Cleveland is 2-12 at this point. I think the Gladiators will stay alive for an extra week, but I see them finishing with three wins and with the worst record in the AFL.
East Standings heading into Week 16 Team
Overal record (division record)
yPhiladelphia
9-5 (2-2) x = clinched playoff berth
Pittsburgh 3-11
(2-1) y = clinched division
Cleveland 2-12
(1-2) z = clinched home field advantage
American
Conference Wild Card
Standings
Tampa Bay
7-7
Orlando 5-9 (2 games
back)
---------------------------
New
Orleans 4-10 (1 game out)
Pittsburgh 3-11 (2 games
out)
Cleveland 2-12 (3 games out)
Next up is the Central Division's Turn into the Home Stretch!
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