ESPN AFL

As we enter the final two months of the season, the playoff picture is starting to take shape. We know that we have three elite teams in the AFL and several others that have strong playoff aspirations. With 12 teams headed to the playoffs, there is still a lot of juggling to be done and almost every team thinks they have a shot.

Georgia (9-1): The Force have the most explosive pass offense in the league led by QB Chris Greisen and three quality receivers (Troy Bergeron, Derek Lee, and Chris Jackson). They don't feature a great defense, but they make enough key stops to win and with their high scoring offense, that's usually good enough.

Dallas (9-1): The Desperados have the ability to win it all and are blessed with playmakers on both sides of the ball. Still, they continue to play in a lot of close games and you get the feeling that they almost play down to the level of their competition. That begs the question: Can they turn the consistency up in the playoffs?

Chicago (8-1): The Rush have all the key components to win it all this year -- a dynamic passing duo of Matt D'Orazio to Bobby Sippio, a strong defensive line and the best secondary in the league. They are well coached and can control the style of the game and make adjustments quickly. They are a veteran group who plays with better concentration than they showed a year ago. That's saying something, considering the Rush are the defending ArenaBowl champs.

San Jose (6-3): The SaberCats are a veteran team with playmakers on both sides of the ball and when they are in sync, they can beat anybody. On defense they create turnovers and produce sacks. Offensively, they know how to spread the ball around. With a favorable closing schedule, this is a dangerous team.

Los Angeles (5-4): If the Avengers played up to their abilities each week they would be an elite team. They have a good QB in Sonny Cumbie, an explosive pass offense and have playmakers on defense. Still, something's missing. They are dangerous, but can they put a consistent streak together in the playoffs?

Colorado (6-4): QB John Dutton can look great when he is on, but he has not been consistent enough in 2007. The Crush have an offensive playmaker in WR Damian Harrell and a defensive playmaker in Rashad Floyd, both of whom can affect the outcome of any game. If Dutton gets hot, this is a scary team in the playoffs.

Orlando (5-4): This is a well-coached, veteran team, but something seems to be missing. The Predators usually play good enough defense to win, but their offense does not convert enough offensive possessions into scores and their flaws on third- and fourth-down is keeping them from being an elite team.

Philadelphia (4-5): Obviously, injuries have devastated this team, especially the loss of QB Tony Graziani. Plus, after five straight losses, the Soul have lost their swagger. However, they will get healthier in the next month and they realize that once you get in to the playoffs anything can happen -- just ask Chicago. The Soul have enough playmakers to be dangerous.

Utah (5-4): Offensively, the Blaze can play with any team in the league. They have a lethal passing game, led by QB Joe Germaine and WR Siaha Burley. Their problem is a total lack of defensive stops and puts pressure on the offense to be perfect and win high-scoring games, which isn't enough versus the elite teams.

Columbus (5-4): The Destroyers have won four in a row at home and are a pretty sound team. They just don't beat themselves. While they are a decent defensive team, they are not very explosive offensively and they are in trouble if they get into a high-scoring shootout.

Kansas City (5-4): The Brigade are tough to beat at home. They are not flashy, but they play pretty sound football in all three phases (offense, defense, and special teams). QB Raymond Philyaw is a battle tested veteran.

New Orleans (4-5): If veteran QB Andy Kelly gets hot, the VooDoo can move the ball on most defenses. However, on defense they are not a great matchup secondary and unless they get a great pass rush up front, they can be exposed. It's hard to New Orleans creating enough stops on defense to stay with the elite offensive teams.

Arizona (2-8): This is a one-dimensional team. The Rattlers have an explosive offense, but a marginal defense that lacks playmaking skills and struggles to make stops. They have an excellent veteran QB in Sherdrick Bonner, but when the offense doesn't play a near-perfect game, they usually lose.

Grand Rapids (3-6): The Rampage have a decent QB in Chad Salisbury and a great playmaker in Timon Marshall, who can beat you as a receiver and is even more dangerous as a kick returner. But this is not an explosive team and Grand Rapids doesn't have any margin for error.

Tampa Bay (3-6): …The Storm have been ravaged by injuries at the QB position and are an aging team without great athleticism, but they keep playing hard and they are well-coached. They don't look like a playoff team, but their resilience and pride cannot be overlooked.

New York (2-7): While they lack depth, the return of QB Aaron Garcia gives the Dragons a chance to be in every game. Defensively, they are inconsistent but are capable of making some big plays. They are semi-dangerous, but must climb out of a big hole.

Nashville (4-6): This is a team with a lot of young players and sometimes they look good and sometimes they struggle with consistency. Still, they run the ball better and more often than any team in the AFL and they play hard on defense, but can they put a playoff run together? They are the team nobody wants to play.

Austin (3-6): The Wranglers have been a huge disappointment because so much was expected from their offense. But inconsistent play by QB Adrian McPherson and too many turnovers led to the McPherson's dismissal this week. They tease, but they don't win.

Las Vegas (1-9): This is the worst team in the AFL right now thanks to a total lack of depth and marginal playmakers on both sides of the ball. They are going with an inexperienced QB in Brian Jones and you get the feeling that they are already looking ahead to 2008.

National Conference: Georgia over Dallas.
American Conference: Chicago over San Jose.
ArenaBowl XXI: Georgia over Chicago.

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