Making Sense of the Arena Football League Playoff Format

Photo credit: arenafootball.com

​By Christopher Mabry 

We are two weeks until the start of the 2018 AFL Playoffs. As it stands right now, here are the current standings heading into Week 12: 

Current AFL Standings

1. Baltimore Brigade: 7-3
2. Albany Empire: 7-4
3. Philadelphia Soul: 6-4
4. Washington Valor: 1-10

Games this week 
Albany At Washington 
Baltimore at Philadelphia
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Now that you know how the teams are positioned, here is how the playoff format works: 

• At the end of the season, all four teams will automatically make the playoffs. They will be ranked one through four. 
• Those four rankings will determine what team they will face for the playoffs. For example, if the playoffs started right now the Washington Valor will face the Baltimore Brigade and the Philadelphia Soul will take on the Albany Empire. 
• Since there are four teams in the AFL, each team will face their appoint twice. (once at home and once on the road). The higher ranked team (Baltimore and Albany) get to decide which game they want to play at home. 
• In order for a team to advance to the Arena Bowl, they must either win both playoff games or have the most points overall after two games. 

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