Sunday, 15:00 CET: Fire at Storm - new rivalry at its peak

The European League of Football will see one of its most exciting new rivalries reach the next level on Sunday at 15:00 in the Gladsaxe Stadium in Copenhagen, when Rhein Fire faces the Nordic Storm in the Wild Card Round. Both teams have already shown their strength in two thrilling regular season games, splitting the series 1-1. Now, in an all-or-nothing playoff duel, the rivalry takes center stage.

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Shared history despite a new beginning

It is remarkable that a team in its very first season already shares so much history with a former champion. The Storm are led by John Shoop, who once worked as Quarterbacks Coach for Rhein Fire. But the connections run even deeper: Jadrian Clark, Glen Toonga, Max Parkinson, and Emmanuel Falola - all of them key players in Fire’s championship run - are now wearing Storm colors. This offseason movement not only created headlines, it also added fuel to the rivalry.

Storm’s dream start vs. Fire’s bumpy road

The Nordic Storm enjoyed a dream debut season, remaining unbeaten until Week 11. For Rhein Fire, however, the road was much tougher. After losing several offensive leaders - including Offensive Coordinator Andrew Weidinger, who joined the Madrid Bravos - Fire needed time to find its rhythm.

Quarterback Chad Jeffries, who stepped into the shoes of former MVP Jadrian Clark, had early struggles as the offense searched for its identity. The turning point came when Fred Armstrong joined as Assistant Head Coach and Rohat Dagdelen took over as offensive playcaller. By the end of the regular season, Fire’s attack looked much more balanced and dangerous than in their first clash with the Storm.

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The quarterback battle

All eyes will be on the two quarterbacks. Jadrian Clark, MVP of 2023, is thriving once again, now at his third ELF stop with the Nordic Storm. On the other side, Chad Jeffries has shown steady improvement and enters the playoffs with growing confidence. Their duel could very well decide which team moves on to the semifinals.

Defense wins Championships

While much attention is on the star quarterbacks, both defenses played decisive roles in the regular season meetings. In both games, turnovers, sacks, and big defensive stops set the tone. Statistically, the two units are very close, making every single play in this playoff battle even more valuable.

Watch the Top 10 Plays of Week 14 here!

The crowd factor

One key difference in the Wild Card Round: this time, Rhein Fire must travel north. When Fire hosted the Storm in Week 14, their home fans created a deafening atmosphere that clearly impacted the opponent. On Sunday in Copenhagen, the Storm will count on their own supporters in Gladsaxe Stadium to return the favor and push their team into the semifinals.

What to expect on Sunday

With so many storylines - former players facing their old team, a new franchise trying to prove it belongs at the very top, and Rhein Fire fighting to defend its legacy - this matchup has all the ingredients of a true ELF classic.

Kickoff is set for Sunday, 15:00 CET, Gladsaxe Stadium in Copenhagen. A packed house, loud fans, and two powerful teams promise one of the most dramatic Wild Card games in ELF history.

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