It was the Wildcard Round game. With a 37-40 victory, the Paris Musketeers defeated the Munich Ravens and secured their first-ever playoff win in franchise history. Besides an effective rushing game, it was mainly the special teams, led by returner Austin Mitchell, that played a crucial role in the Musketeers' win, repeatedly providing great field positions that the Musketeers used to win the game.

Even though the special teams were so strong, according to Musketeers' returner Austin Mitchell, they weren’t the main focus in practice.

"I wouldn't say that we mainly focused on special teams this week. I’d say it was just one of those areas where we felt we hadn’t reached our full potential. Especially on the kick return and punt return units. We know we have great guys there, guys who are willing to give everything for the team and do whatever it takes to make plays."

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Quiet day in the passing game

With 1,010 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns, Mitchell is usually a key part of the passing game, but on this day, it was the rushing attack that helped the Musketeers win. However, Mitchell didn’t mind at all. "I came into this season telling Coach and Zach that I don’t mind if I don’t get the ball much in a game. I’ll do whatever it takes to win. Whether others block for me or I block for them, I’ll do my job and help the team." The duo of Zach Edwards and Austin Mitchell seems to work exceptionally well. Despite a quiet day in the passing game, they still managed to connect for at least one touchdown, proving once again the strong connection between the two Americans. "Zach and I, I feel like we’ve been a good duo since we started together, from day one, and I think we’ve been great so far."

Ups and downs for Mitchell

Mitchell’s first season in the ELF had a perfect start, with an impressive performance in the Musketeers' first game against the Hamburg Sea Devils: 9 catches, 152 receiving yards, 4 receiving touchdowns, and the ELF MVP of the Week award. But not all games went as well. Over the course of the season, Mitchell didn’t always find it easy to get the ball. In games like the ones against Rhein Fire in Week 4 and Berlin Thunder in Week 8, the strong receiver only managed to gain 10 total yards. However, there were reasons for these low numbers, and they didn’t cause the Musketeers to lose.

"Yeah, my game had its ups and downs, but I’d say that had to do with the teams we played in the middle of the season because they focused more on me. At the beginning of the season, people didn’t really know who I was. I felt like I had more opportunities in 1-on-1 and open field situations. But as the season went on, I faced more double coverage. When that happened, we have so much talent in our receiver room that other guys were open and stepped up. We’re just a team full of playmakers."

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Paris facing a tough challenge

After a strong regular season, where the Musketeers qualified for their first playoffs with a 10-2 record, and after securing their first playoff win against the Munich Ravens, a bigger challenge now awaits them. The Musketeers must travel to face the Vienna Vikings, the only undefeated team of the regular season.

Mitchell has great respect for the Vikings’ performance. "You have to respect any team that goes undefeated through the season. Nobody gave them 12 wins in a row for free; they went out and made plays like everyone else. It’s nothing but respect for them, and it’s going to be a very exciting game."

Musketeers full of confidence

However, the Vienna Vikings are not just the only undefeated team from the regular season, they also boast an extremely strong defense, particularly in pass defense, where they rank among the top four in the league in terms of yards and scores allowed. But Mitchell remains confident. "Yeah, they do have a top 4 pass defense in the league, but we also have one of the top passing offenses, and we’ve always delivered and played our game. We’re one of the best with Zach, our O-line giving us time, and all types of receivers across the field making plays. So, I really feel like it’s all about how we play."

Additionally, defensive back Exavier Edwards, an important leader in the Vikings' defense, is returning to the team and will likely be the primary player covering Mitchell. Mitchell is excited about going up against one of the best defensive backs. "I’ve watched a lot of film on Exavier this week, and I’m excited for the matchup. I hope they keep him on me the whole time because I’m ready to play. In the end, I feel like it’s going to come down to who wants it more."

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