If the Utah Blaze win, they're in
Then again, the Blaze could still miss the playoffs altogether, depending on what happens on Saturday.
It's still that close.
Four American Conference teams currently own identical 5-10 records, including the Blaze. One of those four teams will host a playoff game. Two others will make the playoffs but will have to travel for their first-round game. One will be out of the postseason picture completely.
The good news for the Blaze is that they don't have to have any help to at least clinch a playoff spot. If they beat the Arizona Rattlers in Phoenix on Saturday night, they will be headed to the playoffs for the third consecutive season thanks to their tie-breaker edge over both Colorado and Grand Rapids.
"We have to go take it," said Blaze coach Danny White. "We don't expect anybody to give us anything and frankly we don't want them to. We don't want to back our way into the playoffs."
Thanks to their combined 3-1 record against the teams they are currently tied with, the Blaze win most tie-breaker scenarios. So if all four 5-10 teams end up losing on Saturday to fall to 5-11, the Blaze would still host a playoff game the following week as the conference's No. 4 seed. But if Utah loses and the other three teams all win, the Blaze will be out of the playoffs. The Blaze would also be the odd team out if both Colorado and Grand Rapids win, but Utah and Los Angeles lose.
Arizona, meanwhile, has already clinched a playoff spot. The Rattlers are 8-7 and locked into the No. 3 seed in the conference. The San Jose SaberCats and Chicago Rush, both 10-5, have won their respective division titles and will have first-round playoff byes.
"I love that, mentally, our guys have to prepare this week knowing that they have to win to be assured of getting into the playoffs," White said. "I don't like being in a situation like Arizona is in. For them, it doesn't matter because they can't move up and they can't move down (in the playoff seeding)."
NICE BREAK: Utah, winners of five of their past six games after a miserable 0-9 start, had a bye last week. White gave the players a few days off and some left town for a while. Blaze quarterback Joe Germaine traveled to his home in the Phoenix area, where his infant son was recently released from the hospital following heart surgery.
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