Tribune reporter John Mullin previews the Arena Football League playoff games.
Grand Rapids Rampage at Rush
TV/radio: 2 p.m. Sunday; ESPN, WIND-AM 560.
Records: Grand Rapids 7-10, Rush 11-5.
Last week: Grand Rapids 48, Arizona 41; Rush bye.
Story line: Rush has won six straight and 10 of its last 11 contests against Grand Rapids. The ’08 games were contrasts — a road blowout in which Rush got out to a 22-0 lead, and a last-second comeback victory at Allstate Arena keyed by Dennison Robinson’s late interception and Donovan Morgan’s 10 catches, 149 yards and 4 TDs. Rampage’s road-playoff victory was sealed with four stops inside its 10 in the final minute.
Colorado Crush at San Jose SaberCats
TV: 2 p.m. Saturday, ESPN.
Records: Colorado 7-10, San Jose 11-5.
Last week: Colorado 49, Utah 44; San Jose bye.
Story line: Ex-SaberCat WR Rashied Davis is catching NFL passes, but QB Mark Grieb doesn’t seem to miss him too much. Grieb threw for 100 TDs last season and did it again in ’08 against 18 INTs, while passing for 4,000 yards for a record fifth straight season. ‘Cats won last six in a row and eight of their last nine, including a 17-point home victory May 24 over Colorado. Crush lost five straight before winning last two to creep into postseason for owner John Elway.
N.Y. Dragons at Philadelphia Soul
TV: 6 p.m. Saturday, ESPN.
Records: New York 9-8, Philadelphia, 13-3.
Last week: New York 77, Dallas 63; Philadelphia bye.
Story line: Philadelphia, which lost to the Rush in Week 2, won the National Conference regular-season title. Dragons QB Aaron Garcia shook off an opening interception in the playoff win to lead 10 straight TD drives. He tied an AFL playoff record with nine TD passes in the game. Dragons put 77 points on Dallas’ No. 2 defense. If Soul owner Jon Bon Jovi is humming a happy tune, it’s because his team defeated New York by 21 and 29 points in their ’08 meetings.
Cleveland Gladiators at Georgia Force
TV: 7 p.m. Monday, ESPN2.
Records: Cleveland 10-7, Georgia 10-6.
Last week: Cleveland 69, Orlando 66; Georgia bye.
Story line: Both teams collected home victories over the Rush in the closing weeks of ’08. Georgia advanced with its first playoff triumph since 1992, a win over Orlando, which was in its 17th straight postseason. Ex-Bear Doug Plank guided the Force to seven straight victories after 3-5 start, including triumphs over New York and Philadelphia. Force allowed just 41 points per game in final four victories. Plank’s defense hits the way he did.
