Off the Net: Return to Week 17

By: Adam Markowitz, July 31,2017 (Photo Credit: Baltimore Brigade)

#3 Seed Down To Last Week – The four playoff teams who will fight it out in the 2017 AFL playoffs are officially set. The matchups, though, will be decided in the season-ending Week 18. The Baltimore Brigade and Cleveland Gladiators each clinched spots in the postseason in the last two weeks, though it will be up to Baltimore to determine who is going where in the playoffs. If the Brigade beat the eliminated Washington Valor in Week 18, they'll earn the No. 3 seed and a game against the Tampa Bay Storm to kick off the playoffs. If not, Cleveland will be the No. 3 seed, and Baltimore will visit the Philadelphia Soul in the semifinals.

It's Always Summer in Cleveland – Derrick Summers missed two games earlier this year, ending what was one of the longest streaks of consecutive games played in the AFL. That said, he ended his regular season on a sack flurry, picking up four sacks against the Valor. Those four sacks were the most by a player this season and was the AFL's first four-sack game since Joe Sykes had four sacks for San Jose against Iowa on April 28, 2012. Summers' four sacks marked the tenth time a player had at least four sacks in a game in AFL history. With each passing sack, Summers bolted up all-time list for career sacks. He started the game in 14th place on the career sack list and finished up tied for eighth. Before Week 17, there hadn't been a man in Gladiators' history rack up three sacks in a game, let alone Summers' four.

Most Career Sacks in AFL History
T-8: Francis Maka: 46.5
T-8: Derrick Summers: 46.5
10: B.J. Cohen: 45.5
11: Earnest Allen: 44
12: Sylvester Bembery: 43
13: Bryan Robinson: 42.5
14: John Moyer: 42.5

Richardson Makes Gladiators History – Jeramie Richardson's career with the Gladiators dates back to 2012 when he was used just as much as a Mack Linebacker as he was as a fullback. He's now rounded into the most accomplished rusher in Glads' history. With his two rushing touchdowns, Richardson not only moved into a tie for career rushing touchdowns (53) with Lonnie Ford for 21st in AFL history, but he also tied a franchise record for career rushing touchdowns with 29, matching the mark held by Marlion Jackson.

Most Rushing Touchdowns in AFL History
T-18: John Kaleo: 59
T-18: Chad Dukes: 59
20: Ryan Vena: 58
T-21: Jeramie Richardson: 53
T-21: Lonnie Ford: 53

Benson Blasts Past McMillen – Mykel Benson had yet another fantastic game on the ground for the Soul in Week 17, rushing for 44 yards and three touchdowns. The 44 yards was the third-most in Benson's career and a personal season-high. In the process, he moved into fourth place in AFL history on the all-time rushing list. Benson will have a slim chance to finish this season in third all-time in career rushing yards if he can post 37 yards in Week 18 against Tampa Bay.

Most Rushing Yards in AFL History
Derrick Ross: 3,245
Bernard Morris: 1,705
Bo Kelly: 1,571
Mykel Benson: 1,534
Bob McMillen: 1,514

AFL Week 17 Odds and Ends

-Ryan McDaniel joined T.T. Toliver, Reggie Gray, Joe Hills, Mike Washington, Brandon Thompkins, Shaun Kauleinamoku, Larry Brackins, Darius Reynolds and Collin Taylor as the only active players in the AFL with 5,000 career receiving yards.

-Tracy Belton intercepted his 51st career pass for the Valor in Week 17, breaking a tie with Durwood Roquemore and moving him into sixth place alone on the league's all-time interceptions list.

-T.T. Toliver became the first man in AFL history to log over 22,000 all-purpose yards (22,010).

-The Soul have now forced a turnover in 27 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the AFL.

-Dwayne Hollis had his third career two-interception game in Week 17.

AFL Week 17 Accolades

Top Passing Performances
Sean Brackett (Washington) – 22/33, 222 Yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
Arvell Nelson (Cleveland) – 16/26, 207 Yards, 6 TDs, 1 INT
Dan Raudabaugh (Philadelphia) – 10/14, 137 Yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT
Shane Boyd (Baltimore) – 13/21, 125 Yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
Shane Carden (Baltimore) – 6/18, 65 Yards, 1 TD

Top Receiving Performances
T.T. Toliver (Washington) – 5 Receptions, 72 Yards, 1 TD
Brandon Thompkins (Baltimore) – 7 Receptions, 67 Yards, 1 TD
Collin Taylor (Cleveland) – 5 Receptions, 66 Yards, 3 TDs
Ryan McDaniel (Philadelphia) – 5 Receptions, 66 Yards, 3 TDs
Darius Reynolds (Philadelphia) – 3 Receptions, 66 Yards, 1 TD

Top Rushing Performances
Mykel Benson (Philadelphia) – 12 Carries, 44 Yards, 3 TDs
Sean Brackett (Washington) – 2 Carries, 17 Yards
Jeramie Richardson (Cleveland) – 9 Carries, 16 Yards, 2 TDs
Rory Nixon (Baltimore) – 3 Carries, 10 Yards
Will Corbin (Washington) – 2 Carries, 8 Yards

Top Defensive Performances
Dwayne Hollis (Philadelphia) – 7.5 Tackles, 2 INTs, 1 TD
Darryl Cato-Bishop (Cleveland) – 1 Tackle, 1 Sack, 1 Forced Fumble, 2 Fumble Recoveries, 1 TD
Derrick Summers (Cleveland) – 5 Tackles, 4 Sacks
Marrio Norman (Cleveland) – 6.5 Tackles, 1 INT, 1 Fumble Recovery
Sean Daniels (Philadelphia) – 2.5 Tackles, 1 Sack, 1 Fumble Recovery