Things are heating up around the league. We have 8 of 12 playoff spots claimed, including all 6 in the East. We have divisional battles across the league, and we have teams trying to figure out where it all went wrong. With only 2 weeks left we are looking at a 3-way tie in the Central Division. All three clubs are in the playoffs, but who gets the crown and a possible bye week? In the Southeast, Boston and Tampa Bay are in a footrace for 1st. Arizona and Denver are on a collision course for a Week 13 showdown, and in the Pacific, the Seattle Dragons are on the edge of locking up their first division title ever. All that following a Week 12 slate that saw Chicago and Ohio go toe to toe with each other, New Jersey end Washington’s playoff run, and Nashville get an assist on their way to a Southern Division title. Let’s get to it.
OHIO GLORY 24 CHICAGO MACHINE 20
The highest visibility game of the week turned out to be one of the week’s best as well, with Chicago and Ohio battling for first place in the Central Division on a warm Chicago evening. Chicago ran the ball 29 times, trying to control the pace of the game, but Kerry Collins did what he often does, connecting on big plays to his wideouts and TE Stephen Alexander.
Chicago put pressure on Collins, and that did garner the Machine 5 sacks of the Ohio QB, but it also allowed him to deal with one-on-one coverage, and that led to open receivers. Alexander led all pass catchers with 126 yards on the day, while Eddie George rushed for 63 and caught 3 passes for 45 to put him over 100 total yards once again.
For Chicago, the game was about ball control, so we saw a lot of carries for both Michael Turner and Duce Staley. The two combined for 135 yards rushing and Turner got the opening score of the game to help Chicago set the pace. Collins responded, hitting Alexander with a 54-yard seam route to bring Ohio to within 10-7 after the first quarter. In the second Ohio took their first lead as they followed up a Chicago field goal wth another Collins TD pass, this time to WR Reche Caldwell.
The third quarter saw the script flip, with Ohio getting a field goal, and Chicago following that up with a TD pass, this one from Ray Lucas to Curtis Conway from 25 yards out. Up 20-17, Chicago went into the final period hoping to get that one key stop that would allow them to come away victorious. They got a stop on Ohio’s first drive, but could not move the ball either and quickly punted it right back. On their second drive, Ohio found their rhythm and marched 71 yards for a score, an Eddie George TD with 4:07 left to play.
Chicago simply could not answer as Ray Lucas was sacked on a 3rd and 11 and forced to punt the ball away. Two first downs later and the clock was winding down. Collins took a knee and the Glory took the road win to force a 3-way tie atop the division. The Glory win the tiebreaker, thanks to their 4-1 record in the division, and their lone remaining division game is against 4th place Michigan, while Pittsburgh and Chicago have to battle it out in Week 14.
WSH 21 NJ 24
The Generals won themselves their 2nd Northeast title in three years by shutting down the Federals when they needed to and getting one last drive for a win as Tom Brady once again proved to be one of the league’s best 2-minute drill quarterbacks. With Washington tying the score at the 1:40 mark in the 4th, Brady led the Generals into field goal range and Ryan Longwell won them the division with a 34-yard kick on the final play of the game.
HOU 21 ARZ 24
A rough game for Houston QB Kris Kershaw as Arizona forced 3 interceptions, including a pick-six from Tyrone Drakeford that helped Arizona remain on pace with Denver atop the Southwest Division, and put a severe crimp in Houston’s playoff plans. Houston’s D was solid all game, limiting Arizona to only 2 of 12 on third down, but the Wranglers used 4 Houston turnovers to get short fields and turn those mistakes into 17 points. After the game, Coach Phillips refused to answer if Doug Flutie would start in place of Kershaw in Week 13, but 2 days later he would announce just that.
SEA 34 OAK 31
Seattle got all it could handle from a desperate Oakland squad, but in the end it was the Dragons who improved their playoff position with a narrow win over the Invaders. Byron Leftwich threw for 2 scores and both David Boston and Ken Dilger went over 120 yards receiving as the Dragons came back from a 31-24 deficit in the 4th,. Winning the game with a late Leftwich to Boston TD toss of 45 yards.
ORL 17 BOS 33
Boston had no difficulty with the Renegades as Drew Bledsoe threw for 362 yards and 2 scores against Orlando. Tiki Barber was limited to only 2.8 yards per carry, but the Orlando emphasis on the run game allowed Bledsoe time to connect with Chad Ochocinco (108 yards) and 8 other receivers on the day. The Cannons remain in 2nd place, 1 game behind Tampa Bay, with a potential Week 14 showdown looming.
TBY 26 JAX 20
The Bandits struggled early with the Bulls, but did what they needed in order to stay a game up on Boston. Culpepper threw for 256 and a TD, and Willis McGahee added another score as Tampa Bay scored the final 10 points of the game to take the win. The loss eliminates Jacksonville from playoff contention.
