Los Angeles Avengers Football Team

Ed Hodgkiss has coached the Avengers since October 2001, and his 52-42 regular season record ranks among the best among Arena Football League coaches in their first six seasons in the league. But Hodgkiss understands he will always be judged by his team's success in the postseason, and he considers the 2008 Avengers capable of winning the franchise's first Arena Bowl championship.

at Georgia Force, 4 PDT Site -- Gwinnett Center. Radio -- 570. Records -- Avengers 2-0, Force 0-2. Update -- Avengers quarterback Sonny Cumbie has 14 touchdown passes and has had three passes intercepted. The Avengers are giving up only 37.5 points a game, best in the league. Force quarterback Chris Greisen has 10 touchdown passes and has had three passes intercepted. -- Chris Foster

It's not as if the Avengers didn't know what Chris Jackson could do to an opponent. Jackson played for the Avengers for five seasons and caught 157 touchdown passes. What really killed the Avengers on Thursday was their own mistakes, and maybe the fatigue of playing three games in 11 days. Jackson caught six touchdown passes for Philadelphia on Thursday, the Avengers' offense gave up 16 second-half points, and the Soul scored a 71-34 Arena Football League victory.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Chris Martin returned three kickoffs for touchdowns and the Grand Rapids Rampage scored a team-record 56 points in the first half in their 84-49 victory over the Avengers on Sunday. James MacPherson was 17 for 30 for 215 yards and five touchdowns, and Martin finished with 249 yards on kickoff returns for the Rampage (2-2). Martin returned the opening kickoff 55 yards for a touchdown.

vs. Utah, 7:30, FSN Prime Site -- Staples Center. Radio -- 570. Records -- Avengers 2-4, Blaze 0-6. Record vs. Blaze (2007) -- 1-1. Update -- After starting the season with two victories, the Avengers have lost four games in a row, including a 67-54 defeat at Colorado last week. For the season, the Avengers have been outscored, 280-181. In 2007, the Avengers ended the regular season with a 47-37 loss to Utah and then defeated the Blaze in the playoffs, 64-42. -- Lonnie White

vs. Cleveland, 7:30 Site -- Staples Center. Radio -- 570, 1330. Records -- Avengers 3-4, Gladiators 3-3. Record vs. Gladiators (2007) -- 1-0. Update -- After scoring a 79-62 victory over Utah last week, the Avengers will be shooting for their second win in a row against the Gladiators, who are playing their first season in Cleveland after moving from Las Vegas. Tim Hicks started at quarterback the last two weeks for the Avengers, but Sonny Cumbie also could play.

The Avengers have not had many bounces go their way this season, but veteran wide receiver Kevin Ingram recovered two key turnovers on kickoffs Saturday night to help L.A. defeat the Arizona Rattlers, 66-59, at Staples Center. In ending a two-game losing streak, the Avengers' defense stepped up in the second half and quarterback Tim Hicks made several big plays, including a winning touchdown pass to Timon Marshall.

Six of the eight teams in the Western Conference will qualify for the Arena Football League playoffs this season. For the Avengers, that may turn out to be a good thing. A 52-48 loss to the New York Dragons on Saturday dropped the Avengers to 4-7 with five regular-season games to play.