Established in 2004, the Philadelphia Soul is one of the most dominant teams in the AFL. Since the Arizona Rattlers snaked their way to the IFL, the Soul are the team with the most ArenaBowl titles in franchise history with five titles.
Will the Philadelphia Soul become three-time champions?
The Soul finished with a 13-3 record which was the best record in the AFL last season. The Philadelphia Soul’s impressive record gave them homefield advantage throughout the postseason. Heading into the postseason, the Soul defeated the Baltimore Brigade and then in the Arena Bowl, they defeated the Tampa Bay Storm earning them ArenaBowl number three.
Entering the 2018 season, the Philadelphia Soul has only three teams standing in their way. Two of the three they’ve faced before. They one team they are unfamiliar with is the Albany Empire. During the offseason, the Empire entered the league as an expansion team so Philadelphia has no film to go off of. The Soul will get a crack at them on opening weekend on April 14. As for the Schedule, here is who they will face and when:
Philadelphia Soul 2018 Regular Season Schedule
- April 14 vs Alabama Empire
- April 21 vs. Baltimore Brigade
- April 28 at Washington Valor
- May 4 at Baltimore Brigade
- May 11 Bye Week
- May 19 vs. Albany Empire
- May 25 at Baltimore Brigade
- June 2 at Washington Valor
- June 10 vs. Washington Valor
- June 16 at Albany Empire
- June 22 at Washington Valor
- June 30 vs. Baltimore Brigade
- July 7 at Alabama Empire
Philadelphia Soul vs. Baltimore Brigade Series History
As mentioned before, the Albany Empire are a new team during the 2018 season, so the soul has nothing to go off of. But, for the Baltimore Brigade and Washington Valor, the Soul played these teams last season. In the 2017 regular season, the Soul and the Brigade faced off four times. In three of the four games played, the Philadelphia Soul would defeat the Baltimore Brigade. Then in the semi-final round of the playoffs, the Soul, facing home-field advantage defeated the Brigade advancing to the ArenaBowl.
Facing the Washington Valor, it was a cake walk for the Philadelphia Soul. In three games between these two teams, the Philadelphia Soul defeated the Washington Valor in all three games.
Philadelphia Soul Vs. Washington Valor Series History
With the return of quarterback Dan Raudabaugh and head coach Client Doziel, all three teams should be scared of the Soul. Being a former quarterback himself, Doziel and Raudabaugh are the AFL’s version of Brady-Bellicheck. Looking at the Soul’s schedule, I see them going 9-3. As who they will face, we will have to wait and find out.
Remember that the 2018 AFL kicksoff this weekend. For all things Arena Football make sure you go to www.lastwordonsports.com and you can follow us on Twitter @LWOS_IndoorFB.
