A really fun week in the USFL as the Maulers and Glory battle down to the final seconds. Orlando gets their first win as they surprise in-state rival Tampa Bay, the Outlaws and Breakers go to overtime, and Seattle makes a statement with a win over the Showboats. We also saw what many predicted, another bad performance from Michigan led to the departure of Mike Martz. We also saw something about as rare as it gets in the USFL, a 200-yard rushing game, as Ahman Green powered the Nashville Knights to a needed win. Let’s get right to the action on the field as we look at the shootout between Pittsburgh and Ohio in what could develop into one of the league’s better rivalry games.
PITTSBURGH MAULERS 31 OHIO GLORY 34
It was a battle for the Central Division and it felt every bit a playoff matchup from the opening kickoff straight through until the final whistle. The Maulers came into this game knowing that a win was crucial if they wanted to have any shot at the division crown. Ohio was out to prove that they had not lost a step from last year’s unbeaten championship, despite two early season losses. What we got as fans was a clash of two teams playing their best football, so a big win for us.
Both teams found their offenses early, though it was Ohio that took the quick lead in the 1st quarter. Kerry Collins hit Chad Johnson with a 16-yard TD on the opening drive of the game to set the tone for the game. After a promising drive ended in a rare missed field goal from Bill Grammatica, Pittsburgh gave the ball back to Ohio, who promptly went up 14-0 thanks to a 25-yard swing pass from Collins to Eddie George. But Pittsburgh would respond and on their next drive they methodically “matriculated the ball” down the field and got on the board with Terrell Davis’s 2-yard off-tackle run. They would score again after LB Joe Odom caught Kerry Collins unaware and picked off a pass intended for Stephen Alexander. Three plays later, Grammatica brought Pittsburgh within 4 points at 14-10, and so ended a very active first quarter.
The second quarter would see less scoring but plenty of action as both teams settled into their offensive pattern, Ohio depending on the pass (Collins’s totals for the day include 451 yards and 4 TDs) as Pittsburgh would not allow Eddie George room to run (20 carries for only 36 yards). Pittsburgh would rely more on the run game, with Terrell Davis and Harold Shaw combining for 29 carries, but most of the yardage would also be through the air as Charlie Batch threw for 350 yards.
The first score of the second quarter put Pittsburgh on top, Davis’s 2nd TD run at the end of a 14-play drive that killed about 7 minutes of the period. Ohio would strike back quickly to take a 21-17 halftime lead as Collins again found Chad Johnson, this time on a corner route from the 38 yard line. It was a back and forth game, and one that saw a lot of highlights for both teams, and this would not change in the second half.
Pittsburgh got the ball first to open the 3rd quarter and they again moved the ball well, settling for another Grammatica field goal after bogging down at the 17 yard line. After a batted ball by Russell Maryland forced Ohio to punt, Pittsburgh again took the lead, this time with Charlie Batch hitting rookie Nate Burleson, who just recently has started to see more action in 2 and 3-receiver sets for Pittsburgh. The Maulers went for 2 and converted, giving them a 28-21 lead.
Ohio would themselves respond, and it only took 2 plays. Following a 2-yard run by George on first down, the Glory got what they wanted, Joey Galloway in single coverage, and Collins exploited the coverage, hitting Galloway on a streak that would go 83 yards for a score, stunning the contingent of Mauler fans who made the trip to Columbus. At the end of 3 it was tied 28-28 and fans were fully aware that they were attending one of the best games of the season between two very good teams.
Ohio would take the lead once again early in the 4th as they moved the ball into the redzone, settling for a John Carney field goal with 11:54 left to play. On their next drive, Pittsburgh would also breach the red zone and also come up short on 3rd down, forcing yet another Bill Grammatica field goal. Now tied at 31, the game felt very much like one destined for overtime. After two failed drives, Ohio got the ball bck with only 35 seconds to play, on their own 22 yard line. With only 1 time out it felt very much like the Glory would take a knee and prepare for overtime. At least that is what Pittsburgh seemed to expect as they casually came to the line.
