Arena Football League: Preview Of Week Three, Standings, News, And Live Stream
The Arena Football League will kick off its third week of action on Thursday night.
The AFL’s 12 teams are split into two conferences (National and American), with each conference broken down into two divisions. The Las Vegas Outlaws are the lone expansion team this year. while the Arizona Rattlers are the defending champions.
The AFL did lose a couple of teams after last season, as the San Antonio Talons and Pittsburgh Power folded. The Iowa Barnstormers decided to leave the AFL for the Indoor Football League.
Arizona defeated the Cleveland Gladiators (72-39) in Arena Bowl XXVII to capture its league tying fifth championship.
| NATIONAL CONFERENCE – WEST DIVISION | ||||||||
| Team | Overall | Points | Pct. | Division | Pct. | Home | Away | Streak |
| Las Vegas Outlaws | 1-1-0 | 111-112 | 0.500 | 1-1-0 | 0.500 | 1-1 | 0-0 | Won 1 |
| Arizona Rattlers | 1-1-0 | 113-113 | 0.500 | 1-1-0 | 0.500 | 1-0 | 0-1 | Lost 1 |
| LA KISS | 0-2-0 | 65-96 | 0.000 | 0-2-0 | 0.000 | 0-0 | 0-2 | Lost 2 |
(Updated April 5)
| NATIONAL CONFERENCE – PACIFIC DIVISION | ||||||||
| Team | Overall | Points | Pct. | Division | Pct. | Home | Away | Streak |
| San Jose Sabercats | 2-0-0 | 113-69 | 1.000 | 2-0-0 | 1.000 | 1-0 | 1-0 | Won 2 |
| Portland Thunder | 1-1-0 | 90-91 | 0.500 | 1-0-0 | 1.000 | 1-1 | 0-0 | Lost 1 |
| Spokane Shock | 0-2-0 | 86-114 | 0.000 | 0-1-0 | 0.000 | 0-1 | 0-1 | Lost 2 |
(Updated April 5)
| AMERICAN CONFERENCE – SOUTH DIVISION | ||||||||
| Team | Overall | Points | Pct. | Division | Pct. | Home | Away | Streak |
| Orlando Predators | 1-1-0 | 118-124 | 0.500 | 1-1-0 | 0.500 | 0-1 | 1-0 | Won 1 |
| Tampa Bay Storm | 1-1-0 | 98-108 | 0.500 | 0-1-0 | 0.000 | 0-1 | 1-0 | Won 1 |
| Jacksonville Sharks | 0-2-0 | 104-106 | 0.000 | 0-2-0 | 0.000 | 0-1 | 0-1 | Lost 2 |
(Updated April 5)
| AMERICAN CONFERENCE – EAST DIVISION | ||||||||
| Team | Overall | Points | Pct. | Division | Pct. | Home | Away | Streak |
| Cleveland Gladiators | 2-0-0 | 130-86 | 1.000 | 2-0-0 | 1.000 | 0-0 | 2-0 | Won 2 |
| Philadelphia Soul | 2-0-0 | 124-106 | 1.000 | 1-0-0 | 1.000 | 0-0 | 2-0 | Won 2 |
| New Orleans VooDoo | 1-1-0 | 93-120 | 0.500 | 1-1-0 | 0.500 | 1-1 | 0-0 | Lost 1 |
Spokane visits Portland on Thursday night to start week three action and it will conclude on Sunday with Jacksonville visiting Philadelphia.
| Week 3 | |||
| 04/09/15 | Spokane at Portland | Portland, Ore. | 10:00 p.m. ET |
| 04/10/15 | San Jose at Tampa Bay | Tampa, Fla. | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| 04/11/15 | Arizona at Cleveland | Cleveland, Ohio | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| Orlando at New Orleans | New Orleans, La. | 8:00 p.m. ET | |
Las Vegas at Los Angeles |
Anaheim, Calif. | 10:00 p.m. ET | |
| 04/12/15 | Jacksonville at Philadelphia | Philadelphia, Pa | 4:00 p.m. ET |
Spokane Shock at Portland Thunder
Records: Shock (0-2), Thunder (1-1)
Place: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
Time: 10 p.m. (ET)
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com
Last year: Spokane won season series 3-0.
