**AMSTERDAM ADMIRALS (5-1)
at HAMBURG SEA DEVILS (0-5-1) **
AOL Arena, Hamburg, Saturday, April 29, 6 p.m.
SERIES NOTES
Overall: Series tied 1-1
At Hamburg: Hamburg leads 1-0
At Amsterdam: Amsterdam leads 1-0
Streak:Amsterdam 1
Last Season: Amsterdam 24 at Hamburg 30 (OT); Hamburg 10 at Amsterdam 27
TELEVISION
US: LIVE/ DirecTV (noon ET, Saturday April 29).
Play-by-play announcer CHRIS CARLIN joins Oakland Raiders and current Philadelphia Eagles fullback JON RITCHIE in the broadcast booth.
COACHES
BART ANDRUS is the reigning NFL Europe League Coach of the Year...Has won 12 of his last 17 games with the Admirals, including a World Bowl victory over Berlin last June....Also won a World Bowl ring as a member of the Rhein Fire coaching staff in 2000....Served as quarterbacks coach of the Tennessee Titans in 1999, the year the club went to the Super Bowl...JACK BICKNELL is in his 14th season in NFL Europe and has yet to add to his league-leading regular season victory total of 66 this year...Has slipped below .500 by losing his 69th regular season contest last week....Has one World Bowl ring in his collection having led Barcelona to glory in 1997...Has a 6-4 record against Bart Andrus.
GAME NOTES
The Admirals, looking to win for the sixth weekend in a row, take the league's most potent offense to Hamburg...Amsterdam is averaging 31.7 points per game and is on pace to surpass the single season record of 310 set by the 1991 London Monarchs...Amsterdam leads the league in total offense (351.8 yards per game), passing offense (255.3 yards per game), touchdowns scored (24) and average yards per play (6.6)...Admirals quarterbacks top NFL Europe with an average of 15.9 yards per pass completion...They are completing a league-high 60.6 percent of passes and have thrown an NFLEL-best 15 touchdowns...By contrast, the winless Sea Devils have struggled to move the ball through the air, completing a league-low 50.5 percent of their passes...Hamburg quarterbacks have a combined passer rating of 57.1 compared to Amsterdam's 122.3... Hamburg's quarterbacks have also thrown a league-high 10 interceptions...Amsterdam leads NFL Europe with a 42.4 percent success rate on third down, while the Sea Devils rank sixth in that department, converting 33.3 percent of 78 attempts...The Admirals have scored 30 points or more in eight of their last 16 regular season contests...The Sea Devils have yet to score 30 points in a game this year but did so on three occasions in 2005, once during a victory against the Admirals...Hamburg ranks sixth in red zone offense (66.7 percent scoring rate on 12 trips) and sixth in red zone defense (allowing opponents to score on 90 percent of 20 trips inside their 20-yard line)...Both teams have negative turnover ratios...Amsterdam has a -2 rating (9 takeaways, 11 giveaways) to rank fourth in NFL Europe. Hamburg has a -4 rating (8 takeaways, 12 giveaways) to rate sixth in the league...The Admirals rank sixth in average time of possession (27:39) but it has not slowed their offensive effectiveness...The Admirals have scored a league-best 3 touchdowns on returns and recoveries this season...Hamburg has scored twice on runbacks...Amsterdam ranks second in NFLEL with a kickoff return average of 24.3...The Sea Devils have had the most success on field goals this season, converting kicks 83.3 percent of the time...Hamburg is averaging a league-low 3.6 yards per offensive carry in 2006.
**BERLIN THUNDER (2-3-1)
at RHEIN FIRE (4-2) **
LTU arena, Düsseldorf, Saturday, April 29, 7 p.m.
SERIES NOTES
Overall:Rhein leads 8-7 (Berlin leads 1-0 in World Bowls)
At Rhein:Rhein leads 5-2
At Berlin:Berlin leads 5-3
Streak:Rhein 1
This Season:Rhein 22 at Berlin 0 (Week 2)
TELEVISION
US:DELAY/NFL Network (8 p.m. ET, Sunday, April 30)
Play-by-play announcer NICK HALLING - the only Brit to call an NFL regular season game on the FOX network - is joined in the broadcast booth by Minnesota Vikings Pro Bowl safety DARREN SHARPER.
