LIVESTREAM Austrian Wild Card: Salzburg Ducks @ Graz Giants, July 4, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 10 am ET)

The Graz Giants and Salzburg Ducks open the Austrian Football League postseason Saturday with a Wild Card showdown, as the home team looks to carry its late-season momentum into the playoffs while the visitors aim to extend a season that has already exceeded expectations.

After opening the year 0-2, the Giants finished the regular season with seven wins in their final eight games to secure third place and home-field advantage. The Ducks, meanwhile, achieved their primary goal by reaching the postseason and now have an opportunity to pull off a first-round upset. In the only meeting between the two teams this season, Graz recorded a convincing 35-7 victory.

Giants peaking at the right time

The Giants head into the playoffs fresh off a 34-17 road victory over the SWARCO Raiders Tirol. After a close first half, Graz took control behind timely takeaways and a balanced offensive attack.

Watch live. Salzburg Ducks @ Graz Giants, July 4, 16:00 CET (4 pm, 10 am ET)

Jonas Dachs-Wiesinger sparked the offense with two touchdowns, while Dean Opara and Fritz Bleckmann both found the end zone on the ground. Defensively, an interception in the second half shifted the momentum and helped the Giants pull away.

Head coach Stefan Pokorny believes his team has found its rhythm after a difficult start.

“After the somewhat bumpy start to the season, we played a solid regular season and thus secured home rights in the wildcards and third place. With the crowd behind us, we want to qualify for the next round.”

Ducks chasing an upset

The Ducks closed the regular season with a 42-14 loss to the Prague Black Panthers, but reaching the playoffs marked a significant step forward for the club.

Jamario Howard and Camron Madden accounted for Salzburg’s touchdowns in that game, but the offense struggled to keep pace after the opening quarter.

The stakes are straightforward. A Graz victory would send the Giants to a semifinal against the Prague Black Panthers. If Salzburg pulls off the upset, the reward is a semifinal meeting with the Danube Dragons.

Although the regular-season meeting favored Graz, playoff football often brings a different level of intensity. With confidence growing, recent momentum on their side and home-field advantage, the Giants will look to continue their remarkable turnaround and take the next step toward the Austrian Bowl.