The
Kansas City Command (0-2) host the Arizona Rattlers (1-1) Thursday
night at Sprint Center in Week 4 of the Arena Football League season.
Kickoff is set for 7:30pm. The Command have twice held leads at halftime
that slipped away due to offensive struggles in the second half,
particularly in the third quarter. The Rattlers are coming off a Week 3
bye after opening with a 71-70 loss at San Jose in Week 1 and a 71-65
home win over Milwaukee.
Last
week, Kansas City was up 26-23 at the half on the road against
Cleveland. But for the second straight game, the Command offense failed
to register a first down in the third quarter. The three Command drives
in the period ended with two failed fourth downs and an interception,
giving the Gladiators offense prime field position. Cleveland took
advantage to the tune of 20 straight points in the third quarter.
Arizona
has played two very close games. The Rattlers fell to San Jose in the
opener by one point in overtime as a two-point conversion that would
have won the game for Arizona failed. In Week 2, Milwaukee took a
two-point lead against Arizona with 27 seconds to play but the Rattlers
answered with a few seconds left to even their record at 1-1.
The
Command hosted Arizona last year as well with the Rattlers claiming a
63-49 victory on April 16. The Kansas City Brigade won the first meeting
between the two teams in 2007 by a single point, 62-61. Arizona avenged
that loss in 2008 by winning in Kansas City 73-34. The team’s will meet
for the first time in Arizona later this year in the season finale for
both squads on July 23.
Kansas
City will drop to 0-3 with a loss to the Arizona Rattlers. The last
time that happened? Kansas City went 0-3 to begin 2011, closing out the
year at 6-12. The Command also began the 2006 season at 0-3, but
finished 3-13. In the franchise’s only winning season (2007), Kansas
City went 1-2 in its first three games. If history repeats itself, it is
crucial for the Command to get its first win of 2012 tonight.
The game will air live on KSMO-TV 62 and Sports Radio 810 WHB.
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