2016 Week 2 Preview: Soul vs Sharks

(photo credit: philadelphia.cbslocal.com)

When the 0-1 Jacksonville Sharks touched down in Philadelphia on Sunday afternoon, one of the first things on their mind was a repeat of history. The last time they made this trip, they came away from the Wells Fargo Center victorious for the first time in the playoffs, and for only the third time in seven visits overall. This time, they need a win just to get back to .500, and bring the Soul with them along the way.

A slice of history will already be made when toe meets leather Monday night, as this will be the earliest point in a season that these two teams have played each other (Week 2, the previous earliest meeting was Week 3 last year), and this is only the second time these two have faced each other prior to Week 6. While there isn't much to say about this year, one safe thing is the results. Both teams went in opposite directions on the road, with Jacksonville upset by the LA KISS 64-39, while Philadelphia won in Cleveland 69-41.

If Jacksonville wants to avoid their second straight 0-2 start, they need to know how to fight the quicksand. The Sharks have a tendency to fold when things start going against them. A bad pass here, a bar ball there, and the team gets completely deflated. It happened in ArenaBowl XXVIII, where a 33-27 lead against the greatest team in league history turned into a 28-0 third quarter against them, and it happened in Los Angeles, where a mere eight-point deficit turned into an implosion thanks to two errors on kickoffs and a four-and-out drive in between.

On offense, Tommy Grady is already in good form after completing 22 of 33 passes for 279 yards, four touchdowns, and a lone interception. Joe Hills has clearly stepped into the #1 receiver role after his nine-catch, 151-yard night. However, the Soul defense earned one of the most dangerous tags in football: opportunistic. Philadelphia had not one, not two, but a record three pick-sixes in Cleveland, and they will look to put on a show for the home fans under the bright lights of CBS Sports Network and the home crowd. With guys like Tracy Belton going against his former team, a front four that has already created four sacks, and familiar foes like Joe Goosby, the key will be to give Grady enough time in the pocket to make the right throw and to maintain their composure when they have the ball.

On defense, the Sharks need to contain last year's Offensive Player of the Year. Dan Raudabaugh, after missing out on the league MVP award, is picking up right where he left off, needing only 21 completions to throw seven touchdown passes to open his 2016 account. What was supposed to be a monstrous defensive line let Nathan Stanley show the world why he can be a capable starting quarterback, and Chris Smith was the lone guy in the secondary to register more than seven tackles. Sacksonville will need to be in full effect, or at least giving Raudabaugh a long night, if Jacksonville wants to avoid another track meet. Otherwise, history could repeat itself yet again...in a bad way.

Massey has the Soul, who lead the overall series 6-5 (4-3 at home) as 7.5-point favorites. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m., and the game will be televised nationally on the CBS Sports Network.