World Bowl XV Preview
June 18, 2007 - National Football League Europa (NFLE) News Release
IN terms of World Bowl experience, the two teams competing for NFL Europa glory in Frankfurt on Saturday, June 23 couldn't be more different.
While the Hamburg Sea Devils (7-3) will go in search of the famous World Bowl trophy in their first appearance in the championship game, the Frankfurt Galaxy (7-3) will be playing in a league record eighth title showdown.
Frankfurt will also go in search of a league record fifth World Bowl crown, with the others coming in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2006. The Galaxy can become just the second team in league history to win back-to-back World Bowls, matching the 2001-2002 Berlin Thunder.
As if the mouth-watering showdown between the two highest-scoring teams in the league was not enough for the fans at Commerzbank Arena, the legendary Meat Loaf will be performing the halftime show and everyone will be dazzled with a fireworks and laser show.
It should make Yello Strom World Bowl XV a night to remember.
YELLO STROM
WORLD BOWL XV
SATURDAY, JUNE 23
Frankfurt Galaxy vs Hamburg Sea Devils
Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt, 7:00 p.m.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK - WEEK 10
OFFENSIVE - SKYLER FULTON - WR, Amsterdam
Caught 7 passes for 119 yards
Scored 2 receiving touchdowns
DEFENSIVE - CHRIS THOMPSON - CB, Berlin
Recorded 2 tackles, 1 pass defense: Scored on league record-tying 100-yard interception return
SPECIAL TEAMS - GLENN PAKULAK - P, Amsterdam
Averaged 51.6 yards on 5 punts
Placed 3 inside the opponent's 20-yard line
NATIONAL - BEN ISHOLA - DE, Hamburg
Recorded 3 tackles and 1 quarterback hurry
Added 1 sack for 10 yards
NEWS AND NOTES NFL Europa 2007, World Bowl - Page 2
Players and coaches looking forward to title showdown
THE Hamburg Sea Devils head into Yello Strom World Bowl XV with a streak of four consecutive victories. The Frankfurt Galaxy will be playing in their own stadium where they have won all five encounters this season.
Both teams boast 7-3 records. It is official. These are the two best clubs in the league competing for NFL Europa glory on Saturday evening.
With qualification for the title game assured at the end of an extremely competitive 2007 regular season, players and coaches from both teams are looking forward to playing for all the marbles this weekend.
Sea Devils head coach VINCE MARTINO, who only took control of his team in the closing week of training camp following Jack Bicknell's retirement, says: "This is very exciting. I really liked this team from the very beginning in Tampa, so I'm happy for the players and our coaching staff. These are exciting times.
"I wouldn't think that we're the favorite. We have had two tight games with Frankfurt. They're at home so I would think this would either be even or they would be the slight favorite."
Galaxy head coach MIKE JONES has guided his team to a third World Bowl appearance in his four seasons at the helm.
He says: "This is quite an accomplishment for our staff and our players, as well as our entire front office, who have put in all the work and laid the foundation for us to get here. We're excited and we're going to work hard this week to get ready for the World Bowl."
Galaxy tight end JAMES PETROWSKI (Tennessee Titans) enters World Bowl XV in red-hot form having caught a touchdown pass in each of his last four games.
He says: "It feels great. This will be the first championship game I've ever been in during my career. It's great to be playing here in front of our fans because we have the craziest fans in the whole league. We're going to pack the house, they're going to get loud and we're going to play well."
After suffering a heartbreaking 36-31 last-minute defeat at the hands of the Sea Devils in Week 9, Galaxy guard MATT MC CHESNEY (New York Jets) is glad to face Hamburg in the championship game.
He says: "We're relieved that we clinched but we're not done. It wasn't our goal to get to World Bowl, it was our goal to win it. We owe Hamburg and they know it, so next week is going to be a fight. If they had beat us by 40 it probably wouldn't have hurt as bad as losing on the last play of the game. They're going to get our best shot and we're going to be ready."
NFL Europa sets attendance record on eve of World Bowl XV
THERE is no doubt that with the two leading teams in the league going head to head - and the hometown Frankfurt Galaxy in action - Commerzbank Arena is going to be the place to be on Saturday night.
Fans will flock to the title game in large numbers, continuing a trend that has been seen throughout the 2007 campaign.
A record 600,714 fans witnessed NFL Europa games in Germany and the Netherlands this spring. The average of 20,024 smashes the previous best of 18,965 set in 2005.
Here is a look at the top seasons in NFL Europa history in terms of average attendance:
Season Avg Attendance
2007 20,024
2005 18,965
2001 18,573
2000 18,102
NFL Europa Managing Director UWE BERGHEIM says: "I'm very happy that we were able to achieve a new attendance record with more than 600,000 fans in our stadiums this season. I would like to thank the fans, our sponsors and league employees who made this possible. With these positive numbers we are looking forward to a successful Yello Strom World Bowl XV on Saturday."
