On Monday, December 19, 2017, the National Arena League (NAL) released the 2018 Schedule. The season kicks off in April and goes until August unlike last year’s February to July schedule. Here is the 2018 NAL Season Preview with a prediction on the playoffs and championship game.
2018 NAL Season Preview
With the 2018 schedule released, we can break down what to expect in each game and what the most interesting games of the season will be.
Since there are only six teams in the league, almost every game will be a great game to watch and should be close.
Monterrey Steel and Jersey Flight couldn’t meet the league’s minimum requirements, so they took the league from eight teams down to six teams.
Week 1:
April 7, 2018
Jacksonville Sharks @ Carolina Cobras – The Jacksonville Sharks will start the season in a tough battle against the Carolina Cobras, who are looking to be a team to beat in the NAL early. Since it is the first week, the Sharks might take the advantage because they have their star players who have been around since last year. Carolina has a few players from a few different teams, so they will most likely work out the kinks in this game.
Maine Mammoths @ Massachusetts Pirates – Both of these two teams will most likely have an ugly game and will be working their issues out. This game will go to the team who has had the better off-season, which will be the Mammoths.
Week 2:
April 14, 2018
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks @ Columbus Lions – The great rematch between these two from last season’s playoff game will be a great one. The Lions barely beat the Steelhawks to advance to the NAL Championship game, but the Steelhawks will desperately need a win to “revive” themselves. The new-ish team that they have will be an issue. The Lions will probably win this game.
Massachusetts Pirates @ Jacksonville Sharks – The Massachusetts Pirates are looking to be a decent team in the NAL as well, but their talent isn’t looking quite as good at Jacksonville’s talent. The Sharks should easily come away with a victory in this game.
Carolina Cobras @ Maine Mammoths – The Cobras loss against the Sharks might hurt them a bit, but that will not put their team down. They will fight back and beat the Mammoths, who just beat the Pirates.
Week 3:
April 21, 2018
Massachusetts Pirates @ Carolina Cobras – The Cobras will most likely come off of a fairly decent game from last week, but they have a mission to beat the Pirates this week. Both teams are learning each other very well, but Carolina already has the advantage with that. Carolina Cobras will win at home.
Jacksonville Sharks @ Columbus Lions – This will be the game of the week, for obvious reasons. Both teams will most likely be 2-0 entering this week. The Columbus Lions should be able to pound through the Sharks, especially if the Sharks don’t make any moves with their receivers. So far, the Sharks only have a couple receivers, but they aren’t going to do all the work and help their team beat the Lions. The Lions should win this game and get revenge from the championship game last year.
Maine Mammoths @ Lehigh Valley Steelhawks – The Steelhawks have what could be their toughest game of the season behind them, so things will quickly turn around and go their way this week, defeating the Maine Mammoths.
Week 4:
April 28, 2018
Carolina Cobras @ Jacksonville Sharks – Another close game and a Week One rematch! It all really depends on if the Cobras will fix any mistakes that they might have in the beginning of the season. Two teams facing each other twice in four weeks isn’t really a great thing for the team that loses because there is not really much time to prepare for the next game. The Sharks will use their sold out arena to their advantage and force Carolina to use some unwanted timeouts because of the crowd.
Massachusetts Pirates @ Lehigh Valley Steelhawks – The Pirates could show off what they have against the Steelhawks, but maybe later in the season and not in Lehigh Valley this early into the season. Steelhawks should win this one.
Week 5:
May 5, 2018
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks @ Carolina Cobras – This game will be a very interesting game. It is the game where the two best head coaches of the league face off. Also, what could be the two best quarterbacks in the league go face to face. This game will be all offense, so you can automatically shut the two defenses out of the equation. With things going their way, the Carolina Cobras will pull this close game off and win at home.
Jacksonville Sharks @ Maine Mammoths – The Jacksonville Sharks travel up north to face the Maine Mammoths for the first time. With the team that the Sharks have and the chemistry they have built from last season, they should beat the Mammoths while the Mammoths are still learning their team.
