Earlier this year in the Munich Ravens first ever game in the European League of Football (ELF), the Raiders Tirol stuck it on them in a 59–38 rout. Since then though, the teams have gone in opposite directions, and it now looks as if the Ravens will be able to take revenge in the beautiful Austrian Alp town of Innsbruck.
Not only will this game mean something in the standings for the Ravens, who are currently sitting at 3–3 behind the 5–2 Raiders, but the stadium they are playing in is somewhat of a homecoming for both quarterback Chad Jeffries and Director of Sports Operations Sean Shelton.
Prior to joining the Ravens, Jeffries was the longtime quarterback for the Danube Dragons in the Austrian Football League. And the team they regularly lost to in that league was the Tirol Raiders, who were quarterbacked by Sean Shelton. It is therefore safe to say that opening-week loss meant something to both men.
Since that defeat however, the Ravens have had one of the most explosive offenses in the league. They even went toe-to-toe with the Rhein Fire in Week 6 before crumbling in the second half.
Jeffries has thrown for 1,678 yards, 16 touchdowns and just three interceptions so far. League-leading receiver Markell Castle has proven to be Jeffries’ favorite weapon and has accounted for half of all of his passing yards. On the ground, the Ravens have found a diamond in the rough with Irish–Nigerian running back Tomiwa Oyewo who is currently third in the league in rushing with 493 yards and four touchdowns.
However, their defense had not matched the offense and has let them down with opponents regularly putting 30+ points on them. Luckily for them, the Raiders offense has looked like a shadow of its former self in recent weeks.
Wideout Jarvis McClam was considered one the most explosive players in the league at the beginning of the year. He has since gone quiet though and has totaled just 160 yards and a touchdown in two weeks. So too has quarterback Christian Strong seemingly taken a few steps back. He has started throwing more interceptions than touchdowns and his completion percentage has plummeted.
The Ravens are currently flying high and will have their eyes fixed on the Raiders. This is more than just another week in the ELF for both Jeffries and Shelton and we can expect them to go after the Raiders early. If we get the same Tirol team we have seen for the past two weeks, their future in the playoffs may start to look a little precarious after this weekend.