Winner takes all in Admirals-Galaxy clash
May 9, 2006 - National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release
AT least one half of the Yello Strom World Bowl XIV lineup will be known this weekend as the winner of the meeting between the league-leading Amsterdam Admirals (6-2) and the Frankfurt Galaxy (6-2) will advance to the championship game being played in Düsseldorf's LTU arena on Saturday May 27.
Both Amsterdam and Frankfurt know the Rhein Fire (5-3) is breathing down their necks heading into the final stretch. Should the Fire win out, beginning with this weekend's meeting with the Hamburg Sea Devils (1-6-1), they would still have a shot at hosting the championship game in their own stadium, providing other results went their way.
A full breakdown of World Bowl scenarios, tiebreaker procedures and tiebreaker examples is included within this press release.
The final game of Week 9 sees the Berlin Thunder (2-5-1) take to the road to face a Cologne Centurions (3-5) club coming off a morale-boosting victory over the league-leading Admirals last weekend.
WEEK NINE SCHEDULE
SUNDAY MAY 14
Berlin Thunder at Cologne Centurions
RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, 4:00 p.m.
Rhein Fire at Hamburg Sea Devils
AOL Arena, Hamburg, 4:00 p.m.
Amsterdam Admirals at Frankfurt Galaxy
Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt, 5:00 p.m.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK - WEEK 8
OFFENSIVE - BROCK BERLIN - QB, Hamburg
Completed 12 of 15 passes for 183 yards,
3 touchdowns and a QB rating of 157.1
DEFENSIVE - KEVIN CURTIS - S, Cologne
5 tackles, 3 passes defended, 2 interceptions
SPECIAL TEAMS - DAVID KIMBALL - K, Frankfurt
Kicked 3 FG, including game-winner with 0:02 left
NATIONAL - DANIEL WATTS - DE, Berlin
Recorded 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
and 1 fumble recovery
NEWS AND NOTES NFL Europe 2006, Week 9 - Page 2
COVER STORY (continued)
After seeing his team win last weekend's Deutschland Derby with a last-second field goal, Frankfurt Galaxy head coach MIKE JONES praised a group of players who are now in a position to secure a World Bowl berth on Sunday evening.
He says: "Our players showed a lot of character throughout the Rhein Fire game. There were a lot of ups and downs but our guys stood up and got the win. That was most important to us because it gives us a one-game lead over Rhein."
Amsterdam Admirals head coach BART ANDRUS saw his team lose for the first time since opening day last week. While his own offense struggled, Andrus warned of the dangers of Frankfurt's league-leading attack, saying: "We had some problems but things will be corrected and improved. Frankfurt has a very good running game and our biggest challenge is to try to limit them in that area and to improve on offense."
Rhein Fire head coach JIM TOMSULA saw his team suffer a damaging blow with last weekend's loss in Frankfurt. And while he still harbors hopes of qualifying for World Bowl, the rookie head coach insists his players focus on this week's meeting with Hamburg.
He stresses: "Your ultimate goal when you start the season is to play and win the World Bowl, that's the prize. But you have to take the steps along the way to get to that point. You can't just focus on something that far down the line - you have to focus on the day at hand. But having a tiebreaker against the Galaxy could be very important to us down the line."
The Sea Devils head home to Hamburg on the back of their first win of 2006, prompting head coach JACK BICKNELL to say: "We are not going to the World Bowl and not going to have a great record, but we want to win out. We have the Fire and then the Admirals the following week. We want to win those games. It is very important that we finish strong and that is certainly what we are going to try to do."
Former Berlin Thunder defensive coordinator DAVID DUGGAN faces his old team in Week 9 with the Cologne Centurions coming off a huge win in Amsterdam last week.
Duggan says: "I thought our team played very well last week. Our defense came up with some huge plays when we needed them. I consider myself very fortunate to have such a great group to work with right now. I'm very happy with the team right now."
Thunder head coach RICK LANTZ rides a three-game losing streak into Cologne and says: "Hamburg played better than we did last week. It's upsetting to me - not that they played well, but it's upsetting to me that we didn't play as well as I thought we were capable of. It was not a good game for us. Hopefully we can play better at Cologne and then end the season by playing better against Frankfurt."
The state of the contenders heading into home straight
WITH just two weeks of the 2006 season remaining, three teams are left alive in the race for World Bowl glory - the Amsterdam Admirals, Frankfurt Galaxy and Rhein Fire.
Here is a look at what each contending team needs in order to book their spot in title game.
AMSTERDAM ADMIRALS (6-2)
- Qualifies for World Bowl with one more victory or one more loss by Rhein Fire.
FRANKFURT GALAXY (6-2)
- Qualifies for World Bowl with victory against Amsterdam in Week 9 (Explanation: the worst they could do then is finish in a three-way tie with Amsterdam and Rhein, in which they would finish second based on results of games involving tied teams - Amsterdam 3-1, Frankfurt 2-2, Rhein 1-3).
- Even with a Week 9 loss, Frankfurt can qualify for World Bowl with a victory in Week 10 against Berlin coupled with one more loss by the Rhein Fire (Explanation: Frankfurt needs to finish a game ahead of Rhein because they would lose a head-to-head tiebreaker for second place with Rhein because of points differential in the two games between those teams. Frankfurt has a -2 differential).
Note: There is no scenario in which points differential between Amsterdam and Frankfurt can become a determining factor for a World Bowl berth, therefore Frankfurt does not need to be concerned about overturning the 18-point loss (38-20) it suffered at Amsterdam in Week 3.
RHEIN FIRE (5-3)
- Qualifies for World Bowl with two more wins coupled with two losses by either Amsterdam or Frankfurt.
- Also qualifies with two more wins coupled with an Amsterdam win over Frankfurt in Week 9 (Explanation: the worst they could do then would be a second place tie with Frankfurt - which they would win on points differential in the two games between those teams with a +2 differential.
- Also qualifies with one win coupled with two Frankfurt losses.
NEWS AND NOTES NFL Europe 2006, Week 9 - Page 3
Close contest on the cards as history beckons red-hot Galaxy
WITH the winner of Sunday's meeting between the Amsterdam Admirals and Frankfurt Galaxy being assured of a World Bowl berth, nerves are bound to be frayed at Commerzbank Arena.
A close game could only add to the tension being felt on both sidelines and in the stands and that is quite probable given the history of the Admirals-Galaxy rivalry.
There have been 24 meetings between the clubs since 1995, including a memorable battle in World Bowl '95. Of those contests, 13 have been decided by one score or less (8 points), including five in a row between 2001 and 2003.
The Galaxy has won nine of 11 games played between the clubs in Frankfurt, with Amsterdam's only wins coming in Week 7 of the 2003 campaign and Week 4 of 2000.
With Frankfurt 4-0 in their own stadium this season, one more win will see the team become just the eighth in league history to go undefeated on home soil in a single season.
Here are the other teams who went 5-0 at home in a season and how they fared:
Team Year Fared
Berlin Thunder 2004 Won WB
Barcelona Dragons 2001 Lost WB
Rhein Fire 2000 Won WB
Scottish Claymores 1996 Won WB
Amsterdam Admirals 1995 Lost WB
Birmingham Fire 1992 Missed WB
Orlando Thunder 1992 Lost WB
Galaxy head coach MIKE JONES says: "One of the reasons I am so proud to be head coach of the Frankfurt Galaxy is because we have the best fans in the league.
"They made life very difficult for the Rhein Fire on Saturday night, as they have done for every team coming in here this season. It makes a difference."
The Galaxy players and coaches head into Sunday's game knowing they can become the first squad in club history to record six wins in a row in the same season. The club record seven wins in a row came over the course of two seasons from Weeks 8-10 of 1995 to Week 4 of 1996.
