The German Football League reaches the final weekend of the regular season with the playoff field largely set but plenty still riding on the last seven games. The unbeaten Dresden Monarchs (11-0) and Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (11-0) have locked up their division titles, while Ravensburg still has second place in the South to fight for and four teams face direct battles to avoid the playdowns.
Munich Cowboys (6-5) @ Potsdam Royals (10-1)
With their playoff positions already secured, the Royals and Cowboys can use the finale to prepare for the postseason. Potsdam has locked up second place in the North and a home quarterfinal, while Munich will finish fourth in the South. The question for both teams is how hard they push their starters with knockout football coming next.
Braunschweig Lions (3-8) @ Berlin Rebels (2-8)
This one carries considerably more urgency. The Lions and Rebels meet at Mommsenstadion with the loser headed to the playdowns.
Berlin won the first meeting 24-22 in Braunschweig, but the Rebels have managed only two victories all season. Braunschweig enters with three wins and can settle the issue by beating its North rival in the rematch.
Straubing Spiders (0-11) @ Düsseldorf Panther (5-6)
The Panther already know where they are headed: fourth place in the North and a quarterfinal against the unbeaten Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns.
For Düsseldorf, Saturday offers a final tune-up before the postseason. The Spiders, meanwhile, have already been relegated and arrive for their final GFL game still searching for their first victory after pushing Munich in a 30-23 loss last week.
Saarland Hurricanes (2-9) @ Allgäu Comets (1-10)
The South’s playdown spot will be decided head-to-head in Kempten, but the Comets need much more than simply a victory.
Saarland won the first meeting 46-21, giving the Hurricanes a 25-point cushion in the head-to-head series. That leaves Allgäu needing to win by at least 26 points to leapfrog Saarland and escape the playdowns.
There is no complicated scoreboard watching here. The two teams can settle it themselves.
Hildesheim Invaders (7-3) @ Kiel Baltic Hurricanes (3-8)
The Invaders head north with their playoff place already secured following last week’s 26-2 win over the Berlin Rebels.
Kiel has three victories and will look to close its season by knocking off a postseason-bound opponent. Hildesheim, meanwhile, still has a makeup game against Berlin on September 6 before turning its attention fully toward the quarterfinals.
Regensburg Phoenix (5-6) @ Schwäbisch Hall Unicorns (11-0)
The Unicorns have already completed the important part of their regular-season work, clinching the South and securing a home quarterfinal.
They now welcome a Regensburg team that has put together five victories in its first GFL season and secured its place in the league. Schwäbisch Hall will be looking to finish a perfect 12-0 before facing Düsseldorf in the quarterfinals.
Ravensburg Razorbacks (8-3) @ Dresden Monarchs (11-0)
The weekend’s biggest playoff-positioning game comes Sunday in Dresden.
The Razorbacks need a victory over the unbeaten Monarchs to hold onto second place in the South and the home quarterfinal that comes with it. Pforzheim (8-4) has already finished its regular season and owns a +239 point differential, compared with Ravensburg’s +221 entering the finale.
That leaves the assignment brutally simple for the Razorbacks: beat the only undefeated team in the North.
Dresden, meanwhile, has already clinched first place and a home quarterfinal but can complete a perfect 12-0 regular season with one more victory. With the GFL Bowl scheduled for Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion in Dresden on October 3, the Monarchs enter the postseason with an opportunity to chase the championship all the way to their home city.