Ohio was in kneel down formation and the Maulers were only half lined up when Collins took the snap, stepped back 2 steps, and half-knelt. But he got back up again, and by the time Pittsburgh reacted, TE Alge Crumpler was behind the deepest defender. Collins hit his TE with a looping pass and 64 yards later Crumpler fell to the ground as CB Dre Bly finally caught up to him. The Glory used their final timeout as a stunned Pittsburgh defense knew they may have just blown the game. Carney came out onto the field to attempt the field goal, and as a jubilant Ohio crowd cheered on, he nailed the kick and gave Ohio the win, and very likely the division.
It was a stunning play at the end of a really well-played and entertaining game, the kind of play that will stick with the Maulers for some time. But, for the disappointed Mauler faithful, the game still showed that their squad could (when focused) hang with the Glory. They had beaten them in Week 4, and played toe to toe with them in Week 10. Would they get a 3rd meeting in the playoffs? For Ohio, the win gives them a 2 game lead on the Maulers with 4 to play. Their next challenge, a trip to Washington and a chance to ensure that their unbeaten season is not equaled by the Federals only 1 year later.
TBY 7 ORL 26
While the Maulers-Glory matchup was the best game of the week, Orlando’s upset of Tampa Bay will be the one the Vegas oddsmakers are regretting, as it paid those few willing to bet on Orlando quite handsomely. The Renegades played as if this were their Summer Bowl, limiting Tampa Bay to only 2 of 11 on third down, picking off Kent Graham twice, and limiting Willis McGahee to only 59 yards rushing. On offense Sedrick Irvin and R.J. Redmond combined for a surprising 173 yards rushing, with Irvin scoring twice for the Renegades.
NOR 23 TEX 17 OT
New Orleans rebounded well this week, taking their club on the road and upending the Texas Outlaws in overtime. The Outlaws had come back from a 10-point deficit in the final quarter and got the game tying score when Jeff Lewis hit Kirby Dar-Dar with 3 minutes to play. A missed field goal meant the game went to extra time and in the extra period Trent Dilfer hit Az-Zahir Hakeem with the game winner on the opening drive to secure the win for New Orleans.
NSH 27 HOU 22
Houston led throughout this game but never put Nashville away. They would live to regret it as the Knights got a miraculous 55-yard TD pass from Collins to Bert Emmanuel in the final minute of play, despite Houston playing a soft prevent defense. Emannuel went up for the ball, the two defenders hit each other and left the Knights’ receiver a clear path to the endzone and a win that may help Nashville return to the playoffs. The loss was Houston’s 7th in a row after opening the season 3-0. The star for Nashville was Ahman Green, who rushed for a season’s best for any HB, 216 yards against a tired Houston D.
MEM 21 SEA 31
As many predicted, Memphis ran into a buzzsaw in Seattle. Only one week after evening their record with New Orleans, the Showboats fall a game back after giving up 318 yards to Byron Leftwich, including 161 yards on only 4 receptions for Corey Bradford as the Dragons scored the final 10 points of the game to defeat the Showboats and even their record at 5-5.
BIR 20 POR 27
In front of a crowd of only 13,040 in Portland, and with a loud anti-Thunder protest outside, the home team did not really have any home field advantage, but they still managed to pull out a win over the visiting Stallions. Portland picked off Brett Favre twice and limited Shaun Alexander to only 28 yards on his 14 carries. In Akili Smith’s first game back after 2 weeks recovering from a concussion, he did not seem phased, as he rushed for 62 yards and threw for 252 and 2 scores.
LA 27 ARZ 7
The Express did not allow Jake Plummer to run the ball, and that worked to their advantage as they built up a 27-0 lead and coasted to victory. With Antowain Smith now in Jacksonville, LA turned to unheralded Maurice Smith to back up Deshaun Foster and the former 3rd stringer did more than fill in, he rushed for 149 yards on the day, outpacing Foster with an 8.8 YPC average.
OAK 12 DEN 21
Jon Kitna threw for 303 yards, but was only able to muster 1 touchdown against the Denver defense. Meanwhile, Robert Holcombe and Ricky Whittle combined for 108 yards and 2 TDs on the day to power the Gold. Oakland held up through three quarters, with a 7-3 deficit holding until the final quarter, when two late Denver TDs put the game away for the homestanding Gold.