Frankfurt's last loss came at the hands of the Amsterdam Admirals when they fell to a 38-20 defeat at the Amsterdam ArenA in Week 3.
Galaxy QB CRAIG OCHS (Buffalo Bills) says: "We've got to take care of business the next few weeks but World Bowl is definitely in our sights. We control our own destiny."
NFLEL Tiebreaker Procedures
GIVEN the fact that the race to reach Yello Strom World Bowl XIV could yet require a photo finish, it is worth remembering that when two or more clubs finish with identical won-lost-tied percentage, the following steps will be taken until a winner is determined:
Two Clubs
1. Head-to-head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the clubs)
2. Best points differential in games between tied teams
3. Best points differential in all games
4. Best net touchdowns in games between tied teams
5. Best net touchdowns in all games
6. Coin toss
Three or more clubs
1. Head to head (best won-lost-tied percentage in games between the tied teams)
2. Best points differential in games between tied teams
3. Best points differential in all games
4. Best net touchdowns in games between tied teams
5. Best net touchdowns in all games
6. Coin toss
NOTE
If clubs remain tied after third or other clubs have been eliminated from or have won a multi-team tiebreaker, the tiebreaker reverts to Step 1.
EXAMPLES
In a three-way tie for first place, Team A has a 3-1 record against other tied teams, Team B has a 2-2 record, Team C has a 1-3 record. Team A advances, Team C is eliminated, therefore World Bowl is Team A vs Team B.
In a four-way tie for first place, Team A has a 4-2 record against other tied teams, Team B has a 3-3 record, Team C has a 3-3 record, Team D has a 2-4 record. Team A advances to World Bowl, Team D is eliminated and Teams B and C revert to Step 1 of the two-team tiebreaker.
NFLEL FACTS:Galaxy No.1
For the first time since taking over top spot in Week 2, the Amsterdam Admirals have been knocked into second place in the offensive rankings. Frankfurt now leads NFLEL with an average of 343.1 yards per game. Amsterdam ranks second with 340.1 yards.
NFLEL FACTS:Under Pressure
Rhein Fire quarterback DREW HENSON (Dallas Cowboys) has been sacked more times than any other passer in NFL Europe this season. The former NFL starter has been dropped 11 times for 72 yards but still ranks fourth in the league with a passer rating of 84.7.
NEWS AND NOTES NFL Europe 2006, Week 9 - Page 4
Turnovers the key to victory
THE Amsterdam Admirals discovered during last week's loss to the Cologne Centurions just how important it is to take care of the football in the NFL Europe League.
The Admirals turned the ball over five times compared to Cologne's one and suffered a 20-13 defeat as a result. That loss kept Amsterdam from clinching a berth in Yello Strom World Bowl XIV.
Admirals head coach BART ANDRUS says: "It is tough to be in a game when you turn the ball over five times."
Cologne Centurions boss DAVID DUGGAN adds: "The turnover ratio made a huge difference in the ball game."
Football coaches have long pointed to a team's turnover ratio as a key to success and that has proven to be an accurate indicator in NFL Europe this spring.
There have been 20 games this season in which one team has held an advantage over its opponent in the turnover department. Of those 20, teams winning the turnover battle have gone 16-3-1.
Only the Admirals (Week 2 at Cologne), the Centurions (Week 6 vs. Hamburg) and the Rhein Fire (Week 7 vs. Berlin) have lost the turnover battle and gone on to win the game in 2006.
Andrus concludes: "If you look at statistics over the years in the NFL and the NFL Europe League, the team that turns the football over the least wins the game."
NFLEL FACTS:Air Berlin
In completing 12 of 15 passes for 183 yards and 3 TDs at Berlin in Week 8, Hamburg Sea Devils QB BROCK BERLIN (Miami Dolphins) compiled a passer rating of 157.1. That figure is the fourth-highest in NFLEL history. Gibran Hamdan (Amsterdam 2006) and Craig Nall (Scotland 2003) have posted 'perfect' 158.3 marks, while Reggie Slack (NY/NJ 1992) compiled a rating of 158.0 in a game against the London Monarchs.
NFLEL FACTS:Votes Roll In
With one week remaining before voting for the All-NFL Europe League team closes, here are the top five vote-getters from NFLEurope.com, regardless of position: 1. WR SKYLER FULTON (Ams) 2. QB GIBRAN HAMDAN (Ams) 3. RB ROGER ROBINSON (Fra) 4. WR CHAD LUCAS (Ams) 5. K RYAN KILLEEN (Ams).
League records could tumble in final two weeks of 2006 season
AS well as chasing places in Yello Strom World Bowl XIV in the remaining two weeks of the 2006 season, Frankfurt Galaxy running back ROGER ROBINSON (Arizona Cardinals) and Amsterdam Admirals wide receiver SKYLER FULTON (Seattle Seahawks) will also be looking to write their names in the NFL Europe League record books.
Robinson recorded his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season on Saturday night and now needs just one more to tie the league mark of six set by the Rhein Fire's Joe Smith in 2005.
Robinson tops NFL Europe with 833 rushing yards on 157 carries and needs 225 to break the single season record of 1,057 set by Mike Green, of the Barcelona Dragons, in 2001.
That means Robinson needs to average 112.5 rushing yards per game over the next two weeks. In his seven appearances this season (he missed a Week 5 meeting with Hamburg due to a head injury) Robinson has averaged 119 rushing yards per game.
Frankfurt has rushed for 1,339 yards this season and is on pace to challenge the single season record of 1,686 by the 1999 Rhein Fire. At its current pace, the Galaxy would rush for 1,674 yards, which would rank second all time.
Fulton has already tied the league record with five 100-yard receiving games this season. He needs to add 155 yards to his league-leading tally of 869 on 45 receptions to break the single-season receiving yardage total of 1,023 held by former Scottish Claymores wide receiver Sean LaChapelle (1996).
Cologne Centurions quarterback SHANE BOYD (Pittsburgh Steelers) is also closing in on a record as he eyes the single season rushing yardage total of 334 set by Jon Kitna, of the 1997 Barcelona Dragons.
Top QB rushers in NFLEL history (single-season)
334 yards Jon Kitna Barcelona 1997
287 yards Jarious Jackson Barcelona 2001
286 yards Seth Burford Barcelona 2003
278 yards Shane Boyd Cologne 2006
276 yards Dameyune Craig Scotland 1999
Boyd has rushed for 278 yards on 38 carries this term and needs an additional 57 yards on scrambles to officially become the best running quarterback of any NFL Europe League campaign.
TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2006, Week 9 - Page 5
AMSTERDAM ADMIRALS (6-2)Head Coach: Bart Andrus (28-29 in NFLEL,Plus 1-0 in World Bowl)Colours: Orange and blue
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: John Allen (3rd season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Richard Kent (1st season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 63-55
MEDIA CONTACT: Perry Hendriks
Phone: 31-20-465-0550
Fax: 31-20-465-0555
E-mail: hendriksp@admirals.nl
Internet: www.admirals.nl
LAST GAME: Lost 13-20 vs Cologne (5/6/06)
OFFENSE: 27.6 pts/game; 340.1 yds/game (rank 2); 87.4 yds rush/game (rank 6); 252.8 yds pass/game (rank 1)
Passing: Gibran Hamdan, 1,629 yds
Rushing: Larry Croom, 342 yds
Receiving: Skyler Fulton, 45 rec, 869 yds
DEFENSE: 23.5 pts/game; 320.4 yds/game (rank 4); 132.1 rush yds/game (rank 5); 188.3 pass yds/game (rank 4)
Sacks: Claude Harriott, 4.0
Interceptions: Cory Peoples, 2
- THIS WEEK: at FRANKFURT GALAXY -
Head coach BART ANDRUS expects his team to improve on last week's loss against Cologne, ending a 6-game winning streak. "We had some problems and it is tough to be in a game when you turn the ball over five times."... QB JARED ALLEN (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) made his first start of the season following Gibran Hamdan's season-ending injury, completing 17 of 28 passes for 177 yards with 1 TD, 3 interceptions and 6 sacks. He also rushed 3 times for 25 yards. Andrus says: "Our young quarterback will get nothing but better. We have got to help him and let him make some throws. He may have held the ball too long at times but he is going to play his way out of that and will look a lot better next week."... QB REGGIE ROBERTSON (Oakland Raiders) did not see action last week... RB LARRY CROOM (San Diego Chargers) leads the team in rushing yards (see table)... RB DIAMOND FERRI (Atlanta Falcons) gained 29 yards on 7 carries last week and ran back 4 kickoffs for 116 yards. Ranks fifth in the league in combined net yards with 742. Rushed for 99 yards on 17 carries, including a TD, against Frankfurt this season... WR CRAIG BRAGG (Chicago Bears) caught 2 passes for 18 yards last week and has 17 this season... WR SKYLER FULTON (Seattle Seahawks) leads NFL Europe in receiving yards and receptions (see table), but was held to season-low yardage last week. His total of 869 is still more than twice that of his nearest rival and he needs 155 yards in final two games to set NFLEL single-season record for receiving yards (1,023, Sean LaChapelle, Scotland, 1996)... WR CHAD LUCAS (Green Bay Packers) caught 5 passes for 76 yards last week and ranks second in NFLEL with 431. Leads league with 8 TD catches, including a pair against Frankfurt in Week 3... French RB SANDINO OCTOBRE caught 3 passes for 18 yards last week and has 9 receptions for the season... Japanese WR NORIAKI KINOSHITA leads the league with a
31.8-yard average, but has missed last two games through injury... DE EARL COCHRAN ranks second on the team with 3 sacks. Posted a team-high 8 tackles last week... DE CLAUDE HARRIOTT leads the team with 4 sacks... DT TONY BROWN (Carolina Panthers) had the team's only sack last week and has 3 this season ... DE DARRELL LEE (Philadelphia Eagles) posted 6 tackles last week... Swedish LB CARL-JOHAN BJÃRK had 5 tackles last week and ranks second on the team with 41... LB JEREMY CAIN (Chicago Bears) posted 6 tackles last week for 32 this season... CB JUSTIN PERKINS (Kansas City Chiefs) posted 5 tackles last week and has 34 this season... S ATARI BIGBY (Green Bay Packers) leads the team with 48 tackles after adding 3 last week... CB ABRAHAM ELIMIMIAN (Chicago Bears) had 6 tackles last week... S CORY PEOPLES (Philadelphia Eagles) ranks third on the team with 44 tackles after 6 last week... K RYAN KILLEEN (Seattle Seahawks) leads NFLEL kickers with 63 points this season after making both FG attempts last week, from 37 and 26 yards. Is 13 of 16 on FGs for the season ... P GLENN PAKULAK (Oakland Raiders) leads the league with a 41.3-yard mark.
QB GIBRAN HAMDAN (Seattle Seahawks), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: vs Ber 25 14 246 1 2
Wk 2: at Col 22 9 209 1 1
Wk 3: vs Fra 15 12 189 3 0
Wk 4: at Ber 22 13 216 2 0
Wk 5: vs Rhe 22 15 244 3 0
Wk 6: at Rhe 21 14 203 2 0
Wk 7: at Ham 35 25 322 1 0
TOTAL 162 102 1,629* 11* 3
RB LARRY CROOM (San Diego Chargers), GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: vs Ber 9 34 1 1 5 0
Wk 2: at Col 15 82 0 0 0 0
Wk 3: vs Fra 13 17 0 0 0 0
Wk 4: at Ber 11 80 0 2 6 0
Wk 5: vs Rhe 8 23 1 3 23 0
Wk 6: at Rhe 12 49 1 2 17 0
Wk 7: at Ham 3 17 0 1 6 0
Wk 8: vs Col 15 40 0 2 20 0
TOTAL 86 342 3 10 77 0
WR SKYLER FULTON (Seattle Seahawks), GAME-BY-GAME
Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: vs Ber 6 131 1
Wk 2: at Col 5 105 1
Wk 3: vs Fra 4 144 2
Wk 4: at Ber 3 77 0
Wk 5: vs Rhe 6 113 2
Wk 6: at Rhe 5 95 0
Wk 7: at Ham 10 166 0
Wk 8: vs Col 6 38 0
TOTAL 45* 869* 6
* Leads NFLEL
TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2006, Week 9 - Page 6
BERLIN THUNDER (2-5-1)Head Coach: Rick Lantz (18-9-1 in NFLEL, plus 1-1 in World Bowl)Colours: Black, green and gold
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Don Eck (3rd season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Charles 'Yogi' Jones (1st season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 40-37-1
MEDIA CONTACT: Maik Matischak
Phone: 49-30-300-644-00
Fax: 49-30-300-644-77
E-mail: maik.matischak@berlin-thunder.de
Internet: www.berlin-thunder.de
LAST GAME: Lost 14-38 vs Hamburg (5/7/06)
OFFENSE: 20 pts/game; 284.4 yds/game (rank 5); 95.4 rush yds/game (rank 5); 189 pass yds/game (rank 3)
Passing: Lang Campbell, 1,242 yds
Rushing: Marty Johnson, 416 yds
Receiving: Rich Musinski, 20 rec, 240 yds
DEFENSE: 25.25 pts/game; 373.25 yds/game (rank 6); 133.9 rush yds/game (rank 6); 239.4 pass yds/game (rank 6)
Sacks: Christian Mohr, 4.5
Interceptions: Anthony Floyd, 3
- THIS WEEK: at COLOGNE CENTURIONS -
Head coach RICK LANTZ saw his team drop a third game in a row last week and says: "We played pretty hard but for whatever reason we are a more beat-up team than either of the ones I have coached here before. We don't practice any different but have come out of games beaten up physically."... QB LANG CAMPBELL (Cleveland Browns) has started every game for Berlin (see table) and ranks third in NFLEL with an 85.9 passer rating. Has not thrown an interception in the last four games... QB B.J. SYMONS (Chicago Bears) completed 3 of 6 attempts for 27 yards last week. Has thrown for 175 yards and 2 touchdowns this season ... QB BRIAN WROBEL (Green Bay Packers) has thrown for 169 yards and 1 TD in 2006... RB LITTLE JOHN FLOWERS has not rushed for more than 60 yards in a game this season (see table). Gained 37 yards on 11 carries in first meeting with Cologne this term... RB MARTY JOHNSON leads the Thunder in rushing yards (see table) and ranks fourth in NFL Europe... FB JONATHAN EVANS (San Diego Chargers) has 10 catches this season... WR RICH MUSINSKI (New England Patriots) caught 3 passes for 32 yards and 1 touchdown last week and has a team-high 20 receptions on the season for 240 yards and 4 scores... WR KERON HENRY (San Diego Chargers) caught a 15-yard pass last week and has 14 receptions for 158 yards this season... TE JASON RANDALL (Atlanta Falcons) caught 2 passes for 16 yards last week and has 14 receptions in 2006... TE BEN MOA caught 3 passes for 48 yards last week and has 12 for 133 on the season... Finnish TE KLAUS ALINEN caught 3 passes for 29 yards last week and has 5 for 65 in 2006... German DE CHRISTIAN MOHR leads the team with 4.5 sacks - good enough for second in NFLEL - and has 26 tackles on the season after adding 2 stops and 1 sack last week... DE ELTON PATTERSON (Jacksonville Jaguars) recorded 2 tackles and 1 sack last week. Has season totals of 12 tackles, 4 sacks and 4 passes batted down... English DE DANIEL WATTS recorded 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery against Hamburg to earn National Player of the Week honors... DE JEFF GREEN recorded 2 tackles last week and has 9 stops and 1 sack on the season... DT RYAN HOFFMAN recorded 4 tackles in his Thunder debut last weekend... English DT LORN MAYERS will miss the rest of the 2006 campaign with an injured
shoulder... LB JERMAINE TAYLOR (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) jointly leads the team with 48 tackles after adding 4 to his total last week... LB KEVIN HARRISON recorded 6 tackles last week and has 41 on the season to rank fourth on the Thunder defense... LB QUENTIN SWAIN has 41 tackles this year after adding 4 last week. Also knocked down 2 passes... CB ROBERT REDD (Atlanta Falcons) ranks second on the Thunder defense with 2 interceptions. Recorded 2 tackles last week and added an 8-yard catch. Has 7 tackles, 4 passes defended and 7 receptions for 70 yards to his name this season... CB ANTWAUN ROGERS (Denver Broncos) recorded 3 tackles and knocked down 1 pass last week. Has 34 tackles and 5 passes defended this season... S ANTHONY FLOYD (Houston Texans) leads the Thunder with 3 interceptions for 65 yards and jointly tops the club's defensive rankings with 48 tackles... German S OLIVER FLEMMING recorded 6 tackles and 1 sack last week, giving him 21 stops for the season. Has added 8 special teams takedowns to lead the team... K XAVIER BEITIA (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) has 40 points this season after adding 2 PATs last week... P BRIAN SIMNJANOWSKI (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) ranks fourth in the NFLEL with a 39.4-yard average on a league-high 40 punts.
