Did you check out the The Official ‘Off The Wall’ NFL Team Comparison to Current IFL Teams Based on their 2023 Performance & Where They Stand Heading into 2024: Eastern Conference edition? If not, click through and check that out and then come back to this post (and double my clicks, baby!)
Most of the teams in the IFL are located west of the Mississippi River, with only 2 teams located in the Eastern time zone. The Western Conference typically will have the better ‘rivalries’ simply due to proximity, and has been the more dominant conference in recent years.
But have you ever stopped to yourself and thought “I wonder if there is a guide that provided an NFL comparison to current IFL teams based on their 2023 performance and where they stand heading into 2024? But SPECIFICALLY for the Western Conference”
Buddy, I hope you are seated — because I have a treat for you.
The Official ‘Off The Wall’ NFL Team Comparison to Current IFL Teams Based on their 2023 Performance & Where They Stand Heading into 2024: Western Conference edition
Arizona Rattlers
The Rattlers have been the most consistent organization in Indoor & Arena football for over 30 years, and are consistently competitive since joining the IFL in 2017 thanks to a first class organization structure.
NFL Comparison: San Francisco 49ers
The Arizona Rattlers have been consistently playing Indoor & Arena football for nearly 30 years, which in itself is quite the achievement when you look back at how many teams have come and gone over the years. The Rattlers are the cream of the crop in terms of how these franchises should be run.
The 49ers comparison is both for that reason, and the fact that Arizona has made it to the IFL Championship game multiple times in the past couple of seasons, but wasn't able to win the big game. Hmmm.
Bay Area Panthers
The defending IFL champs are led by a gritty veteran coaching staff with a well balanced offensive attack and a very opportunistic defense.
They get a former IFL MVP at QB in 2024 — could they go back to back?
NFL comparison: Kansas City Chiefs
This comparison is deserved for two reasons -- 1) They are the reigning champs & B) They have a coaching staff that is arguably the very best in the league on both sides of the ball.
Bay Area was in an interesting position last season, as their head coach (Darren Arbet) left the team in the middle of the season for reasons that were unknown at the time*. So the two coordinators stepped in as co-head coaches and were able to guide the team to a championship. Rob Keefe is amongst the very best defensive minds in indoor football, and Dixie Wooten has a plethora of experience as both a head coach and offensive playcaller.
*we have since found out he will be the coach for the Arizona AFL team starting in 2025
Duke City Gladiators
Duke City is a very entertaining team with high-highs and low-lows, but in 2023 they had a good enough defense to keep them competitive in most games. Consistency on the offensive side of the ball will be their key to success in 2024.
NFL comparison: LA Chargers
Duke City was the most confusing team for me in the 2023 IFL season. On paper, they had great players that would have good games, but the team as a whole could never really string together multiple good games collectively.
The ingredients were there in terms of the caliber of players, but they were simply missing the straw that stirred the drink and made it all work (much like the Chargers). I'll be interested to see how the start in 2024.
Northern Arizona Wranglers
NAZ had a very explosive offense in 2023 with huge big play potential and plenty of weapons on the offensive side of the ball, but they were plagued by the turnover bug that held them back from repeating as IFL champs.
NFL comparison: Buffalo Bills
Northern Arizona was such a fun team to watch in 2023. They had weapons at Wide Receiver that would make plays all season long and a QB that would make big plays with arm and legs, but they turned the ball over on offense so much that they self sabotaged themselves in more games than they would have liked.
I mean dang, they even have the Bills color scheme! It's too spot on.
San Antonio Gunslingers
The Gunslingers have only existed for a couple of years and will be making their IFL debut in 2024. They have not been around as long as other teams and will need to figure out their team identity ASAP in order to thrive — or even survive.
NFL comparison: Carolina Panthers
I'll be honest, I couldn't come up with a very good comparison for this team -- just because there are so many unknowns. The Gunslingers will be making their IFL debut in 2024, and they don't have a backlog of success that you can really turn back and observe.
There's more questions than answers at this point, which I guess in a way makes the Panthers comparison a good one? Idk. it's a bit of a paradox.
San Diego Strike Force
San Diego became arguably the most fun team in the IFL to watch in the back half of 2023 with their aerial attack, but they will need a more balanced offense in 2024 to contend for a title.
NFL comparison: Minnesota Vikings
The San Diego offense was WHITE HOT towards the end of the 2023 season after Nate Davis was acquired from Duke City and they really started to gel. Their passing attack and weapons at wide receiver really hit their stride and was borderline unstoppable -- but they had hardly any rushing attack to rely.
I fully expect San Diego to start the season hot, but to have sustained success throughout the season, they must have some type of rushing attack that they can lean on.
Tucson Sugar Skulls
Tucson not only has one of the best team names in all of North American sports, but they also field a really dynamic and finesse team that will look to continue to build on their momentum that they gained in 2023
NFL comparison: Miami Dolphins
Tucson is one of my dark horse candidates to win the IFL championship in 2024. Head Coach Billy Back is at the helm and has such a great history of turning teams around and immediately making them contenders (most recently with the Frisco Fighters).
I don't think it is that far off to compare Billy Back to Mike McDaniel in terms of offensive creativity and playcalling, and that type of creativity in this offense in 2024 could make them a force to be reckoned with.
Vegas Knight Hawks
Vegas was fairly efficient on both sides of the ball in 2023 with one of the best streaming broadcast teams in the league, but ultimately they underperformed and couldn’t get points down the stretch when they needed it.
NFL comparison: New Orleans Saints
When you look at the stats in 2023, Vegas was pretty solid across the board in terms of passing and rushing yardage per game -- they just could not finish as many drives in the end zone to win games.
They have had the weapons to make big plays in recent years, but they just need those big plays to happen in big moments in order to be a contender in 2024.
Alright, so you got the NFL comparisons for these IFL team. What does that mean for 2024?
Honestly, probably nothing -- but also something? IFL teams typically have a very high roster turnover year over year, so it’s very likely that someone who was just ‘meh’ last year could be a top of the standings next year. (You can only get this type of insight in one place, folks!)
Which team are you rooting for heading into the 2024 season? Follow me on Twitter/X and let me know who you are backing this year!
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