The Galaxy will be hoping for plenty of home support as they bid to add one more win in front of their fans. Frankfurt went 5-0 at home this season.
Head coach MIKE JONES says: We'll work on going 6-0 at home but I cannot guarantee anything. It's a great opportunity to play here in front of our own fans in such a big game. We're going to try to take advantage of that opportunity but we have to play. That's for sure."
Galaxy linebacker MATT SINCLAIR adds: "The noise is such an advantage for us. It causes time outs and penalties for the other team week in, week out. We have the greatest fans in the world."
The Sea Devils had a trial run in a noisy environment when they defeated the Rhein Fire in Düsseldorf's LTU arena and won last weekend.
Head coach VINCE MARTINO says: "It was a very good test. When we go to Düsseldorf the fans are loud and noisy so it presents a problem. Any time a home team's fans can get into a game it presents a problem for us as the road team. We have to be aware of that in Frankfurt and be ready to deal with the noise accordingly."
NEWS AND NOTES NFL Europa 2007, World Bowl - Page 3
Galaxy designated 'home' team and will wear purple jerseys
THE Frankfurt Galaxy has been designated the home team for World Bowl XV and the four-time winners of the NFL Europa championship will wear their famous purple and orange jerseys.
World Bowl XV will revert to tradition as the Hamburg Sea Devils will wear their white jerseys. For the first 12 title games, one team wore colored jerseys and one wore white, as has been traditional in professional football for many years. That changed in 2005 when the Berlin Thunder wore black jerseys while the Amsterdam Admirals wore orange. And in last season's final, Frankfurt donned purple jerseys while the Admirals stuck with their traditional orange.
The Galaxy has a 2-2 record in World Bowls when wearing purple jerseys, opposed to a 2-1 mark in championship games when sporting the white 'road' jerseys.
Frankfurt will also become the seventh team to play in a World Bowl in front of its own fans.
Here is how the previous six home clubs fared in World Bowls (winners of the first half of the season hosted the World Bowl from 1995-1997):
Team/Year World Bowl Fared
London 1991 Won 21-0 vs. Barcelona
Amsterdam 1995 Lost 22-26 vs. Frankfurt
Scotland 1996 Won 32-27 vs. Frankfurt
Barcelona 1997 Won 38-24 vs. Rhein
Frankfurt 1998 Lost 10-34 vs. Rhein
Rhein 2002 Lost 20-26 vs. Berlin
As that list shows, the Galaxy was one of three teams to lose in front of their own fans in a World Bowl, falling to a heavy defeat against the Rhein Fire in 1998.
They also won on the road at Amsterdam in 1995.
WB Fact: Defense First
THE first half of last year's World Bowl between the Amsterdam Admirals and Frankfurt Galaxy was a defensive struggle. The two clubs combined to hold one another to a record low nine points through two quarters of action. Frankfurt opened the scoring through a safety by JEROME NICHOLS after he tackled Admirals quarterback JARED ALLEN in the end zone, while Amsterdam responded with a touchdown run by LARRY CROOM. Despite trailing at the half, the Galaxy went on to record a 22-7 victory to lift the World Bowl trophy for a fourth time.
Coach of the Year prize a good omen ahead of World Bowl
WHEN NFL Europa officials announce who has been named the Coach of the Year for 2007 later this week, they could be giving a significant pointer to who is going to win Yello Strom World Bowl XV.
Should MIKE JONES (Frankfurt Galaxy) or VINCE MARTINO (Hamburg Sea Devils) win the coveted award, they should feel pretty good about their World Bowl chances heading into the weekend.
Of the previous 12 Coach of the Year winners since the award was first given in 1995, nine have gone on to win World Bowl, while three lost the title game.
Here is a look at how the Coach of the Year has fared in World Bowl:
Year Coach World Bowl
1995 Ernie Stautner, Frankfurt Won
1996 Jim Criner, Scotland Won
1997 Galen Hall, Rhein Lost
1998 Dick Curl, Frankfurt Lost
1999 Dick Curl, Frankfurt Won
2000 Galen Hall, Rhein Won
2001 Jack Bicknell, Barcelona Lost
2002 Peter Vaas, Berlin Won
2003 Doug Graber, Frankfurt Won
2004 Rick Lantz, Berlin Won
2005 Bart Andrus, Amsterdam Won
2006 Mike Jones, Frankfurt Won
Offensive and Defensive Most Valuable Players have not enjoyed quite so much success in World Bowls the week after picking up their much-sought-after prizes.
There have been 14 Offensive MVPs in NFL Europa history and 12 of those have gone on to play in World Bowl (Amsterdam's GIBRAN HAMDAN missed last year's game due to injury). In those championship games, the Offensive MVPs have posted a 6-6 record and have lost five of their last six appearances. Although he was not there, Hamdan's Admirals also lost last season.
