Vikings' Calaycay on Fire rematch: "Not a revenge game"

The last time the Vienna Vikings and Rhein Fire met, it was under the bright lights of the 2024 ELF Championship Game. Rhein Fire walked away as back-to-back champions, leaving the Vikings just short of the title. Now, in Game Week 3 of the 2025 season (Sunday, 16.25 CET) , the two unbeaten teams are set to face off once again - but for Vikings head coach Chris Calaycay, it’s just another game.

Vikings stay focused despite championship history

While the storyline around the league may be about redemption, Calaycay remains focused. “It’s a regular season game like any other,” he said. “These teams are totally different compared to last year. It’s not a revenge game.”

Though Rhein Fire’s defense, led by defensive coordinator Richard Kent and many familiar faces, remains mostly unchanged, the offense has undergone a transformation. New additions such as quarterback Chad Jeffries, former Vikings wide receiver Jordan Bouah, and offensive coordinator Ed Warinner have changed the look of the unit. “I think they had about 48 plays against the Musketeers in Week 1 that we could watch,” said Calaycay. “But we’ll have to focus on what they show us during the game and be ready to adjust.”

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Lessons from Week 2

Despite a dominant win over the Enthroners in Week 2, the Vikings coaching staff saw areas that needed work. “We need to start faster and stay alert,” Calaycay noted. “We had an early interception and once we completely lost track of a wide receiver — that can’t happen.”

Victor Stoffel: Focus, family, and the "Nordic Union"

Swedish offensive lineman Victor Stoffel, who played college football at Temple and Cal, emphasized the importance of focus in preparation this week. “The key this week was all about staying focused,” Stoffel said. “We don’t have many reps during the week, so I make sure I give everything on every single one to get better.”

Having joined the team this offseason, Stoffel feels right at home in Vienna. “It’s like a family here — not just on the field, but off it too. The team bonding activities really help build that connection.” He also highlighted his strong bond with the Finnish imports, saying: “We’re a Nordic Union. There’s a long-standing friendship between Swedes and Finns, and you can feel that here.”

Eyes on the clash

The Vikings are locked in and ready to take on Rhein Fire, aiming to continue their unbeaten run and show how far they’ve come since last season’s finale. All eyes will be on the showdown this Sunday at 16:25 CET — a game that could be an early-season classic.

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