Raterink Lead Rush to Victory of Utah to Clinch Playoff Position

Now, wait a minute.  Wasn't J.J. Raterink the Quarterback for the Command?  Did the team just bench him in favor of Wasil?  Yes.  But, Chicago had traded DeFoe to the Command for a future consideration, and when Michna suffered his season ending ankle injury two weeks ago, the Rush took advantage of that future consideration and Raterink and he's back in Chicago.  That's right ... back in Chicago.

J.J. Raterink was the backup Quarterback for Michna in 2010.  After Michna suffered a season ending rib injury in 2010, Raterink came in and took over for the  last three games of the season and their first round playoff loss. Raterink's record those four games?  1-3.

But Raterink came out this week and set some descent stats in his 59-35 victory at home against Utah.  He went 19-33 for 281 yards and four touchdowns.  More impressive, and probably more important, was the fact that Chicago didn't commit any turnovers in the game.  But people have to be worried that this could be a repeat of 2010 where Raterink and the Rush lost in the first round of the 2010 playoffs.

But Chicago has clinched a Playoff position ... again.  They are looking at the Georgia Force (away) in week 18, then the Dallas Vigilantes (away), then they return home for their final game of the regular season against the Milwaukee Mustangs.  Am I going to sit here and try and predict how Chicago is going to do?

Raterink's record is not good with the Kansas City Command.  The question is, was it him or the Command?  His 2010 record doesn't speak well of his success, but McMillen seems to have a lot of confidence in him, so one has to wonder.  The Georgia Force and the Dallas Vigilantes are both strong teams and both still very much in the hunt for a playoff position.  The Milwaukee Mustangs, who ended their pursuit of the Arena Bowl appearance last year, are sitting at4-11 will not be making a playoff appearance this year, and unless the Chicago Rush shoot themselves in the foot, and they have been known to do it, they should win.  But Dallas and Georgia are going to be touch games that could go either way.