Only 10 defensive MVPs have reached World Bowl - most recently Amsterdam defensive tackle TONY BROWN in 2006 - and they have a combined 3-7 record in the biggest game of the season.
WB Fact: Lucky Seven
Last season marked the first time Frankfurt recorded seven regular season wins and won World Bowl. The previous three wins came after 6-4 campaigns in 1995, 1999 and 2003. Frankfurt lost World Bowls in 1998 and 2004 after posting seven wins.
NEWS AND NOTES NFL Europa 2007, World Bowl - Page 4
Making a fast start in NFLEL title game can prove successful
THE opening moments of any championship game can be nervy and, like a boxer circling the ring in a big title fight, it is usually a good time to feel out your opponent.
But World Bowl history has shown that if one team can land the first significant punch of the fight, they can use that early success as a platform to go on and become champions.
In the previous 14 World Bowls, the team scoring the first points - be it a touchdown, field goal or safety (in the case of the 2006 Frankfurt Galaxy) - has gone on to win on 10 occasions.
And the team scoring the first points of the game has won the last seven World Bowls.
The Frankfurt Galaxy was the last team to concede the first points in World Bowl and end up as the winner after the Barcelona Dragons took a 3-0 lead on Jesus Angoy's 38-yard field goal in World Bowl '99. The Galaxy fought back to win the game 38-24.
In last year's World Bowl, the Galaxy opened the scoring when defensive tackle JEROME NICHOLS trapped Admirals' quarterback JARED ALLEN in the end zone for a safety. That provided Frankfurt with the platform to go on and record a 22-7 win.
23 NFL teams represented in Yello Strom World Bowl XV
PLAYERS from a total of 23 NFL teams will compete for glory in Yello Strom World Bowl XV this weekend.
In a season when many promising young players have shown they have the ability to make an impact at the game's highest level, 34 members of the two active rosters are from NFL teams, including starting quarterbacks in Frankfurt's J.T. O'SULLIVAN (Chicago Bears) and Hamburg's CASEY BRAMLET (Washington Redskins).
The Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars lead the way with three players each taking part in the NFL Europa title game at Commerzbank Arena.
The three Texans on Hamburg's roster are center MIKE BRISIEL, linebacker TRENT BRAY and safety JOHN WALKER.
The trio of Jaguars in the championship game are the Hamburg pairing of guards PETE McMAHON and RYAN GIBBONS, and Frankfurt Galaxy safety JAMAR LANDROM.
Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers and the reigning Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts each have two players competing in World Bowl XV.
Galaxy hopes that edge in experience will be key factor
HOW much will previous World Bowl experience count when the Hamburg Sea Devils meet the Frankfurt Galaxy on Saturday?
The Galaxy hope it will be an important factor as they have 11 players on their roster with World Bowl experience, while only three members of the Sea Devils have stepped onto the field in an NFLEL championship game.
Nine of Frankfurt's 11 players with World Bowl experience picked up a championship ring with the Galaxy in 2006, while Japanese linebacker RIKIYA ISHIDA was on Amsterdam's losing sideline a year ago. Galaxy quarterback J.T. O'SULLIVAN (Chicago Bears) led Frankfurt to the title showdown in 2004 but came up short against the Berlin Thunder.
Despite his club's lack of World Bowl experience, Sea Devils head coach VINCE MARTINO is not about to make special plans. He says: "Our routine is going to be the same as before. It will be the same as every game we play. This is obviously a big game but we'll prepare for Week 11 the same way we prepared for Week 1."
Galaxy players with World Bowl experience
G Emmanuel Akah Frankfurt 2006
CB Bill Alford Frankfurt 2006
DT Daniel Benetka Frankfurt 2003-04, 2006
DE Justin Brown Frankfurt 2006
WR Aaron Hosack Frankfurt 2006
LB Rikiya Ishida Amsterdam 2006
C Charles Missant Frankfurt 2006
RB J.R. Niklos Frankfurt 2006
QB J.T. O'Sullivan Frankfurt 2004
LB Matt Sinclair Frankfurt 2006
DE Ulrich Winkler Frankfurt 2006
Sea Devils players with World Bowl experience
S Ryota Hori Amsterdam 2006
CB Michael Harden Berlin 2005
TE Mike Pinkard Berlin 2004
But before Sea Devils fans begin to worry too much, they should bear this note in mind: the team with the most World Bowl experience has lost in each of the past four seasons. In 2003, the victorious Galaxy had two players with World Bowl experience compared to Rhein's 12. In 2004, Berlin had three with title game experience compared to Frankfurt's nine. In 2005, Amsterdam had no players with experience but defeated a Berlin team with nine. And last season, Frankfurt had three players compared to Amsterdam's nine.
