Week 9 Preview

[Paul-London]

Ohio Glory at Birmingham Fire

A revamped Birmingham upset Sacramento last week and looked much improved.  However Ohio is currently firing on all cylinders at 4-4 they stand a good chance of making the playoffs as they are just one game behind the playoff teams.  Ohio changed their offense last week and it worked wonders as Jamal Roberston had his best game of the season and was more of a rusher than a receiver.

Ohio by 7

Montreal Machine at New York Knights

Could be the game of the season, NY at 7-0 looked invincible but were shocked last week by Orlando.  Either way New York still played a great game and were unlucky to lose away, HB DeMario Browns 2 lost fumbles didnt help.  Montreal are coming off a big loss to Mexico and Montreal could now lose 2 games in a row, been a long time since that has happened.  New York will hope to bounce back and win big at home, a win here would put them 3 games ahead of Montreal and with the tiebreaker advantage.  A huge game for both teams

New York by 3

Raleigh Durham Skyhawks at Sacramento Surge

Sacramento had one of their worst ever games last week, they were at home and lost to a rejuvenated Birmingham who came into the contest at 0-7.  The Surge passing attack and defense have played well but without a rushing attack the offense is faltering.  This week veteran Carl McCullough gets the nod ahead of disappointing Mike Reed.  Raleigh made major changes last week also and only lost due to allowing 2 late 4Q touchdowns.  HB Mike Green played well and actually gave Raleigh an offensive weapon rushing and receiving.  Should be a close game, for Sacramento QB Todd Bouman despite playing well might be benched soon as the Surge look to the future.  Could be his last chance

Sacramento by 3

Orlando Thunder at San Antonio Riders

Orlando have a tough schedule at the moment, 7-0 NY last week and now 6-2 San Antonio this week.  The Riders were undefeated at home until getting shocked by Frankfurt last week and will look to take it out on Orlando.  The Thunder are good at home but are 0-3 on the road and will have to play better, they are 2 games behind the playoff pack and need a win here.  San Antonio at home will look to bounce back from last weeks poor display

Riders by 7

Berlin Thunder at Mexico Aztecs

Big game for both teams this late in the season, Berlin after a 0-3 start are 3-1 in their last 4 games but now face Mexico away and the Aztecs are coming off their biggest win of the season.  Both teams need a win here, if Mexico can win and Montreal lose to AFC powerhouse New York they will be a game ahead of Montreal and hold a tiebreaker so Montreal would be 2 games behind.  However Berlin and their veterans are playing well but the young Aztecs could really start making a move towards the playoffs with a win here to move to 6-3.  Huge game for both teams, advantage to Mexico as they are at home.

Mexico by 7

Barcelona Dragons at Frankfurt Galaxy

The Dragons much like Sacramento are on a losing streak thanks to no rushing attack.  The swapping of HB's in Barcelona has disrupted the offense and the Dragons are on a bad losing streak.  Coming to Frankfurt wont help matters , Frankfurt are historically great at home and have come off their best win of the season winning away in San Antonio.  However the Galaxy are surprising just 1-2 at home this year but should do well against Barcelona

Frankfurt by 14

London Monarchs at Rhein Fire

Another big game for both teams, London need the win here to keep up with the playoff push.  For Rhein at 3-5 they badly need a win here but the Fire at 1-3 at home this year and are facing problems rushing the ball.  Their new HB Bongo-Wanga wasnt great last week and former starter Reynard Rutherford is dying to get back to starting.  London didnt play a great game in a defensive battle against Scotland last week but are 5-3 and in a playoff spot at the moment.  A tough away game for London but they need to win games like this if they want to make the playoffs.

London by 3

Austria DarkKnights at Paris Musketeers

Great game here, Austria are the FWL's only undefeated team but must travel to Paris to play the revamped Musketeers.  Paris are 4-1 in their last 5 games, their only defeat last week in OT and are playing brilliant football.  QB Petrus Penkki has been making all the big plays and veteran LB Matt Finkes is having a great season.  For Austria they are just getting the job done week in week out, they came away in the second half against Barcelona last week but still at 8-0 they dont seem to impress everyone.  An away win here would be very convincing but Austria could be facing one of their toughest games of the season.

Austria by 3

Amsterdam Admirals at Scottish Claymores

Despite their record Scotland have played very good football the last 4 or so games.  4 of the last 5 games have been losses by none have been more than 10 points.  Amsterdam played brilliantly last week against Paris but will now be travelling away, saying that Amsterdam are 3-1 on the road this year so will fancy their chances against Scotland.  Amsterdams great rushing attack should wear down the Claymores whos defense is still suspect.

Amsterdam by 7

[Niki]

Amsterdam Admirals at Scottish Claymores

Despite their record Scotland have played very good football the last 4 or so games.  4 of the last 5 games have been losses by none have been more than 10 points.  Amsterdam played brilliantly last week against Paris but will now be travelling away, saying that Amsterdam are 3-1 on the road this year so will fancy their chances against Scotland.  Amsterdams great rushing attack should wear down the Claymores whos defense is still suspect.

Amsterdam by 7

The only question for this game is, who will be the starting HB? Kuchi he played more then great the last two games (56 for 226 1td) or Heurta (91 for 483 5td's).

Amsterdam GM Van den Berg announced that he will decided on Saturday who will start!

