After two consecutive bye weeks, the Vienna Vikings are set to face the Paris Musketeers in the Semifinals. The Musketeers earned their spot with an impressive 40-37 victory in a high-level Wildcard Round game. Now, they must leave their home-field advantage behind and travel to face the undefeated Vienna Vikings (Saturday, 15.15 CET).

Vikings' perfect season so far

Everything has gone according to plan for the Vienna Vikings this season. With a 12-0 record and the top playoff seed, the regular season was a perfect success. The start of the season was turbulent for the franchise, especially with quarterback Ben Holmes dealing with injuries. Despite these challenges, the Vikings remained composed and managed to win games even with homegrown and backup quarterbacks. The Vikings comfortably secured the Eastern Conference Championship, in part because teams like Berlin Thunder and Wroclaw Panthers underperformed and weren't tough playoff contenders.

Now, the Vikings face a different caliber of opponent in the Paris Musketeers, who entered the playoffs with a strong 10-2 record and showcased top-level offensive football in the Wildcard Round. This matchup promises to be a thrilling football game between two high-level teams.

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Vikings offensive players set franchise records

The Vikings boast a roster full of playmakers, both on offense and defense. Quarterback Ben Holmes has been a key weapon with his accuracy and efficiency in the passing game. Despite playing in only 9 games this season due to injury, Holmes still managed to throw for an impressive 34 passing touchdowns, setting a franchise record for the Vienna Vikings. On a per-game basis, Holmes leads the league with 3.8 touchdowns per game and 289.2 passing yards per game, underlining his talent.

His main target, Reece Horn, has also had an outstanding season. Despite joining the team in Week 2 and missing the opening game, Horn quickly made an impact. After playing 11 games, Horn has accumulated 1,164 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns. Only two players recorded more receiving yards, and only one had more touchdowns, although Horn played one less game. He became the first Vikings receiver to surpass 1,000 yards and set a new franchise record with 13 receiving touchdowns. Horn also leads the league in receiving yards per game (105.8) and touchdowns per game (1.2).

Holmes has plenty of passing options

In addition to Reece Horn, quarterback Ben Holmes has another reliable target in Noah Toure. The rookie has delivered in his first year with the Vikings and ranks among the Top 10 receivers in the league for both receiving yards and touchdowns. Just in time for the big showdown against the Musketeers, two more key receivers are returning. Jordan Bouah and Kimi Linnainmaa are back from the Injured Reserve list, giving Holmes even more options in the passing game.

As in previous seasons, the Vikings' defense is playing at a high level. They are ranked third in total yards allowed and second in points allowed. However, the team suffered a setback before the Semifinal. Jan-Phillip Bombek, a crucial player on the defensive line and a team leader, had to be placed on the Injured Reserve list.

The Vikings' defense is particularly impressive with its homegrown talent. Defensive back Benjamin Straight is one of the league leaders in interceptions, and rookie Nikolaus Terlitza has made a big impact with numerous sacks and tackles that have helped the team gain the upper hand. The Vikings are also specialists in tackles for loss, with 11 players recording 5 or more TFLs this season.

Key leader returns to backfield

The return of Exavier Edwards adds another boost to the Vikings' defense. The American defensive back, who was injured midway through the season, has been gradually reintegrated into the team. Edwards is not only one of the best defensive backs in the league, but his experience also makes him a valuable leader for the Vikings' relatively young squad.

The matchup between the Paris Musketeers and Vienna Vikings promises to be a high-level showdown, with the first ticket for the 2024 Championship Game on the line.

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