The 2013 Arena Football League season was the 26th season in the history of the league. The regular season began on March 23, 2013, with a five-game slate, the first of which to kick off being between the Utah Blaze and the Pittsburgh Power, and ended on July 27, 2013, with the Utah Blaze and Cleveland Gladiators as the last game to kick off. The Arizona Rattlers defeated the Philadelphia Soul by a 48–39 score in ArenaBowl XXVI to conclude the league's playoffs.
League business
Teams The league dropped to 14 teams during the offseason. The Kansas City Command ceased operations on August 23, 2012, as well as the Georgia Force on October 14, 2012. The Milwaukee Mustangs suspended operations for 2013, eyeing a return to play in the 2014 season.
Television It was announced on November 13, 2012, that the league had reached an agreement with CBS Sports Network to air 19 regular-season games, as well as two playoff games. The network was scheduled to air the league's "game of the week" each Saturday. The main CBS network was to televise ArenaBowl XXVI on August 17, 2013.
Regular season standings American Conference East DivisionTeam(2) Philadelphia Soul12610528392–26–35–47–2Cleveland Gladiators41484710472–23–73–61–8Pittsburgh Power41472610142–24–81–83–6 South DivisionTeam(1) Jacksonville Sharks1269418836–011–06–36–3(3) Orlando Predators71196510322–45–74–53–6(4) Tampa Bay Storm7119599802–44–62–75–4New Orleans VooDoo51383310692–44–63–62–7 National Conference Central DivisionTeam(2) Chicago Rush1089739472–25–53–57–3San Antonio Talons1087828842–23–84–56–3Iowa Barnstormers6128279132–23–72–74–5 West DivisionTeam(1) Arizona Rattlers15312038664–29–38–17–2(3) Spokane Shock14411988964–28–27–27–2(4) San Jose SaberCats13510338773–36–48–25–3Utah Blaze7118969881–53–84–53–6 Eight teams qualify for the playoffs: four teams from each conference, of which two are division champions and the other two have the best records of the teams remaining.
Key: • •
Tie-breakers Cleveland finished in second place in the East Division based on their greater point differential in head-to-head competition with Pittsburgh. Jacksonville clinched the American Conference's No. 1 seed based on their win over Philadelphia. Orlando clinched the American Conference's No. 3 seed based on a greater conference record than Tampa Bay. Chicago clinched the Central Division based on their greater point differential in games against common opponents with San Antonio.
Playoffs
Note: Due to "arena conflicts," the Chicago Rush did not host the playoff game.
Conference semifinals Conference Date Kickoff Away Home Final score Game site Recap National August 1 10:00 p.m. EDT Chicago Rush Spokane Shock Spokane, 67–49 Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena American August 3 7:00 p.m. EDT Tampa Bay Storm Jacksonville Sharks Jacksonville, 69–62 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena American August 3 7:05 p.m. EDT Orlando Predators Philadelphia Soul Philadelphia, 59–55 Wells Fargo Center National August 4 8:00 p.m. EDT San Jose SaberCats Arizona Rattlers Arizona, 59–49 US Airways Center
Conference championships Conference Date Kickoff Away Home Final score Game site Recap American August 10 7:00 p.m. EDT Philadelphia Soul Jacksonville Sharks Philadelphia, 75–59 Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena National August 10 9:00 p.m. EDT Spokane Shock Arizona Rattlers Arizona, 65–57 US Airways Center
ArenaBowl XXVI
Date Kickoff Away Home Final score Game site Recap August 17 1:00 p.m. EDT Philadelphia Soul Arizona Rattlers Arizona, 48–39 Amway Center
All-Arena team
OffensePositionFirst teamSecond teamQuarterbackErik Meyer, SpokaneNick Davila, ArizonaFullbackDerrick Ross, PhiladelphiaOdie Armstrong, ArizonaWide receiverAdron Tennell, SpokaneJoe Hills, Tampa BayAnthony Jones, PhiladelphiaRod Windsor, ArizonaReggie Gray, ChicagoJeron Harvey, JacksonvilleCenterBrennen Carvalho, PhiladelphiaBilly Eisenhardt, ArizonaOffensive linemanChristian Johnson, PhiladelphiaRich Ranglin, ArizonaMichael Huey, ArizonaGeorge Bussey, San Jose DefensePositionFirst teamSecond teamDefensive endJoe Sykes, San AntonioBryan Robinson, PhiladelphiaMike Lewis, IowaJerry Turner, JacksonvilleNose guardTim McGill, San AntonioJason Stewart, San JoseMiddle linebackerFrancis Maka, San JoseAaron Robbins, JacksonvilleJack linebackerJamar Ransom, San AntonioHuey Whittaker, San JoseDefensive backClevan Thomas, San JoseVirgil Gray, ArizonaTerrance Smith, JacksonvilleRayshaun Kizer, PhiladelphiaArkeith Brown, ArizonaFred Shaw, San Antonio Special teamsPositionFirst teamSecond teamKickerGarrett Lindholm, ArizonaCarlos Martinez, PhiladelphiaKick returnerTerrance Sanders, SpokaneDominic Jones, Orlando
References