Columbus Lions @ Massachusetts Pirates – This will be a no-brainer as to who will win this game. The Lions are more experienced, have more talent, and have a defense that you can rely on. The Lions will easily win this game.
Week 6:
May 12
Carolina Cobras @ Columbus Lions – This will be another very interesting game. Both teams should be coming off of a great fifth week, so you can expect to see a lot of touchdowns in this game. If it comes down to the very last drive, Columbus would have the advantage and their defense would have the advantage because they would stop Carolina before Carolina could stop them. Columbus wins this game within one possession.
Maine Mammoths @ Massachusetts Pirates – This game will come down to whoever can move the ball the best. With the passing game that the Pirates have, they should be able to come out and beat the Mammoths.
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks @ Jacksonville Sharks – The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks and Jacksonville Sharks face each other for the first time in over a year. The Steelhawks are likely going to be a different team than last year, but they will still be good. In a long fight, the Sharks should be able to win this since they are in Jacksonville and it is tough to lose in Jacksonville.
Week 7:
May 19, 2018
Massachusetts Pirates @ Carolina Cobras – The Pirates have Wide Receiver London Crawford. After what could be a monster week six for him, he could break out again and score multiple touchdowns against the Cobras in North Carolina. One issue with this. That is the defense of the Cobras. They should’ve learned the arena rules by now instead of practicing the Inside rules. They will somehow find a way to stop the Pirates and their dominant pass game. Pirates win in a fairly decent game.
Maine Mammoths @ Jacksonville Sharks – The Mammoths will likely be the league’s worst team so far this season and it might not get much better from here. They don’t have anyone too special that could beat the Sharks. Jacksonville should be able to easily win this game in a heartbeat.
Columbus Lions @ Lehigh Valley Steelhawks – The Lions will have the best start in the NAL this season, so they should be able to keep that momentum going and beat the Steelhawks in Columbus. It’s always nice to beat a real good opponent at home as well, so that will keep things going for the Lions.
Week 8:
May 26, 2017
Jacksonville Sharks @ Massachusetts Pirates – The Sharks have the ball rolling and will have things on their side. The Pirates haven’t had the off-season to beat the Sharks in their first year. Jacksonville should win this one, but maybe the Pirates home crowd will bring it to the Sharks. The Sharks are likely the favorites in this game.
Week 9:
June 2, 2018
Carolina Cobras @ Lehigh Valley Steelhawks – The Cobras will be at their best at this time of year. With the new team that the Steelhawks have from last year, it could be a totally different ball game. Both teams will know exactly what they need to do to reach the playoffs, but the Cobras are looking like the early favorites in this one.
Massachusetts Pirates @ Maine Mammoths – A rematch in Maine could be a turning point in how these teams play for the rest of the season. The Pirates should gain momentum back after losing to the Sharks in Week 9 and win this week.
Columbus Lions @ Jacksonville Sharks – The Sharks and Lions go at it once again. Both home games last season for the Sharks have had super close games, but the Lions just couldn’t keep up. The Lions take control of everything and pull a big win this time. Third time’s the charm, right?
Week 10:
June 9
Jacksonville Sharks @ Carolina Cobras – The Cobras now have absolutely everything figured out with their team. This game will most likely be the game of the year until the playoffs. By now, both teams will be in “mid-season form” and will perform at their absolute best. The Cobras will win this game in what could be a super close game or a game that potentially ends in overtime.
Maine Mammoths @ Columbus Lions – This game won’t be as good as the Mammoths hope it will be. They are likely to come off of two or three consecutive losses and are looking for who they really are. The Lions will be able to win this game at home with no issue.
Week 11:
June 16, 2018
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks @ Maine Mammoths – The Steelhawks at this time will be in full swing and are looking to clinch the playoffs here soon. Why would they stop here and let teams win? The Steelhawks will be able to win this game and go back to Pennsylvania one game closer to the playoffs.