QB LANG CAMPBELL (Cleveland Browns), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: at Ams 26 16 139 1 0
Wk 2: vs Rhe 26 14 156 0 2
Wk 3: at Ham 27 13 219 1 1
Wk 4: vs Ams 16 11 117 0 1
Wk 5: vs Col 18 11 112 2 0
Wk 6: at Fra 15 12 134 2 0
Wk 7: at Rhe 28 17 175 2 0
Wk 8: vs Ham 35 16 190 2 0
TOTAL 191 110 1,242 10 4
RB LITTLE JOHN FLOWERS, GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: at Ams 17 60 1 1` 13 0
Wk 2: vs Rhe 5 13 0 2 6 0
Wk 3: at Ham 12 28 0 3 69 0
Wk 4: vs Ams DNP
Wk 5: vs Col 11 37 0 0 0 0
Wk 6: at Fra DNP
Wk 7: at Rhe 7 37 1 1 12 1
Wk 8: vs Ham 4 25 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 56 200 2 7 100 1
RB MARTY JOHNSON, GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: at Ams 15 58 0 1 1 0
Wk 2: vs Rhe 9 38 0 1 -1 0
Wk 3: at Ham 9 42 0 2 15 0
Wk 4: vs Ams 25 130 2 2 18 1
Wk 5: vs Col 7 49 0 3 22 0
Wk 6: at Fra 6 33 0 2 27 0
Wk 7: at Rhe 12 29 0 2 5 0
Wk 8: vs Ham 9 37 0 5 58 0
TOTAL 92 416 2 18 145 1
TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2006, Week 9 - Page 7
COLOGNE CENTURIONS (3-5)Head Coach: David Duggan (3-5 in NFLEL)Colours: Black, red and white
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Scott Milanovich (1st season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: John Lyons (1st season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 12-16
MEDIA CONTACT: Karsten Meier
Phone: 49-221-271-430
Fax: 49-221-271-43299
E-mail: Karsten.meier@cologne-centurions.de
Internet: www.cologne-centurions.de
LAST GAME: Won 20-13 at Amsterdam (5/06/06)
OFFENSE: 14.5 pts/game; 302.5 yds/game (rank 4); 136.4 rush yds/game (rank 2); 166.1 pass yds/game (rank 6)
Passing: Shane Boyd, 992 yds
Rushing: Fred Russell, 424 yds
Receiving: Jamall Broussard, 24 rec, 262 yds
DEFENSE: 17.75 pts/game; 297 yds/game (rank 3); 129.1 rush yds/game (rank 4); 167.9 pass yds/game (rank 1)
Sacks: Bryan Save, 6.0
Interceptions: Kevin Curtis, 4
- THIS WEEK: vs BERLIN THUNDER -
Centurions head coach DAVID DUGGAN expects his players to show the commitment they displayed in winning at Amsterdam last week. He says: "I feel very fortunate to be working with a group of players like this. We played very well last week and came up with some big plays."... QB SHANE BOYD (Pittsburgh Steelers) has started four games and split time last week (see table). Had 1 rush for 9 yards last week to give him 278 yards this season, which ranks eighth in the NFLEL and has him threatening the league's single season QB rushing mark of 334 set by Barcelona's Jon Kitna in 1997. Rushed 8 times for 98 yards, an NFLEL record by a QB, in first game against Berlin this season... QB KLIFF KINGSBURY (New York Jets) started for the first time since Week 3 last week, completing 9 of 13 passes for 124 yards... RB FRED RUSSELL (St. Louis Rams) ranks third in NFLEL in rushing and led the team with 5 receptions last week... WR JAMALL BROUSSARD (Cincinnati Bengals) leads the team in receptions and receiving yards but has only one catch in each of last two games... WR REGGIE NEWHOUSE caught 2 passes for 34 yards last week and has 18 receptions this year ... WR BRIAN BRATTON (Baltimore Ravens) caught 1 pass last week and has 18 this year... WR MICHAEL GASPERSON (Philadelphia Eagles) caught 2 passes for 18 yards last week and has 13 catches in 2006... German TE WERNER HIPPLER played in a league record 94th game last week and has 92 career receptions for 946 yards and 3 touchdowns... TE TRENT SMITH (San Francisco 49ers) caught 3 passes for 35 yards last week, including his third touchdown of the year. Has 18 receptions this season... DE DARRELL WRIGHT posted his first sack of the year last week, recording 4 tackles in the game... DT BRYAN SAVE posted 3 sacks last week to become the NFLEL leader with 6 this season, including 5 in the last two games. Has 30 tackles this year... LB DAVID BERGERON (Carolina Panthers) posted 3 tackles last week to rank second on the team with 39 this season... Safety KEVIN CURTIS (Houston Texans) leads the team with 4 interceptions after grabbing 2 last week, along with
5 tackles and 3 pass defenses, earning him Defensive Player of the Week honors. Ranks third on team with 38 tackles... French LB PHILIPPE GARDENT leads the Centurions and NFL Europe with 56 tackles after adding 7 stops last week... DE OTIS GRIGSBY (Carolina Panthers) posted 2 sacks among 4 tackles last week. Has 3 sacks for the season... S RAYMOND VENTRONE (New England Patriots) led the team with 8 tackles and forced and recovered a fumble last week. Fourth on team with 36 tackles... K NICK SETTA (Buffalo Bills) was 2 of 4 on FG attempts last week and has 21 points this season (6/9 FGs)... P GABE LINDSTROM (Seattle Seahawks) ranks second in the NFLEL with a 41.0-yard average.
