Rhein Fire Complete Perfect Season in ELF
The second half proved difficult for Stuttgart as they struggled to keep up with the Fire offense. A game-changing fumble from the Surge at their own four-yard line didn't help as the Fire capitalized on the opportunity. Rhein went on to find the end zone on three of their subsequent four drives. Despite a late-game interception by Hennessey, Nathaniel Robitaille’s second touchdown sealed the fate of the Surge and concluded an extraordinary campaign for the Fire.
The Fire set an unprecedented record by finishing the season unbeaten— a first in the history of NFL Europe and the ELF. With an awe-inspiring 393 yards and six touchdowns, Jadrian Clark was named the Championship Game MVP. All of this unfolded in front of an ecstatic crowd of 31,500, who witnessed the emergence of a new champion in European football.
Head Coach Jim Tomsula, who formerly coached the San Francisco 49ers in 2015, reunited with the Rhein Fire which was a team he coached in 2006 in NFL Europe. Tomsula guided his European team to a 7-5 record last year. This year, he went 12-0 during the regular season and won the two home playoff games, including Sunday's 53-34 victory over the Stuttgart Surge. The Rhein Fire averaged 27 points per game this season. Tomsula was named Coach of the Year.
This was the first ELF title for the Fire. They had previously won two World Bowls (1998, 2000) in NFL Europe.
Rhein won the Western Conference title finishing the regular season 12-0 then beat the Frankfurt Galaxy 42-23 in the semifinals. Stuttgart defeated the Worclaw Panathers 37-14 in the Wildcard round and edged the Vienna Vikings 40-33 in the semifinal round.
Watch the game here.
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