Columbus Lions @ Massachusetts Pirates – The Pirates are going to have a great game in front of their home crowd. The Pirates are in full swing and are coming off of a couple wins that will boost their momentum and their record for the season. Don’t be surprised if the Pirates win in this showdown.
Week 12:
June 23, 2018
Columbus Lions @ Carolina Cobras – The Cobras and Lions duel it out once again, this time being in the Snake Pit. The Cobras are looking to finish the season strong and are looking for a playoff spot as well. The Cobras will win this game with their dominating defense and passing game.
Maine Mammoths @ Jacksonville Sharks – The Sharks are coming off of their bye week and will be better than they were last game against the Cobras. The Mammoths, on the other hand, are improving a lot, but not at the same rate as the Sharks. Jacksonville will be able to win this one and likely be a potential early playoff contender at this point.
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks @ Massachusetts Pirates – The Steelhawks have will prove that they are worthy of making the playoffs and give a real good fight against the Pirates in Massachusetts, especially since they are going to have to fight for it. Their record isn’t the best this year and it is looking dangerous. The Steelhawks will run the ball easily and the ball will be passed for a ton of yards for Lehigh Valley. The Steelhawks should win this one and give them breathing room.
Week 13:
June 30, 2018
Carolina Cobras @ Maine Mammoths – The Cobras should be looking like the team to beat in this week, coming off an impressive win over the Columbus Lions in Week 12. The Mammoths, however, are still struggling and searching for answers. The Cobras should win this game.
Massachusetts Pirates @ Columbus Lions – The Pirates and Lions will duke it out and fight ’til their last breath. The Lions have been struggling in the last two games and won’t pick it up for a little bit. The Pirates should take advantage of the Lions struggles and come out with a win.
Jacksonville Sharks @ Lehigh Valley Steelhawks – The Steelhawks have full power over everything that is happening in their games now and will be able to use the 2017 NAL MVP to their full potential. The Steelhawks should win this game.
Week 14:
July 7, 2018
Jacksonville Sharks @ Columbus Lions – The Sharks are coming off of a tough loss against the Steelhawks, but that is all in the past and is looking to do better in Columbus. In The Jungle, the Sharks will show the people in Columbus who is the real deal against the two and should win this game.
Massachusetts Pirates @ Lehigh Valley Steelhawks – The Pirates have a tough task this week as they travel to Lehigh Valley and battle it out with the Steelhawks. The Steelhawks will have a defense that will be able to shut down the Pirates offense and will move the ball offensively, giving Lehigh Valley the win.
Week 15:
July 14, 2018
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks @ Carolina Cobras – This could be the game where the Steelhawks clinch the playoffs if they win. The Steelhawks will have this mentality and will fight to the best of their ability to get this win.
Columbus Lions @ Maine Mammoths – The Lions are just inches away from getting a playoff spot, but aren’t quite there yet. The Mammoths haven’t had the off-season to really show that they can beat a top team like Columbus. Columbus will win this game and become one game closer to the playoffs.
Week 16:
July 21, 2018
Carolina Cobras @ Massachusetts Pirates – The Cobras are getting closer to the playoffs, but they know they can’t take their foot off the gas just yet. They can’t start benching players unless it is a blowout game, which will not be the case this week. But the Cobras should be able to win this game and potentially clinch the playoffs this week.
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks @ Maine Mammoths – The Steelhawks are likely to show some petty for the Mammoths and take it easy. The Mammoths should win this game as the Steelhawks bench most of their starters, preparing for the playoffs if they know they will make it. The Mammoths will pull an upset and get a victory.
Columbus Lions @ Jacksonville Sharks – The Lions and Sharks face each other two times in a row, for the Sharks at least. This time, it’s in Jacksonville. Both teams have each other figured out and are tired of facing each other. The Sharks will win this game and will show Columbus once and for all who the king of the two teams are.
