LIVESTREAM Austria – Game of the Week: Vienna Vikings @ Prague Black Panthers, March 24, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 10 am EDT)

AFI | American Football | 03/24/2024

Graphic; Igor Lazarevic

Two of the top teams in the Austrian Football League face each other Sunday, March 24 as the Vienna Vikings (1-0) travel to Prague to take on the Prague Black Panthers (0-1).

Vienna opened the season by thrashing the hapless Telfs Patriots 83-7 (?!) while the Black Panthers lost their first regular season game since 2022 falling 15-7 to the Graz Giants.

These two teams faced each other twice in 2023 with Prague winning the regular season matchup by the closest of margins, 23-22. The Vikings got their revenge in the AFL semifinals, downing the Black Panthers 27-17.

Prague quarterback Tyler Jacob Jarnagin did not have his best day in the loss to the Giants last week throwing for 110 yards and zero touchdowns while getting picked off twice. He will need to have a short memory when facing Vienna. His key targets are Kamil Roba and Jakub Wolesky while running backs Pavel Prokop and Ladislav Jensik will be the main ball carriers. Linebacker Ondřej Kylousek leads the defense. Last week he recorded six tackles, including four tackles for loss and a sack.

For the Vikings, Michael Szabo will likely start at quarterback with Nico Hrouda backing him up. Last week, Szabo played the first half throwing for 183 yards and four touchdowns with Hrouda relieving him at halftime. He completed 9 of 15 passes for 144 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Sandro Djukic rushed for 110 yards and a score while Kevin Wojta rushed for 49 yards and two touchdowns.

The Vikings are finally facing real competition so this game will be a true test of where they stand. Prague, playing at home, will no doubt be looking to prove to their fans that last week’s loss was just a hiccup on the road to the championship game.