EFC-WILDCARD GAMES: BER@AUS

[Mario ADK]

GAME1:
Berlin at Austria
Record this season: 1-0 (30-7; week 9)

Usually playoff-games are close to predict, but hey this one has a huge favourit and a clear underdog. It is not just the cruel memory of a devastating 7-30 defeat in week 9, it is also many injuries that leave ADKs Kreiner awake in sleepless nights.

Berlin is one of the hottest teams right now and could play spoilers to bookmakers favourits, the Frankfurt Galaxy. Behind a strong O-line and packed with a good rushing attack it is "Grandpa" Pat Barnes who is doing some magic. But the core of the team is the run-D which ranks first in the league. And given the fact that Austrias run is very poor we will see QB Anes having to throw a lot. And that is what the Thunder-Defense is waiting for....

The DarkKnights had a cinderella-finish to the regular season and the festivities in Vienna are still going on, but should soon end. Nearly every stat is in favour of the opponent and ADKs defense was torn apart in week 9. Plus: Austria needs to replace 4(!) starters while Berlin is playing at full strength.

Stats (Rank):
Team Passing: AUS 2nd; BER 6th
Team Rushing: AUS 16th; BER 4th
Team Sacks: AUS 1st; BER 11th
Team Yards allowed: AUS 16th; BER 3rd


Kreiners forecast: Berlin by 17

[Paul-London]

Stop milking those injuries !!!

Two players are at P-1 and many many teams in the FWL play players at P-1, Montreal and Frankfurt both did this last week and i played WR Norris Blundin when he was D-3 and he responded with a 100 yard game !

I agree TE Watson probably shouldnt play but WR Moore and T Simmons at P-1 could easily play

I'm sure DT Tony Brown who is P-1 for Montreal will play !

Come on no excuses Mario !

[Andrew-Neutral]

Injuries can be a bit strange - I didn't get my changes in quickly enough, and ended up starting an O-8 WR. His injury was listed as "broken femur". OK, he didn't get a catch, but must have looked good running his routes with a walking stick! In the end, Paris won the game. Bizarre. But, didn't Terrell Owens have a broken leg when he played in the Super Bowl?

So Mario, start those injured guys - a bit of turf-toe never hurt anyone.

[Andrew-Neutral]

Forgot to add - if Mario wants to rest his injured players, ready for next season, he can forfeit the playoff place and let the EFC West runner-up take his place in the playoffs. It's only fair!

[Mario ADK]

bal bla bla bla bla bla bla bla.....

Can´t you see my players hospitalised and screaming of pain???

A turf toe is a serious problem.

Nope.
All 4 will be on an I-slot this week. Players like Bell, Brown, Schnee and Ziemann deserve their chance. All of them are fighting for starter-jobs for next season.

We will go down with our heads up high....

[Niki]

hm Mario don't you want to play with them because it is then easier to blame the injuried players you lost from Berlin. Last weekend I played with two starting DE on P-1, Gholston even had 2 sacks. Besides you need to have some back-ups on each postion to cover injuries during the season, this also includes the play off games

[Paul-London]

Come on Mario !!

Why not start the injured players, its the playoffs for gods sake !!!

If theyre P-1 and are badly injured and are then 0-5 it doesnt matter as its the end of the season !!!

Like i said i started my WR Blundin the week before at D-3 and this week he was P-1 and was okay the last two weeks with some good games.  Many teams start P-1 players, yes that means that player will play at 90% but it could be better than nothing.

The way you are talking is that half your team is at O-9 instead of 2 guys at P-1 !!!  Thats not the Mario i know, accepting defeat whatever !!

[Mario ADK]

i have a bunch of very good backups and they will prove it.

My team is exhausted. To come back from the dead just to win this sperb  division is great. i will not ask for more.

if i do not have my backups on the field they even might retire? Who knows? Too risky.

Nope.

The ADK practise-sqad will be standing on the field until the final whistle blows......

[Andrew-Neutral]

Just sign a few free agents to cover the injured players - there's a hope heap of talent just waiting to signed up. Hey, some of them may even get time off from McDonalds to let them play in the big game. And, if they stink, you can cut them and get free Happy Meals for the rest of the season.

[Mario ADK]

no.

if they do not perform i would trade them to Paris for a bunch of high picks 

HEY! LEAVE ME ALONE! My backups are good enough to stand their man (do not know if anyone of the non-german-speaking universe understands that phrase but hey i do not care....)

[Paul-London]

Well i'm still shocked you arent playing your best players in the playoffs game !!!  Like i say its like you've accepted defeat already, forget thinking they'll retire at P-1 if they play or anytihng like that !!!  The computers not that clever !

Just no excuses for the rest of the offseason then !!!  Like i say players at P-1 ALWAYS play in the NFL and its the same really in the FWL so dont make out a P-1 player is so badly injured !!

[Marco_Frankfurt]

My prediction : ?


Well lets say it that way:

I really hope that Austria will win that game

Berlin is definitely a powerfull team and I am not sure that I can win against them at home again