NEWS AND NOTES NFL Europa 2007, World Bowl - Page 5
Defense wins championships? Not in the NFL Europa League
THE old adage that defenses win championships may be true to some extent in the NFL, but the same cannot be said for the NFL Europa League.
In the previous 14 World Bowls, only twice has a team won the final while boasting the number one-ranked defense in the league - the Frankfurt Galaxy squads of 2003 and 2006.
That figure will not increase this season as the Cologne Centurions did not qualify for Yello Strom World Bowl XV. Only four teams have ever qualified for the title game with the league's top defense (Amsterdam 1995, Scotland 2000, Frankfurt 2003 and Frankfurt 2006).
Having a top-ranked offense, on the other hand, can result in a World Bowl victory. And that will suit the Frankfurt Galaxy just fine as they enter the game with a league-leading offense averaging 355.5 yards per contest. The Galaxy also led NFL Europa with 254 points scored in 2007 while the Sea Devils ranked second with a total of 231 points.
The nine previous clubs who have reached the final with the league's best offense - which includes the Frankfurt Galaxy from a year ago - have gone 8-1 in World Bowl.
Here is how the top-ranked defensive team has fared in the NFLE/World League, and the defensive ranking of the eventual World Bowl champion:
Year No.1 Defense World Bowl Winner
1991 Frankfurt London
(7-3, missed playoffs) (number 2 ranked defense)
1992 San Antonio Sacramento
(7-3, missed playoffs) (number 2 ranked defense)
1995 Amsterdam Frankfurt
(9-1, lost WB) (number 3 ranked defense)
1996 London Scotland
(4-6, missed WB) (number 4 ranked defense)
1997 Frankfurt Barcelona
(4-6, missed WB) (number 6 ranked defense)
1998 Amsterdam Rhein
(7-3, missed WB) (number 4 ranked defense)
1999 Rhein Frankfurt
(6-4, missed WB) (number 6 ranked defense)
2000 Scotland Rhein
(6-4, lost WB) (number 6 ranked defense)
2001 Frankfurt Berlin
(3-7, missed WB) (number 6 ranked defense)
2002 Frankfurt Berlin
(6-4, missed WB) (number 3 ranked defense)
2003 Frankfurt Frankfurt
(6-4, reached WB) (number 1 ranked defense)
2004 Cologne Berlin
(4-6, missed WB) (number 5 ranked defense)
2005 Cologne Amsterdam
(6-4, missed WB) (number 3 ranked defense)
2006 Frankfurt Frankfurt
(7-3, reached WB) (number 1 ranked defense)
Music legend Meat Loaf to rock fans at World Bowl XV
WORLD music superstar MEAT LOAF will be the headline act as Yello Strom World Bowl XV unveils an entertainment package that will keep fans on the edge of their seats at Commerzbank Arena.
Meat Loaf has topped the charts for more than 30 years and his 'Bat out of Hell' album is still among the top ten ever sold. Last October's release of "Bat out of Hell III" continued Meat Loaf's amazing success, debuting at number two on the German Album charts and featuring the top 10 smash hit single 'It's All Coming Back To Me Now.'
Meat Loaf will rock World Bowl XV with a parade of hits such as 'Paradise by the Dashboard Light', 'I'd Do Anything for Love' and other hits, including 'It's All Coming Back to Me Now.'
Meat Loaf, who played American football in high school, where he earned his nickname after stepping on the feet of his coach, says: "It is a great honor for me to perform at Yello Strom World Bowl XV. I am really happy to be part of this great sports-entertainment event.
"Football, the NFL and, by extension, the NFL Europa, are an important part of my life and I love the sport."
While Meat Loaf undoubtedly tops the bill, fans in Frankfurt will also be entertained by the U.S. ARMY EUROPE BAND AND CHORUS with more than 65 musicians, dancers and singers in attendance.
In addition, the world's fastest golfers will attempt to set a new world record, there will be a post-game show from the RED BULL X-FIGHTERS MOTORBIKE STUNT SHOW and performances from THIN LIZZY.
WB Fact: Biggest Comeback
Only one team has ever come back from a deficit of more than seven points to win World Bowl, which was when the Sacramento Surge recovered from 17-3 down to beat the Orlando Thunder 21-17 in World Bowl '92 in Montreal.
Sacramento is one of only four teams to win World Bowl after trailing at halftime. Rhein came back from 10-3 down at the half to beat Scotland 13-10 in 2000, Frankfurt trailed Amsterdam 7-6 at halftime in 1995 before winning 26-22 and in last year's game, Amsterdam led 7-2 at the half before Frankfurt responded after the break to record a 22-7 win.
TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europa 2007, World Bowl - Page 6
FRANKFURT GALAXY (7-3)Head Coach: Mike Jones (24-16) in NFLEL, plus 1-1 in World Bowl.Colors: Purple, orange, red and white
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Whitey Jordan (3rd season)
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Steve Carson (1st season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 82-68
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 31-14 vs. Cologne (6/16/07)
OFFENSE: 25.4 pts/game; 355.5 yds/game (rank 1); 106 rush yds/game (rank 3); 249.5 pass yds/game (rank 1)
Passing: J.T. O'Sullivan, 2,201 yds
Rushing: Sha-ron Edwards, 260 yds
Receiving: Brandon Middleton, 45 rec, 540 yds
DEFENSE: 17.9 pts/game; 296.8 yds/game (rank 4); 97.1 rush yds/game (rank 2); 207.8 pass yds/game (rank 5)
Sacks: John Syptak, 5.5
Interceptions: Four players, 2
- THIS WEEK: vs HAMBURG SEA DEVILS -
Galaxy head coach MIKE JONES reveals the key to his team's success this season when he says: "Coming out prepared and ready to play is the biggest reason we are in World Bowl. Our players have done a great job for us this season."... QB J.T. O'SULLIVAN (Chicago Bears) posted a league-leading passer rating of 104.8 during the regular season and led the league in completions, passing yards and touchdowns (see table). Threw 5 touchdown passes in two games against Hamburg this season... QB KEVIN EAKIN (Buffalo Bills) threw 2 scoring passes last week and ends the season having completed 36 of 67 passes for 433 yards, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions... RB SHA-RON EDWARDS rushed for a team-best 260 yards and 1 touchdown on 73 carries this year after adding 40 yards on 12 carries last week. Has added 12 receptions for 158 yards... RB DECORI BIRMINGHAM (New York Giants) carried 16 times for 41 yards last week and added 2 receptions for 12 yards. Rushed for 134 yards on 43 carries during the regular season and added 15 catches for 105 yards. Was flagged for a safety after attempting a forward pass out of his end zone on a kickoff return in last meeting with Hamburg... RB J.R. NIKLOS scored Frankfurt's final touchdown in last year's World Bowl... WR JERMAINE JAMISON (Philadelphia Eagles) grabbed 16 receptions for 216 yards and 1 score during the season... WR AARON HOSACK has 6 TD receptions among his 12 catches for 344 yards this season. Added 2 scoring grabs last weekend... WR BRANDON MIDDLETON finished second in receptions (see table) and third in receiving yards. Was held to a season-low receptions total last weekend... WR FELTON HUGGINS has 19 receptions for 306 yards and 2 scores on the season... TE JAMES PETROWSKI (Tennessee Titans) has 32 receptions for 474 yards and 5 touchdowns this season after adding 6 catches for 127 yards and 1 score last week. Has recorded back-to-back 100-yard games and scored in each of his past four outings... TE T.J. COTTRELL (San Diego Chargers) has 2 receptions for 24 yards this season... DE JOHN SYPTAK (San Francisco
49ers) leads the Galaxy with 5.5 sacks. Recorded 5 tackles, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble in last meeting with Sea Devils... German DE ULRICH WINKLER has registered 20 tackles and 4.5 sacks this season after adding 1 among 2 tackles last week... DE JUSTIN BROWN grabbed 5 tackles last week, giving him 26 tackles, 1 sack and 1 forced fumble this season... DT REMI AYODELE (Dallas Cowboys) has 15 tackles and 1 sack in 2007... DT ZARNELL FITCH (New York Jets) has recorded 23 tackles and knocked down 5 passes this season. Made 3 tackles last week and 3 in last meeting with Hamburg... LB NICK REID (Kansas City Chiefs) has 55 tackles to rank second on Frankfurt's defense this season. Has also registered 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery and 1 interception... LB MATT SINCLAIR leads the Galaxy with 56 tackles after adding 1 last week. Has also registered 2 sacks, 1 interception and 1 forced fumble. Made 8 tackles at Hamburg in Week 9... LB ZAC WOODFIN recorded 1 tackle last week and has 19 and 2 pass defenses this term... CB SHIRDONYA MITCHELL (Miami Dolphins) recorded 4 tackles last weekend. Has 31 tackles, 2 interceptions and a team-high 9 pass defenses in 2007. Also returned 2 interceptions for 81 yards and 1 touchdown... CB BILL ALFORD has 28 tackles, 2 interceptions and 8 pass defenses on the season... S JAMAR LANDROM (Jacksonville Jaguars) has recorded 41 tackles to rank third on Frankfurt's defense this season... S DEMARIO WILLIAMS recorded 5 tackles and 1 forced fumble last week and has 32 tackles and 2 interceptions to his name this term... K RHYS LLOYD led all NFLE kickers with 78 points having converted 16 of 23 field goals (56 long) and 28 of 28 PATs. Made 3 of 4 field goals, including 50-yard effort last week. Missed 30-yard kick in last meeting with Hamburg... P KYLE BASLER (Cleveland Browns) ranked third in NFL Europa with an average of 42.0 yards on 26 punts. Has a long of 55 yards this season and has placed 7 inside the 20-yard line.