NJ 31 BAL 17
New Jersey held Ron Dayne in check and forced Jeff Garcia to make tough throws all game. Baltimore’s QB was unable to make enough plays to keep up with the Generals, who got 101 yards from Curtis Enis and two Terry Glenn touchdowns in his return to action. After the game Coach Infante was mum on whether or not Week 11 would see Garcia or Ryan Leaf start for the Blitz, whose playoff hopes now may require them to run the table down the stretch.
WSH 32 PHI 23
Philadelphia held an early 10-0 lead on the Federals, but got worn down over the game, falling behind in the 2nd quarter and never regaining the lead. Deuce McCallister and Kordell Stewart accounted for 171 yards rushing and 3 TDs between them, while Doug Pelfrey added 4 field goals to give Washington their 10th win of the season. Philadelphia falls to 3-7 and all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
JAX 24 BOS 3
The Bulls take the road win in the battle of 5-4 clubs, thanks in large part to 158 yards from WR Terrell Owens. Owens and rookie Anquon Boldin combined for 248 yards and a Td as Boston’s secondary simply did not have an answer. Boston got 111 yards from Tiki Barber, but was unable to turn yards into points as time and again their drives ended short of field goal range.
MGN 0 CHI 20
An ugly loss for Michigan, which mustered only 201 total yards of offense, a loss that would be the final straw for ownership, who relieved Mike Martz of his duties Monday morning. Charles Rogers again had a strong day, rushing for 128 yards as he subbed for a gimpy Duce Staley. Michigan’s lead back, Ladell Betts, only garnered 18 yards on 7 carries as Michigan’s offense was entirely inept.
Martz Out, Lovie In
After yet another incredibly poor performance by the Michigan Offense, owner Al Taubman had seen enough. On Monday he relieved Coach Mike Martz of his duties and appointed defensive coordinator Lovie Smith as the interim head coach of the Panthers for the season’s final weeks. Martz, who came to Michigan as an “offensive guru” has simply been unable to replicate his past successes as an offensive coordinator as Michigan’s head coach.
As of this week’s results, Michigan ranks dead last in the league, averaging only 11.5 points per game. The Panthers have by far the worst run game in the USFL, averaging only 36 yards per game, and this has also helped them rank 24th in yardage. Mind you, Lovie Smith does not have a lot to stand on in this regard either as the Panther defense currently ranks last in the league in points allowed, a whopping 32.7 per game. So, expect this to be a short tenure for Smith, who is unlikely to be retained even if he were able to get Michigan their first win of the season.
Attendance plummets in Portland
It should not really be a surprise that attendance for the Thunder in Portland has plummeted. The past two games (vs LA and Birmingham) the attendance has dipped below 15,000 per game. This is part protest of the current ownership, which sought and received approval to relocate the team to Las Vegas, but also apathy for a team that is leaving and which has not been playing up to even last year’s modest 7-7 record. With just over 13,000 in attendance this week, the chants and bullhorns of the anti-Ruffin protesters across the street from the stadium could clearly be heard throughout the game. Expect things to be even uglier when the club returns from this week’s game in Seattle. They have two home games left, against Oakland and Michigan, two teams with a combined 1 win between them. With a combination of former Thunder fans turning their backs on the team (and their season tickets) and very vocal protests expected for both games, having home field advantage may simply not be an option for the Thunder until they reach Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Reveals Branding
Speaking of Las Vegas, Reebok this week revealed for fans in Sin City the new secondary logo that will accompany the move to Sin City. The team will retain their color scheme, uniforms, and primary logo (all seen as cost-saving measures for the club) but will have a new secondary logo which will adorn the sleeves of the team’s trademark “electric lime” jerseys. The LV monogram logo includes a lightning bolt forming from the “L”. the interlocking letters represent the new home of the club and will feature prominently in marketing as Las Vegas’s new ownership begins the marketing process for season tickets for the 2004 Thunder.
