SCORES
BLT 20 PHI 37
Big games from Fusina, Bryant and Quick spell disaster for the Blitz, who fall to 6-9 and risk ending the year on a 5-game losing streak unless they can pull out a win next week.
PIT 24 WSH 21
Another unexpected and untimely loss for the Federals within the division has to worry Coach Rutigliano. Alan Risher threw for 305 in the game as Washington’s defense could not hold. The Federals now risk falling to 8-8 next week, matching last year’s record despite clear improvements in the offseason.
BIR 6 MEM 22
Memphis’s late season success causes another headache as Birmingham cannot gain ground on Tampa Bay. Mike Kelley is solidifying his starting gig with 2 TD’s and 263 passing against the Stallions.
ORL 24 TBY 20
Orlando had no business winning this game in Tampa, but no one told the Renegades that. Collier to Buggs was the key to the game and Tampa simply let this one slide away. Tampa still holds a one game lead over Birmingham, but cannot afford to rest next week.
HOU 16 NOR 28
Jim Kelly had one of his worst days of the season, throwing two picks, and while the choice to rest Todd Fowler this week might get some flack, his backup. Steve Howell, rushed for 108, so the problem is not there. It just seems that New Orleans both needed and wanted this one more. The concern now is that a 3-game losing streak to end the season may not be the best way to prep for the playoffs.
MGN 28 SAN 20
San Antonio returns Damon Allen back under center, and he helps keep the Gunslingers in the game, but Michigan just proves too much as John Willliams goes over the century mark and scores a decisive touchdown. Michigan is hoping to lock up the #3 seed and avoid playing in the Wild Card round.
LA 37 OKL 13
The Express are now shooting for an 8-8 season, which is better than many expected. Steve Young had a field day against the Outlaw defense, throwing for 4 scores. Oklahoma did have one highlight as HB Stump Mitchell had his best game in Tulsa, rushing for 114 in the loss.
NJ 18 ARZ 17
The Generals find a way to win in the desert despite Walker’s absence. Keith Byars had a respectable 70 yards rushing and Doug Flutie threw for 269 to help New Jersey eke out the win against a game Wrangler squad.
JAX 19 CHI 10
Chicago coach Joe Bugel gave Steve Beurlein the start, and despite being quite rusty, Beurlein kept Chicago in the game for most of the day. Jacksonville’s Chris Miller won the battle of rookie QB’s by putting up 264 and 2 scores to Buerlein’s 185 and 1 score.
GAME OF THE WEEK
Denver Gold 20 Oakland Invaders 10
Denver scores 10 in the 4th to snatch a win in Oakland and lock up the Pacific Division title. Denver came into the game intent on slowing down Invader halfback Arthur Whittington. They managed to hold him to only 89 yards on 19 carries and also harassed Brian Sipe, recording 6 sacks on the veteran. Bob Gagliano fared better against the Invader defense, throwing for 315 and two scores. The first of the two was a 2nd quarter bomb to Bill Brooks that gave Denver the 10-3 lead over Oakland.
After a quiet 3rd quarter, Oakland tied the game after a long 11 play drive led to a 1 yard score from Sipe to little-used receiver Wyatt Henderson. On their next possession Denver retook the lead on a Brian Speelman field goal. Oakland would have tied it again on a 52 yard Kevin Shea kick but the Invaders got called for an illegal shift and once pushed back had to punt. This set up Denver for a game-locking drive. The Gold milked the clock and ground out yardage leading up to Gagliano’s second scoring toss of the day, a 13 yard fade to former NFL Cardinal J.T. Smith.
The win locks Denver into the #2 seed in the Western Conference and puts Oakland one game behind Michigan for the 3rd seed and a bye. Without that, they will likely have to play New Orleans in 2 weeks while Denver rests their players and waits for a game against Michigan in the Divisional round.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
The AP gave Kelvin Bryant the player of the week title for his 122 yard, 3 TD day, but we have a little more leeway than that. We are going to give it to all the teams that were elimated from playoff contention weeks ago but still keep plugging, striving, and playing hard. Pittsburgh has won their last 2 divisional games, beating Baltimore and Washington and proving that they are still putting in the effort for Coach Bugel. Memphis, after a 2-7 start, have won 5 of their last 6 and could end up a very respectable 8-8 for the year. Orlando won their 6th of the year, upsetting perennial powerhouse Tampa Bay. The Renegades, despite having some major issues this year, are currently clearly the best of the four expansion teams. But even San Antonio, Oklahoma and 1-win Chicago are coming out and competing. Chicago’s defense has some gamebreakers, if they could only get an offense to match next year, they could be a lot better than their 1-14 record shows right now. As for Oklahoma and San Antonio, they have 6 wins combined, but next year, when we expect their rosters to combine, this may be a club that can win 7 or 8 games right away. There is something to be said for players that love the game, that play hard even when the season is lost, and that understand that every day is a chance to impress, to do your best and to prove you deserve to be on the field. Kudos to those who never give up.
