CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Arena Football League's best team thus far against the best franchise is one way to look at the ArenaBowl XXVII, when the Cleveland Gladiators play host to the Arizona Rattlers on Aug. 23 in Quicken Loans Arena.

Cleveland (19-1) set AFL records for most wins and best winning percentage, and will play in its first ArenaBowl. Arizona (15-3) has advanced to its fourth consecutive ArenaBowl, and it won the last two.

Still buzzing from their 56-46 American Conference Championship victory over Orlando on Sunday evening, Gladiators coaches, players and families gathered at a Gateway eatery to watch the National Conference Championship on big-screen TVs.

They saw Arizona dismantle San Jose, 72-56, in a wire-to-wire home victory. The Rattlers scored touchdowns on 11 consecutive possessions.

"They're solid at every position,'' Cleveland coach Steve Thonn told The Plain Dealer. "They don't really have any weak links. One of the reasons they've won it the last two years is when they replace a player, it seems like they just get a player who's just as good.''

Mark your calendar: Aug. 23 will be a big day in Cleveland.

The Indians play host to Houston at 7:05 p.m. The game features a Terry Francona jersey giveaway, and fireworks.

The ArenaBowl kicks off next door at 8 p.m., the same time the Browns start against the Rams in the third exhibition game.

Not to be left out, the Cavs also could make news. Aug. 23 is the first day the reported trade for Minnesota's Kevin Love can go through.

Ohio connection: Arizona features MVP candidate quarterback Nick Davila, who started for the University of Cincinnati in 2006 and 2007 and spent some time in the Browns 2008 training camp. He has been Arizona's starter since 2010 and was the league MVP in 2011. His 127 touchdown passes (with 11 interceptions) gives him at least 100 TDs in five straight seasons, the only player to accomplish that feat.

"They've had the same QB for five years there and a lot of the same receivers, and it's a group that's really familiar with each other,'' Thonn said. "They're kind of like a machine.''

Gladiators recap: The Gladiators never trailed against Orlando. Cleveland quarterback Shane Austin threw seven touchdown passes and he did not commit a turnover, one week after he threw five interceptions against Philadelphia.

"That definitely gave me a little motivation. You put up bad numbers like that, you get a little chip on your shoulder,'' Austin said.

Cleveland's defense forced three turnovers, two of which led to touchdowns. Cleveland lost one fumble. Cleveland's special teams recovered two onside kicks.

Road woes: It is instructive to note Arizona's three losses in the final month were on the road. Home-field advantage is an important factor in the AFL, and it is magnified in the playoffs. Cleveland wrapped up home-field advantage with a strong late-season run while Arizona faltered late in the regular season.

"That's why when we had a chance at the end of the season to secure home field advantage, we really went after it,'' Thonn said. "Now that we have this spot, and we have a chance to host through the playoffs, it's been great.''

Cleveland is 11-0 at home.

History lesson: Arizona seeks to become the first AFL team to win three consecutive ArenaBowls since the Detroit Drive in 1988-90. This is Arizona's ninth ArenaBowl overall.

Quotable: Asked before the Arizona-San Jose game what team he wanted to play in the ArenaBowl, Gladiators defensive back Dominic Jones didn't hesitate.

"Arizona is the defending champions. If we want to consider ourselves champions, I want to go through the champs,'' he said.