LIVESTREAM Germany: Berlin Adler @ Dresden Monarchs, Aug. 28, 15:00 CET, (3 pm, 9:00 am ET)

Vincent Lospinuso | American Football | 08/28/2022

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

The final game of the 2022 German Football League regular season for the reigning champion Dresden Monarchs (4-5) and newcomers to the GFL this season, the Berlin Adler (5-4) is the ultimate win or go home game with the final playoff spot on the line.

For the fifth place Monarchs to finish fourth and the final playoff berth in the GFL North, they need to beat the Adler by seven points or more and then hope that the Cologne Crocodiles defeat the Berlin Rebels in the other Sunday game. The Adler downed Dresden 48-42 earlier in the season.

An Adler win would put them into the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Should they lose by seven points or more and the Crocodiles win, then they would be out. If they win and the Berlin Rebels beat Cologne, then the Adler would actually wind up third in the GFL North.

The Adler were promoted to the GFL this year for the first time since 2018. Despite a strong 4-1 start to the season, they have lost three of their last four games. Throughout this year, they have been in the playoff picture thanks to their offense, but the porousness of the defense caught up with them in the second half to the point now where if they lose, their once promising season will end.

When it comes to offense, the Adler have the edge as the fifth best total offense in the league averaging 420.1 yards and 32.7 points per game. Quarterback Zach Cavanaugh has been having a great season and leads the league in passing yards per game with 324.5 while throwing 22 touchdown passes.

The team had had a two headed monster at wide receiver with Max Zimmermann (47 rec. for 828 yards and 9 tds) and Patrick Donahue (53 rec. for 770 yards and 4 tds).

The Adler’s ninth ranked defense gave up an average of 354.8 yards and 33 points per game. Defensive back Antonio Smith led the team in tackles with 41 total tackles.

For the Monarchs, the return of quarterback Austyn Carta Samuels has been important as he engineered wins in two of the last three games for Dresden while throwing for 520 yards and touchdowns. Running back David Baum is the fifth leading rusher in the GFL with 636 yards and five touchdowns on 106 carries while as a team the Monarchs have 1,272 yards rushing good for fifth overall.

The Monarchs defense is fifth in the GFL in points allowed with 25 but a dismal 13th in terms of yards surrendered, giving up an average of 421.8. Two Monarchs are in the top five for total tackles with linebacker Andrew McElroy sitting fourth with 70 tackles (7.8 per game) and teammate and fellow linebacker, Rayshard Ashby, fifth with 68 (7.6/g)