The 2019 Indoor Football League regular season will come to a close on Saturday as all 10 teams are in action creating a melee of potential ways the standings could shake out. Editor Connor Ferguson breaks down all of it in the 2019 IFL Playoff Primer.
As a reminder, the IFL will feature six teams in the playoffs this season with the first and second seeds earning a bye into the semi-final round.
Here is how the standings look going into the final week of action:
IFL Playoff Primer: The teams at the top
Arizona Rattlers
The Rattlers have clinched a top-two seed and are a win against last-place San Diego away from earning home-field advantage playoffs.
Arizona has announced their semi-final playoff game will be played at Gila River Arena on Saturday June, 29 at 8:00 p.m. CDT.
If the Rattlers were to win that game and advance with home field advantage to host the 2019 United Bowl, it would be played in Arizona Saturday, July 13 at 8:00 p.m. CDT.
Iowa Barnstormers
The Barnstormers are currently slated in the No. 2 spot, and barring a miracle upset will watch Arizona go to the playoffs with home field advantage despite Iowa owning one-loss record.
The team can’t look back, though, the schedule in front of them is the only thing that matters.
Thanks to their win against Sioux Falls, the Barnstormers could lose on Saturday and retain the No. 2 seed. Iowa will still be playing to win on Saturday with the possibility of an Arizona loss meaning they would get the top seed if they tie with the Rattlers in the standings (Strength of Schedule).
Iowa confirmed its date for their semi-final playoff game and will be playing the winner of the No. 3 and No. 6 seed game on Saturday, June 29 at 7:05 p.m. at Wells Fargo Arena.
Sioux Falls Storm
The Storm’s loss to the Barnstormers on Saturday means there is no way that Sioux Falls can sneak up and steal that No. 2 seed from Iowa.
With Green Bay a full two games behind the Storm, no matter what happens this weekend, Sioux Falls will stay put as the No. 3 seed for the playoffs.
They’ll play their home playoff game against the No. 6 seed on Sunday June 23 at 3:00 p.m. CT.
Green Bay Blizzard
The Green Bay Blizzard are wrapping up one of their most successful seasons that fans have seen in some time up in title town.
The team has locked up the No. 4 seed and will face the No. 5 seed on Friday, June 21 at 7:00 p.m. CT.
Fighting for a spot
Three teams are fighting for the final two playoff spots this week that all boast a 6-7 record: Quad City, Nebraska, and Tucson are all in action on Saturday night with “Win and you’re in” situations.
Below, we break down the four situations that could shape the playoff bracket as these teams put their seasons on the line.
| Situation 1 | |||||
| Results | QC | TUC | NEB | ||
| Quad City def. Tucson | W | L | L | ||
| Iowa def. Nebraska | 7-7 | 6-8 | 6-8 | ||
| 5 seed | out | 6 seed | |||
| Situation 2 | |||||
| Results | QC | TUC | NEB | ||
| Tucson def. Quad City | L | W | L | ||
| Iowa def. Nebraska | 6-8 | 7-7 | 6-8 | ||
| 6 seed | 5 seed | out | |||
| Situation 3 | |||||
| Results | QC | TUC | NEB | ||
| Quad City def. Tucson | W | L | L | ||
| Nebraska def. Iowa | 7-7 | 6-8 | 6-8 | ||
| 5 seed | out | 6 seed | |||
| Situation 4 | |||||
| Results | QC | TUC | NEB | ||
| Tucson def. Quad City | L | W | W | ||
| Nebraska def. Iowa | 6-8 | 7-7 | 7-7 | ||
| out | 6 seed | 5 seed | |||
Quad City Steamwheelers
Quad City might have the most sure situation to make the playoffs. If they don’t beat Tucson and get in, they’ll hope to see Nebraska lose to a 12-1 Iowa Barnstormers team that looks red hot coming off of a victory against Sioux Falls.
Tucson Sugar Skulls
The situation is pretty simple for Tucson this weekend.
Beat Quad City and you’re in. Lose and the season is over for coach Marcus Coleman and the gang.
Nebraska Danger
The Danger are faced with a tough task of going to Wells Fargo Arena and upsetting the 12-1 Iowa Barnstormers to guarantee their spot in the 2019 IFL Playoffs.
The good news for Nebraska is that they hold the tiebreaker with Tucson, so as long as the Sugar Skulls lose, the Danger will be in the show.
Full Week 17 Schedule
Saturday, June 15
7:00pm: San Diego (1-12) @ Arizona (13-0)
7:05pm: Cedar Rapids (1-12) @ Green Bay (8-5)
7:05pm: Bismarck (2-11) @ Sioux Falls (10-3)
7:05pm: Nebraska (6-7) @ Iowa (12-1)
8:00pm: Quad City (6-7) @ Tucson (6-7)