QB SHANE BOYD (Pittsburgh Steelers), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: at Ham 9 5 29 0 1
Wk 2: vs Ams 15 9 142 0 0
Wk 3: vs Rhein 23 14 163 1 1
Wk 4: at Fra 18 12 141 1 2
Wk 5: at Ber 37 18 163 0 2
Wk 6: vs Ham 23 10 148 1 1
Wk 7: vs Fra 29 13 152 1 4
Wk 8: at Ams 9 6 54 1 0
TOTAL 163 87 992 5 11
RB FRED RUSSELL (St. Louis Rams), GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: at Ham 22 85 0 2 6 0
Wk 2: vs Ams 19 69 0 2 43 0
WK 3: vs Rhein 12 35 0 1 5 0
Wk 4: at Fra 13 62 0 5 29 0
Wk 5: at Ber 11 32 2 3 17 0
Wk 6: vs Ham 23 84 1 0 0 0
Wk 7: vs Fra 7 10 0 1 11 0
Wk 8 : at Ams 22 47 0 5 52 0
TOTAL 129 424 3 19 163 0
WR JAMALL BROUSSARD (Cincinnati Bengals), GAME-BY-GAME
Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: at Ham 4 31 0
Wk 2: vs Ams 6 89 0
Wk 3: vs Rhein 3 12 0
Wk 4: at Fra 3 40 0
Wk 5: at Ber 2 15 0
Wk 6: vs Ham 4 73 0
Wk 7: vs Fra 1 -1 0
Wk 8: at Ams 1 3 0
TOTAL 24 262 0
TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2006, Week 9 - Page 8
FRANKFURT GALAXY (6-2)Head Coach: Mike Jones (16-12) in NFLEL, plus 0-1 in World Bowl.Colours: Purple, orange, red and white
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Whitey Jordan (2nd season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Ed O'Neil (3rd season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 74-64
MEDIA CONTACT: Joachim Haas
Phone: 49-69-978-2790
Fax: 49-69-978-279099
E-mail: joachim.haas@frankfurt-galaxy.
Internet: www.frankfurt-galaxy.de
LAST GAME: Won 16-14 vs Rhein (5/6/06)
OFFENSE: 18.25 pts/game; 343.1 yds/game (rank 1); 167.4 rush yds/game (rank 1); 175.75 pass yds/game (rank 4)
Passing: Craig Ochs, 853 yds
Rushing: Roger Robinson, 833 yds
Receiving: Aaron Hosack, 32 rec, 416 yds
DEFENSE: 16.25 pts/game; 274.4 yds/game (rank 2); 103 rush yds/game (rank 2); 171.4 pass yds/game (rank 2)
Sacks: Matt Sinclair, Jerome Nichols, 3.0
Interceptions: Brandon Haw, 4
- THIS WEEK: vs AMSTERDAM ADMIRALS -
Head coach MIKE JONES saw his team excel in the trenches to win a fifth game in a row last week. He says: "Both our offensive and defensive lines did a great job of stepping up and playing a great game against the Fire. We dominated the line of scrimmage."... QB CRAIG OCHS (Buffalo Bills) made his third start of the season last week (see table). Has a QB rating of 90.1 to rank second in NFL Europe... QB JEFF OTIS (Arizona Cardinals) started the opening five games of the season and has thrown for 487 yards, 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. Has passer rating of 84.7... RB ROGER ROBINSON (Arizona Cardinals) leads NFL Europe in rushing yards (see table). Posted fifth 100-yard rushing day last week and broke the club record single season rushing total of 831 set by Curtis Alexander in 2002... RB J.R. NIKLOS has rushed for 136 yards and 1 touchdown this season... Free agent RB BUTCHIE WALLACE made his fourth Galaxy appearance last week and rushed for 63 yards on 12 carries. Has 225 rushing yards on 53 carries... WR AARON HOSACK (Minnesota Vikings) leads the Galaxy in receptions and receiving yards (see table) and ranks second in NFLEL in catches and third in receiving yards. Caught 5 passes for 61 yards and a touchdown in first meeting with Amsterdam... WR ADAM HERZING (Pittsburgh Steelers) was injured on the opening kickoff last week and played no further part in the game. Has 14 receptions for 220 yards and 1 TD this season... WR WALTER YOUNG (Pittsburgh Steelers) caught a 10-yard pass last week and has 24 receptions for 272 yards and 3 touchdowns this year... WR TOM CROWDER (Dallas Cowboys) caught 2 passes for 20 yards and a TD last week and has 6 for 58 in 2006... TE KEITH WILLIS (Seattle Seahawks) caught a season-high 8 passes for 103 yards last week and has 15 for 235 on the year... TE SEAN McHUGH (Detroit Lions) caught 2 passes for 8 yards last week and has 9 for 55 and 1 score in 2006... German DE ULRICH WINKLER recorded 2 tackles last week and has 10 stops to his name this term... German DE DANIEL BENETKA grabbed 3 tackles last week and has 12 on the year... DE JOSH COOPER
recorded 4 tackles last week to take his season tally to 19 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble... DT JEROME NICHOLS (Green Bay Packers) jointly leads the Galaxy with 3 sacks among his 23 tackles. Has also knocked down 3 passes... LB MATT SINCLAIR (Miami Dolphins) also has 3 sacks and ranks third on Frankfurt's defense with 36 tackles after adding 2 last week... LB JARED NEWBERRY (Tennessee Titans) posted 5 tackles last week and has 42 for the season to rank second on the defense... LB TRAVIS HARRIS leads the Galaxy with 46 tackles after adding 7 last week. Has also knocked down 4 passes and forced 1 fumble this season... CB LENNY WILLIAMS (Dallas Cowboys) recorded 3 tackles last week. Has 3 interceptions this season... S BRANDON HAW is tied for the NFLEL lead with 4 interceptions after grabbing 1 and adding 3 tackles against Rhein. Has added 18 tackles and 6 pass defenses... S ROB LEE (Buffalo Bills) recorded 1 tackle last week to give him 25 this season... K DAVID KIMBALL (Oakland Raiders) ranks second among NFLEL kickers with 56 points (14/22 FG, 14/14 PAT). Kicked 3 FG's, including a 23-yard game-winner with two seconds remaining to earn Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
QB CRAIG OCHS (Buffalo Bills), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: at Rhein DNP
Wk 2: vs Ham 15 12 125 1 0
Wk 3: at Ams DNP
Wk 4: vs Col 16 8 100 1 1
Wk 5: at Ham 14 9 162 1 0
Wk 6: vs Ber 27 18 172 0 0
Wk 7: at Col 14 7 123 1 0
Wk 8: vs Rhe 32 18 171 1 1
TOTAL 118 72 853 4 1
RB ROGER ROBINSON (Arizona Cardinals), GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: at Rhein 26 103 0 1 0 0
Wk 2: vs Ham 23 150 1 3 26 0
Wk 3: at Ams 14 95 1 2 4 0
Wk 4: vs Col 25 128 1 1 10 0
Wk 5: at Ham DNP
Wk 6: vs Ber 27 146 1 3 45 0
Wk 7: at Col 22 67 0 1 7 0
Wk 8: vs Rhe 20 144 0 0 0 0
TOTAL 157* 833* 4* 11 92 0
WR AARON HOSACK (Minnesota Vikings), GAME-BY-GAME
Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: at Rhein 1 10 0
Wk 2: vs Ham 5 70 1
Wk 3: at Ams 5 61 1
Wk 4: vs Col 3 37 0
Wk 5: at Ham 7 102 1
Wk 6: vs Ber 3 18 0
Wk 7: at Col 4 95 1
Wk 8: vs Rhe 4 26 0
TOTAL 32 416 4
* Leads NFL Europe
TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2006, Week 9 - Page 9
HAMBURG SEA DEVILS (1-6-1)Head Coach: Jack Bicknell (67-70-1 in NFLEL, 2-5 in post-season)Colours: Dark blue, teal, red
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Vince Martino (2nd season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Dan Daniel (2nd season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 6-11-1
MEDIA CONTACT: Thomas Bothstede
Phone: 49-407-525-590
Fax: 49-407-525-5959
E-mail: pr@hamburg-seadevils.de
Internet: www.hamburg-seadevils.de
LAST GAME: Won 38-14 at Berlin (5/7/06)
OFFENSE: 18.4 pts/game; 280.5 yds/game (rank 6); 105 rush yds/game (rank 4); 175.5 pass yds/game (rank 5)
Passing: Brock Berlin, 746 yds
Rushing: Mike Jemison, 368 yds
Receiving: Scott McCready, 30 rec, 368 yds
DEFENSE: 20.25 pts/game; 337 yds/game (rank 5); 114.25 rush yds/game (rank 3); 222.75 pass yds/game (rank 5)
Sacks: Scott Scharff, 4.0
Interceptions: Rayshun Reed, 3
- THIS WEEK: vs RHEIN FIRE -
