NBC Seeks Matrix Boost

The first-place Avengers grace the main regional television stage on Sunday when they play the Arizona Rattlers in the Arena Football League’s featured game on NBC.

But the network is counting on more than its football-playing partner to attract what it hopes will be the largest regular-season audience of the season.

Arena league telecasts are averaging a 1.3 rating, according to NBC’s Cameron Blanchard. That translates to a viewing audience of about 2 million.

The figure is expected to spike on Sunday when the network premieres a 2 1/2-minute trailer for the movie “Matrix Reloaded,” during the second half of three AFL games. NBC has been running promos for the promo during prime-time shows this week. The league and network hope the trailer attracts fans that will embrace Arena football.

“The demographics for the Matrix [males 18-34 years old] are very much in line with those of the Arena Football League,” Blanchard said.

The trailer will be shown during halftime at Staples Center and at all Arena league venues.

NBC brokered a similar deal earlier this year when it aired a lengthy trailer for the movie “Seabiscuit” during the telecast of the Sunshine Millions horse races.

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With quarterback Tony Graziani leading the way, the 8-2 Avengers remain on pace to finish with the best record in the Arena league and have home-field advantage for the playoffs.

Graziani, who has passed for 60 touchdowns and 2,714 yards, continues to thrive behind a line that shored up its early-season problems. Graziani has not lately suffered a bone-jarring hit after passing.

“Our technique was lacking early in the year,” center Sean McNamara said. “We worked hard during practice to correct that and we’re finishing our blocks a lot better.

“We’re not letting guys sneak through at the end of plays to get a cheap shot on Graz.”

McNamara, 6 feet 3 inches, 305 pounds, is in his second season with the Avengers. The former offensive lineman at Pittsburg State in Kansas played one season for Quad Cities in the AFL’s developmental league before joining the Houston ThunderBears for the 2001 season.

“At Quad Cities, I learned how to play defense and special teams, which I never played before,” said McNamara, also a nose guard. “It was exactly what I needed.”

The Avengers acquired McNamara in the dispersal draft and he played in every game last season.

“His coach in Houston raved about him because he didn’t give up a sack and was a good character kid,” Avenger Coach Ed Hodgkiss said. “He fit the bill for us and he has been nothing but great since he got here.”

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The Avengers took three days off after last Friday’s victory over winless Carolina and should be refreshed for the Rattlers (5-5).

“The break gave everyone a chance to get healthy and get ready to finish strong,” Graziani said.

Arizona is coming off a 62-36 victory over Orlando. The Rattlers are led by quarterback Sherdrick Bonner, a 10-year veteran from Cal State Northridge who missed two games earlier this season. Arizona also features wide receiver/linebacker Hunkie Cooper, an 11-year veteran.

“They have enough veterans that know how to crank it up when they need to,” Hodgkiss said.

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Chris Jackson, the Avengers’ offensive specialist, is approaching his single-season team record for yards receiving. Jackson, who amassed 1,325 yards as a rookie in 2000, has caught 77 passes for 1,114 yards this season.

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Rick Hamilton, a three-season NFL veteran, signed with the Avengers after the team put fullback-linebacker Jermaine Benoit on injured reserve because of a strained right hamstring.