QB J.T. O'SULLIVAN (Chicago Bears), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: vs Ams 21 15 160 2 0
Wk 2: at Col 20 13 143 1 1
Wk 3: vs Ham 22 14 223 1 0
Wk 4: at Ams 23 13 192 1 0
Wk 5: at Rhe 29 20 233 1 2
Wk 6: vs Ber 11 5 38 0 1
Wk 7: vs Rhe 35 26 299 2 0
Wk 8: at Ber 37 27 333 3 1
Wk 9: at Ham 37 27 376 4 2
Wk 10: vs Col 19 14 206 1 0
TOTAL 254 174* 2,201* 16* 7
WR BRANDON MIDDLETON, GAME-BY-GAME
Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: vs Ams 4 60 0
Wk 2: at Col 3 25 0
Wk 3: vs Ham 5 69 0
Wk 4: at Ams 2 29 0
Wk 5: at Rhe 10 111 0
Wk 6: vs Ber 3 24 0
Wk 7: vs Rhe 8 90 1
Wk 8: at Ber 4 47 1
Wk 9: at Ham 5 77 1
Wk 10: vs Col 1 8 0
TOTAL 45 540 3
* Leads NFLE
TEAM BY TEAM CAPSULES NFL Europa 2007, World Bowl - Page 7
HAMBURG SEA DEVILS (7-3)Head Coach: Vince Martino (7-3 in NFLE)Colors: Dark blue, teal, red
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: N/A
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Dan Daniel (3rd season)
ALL-TIME FRANCHISE RECORD: 15-14-1
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 17-13 at Rhein (6/16/07)
OFFENSE: 23.1 pts/game; 306.4 yds/game (rank 4); 98.6 rush yds/game (rank 4); 207.8 pass yds/game (rank 3)
Passing: Casey Bramlet, 2,019 yds
Rushing: Tony Hollings, 389 yds
Receiving: Justin Jenkins, 32 rec, 509 yds
DEFENSE: 17.6 pts/game; 298 yds/game (rank 2); 109.3 rush yds/game (rank 4); 188.7 pass yds/game (rank 2)
Sacks: Ben Ishola, Justin Kurpeikis, 5.0
Interceptions: Brent Grimes, Shawn Mayer, 2
- THIS WEEK: vs FRANKFURT GALAXY -
Head coach VINCE MARTINO was pleased with his club's win at Rhein that booked a World Bowl berth, saying: "We went into the game not taking it lightly. They gave us all we could handle but we got the win. We don't have any serious injuries right now - just some tired players."... QB CASEY BRAMLET (Washington Redskins) finished the season ranked third with a passer rating of 97.5. Jointly led the league in touchdown passes (see table). Threw 3 TD passes in two games against Frankfurt in regular season... RB QUENTIN GRIFFIN did not play last week (see table). Finished season with 358 rushing yards but did not score a touchdown. Averaged 36.9 yards on 9 kickoff returns but did not have enough attempts to qualify as the league leader...RB TONY HOLLINGS ended the year as Hamburg's leading rusher with 389 yards and 4 touchdowns after adding 21 carries for 109 yards last week... English RB JERMAINE ALLEN scored the game-winning touchdown last week. Has rushed for 118 yards and 3 touchdowns on 46 carries and added 5 catches for 58 yards... WR MARCUS MAXWELL (San Francisco 49ers) scored on a game-winning 50-yard catch with 48 seconds remaining in last meeting with Frankfurt. Ended regular season with 32 catches for 499 yards and league-leading 7 TD receptions... WR JUSTIN JENKINS caught 4 passes for 74 yards last week and leads the Sea Devils with 32 receptions for 509 yards and 2 touchdowns... WR JOSH DAVIS has 20 receptions for 274 yards and 1 touchdown on the season... TE TEYO JOHNSON (Denver Broncos) caught 4 passes for 48 yards and 1 touchdown last week and has 23 for 279 and 3 scores on the year... TE MIKE PINKARD has 16 catches for 164 yards in 2007... DE JUSTIN KURPEIKIS jointly leads the Sea Devils with 5 sacks this season and has 31 tackles and 2 forced fumbles on the year... German DE BEN ISHOLA has 5 sacks among 22 tackles after adding 3 stops and 1 sack last week... DT GARY GIBSON recorded 1 tackle last weekend and has 20 tackles and 3.5 sacks to his name in 2007... LB BARRY ROBERTSON