Head coach JACK BICKNELL saw his players enjoy the sweet taste of victory for the first time last week and says: "I am really happy for my team. I am happy about the way they have practiced and conducted themselves. Now I am happy that they can smile and not be down all the time."... QB BROCK BERLIN (Miami Dolphins) has started six games this season (see table) but came off the bench last week to produce his best display of the year, earning Offensive Player of the Week honors. Improved his QB rating for the year to 64.9... QB JAMES KILIAN (Kansas City Chiefs) has thrown for 3 TDS and 5 interceptions this season... QB TODD MORTENSEN (New England Patriots) made his first start of the year last week and hit on 9 of 17 attempts for 64 yards. Has thrown for 301 yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception in 2006... RB MIKE JEMISON (Pittsburgh Steelers) leads the team in rushing (see table) but missed a second game in a row with a rib injury... RB DEJUAN GREEN (Oakland Raiders) carried 12 times for 60 yards and 1 TD last week and added an 8-yard reception. Has gained 130 yards on 26 carries this term... English RB JERMAINE ALLEN rushed 10 times for 25 yards last week and has now gained 62 yards on 18 carries in his first season of professional football... English WR SCOTT McCREADY leads the Sea Devils in receptions and receiving yards (see table) and scored his first touchdown of the season last week. Ranks second all time in NFL Europe with 171 career receptions and 1,961 receiving yards... WR RICKY BRYANT caught 2 passes for 21 yards last week... WR RICHARD SMITH (Washington Redskins) caught 2 passes for 9 yards last week and has 18 receptions this season... WR NATE CURRY (Kansas City Chiefs) caught 4 passes for 46 yards last week and has 15 receptions this season... WR JOVAN WITHERSPOON (New York Jets) caught 3 passes for 84 yards and 2 TDs last week and has 9 for 127 and 3 TDs this season... TE KORI DICKERSON (Detroit Lions) has 15 receptions on the year... DE SCOTT SCHARFF (San Francisco 49ers)
leads the Sea Devils with 4 sacks among his 14 tackles... DE IVORY McCOY recorded 1 tackle last week and also forced and recovered a fumble... DT KEYONTA MARSHALL (Philadelphia Eagles) posted 1 tackle and 1 pass defense last week and has 22 tackles and 2 sacks on the season... LB KRIS GRIFFIN (Kansas City Chiefs) ranks third on Hamburg's defense with 34 tackles after adding 2 last week... English LB ADEN DURDE has 27 tackles for the season after notching a team-high 9 last week... LB SCOTT GENORD has 27 tackles in 2006... LB RUSSEL RABE (New Orleans Saints) has made 21 tackles and added 2 sacks this season... CB WILLIE AMOS (Chicago Bears) recorded 2 tackles and knocked down 1 pass last week... CB RAYSHUN REED leads the Sea Devils with 3 interceptions for 92 yards and a touchdown. Has also scored on a fumble return and added 29 tackles, 9 passes defended, 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles... S SHAWN MAYER (Cleveland Browns) leads the Sea Devils with 44 tackles after adding 6 last week... S JASON SHIVERS (NY Giants) ranks second on the club with 43 tackles after making 6 last week... German S CLAUDIUS OSEI recorded 4 tackles last week and has 26 this season... K TYLER JONES (Washington Redskins) converted his only field goal attempt from 37 yards last week and ranks fifth among NFLEL kickers with 39 points (7/10 FG, 18/18 PATs)... P ADAM ANDERSON (Detroit Lions) ranks third in NFL Europe with a 40.6-yard average on a joint league-high 40 punts.
QB BROCK BERLIN (Miami Dolphins), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: vs Col 25 10 129 1 3
Wk 2: at Fra 27 16 122 1 0
Wk 3: vs Ber 22 12 70 0 0
Wk 4: at Rhe 22 10 102 1 2
Wk 5: vs Fra 19 8 93 0 0
Wk 6: at Col 7 4 47 0 1
Wk 7: vs Ams DNP
Wk 8: at Ber 15 12 183 3 0
TOTAL 137 72 746 6 6
RB MIKE JEMISON (Pittsburgh Steelers), GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: vs Col 18 80 0 3 32 0
Wk 2: at Fra 12 42 0 4 30 0
Wk 3: vs Ber 26 88 0 6 35 0
Wk 4: at Rhe 16 62 0 1 5 0
Wk 5: vs Fra 20 64 0 4 46 0
Wk 6: at Col 9 32 0 0 0 0
Wk 7: vs Ams DNP
Wk 8: at Ber DNP
TOTAL 101 368 0 18 148 0
WR SCOTT McCREADY, GAME-BY-GAME
Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: vs Col 2 14 0
Wk 2: at Fra 8 95 0
Wk 3: vs Ber 3 19 0
Wk 4: at Rhe 4 34 0
Wk 5: vs Fra 1 8 0
Wk 6: at Col 6 139 0
Wk 7: vs Ams DNP
Wk 8: at Ber 6 59 1
TOTAL 30 368 1
TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europe 2006, Week 9 - Page 10
RHEIN FIRE (5-3)Head Coach: Jim Tomsula (5-3 in NFLEL)Colours: Burgundy, black and white
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Steve Logan (1st season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Adrian White (3rd season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 63-55
MEDIA CONTACT: Markus Müller
Phone: 49-211-478-730
Fax: 49-211-478-7329
E-mail: markus.mueller@rhein-fire.de
Internet: www.rhein-fire.de
LAST GAME: Lost 14-16 at Frankfurt (5/6/06)
OFFENSE: 22 pts/game; 320.25 yds/game (rank 3); 114.25 rush yds/game (rank 3); 206 pass yds/game (rank 2)
Passing: Drew Henson, 1,188 yds
Rushing: Fredrick Jackson, 549 yds
Receiving: Chris Samp, 31 rec, 397 yds
DEFENSE: 17.75 pts/game; 268.9 yds/game (rank 1); 93.4 rush yds/game (rank 1); 175.5 pass yds/game (rank 4)
Sacks: Derrick Strong, 4.0
Interceptions: Antwain Spann, Ronyell Whitaker, 3
- THIS WEEK: at HAMBURG SEA DEVILS -
Fire head coach JIM TOMSULA saw his team lose a late fourth quarter lead against the Galaxy last week and admits: "We never felt we had it won. This is NFL Europe - in NFL Europe games are never wrapped up."... QB DREW HENSON (Dallas Cowboys) has started all eight games this season (see table) but was held to a season-low yardage total while battling a knee injury last week. Ranks fourth in NFLEL with a passer rating of 84.7... QB TIMMY CHANG (Philadelphia Eagles) hit on 13 of 19 passes for 170 yards and 2 TDs last week. For the season, has hit on 36 of 63 attempts for 495 yards and 4 scores... RB JACQUE LEWIS (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) was held to 9 yards on 8 carries last week. Has rushed for 297 yards and 4 TDs this season. Scored a TD in previous meeting with Hamburg... RB FREDRICK JACKSON (Buffalo Bills) leads the Fire in rushing (see table) and ranks second in the NFLEL. Gained 79 rushing yards in first meeting with Sea Devils... French RB LAURENT MARCELINE has 9 receptions for 86 yards this season... WR CHRIS SAMP (Carolina Panthers) leads the team in receptions and yards (see table). Scored 5 TDs in three games from Weeks 5-7 but was kept out of end zone against Frankfurt... WR KENDRICK STARLING (Houston Texans) caught 4 passes for 71 yards and 1 score last week. Has 12 receptions for 309 yards and 3 TDs in 2006... WR STEVEN HARRIS (Washington Redskins) returned 2 kickoffs for 26 yards last week and added an 18-yard reception... English WR MARVIN ALLEN caught a 21-yard TD pass against his old team last week... TE AARON HALTERMAN (Houston Texans) caught 2 passes for 20 yards last week and has 25 for 265 on the season to rank second on the team... TE ANDY STOKES (Arizona Cardinals) caught a 12-yard pass last week... DE DERRICK STRONG leads the Fire with 4 sacks and has 22 tackles after adding 2 last week... DE WALTER CURRY (Jacksonville Jaguars) recorded 3 tackles last week and has 18 and 1 forced fumble on the season... DT BROOK MILLER (Atlanta Falcons) recorded 3 tackles and 1 sack last week, giving him 15 stops and 3 sacks for the year... LB TERRENCE ROBINSON is in his
third season with the Rhein Fire and leads the team with 46 tackles after adding 3 stops last week... LB GUY TUELL made 2 tackles last week and has 25 this term... German LB RICHARD ADJEI notched 4 tackles last week to take his season tally to 14... LB TYSON SMITH (New York Giants) registered 7 tackles and 1 sack against Frankfurt and has 26 and 1 sack this year... CB RONYELL WHITAKER (Minnesota Vikings) posted 8 tackles last week and ranks second on the club with 35 stops this year. Has defended a team-high 8 passes and jointly leads the Fire with 3 interceptions... CB THERRIAN FONTENOT (Green Bay Packers) recorded 2 tackles last week and has 23 on the year. Has 2 interceptions and 8 passes defended this season... S MITCH MEEUWSEN (San Diego Chargers) posted 5 tackles last week and has 20 and 2 sacks in 2006... S SIDDEEQ SHABAZZ (Miami Dolphins) recorded a team-high 9 tackles last week and has 29 this season... Swedish K OLA KIMRIN (Miami Dolphins) is in his fourth NFLEL season (Frankfurt 2001-02, Cologne 2004). Ranks third among NFLEL kickers with 50 points (10/15 FG, 20/20 PAT). Needs to score 23 points to reach 200 for his career.
