Playoff Race Heats Up: Ravens and Storm Clinch BIG4 Berths as Battle for Remaining Spots Continues
With Week 10 of the European Football Alliance season now complete, the race for the BIG4 Playoff Weekend in Frankfurt has reached its most exciting stage yet. While the Munich Ravens and Nordic Storm have already secured their playoff berths, four teams remain in contention for the final two spots with only two regular season games remaining.
Munich Ravens and Nordic Storm Separate Themselves at the Top
The Munich Ravens continue to set the standard in the EFA. Their convincing 48:12 road victory over the Prague Lions marked their eighth win in as many games, further cementing their position at the top of the standings. The Bavarian side has officially secured its place at the BIG4 Weekend alongside Nordic Storm.
The Scandinavian powerhouse reinforced its championship credentials with an emphatic 41:3 road victory over the Paris Musketeers. Quarterback Jadrian Clark threw for five touchdown passes and 384 passing yards, while Brendan Beaulieu delivered another historic performance with 13 receptions for 231 yards and three touchdowns. Defensively, Nordic Storm limited Paris to just 174 total yards while recording eight sacks against Musketeers quarterback Zach Edwards.
The Munich Ravens and Nordic Storm have already secured the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. Which team enters the “Big 4” weekend as the top seed will likely be decided in Week 13, when Munich faces Nordic in Copenhagen.
Regardless of who ultimately secures the No. 1 seed, it is already certain that Munich will open the Big4 weekend in Frankfurt on Saturday. Nordic will play its semifinal on Sunday.
Galaxy Remains on Playoff Course Despite Defeat
The biggest surprise of the week came in Frankfurt. The previously winless Raiders Tirol stunned Frankfurt Galaxy with a spectacular 61:41 victory, earning their first win of the season while keeping their slim playoff hopes alive.
Despite the loss, Frankfurt remains in third place with a 3-5 record. The deciding factor is the head-to-head tiebreaker over the equally ranked Paris Musketeers, who also sit at 3-5. As things stand today, both teams would occupy the final two playoff spots for the EFA BIG4 Weekend.
Prague and Raiders Keep Their Hopes Alive
Nothing has been decided yet, however. The Prague Lions sit at 2-6, just one win behind the final playoff positions, and remain firmly in the hunt despite their heavy loss to Munich. The Raiders Tirol are still mathematically alive as well. Their first victory of the season improved their record to 1-7, and while they will need help from other results, their playoff hopes are not yet over.
The stage is now set for two thrilling final weeks of the regular season, with every victory potentially deciding who earns a place at the inaugural EFA BIG4 Playoff Weekend.
EFA Standings After Week 10
- Munich Ravens (8-0) – BIG4 Qualified
- Nordic Storm (7-1) – BIG4 Qualified
- Frankfurt Galaxy (3-5)
- Paris Musketeers (3-5)
- Prague Lions (2-6)
- Raiders Tirol (1-7)
If the regular season ended today, the BIG4 Playoff Weekend in Frankfurt would feature the following semifinal matchups:
- Munich Ravens (1) vs. Paris Musketeers (4)
- Nordic Storm (2) vs. Frankfurt Galaxy (3)
With two regular season games still to be played, however, the battle for the final two playoff spots remains completely open. Frankfurt, Paris, Prague, and even Tirol all still have a path to the BIG4 Weekend, either by taking care of business themselves or with the right results elsewhere around the league.