Rhein Fire crush Thunder, Lions keep win-streak alive
Tim Hanswillemenke
© Eric Mühle / Berlin ThunderRhein Fire (4-2) AT Berlin Thunder (2-5)
Final Score: 44 -7
Rhein Fire left no doubt in Berlin, delivering a dominant performance in all phases of the game to crush the Thunder in Week 7. Offense, defense, and special teams all fired on full cylinders as the reigning champs put together one of their most convincing wins of the season so far.
With backup quarterback Ferras El-Hendi starting for Berlin, the Thunder offense struggled to sustain drives and capitalize on rare opportunities. Rhein Fire, meanwhile, relied heavily on their ground game, keeping quarterback Chad Jeffries to just 10 pass attempts. Their running backs carried the load effectively, marching down the field and controlling the tempo from start to finish.
Berlin’s defense held up well on third down, limiting Rhein Fire to three of eight conversions, but untimely individual mistakes on key downs allowed the visitors to build a massive lead. With this win, Rhein Fire stay firmly on their playoff trajectory, while Berlin Thunder continue to slide in a growing mid-season funk.
Watch the Fire at Thunder highlights here!
Prague Lions (4-2) AT Frankfurt Galaxy (3-4)
Final Score: 37 - 16
The Prague Lions delivered their most complete performance of the season with a commanding win over the Frankfurt Galaxy, improving to 4–2 for the first time in franchise history. Quarterback Javarian Smith was the star of the show, tossing four touchdown passes with zero interceptions and showcasing calm leadership and pinpoint accuracy throughout the game.
Wide receiver Willie Patterson, formerly of Madrid Bravos and Rhein Fire, continued to be a key playmaker for Prague. Patterson hauled in two touchdown catches and racked up nearly 100 receiving yards, proving once again why he’s one of the most dynamic offensive weapons in the league.
The Galaxy, meanwhile, struggled on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they couldn’t find any rhythm, and defensively, they were overwhelmed by Prague’s high-tempo attack. The Lions now sit firmly on the playoff track heading into the second half of the season, an achievement that would’ve seemed unthinkable just a year ago. With their current momentum, the Lions are no longer underdogs, they are a playoff team with a dream to go all the way to the Championship Game this September.