German Football League playoffs set with Unicorns favorites to repeat
The German Football League heads into the 2018 playoffs next weekend with eight teams vying for the title.
German Bowl XL is scheduled for October 13 and eight teams are in the hunt, The Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns are the number one seed followed by the winner of the GFL North, the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions. After those two are the Frankfurt Universe, Dresden Monarchs, Berlin Rebels, Allgäu Comets, Cologne Crocodiles and the Munich Cowboys.
Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (GFL South #1) v. Cologne Crocodiles (GFL North #4)
The 14-0 Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (GFL South #1) enter the playoffs as the favorites after another undefeated season. In fact, this team has not lost a game since German Bowl XXXVIII in 2016 when they were beaten by the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions
They will face the 7-6-1 Cologne Crocodiles (GFL North #4) who needed a win over Potsdam in the second last game of the year to make the playoffs. Cologne opened the season with promise and after six games were undefeated. But a string of six losses brought them down to earth. They salvaged the season with the two late season wins but face a daunting task against the Unicorns.
Braunschweig New Yorker Lions (GFL North #1) v. Munich Cowboys (GFL South #4)
The 11-2-1 Braunschweig New Yorker Lions (GFL North #1) enter the playoffs as the number 2 seed overall after stumbling somewhat down the stretch tying, winning and losing in the last three games. They dropped their second loss of the season to the Berlin Rebels and after beating the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes, played to a 28-28 tie with the Dresden Monarchs.
They take on the 6-8 Munich Cowboys (GFL South #4) who surged at the end of the season winning four of their last five games including a resounding 37-7 victory over the Stuttgart Scorpions,
Still, Munich will be hard pressed against a Lions team that has won four of the last five German Football League titles.
The last time these two teams met in the post season was in 2014 when the Lions overwhelmed Munich, 69-28. Braunschweig went on to win the German title that year.
Dresden Monarchs (GFL North #2) v. Allgäu Comets (GFL South #3)
The Dresden Monarchs (GFL North #2) head into the playoffs with also with an 11-2-1 record after tying the New Yorker Lions in the last regular season game of the year. The Monarchs have really come together in the last half of the season and look impressive with the top receiver in the GFL, Mitchell Paige and the leading tackler in AJ Wentland.
Dresden faces the 8-6 Allgäu Comets (GFL South #3) who have had a tumultuous season, losing the entire coaching staff in late July and swinging from brilliant offensive displays to blowout losses. They seemed to settle down and find a new balance late in the season and may be hard for the Monarchs to prepare for.
Frankfurt Universe (GFL South #2) v. Berlin Rebels (GFL North #3)
The 12-2 Frankfurt Universe (GFL South #2) could be the dark horse after losing only two games, both to the Unicorns and both in close defensive games. They have looked impressive down the stretch and are legitimate contenders.
They will be playing the 11-3 Berlin Rebels (GFL North #3) however who have also looked extremely good in the last half of the season. This could be the best game of the quarterfinal round. Berlin won seven of the last eight games including a win over the New Yorker Lions.
Look for complete coverage of each playoff round and game later this week in AFI.
