SFL Postseason Preview: Wild Card Weekend

by Cameron Irvine

The playoff bracket is ready for action and we've got an exciting Wild Card round on tap starting Saturday October 25 at 6:30 pm ET. Three of the four matchups did not play out in Season 23 and two of them are postseason rematches.

No. 9 Albuquerque (7-5) @ No. 8 Carolina (7-5) - SATURDAY October 26, 6:30 pm ET

The Albuquerque Atoms continued their winning ways from the minor league into the pros, making the playoffs in their first season. It'll be their first meeting ever with the Carolina Skyhawks, who are 1-5 in the playoffs all-time and are in the postseason for the first time in the 4k23 era. 

The Atoms had their five-game win streak snapped by Los Angeles this past weekend and has two wins against postseason foes (Fort Worth, Charleston). The Skyhawks resume is even more impressive, a big reason they are hosting this matchup. Carolina topped Baltimore, Charleston and Florida this season and tied a franchise-best regular season record.

No. 10 Charleston (7-5) @ No. 7 Fort Worth (7-5) - Saturday October 26, 9:00 pm ET

Both teams are coming off blowout losses from Week 15 and hoping to bounce back just in time for a postseason run. Charleston is 4-0 after a loss this season and has beaten playoff teams Atlanta and Lexington on the way to their first season above .500 since Season 18. Charleston has won their first playoff game their last three playoff appearances - so has Fort Worth.

The Toros topped Lexington, Carolina and Atlanta to start the season 3-0, but have not beaten a team in the playoff picture since. This game is a rematch of the Season 21 Quarterfinals, where the Charleston Predators got battered and bruised in a 35-6 route at The Stockyards, where this game will be played. The Toros are 3-0 vs. Charleston at home and the Preds haven't beaten the Toros since their first meeting in September of 2020.

No. 12 Atlanta (6-6) @ No. 5 Arizona (9-3) - Sunday October 27, 6:30 pm ET

For the 12th time, the Swarm and Scorpions will meet in the Battle of the Bugs, the second time in the playoffs. Their Quarterfinal matchup in Season 17 went down to the wire with Arizona winning at The Hive 38-31. This is the only Wild Card matchup re-rack from this season - Arizona topped Atlanta 27-17 while the Swarm coaching staff served a rules suspension. Historically, Atlanta is 7-4 against Arizona.

Atlanta makes the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the second time in franchise history, despite a pair of 6-6 finishes. After one season away, Arizona is back in the bracket for the sixth time in eight seasons. Atlanta beat Albuquerque in Week 1 and took out Carolina in Week 10. Arizona hasn't had many problems against the field, with wins over Atlanta, Fort Worth, Albuquerque and Mexico City.

No. 11 Lexington (7-5) @ No. 6 Baltimore (9-3) - Sunday October 27, 9:00 pm ET

The reigning MVP Gabriel Manning has helped his team to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time in franchise history and the 7-5 campaign is the team's fourth in the last six seasons. But the Miners have never beaten Baltimore - 0-3 all-time. They also haven't played the Vultures in forever, their last meeting coming way back in Season 19, over two years ago.

Baltimore has won 16 postseason games, most of any franchise and hasn't made an early exit from the dance since Season 14. The Vultures have quality wins over Albuquerque and Canton but overall has only played one playoff team since Week 4, a 45-28 loss at home to Carolina. Lexington beat Carolina 23-21 in Week 14 but doesn't have any other wins against the field - 1-3 overall.