PIT 25 MGN 14
The Mauler defense looked ready for the postseason as they limited Michigan to only 216 total yards and held HB Chris Perry to only 30 yards on the day. They were helped by an early injury to Drew Brees, meaning that Rick Mirer would be at the helm for 3 quarters of the game. On offense, Pittsburgh focused on the run, with Terrell Davis rushing for 84 yards but sitting out the 4th quarter yet again. Kenny Bynum came on in relief and did very well, averaging 5.3 yards per carry on his way to 64 yards on only 12 carries.
NSH 21 BIR 7
Brett Favre returned to action but perhaps wished he hadn’t as Nashville blitzed him often. The Knights held Birmingham to only 57 yards rushing and forced 2 turnovers, both fumbles, in a dominant defensive performance. Ahman Green expanded his rushing lead in the league with a 94 yard performance that also included his 11th TD of the season.
NOR 6 MEM 10
Just about the ugliest, and chippiest game we have seen in a long time. Nine penalties for the Breakers, and only 1 converted third down as Memphis simply harassed Trent Dilfer through three quarters. Coach Nolan tried putting in rookie Eli Manning in the 4th, and while he was able to get some plays together, going 9 of 13, he could not get points on the board as Memphis played hard to upend the Breakers.
TEX 17 DEN 23
Denver does not look dominant doing it, but they just keep winning games. The Gold move to 8-4 after beating Texas at Invesco Field, thanks in large part to a defense that allowed T.J. Duckett to run, but limited Jeff Lewis’s passing game. Rod Smart was the offensive hero for Denver, rushing for 137 yards on only 15 carries, and adding in 2 touchdowns to boot.
LV 14 LA 24
The Express get the home victory they needed to have any chance at a Wild Card. Rob Johnson completed only 12 of 32 passes on the day, but two of them were for scores as the Express hold off the Thunder despite a good game from Aaron Brooks (22 of 44 for 271 and 2 scores.) Brooks did throw 3 picks, which led to 10 LA points, enough to turn the tide in a pretty close game.
Hot Teams, Cold Teams
The final push, and then on to the playoffs, but not every team enters these final two weeks with the same mindset. Some teams are peaking at the right time, playing their best ball and running over opponents, others are slipping, and at least in 1 case, slipping right out of playoff contention. Here is our rundown of who is hot and who is not.
Definitely hot. The Glory have won 4 in a row and with this week’s win against Chicago, they pull into a 3-way tie for first place in the Central Division, a tie that benefits them through the various tie-breakers. They control their own destiny and could once again be on the path to another Summer Bowl. Can they really win 3 in a row?
Not. The Bulls at one point were 5-3 and right there with Tampa Bay and Boston, but four straight losses have ended any chance for a playoff appearance in NE Florida. A loss against Chicago in Week 13, and the Bulls officially have a losing record for the year, something not many anticipated. The offense has been erratic and the defense has given up too many big plays, especially over the last month.
Very Hot. The Dragons were languishing at 3-5 a month ago, but have ripped off 4 straight wins to leapfrog over Oakland and LA and stake a claim on the division. A win this week and they claim their first division title in club history. It has been a combination of solid defense and some more-mature-than-his-years play from Byron Leftwich that has gotten Seattle here. They now are only 1 game behind Denver for the best record in the conference, so even a top seed and home field is not out of the question.
Ice Cold. Not only have the Stallions dropped 5 in a row, moving from 3-4 to 3-9, but Brett Favre has been acting like a player looking to move on. After an All-USFL career in Birmingham, could one of the biggest personalities, and one of the best QB’s in the game, be looking to find an exit strategy? His contract still has 2 years on it, but everything we are seeing points to a player who just wants to try something new, someplace new.
White hot. No team has won more in a row than the Generals, who are riding a 6-game win streak. They have locked up the Northeastern Division, their second division title in three years. Now their eyes are on getting home field for the playoffs. They cannot do it alone, as they need a Tampa loss, but they have a legitimate shot if they win out over the next two weeks to get wins 7 and 8 in a row.
So very not. At the midseason point, Oakland was 4-3 and we asked if they could keep up the pace and take a weak Pacific Division. The answer seems to be a resounding “no”. While they are still mathematically alive for a Wild Card, the Invaders have lost 5 in a row since the midseason point, and are looking like a team that cannot figure out how to get out of their own way. One more loss and they lock in a 6th straight non-playoff year to go with the already guaranteed 6th straight losing season.
Just Who is the USFL MVP?
Earlier in the season we were all ready to anoint Drew Bledsoe, in the twilight of his career, as the 2004 MVP. He had the numbers, his offense was humming along, and his Boston Cannons were in first place. But over the past month, Boston’s offensive production has dipped considerably, they lost two games without scoring over 20 points in either, and they fell into 2nd place behind Tampa Bay. So if Bledsoe is no longer the odds-on favorite, who is? Here are 4 players that we feel at least deserve consideration:
Kerry Collins-QB-OHIO: Really? Have we not seen enough of the 3-time MVP? Is there not just a lot of hope that someone else will win? Sure, and yet we cannot deny that Collins is again lighting it up, and for the past few weeks, doing so without Joey Galloway hauling in stat-building deep balls. The fact that Ohio has been able to win and win big without Galloway just cements Collins as a top candidate once again.