PLAYOFF PICTURE
One week left and not a lot of drama, but a little remains to be decided. Here is what we know right now:
EAST
1 Seed = Philadelphia. They will get a bye and then face off against the Wild Card winner.
2 Seed = Tampa Bay. Need to win to take division. Loss + Stallions win = 4th Seed.
3 Seed = New Jersey. They will play Tampa in the 2nd week of the playoffs.
4 Seed = Birmingham. Would host the Feds, but a win + TBY loss and they win division.
5 Seed = Washington. Happy to be here, the Feds will travel to Legion Field in 2 weeks.
WEST
1 Seed = Houston Hoping they don’t have injuries . They will host the Wild Card winner.
2 Seed = Denver A bye and a chance to host either Michigan or Oakland.
3 Seed = Michigan Oakland win and Panther loss and it is the Invaders here.
4 Seed = Oakland Move up to 3 with Panthers loss and a win or host New Orleans.
5 Seed = New Orleans Week 1 loss to Oakland means they are #6 no matter what.
NEWS & NOTES
With the announcement 2 weeks ago that the Oklahoma Outlaws and San Antonio Gunslingers would merge in 1988, one of the questions racing around the league has been just how the league would add a 20th franchise. This week it was announced that the league would not re-open an expansion bidding process, but that it would explore only the three semi-finalists from the 1987 expansion pool. This means that the 1988 season will include a franchise either in Atlanta, Seattle, or Portland. Since Oklahoma was located in the Pacific Division, our money is on either Seattle or Portland as the most likely option. Atlanta would cause much more realignment, since it would require a new team to move to the Pacific, likely San Antonio, which would disrupt the Texas rivalry with Houston. It would then require a Southern team like Birmingham or Memphis to shift to the Central, again, not ideal. Add Seattle or Portland and you retain all the current rivalries and add a new region entirely to the USFL television profile.
So, assuming that it is truly down to the two Pacific Northwest bids, which makes more sense to you?
Seattle is a much larger market, but that comes with drawbacks as well as the obvious advantages. The King Dome is a solid venue, but the team would have to share with the Mariners for most of the season. They could opt to play in Husky Stadium, but the rainy season in Seattle is no fun and Husky Stadium does not permit beer sales, which would hurt the team’s revenue stream for sure. Then there is also competition from the SuperSonics as well.
Portland is a small market, though not the league’s smallest. Civic Stadium is a solid size, though it lacks some of the amenities of the larger shared stadiums with NFL and NCAA teams. On the plus size, the only major sports competition would come from the Trailblazers NBA club. Without MLB to contend with, a Portland franchise would own outdoor sports for the spring and summer. And there is no NFL team in the city to cause friction or cannibalize fan dollars.
It’s a tough call, so we are glad we don’t have to make it. And this is without reviewing the financial bona fides of the ownership group, confirming potential stadium leases, or determining the impact on TV viewership. No matter what the USFL decides, there will again be a new team joining the league next year, a chance for a new community to fall in love with spring football.
INJURY REPORT
Not a great week for the league. We are going to focus on the 10 playoff teams, since their injury situation has potential to determine who advances and who goes home after Week 16. Here is what is worrying coaches and GM’s going into the final week of the year.
BIRMINGHAM: Ernest Givens pulled his hamstring in this week’s game, and that may cost him both the final regular season tilt and the wild card game. That is a big loss for the Stallions. Cliff Stoudt will likely be held out this week, but should be good to go for the Wild Card game. SS William Cesare also is expected back, but his turf toe could inhibit his play for the entire playoffs.
HOUSTON: No major players expected to be out, but expect Houston to rest their big names this week to avoid any potential Week 16 surprises. The only lingering injury of concern is left tackle Howard Ballard, who may see a few snaps just to see if he is fit before getting a week off during the bye.
MICHIGAN: Only 3 players on the injury report, with the biggest being RT Arnoldo Gardner listed as questionable. John Corker looks ready to go, but may be rested as Michigan gears up for the Wild Card game.
NEW JERSEY: Of all the playoff teams, the Generals look the most like the walking wounded. They have 8 players on this week’s injury report. Obviously the loss of Herschel Walker, still listed as OUT, is the biggest concern. But, with a bye week, even Walker might be back in time for the Divisional game against Tampa. All the others (lB Paul Cooks, CB Cliff Hicks, WR Danny Knight) are expected back in time after the bye.
NEW ORLEANS: Matt Robinson will not be available to back up Tony Eason, but we knew that weeks ago. The bigger concern is WR Charlie Smith, who is listed as doubtful this week with a lagging wrist injury. They will need him in the Wild Card game.
OAKLAND: Only 2 names on the injury report, but one of them is their top-rated guard Kevin Gogan. Gogan is unlikely to return before Championship week, so we likely will not see him this playoff run. DE Will Johnson is listed as probable, but still having difficulty with his ankle.
PHILADELPHIA: Jim Mora may be the luckiest coach in the league. He has no players listed on the injury report this week and has had very few injuries to deal with all season long. For a team that played in last year’s Championship, that is music to his ears.
TAMPA BAY: QB John Reaves was able to play this past week, and may see some reps next week just to ensure he is not rusty 2 weeks later in the Divisional Round. Guard Dan Morgan and SS Tyrone Davis will likely sit out, despite being listed as Probable, just to ensure they are ready to go in 2 weeks.
WASHINGTON: The bad news is that both LB Curtis Taliferro and DE Dexter Manley will not be able to come off IR to play in the playoffs. The good news is that Craig James came back this week and looked very healthy in the Fed’s backfield. With him back the offense for Washington is a lot harder to defend.
LOOKING AHEAD
As often seems the case, week 16 is less about playoff drama and more about resting players before the postseason begins. The only real drama left is between Michigan and Oakland for a bye, so this week perhaps focus on individual performances and the chance for teams to end the year on a positive. This weeks games include Pittsburgh @ New Jersey, Washington @ Philadelphia, Orlando @ Jacksonville, Tampa @ Memphis, New Orleans @ Chicago, Michigan @ Houston, Oakland @ Arizona, LA @ Denver, San Antonio @ Baltimore and Oklahoma @ Birmingham.