(New York Giants) recorded 5 tackles and 1 forced fumble last week and has 37 to rank second on Hamburg's defense this season. Has also notched 1 sack, 1 interception and 2 pass defenses. Grabbed 6 tackles and 1 forced fumble in last meeting with Galaxy... LB TRENT BRAY (Houston Texans) has 28 tackles and 1 sack this year after adding 3 tackles to his tally last week... LB BYRON HARDMON ended the regular season with 29 tackles and 1 sack. Registered 3 tackles against Frankfurt in Week 9... Mexican LB JONATHAN HURTADO has a career-high 21 tackles on the season... English LB ADEN DURDE recorded 1 tackle last week and has 17 and 1 pass defense in 2007... CB JUSTIN WYATT (Arizona Cardinals) registered 30 tackles, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble and 4 pass defenses this season... CB MICHAEL HARDEN notched 29 tackles during the regular season after adding 2 stops last week... CB BRENT GRIMES (Atlanta Falcons) has returned an interception (vs. Frankfurt in Week 9) and a fumble for touchdowns this season. Recorded 29 tackles, 2 interceptions and 6 pass defenses... S JOHN WALKER (Houston Texans) has recorded 25 tackles and 7 pass defenses this season after adding 4 tackles last week... S SHAWN MAYER is in his third season in Hamburg. Led the Sea Devils with 69 tackles, 7 pass defenses and 2 interceptions for 17 yards... K SHANE ANDRUS (Indianapolis Colts) ranked second in NFL Europa with 65 points having converted 14 of 17 field goals (47 long) and 23 of 24 PATs... P ADAM ANDERSON (Atlanta Falcons) placed 15 of his 41 kicks inside the opponent's 20-yard line this season.
QB CASEY BRAMLET (Washington Redskins), GAME-BY-GAME
Att Comp Yds TD Int
Wk 1: vs Col 21 14 161 1 1
Wk 2: at Ber 18 12 116 0 0
Wk 3: at Fra 21 12 237 1 1
Wk 4: vs Rhe 27 18 220 3 1
Wk 5: vs Ams 23 12 185 2 0
Wk 6: at Ams 30 17 188 4 1
Wk 7: vs Ber 23 13 224 1 0
Wk 8: at Col 24 14 212 1 1
Wk 9: vs Fra 33 21 267 2 0
Wk 10: at Rhe 34 18 209 1 0
TOTAL 254 151 2,019 16* 5
RB QUENTIN GRIFFIN, GAME-BY-GAME
Rush Yds TD Rec Yds TD
Wk 1: vs Col 7 43 0 0 0 0
Wk 2: at Ber 10 32 0 1 10 0
Wk 3: at Fra 9 35 0 0 0 0
Wk 4: vs Rhe 6 36 0 0 0 0
Wk 5: vs Ams 13 73 0 0 0 0
Wk 6: at Ams 6 17 0 3 9 0
Wk 7: vs Ber 8 53 0 1 3 0
Wk 8: at Col 15 56 0 0 0 0
Wk 9: vs Fra 3 13 0 0 0 0
Wk 10: at Rhe DID NOT PLAY
TOTAL 77 358 0 5 22 0
* Leads NFLE
WORLD BOWL XV GAME NOTES NFL Europa 2007, World Bowl - Page 8
FRANKFURT GALAXY (7-3) vs
HAMBURG SEA DEVILS (7-3)
Yello Strom World Bowl XV
Commerzbank Arena, Frankfurt, Saturday June 23, 7:00 p.m.
SERIES NOTES
Overall: Series tied 3-3
At Frankfurt: Frankfurt leads 2-1
At Hamburg: Hamburg leads 2-1
Streak: Hamburg 1
This season: Hamburg 17 at Frankfurt 20 (Wk 3); Frankfurt 31 at Hamburg 36 (Wk 9)
THIS SEASON
In the Week 3 meeting at Commerzbank Arena, QB J.T. O'SULLIVAN (Chicago Bears) threw for 223 yards and one touchdown - a 65-yard strike to WR AARON HOSACK as the Galaxy prevailed. RB CHARLES ANTHONY also found the end zone for Frankfurt. Hamburg scored through three SHANE ANDRUS (Indianapolis Colts) field goals and an 18-yard TD pass from QB CASEY BRAMLET (Washington Redskins) to WR JUSTIN JENKINS. In a wild return leg in Hamburg, Bramlet threw a game-winning 50-yard touchdown pass to WR MARCUS MAXWELL (San Francisco 49ers) with 48 seconds remaining. Galaxy RB DECORI BIRMINGHAM (New York Giants) then gave up a decisive safety after attempting a forward pass out of his end zone on a kickoff return. O'Sullivan threw for 376 yards and four touchdowns in a losing cause for the Galaxy.