This will be the first of three meetings between the Pacific Division rivals according to the Spokane Shock website. This should be a good matchup.
Portland concludes its three-game homestand against Spokane. The Thunder started the season with a 42-37 victory over the L.A. Kiss but then fell to Tampa Bay 54-48.
QB Kyle Rowley has been solid this season under center for the Thunder. He leads the AFL in completion percentage (40-for-57, 70.2 percent) and has tossed 10 touchdowns while being picked off twice. Rowley’s favorite target has been Jamar Howard, who leads the league with 335 receiving yards on 23 catches –Howard set a franchise record with 221 receiving yards against Tampa Bay. Howard is also tied for the league lead with seven touchdown receptions. Defensively, rookie defensive back Andre’ Martin leads the AFL with 16.5 tackles.
BREAKING: http://t.co/ozHZw3oRbT
Jamar Howard has just been named the @RussellAthletic @AFLarenaball Offensive POTW! pic.twitter.com/b33ml3KgLl
— Portland Thunder (@pdxthunder) April 7, 2015
Portland is averaging 42.0 points and 252 yards a game. The Thunder give up 45.5 points and 280 yards a game.
Spokane will use its fourth quarterback already this season against Portland after being assigned fifth-year pro Danny Southwick on Tuesday. Rookie Warren Smith was activated from the injured list and will backup Southwick.
The Shock have lost at Arizona (60-43) and at home to Philadelphia (54-43). Mik Washington is the Shocks’ best offensive weapon. He has 12 receptions for 218 yards and four touchdowns. He is also averaging 21.5 yards per kick return. Defensively, JT Fitzgerald and Devon Dace lead the team in tackles.
The Shock are averaging 43.0 points a game and just 215.0 yards per game. They are surrendering 57.0 points and 288.5 yards a contest.
San Jose SaberCats at Tampa Bay Storm
Records: SaberCats (2-0), Storm (1-1)
Place: Amalie Arena, Tampa Bay, Florida
Time: 7:30 p.m. (ET)
Live Stream: WatchESPN.com
This is 18th meeting between the two franchises, with San Jose holding a 10-7 edge in the series, according to Tampa Bay Storm’s website. The SaberCats have taken the last two meetings (2013 and 2014).
San Jose has outscored their opponents 113-69, an average of 22.0 points per game, over the first two weeks. The SaberCats defeated Las Vegas (59-41) in week one and Los Angeles (54-28) in week two.
QB Erik Meyer has completed 63.3 percent (38-for-60) of his passes this season for an average of 258 yards. He has thrown 11 touchdown passes and has been intercepted only once. Reggie Gray has been the SaberCats top receiver through two games, hauling in 17 passes and three touchdowns. Ben Nelson has nine receptions and three touchdowns.
Defensively, the SaberCats are the top defensive team in the AFL. San Jose is giving up 34.5 points a game and 224.5 yards a game. DB Virgil Gray leads the defense with two interceptions and five pass breakups.
While the secondary has been terrific for the SaberCats, their defensive front has caused havoc for opponents. San Jose has registered seven sacks with Luis Vasquez leading the way with 3.5 sacks. Jason Stewart has registered 2.0 sacks thus far.
NEWS – #TBStorm adds to defensive backfield, acquires Tim Shelley II http://t.co/wkX2b9LuAD #AFL28 pic.twitter.com/BKwFIsR514
— Tampa Bay Storm (@TampaBayStorm) April 9, 2015
The Storm are coming off a 54-48 victory over Portland in week two after falling to Cleveland (60-44). QB Jason Boltus was 23-for-40 for 294 yards and threw for six touchdowns against Portland last week. He also ran for two touchdowns. Boltus has completed 55.8 percent of his passes (53-for-95) for 338.5 yards a game and 12 touchdowns.
T.T. Toliver has been Tampa Bays’ most explosive player, hauling in 21 passes for 310 yards and six touchdowns. Toliver had nine catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns versus Portland. Toliver needs just two more receptions to reach 1,000 catches for his career. Jarvis Williams leads the team with 22 catches.
Tampa Bay is averaging 49.0 points and 335.0 yards a game. Defensively, the Storm give up 54.0 points a game and 275.5 yards a contest.
The Inquisitr will provide updates and more previews prior to Saturday’s games.
[Photo by Ethan Miller/ Getty Images]