COACHES
RICK LANTZ needs a victory to avoid losing two games in a row for the first time in his NFLEL head coaching career...Won a World Bowl ring in 2004 and guided the Thunder to the title game last season...JIM TOMSULA suffered his second loss as a head coach last week...Lost the Yello Strom World Bowl XIII at the hands of the Admirals while serving as defensive coordinator of the Berlin Thunder in 2005...Won a World Bowl ring with Berlin in 2004...Defeated his old boss in first meeting between teams this season.
GAME NOTES
After opening the season with four straight wins, the Fire have dropped two games in a row and will look to put homefield advantage to good use against the Thunder...Rhein has won five of seven regular season meetings against Berlin on home soil, although the Thunder did beat the Fire in the old Rheinstadion in World Bowl X in 2002...Despite conceding 65 points in the last two games against the Amsterdam Admirals, the Fire still boast NFL Europe's leading defense, allowing opponents 256.3 yards of offense per game...Rhein has rushed the football more times than any other team in NFL Europe (190) but will be keen to improve on the 3.7-yard average that ties for fourth in the league...Berlin is also averaging 3.7 yards per run...Teams have combined to win a total of five World Bowls (Rhein - 1998, 2000; Berlin - 2001, 2002, 2004)...The Fire lead NFLEL with an average time of possession of 33:41 per game...Fire quarterbacks have been sacked a league-high 10 times this season and face a Berlin defense that ties for second with nine sacks in 2006...Rhein has committed 41 penalties this season - the second-highest figure in NFLEL...Berlin has the most explosive kickoff return unit in NFL Europe, averaging 24.6 yards per runback...That said, Berlin is one of three teams this season not to have scored on a return or recovery...Berlin has fumbled a league-high 13 times this year, losing the football on six occasions...Rhein tops the rankings with a 10 turnover ratio (19 takeaways, nine giveaways)...The Fire defense leads NFLEL in turnovers (19) and fumble recoveries (10), while ranking second in interceptions (9)...Berlin has spread the offensive load this season...A total of five players have attempted passes, seven players have rushed the football and 14 have receptions to their name...Berlin's sixth-ranked defense has allowed opponents to gain a league-high 127 first downs this season and an average of 356.3 yards per game...In the first meeting between the clubs this season, the Fire forced Berlin to endure a shut out defeat for the first time since Week 8 of the 1999 season, winning 22-0...QB DREW HENSON (Dallas Cowboys) threw a 3-yard TD pass to WR ZURIEL SMITH (New England Patriots), while RB JACQUE LEWIS (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) scored on a 12-yard run.
**FRANKFURT GALAXY (4-2)
at COLOGNE CENTURIONS (2-4) **
RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Sunday, April 30, 4 p.m.
SERIES NOTES
Overall:Frankfurt leads 3-2
At Cologne:Series tied 1-1
At Frankfurt:Frankfurt leads 2-1
Streak:Frankfurt 1
This season:Cologne 14 at Frankfurt 21 (Week 4)
TELEVISION
US:LIVE/NFL Network (10 a.m. ET, Sunday, April 30)
GERMANY/NETHERLANDS:LIVE/NASN (4 p.m. CT, Sunday, April 30)
Play-by-play announcer BOB WISCHUSEN is joined in the broadcast booth by former Buffalo Bills special teams ace STEVE TASKER.
COACHES
MIKE JONES is in his third season with the Galaxy and has a 14-12 record and one World Bowl appearance to his name...Served as a member of the Rhein Fire coaching staff from 1995-2000 and again in 2002-2003, winning World Bowls in 1998 and 2000...DAVID DUGGAN spent the past two years as Cologne's defensive coordinator...His unit led NFL Europe in total defense in each of the last two seasons...Served as defensive coordinator of Berlin from 2001 to 2003, during which time he won two World Bowl rings.
