“I don't think you could ask for anything better” - Raiders and Ravens will face for the playoffs

The ELF enters week 14 and the final week of the 2024 regular season, with teams still hoping to reach the playoffs. Two of them will meet on the final matchday: the Munich Ravens and Tirol Raiders.

Both franchises went through the season strongly and have a record of 8-3, enough for the playoffs if there weren't even stronger teams like Rhein Fire (11-1), Stuttgart Surge (10-1) or the Paris Musketeers (9-2). Not forgetting the high-flyers Vienna Vikings with their second undefeated season in a row.

In Munich for the Ravens and Raiders, everything is on the line once again. The excitement is building and so is the tension?

Ravens HC Ellison puts the brakes on the euphoria

Ravens head coach Kendral Ellison looks rather relaxed ahead of the upcoming clash: "I’m looking for to it just as any other game. It’s the next one, so it’s the most important one." For the experienced coach, the plan is clear: "We simply have to keep the main thing the main thing and do what we’ve been doing the last weeks, and that’s focusing on being better than we were the week before."

Ellison would have the chance to reach the playoffs in his first year as head coach of the Ravens. It would even be the first in the franchise's history. So, is he under pressure? The US American remains calm here as well: "Our thoughts are on the Raiders and nothing more. The playoff picture will sort itself out once the final whistle is blown."

Can reach the playoffs in his first season with the Ravens: Head coach Kendral Ellison. ©Roland Johannes

Raiders General Manager Ulz Däuber is also trying to take some pressure off the game. "The game against Munich is not our Super Bowl - it's a chance for us to go 1-0. We don't have to approach it any other way", he told Raiders Media.

Don't miss a single game - get your Gamepass now!

Raiders Lachmann excited: "It's huge for me as a player!"

Raiders Defensive end Robert Lachmann is already showing much more excitement: "It's huge for me as a player! Games like this stay in your memory forever. I don't think you could ask for anything better." The 28-year-old is aware of the Ravens' qualities, especially in the offensive line. "I also have a lot of respect for Kendral Ellison. But I think we can get the best out of our game against talented opponents", he told Raiders Media.

This is the second meeting between the division opponents this year. The Raiders won game one by a narrow 29-26 margin. Raiders' linebacker Tim Unger knows that too. He told Raiders Media: "Defensively they've made some changes, a few players are injured. Not much has changed for us, except that N'Kosi is now more experienced. Cinque [Sweeting] can spread the pitch out, which helps us and was already evident against Stuttgart. As a defense, we naturally want to get the quarterback."

The 30-year-old is already motivated days before the game: "Last year, we left it up to others to decide whether we made the playoffs or not. Now we have the chance to do it ourselves."

Raiders' linebacker Tim Unger. ©Goran Milosavljevic

In the current playoffs picture, both teams are in the playoffs. However, right behind them wait the Madrid Bravos (7-4) for their admittedly small, but still existing chance. So both Ravens and Raiders should want to leave nothing to luck and secure that very important win in Week 14.

Get your ticket for the Championship Game!