Fans React to New Logo, Owners Say “Nevermind”
In an incredible and slightly comical example of the power of a fanbase, the release of Texas’s new “Outlaw Jim” logo, a logo that was to become the primary image for the franchise, fans in San Antonio and across Texas reacted quite harshly. The phones at the Outlaw main offices in San Antonio rang off the hooks, and the message was clear, the new logo is not what the fans want. They want a return to the classic logo the club has used since 1988. Within 3 days every newspaper was printing articles and letters to the editor bashing the new “active” version of the Outlaw and demanding the club and Reebok return to the traditional logo. When word got out that the owners were in the facility at the AlamoDome, a large crowd gathered outside demanding a redesign.
On Friday, owners announced through local media that they would listen to the fans and return to the classic outlaw logo, reserving the new logo for use as a secondary logo (not to appear on uniforms). While this is not the first time that fan reaction has altered plans for a new team look (we all remember the case of the San Francisco 49ers in the 1990’s and their attempt to update their logo), it is the first time that a USFL owner has buckled under immediate pressure. For their part, Reebok has been quiet on the process and how such a negative reaction was not picked up in pre-release polling or focus group testing, but clearly the change was not what San Antonio fans had in mind.
It appears that the new uniform designs will be retained, with the only real change to the team’s look being the decal on the helmet, so it is not a major economic hit for the Texans to make the change now. But, if you find any apparel with the new logo on it, as some was available the day it was released, hold onto it as it will be a collector’s item for years to come.
We have our first clinched playoff spot, and to the surprise of no one, it is the Washington Federals. Sitting at 10-0 with only 4 games left on the schedule and a 3-game lead over the New Jersey Generals, there was little doubt that Washington would qualify for the post-season, but with losses by Tampa Bay and Boston, the math locked in for Washington to lock up a spot. With a win or a New Jersey loss next week the Federals should also lock up the division. No other team has clinched a spot, but both Michigan and Orlando (despite their Week 10 win) are now officially eliminated from any playoff contention.
Were the playoffs to begin today, Pittsburgh and Chicago would be in, and Boston would be out in the East. In the West, Birmingham and Nashville would nab the last two spots with 5-5 records, while Seattle would be out, despite having the same record. Tiebreakers can do that to you, so the Dragons had better continue to win games if they hope to make a postseason appearance.
Two more players added to IR after week 10 as Pittsburgh loses backup DT Josh Shaw to a torn ACL, while Baltimore will be without their starting left tackle, Blake Brockmeier, after he also injured his knee and will require surgery. Seattle takes a big hit as David Boston’s injury now looks like it could keep him out for the remainder of the regular season. He could return if Seattle qualifies for the playoffs, but even that is in doubt.
Denver will finish their regular season without LB Chris Cowart, who suffered a torn quad and could miss 3-4 games, while Arizona will go without FB B.J. Askew, who suffered an abdominal tear in a rare carry this week. Portland CB Will Allen is out 1-2 weeks with a dislocated finger, and more bad news for Baltimore’s faint playoff hopes as DT John Randall could be out 1-2 weeks with an ankle injury.
Expected back in action in Week 11 we have Ohio DE Vonnie Holiday (hip), Michigan LB Andy Katzenmoyer (hand), Breakers DE Chidi Ahanotu (neck), Memphis DT Norman Hand (hip), and Texas LB Stephen Boyd (knee). Rod Smart is questionable but looks like he could see action, and Pittsburgh’s Korey Stringer may be back in the lineup as well.
Memphis Referendum Next Week
The future of the Showboats is on the line next Tuesday, when Memphians will vote in a special election to determine if the city will fund stadium renovations and the creation of a practice facility for the Showboats through a bond referendum, all designed to encourage the club to remain in the city. Polling shows this is a close vote as Memphis residents are wary of the expense and investment when the city has significant pressing issues in many other areas.
The vote all but determines the fate of the Showboats as recent negotiations between Memphis ownership and the USFL owners have basically locked the club into remaining in Memphis if the bond issuance is approved, and if it fails, the Showboats have essentially guaranteed themselves the right to relocate to St. Louis ahead of any potential expansion. The league will vote on expansion for 2006 and 2008, a proposal that highlights both St. Louis and Atlanta, in 3 weeks, but this Tuesday’s vote will go a long way to determining what happens next. With the Showboats in the middle of another playoff push, and having made it all the way to the Summer Bowl in 2002, the timing is about as good as the Showboats’ ownership could have asked for. One can easily imagine that a 2-12 Memphis club would have a hard time garnering enough support to push the city to invest in Liberty Bowl Stadium, while a regular contender is more likely to get the votes needed. I guess we will know soon enough.