TELEVISION
U.S.: LIVE/NFL Network (1:00 p.m. ET, Saturday June 23)
GERMANY: LIVE/NASN (7:00 p.m. CET, Saturday June 23)
DELAY/ARD (11:30 p.m. CET, Saturday June 23)
DELAY/DSF (7:30 p.m. CET, Sunday June 24)
Play-by-play announcer BOB PAPA will be joined in the booth by FOX NFL on Sunday analyst and former NFL offensive lineman BRIAN BALDINGER. Yello Strom World Bowl XV will reach an estimated worldwide television audience of more than 150 million in more than 120 countries.
COACHES
MIKE JONES has reached a third World Bowl in his four seasons in charge of the Frankfurt Galaxy. He lost the title game as a rookie head coach in 2004 before winning last season. Has 24 regular season wins to his name to lead all Galaxy head coaches. Served as a member of the Rhein Fire coaching staff from 1995-2000 and again in 2002-2003, winning World Bowl rings in 1998 and 2000. Played wide receiver in the NFL for the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints... VINCE MARTINO is in his first season as head coach of the Sea Devils after assuming the role towards the end of preseason training camp when Jack Bicknell stepped down for health reasons. He becomes the first rookie head coach to reach World Bowl since Mike Jones and Rick Lantz (Berlin Thunder) in 2004. Served as a long-time assistant of Bicknell, occupying the position of offensive coordinator with the Sea Devils, Scottish Claymores and Barcelona Dragons. Won lone World Bowl ring with Barcelona in 1997.
WORLD BOWL HISTORY
The Sea Devils will play in their first World Bowl this weekend. Frankfurt will play in a league record eighth championship game. Frankfurt picked up World Bowl victories in 1995 (vs. Amsterdam), 1999 (vs. Barcelona), 2003 (vs. Rhein) and 2006 (vs. Amsterdam). They lost to Scotland in 1996, Rhein in 1998 and Berlin in 2004.
GAME NOTES
The evenly contested series (teams tied at 3-3) continues with the famous World Bowl trophy up for grabs... Frankfurt (25.4 points per game) and Hamburg (23.1) were the highest scoring teams in the league in 2007... Hamburg finished top of the standings with a franchise-best seven regular season wins... Frankfurt also posted a 7-3 record that was powered by a 5-0 record at Commerzbank Arena - site of Yello Strom World Bowl XV... Frankfurt boasts the league's most explosive attack, averaging 355.5 yards per game. The Galaxy also leads NFL Europa with 42 plays covering 20 yards or more (7 rush, 35 pass)... Hamburg ranks second in total defense, giving up just 298 yards per game... The Sea Devils also ranked second with fewest plays of 20 yards or more allowed with 29 (8 rush, 21 pass)... Both teams led the way in turnover ratio. Frankfurt topped the rankings with a +8 ratio (a league-high 24 takeaways compared to 16 giveaways)... Hamburg ranks second with a +4 ratio (16 takeaways to a league-low 12 giveaways)... Hamburg quarterbacks have averaged a league-leading 13.1 yards per pass completion this season... Sea Devils quarterbacks threw a league-low 8 interceptions in 2007... Frankfurt recorded a league-leading 15 interceptions during the regular season... The Galaxy averaged a league-leading 6.0 yards per offensive play in 2007... Hamburg ranked second with an average of 5.4 yards per play... The Sea Devils led NFL Europa with an average of 24.1 yards per kickoff return in the regular season... Frankfurt has punted a league-low 26 times this season... Frankfurt quarterbacks have been sacked a league-low 15 times in 10 games... Hamburg's defense ranked second in NFL Europa with 25 quarterback sacks... The Sea Devils boast the league's most efficient red zone offense, scoring on 89.7 percent of trips inside the red zone (29 visits, 17 touchdowns, 9 field goals)... Hamburg was the least-penalized team in NFL Europa this season, drawing 66 flags for 545 yards... Frankfurt scored a league-leading 20 passing touchdowns compared to a league-low 7 rushing scores... Hamburg scored 3 touchdowns on returns and recoveries in 2007 to rank second in NFL Europa... The Sea Devils were the only team not to give up a touchdown by return or recovery during the regular season.
- RED ZONE STATISTICS - 2007 -
OFFENSE No TD TD% FG FG% Scoring %
Hamburg 29 17 58.6 9 31.0 89.7
Frankfurt 29 13 44.8 11 37.9 82.8
Amsterdam 27 15 55.6 7 25.9 81.5
Cologne 26 17 65.4 4 15.4 80.8
Rhein 32 13 40.6 12 37.5 78.1
Berlin 27 11 40.7 5 18.5 59.3
DEFENSE No TD TD% FG FG% Scoring %
Amsterdam 38 14 36.8 14 36.8 73.7
Berlin 22 12 54.5 5 22.7 77.3
Frankfurt 31 18 58.1 6 19.4 77.4
Cologne 22 13 59.1 5 22.7 81.8
Rhein 28 13 46.4 10 35.7 82.1
Hamburg 29 16 55.2 8 27.6 82.8
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National Football League Europa Stories from June 18, 2007
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