RAVENS FLY TO SEMI-FINALS

The Munich Ravens might not know their postseason opponent for another few days, but that doesn’t bother them. Right now, making the European League of Football semi-finals for the first time remains the main thing in mind.

Under-rated at the start of the 2025 season, the Ravens have been one of the year’s pleasant surprises, with quarterback Russell Tabor, favourite target Malik Stanley and running back Justin Rodney leading them to a division-winning 11-1 record and an automatic bye through the opening rounds of the postseason.

Munich’s record is the same as that of the Vienna Vikings, widely regarded as the best team in the league this season, and guarantees that the Ravens skip the potential trap of a Wildcard game against the likes of Rhein, Nordic, Stuttgart or Madrid. They will also benefit from home advantage in their semi-final, which takes place at the end of the month at Sportpark Unterhaching and will pit the South Division kings against the highest seed of the Wildcard teams making the final four.

Having already clinched their spot in the playoffs, the Ravens might have had little to play for in Week 14, but entering the weekend on the same record as both Vienna and Nordic meant that a win over the Wroclaw Panthers would be needed to guarantee that bye. On the road in Poland, however, Munich found life tough against a Panthers team with nothing to lose, and saw their hosts get off to a strong start as quarterback D.J. Irons shone with two rushing touchdowns and another on a precise pass to Eric Ottender.

The Ravens trailed for much of the game, with Wroclaw leading 19-14 at half-time, but Tabor took charge after the interval, scoring two rushing touchdowns — including a spectacular run on fourth down — to give Munich a 29-26 lead. Shortly afterwards, the American found German receiver Michael Stadler for another touchdown and, with Rodney pursuing a 1,000-yard season, the Ravens salted the game away as the running back turned game-winner in the final quarter via his second and third touchdowns of the day to make the final score 49-26.

Now head coach Kendral Ellison and his players can enjoy a weekend off before finding out who the visitors to Sportpark Unterhaching will be.