# 1996 Orlando Predators season

The 1996 Orlando Predators season was the sixth season for the Orlando Predators. They finished the 1996 Arena Football League season 9–5 and finished the season with a loss in the quarterfinals of the playoffs to the Arizona Rattlers.

## Schedule
### Regular season

| Week | Date | Opponent | Results | Results | Game site (attendance) |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Final score | Team record | Game site (attendance) |
| 1 | April 27 | at Arizona Rattlers | L 52–55 | 0–1 | America West Arena (14,939) |
| 2 | May 3 | Texas Terror | W 52–36 | 1–1 | Orlando Arena (14,678) |
| 3 | May 10 | Florida Bobcats | W 38–20 | 2–1 | Orlando Arena (16,116) |
| 4 | May 18 | at Tampa Bay Storm | L 42–63 | 2–2 | ThunderDome (16,444) |
| 5 | May 24 | at San Jose SaberCats | L 25–42 | 2–3 | San Jose Arena (15,470) |
| 6 | June 1 | at Connecticut Coyotes | W 45–38 | 3–3 | Hartford Civic Center (7,342) |
| 7 | June 7 | Charlotte Rage | W 56–47 | 4–3 | Orlando Arena (15,127) |
| 8 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 9 | June 21 | Iowa Barnstormers | L 50–59 | 4–4 | Orlando Arena (15,613) |
| 10 | June 29 | at Texas Terror | W 45–37 | 5–4 | Compaq Center (8,064) |
| 11 | July 6 | at Albany Firebirds | L 41–53 | 5–5 | Knickerbocker Arena (11,079) |
| 12 | July 12 | Minnesota Fighting Pike | W 56–12 | 6–5 | Orlando Arena (15,107) |
| 13 | July 19 | Tampa Bay Storm | W 40–39 | 7–5 | Orlando Arena (16,236) |
| 14 | July 27 | at Florida Bobcats | W 59–27 | 8–5 | West Palm Beach Auditorium (4,018) |
| 15 | August 2 | Anaheim Piranhas | W 50–44 (OT) | 9–5 | Orlando Arena (16,096) |

### Playoffs

The Predators were awarded the No. 6 seed in the AFL playoffs.
| Round | Date | Opponent | Results | Results | Game site (attendance) |
| Round | Date | Opponent | Final score | Playoff record | Game site (attendance) |
| Quarterfinals | August 10 | at (3) Arizona Rattlers | L 48–65 | 0–1 | America West Center (15,129) |

## Standings

| Team | Overall | Overall | Overall | Division | Division | Division |
| Team | Wins | Losses | Percentage | Wins | Losses | Percentage |
| National Conference |||||||
| Eastern Division |||||||
| Albany Firebirds | 10 | 4 | 0.714 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 |
| Charlotte Rage | 5 | 9 | 0.357 | 2 | 2 | 0.500 |
| Connecticut Coyotes | 2 | 12 | 0.143 | 0 | 4 | 0.000 |
| Southern Division |||||||
| Tampa Bay Storm | 12 | 2 | 0.857 | 5 | 1 | 0.833 |
| Orlando Predators | 9 | 5 | 0.643 | 5 | 1 | 0.833 |
| Florida Bobcats | 6 | 8 | 0.429 | 2 | 4 | 0.333 |
| Texas Terror | 1 | 13 | 0.071 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 |
| American Conference |||||||
| Central Division |||||||
| Iowa Barnstormers | 12 | 2 | 0.857 | 4 | 2 | 0.667 |
| Milwaukee Mustangs | 10 | 4 | 0.714 | 5 | 1 | 0.833 |
| St. Louis Stampede | 8 | 6 | 0.571 | 3 | 3 | 0.500 |
| Memphis Pharaohs | 0 | 14 | 0.000 | 0 | 6 | 0.000 |
| Western Division |||||||
| Arizona Rattlers | 11 | 3 | 0.786 | 3 | 2 | 0.600 |
| Anaheim Piranhas | 9 | 5 | 0.643 | 4 | 1 | 0.800 |
| San Jose SaberCats | 6 | 8 | 0.429 | 1 | 4 | 0.200 |
| Minnesota Fighting Pike | 4 | 10 | 0.286 | 1 | 2 | 0.333 |
* Green indicates clinched playoff berth
* Blue indicates division champion
* Grey indicates best regular season record

## Awards

| Position | Player | Award | All-Arena team |
| Wide receiver/defensive back | Barry Wagner | Ironman of the Year | 1st |