Week 2 of the NFL Europe season kicks off on Saturday with two games slated that day. All eight Packers represented played in the opening weekend. Five of the eight players started, including three on the Amsterdam Admirals roster.
Action begins with the Rhein Fire taking on the Berlin Thunder. Both teams won their Week 1 openers. Berlin has won 10 of its last 11 games at home and 17 of its last 21 regular season games. Their opening-day win was a 33-29 victory at Amsterdam, the third year in a row the team won their opener. Rhein won a defensive battle in its first game vs. Frankfurt, 10-6. Berlin gained a NFLE-high 350 yards while the Fire enter the weekend with the league's best defense, allowing Frankfurt to gain just 188 total yards. Berlin was among four teams last week not to give up a sack. Rhein allowed a league-high 3 sacks.
The Saturday late game features Hamburg at Frankfurt with both teams having lost their first games. Frankfurt fell 10-6 at Rhein, and Hamburg lost its home debut 14-10 to Cologne. Despite the losses both teams ran the ball well with Frankfurt averaging a league-best 4.2 yards per rush and the Sea Devils a close second with 4.1 yards per carry.
Through the air Hamburg tossed a league-high four interceptions and completed a league low 31.3 percent of their passes. Out of six teams, Frankfurt ranked fifth in completion percentage with 36.4.
In Sunday's lone game Amsterdam travels to Cologne. The Cologne team last week won a 14-10 game at Hamburg. Amsterdam c came back from 20-0 but still lost 33-29. After Week 1 Amsterdam leads the league with 285 yards passing. The Admirals also manufactured four plays of 50 yards (56-yard pass, 54-yard pass, 59-yard punt return and 95-yard fumble return) with three plays going for touchdowns. The Centurions team is the NFLE's leader in rushing attempts and yards (41 for 155 yards) compared to just 16 for 63 yards by the Admirals. Cologne ranks second in total defense with 235 yards.
Week 2 NFL Europe League Television Schedule
(All games broadcast on NFL Network)
Saturday, March 25
Rhein Fire at Berlin Thunder - 5:00 PM (CT) Tape Delay
Hamburg Sea Devils at Frankfurt Galaxy - 6:00 PM (CT) Live
Sunday, March 26
Amsterdam Admirals at Cologne Centurions - 3:00 PM (CT) Live
Packers in NFL-E
S Atari Bigby (Amsterdam Admirals) - Started at free safety and finished second on the team with an unofficial seven tackles (five solo)...Added one pass defensed and one tackle on special teams.
WR Vince Butler (Amsterdam Admirals) - Despite not starting finished second on the team in receptions with three for 27 yards.
CB Therrian Fontenot (Rhein Fire) - Recorded one pass defensed; part of a defensive unit that held Frankfurt to a Week 1 low of six points.
TE Tory Humphrey (Amsterdam Admirals) - Started at tight end and caught two passes for 12 yards.
WR Chad Lucas (Amsterdam Admirals) - Started at wide receiver and made two catches for 24 yards.
DT Jerome Nichols (Frankfurt Galaxy) - Started at left tackle and recorded an unofficial four solo tackles, including one sack.
C Pete Traynor (Rhein Fire) - Started at center in the team's 10-6 win.
QB Brian Wrobel (Berlin Thunder) - Listed as participating but did not record any statistics.
