Philly rematches against the SaberCats, continues late playoff push

In the final home game of the 2014 campaign, the Philadelphia Soul will take on the San Jose SaberCats while hoping to take a strangle on the last wildcard spot in the American Conference playoff picture.

Kickoff between the two will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, July 20 at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia.

The Soul (8-8) will face the SaberCats (12-4) for the second time this season. The two teams met back in week two on Sunday, March 23 when there SaberCats handed the Soul a 70-33 beat down in San Jose. The ball clubs have changed over the last four months, but San Jose has maintained their level of play throughout the entire season.

The SaberCats are the hottest team in the AFL right now, riding a five game win streak which included beating the than undefeated Arizona Rattlers 62-33 on Friday, June 27 in San Jose, along with dismantling the LA Kiss on the road and handling the Storm last weekend.

Quarterback Nathan Stanley has a 106.9 quarterback rating on the season, going 161-265 with 1,930 yards, 43 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Stanley was sidelined with injury when these two clubs faced each other in week two, when Russ Michna had a career performance against the Soul.

Rodd Harper is leading the receiving core in yards with 1,004 and 18 touchdowns on 97 receptions, while Reggie Gray is leading the ’Cats in touchdowns with 26 and 930 yards on 77 receptions. Jason Willis has caught 11 touchdowns with 854 yards, and Dominique Curry has 22 touchdowns and 522 yards.

On the other side of the ball, defensive back Clevan Thomas has brought in eight interceptions on the season, while Ken Fontenette and David Hyland have brought in three each. Defensive lineman Jason Stewart and Francis Maka have put up double-digit sacks.

This will definitely be one of the tougher teams the Soul will have played all year, but although the Soul have had some heartbreaking losses and rough stretches, they have been pretty consistent with playing up to the level of their tougher opponents…with the exception of these San Jose SaberCats.

Sunday will have to be seen more as a golden opportunity to put themselves in a wildcard spot than it will as a redemption for what happened months ago in California. The Predators appear to be running away with the South Division, and if the Soul happen to lose this game Sunday and the Tampa Bay Storm go on to win one of their final two games, the Soul will be eliminated from the playoffs for the first time in three years. However, the Storm will kick off in Spokane against the Shock Monday, July 21, and will return home to take on the 16-1 Cleveland Gladiators on Sunday, July 27. This means a win in either of Philadelphia’s last two games will probably give them a good shot at making the playoffs. Two wins will all but lockup a ticket to compete in the playoffs.

If the Soul are going to make noise in the playoffs if they happen to reach the postseason, they will have to face quality teams such as the SaberCats if they plan on advancing anywhere. This is an opportunity to give yourself a good chance at making the playoffs while at the same time showing what your truly are capable of.

At the same time, you do not want to have to rely on other teams any more than you already are, and if you’re going to get at least one win in your final two games, it would be better to do so on your home field than traveling to Pittsburgh with the uncertainty of your team’s future surrounding your must-win situation. 

We know the 'Cats will show up ready to play Sunday, but hopefully the Soul will prove that Philly really has the eye of the tiger.