The Rhein Fire Get Revenge

The Rhein Fire exacted their revenge against the Madrid Bravos this Saturday in a game that turned ugly very quickly. Rhein dominated Madrid in all three phases and, most importantly, proved to be the more physical team. Toonga was unstoppable, racking up over 200 total yards and three touchdowns, a stark contrast to his 79-yard rushing performance in their first matchup.

Game Recap

The first quarter saw limited action with both defenses holding strong, but Rhein blew open the doors in the second quarter, scoring 20 points in a sequence that showcased their true potential. The first touchdown came from a weak side trips formation, where Madrid bit on a fake wide receiver screen, giving Toonga the ability to bounce it to the strong side. A few broken tackles later, he waltzed into the end zone. 

After an interception that Madrid later fumbled, giving possession back to Rhein, the Fire set up Kendus for a touchdown on a textbook halfback screen. Kendus, who also had a monstrous game with 190 total yards and a touchdown, was able to navigate through blockers and find the end zone. 

The last score of the quarter came just seconds before halftime. Duncan dropped back to pass, and the ball was tipped by Fire Defensive Lineman Hugo Klages, ultimately intercepted by Remy Feltes, who took it down to the 4-yard line before being pushed out of bounds. Two plays later, Toonga scored again. 

In a matter of minutes, the Fire took a commanding lead going into halftime, and the Bravos never recovered. The second half was much of the same, as the Bravos could only get things going offensively during garbage time. Duncan was being hit from all angles and was held to only 91 yards on 15 completions, his worst statline of the season.

What This Means for Rhein

It is no secret that the ELF world was shocked when Rhein lost to Madrid in front of their home crowd in Week 3. Additionally, Rhein has been continuously challenged since, with close games against teams like Paris and Berlin. One undeniable fact about the Rhein Fire is their resilience, and today’s game not only showcased that resilience, but in pure, physical, dominant fashion, the Rhein Fire may have unlocked their old selves. This game showed that when Rhein is clicking in all three phases, they are a force to be reckoned with and can put up points in a hurry.

As the season progresses, look to see if Rhein re-establishes themselves as championship favorites. Jadrian Clark still hasn’t had a marquee game yet, which won’t be a theme throughout the season. If he catches fire (no pun intended), then this offense’s ceiling is unimaginable. In addition, Toonga has firmly planted himself as a top-3 MVP candidate, and Rhein’s defense continues to be physical. The stars don’t need to align for this team to win it all, but if they do… Well, let’s just say the rest of the league is in trouble.