SCORES
BOS 21 JAX 31 Bulls get big games from Williams, Adams and Clark to score the win.
NJ 30 TBY 51 Tampa scores 30 in 2nd half to blow past a game Generals team.
PHI 24 BIR 10 Fusina’s 3 TD’s are enough to move past a forlorn Stallions squad.
WSH 10 MEM 31 Walter Lewis impresses against the staggering Federals.
PIT 20 OAK 28 Invaders even their record with 14 points in the 4th quarter.
MGN 34 ARZ 20 Arizona’s win streak ends as Panthers prove their mettle.
HOU 14 DEN 21 Gagliano’s best game all season helps Denver upend Houston by 7.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Chicago Blitz 18 Los Angeles Express 21
In a game that was a ho-hum 10-8 after 3 quarters, both teams come alive in the 4th for a thrilling 3 point Express win in front of their largest crowd of the year in Anaheim. The game started off very slow, with both teams trading field goals over the first 20 minutes. Then, when a poor snap led to Steve Young falling on the ball within his endzone, Chicago took the lead 5-3. LA would respond and with just under 5 minutes left in the half, the Express scored on a 4 yard Kevin Mack run to retake the lead 10-5. Chicago answered with another field goal in the final minute of the half, and we were at 10-8. The score would stay that way as both defenses proved stout in the 3rd quarter. Neither team was able to get even to field goal range as the punters got their practice in.
That would all change in the 4th quarter. Chicago mounted an early drive but was stimied at the LA 20, leading to a medium range field goal for rookie kicker Luis Zendejas. LA responded with a long drive of their own, and, having better luck in the red zone, Kevin Mack again ran it it. LA added a 2 point conversion on a Young bootleg option and it was 18-11 with 6 minutes left. The next drive was perhaps the most decisive of the game as Chicago, on their own 33, thought they had completed a 12 yard pass on 3rd and 10 only to watch in horror as TE Mark Keel was hit by LA linebacker Nico Noga, forcing the ball out, to be recovered by CB Raphel Cherry for the Express. The Chicago D would hold, leading to the older Zendejas brother, Tony, to kick a 31 yard FG for the Express to build the score up to 21-11.
Chicago would not be silenced however, as their next drive would lead to a short Evans to Flowers TD pass, with only 1:21 left on the clock. Chicago tried an onside kick, and when the ball bounced off the chest of LA’s Tony Boddie, the Blitz had a chance for one more score. Chicago moved the ball into Zendejas’s range, and with 3 seconds on the clock the younger Zendejas was lined up for a 39 yarder to send the game to overtime. As the ball sailed towards the goalposts, it was clear that it was hooking left, and then, with a painful “clunk” the ball doinked off the left upright and out. All 38,440 in Angel Stadium erupted in cheers as LA got the win on the last second clunker. After the game Tony could be seen consoling his younger brother at midfield as the LA and Chicago players exchanged pleasentries. A good game with a dramatic finish, sounds like a formula for a Hollywood film.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
Walter Lewis, the dual threat QB in Memphis finds himself in the spotlight for a second time this season. Last time it was his 100 yard rushing day that wowed the fans, this week it was his command in the pocket against the Federals. Lewis would complete 78% of his passes against a depleted Washington defense, and while he would not equal his 100 yard game from earlier this season, his 37 yards rushing demonstrated that Lewis’s legs are still a weapon in Memphis’s arsenal. Lewis would throw for 320 yards on the day, and found his favorite receiver, former St. Louis Cardinal, Mel Gray for 98 of those yards and 2 scores as Memphis cruised past the Federals 31-10.
NEWS & NOTES
While the news that Chicago’s Blitz franchise would be relocated to Baltimore has not been received well in the Windy City, as one might expect. The Blitz are playing their best football in the 3 year existence of the league, and now the rug has been pulled out from under the city. Even the promise of a 1987 expansion franchise has been met with some cynicism, as almost certainly an expansion franchise will not be particularly competitive for its first few seasons, again promising the 2nd city more bad football before they can again root for a winner. The Blitz were fortunately on the road this week, and will be in Houston in week 14, but it would appear that when they return to Soldier Field for a Week 15 clash with Denver, they may not receive the same warm reception that they have enjoyed over the past few home games. And, of course, with this news, diehard Breakers fans in Boston are also getting antsy. Admitedly, the Breakers have not given their fans much to cheer for after a 3-0 start turned into a 1-8 disaster, but for those who have been on the bandwagon in Boston all season, the potential that their Breakers are also destined for relocation, as most league rumors seem to agree, is being met with understandable disapproval.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
With no real upsets in Week 13, the league leaders continued to move closer to expected playoff certainty. We know Philly is in as Atlantic Champs, Jacksonville and Tampa are looking good for playoff spots, and the season ending division games are likely to determine who plays at home as a division winner and who travels as a Wild Card. The 4th Eastern playoff spot would be Boston, believe it or not, if the playoffs started today, but even at 3-9 Washington, Memphis and Birmingham are not out of the picture. It seems certain that at least one team with a losing record will be in the playoffs this year. Out West, Michigan at 11-1 is a lock for the playoffs, but can still be caught by 9-3 Chicago for the Division if they don’t stay focused. In the Pacific, LA is now only 1 game behind Arizona. Oakland, at 6-6 is still alive, but would need significant help to bump LA out of a playoff slot. Houston and Denver, while not mathematically eliminated, are down to their last glimmers of hope.
INJURIES
At this point in the season playoff teams are praying not to lose any key pieces in the final weeks of the season, while also-rans are trying to ensure statistics to boost their standing before contract negotiations begin. This week saw few big hits, though Boston is sure to miss Nolan Franz, who is out for the rest of the season with a dislocated knee (ouch!!). Michigan is hoping Anthony Carter can come back soon, but they may simply keep him out of the lineup until the playoffs to be sure. Washington is awaiting the return of rookie FS Mark Kelso, who has missed several games with a fracture in his hand. Arizona is hoping that CB Virgil Livers’ concussion this week does not cause him to miss a big game at Oakland next week, and Tampa will likely be without John Reaves again, as they let him heal after dislocating his thumb against a New Jersey defender’s helmet this week. With Jimmie Jordan playing well earlier this year, Tampa might just be OK giving Reaves the week to recover.
LOOKING AHEAD
Week 14 is the first of 3 All-Division Play weekends left in the USFL season. Even with 3 of these weeks still in play, this one could determine a lot. Boston heads to Washington, with the winner likely in the best position for a Wild Card berth. Meanwhile Philadelphia may actually use their game against 2-10 New Jersey to give some starters needed rest. In the South, Tampa hopes to knock down any chance Birmingham has for a late playoff run as they play the Stallions at home. Jacksonville will travel to Memphis, where the Showboats hope they can pull the upset and stay playoff relevant. Chicago and Michigan are both scheduled against the weaker Central teams, with trips to Houston and Pittsburgh respectively. Out west, Oakland is at home, hoping they can edge closer to a remote wild card chance by upsetting Arizona. LA heads to Denver where the Gold have been playing better of late.
Comments