What is happening in Atlanta?
While St. Louis’s future is still muddled, with all likelihood being that they will either host the Showboats by 2005 or have an expansion club in 2006, things in Atlanta are a bit clearer. The vote in 3 weeks to expand the USFL includes a special carve out for the city, meaning that they are all but guaranteed a return to USFL football if the expansion vote is approved. Mayor Shirley Franklin and a delegation of Atlanta business leaders and sports personalities have been lobbying league owners for a return of USFL football, and a fan group has specifically been pushing not only for a return of the league, but of the Atlanta Fire in particular.
A petition asking the USFL to return the Fire to the city has already garnered over 100,000 signatures. What is more impressive is that a coalition of city leaders and football fans has already started to form the early basis for an ownership group. Several prominent Atlantans, including recently retired USFL superstar Herschel Walker, has begun negotiations to form an LLC to officially bid for an Atlanta franchise should the league vote to expand back to the city. That effort got a huge shot in the arm when it was confirmed that Jim Kennedy, multimillionaire CEO of Cox Media, one of the nation’s largest cable TV providers, was on board. Kennedy adds the deep pockets that the bid will need, and could act as the lead owner and President, while others in the group, including Walker, could take on smaller financial roles while still engaging with the team’s formation and organization. It is a very good sign that Atlanta is ready to return to the USFL to see both business and political leaders engaged in the effort and working to ensure that if expansion is approved, Atlanta is ready to jump in. Now it seems the bigger question is if the new leadership will listen to fans and return the Fire to the city or go a new direction.
Teams Begin Looking to the Offseason
No one will officially say it yet, but with three teams eliminated from playoff contention, and several others on life support, it is clear that there are some clubs looking to evaluate their current rosters and determine a strategy for the offseason. Michigan has made the move to an interim head coach, so you know that new leadership is their first priority, but Orlando, Oakland, Houston, and Philadelphia are also looking at the future. We see this with some personnel changes as Oakland explores the possibility of Jon Kitna at QB, while Houston is giving more playing time to their rookies. So, what are the biggest needs for these 5 clubs as they look to the draft and free agency? We figured now is as good a time as any to start exploring what each club may need. We will go in reverse draft order from 5th to 1st and look for the one key position (among many in some cases) that the club should address.
Philadelphia Stars (3-7): The Stars feel that they have their QB of the present with Brian Griese, and drafted Larry Johnson at HB to help transition at the position as Stephen Davis hits the 30-year old mark, so what else is needed in Philly? Clearly, with the 19th ranked rush defense, linebacker and DT are key positions, but we still want to look at offensive firepower. The Stars have Steve Smith as their #1 wideout, but 32-year old Troy Brown and 29-year old Bobby Engram are simply not doing enough to draw coverage away from Smith, hamstringing the Philadelphia passing game. We like the combo of Marcus Pollard and rookie Dallas Clark at TE, so for us, the big focus will need to be at WR. The good news is that this is a position where the draft can be an immediate help.
While many look at Pitt’s Larry Fitzgerald or Texas’s Roy Williams as the two best prospects at the position, we don’t see either the Maulers or Outlaws giving away a chance to sign those two players from protected schools, but the Ohio Glory could possibly be willing to trade away one of their T-Draft picks to allow Philly to draft either Wisconsin’s Lee Evans or Ohio State’s Michael Jenkins without using an open draft pick. That would be our recommendation for them, and then focus on defense with the open draft and free agency.
Houston Gamblers (3-7): The Gamblers are pretty well set on defense, though they may stll draft for depth, but their biggest issue is that the combo of Kevin Faulk and Mike Anderson has not really produced enough consistent run game to keep defenses honest. We love Faulk as a 3rd down back, but he is not a 3-down type of guy, while Anderson is great in short yardage but will not be a 20-carry back for the Gamblers. They need a bell cow who can keep defenses honest, opening room for Matt Hasselbeck and the pretty good receiving group that Houston has. They cannot just win with defense week in and week out, as this week’s loss to Nashville proved.
