BERLIN THUNDER (2-5-1) at COLOGNE CENTURIONS (3-5)
RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Sunday May 14, 4:00 p.m.
SERIES NOTES
Overall: Cologne leads 3-2
At Cologne: Cologne leads 2-0
At Berlin: Berlin leads 2-1
Streak: Berlin 1
This Season: Cologne 13 at Berlin 24 (Week 5)
TELEVISION
US: DELAY/ NFL Network (4:00 p.m. ET, Sunday May 14).
GERMANY/NETHERLANDS: DELAY/NASN (10:00 p.m. CET, Thursday May 18)
UK: DELAY/NASN (1:00 p.m. BST, Thursday May 18)
Play-by-play announcer PAUL BURMEISTER is joined in the broadcast booth by former Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl XXX MVP defensive back LARRY BROWN.
COACHES
RICK LANTZ has lost three 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... DAVID DUGGAN is in his first season as an NFLEL head coach and is still chasing back-to-back wins. Won two World Bowl rings as defensive coordinator of the Berlin Thunder in 2001 and 2002.
GAME NOTES
The clubs have enjoyed differing fortunes in the past few weeks. Berlin has lost three games in a row while the Centurions have won two of their past three contests... Berlin boasts NFL Europe's leading red zone offense (scoring on 84.6 percent of 26 trips inside the opponent's 20-yard line) while Cologne has the league's leading red zone defense (holding the opposition to a scoring rate of 65 percent on 20 visits inside their 20-yard line)... The Centurions lead NFL Europe with 22 defensive takeaways (13 interceptions and 9 fumble recoveries) but on offense they have committed a league-high 20 takeaways (13 interceptions, 7 fumbles lost)... Berlin quarterbacks have thrown 6 interceptions this term - the second-lowest figure in NFL Europe... Cologne's offense ranks fourth in NFL Europe (302.5 yards per game), while Berlin ranks fifth with an average of 284.4 yards per contest... Both clubs hold similar position in terms of producing offensive plays covering 20 yards. Cologne ranks fourth with 23 such plays (9 rush, 14 pass) while Berlin rates fifth with 20 plays of 20 yards or more (2 rush, 18 pass)... Berlin quarterbacks have completed a league-low 52.4 percent of their passes. Cologne's defense has held opposing quarterbacks to an NFLEL-low 49.3 completion percentage this year... Berlin passers have thrown more footballs (267) than any other team in the league... The Thunder's average of 3.6 yards per running play is the lowest in NFL Europe... Cologne ranks second in that department, averaging 4.3 yards per carry... The Centurions defense leads NFL Europe with 16 sacks this season... Both teams have fared better on the road this season. Cologne is 1-3 at home and 2-2 on the road, while Berlin has gone 1-3 at Olympiastadion and 1-2-1 outside the German capital... Berlin has seen players from across their roster contribute this season. Five Thunder players have attempted at least 1 pass, seven have carried the football and 15 have caught passes... In the first meeting between the teams this season, QB LANG CAMPBELL (Cleveland Browns) threw for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns - including a 49-yard scoring strike to Mexican WR ALEJANDRO GAMEZ - to lead Berlin to a 24-13 victory over the Centurions. QB SHANE BOYD (Pittsburgh Steelers) set a new single game rushing record for a quarterback by gaining 98 yards on 8 carries for the Centurions.
RHEIN FIRE (5-3) at HAMBURG SEA DEVILS (1-6-1)
AOL Arena, Hamburg, Sunday May 14, 4:00 p.m.
SERIES NOTES
Overall: Rhein leads 2-1
At Hamburg: Hamburg leads 1-0
At Rhein: Rhein leads 2-0
Streak: Rhein 2
This Season: Hamburg 21 at Rhein 31 (Week 4)
TELEVISION
US: LIVE/NFL Network (10:00 a.m. ET, Sunday May 14)
GERMANY/NETHERLANDS: LIVE/NASN (4:00 p.m. CET, Sunday May 14)
UK: DELAY/NASN (6:00 p.m. BST, Monday May 15)
Joining play-by-play announcer RICH ACKERMAN in the broadcast booth is former Seattle Seahawks quarterback BROCK HUARD.
