Raiders fall short in thriller - but stay in the playoff hunt

The Raiders Tirol suffered their fourth loss of the season on Saturday, falling 24-31 to the Munich Ravens in a hard-fought game in front of 3,700 fans at Tivoli Stadium. Despite the defeat, the Raiders are still in the race for the playoffs - but the path has become more difficult.

A strong performance with a bitter ending

In a game filled with weather delays, big plays, and dramatic moments, the Raiders showed once again that they can compete with any team in the league. They held the lead for most of the game and matched the 8-1 Ravens play for play.

“It’s just football,” said tight end Markus Schaberl after the game. “In the end, I didn’t make the plays. If you don’t make those, you lose the game - like we saw today. The weather can’t be an excuse, it has to work anyway.”

Schaberl had two touchdown catches and was nearly the hero again in the final seconds. But a last-second pass slipped through his hands in the endzone, and the chance to force overtime was gone.

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Building on positives

While the loss was frustrating, head coach Jim Herrmann remained optimistic: “I’m proud of the players. Of course, I would have liked to win, but we can build on many things. Now we need to lick our wounds and prepare well for the next game.”

The Raiders once again showed a balanced offense, tough defense, and a fighting spirit that kept the game close until the very end. They forced turnovers, scored in key moments, and held a high-powered Ravens offense in check for most of the game.

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What’s next: The playoff push

The loss drops the Raiders to a 5-4 record - and their playoff chances have become very slim. With only three games left in the regular season, every game is now a must-win.

Their remaining schedule is tough:

• Week 11 @ Madrid Bravos
• Week 13 @ Rhein Fire
• Week 14 vs Cologne Centurions

Two of those games are on the road, and only one has a losing record. The other two - Madrid and Rhein Fire - are direct playoff contenders. If the Raiders want to reach the postseason, they will likely need to win all three games.

One game at a time

The mindset within the team remains focused and determined. “We want to get better,” said Markus Schaberl. “We’ve already shown that we can keep up with anyone. Next week, we go all in.”

With their backs against the wall, the Raiders will need to play their best football down the stretch. The margin for error is gone - but the team is not giving up.

Innsbruck fans can expect three intense games full of emotion and playoff-level energy. The road ahead is difficult, but the fight continues.

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