This coming weekend, the European League of Football enters its eleventh week of the regular season in 2022. A lot of football has been played, but what team will be in the playoffs and who are the ones still looking for a chance to compete for it all? 

Our stat team ran over one million simulations of possible outcomes of the next four weeks of the regular season. The simulations were based on previous performances of each franchise, considering parameters like strength of previous opponents, score differentials and the remaining strength of schedule. Each simulation leads to one possible playoff scenario. 

As a result, we now have the calculated playoff chances for each individual franchise of the European League of Football heading into Week 11 of the 2022 regular season! 

Pred. Record: 1-11 - PO Chances: 0.0% - Remaining SoS: .563 - SoV: .000 (0-0)

The 0-8 Stuttgart Surge are amongst two teams who are already out of playoff contention. As the remaining teams in the South Conference are just too strong, the Surge have no chance to come back this season for a late playoff run. 

Pred. Record: 2-10 - PO Chances: 0.0% - Remaining SoS: .594 – SoV: .750 (6-2)

The 1-7 Istanbul Rams have a slightly easier conference but are still out of playoff contention in their first season joining the European League of Football. However, the 2-10 predicted record at the end of the season could look different as the Rams have a new quarterback Isaiah Green under center alongside other players and coaches who made life tough for opposing teams since their Week 8 upset against the Dragons at home. 

Pred. Record: 5-7 - PO Chances: 0.0% - Remaining SoS: .688 – SoV: .083 (2-22)

The 3-5 Wroclaw Panthers have a simulated 0.0% chance to reach the playoffs. Although there are some scenarios in which the Polish franchise could reach the postseason over the third or fourth tie-breaker implemented in the European League of Football rules. 

If Wroclaw does not win against the 5-3 Berlin Thunder this weekend, the Panthers are officially out of playoff contention. 

Pred. Record: 3-9 - PO Chances: 0.0% - Remaining SoS: .438 – SoV: .313 (5-11)

Like the Panthers, the 2-6 Leipzig Kings are not already out of the playoff race although the simulation came up with a 0.0% chance. As the Polish franchise, the Kings have to win their game against the 7-1 Hamburg Sea Devils this weekend to stay in the hunt for playoff spot. 

Pred. Record: 3-9 - PO Chances: 0.1% - Remaining SoS: .500 – SoV: .375 (6-10)

The 2-6 Cologne Centurions face a similar scenario compared to the Kings and Panthers. After winning their first two games of the season, the Centurions lost game after game which only leaves them with a 0.1% chance to reach the playoffs. If they lose against the Dragons this weekend, the Centurions are out of the playoff race as well. 

Pred. Record: 6-6 - PO Chances: 17.3% - Remaining SoS: .313 – SoV: .313 (10-22)

There are seven teams left to fight for the four available playoff spots. On team are the 4-4 Rhein Fire. With a simulated chance of 17.3% of reaching the playoffs, the German franchise has to fight their way to some win over the last four games in the regular season. 

Rhein Fire’s simulated record at the end of the season stands at 6-6 although their remaining strength of schedule is the weakest one in the entire league with .313. 

Pred. Record: 7-5 - PO Chances: 26.7% - Remaining SoS: .500 – SoV: .250 (10-30)

The 5-3 Berlin Thunder are right behind the 7-1 Hamburg Sea Devils in the North Conference. With a simulated chance of 26.7% to reach the playoffs, the German franchise has a real shot of reaching the postseason for the first time in franchise history. Berlin didn't have the best start to the season, but in the meantime they not only have a top rushing offense, but also one of the strongest defenses in the league. To take the next step, they still need to get a grip on turnovers.

The Thunder have a .500 strength of schedule remaining but also just faced opponents that only won 10 games combined over the span of eight weeks. With a win over the Panthers this weekend, the Thunder would come a huge step closer to their dream of reaching the postseason. 

Pred. Record: 7-5 - PO Chances: 29.9% - Remaining SoS: .531 – SoV: .250 (10-30)

At the moment, the 5-3 Galaxy are just looking in from the outside. But with a simulated chance of 29.9%, the reigning champion has the fifth highest chance of landing a spot in the postseason. 

However, it will be difficult for the Galaxy to repeat their postseason run from last year as they are only ranked third in the Central Conference. In addition, they opponents so far have only won ten out of 30 games which proves the Galaxy had an easier schedule compared to other franchises so far. To make matters worse, they have the toughest remaining schedule among the 5-3 teams at .531.

This week, the Galaxy will face the still undefeated Vienna Vikings. Will they prevail or will they see their playoff hopes shooting off into a Galaxy far, far away? 

Pred. Record: 8-4 - PO Chances: 39.4% - Remaining SoS: .375 – SoV: .350 (14-26)

The 5-3 Raiders Tirol are currently the best team of all second-ranked teams in the European League of Football. This earns them a spot in the playoffs, for now. Similar to the Thunder, the Raiders had a very slow start to the season. Since then, the team has found its groove and leads the league with a strong passing offense.

With a predicted record of 8-4 at the end of the regular season and a remaining strength of schedule of .375, the Raiders could be the team to beat for the fourth available spot in the playoffs. 

Will the Raiders sail all the way to the playoffs, or will their ship be overturned by another franchise?

Pred. Record: 10-2 - PO Chances: 72.2% - Remaining SoS: .500 – SoV: .357 (20-36)

The Hamburg Sea Devils are currently sitting at the top of the North Conference with a simulated chance of 72.2% to reach the playoffs.  With a remaining strength of schedule of .500, the Hanseatic franchise ranks right at the middle compared to the league average. 

Will the Sea Devils continue to ride their wave this weekend against the almost hopeless Kings or are the royals preparing an upset? 

Pred. Record: 8-4 - PO Chances: 87.9% - Remaining SoS: .531 – SoV: .375 (18-30)

What a ride it’s been for the 6-2 Barcelona Dragons. With first-year head coach Andrew Weidinger and his NFL experience, the Spanish currently sits at the top of the South Conference with a predicted record of 8-4 at the end of the season.  

Their 87.9% chance to reach the playoffs is the second-highest in the European League of Football which is supported by their strength of victories in the past games. Although the Barcelona Dragons have the toughest remaining schedule of the playoff contenders at .531, they will prevail in the Southern Conference.

Will the Dragons have enough fire to reach the playoffs or are the Rhein Fire coming back with more hot breath at the end? 

Pred. Record: 11-1 - PO Chances: 99.7% - Remaining SoS: .469 - SoV: .391 (25-39)

The undefeated 8-0 Vienna Vikings are almost safe to reach the playoffs in their first year joining the European League of Football. With a simulated chance of 99.7% to reach the postseason, the Austrian franchise can almost rest on their remaining .469 strength of schedule. 

It is also noteworthy that the Vikings almost have the best mark of strength of victories with 25 combined wins and 39 combined losses of all their opponents up to this point. 

Will the Vikings go all the way this year to win the European League of Football Championship in the 28 BLACK ARENA on 25th September?