COACHES
JIM TOMSULA is in his first season as an NFLEL head coach and has five wins to his name. Won a World Bowl ring as defensive coordinator of the Berlin Thunder in 2004... JACK BICKNELL is in his 14th season in NFL Europe and has taken his league-leading regular season victory total to 67 with a win in Berlin last week. Has one World Bowl ring in his collection having led Barcelona to glory in 1997.
GAME NOTES
The Fire needs a victory keep the pressure on those ahead of them in the World Bowl race, while the Sea Devils are looking to end a testing season on a high... The matchup sees the league's number six-ranked offense (Hamburg: 280.5 yards per game) take on NFL Europe's leading defense (Rhein: 268.9 yards per game)... Hamburg has yet to win on home soil this season, going 0-3-1 at the AOL Arena. The Fire is one of four teams with at least two road wins this season... Rhein leads NFL Europe with a 6 turnover ratio (20 takeaways to 14 giveaways)... Hamburg scored more points (38) during last week's win over Berlin than they did in the previous two games (34)... Rhein's quarterbacks have been sacked 14 times this season - the second-highest figure in NFL Europe... Hamburg and Rhein have both scored 2 touchdowns this season on returns and recoveries... The Fire has been among the most efficient teams in NFL Europe on third down, converting 39.4 percent of 104 attempts to rank second in the league... Hamburg quarterbacks have thrown 12 interceptions this season - the second-highest total in NFL Europe this spring... Rhein's offense has fumbled 16 times this season - the second-highest amount in the league... Rhein has committed 61 penalties this term, which is the second-highest in NFL Europe... Hamburg has struggled to produce big plays this season with just 19 covering 20 yards (4 rush, 15 pass)... After opening the year at 4-0, the Fire has lost three of its last four contests... Rhein is averaging 5.1 yards per offensive play this term to rank third in NFL Europe, while Hamburg is averaging a league-low 4.7 yards per offensive play... Rhein ranks second in the league with an average time of possession of 32:03... Hamburg ranks fifth in NFLEL with an average of 29:24 minutes of possession per game... Rhein's 176 points scored is the second-highest total in the NFL Europe League... Rhein's defense has intercepted 10 passes this season - second-highest in NFLEL... In the first meeting between the teams this season, QB DREW HENSON (Dallas Cowboys) threw for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Fire emerged victorious by a 31-21 scoreline. CB ANTWAIN SPANN (New England Patriots) scored on a key 30-yard interception return for the Fire, canceling out a 63-yard interception return for a touchdown by Sea Devils CB RAYSHUN REED.
AMSTERDAM ADMIRALS (6-2) at FRANKFURT GALAXY (6-2)
Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt, Sunday May 14, 5:00 p.m.
SERIES NOTES
Overall: Frankfurt leads 12-11 (Frankfurt leads 1-0 in World Bowls)
At Frankfurt: Frankfurt leads 9-2
At Amsterdam: Amsterdam leads 9-3
Streak: Amsterdam 2
This season: Frankfurt 20 at Amsterdam 38 (Week 3)
TELEVISION
US: LIVE/DirecTV (11:00 a.m. ET, Sunday May 14) DELAY/NFL Network, 8:00 p.m. ET, Sunday May 14)
The regular FOX NFL Sunday pairing of CURT MENEFEE and former Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman BRIAN BALDINGER call the action from Frankfurt.
COACHES
BART ANDRUS is the reigning NFL Europe League Coach of the Year. Has won 13 of his last 19 games in charge of 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... MIKE JONES is in his third season with the Galaxy and has a 16-12 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.