QB DREW HENSON (Dallas Cowboys), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: vs Fra 11 5 58 0 0
Wk 2: at Ber 24 17 171 1 0
Wk 3: at Col 28 14 165 1 1
Wk 4: vs Ham 23 15 192 2 0
Wk 5: at Ams 29 16 187 2 1
Wk 6: vs Ams 34 16 157 2 1
Wk 7: vs Ber 21 13 219 1 0
Wk 8: at Fra 13 5 39 0 0
TOTAL 184 102 1,188 9 3
RB FREDRICK JACKSON (Buffalo Bills), GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: vs Fra 12 48 0 4 40 0
Wk 2: at Ber 16 63 0 4 56 0
Wk 3: at Col 27 96 1 2 13 0
Wk 4: vs Ham 20 79 0 2 31 0
Wk 5: at Ams 16 39 0 2 27 0
Wk 6: vs Ams 12 71 0 1 4 0
Wk 7: vs Ber 13 123 0 2 43 0
Wk 8: at Fra 10 30 0 3 13 0
TOTAL 126 549 1 21 227 0
WR CHRIS SAMP (Carolina Panthers), GAME-BY-GAME
Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: vs Fra 1 16 0 (threw 45-yard TD pass)
Wk 2: at Ber 6 68 0
Wk 3: at Col 4 33 0
Wk 4: vs Ham 2 11 0
Wk 5: at Ams 6 76 2
Wk 6: vs Ams 4 59 1
Wk 7: vs Ber 5 100 2
Wk 8: at Fra 3 34 0
TOTAL 31 397 5
THIS WEEK'S MATCHUPS NFL Europe 2006, Week 9 - Page 11
BERLIN THUNDER (2-5-1) at
COLOGNE CENTURIONS (3-5)
RheinEnergieStadion, Cologne, Sunday May 14, 4:00 p.m.
SERIES NOTES
Overall: Cologne leads 3-2
At Cologne: Cologne leads 2-0
At Berlin: Berlin leads 2-1
Streak: Berlin 1
This Season: Cologne 13 at Berlin 24 (Week 5)
TELEVISION
US: DELAY/ NFL Network (4:00 p.m. ET, Sunday May 14).
GERMANY/NETHERLANDS: DELAY/NASN (10:00 p.m. CET, Thursday May 18)
UK: DELAY/NASN (1:00 p.m. BST, Thursday May 18)
Play-by-play announcer PAUL BURMEISTER is joined in the broadcast booth by former Dallas Cowboys Super Bowl XXX MVP defensive back LARRY BROWN.
COACHES
RICK LANTZ has lost three games in a row for the first time in his NFLEL head coaching career. Won a World Bowl ring in 2004 and guided the Thunder to the title game last season... DAVID DUGGAN is in his first season as an NFLEL head coach and is still chasing back-to-back wins. Won two World Bowl rings as defensive coordinator of the Berlin Thunder in 2001 and 2002.
GAME NOTES
The clubs have enjoyed differing fortunes in the past few weeks. Berlin has lost three games in a row while the Centurions have won two of their past three contests... Berlin boasts NFL Europe's leading red zone offense (scoring on 84.6 percent of 26 trips inside the opponent's 20-yard line) while Cologne has the league's leading red zone defense (holding the opposition to a scoring rate of 65 percent on 20 visits inside their 20-yard line)... The Centurions lead NFL Europe with 22 defensive takeaways (13 interceptions and 9 fumble recoveries) but on offense they have committed a league-high 20 takeaways (13 interceptions, 7 fumbles lost)... Berlin quarterbacks have thrown 6 interceptions this term - the second-lowest figure in NFL Europe... Cologne's offense ranks fourth in NFL Europe (302.5 yards per game), while Berlin ranks fifth with an average of 284.4 yards per contest... Both clubs hold similar position in terms of producing offensive plays covering 20+ yards. Cologne ranks fourth with 23 such plays (9 rush, 14 pass) while Berlin rates fifth with 20 plays of 20 yards or more (2 rush, 18 pass)... Berlin quarterbacks have completed a league-low 52.4 percent of their passes. Cologne's defense has held opposing quarterbacks to an NFLEL-low 49.3 completion percentage this year... Berlin passers have thrown more footballs (267) than any other team in the league... The Thunder's average of 3.6 yards per running play is the lowest in NFL Europe... Cologne ranks second in that department, averaging 4.3 yards per carry... The Centurions defense leads NFL Europe with 16 sacks this season... Both teams have fared better on the road this season. Cologne is 1-3 at home and 2-2 on the road, while Berlin has gone 1-3 at Olympiastadion and 1-2-1 outside the German capital... Berlin has seen players from across their roster contribute this season. Five Thunder players have attempted at least 1 pass, seven have carried the football and 15 have caught passes... In the first meeting between the teams this season, QB LANG CAMPBELL (Cleveland Browns) threw for 112 yards and 2 touchdowns - including a 49-yard scoring strike to Mexican WR ALEJANDRO GAMEZ - to lead Berlin to a 24-13 victory over the Centurions. QB SHANE BOYD (Pittsburgh Steelers) set a new single game rushing record for a quarterback by gaining 98 yards on 8 carries for the Centurions.
RHEIN FIRE (5-3) at
HAMBURG SEA DEVILS (1-6-1)
AOL Arena, Hamburg, Sunday May 14, 4:00 p.m.
