LIVESTREAM Germany PPV: Berlin Rebels @ New Yorker Lions, Aug. 10. 15:00 CET (3 pm, 9 am ET)

| American Football | 08/10/2025

The Braunschweig New Yorker Lions (4-4), clinging to fading playoff hopes, host the resurgent Berlin Rebels (6-3) in a German Football League clash that could define the Lions’ season.

Lions fight for playoff survival
Plagued by injuries and winless against playoff contenders (Dresden, Potsdam, Berlin, Kiel), the Braunschweig Lions sit fourth in the North Division, their postseason fate hanging by a thread. Quarterback Kare Lyles has been a rare bright spot, completing 66% of passes for 1,745 yards, 18 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions, anchoring an offense that averages 27.5 points per game. His top target, CJ Okpalobi, leads the team with 33 catches, 401 yards, and 4 touchdowns, while running back Marc Kaufmann adds balance with 295 rushing yards and 2 scores. Despite these individual efforts, the Lions have struggled against elite defenses, with their four wins coming against lower-tier opponents like Paderborn Dolphins and relegation-threatened Straubing Spiders. A loss Sunday would push their playoff chances toward “mission impossible.”

Watch live PPV. Berlin Rebels @ New Yorker Lions, Aug. 10. 15:00 CET (3 pm, 9 am ET)

Rebels’ offseason overhaul fuels rise
The Berlin Rebels, revitalized by strategic roster moves, have emerged as a playoff contender. Head coach Douglas Fryer retained core staff while adding ex-Berlin Adler coaches Daniel Potechius (DL) and Yannick Rohrschneider (OL), whose “O-Line whisperer” reputation has stabilized protections for QB Connor Kaegi. Dual-threat QB Tyquell Fields provides insurance behind center, while WR Aaron Jackson (570+ receiving yards, 7 TD) and ex-Adler standout Maylan Bacher (200+ receiving/rushing yards, 4 TD) headline a revamped passing attack. RB Nazar Bombata, who gashed Braunschweig for two touchdowns in their first-leg 39-26 win, anchors the ground game with 1,000+ yards and 7 TD.

Defensively, DBs Koi Freeman, Reggie Strong (80 tackles, 4 INT combined), and Felix Mohlberg have solidified a secondary that collapsed in 2024. Despite losses to 2024 finalists Potsdam Royals and Dresden Monarchs, the Rebels ride momentum from a midseason five-game win streak.

Key matchup: Lyles’ efficiency vs. Rebels’ secondary
Braunschweig’s playoff hopes hinge on Kare Lyles exploiting Berlin’s improved but untested pass defense. The Lions must also contain Nazar Bombata, who dominated their first meeting, while CJ Okpalobi and Marc Kaufmann provide complementary firepower.

Legacy on the line
For Berlin, a win cements their resurgence as a retooled contender. For Braunschweig, defeat could mark the decline of a storied franchise clinging to relevance.

Watch live PPV. Berlin Rebels @ New Yorker Lions, Aug. 10. 15:00 CET (3 pm, 9 am ET)

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