USA Today, July 21, 1987
They were the two best teams all season, and despite all the trials and tribulations, the cream has risen to the top. After two decisive wins it will be the Stars and the Gamblers playing for the USFL Championship in Houston next week. This will be the second time that a team has played at home in the Championship (Denver faced Tampa in the 1983 Championship Game). Both teams tout impressive defenses and more than capable offenses. For Philadelphia, this will be their third straight appearance in the Championship, having defeated the Chicago Blitz in 1985 and fallen to the Michigan Panthers in 1986. Will we have another 2-time champion or will we see Houston, in their first playoff season, rise to be the Champions of the USFL? Before we predict what we expect from the 1987 Championship, let’s take a look at how these two clubs got there.
BIRMINGHAM 13 PHILADELPHIA 31
The Philadelphia Stars relied on defensive pressure and the poise of QB Chuck Fusina to defeat the red hot Birmingham Stallions at Veterans Stadium. Philly held the Stallions to only 188 total yards, totally hemming in the elusive Joe Cribbs, who rushed for only 56 yards on 15 carries. They also rattled the usually calm and collected Cliff Stoudt, causing 2 picks and several missed throws. Meanwhile the Philly offense was steady if not spectacular. Kelvin Bryant struggled, averaging only 3.5 yards an attempt, but that was still enough to earn 85 yards, and he still found the endzone twice in the game. Chuck Fusina was his usual efficient self, completing 25 of 33 (76%) and finding Bryant for a 3rd TD on the day for the game MVP. He also found Mike Quick consistently, as defenders played off to avoid the deep throw, Quick hooked, cut and slanted his way to 115 yards on 8 receptions. The win propelled the 13-3 Stars to the USFL Championship for the third straight year, and once again asserted that this was a dynasty, not just a solid club.
DENVER 20 HOUSTON 42
While we hesitate to use the word “hero” for athletes when there are so many more deserving heroes in the world, the performance that Jim Kelly put on this week against the Denver Gold was nothing short of heroic. Kelly had suffered a rib injury against Michigan the week before, and in pre-game warmups he was clearly having difficulty and wincing in pain just from the rotation of his throwing arm. Coach Pardee opted to have Sean Salisbury start the game, but kept Kelly suited up just in case. Well, that “just in case” ended up being Kelly playing most of the game, playing through obvious pain, and playing amazing football. Salisbury would end up with more attempts (19 to 13) and while Salisbury helped Houston hold a lead, it was Kelly who would step in when the game was on the line, playing most of the first half and surviving tough hits to turn drives into points. He would finish the day at the half with three touchdown tosses, all three to Ricky Sanders. From the middle of the 1st Quarter to the 2nd half he led Houston to 4 TD drives, building up an unsurmountable 35-7 lead at the half. Salisbury was then able to work with Steve Howell and Todd Fowler to slow the pace of the game and prevent any chance of a serious Denver comeback. With victory assured and a trip to the Championship being celebrated on the sideline, Kelly was asked if he would be able to play next week and his response said it all “Let them try to stop me.”
CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
So, what do we expect from the 5th USFL Championship? We expect Jim Kelly to play, rib injury or no rib injury. We expect Philadelphia to run the ball with Bryant, and Houston to pass it to Sanders, Verdin and their backs. We expect the Philly D to focus on Sanders and try to get pressure on Kelly, and we expect the Houston defense to try to limit Bryant’s ability to get outside, while also playing a zone meant to frustrate Chuck Fusina. We expect both clubs to play the kind of 3-phase football that has defined their entire seasons. We expect someone unexpected to make the play that determines the game, and we expect this to be one heck of a championship game. Houston is the home team, a distinct advantage, but Philadelphia has been here before. They know how to win when the pressure is on. But Houston has been finding different ways to win all year long, and if Jim Kelly reflects the grit of this team, then we cannot count them out. We are going to pick Houston by 3, but we cannot advise you to bet the ranch on this game, because these two clubs are both evenly matched and motivated to win. This could be a classic!
PHILADELPHIA PLAYERS TO WATCH
LB Sam Mills: Mills always plays big in big games. Expect him to own the middle of the field.
HB Kelvin Bryant: If the play action game is going to work for Fusina, it is because Bryant is the focus of the defense.
WR Tom Donovan: Houston has to defend against Quick, which means Donovan and possibly Gerald Phelan will see a lot of man coverage. They have to find ways to get open and help Fusina convert 3rd downs.
CB/KR Chris Snyder: Philly's primary punt and kickoff returner could be the key to field position in a game where the Stars will need that in their favor.
HOUSTON PLAYERS TO WATCH
QB Jim Kelly: This may seem obvious, but how Kelly plays through pain may determine if this is a defensive showdown or a shootout. When he is on his game, Kelly is the best in the league, but will his ribs keep that from being possible?
TE Victor Hicks and WR Greg Anderson: We all know about Sanders and Verdin, and so does the Philadelphia D. It may come down to these two to bail Kelly out of trouble and make key plays when the big guns are out of commission.
LB Kiki DeAyala: He does not get the accolades that Sam Mills sees in Philadelphia, but DeAyala is the heart and soul of the Houston D. He sets the play, makes the reads, and shifts the backers. If he can distinguish play action from run plays he can make it a long day for Fusina.
DE Simon Fletcher: While his sack numbers were not great this year, Fletcher can be a disrupton on the line at any time. Philly will almost certainly try to double him up, which means he can draw action to him and free up his linemates for the big play on Fusina.