LIVESTREAM: Germany – Stuttgart Scorpions @Munich Cowboys, Sept. 8, 4p (10a ET)

AFI | American Football | 09/08/2018

Graphic: Igor Lazarevic

In the final, and biggest game of the year in the German Football League for the Munich Cowboys (5-8), they take on the Stuttgart Scorpions (2-11) at Dante Stadion in Munich, Germany in a matchup that could well decide their post season fate.

The Cowboys enter the game tied with the Marburg Mercenaries (5-8) but ahead in the standings by virtue of a better points differential in the two games between the clubs. A Cowboys win today would secure the final playoff berth in the GFL South. However, a loss today by Munich and a win by the Mercenaries gives Marburg the final playoff spot.

Munich has not qualified for the playoffs since 2014 so this would be a huge step up for a club that has been on a decline. The Cowboys have won three of their last four games, including a decisive 45-17 victory over Marburg which put them in playoff contention.

The last time these two teams met a month ago, the Cowboys came away with a 21-14 win after Munich quarterback Trenton Miller threw for 305 yards and three touchdowns.

Miller is averaging 252.9 yards passing per game, third best among all quarterbacks. However, he is the entire offense as the Cowboys running game is dead last in Germany with a 34.3 yards per game average. Wide receiver, Kai Silbermann is the fifth leading receiver in Germany in overall yardage with 1,082 yards on 76 catches.

Despite Stuttgart’s record, they have shown vast improvement in the last half of the season, much of which is due to the play of quarterback Michael Eubank. Eubank is the third quarterback of the season for Stuttgart but has helped the Scorpions offense improve over the past nine games. In a dramatic win over the Marburg Mercenaries two weeks ago, Eubank threw for 412 yards and four touchdowns. In the victory against the Kirchdorf Wildcats, Eubank threw for 191 yards and five touchdowns. He has thrown for 1,822 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 202 yards passing a game. In a close 30-27 loss to Marburg, in June, he completed 17 of 24 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns. His leading receiver is Richard Samuel who has 764 yards receiving while running back Giacomo De Pauli, who is also a German national team running back, has rushed for 861 yards.

Interestingly, Munich’s win over Stuttgart this year snapped an eight-game losing streak against the Scorpions. It was the first time the Cowboys had beaten the Scorpions since 2013.