SCORES
BLT 31 TBY 20 The Blitz got 2 scores each from Flowers and HB Mel Gray in a big win.
JAX 20 NJ 16 This nip and tuck battle was 13-14 at half, but defense reined in the end.
PHI 28 MEM 20 TE Steve Folsom came up big with 106 yards on 5 catches to lead Philly.
WSH 33 BIR 13 Collier’s 300-yard day included 112 to new rookie WR Slaughter.
NOR 35 OAK 24 Both offenses were sharp, including a career day for Tony Eason.
PIT 19 LA 31 Steve Young hit Jo-Jo Townsell for 2 scores as the Express pulled away.
MGN 20 DEN 16 Another good defensive game, but Panthers hold on to win in Denver.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Houston Gamblers 30 Arizona Wranglers 36
You have heard of the shootout at the OK Corral? This game felt a lot like that as both QB’s came to play. Neuheisel came out on top as his 286 yards and 2 scores were enough to outpace the Gamblers. Jim Kelly, for his part, seemed comfortable in Bruce Coslett’s more balanced scheme, throwing for 238 yards and only getting sacked twice. Both Ricky Sanders for Houston and Trumaine Johnson for Arizona had strong games as well.
After a Wamon Buggs score put Arizona up 30-20 to start the 4th quarter, Kelly led Houston on two scoring drives to even the game at 30 and send it to overtime. The first was a long 75-yard drive that ended after 11 plays when Lynn Caine dove over from the 1. The second a frantic last-minute drive into field goal range, where former NJ Generals kicker Dave Jacobs gave Houston the tie and sent the game to overtime in the waning seconds.
In overtime, both teams had multiple possessions but could not get the ball into scoring range. Arizona, on their 2nd possession finally saw some movement, as a good punt return by wideout Aubrey Matthews set the Wranglers up on the fringe of Gamblers territory. After several Owen Gill rushes and a penalty on Houston got them close to FG range, Neuheisel surprised the Gambler defense with a 2nd and 7 play action pass. The defense jumped at Gill, but Neuheisel rolled left and found Trumaine Johnson practically uncovered. Johnson lunged into the endzone and the game ended on a Wrangler touchdown. Quite a show for the crowd at Sun Devil Stadium, and a great end to a solid week of USFL action to open the new year.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
The LA Express opened the season with a comfortable win in no small part due to the play of QB Steve Young. Young was 25 of 35 for 329 yards and three scores. He hit 8 different receivers, including two newcomes, TE’s Cap Boso and former Raider Todd Christiansen. His top targets were Christiansen (5 for 49), Townsell (8 for 106 and 2 scores) and Eric Martin (4 for 104 and a score), but it was Young’s ability to keep plays alive against a much-improved Mauler pass rush which helped the Express come out victorious. Despite regular pressure from Pittsburgh’s new acquisitions, rookies Bob Buczkowski at DE and Dino Hackett at MLB, Young remained calm, often finding secondary receivers like Boso, Kevin Mack or newly acquired Mel Renfro, when protection broke down. He ran 4 times, with little to show for it, but he was able to use his legs to keep plays alive and find receivers when coverage broke down. A good day for LA in front of one of their largest crowds in 4 seasons.
NEWS AND NOTES
Crowds were good around the league, due in part to renewed confidence in the spring league, but also in part to a smart decision to have all 8 games hosted in Pacific or Southern Division games. Weather was good across the league and fans came out to welcome back the USFL. The biggest crowd of the week, as usual, was in Jacksonville, where nearly 50,000 came out to watch their Bulls and regional hero Herschel Walker clash. Denver also had over 40,000 at their game, as Mouse Davis presented a new-look Gold offense. Even cities which have had issues in the past saw good walk-up gates, including 35,878 in Oakland, 32,442 in Los Angeles, and 31,226 in Memphis. Next week we will see if the excitement continues as Washington, New Jersey, Pittsburgh, and Houston have their home openers. It won’t be until Week 4 before the last of the home openers occurs, with both Baltimore and New Orleans christening their new stadiums and their new fanbases in the last of the 4 opening weeks.
INJURIES
A new season always means players knocking the rust off their bodies, and sadly, in some cases, this can come with some rude surprises. While no major stars saw significant injuries, a few key players may be missing a game or two at the start of the season. Michigan HB John Williams will likely miss a game or two with tendonitis in his right knee. Denver LB Manu Tuiasosopo could also miss time with a hamstring injury. LA’s Steve Young suffered a mild concussion late in their game against Pittsburgh but should be able to play next week against Denver. Another season, another set of bumps and bruises as football returns.
LOOKING AHEAD
Week Two brings us our first divisional matchups, as all 4 divisions kick things off. Baltimore will kickstart their local rivalry with the Washington Federals as they face off at RFK. Philly renews its lopsided rivalry by traveling up the Turnpike to the Meadowlands. Birmingham will face off against perennial foe Tampa Bay at the Big Sombrero, while Jacksonville heads to the Liberty Bowl to face off against the Showboats. We will see if Tony Eason’s good game is a repeatable effort as the Breakers take on the Gamblers in Houston, while Michigan will once again seek to assert dominance in the Central Division as they play the Maulers at Three Rivers. And out West, we find Oakland hosting the Wranglers and LA venturing up to 5,100 feet to face the Gold in Denver. A lot of rivalries, a lot of bragging rights and a lot of excitement as the USFL season kicks into gear.