LIVESTREAM: German Quarterfinals – Munich Cowboys @Braunschweig New Yorker Lions, Sept. 22, 6p (12 noon ET)

AFI | American Football | 09/22/2018

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The Braunschweig New Yorker Lions (GFL North #1) face the Munich Cowboys (GFL South #4) in the quarterfinals of the German Football League on September 22 at Eintracht Stadion in Braunschweig, Germany.

The 11-2-1 Lions 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 Cowboys 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,

Braunschweig has the second highest scoring offense in Germany averaging 38.3 points a game, while their defense allows just 11.5 points a game, good for second in the GFL.

Jadrian Clark of the Lions is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country having completed 238 of 384 passes for 3,240 yards and 39 touchdowns against nine interceptions. His favorite target is Justus Holtz who has 714 yards receiving while big Nicolai Schumann has 566 yards receiving.

The Lions have the highest rushing offense in Germany with 2,352 yards in total team rushing with two players in the top 10 in overall yardage. Sean Richard has 1,018 yards rushing and David McCants 707.. However, Chris McClendon returned from injury five games ago and has rushed for 507 yards in those five games.

The Braunschweig defense is anchored by linebackers Roni Salonen and Anthony Darkangelo as well as defensive backs Tim Unger, Tissi Robinson and Darius Robinson and team sack leader Jakob Schridde. They allow an average of 75.6 yards against the run and 134.4 against the pass, third best in the league.

Munich quarterback Trenton Miller averaged 260.9 yards passing per game, third best among all quarterbacks in the regular season. However, he is the entire offense as the Cowboys running game is dead last in Germany with a 40.2 yards per game average. Nevertheless, running back Alexander Funk rushed for 86 yards in the win over Stuttgart and could help. Wide receiver, Kai Silbermann ended the season as the third leading receiver in Germany in overall yardage with 1,187 yards on 84 catches.

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.

Despite the momentum surge, Munich will be hard pressed against a Lions team that has won four of the last five German Football League titles.