Saturday night the San Jose Sabercats wrapped up their 2012 regular season with a come-from-behind 57-48 victory over the Iowa Barnstormers. The win wrapped up a 12-6 regular season for San Jose, complete with a 3-game win streak to round out the schedule.
Now the 'Cats must wait for the rest of the league to finish the regular season to learn their playoff fate.
San Jose is the only team in the AFL to have played all 18 games. The rest of the league will play their 18th games next weekend.
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Since the AFL doesn't reward teams with post-season bye weeks the Sabercats can consider themselves fortunate that their second scheduled regular-season bye came in the 20th and final week of the 2012 regular season. They will be the only playoff team with a week to get healthy before the tournament to win the title gets underway.
As for that tournament, the 'Cats could still finish as the 2, 3 or 4-seed in the National Conference. Per the rules listed on the AFL's website San Jose would win a three-way tie with Arizona and Utah to win their division and get the two-seed -- if the both teams lose their season finales. Such a scenario would have the 'Cats playing a home game to open the post-season against 3rd-seeded Utah.
If just one of those two teams lose, San Jose would be the 3-seed and open on the road at the site of the team that wins next weekend.
If both teams win, the 'Cats would be stuck with the 4-seed and open on the road at San Antonio. That game would be played a week from Friday in the Alamodome.
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In case you're wondering; Utah (12-5) visits Philadelphia (14-3) next weekend. The Soul have won seven straight.
Arizona has the easier game of the two. The Rattlers (12-5) host lowly Kansas City (3-14). The Command are just 1-7 on the road this season.