It is at this time of the year when American football fans start to get itchy feet. The NFL is soon to enter its pre-season phase ahead of the new season, where once again the great and the good of the elite game will battle it out for a place in the Super Bowl.
Meanwhile, the German Football League is entering its business end, with all on eyes on the standing ahead of the German Bowl. The New Yorker Lions look set for an 18th German Bowl appearance but the question on everybody’s lips will be who will meet them there.
Like we say, this is the time of the year when the anticipation levels of football fans reach fever pitch.
So, how can pigskin fanatics keep themselves occupied, instead of biting their nails down to the quick at the thought of how their team will do in the NFL this year, or worrying if their favorite GFL franchise will reach the German Bowl?
Here are some football-related ideas to help keep you busy in-between game weeks.
Kick Back and Relax
There is nothing better than the real thing – that, we’ll grant you – but the latest raft of American football-inspired video games can help take you pretty darn close.
Madden NFL 20 has just been released for PC and all major consoles, and most of the reviews suggest that this latest instalment from Electronic Arts really does take the franchise to new heights. Featuring EA DICE’s famed Frostbite game engine, this is the next best thing to ‘real’ football you can get!
You might be a fan of retro gaming, in which case, it’s highly recommended that you dust off your Nintendo and fire up Tecmo Super Bowl. This was one of the original – and best – American football games and, despite being released nearly two decades ago, it still stands up to scrutiny to this day.
Of course, there are lots of other football-related games you can play online. There’s simulation-style games you can play via your browser or on mobile, plus a unique collection of slot games such as 4th & Goal, 1st Down, Game Day and Football Frenzy. Here you can play for fun or real money at a range of online German casinos and, if you fancy a change from American football, there are plenty of other sports titles made by the likes of NetEnt, who are the Nintendo of the slot gaming world.
Get Your Fantasy Team In Shape
There has arguably never been a better time for fantasy football players.
The official NFL fantasy game is back for 2019 and bigger than ever, and there are stacks of research articles online to help you pass the time as you wait for the new season – or wait for the GFL campaign to come to its thrilling conclusion.
And there are some important rule changes for Fantasy NFL players to learn about; make sure you give these a read prior to making your draft.
If you want to enter more contests this year, there are lots of other fantasy contests to consider too. Games from the likes of Yahoo and ESPN remain ever-popular and free, most importantly, while, if you’re looking for an antidote to season-long fantasy football, then there’s always DraftKings, who offer free and cash contests for each new game week.
This is the perfect time to start getting your fantasy football house in order.
Look the Part
The new NFL season means one thing: a whole new bunch of merchandise is released. If you really want to show your support for your team, slipping into their new jersey is a given.
Football fans in Germany can fire up the official NFL Europe website, which is home to the jerseys of all 32 franchises, as well as clothing, headwear and a comprehensive selection of accessories.
So, if you have the ‘football fever’, maybe the cure is keeping yourself busy with some of the options listed above.