Drive to ArenaBowl XVIII

[Curly Horns]

Who are the top eight seeds heading into the AFL Quarterfinals next weekend? The Arizona Rattlers took the top spot. Find out who they play and the rest of the playoff seedings.

Non-division winners are not put into multi-team tiebreakers until the division winner is seeded. Arizona finished ahead of Chicago and New Orleans based on common opponents. San Jose finished ahead of Chicago and New Orleans based on common opponents. Chicago finished ahead of New Orleans based on common opponents. New Orleans finished ahead of Colorado based on common opponents. Tampa Bay finished ahead of Los Angeles and New York based on common opponents. Los Angeles finished ahead of New York based on head-to-head.

QUARTERFINAL ROUND MATCHUPS (All Games on NBC)

Tampa Bay (7) at San Jose (2), Saturday, June 5 at 2:45 p.m. ET

Los Angeles (8) at Arizona (1), Sunday, June 6 at 3 p.m. ET

Orlando (6) at Chicago (3), Sunday, June 6 at 3 p.m. ET

Colorado (5) at New Orleans (4), Sunday, June 6 at 3 p.m. ET

[Curly Horns]

SaberCats host Rush in Semifinals

SAN JOSE, Calif. - The San Jose SaberCats, escaping a fourth-quarter Tampa Bay barrage Saturday, continue in their quest for another ArenaBowl appearance and will play host to the Chicago Rush at 12 noon Saturday in an Arena Football League semifinal playoff game.

The SaberCats (12-5) built a 49-18 lead just past the midway point of the third quarter, then held on for a 56-52 win, despite a 27-0 run by the Storm in the fourth period.

In the other quarterfinal games Saturday, veteran quarterback Raymond Philyaw passed for four touchdowns as the Rush (12-5) defeated the Orlando Predators (10-7), 59-49, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Ill. The Colorado Crush (12-5) edged the New Orleans VooDoo (11-6), 47-44, and Arizona (the No. 1 seed ahead of San Jose) stopped Los Angeles, at home, 59-42.

The SaberCats defeated Chicago on April 16 at HP Pavilion, 51-43, and finished 7-1 on their home field for the regular season. The 'Cats are 3-0 all time versus the Rush with two wins in HP Pavilion.

Chicago, the 3rd seed, won four of its last five games, losing the final game of the regular season at Colorado, 56-47. This is the second time in four seasons the franchise has reached the semifinals. The Rush lost last in the semifinals at the Arizona Rattlers, 46-35, in 2002.

For San Jose, this is the fifth consecutive trip to the semifinals. The SaberCats lost in back-to-back semifinals against Nashville in 2000 and 2001, respectively, then defeated Orlando at home, 52-40, on their way to the 2002 ArenaBowl championship. Last season, the Rattlers stopped the 'Cats.

In this season's meeting between San Jose and the Rush, the SaberCats overcame a 6-point halftime deficit and outscored Chicago, 21-6, in the fourth quarter to register the 51-43 margin.

Chicago features Philyaw passing to rookie Etu Molden, Lindsey Fleshman, Jeremy McDaniel and DeJuan Alfonso. The Rush lead the league in rushing touchdowns (49) and former SaberCat fullback-linebacker Bob McMillen led the team with 22 rushing scores.

[DJRamFan]

These were the playoff seedings with the higher seed hosting:

(1) Arizona
(8) Los Angeles

(2) San Jose
(7) Tampa Bay

(3) Chicago
(6) Orlando

(4) New Orleans
(5) Colorado

[DJRamFan]

And we have the final two.....

ArenaBowl XVIII on June 27, 2004....

#2 San Jose SaberCats @ #1 Arizona Rattlers NBC

Should be a VERY good game. Arizona squeeked by Colorado in the semis after letting them back in the game.