Week 17:
July 28, 2018
Carolina Cobras @ Lehigh Valley Steelhawks – This game will have a lot of garbage time, as both teams are already looking at the playoffs. This could be a preview of the first week of the playoffs, so neither team is going to show their cards in this game. Also, the Steelhawks might be in a situation where they need to win a lot of games at the end of their season to get to the playoffs. Home team wins this game, which is Lehigh Valley.
Maine Mammoths @ Columbus Lions – The Lions are on the home stretch and likely taking it easy for the playoffs, but want to have a little more fight. The Lions should have an easy win against the Mammoths and then take it easy next week.
Massachusetts Pirates @ Jacksonville Sharks – The Pirates face the Sharks for the last time of the regular season. Depending on how the season went for them, they could be tired of playing and ready for the season to end or they could have more fight in them and show the Sharks that they aren’t a soft team. The Sharks are most likely favored to win this game.
Week 18:
August 4, 2018
Columbus Lions @ Carolina Cobras – The Cobras will look more dangerous than before, stealing a playoff spot by possibly moving up a spot with a win. This game is in Carolina. The offense of the Cobras will know exactly what to do to win this game.
Jacksonville Sharks @ Maine Mammoths – The Sharks are resting their players and taking it easy for the playoffs. We all know what happened last year when Jacksonville took a rest for the playoffs against Monterrey. The Sharks lost in Jacksonville. If that can happen in Jacksonville, then it can definitely happen in Maine.
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks @ Massachusetts Pirates – It is the last week of the NAL season, so the Steelhawks are going to rest their starters and will rely on the backups to do the job, but the Pirates are not giving up yet. They might be out of the playoffs this last in the season, but they want to finish the season with a big game. The Pirates will win this game in Massachusetts.
2018 NAL Season Standings Predictions:
- Jacksonville Sharks (11-5)
- Carolina Cobras (10-5)
- Columbus Lions (9-6)
- Lehigh Valley Steelhawks (7-8)
- Massachusetts Pirates (5-11)
- Maine Mammoths (2-13)
The Sharks are going to have a decent start to the season, starting 3-1 and will continue their success, but the Cobras will be a big threat and be in a close game with the Sharks.
Carolina is going to start off strong, but lose some close games due to the team learning how to use their players the best they absolutely can. They will be able to beat the Sharks one out of the three meetings.
The Lions are a great team, but they will have troubles against some other teams. Thankfully for them, they are facing the Pirates and Mammoths a lot, which could really benefit them.
The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks are a different team than last year, having a new head coach, new defensive players, and replacing a few of their players on offense. They will struggle to get going and will have a few losses that will hurt them and their playoff chances.
It’s not that the Massachusetts Pirates and Maine Mammoths are bad teams, it’s just that they are facing all these great teams with great players and it will hurt them. Both of their off-seasons have not been too impressive. The Pirates biggest move is signing Crawford, but some teams will eventually learn how to shut him down. Look out for these two teams in the 2019 season when they know each other, sign better players, and maybe have more strategy to their games.
2018 NAL Playoffs Prediction
Columbus Lions @ Jacksonville Sharks – The Lions have lost five of their last six games and the Sharks are still looking strong leading up to the playoffs. The Sharks will advance to the National Arena Bowl.
Lehigh Valley Steelhawks @ Carolina Cobras – The Steelhawks don’t know what they are getting themselves into when it comes to Carolina’s Head Coach Billy Back and the Cobras team. The ball will be moving more than ever this season and the Cobras will be the one to take advantage of a simple mistake made by the Steelhawks. The Cobras will be going to the National Arena Bowl in Jacksonville, FL.
National Arena Bowl: Carolina Cobras @ Jacksonville Sharks – The Sharks are most likely to play the bowl game in Jacksonville unless the league moves it somewhere else for some reason. The championship game last year almost reached full attendance and that was on a Monday night. Imagine what that place could do on a Saturday night. The Cobras have the better coach for the game and better receivers. However, the Sharks have the fullback, offensive line, and a better defense than the Cobras. The Sharks could repeat as NAL champions and seal the deal.
We would like to hear your thoughts on the new schedule and who is the team that will win it all.
