Early Lessons from the First Three Game Weeks
Three game weeks in, and the American Football League Europe is already delivering surprises, insights, and moments that are shaping the future of the league. Here’s what we’ve learned so far.
1. The Race for the Playoff Spots Will be Tighter Than Expected But The Vienna Vikings Set the Benchmark
Three weeks into the AFLE season, the first lessons are already coming into focus. The Vienna Vikings stand alone at the top: unbeaten, and coming off a narrow but telling victory over fellow title contender Rhein Fire. They haven’t been unchallenged, but they’ve found ways to win. That, perhaps more than anything, is the mark of a strong team and an early benchmark for the rest of the league.
Yet the broader picture is just as compelling. In the North/West Conference, three out of four teams share a 1-1 record, a level of parity few would have predicted. In the South/East, Berlin Thunder and the Wroclaw Panthers, both at 2-1, are keeping the pressure on Vienna. Four playoff spots. One battle. And after three game weeks, it’s already shaping up to be tighter and more intense than anyone might have expected heading into Week 1.
2. Records Don’t Tell the Whole Story
The early stages of the season have already shown: records don’t always reflect the true strength of a team, and no one illustrates that better than the London Warriors. At 0-3, their start looks rough on paper, but the scoreline is misleading. The Warriors have played most of the season with just two American players, with their import spots still available. Once those pieces are in place, this team could look very different. With a solid homegrown foundation and plenty of season left, London is far from out of the picture.
3. One Team is Clearly Stronger Than Expected
Of all the early lessons the first three game weeks have delivered, perhaps none is more striking than the rise of Berlin Thunder. Widely considered to face the toughest strength of schedule in the 2026 AFLE, their campaign is characterized by a grueling slate of inter-conference and divisional matchups against Europe’s premier franchises. Three weeks in, the franchise from the German capital sits at 2-1 with their only loss coming against the league’s current powerhouse, the Vienna Vikings.
Much of that success has been built through the air. Quarterback Jakeb Sullivan has already accumulated 978 passing yards through three games, making Berlin’s passing attack one of the most potent in the league. The run game, however, tells a different story, averaging just 81 yards per game, only the London Warriors have been less productive on the ground. If Thunder want to take the next step, establishing a more balanced offensive attack will be key.
Yet penalties continue to work against them, pointing to a discipline issue that looks structural rather than coincidental. Stronger than expected. Promising, but unproven.
4. Europe’s Own: Homegrown Players Are Stepping Up
Developing homegrown talent is one of the AFLE’s core missions and the league’s import regulations were specifically designed to create space for European players to grow and compete at the highest level. Three weeks in, that vision is already bearing fruit. Week after week, homegrown players across the league have proven they are far more than just roster fillers. In Week 1, Berlin’s Bais Kouanda hauled in nine catches for 113 yards, while London’s tight end duo Kevin Laryea and Eden Thiede-Palmer combined for twelve receptions and two touchdowns on their continental debut. Week 2 brought standout performances from Paris running back Armand Soulerot, Vienna’s Yannick Mayr and captain Benjamin Straight, and Rhein Fire linebacker Marius Kensy. By Week 3, the depth of talent was even more evident – from Wroclaw cornerstone Daniel Piatkowski’s dominant defensive display, to 20-year-old Lorenzo Cinelli turning heads in Firenze, to Vienna’s Noel Swancar disrupting Rhein Fire’s offense at every turn. The message is clear: European American football is in good hands.
5. Looking Into The Future
Heading into Game Week 4, one thing is crystal clear: four compelling matchups with upset potential await. The Alpine Rams (1-1) face the established Vienna Vikings for the first time, while Saturday night brings the Paris Lights up against Rhein Fire. Sunday delivers the Firenze Red Lions travelling to London, and Berlin Thunder hitting the road for a fourth consecutive away game – this time against the Wroclaw Panthers. Who will make the next statement? Either way, Week 4 will once again bring the league into sharper focus.