[jcompton-Orlando]

London Monarchs at Rhein Fire

Another big game for both teams, London need the win here to keep up with the playoff push.  For Rhein at 3-5 they badly need a win here but the Fire at 1-3 at home this year and are facing problems rushing the ball.  Their new HB Bongo-Wanga wasnt great last week and former starter Reynard Rutherford is dying to get back to starting.  London didnt play a great game in a defensive battle against Scotland last week but are 5-3 and in a playoff spot at the moment.  A tough away game for London but they need to win games like this if they want to make the playoffs.

London by 3

In a sign of how the little things usually end up winning games, by the numbers the Rhein and London offenses have performed pretty similarly so far this year, but one team is 5-3 and the other 3-5. If one team can score 20, that's your winner--and the Fire haven't managed that yet this year. In a low-scoring battle like the one we just squeaked out against the Claymores, I think the Fire have the upper hand.

[Paul-London]

Well in the past Rhein had a great rushing attack, the last few seasons they've struggled though.  HB Rene Ignolia after a great 1100+ yard season in Season 12 when Rhein had the best rushing attack in the league was then benched and traded in Season 13 which was a major surprise.

Since then Rhein have struggled to run the ball and Loliko Bongo-Wanga as a rookie and having terrible ST i cant see doing well for Rhein at all.  Big advantage to you there.

QB Dani Pegenaute has been one of the most underrated QB's in the FWL ever, the last 3 years hes been excellent.  But the last 2 years no rushing attack has really hurt the Fire.  The old days of Ignolia/Rutherford as a powerful 1-2 are long gone.

[Mario ADK]

Ohio Glory at Birmingham Fire

Thumbs up for Ohio..... PLEASE WIN!!!!!! It would be devastating for me if Fire wins as i had Ohios pick and traded it away for Birminghams pick. Nevertheless: Ohio is by far the better team. GO OHIO!!!!!!

Ohio by 999

Montreal Machine at New York Knights

Now that one is big..... Can you imagine what COULD happen if the Machine suffers another loss...... boy oh boy oh boy...... Game of the Week. Game of the YEAR? I am going to read this play-play for sure.....

Montreal by 6

Raleigh Durham Skyhawks at Sacramento Surge

Sacramento is not impressing me. i am going for the Skyhawks in OT.

RD by 3 in OT

Orlando Thunder at San Antonio Riders

Big game as well. Orlando could make it if EVERYTHING goes their way but in the end the Riders will end up winners. They are too strong.

Riders by 7

Berlin Thunder at Mexico Aztecs

There is lot of potential in Mechiko. I am not impressed by Berlin. Clear case for me.

Mexico by 10

Barcelona Dragons at Frankfurt Galaxy

Guess what? The Galaxy are my EFC-favourite, they will travel to the big game. They will crush the Dragons.

Frankfurt by 17

London Monarchs at Rhein Fire

Tough game. Very very interesting. Monarchs do not impress much with their ups and downs, Fire do the same. Smells like OT?

London by 3 in OT

Austria DarkKnights at Paris Musketeers

Paris are 4-1 in their last 5 games and ADK has been sqeezing themselves past a loss for too long. This will be the end of ADKs sensational run but it will be a close game.

Paris by 6

Amsterdam Admirals at Scottish Claymores

I like both teams but i am a Claymores-fan so to speak. But to be honest i would be VERY surprised if old dad Munro has another victory this season.

Amsterdam by 7

[Michel-Birmingham]

Ohio Glory at Birmingham Fire

Thumbs up for Ohio..... PLEASE WIN!!!!!! It would be devastating for me if Fire wins as i had Ohios pick and traded it away for Birminghams pick. Nevertheless: Ohio is by far the better team. GO OHIO!!!!!!

Ohio by 999

 

[velcro]

This week Ohio will start star Defensive Lineman Michael Josiah at Quarterback

[Mario ADK]

This week Ohio will start star Defensive Lineman Michael Josiah at Quarterback

hmmmm..... ok, Ohio wants to get out of the playoff race.....that will be harder to win for Ohio....

Ohio just by 333

[Niki]

This week Ohio will start star Defensive Lineman Michael Josiah at Quarterback

hmmmm..... ok, Ohio wants to get out of the playoff race.....that will be harder to win for Ohio....

Ohio just by 333

haha Mario, how you put the score for this game, I am now hoping that Birmingham will win this Sunday

[Mario ADK]

OPEN LETTER TO COMMISSIONER JOHNS:

Dear Mr. Johns,

due to some strange course of events i need to ask you to put an eye on this weeks game of Ohio against Birmingham. As i tend to know Birminghams GM for quite a while (and he is quite a guy to be careful of) and due to rumours that are spread, i think you should be looking very very closely to what happens in this game.

Especially the fact that Ohios GM is open to any "gifts" you might give him i fear that he "deliberately" pulls out of the playoff-race by starting DLs as QBs and his QB as center and so on. I also heard rumors of money beeing involved in that case.

Please keep sportmansship up - just like i did as GM of ADK thoughout the years. We do NOT need all this dark... ah.... strange things happen in the FWL as we are a clean league.

So just in case Birmingham wins this game i would have to ask my lawyers to go to court and get Ohio win this in the court room if necessary. Furthermore i hereby ask you to penalise Birmingham with 7 losses for beeing in existance so they would be at -6 wins right now.

Sincerely yours
Mario Kreiner
A supporter of true sportmanship in the FWL

[Paul-London]

Well since Michel has made some big changes on Birmingham they are now 1-0 with an impressive win away on the road. I would favour Ohio but the new look Birmingham have started well