Our recommendation, look in free agency for a solid starter, but that may be difficult to find, particularly as we often see older backs in the pool, and that is not what Houston needs. If, for example, Stephen Davis remains without a contract (which seems plausible in Philly), then he could be a short term answer, but youth is a priority in the HB position, so the draft might be a better option. Houston does not have any top level talent in their protected school pool of players, but there is a quality HB available in the Open Draft who could be a perfect fit, Oklahoma State’s Tatum Bell is not protected by any team, and could be just the type of slashing runner that could balance out the skills of Anderson and Faulk. Bell projects as a 1st or 2nd round pick, perhaps not a Top 10 pick, so Houston could play it smart, trade down with a team who has a mid-teens pick, and still get a halfback who will complement their current roster. Something for Coach Philips to consider.
Oakland Invaders (1-9): We are not sure who, between the Invaders, Panthers, and Renegades, will end up with the 1st overall draft pick, so we are just working on a hunch as to who can perhaps get a 2nd win (or a 1st for Michigan). Of the three, we think Oakland might have the most obvious decision ahead. Clearly Marques Tuiasosopo is not the answer at QB, and while Jon Kitna might be a serviceable starter in the short run, the goal should be to sign a future franchise QB this offseason. The Invaders tried to do last year, trading for the rights to Carson Palmer, but they failed to ink the current Cincinnati Bengal. So who should the target this year? There are two top tier QB prospects that are free from T-Draft protection, NC State’s Philip Rivers and Miami of Ohio’s Ben Roethlisberger. Oakland should spend the offseason scouting both, wooing both, and then pull the trigger on the one most likely to sign (not necessarily the one they evaluate higher) on Draft Day.
Orlando Renegades (1-9): The ‘Gades got their first win this week, which may actually cost them the #1 pick, but since they have their QB for now, having the overall #1 pick is not as essential. We expect that with a strong QB class, lots of teams will be interested in trading up to try to snag a QB, so sitting anywhere in the Top 3 could be a lucrative place to be. And that is what we think Orlando should be focusing on, using their position to accumulate picks and get more help across the roster. But, we all know what the primary focus has to be.
The Renegades have collapsed since the retirement of Chris Doleman, in large part because they are not pressuring opposing QB’s and not disrupting opposing offenses nearly enough with their current front 4. If we were working in Orlando’s War Room, we would be on the phone right now with Ohio, trading our top draft pick for 2-3 picks, including a T-Draft pick to try to land Ohio State DE Will smith. He may not have the explosiveness of Doleman, but he is a dangerous power rusher who will draw double assignments, freeing up the rest of the line with one-on-one blocking. If Ohio won’t deal, then LA is the next target, with USC DE Kenechi Udeze the focal point. Either way, a pass-rushing DE has to be the goal.
Michigan Panthers (0-10): The Panthers will have a new leadership team long before draft day, and likely will need time to assess free agents, which means the draft will be vital for them. They need to support Drew Brees with a more athletic offensive line and a run game that actually threatens opponents. Averaging fewer than 40 yards a game is just a travesty. OK, so we look at O-line first and we see that there is no help from the three protected schools the Panthers have (a bit of an oddity for 2 Big 10 schools like Michigan and Michigan State to not have a prospect, but so it goes). So, the Panthers need to look at the open draft, perhaps make a deal with Philly to try to sign Robert Gallery of Iowa, or with Boston for guard Chris Snee of Boston College.
Trading away picks in the open draft for protected picks is a risky business (just ask Oakland), but seems necessary this year. At HB, the Panthers could stay at home with Wolverine HB Chris Perry, or they could look at two potential free agents as of yet unsigned in the NFL. Charlie Garner, the former Philadelphia Star is not yet resigned by the Raiders and could be available in the first NFL-USFL transfer window. The same is true of Thomas Jones with the Cardinals. Jones is more of a risk, as his best year was 511 yards and a 3.7 average, but he has shown flashes. The new head coach will need to consider what type of run game he wants to emphasize, and to what degree Ladell Betts might fit into that. We don’t see Betts as a full-time starter, so either Jones, Garner or Perry could be a priority for the Panthers.
