Entering Week 7 of the United Football League regular season, there are two teams who seem all but certain to make the four team postseason playoffs. Of course, there are no guarantees, but the DC Defenders, who currently sit on top of the UFL standings at 5-1, and the St. Louis Battlehawks (4-2) and ranked second, are both poised to become two of the four teams that will ultimately make the field. The two are clearly the best teams in the eight member UFL, and it would take a colossal collapse by either of the two to change that narrative.
It’s the two remaining slots that remain the most hotly contested. For the Birmingham Stallions (2-4), what a difference a week made. The Stallions entered Week 6 riding a four game losing streak and were facing the prospect of playing the Orlando Storm on the road. The Storm, who lost for the first time of the season after a 4-0 start to St.Louis in Week 5, fell to Birmingham at home last week 20-17.
STALLIONS FACE FOURTH PLACE DALLAS (3-3) IN CRITICAL WEEK 7 BATTLE
Birmingham is one of four teams locked in a tie for fifth place. The Stallions, Louisville, Columbus, and Houston, all 2-4, are one game off the pace for the coveted fourth playoff spot, trailing Dallas by just one game. The Stallions have an opportunity to pull into a tie with the Renegades with a win on Saturday. Most importantly, a Birmingham win would give them the tiebreaker over the Renegades, as the two will be playing each other only once this season.
PLAYOFF PATH FROM LEAST DIFFICULT TO MOST TREACHEROUS
BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS. As unlikely as it seemed just one week ago, not only did the Stallions seemingly rise up from a self dug grave relative to their far fetched playoff aspirations with their upset of Orlando on the road, they now have the easiest path to the playoffs. They have a golden opportunity this weekend at home versus fourth place Dallas, and do not have to face DC, St. Louis, or Orlando the rest of the way, a luxury not available to the other remaining playoff contenders.
DALLAS RENEGADES. Although the Reneades are one game up on Birmingham, they must face the Stallions on the road and have a home game against second place Orlando before closing their season with consecutive road games at Louisville and St. Louis.
COLUMBUS AVIATORS. The Aviators play at St. Louis this weekend, and exchange home and home games with Birmingham before closing their season at home against Louisville.
LOUISVILLE KINGS. The Kings have consecutive games against the DC Defenders home and away, before hosting Dallas and traveling to Columbus to close out their regular season.
HOUSTON GAMBLERS. The Gamblers have the most difficult path to reach postseason play. They do play host to Orlando at home this weekend, but it is hard to imagine the second place Storm losing for a third consecutive time. To add insult to injury, the Gamblers play consecutive home and home games versus St. Louis before closing their season on the road at Birmingham.