Michigan remains undefeated, Jacksonville's 2-0 start seems a lifetime ago, Tampa and Birmingham continue to battle over the Southern Division, while Memphis, Houston, Denver and LA prove that there is greater parity this season in the USFL.
SCORES:
WSH 21 BIR 31 Joe Cribbs’ 160 yards overwhelms the Federals.
PHI 17 MEM 27 Memphis D sacks Fusina 6 times on route to victory.
NJ 3 TBY 23 Gary Anderson outduels Walker for a 20 point Tampa win.
MGN 34 PIT 24 Hebert goes down, but INT-TD sparks victory for Michigan.
ARZ 15 DEN 27 Denver wins 2nd in a row behind Gagliano’s best day.
CHI 14 LA 24 LA over .500 for first time in team history.
HOU 31 OAK 17 Run & Shoot starting to heat up for Kelly & Co.
BYES: None
GAME OF THE WEEK: Boston Breakers 25 Jacksonville Bulls 24
In a game both teams desperately needed, Boston had just enough to edge the Bulls, sending Jacksonville to its 5th straight defeat. Both teams came out angry, but the Bulls led most of the game. After 3 they had built up a 24-15 lead thanks to a pick-six and solid play from Doug Williams (23 of 33 for 191, 1 TD). But, Boston fought back on a day when both Richard Crump (31 yards) and Buford Jordan (42 yards) came back from injury.
Johnnie Walton still had issues with interceptions, throwing 2 on the day, but with 9:44 left on the clock he hit TE Dan Ross for a 37 yard score on a seam route, and Boston’s D, which stymied Jacksonville for most of the second half, held on for the final minutes of the game, giving Boston a much needed win. Despite the interceptions, a solid day from Walton may have helped coach Coury keep heralded rookie Tony Eason on the bench, at least for another week. For Jacksonville, a lack of 3rd down efficiency (3 for 12) and the inability to move the ball in the second half were the main causes for their fifth straight defeat.
NEWS & NOTES:
After 7 weeks we are beginning to see the newcomers getting a shot at QB. Kelly has been a starter from day 1 in Houston, but with injury to Greg Landry, Rick Neuheisel is now playing. And following yet another defeat, Pittsburgh has announced that former Penn Stater Todd Blackledge will get the start over Glen Carano in the Mauler’s next game. Tony Eason is waiting patiently on the Boston bench as Johnnie Walton has up and down weeks, but if Walton remains near the bottom statistically of USFL QB’s it may just be a matter of time. Finally, Blair Kiel, who was not targeted as a starter for 1984, has been thrust into the role by the season-ending injury to Vince Evans in Chicago. And yet, despite all the rookie QB’s in the league, experience is winning out as Michigan (6-0), Birmingham (5-1) and Tampa (5-1) are relying on veteran savvy from Hebert, Stoudt, and Reaves to build a cumulative 16-2 record.
INJURIES:
Minor dings to Bobby Hebert and Rick Neuheisel may cost them 1 game (which puts Arizona down to their 3rd string QB), while both Johnnie Hector and Sidney Thornton continue to deal with foot injuries which may sideline them again. LA linebacker Danny Rich was the only major injury of the week, suffering a bulging disk in his back which will likely keep him out 4-6 weeks.
LOOKING AHEAD:
Another full week of games with no bye teams. Philadelphia heads to DC to take on a scrappy Federals squad. Tampa travels to Boston and Birmingham to New Jersey in two key matchups. Houston will try to overwhelm Chicago at the Astrodome, while Michigan hopes to stay unbeaten against a beleaguered Oakland Invader squad. The game of the week may be two surprise 4-win teams facing off as the defensive-minded Memphis Showboats head out to Angel Stadium to take on the much-improved LA Express.