Elias Says

All was going well for the Chicago Rush of the AFL and their head coach Mike Hohensee. The team was riding an eight-game winning streak, and head coach Mike Hohensee was enjoying the accolades that go with being the head coach of the defending league champs. But the win streak was history when the Dallas Desperados scored a go-ahead TD with three seconds left in their game. The loss was the 87th regular season defeat of Hohensee's AFL career, tying him with Michael Trigg for the most losses by an AFL coach. • Read more Elias Says.

DALLAS -- The Dallas Desperados clinched a playoff spot Monday night on Will Pettis' 3-yard touchdown catch with 3 seconds remaining for a 52-48 victory over Chicago.

The Desperados (10-1) lead the Eastern Division with Arena Football's best record and are the first team to qualify for the postseason.

Dallas worked the final two minutes of the clock perfectly, moving downfield on a six-play drive to the winning pass by Clint Dolezel.

The loss snapped Chicago's franchise-record eight-game winning streak and dropped the team to 8-2, but atop the Central Division.

Rookie Rob Mager had the best game of his career, catching 12 passes for 147 yards and a TD for the Rush.

The defending champions saw star wide receiver Bobby Sippio and defensive back Jonathan Ordway get injured in the first half. Sippio sprained his left ankle and played sparingly late in the game. Ordway tore his left biceps in the second quarter and did not return.

Dallas blew a 38-21 lead before stating its final drive. A desperation pass by Matt D'Orazio fell incomplete on Chicago's last play.