GAME NOTES
The Galaxy heads into a mammoth showdown as the hottest team in the league, riding a five-game winning streak into their meeting with the Admirals... Amsterdam lost for the first time since opening day last week, ending its own winning streak at six games... The Admirals lead NFL Europe in points scored (221). They averaged 31.7 points per contest in the season's first six games but have averaged just 15.5 points per outing in their last two contests... Frankfurt has assumed top spot in the offensive rankings, averaging 343.1 yards per game compared to Amsterdam's 340.1... The Galaxy boasts NFL Europe's top rushing attack, leading the league in carries (279), yards (167.4 per game) and average yards per rush (4.8). At their current pace, the Galaxy would end the season with 1,674 rushing yards, which would rank second all time behind the 1,686 set by the 1999 Rhein Fire... Frankfurt quarterbacks have completed 56.4 percent of their passes to rank second in NFL Europe... Amsterdam has the league's leading passing attack, topping the rankings in completion percentage (61.8), yards per game (252.8), yards per completion (14.6) and passing touchdowns (17)... Frankfurt quarterbacks have thrown a league-low 4 interceptions in eight games this season... Amsterdam quarterbacks have been dropped for a league-leading 20 sacks this term... The Admirals rank second in total offense despite ranking sixth in NFLEL with an average time of possession of 27:52... The Admirals have punted a league-low 23 times at an average of 2.9 per game... The clubs lead the way in offensive plays covering 20 yards this season. Amsterdam ranks first with 37 (9 rush, 28 pass), while Frankfurt ranks second with 31 (9 rush, 22 pass)... In the first meeting between the teams this season, QB GIBRAN HAMDAN (Seattle Seahawks) compiled the perfect 158.3 passer rating while leading Amsterdam to a 38-20 win. He completed 12 of 15 passes for 189 yards and 3 touchdowns. WR SKYLER FULTON (Seattle Seahawks) caught 4 passes for 144 yards and 2 scores as the Admirals romped to victory.
Courtesy NFL Europe.com
Week 9 TV Schedule (all games on NFL Network)
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Rhein Fire at Hamburg Sea Devils, 9:00 AM (CT), Live
Amsterdam Admirals at Frankfurt Galaxy, 3:00 PM (CT), Tape delay
Berlin Thunder at Cologne Centurions, 7:00 PM (CT), Tape delay
Packers in NFLEL
S Atari Bigby (Amsterdam Admirals) - With eight starts at free safety, leads the team with 48 tackles (33 solo), adding three passes defensed.
Week 8 vs. Cologne - Started and made three solo tackles.
WR Vince Butler (Amsterdam Admirals) - As a reserve WR, has made nine catches for 107 yards and one rush for 13 yards.
Week 8 vs. Cologne - Played as a reserve receiver.
CB Therrian Fontenot (Rhein Fire) - Has started six games at left cornerback and is credited with 19 tackles (18 solo) and two interceptions among eight passes defensed...Was dubbed Defensive Player of the Week for Week 2 after a two-interception performance in a 22-0 shutout of Berlin.
Week 8 at Frankfurt - As a reserve cornerback, made two solo tackles
TE Tory Humphrey (Amsterdam Admirals) - Has started eight contests at tight end, catching 11 passes for 114 yards and one TD.
Week 8 vs. Cologne - Started, but did not catch any passes.
WR Chad Lucas (Amsterdam Admirals) - Has started all seven games at wide receiver...Leads NFLEL in touchdowns with eight; is second on the team in receptions with 26 for 431 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.
Week 8 vs. Cologne - Started and caught five passes for 76 yards.
DT Jerome Nichols (Frankfurt Galaxy) - In eight starts at left defensive tackle, has made 23 tackles (21 solo), including three sacks, plus three passes defensed.
Week 8 vs. Rhein - Started and was second on the team with six tackles (five solo), adding two passes defensed.
C Pete Traynor (Rhein Fire) - Has started seven games at center.
Week 8 at Frankfurt - Started at center.
QB Brian Wrobel (Berlin Thunder) - Serving as backup, has completed 17 of 43 passes for 169 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions, for a passer rating of 39.8...Has ran 13 times for 23 yards and one TD.
Week 8 vs. Hamburg - Did not play
NFLEL Standings
Amsterdam Admirals: 6-2-0
Frankfurt Galaxy: 6-2-0
Rhein Fire: 5-3-0
Cologne Centurions: 3-5-0
Berlin Thunder: 2-5-1
Hamburg Sea Devils: 1-6-1
Week 8 Results
Centurions 20, Admirals 13
Galaxy 16, Fire 14
Sea Devils 38, Thunder 14