GAME NOTES
The Galaxy heads to Cologne looking to win a fourth straight regular season game for the first time since Weeks 1 to 4 of the 2002 campaign...Frankfurt takes the league's leading rushing attack into RheinEnergieStadion...The Galaxy lead NFL Europe in rushing attempts (206), rushing yards (160.2 per game), and average yards per rush (4.7)...Frankfurt's offensive line has conceded a league-low five sacks in six games and has allowed Galaxy passers to complete 56.4 percent of their throws - good for second in NFL Europe...Frankfurt quarterbacks have also thrown a league-low three interceptions but face a tough Cologne secondary that has limited opponents to a league-low 46.1 percent pass completion rate, while intercepting an NFLEL-high 10 throws...Cologne's defense ranks sixth in NFL Europe with four quarterback sacks...On offense, the Centurions have given up a league-high 10 sacks...Frankfurt's defense leads NFL Europe with 10 sacks...Frankfurt boasts NFL Europe's second-ranked offense (344 yards per game) and second-ranked defense (holding opponents to 278 yards per game)...Cologne's quarterbacks have thrown nine interceptions this season (second-highest in NFLEL) but face a Galaxy defense that has produced a league-low three picks this term...Cologne ranks sixth in NFL Europe on kickoff coverage, allowing opponents to gain 26.8 yards per runback...Cologne ranks third in total offense (306.8 yards per game) and third in total defense (allowing 301.3 yards per game)...Cologne is one of only two teams with a positive turnover ratio ( 1 on 15 takeaways and 14 giveaways)...Frankfurt ranks second in NFL Europe with 23 offensive plays covering 20 yards (six rushing, 17 passing)...Cologne ranks fifth in that department with 15 such plays (six rushing, nine passing)...Frankfurt has rushed for 186 yards or more on three occasions this season...In the first meeting between the teams this year, Frankfurt WR WALTER YOUNG (Pittsburgh Steelers) caught TD passes from QB JEFF OTIS (Arizona Cardinals) and QB CRAIG OCHS (Buffalo Bills) as the Galaxy ran out 21-14 winners...RB ROGER ROBINSON (Arizona Cardinals) gained 128 rushing yards and scored on a 28-yard run...RB ALEX HAYNES (Carolina Panthers) and TE TRENT SMITH (San Francisco 49ers) scored touchdowns for Cologne.
Courtesy NFL Europe.com
Week 7 TV Schedule (all games on NFL Network)
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Frankfurt at Cologne, 9 a.m. (CT), Live,
Amsterdam at Hamburg, 3 p.m. (CT), Tape delay
Berlin at Rhein, 7 p.m. (CT), Tape delay
Packers in NFLEL
S Atari Bigby (Amsterdam Admirals) - With six starts at free safety, leads the team with 37 tackles (23 solo), adding three passes defensed.
WR Vince Butler (Amsterdam Admirals) - As a reserve WR, has made six catches for 85 yards and one rush for 13 yards.
CB Therrian Fontenot (Rhein Fire) - Has started five games at left cornerback and is credited with 13 solo tackles and two interceptions among seven passes defensed...Was dubbed Defensive Player of the Week for Week 2 after a two-interception performance in a 22-0 shutout of Berlin.
TE Tory Humphrey (Amsterdam Admirals) - Has started all six contests at tight end, catching 11 passes for 114 yards and one TD.
WR Chad Lucas (Amsterdam Admirals) - Has started all six games at wide receiver...Leads NFLEL in touchdowns with seven; is second on the team in receptions with 15 for 282 yards...Was awarded Offensive Player of the Week for Week 4 after catching a league-record four touchdowns in a 38-31 victory over the Berlin Thunder; he finished the game with six catches for 120 yards.
DT Jerome Nichols (Frankfurt Galaxy) - In six starts at left defensive tackle, has made 16 tackles (15 solo), including three sacks.
C Pete Traynor (Rhein Fire) - Has started all six games at center.
QB Brian Wrobel (Berlin Thunder) - Serving as backup, has completed 13 of 35 passes for 145 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions, for a passer rating of 36.0...Has ran 11 times for 26 yards and one TD.
NFL Europe League Standings
Amsterdam Admirals (5-1-0)
Rhein Fire (4-2-0)
Frankfurt Galaxy (4-2-0)
Berlin Thunder (2-3-1)
Cologne Centurions (2-4-0)
Hamburg Sea Devils (0-5-1)
Week 6 Results
Amsterdam 30, Rhein 21
Cologne 20, Hamburg 17
Frankfurt 18, Berlin 17
