Still Hope for the Crush

With only two games left on the schedule, it’s do-or-die time for the Colorado Crush. Although for the moment the Crush appear to be out of the playoff picture, it’s not over yet. When it gets down to the nitty-gritty of AFL playoff football things can get a little complicated--especially when 12 of the 17 league teams qualify for the postseason.

At 4-10, the Crush currently hold the No. 5 seed in American Conference, edging Grand Rapids and Los Angeles (both 4-10) based on head-to-head competition and points against.

The remaining two games are versus the Arizona Rattlers, who have already locked up a playoff berth, and the Kansas City Brigade, who at 3-11 have been eliminated from the picture.

The Crush can clinch if they get a win versus the Rattlers plus a Grand Rapids loss plus a Kansas City Brigade loss. If all that happens, the Crush will have their sights on another ArenaBowl championship.

It’s been somewhat of a roller coaster ride for the Crush this season. The success the Crush has had in recent years hasn’t carried over to 2008. Luckily it’s not over.

After their 2005 ArenaBowl victory, the team followed it up with another successful season in 2006, making the playoffs but eventually losing to the Chicago Rush. The 2007 season brought about some similar successes and failures, this time losing in the second round of the postseason to San Jose. On a positive note, it was the fourth consecutive postseason by the Crush.  

And that is what they will be looking to extend this season. 

Standing in the way will be two tough challengers. Arizona is still hoping to clinch their division as they sit one game behind San Jose. Don’t think for a second that the Rattlers will hand the Crush a late season victory before the playoffs even though they are already in. A win against the Crush and a San Jose loss would give the Rattlers a first round bye.

And while the Brigade appears to be a weak and inconsequential team, one of their three victories this season came at the expense of the Crush. They snuck by with a 55-53 victory at Kansas City.

June 16 and 21 mark the final two games of the year, the final game being their last home stand.

Here’s a look at a few season statistics:

John Dutton has passed for 4,004 yards with 85 touchdowns
Ben Nelson has 1,176 receiving yard while Willie Quinnie has racked up 1,084
Nelson leads the team with 27 touchdowns while Quinnie has 26
The Crush is the No. 14 ranked offense in the AFL this season
Colorado has the No. 11 defense in the league