2016 Week 8 Preview: Sharks vs Steel

(photo credit: crowdalbum.com)

On Saturday, May 21, the Portland Steel (0-6) travel across the country to take on the Jacksonville Sharks (2-4) in the first meeting between the two teams this season.

Entering this week’s action, the Portland Steel sit at the bottom of the National Conference, still seeking their first victory of the season. While the entire season to this point has been wrought with disappointment, last week’s performance should give them a lot of confidence moving forward. In his first official action with the team, quarterback Shane Austin lit up the box score.

His 36 completions and 56 attempts were season highs across the entire AFL this season, while his 363 yards is the second-highest total, and the six touchdown passes he threw were a season high for the Steel. Wide receiver Tom Gilson set Portland records with 16 catches and 160 yards. Alas, the combined offensive effort was not enough as the Steel fell to the Cleveland Gladiators 55-48 in overtime.

Jacksonville had a bye week last week, so they had to sit home and watch as the Orlando Predators (7-0) and Philadelphia Soul (6-1) both earned victories and further distanced themselves in the American Conference from the third-place Sharks. The last four games Jacksonville have played have all been decided by a touchdown or less. Three of those outcomes were losses, suggesting that their season could look significantly different if one or two plays had gone their way.

Portland seems to have some strong momentum for the first time all season, while Jacksonville keeps finding themselves in close games. Hungry for their first win and energized by the emergence and moxy of their new quarterback, Portland could very easily post their first addition to the win column on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET at Jacksonville’s Veterans Memorial Arena.