LIVESTREAM Swedish Championship Game: Tyresö Royal Crowns vs Stockholm Mean Machines, July 8, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 9 am EDT)

| American Football | 07/08/2023

The Stockholm Mean Machines and Tyresö Royal Crowns square off Saturday, July 8 in the Swedish Championship Game at Zinkensdamms IP stadium in Stockholm.

This is the defending champion Mean Machines’ sixth straight trip to the title game, and they’ll be looking for their fourth championship ring since 2018. The last time the Royal Crowns reached the final was 2012 when they lost to the Carlstad Crusaders 24-0.

The Mean Machines won all six of their regular season games earning a bye into the final. Those wins include a last minute 9-6 win over Carlstad in the second week of the season. They had whipped the Örebro Black Knights 48-12 to open the season and then downed the Tyresö Royal Crowns 31-13. They handed Örebro another defeat beating them 30-26 after racing out to a 30-7 lead. Then Stockholm whipped a shorthanded Carlstad Crusaders squad 33-6. They wound up the regular season by handing Tyresö a 26-7 defeat. The Royal Crowns had opened the season by beating Carlstad 33-7 before downing the Örebro Black Knights 41-6. They then lost 31-13 to Stockholm before beating up on the Crusaders again, 39-0 and Örebro 37-14. After dropping a 26-7 decision to Stockholm in the final regular season game, the Royal Crowns rebounded by beating Örebro 27-12 in the semifinal.

Watch live PPV. Swedish Championship Game: Tyresö Royal Crowns vs Stockholm Mean Machines, July 8, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 9 am EDT)

The Mean Machines winning streak is clearly a team effort, but the outstanding play of quarterback Mark Pappas has also been a difference maker. Not only did he top the league in passing yards (1,657), but he is also had the second most passing touchdowns (13). Add to that the fact that he has thrown just two interceptions. The Royal Crowns defense will need to get pressure on him.

Look for Stockholm and Pappas to continue their dominance in the air. Stockholm also has two receivers in the top five in terms of receiving yards. Anton Blomgren has hauled in 28 passes for 519 yards while Matthew Retzlaff has 440 yards receiving and four touchdowns on 26 receptions, good for third.

Interestingly, while Stockholm boasts the top passing offense in the league averaging 277.3 yards a game, they have the worst ground game producing an average of 81.5 yards a contest.

The Tyresö offense is run by versatile quarterback Hamish McClure who is the second leading passer in the league having thrown for 1,101 yards and a league best 15 touchdowns against only three interceptions. The dual threat signal caller is also the second leading rusher with 43 carries for 298 yads and two scores.

McClure’s main target, Edvin Almeida is second in the league with 32 catches, for 490 yards and seven touchdowns while teammate Dovydas Koncevicius wound up fifth with 22 receptions for 263 yards and two touchdowns. Royal Crowns running back Emil Knutsson was the third leading rusher behind McClure with 254 yards and a score.

Although Stockholm both games between the two by comfortable margins, the most recent game was closer than the score suggests. The Royal Crowns are looking for their first Swedish championship title since 2001 and will be hungry.

Watch live PPV. Swedish Championship Game: Tyresö Royal Crowns vs Stockholm Mean Machines, July 8, 15:00 CET (3 pm, 9 am EDT)

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