Week 11 and a lot on the line around the league as the West returns to divisional play while the East is in interdivisional clashes. Looking at playoff positioning, here are the games to watch out for:
Ohio @ Washington: This is the game all of America is waiting to see. Can the Glory stop Washington from equaling their perfect season from last year? It is a classic matchup of the unstoppable force (Ohio’s offense) against the immovable object (Washington’s defense) when these two clash. This could be one for the ages.
Jacksonville @ Baltimore: Both clubs are still very much alive, as is evident by the very real chance we will see Ryan Leaf start for the Blitz. Jacksonville is a game up on Boston and a win here, especially if the Cannons lose in New Jersey, could all but salt away the division.
Boston @ New Jersey: A tough game for the Cannons as New Jersey can all but lock up a Wild Card with a win. Boston is in good position at 5-5, but a win here would be a boost as they head into the final divisional games, besides, it’s Boston v. New York (we know, New Jersey, but you get the idea.)
Tampa Bay @ Chicago: Another matchup of clubs that really cannot afford to lose. Tampa’s loss to Orlando was a clear “trap game” situation as the Bandits simply underestimated a hungry Renegade squad. They cannot afford to lose a 7th game if they have hopes for a Wild Card, while Chicago is trying to stay in the hunt with Pittsburgh and Ohio ahead of them in the division.
Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia: Not quite as heated a rivalry as when the Maulers and Stars shared the same division, but still a big game in the Keystone State, and a big game for the Maulers who need to rebound after back to back losses to Washington and Ohio. If Pittsburgh wants to be seen as an elite team, they need to win the games they are expected to win, and this is one of them.
Arizona @ Denver: A nice rivalry game and one that the Wranglers absolutely need to pull out if they want any shot at a Wild Card. They are not looking good on tie-breakers, so they need wins to pull them off the table. Denver, for their part, is looking to wrap up the Southwestern Division in what has been an unexpected but very enjoyable rebound year for Gold fans.
Portland @ Seattle: Both clubs are on the fringes of the playoff picture, both could still make a run. Seattle seems the better and hotter team, but when these two play each other you can basically throw the records out the window. Two of the league’s more athletic and exciting quarterbacks square off when Akili Smith faces the rookie, Byron Leftwich.
Birmingham @ Memphis: Ooh, this is a good matchup of two teams that just don’t like each other. Only 1 game separates the two Southern rivals. Memphis has home field, and will play only 3 days before the big vote that could determine if the Showboats stay Memphis’s team. You know the players are going to fight for a win to help the voters decide.
New Orleans @ Nashville: Another good southern clash as the Breakers can pull away in the division with a win and a Memphis loss, but Nashville is not done dreaming of playoff football just yet, and a win by the Knights tightens up the entire division with all 4 teams possibly having winning records with only 3 more weeks in the season.
Houston @ Texas: We thought this one would be a playoff matchup earlier this year, but neither team has really stepped forward. Houston has lost 7 games in a row after a 3-0 start and would like nothing more than to get back in the win column with a road win in San Antonio against the rival Outlaws. Texas fans came together to demand that ownership not change up their team mascot/logo, can they come together to will the Outlaws to a home victory in the Lonestar Classic?
Los Angeles @ Oakland: The California Darby has lost a lot of its luster, but this is still a battle for pride. We will see Rashaan Salaam and Jon Kitna playing not only for pride but for their futures in Oakland. LA has even more motivation as a win could win them the division crown. It will be interesting to see if desperation or determination wins out in this one.
Orlando @ Michigan: If Ohio-Washington is an epic battle, this is the classic Comedy of Errors. What we expected to be a battle of two winless teams was slightly downgraded by Orlando’s win last week, but this is still very likely the game that decides the #1 overall pick in the draft. It may be Michigan’s only hope for a win, and interim HC Lovie Smith will likely put pride on the line with his players to try to get this one win. Orlando seems the better team on paper, but after getting the monkey off their back last week, are they ripe for Michigan to upset. This game should be entertaining if only because there may well be an entire episode worth of football follies and bloopers coming out of it.
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