Ranking the ArenaBowls, #15: ArenaBowl XXV

New Orleans, LA- The Arizona Rattlers won their first ArenaBowl title in 15 years by upsetting the heavily favored Philadelphia Soul 72-54 at the New Orleans Arena in ArenaBowl XXV.

It was a chance at redemption for the Rattlers, who had lost in their last four trips to the ArenaBowl. None was more devastating than in ArenaBowl XXIV, when they lost at home to the Jacksonville Sharks on the final play of the game; an Aaron Garcia touchdown pass to Jeron Harvey. The following year, they returned to the big game, but as the decided underdog to the 15-3 Soul, who had the highest scoring offense in AFL history.

Arizona came out of the gate with an interception by Arkeith Brown, which led to the first of seven touchdown passes from Nick Davila to Maurice Purify. The Rattlers rode the momentum to a 27-13 lead at halftime, and were not going to allow a repeat of what had happened the previous year.

The Rattlers took control in the third quarter as Davila found Purify for touchdowns three times to increase the lead from 14 at halftime to as large as 28, to the point where the fourth quarter was essentially meaningless.

When the smoke cleared, Davila had thrown an ArenaBowl record nine touchdown passes en route to being named game MVP, and the Rattlers had come away with their first championship since 1997.

ArenaBowl XXIX Preview: Rattlers vs Soul

It all comes down to this. The Arizona Rattlers and Philadelphia Soul will square off in ArenaBowl XXIX tomorrow night at the Gila River Arena in Glendale, AZ. The winner of the game will be crowned the 2016 Arena Football League champion.

Both teams have shown all season long that they are two of the best teams in the league. They have shown that they belong in ArenaBowl XXIX. They have shown they are dominant.

The meeting in ArenaBowl XXIX will be the third meeting between the Rattlers and Soul in 2016. The Soul beat the Rattlers in their first meeting back on May 21. The Rattlers got their revenge against the Soul when the two teams met back in Week 12.

This is also the third meeting between these two teams in the ArenaBowl. The Rattlers bested the Soul in ArenaBowl XXV in 2012 and ArenaBowl XXVI in 2013. The Soul will be looking for revenge when they face off Friday.

Both teams have stellar offenses and stellar defenses. Rattlers quarterback Nick Davila and Soul quarterback Dan Raudabaugh were first and second in the MVP voting with (Raudabaugh/Davila) besting (Davila/Raudabaugh) to win the award. Both quarterbacks also have great receivers to throw to.

Soul wide receiver Darius Reynolds proved to be the hero in the American Conference Championship game against the Jacksonville Sharks, catching the game winning touchdown with just four seconds left. Alongside him is Shaun Kauleinamoku, who has been one of Raudabaugh’s favorite targets.

Davila has the Rattlers all-time leading receiver in Rod Windsor. Windsor and Davila have become one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in the league. Also helping out on offense is Maurice Purify.

On defense, the Soul are first and second in interceptions and also first in sacks. Arizona’s defense has picked apart their opponents all season, leading the league in turnover margin.

When these two teams get together for the final game of the 2016 Arena Football League season, anything can happen. Both teams have an advantage over the other, and both teams are also very equal in many ways. This could wind up being one of the greatest games played in league history.

2016 Arena Football League Playoffs Preview: Rattlers vs Steel

In the first round of the 2016 AFL Playoffs, the Arizona Rattlers will host the Portland Steel in the matchup of the number-1 and number-4 seeds, respectively, in the National Conference. The teams will face off on Saturday, Aug. 6, at 10 p.m. ET at Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona.

Arizona (13-3) enters the playoffs with several things tilted in their favor. The Rattlers tied with the Orlando Predators for the best record in the AFL. They are the only team in the league that is undefeated at home this season. Arizona is the only team to be undefeated in games within their own conference.

They also scored the most points in the league (1,068; 66.8 per game) while giving up the second-fewest (766; 47.9 per game). Arizona quarterback Nick Davila led the league in completion percentage (69.6%) and touchdown passes (110), was second in QB rating (125.2), and third in passing yards (4,198). Wide receiver Rod Windsor was second in the league in receptions (145), receiving yards (1,667), and receiving touchdowns (48).

Maurice Purify was also top-seven in touchdown catches, finishing with 30. Receiver and special teams contributor Anthony Amos returned four kickoffs for a touchdown, second-most in the league. Defensively, 11 players in the league had at least four sacks. Four of those players are Rattlers.

Portland’s situation is significantly more dire. The Steel (3-13) used wins in two of their final three games to finish 3-13, one game ahead of the Tampa Bay Storm for the worst record in the league. They scored the second-fewest points in the league (670; 41.9 per game) while giving up the second-most (926; 57.9 per game), and were one of two teams to go the entire season without winning a game on the road.

Quarterback Shane Austin and wide receiver Tom Gilson became offensive standouts, though Austin had the worst TD-to-interception ratio in the league and Wilson had just 14 touchdowns despite having the fourth-most receptions in the league.

In the three games between the two teams this season, Arizona won all three by scores of 80-26 on April 1, 68-21 on April 30, and 76-49 on June 11. This playoff pairing doesn’t seem to predict anything different.

The winner of this first round game will play the winner of the other National Conference first round game between the Cleveland Gladiators and Los Angeles KISS next weekend in the National Conference Championship game.