The undefeated Braunschweig New Yorker Lions (7-0) will be facing the 4-3 Berlin Rebels Sunday, July 28 in the first game back for both teams after a four week break in the German Football League.
The Lions won the first game between these two this year, 29-12. But Berlin is on its own winning streak having won four in a row after losing its first three.
Braunschweig has won its seven opening games including a thrilling 35-28 win over the previously unbeaten Hildesheim Invaders just before the break. They had downed the Cologne Crocodiles in a back-to-back series, 23-6 and 45-7, and then took care of the Rebels, the only team that defeated them in the regular season last year. Early in June, the Lions won a thriller, beating the previously unbeaten Dresden Monarchs 34-31 and also walked all over the Potsdam Royals, 46-7.
The Lions offense has been effective with QB Brandon Connette throwing for just 979 yards in the seven games. The backfield duo of Chris McClendon (514 yds) and David McCants (220 yds) along with Connette (437 yds) give the Lions the best rushing attack in the GFL averaging 174.1 yards a game. Wide receivers Nicolai Schumann (241 yds) and Christian Bollmann with 200 yards receiving lead the team.
Braunschweig has one of the top three best defenses in the GFL and has only allowed opponents an average of 241.7 yards of offense a game. Braunschweig has one of the best pass defenses in the GFL giving up just 182.1 yards a game. Berlin is right behind them allowing only 195.6.
The Rebels earned their fourth straight win right before the break, blanking the Cologne Crocodiles 27-0. The week before, they had beaten the Dusseldorf Panther 55-13 after downing them 55-20. They had defeated the Kiel Baltic Hurricanes 33-13 after suffering through a dismal opening to their 2019 season losing all three games, which they have not done since 2015 when they lost their first three games of the year en route to a 4-8 season.
The Rebels were beaten 30-17 in their opening game by the Potsdam Royals in Potsdam, and then they dropped a 29-12 decision to the Braunschweig New Yorker Lions. In late May, the Hildesheim Invaders proved too much for the 2018 German quarterfinalists, beating them 56-41.
Berlin’s new quarterback, Kurt Palandech, has look solid in his four starts throwing for 908 yards and 12 touchdowns. TJ Esekielu as the leading receiver with 26 catches for 435 yards and four touchdowns Alexander Tounkara has caught 19 passes for 306 yards and five touchdowns while Jason Harris now has 245 yards receiving. The running game, which has been the strength of the team in seasons past , seems to have come alive and is fifth in the league averaging 126.9 yards a game. Andreas Betza has rushed for a total of 355 yards.
The Berlin Rebels accomplished a feat last year that no other team has ever managed against the Troy Tomlin coached Lions. Berlin beat the Lions in both games they played against each other in 2018, the only two regular season losses that Braunschweig suffered. The Lions have already gained some revenge, beating Berlin once on the road. They will be looking to finish it off today in front of their raucous home crowd.
Watch the game live here. Berlin Rebels @Braunschweig New Yorker Lions, Sunday, July 28, 3p CEDT (9a EDT)
