Paris Musketeers overpower Rhein Fire in defensive slugfest

The Paris Musketeers (2-1) avenged their Week 1 loss to the Rhein Fire (1-2) with a commanding 31-7 road victory at Schauinsland-Reisen-Arena, showcasing defensive dominance and capitalizing on Rhein’s offensive struggles.

Early aggression sets tone
Paris stormed to a 17-0 first-quarter lead, executing an aggressive game plan that stifled Rhein’s depleted attack. Quarterback Jaylon Henderson (103 passing yards, 4 TDs) connected with Hugo Tekedam for two quick scores, while running back Nicolas Khandar (106 rushing yards) gashed Rhein’s front. The Fire, missing top receivers Jordan Bouah, Harlan Kwofie, and Jannik Loerks, managed just 68 passing yards from Chad Jeffries and failed to counterpunch.

Defensive battle halts momentum
After Rhein narrowed the gap to 17-7, both defenses locked down. Paris linebacker Kadel King (10 tackles) anchored a unit that forced punts and bottled up Jeffries’ limited options. Rhein’s receivers compounded issues with drops and miscommunication, squandering rare scoring chances. Paris sealed the game in the second half with Henderson’s third and fourth touchdown strikes—a 5-yard dart to Florian Larose and a 1-yard strike to Cheikhou Sow.

Key performances
Tekedam (5 catches, 61 yards, 2 TDs) earned Player of the Game honors, crediting Paris’ all-phase execution: “It feels good to win, especially when offense, defense, and special teams all play well. My personal goal is to move higher in the ELF Top 100.”

Khandar’s 106-yard outburst kept Rhein’s defense guessing, while Henderson’s efficiency (4 TDs on 103 yards) offset low volume. Rhein’s Jeffries, under constant pressure, completed just 11 passes, and veteran Patrick Poetsch acknowledged postgame: “We have to look at what went wrong, sit down, and start again.”

Road ahead
The Musketeers enter their bye week revitalized, their playoff trajectory bolstered by this statement win. Rhein, now 1-2, faces a critical test against the Hamburg Sea Devils. With receivers sidelined and Jeffries searching for rhythm, the Fire must recalibrate to avoid a deepening slump.