THIS GIVEN SUNDAY — AFLE WK3: VIKINGS DOWN OLD RIVAL
The third weekend of the 2026 American Football League Europe season provided a little bit of everything, from heavyweight defensive battles and record-breaking performances to dramatic comebacks and a first victory.
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Rhein Fire 10 @ 24 Vienna Vikings
The marquee matchup of Week 3 more than lived up to its billing as the Vienna Vikings improved to 3-0 with a hard-fought 24-10 victory over Rhein Fire.
Widely anticipated as one of the defining rivalries of the new AFLE era, the encounter proved a defensive struggle rather than the shootout many had expected. Both Ben Holmes and Rhein Fire quarterback Kenji Bahar entered the game in outstanding form after productive opening weeks, but neither offense found any rhythm early as two physical defences refused to yield.
Rhein struck first after a patient six-minute drive ended in a field goal and, when Holmes was intercepted shortly afterwards, momentum appeared to swing decisively towards the German visitors. However, the Fire failed to capitalise on the turnover, allowing Vienna to regroup, and Vienna gradually settled into their rhythm, leaning increasingly on the legs of Finnish running back Karri Pajarinen, whose 112-yard performance provided the foundation for everything the home side accomplished offensively, keeping the chains moving and creating favourable situations for Holmes to exploit.
Once the ground game became established, the Vikings QB began to find connections downfield, notably for a touchdown to tight end Florian Bierbaumer, and later added a rushing score of his own as the home side took control.
Rhein, by contrast, struggled to contain the balanced Vikings attack once Pajarinen got rolling, and the Austrian side closed out a 24-10 victory that underlined their status as the early benchmark in AFLE.
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Panthers Wrocław 22 @ 14 Paris Lights
Panthers Wrocław returned to winning ways, surviving a spirited Paris Lights comeback to leave France with a 22-14 victory and the bruises of defeat against Vienna in Week 2 somewhat salved.
Quarterback Jameson Wang sparked the visitors immediately with a spectacular 57-yard rushing touchdown before connecting with Juan Flores-Calderón on a 27-yard scoring pass. A second rushing touchdown from Wang helped the Panthers establish a 22-0 lead heading towards the interval, and the Polish side appeared to be cruising home.
Paris, however, refused to disappear. Quarterback Evan Hillock finally sparked the home side with a touchdown pass to Jens Walter just before half-time, and another score straight after the break brought the Lights within eight points.
Although Wrocław’s offense cooled considerably during the second half, Wang’s early heroics proved decisive. The dual-threat quarterback finished with 91 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns and a passing score, while the Panthers controlled the ground game with 139 yards overall. The result lifts Dave Likins’ side to 2-1 and firmly in contention in the South/East Conference.
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Berlin Thunder 45 @ 12 Firenze Red Lions
The Berlin Thunder moved above .500 with an emphatic 45-12 victory over the winless Firenze Red Lions, as QB Jakeb Sullivan delivered one of the performances of the season by throwing for 431 yards and five touchdowns.
However, despite Sullivan’s numbers, it was wide receiver Jon Cole who rewrote the AFLE record book, as his 12 receptions for 230 yards established a new single-game receiving benchmark, while his four touchdowns left Firenze with no answer in a game where they always looked overmatched.
Although both teams endured problems in the kicking game, Berlin’s aerial attack eventually overwhelmed the Red Lions, who dropped to 0-3.
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Alpine Rams 23 @ 20 London Warriors
Sunday’s only fixture saw the Alpine Rams secure the first victory in franchise history as they edged the London Warriors 23-20 in the English capital.
London had looked set to claim their first win after taking control in the opening half behind a safety, a touchdown run by Raymond Sobowale and a spectacular 46-yard scoring reception from new receiver Marcus Libman, but the visitors transformed the game after half-time.
New quarterback Seth Morgan repeatedly connected with Kevin Kaya, who finished with six catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, while Braden Price’s timely interception swung the momentum decisively in Alpine’s favour. Despite adding a fourth-quarter touchdown, the Warriors ran out of time to further close the gap and slip to 0-3 while the Rams celebrate a landmark success.
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Three weeks into the season, only Vienna remain unbeaten, but both Wrocław and Berlin have some momentum after recent setbacks. The only problem is that both are in the same division as the pacesetters. There is a three-way tie in the North/West Conference, with Paris, who demonstrated they are far from pushovers, and Alpine drawing level with Rhein. Meanwhile, London and Firenze remain rooted to the foot of their respective tables and still searching for their first win. Something will have to give in Week 4, however, with the Warriors and Red Lions facing off, while Berlin and Wrocław have at it for the right to lead the pursuit of Vienna, who host the Rams, in the South/East section. Paris at Rhein is the other match-up with the potential to lead overall in the North/West.
Image courtesy Vienna Vikings/Hannes Jirgal