LIVESTREAM Sweden: Tyresö Royal Crowns @ Stockholm Mean Machines, May 20, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 9 am EDT)

AFI | American Football | 05/20/2023

The Swedish Superserien heads past the midpoint of the season with a battle of the unbeatens this weekend as the Stockholm Mean Machines take on the Tyresö Royal Crowns.

Stockholm, fresh off a last second 29-27 loss to Germany’s defending champions, the Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns in Central European Football League play, will host a surging Tyresö team who have won both their Superserien games with relative ease. The Royal Crowns beat Carlstad 33-7 and then whipped the Black Knights 41-7. The Mean Machines defeated Carlstad 9-6 on a last second field goal two weeks ago after downing Örebro 48-12 in the season opener.

This will also be a battle between the two top quarterbacks in the league. Stockholm quarterback Mark Pappas leads the Superserien in passing having completed 38 of 54 passes (70%) for 590 yards and four touchdowns with his favorite target, Matt Retzlaff, hauling in 12 of those passes for 220 yards and three scores. Tyresö signal caller Hamish McClure is 27 of 40 for 411 yards and five touchdowns, good for second. His top receiver, Edvin Almeida, leads the league, also with 12 catches, but for 249 yards and three touchdowns.

The Royal Crowns have the best ground game averaging 158.5 yards a game led by McClure, who is the second leading rusher in the Superserien with 115 yards. He is followed in third and fourth by teammates Oliver Coleman (97) and Emil Knutsson (91).

The Mean Machines boast the stingiest defense allowing just 183 yards a game. Tyresö is second, giving up an average of 219.5. Stockholm’s pass defense has been superb allowing opponents a mere 90 yards in the air a game while the Royal Crowns are toughest against the run, surrendering no more than 63 yards rushing per game.

This will be a battle for the ages.