SERIES NOTES
Overall: Rhein leads 2-1
At Hamburg: Hamburg leads 1-0
At Rhein: Rhein leads 2-0
Streak: Rhein 2
This Season: Hamburg 21 at Rhein 31 (Week 4)
TELEVISION
US: LIVE/NFL Network (10:00 a.m. ET, Sunday May 14)
GERMANY/NETHERLANDS: LIVE/NASN (4:00 p.m. CET, Sunday May 14)
UK: DELAY/NASN (6:00 p.m. BST, Monday May 15)
Joining play-by-play announcer RICH ACKERMAN in the broadcast booth is former Seattle Seahawks quarterback BROCK HUARD.
COACHES
JIM TOMSULA is in his first season as an NFLEL head coach and has five wins to his name. Won a World Bowl ring as defensive coordinator of the Berlin Thunder in 2004... JACK BICKNELL is in his 14th season in NFL Europe and has taken his league-leading regular season victory total to 67 with a win in Berlin last week. Has one World Bowl ring in his collection having led Barcelona to glory in 1997.
GAME NOTES
The Fire needs a victory keep the pressure on those ahead of them in the World Bowl race, while the Sea Devils are looking to end a testing season on a high... The matchup sees the league's number six-ranked offense (Hamburg: 280.5 yards per game) take on NFL Europe's leading defense (Rhein: 268.9 yards per game)... Hamburg has yet to win on home soil this season, going 0-3-1 at the AOL Arena. The Fire is one of four teams with at least two road wins this season... Rhein leads NFL Europe with a +6 turnover ratio (20 takeaways to 14 giveaways)... Hamburg scored more points (38) during last week's win over Berlin than they did in the previous two games (34)... Rhein's quarterbacks have been sacked 14 times this season - the second-highest figure in NFL Europe... Hamburg and Rhein have both scored 2 touchdowns this season on returns and recoveries... The Fire has been among the most efficient teams in NFL Europe on third down, converting 39.4 percent of 104 attempts to rank second in the league... Hamburg quarterbacks have thrown 12 interceptions this season - the second-highest total in NFL Europe this spring... Rhein's offense has fumbled 16 times this season - the second-highest amount in the league... Rhein has committed 61 penalties this term, which is the second-highest in NFL Europe... Hamburg has struggled to produce big plays this season with just 19 covering 20+ yards (4 rush, 15 pass)... After opening the year at 4-0, the Fire has lost three of its last four contests... Rhein is averaging 5.1 yards per offensive play this term to rank third in NFL Europe, while Hamburg is averaging a league-low 4.7 yards per offensive play... Rhein ranks second in the league with an average time of possession of 32:03... Hamburg ranks fifth in NFLEL with an average of 29:24 minutes of possession per game... Rhein's 176 points scored is the second-highest total in the NFL Europe League... Rhein's defense has intercepted 10 passes this season - second-highest in NFLEL... In the first meeting between the teams this season, QB DREW HENSON (Dallas Cowboys) threw for 192 yards and 2 touchdowns as the Fire emerged victorious by a 31-21 scoreline. CB ANTWAIN SPANN (New England Patriots) scored on a key 30-yard interception return for the Fire, canceling out a 63-yard interception return for a touchdown by Sea Devils CB RAYSHUN REED.
THIS WEEK'S MATCHUPS / WEEK EIGHT RECAP NFL Europe 2006, Week 9 - Page 12
AMSTERDAM ADMIRALS (6-2)
at FRANKFURT GALAXY (6-2)
Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt, Sunday May 14, 5:00 p.m.
SERIES NOTES
Overall: Frankfurt leads 12-11 (Frankfurt leads 1-0 in World Bowls)
At Frankfurt: Frankfurt leads 9-2
At Amsterdam: Amsterdam leads 9-3
Streak: Amsterdam 2
This season: Frankfurt 20 at Amsterdam 38 (Week 3)
TELEVISION
US: LIVE/DirecTV (11:00 a.m. ET, Sunday May 14) DELAY/NFL Network, 8:00 p.m. ET, Sunday May 14)
The regular FOX NFL Sunday pairing of CURT MENEFEE and former Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts and Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman BRIAN BALDINGER call the action from Frankfurt.
COACHES
BART ANDRUS is the reigning NFL Europe League Coach of the Year. Has won 13 of his last 19 games in charge of the Admirals, including a World Bowl victory over Berlin last June. Also won a World Bowl ring as a member of the Rhein Fire coaching staff in 2000. Served as quarterbacks coach of the Tennessee Titans in 1999, the year the club went to the Super Bowl... MIKE JONES is in his third season with the Galaxy and has a 16-12 record and one World Bowl appearance to his name. Served as a member of the Rhein Fire coaching staff from 1995-2000 and again in 2002-2003, winning World Bowls in 1998 and 2000.
GAME NOTES
The Galaxy heads into a mammoth showdown as the hottest team in the league, riding a five-game winning streak into their meeting with the Admirals... Amsterdam lost for the first time since opening day last week, ending its own winning streak at six games... The Admirals lead NFL Europe in points scored (221). They averaged 31.7 points per contest in the season's first six games but have averaged just 15.5 points per outing in their last two contests... Frankfurt has assumed top spot in the offensive rankings, averaging 343.1 yards per game compared to Amsterdam's 340.1... The Galaxy boasts NFL Europe's top rushing attack, leading the league in carries (279), yards (167.4 per game) and average yards per rush (4.8). At their current pace, the Galaxy would end the season with 1,674 rushing yards, which would rank second all time behind the 1,686 set by the 1999 Rhein Fire... Frankfurt quarterbacks have completed 56.4 percent of their passes to rank second in NFL Europe... Amsterdam has the league's leading passing attack, topping the rankings in completion percentage (61.8), yards per game (252.8), yards per completion (14.6) and passing touchdowns (17)... Frankfurt quarterbacks have thrown a league-low 4 interceptions in eight games this season... Amsterdam quarterbacks have been dropped for a league-leading 20 sacks this term... The Admirals rank second in total offense despite ranking sixth in NFLEL with an average time of possession of 27:52... The Admirals have punted a league-low 23 times at an average of 2.9 per game... The clubs lead the way in offensive plays covering 20+ yards this season. Amsterdam ranks first with 37 (9 rush, 28 pass), while Frankfurt ranks second with 31 (9 rush, 22 pass)... In the first meeting between the teams this season, QB GIBRAN HAMDAN (Seattle Seahawks) compiled the perfect 158.3 passer rating while leading Amsterdam to a 38-20 win. He completed 12 of 15 passes for 189 yards and 3 touchdowns. WR SKYLER FULTON (Seattle Seahawks) caught 4 passes for 144 yards and 2 scores as the Admirals romped to victory.
- WEEK EIGHT RECAP -
Cologne Centurions 20, Amsterdam Admirals 13
(Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam. Attendance: 12,228)
Kevin Curtis (Col) 5 tackles, 2 interceptions
Skyler Fulton (Ams) 6 receptions, 38 yards, 1 TD
Bryan Save (Col) 4 tackles, 3 sacks
Earl Cochran (Ams) 8 tackles
Rhein Fire 14, Frankfurt Galaxy 16
(Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt. Attendance: 32,172)
Roger Robinson (Fra) 20 carries, 144 rushing yards
Keith Willis (Fra) 8 receptions, 103 yards
Timmy Chang (Rhe) 170 passing yards, 2 TD
Craig Ochs (Fra) 171 passing yards, 1 TD
Hamburg Sea Devils 38, Berlin Thunder 14
(Olympiastadion, Berlin. Attendance: 16,762)
Brock Berlin (Ham) 183 passing yards, 3 TD
Lang Campbell (Ber) 190 passing yards, 2 TD
Aden Durde (Ham) 9 tackles
Anthony Floyd (Ber) 10 tackles, 1 pass defense
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National Football League Europa Stories from May 9, 2006
- Sea Devil Berlin named Offensive Player of Week - NFLE
- Winner takes all in Admirals-Galaxy clash - NFLE
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