Byron Leftwich-QB-SEA: In only his second year, the 2003 Rookie of the Year is becoming a superstar. He has led the Dragons to the lead in the Pacific, doing so without David Boston for several weeks. He currently sits 2nd in the league with 3,197 yards passing, and 3rd with 23 passing TDs. If he was playing in LA or NJ he would be on the cover of Sports Illustrated, but being in Seattle means we often do not see as much of him as we should.
Chad Ochocinco-WR-BOS: If Bledsoe cannot win MVP, maybe Ochocinco should. He walked in the door of the Cannons’ in free agency last year, declared himself the #1 receiver, and he has been true to his word. He leads the league with 1,242 yards receiving, and is 2nd with 10 TD receptions. His 25.9 yards per catch trails only Tory Holt’s ridiculous 30.9 average, and, more importantly, his presence has transformed a good Boston offense into a powerhouse, helping the franchise lock up its first playoff spot in franchise history. It is rare for a non-QB to win MVP, but Chad Ochocinco has as good a claim to it as anyone.
Daunte Culpepper-QB-TBY: The stats may not be as eye-popping as those of Bledsoe or Collins, but Culpepper’s arrival in Tampa Bay is the single greatest reason why the Bandits have moved from 4-10 to a current 10-2 record and in line for the playoff’s top seed. Yes, Coach Spurrier is almost a shoe-in for Coach of the Year, but Culpepper’s 3,108 yards, 22 touchdowns, and unflappable demeanor are equally as vital for this Bandit Ball offense and this team to do what they have done.
Mike Vrabel-LB-JAX: We had to throw in one defender, right? There is no chance Vrabel gets this award, but maybe our mention here helps assure he gets Defensive POTY. Vrabel moved into 2nd position in tackles this year, but that is not it. In only 12 games he has forced 8 fumbles, a stunning number. He also has 4 sacks on the season, and has been unquestionably the best player on the field for the Bulls. Jacksonville’s slump does not help his case, but anyone who watches the tape of Bulls games can see that the issues in Jacksonville are not Mike Vrabel’s doing.
Houston Looking for Some Flutie Magic
Two weeks left in the season, you need to win out to have any shot at a playoff spot, and your 2nd string QB is looking very flawed. What do you do? You go for the magic-maker, the once-retired, now re-hired, Doug Flutie. That is what Wade Phillips is doing in Houston, calling on the 40 year old QB to try to spark a 2-game sprint to the playoffs. It is a tall order for such a short man, but Doug Flutie has made a career out of the improbable and the impossible.
Houston signed the scrambling QB out of retirement over a month ago, when Matt Hasselbeck was lost for the year. He has played sparingly since arriving in Houston, but all sources say he is in great shape and as sharp as ever, and that is something you cannot teach. Kris Kershaw has had an up and down run at the helm of the Houston offense, but a 3-int game against Arizona may have cost them a shot at a Wild Card, and Coach Phillips is hoping Flutie can help revive the fighting spirit in the club. He will face Texas this week in a game the Gamblers will be favored to win at home, but the big test is in Week 14, when the Gamblers host the Denver Gold with a potential Wild Card berth on the table. Denver will likely be in an all out fight for a division title, so this won’t be one of those Week 14 games where your opponent has all their backups in. This will be a dogfight, which is just about when you need a QB who has been there before, and found a way to come out on top. It should be quite a challenge, but one we are all excited to watch.
O’Leary Mulling Retirement
One last tidbit comes out of Orlando, where rumors have begun to swirl that Renegades’ head coach George O’Leary is thinking about stepping down from the team that he led to a title 3 years ago. The club has been losing players from that title squad ever since, and is barely recognizable as they struggle through what is currently a 3-win season. O’Leary, who has been at the helm in Orlando since replacing Howard Schnellenberger in 1994, is not a spring chicken, so retirement could certainly be on the table, but so too could be a move to another team, one where he can start fresh. It is no secret that O’Leary and Bruce Allen, the GM who ownership brought in 2 years ago, have not seen eye to eye on talent acquisition. Joey Harrington, Bruce Allen’s big signing, has not worked out the way Orlando would hope, and, despite the big investment in the former Oregon QB, O’Leary benched Harrington this season in favor of NFL journeyman Jeff Blake.
With two games left in the season, we don’t expect to hear anything before Black Monday, and it is very unlikely that O’Leary would announce on that traditional day for firings. But if he is considering either stepping down to pursue other positions or retiring, expect that something would be announced within the first week or two of the postseason/offseason. If he is open to other positions, we expect he will not have to wait long to find work. Eight playoff appearances and a league title in 2001 would make O’Leary a top candidate for several positions.
Well, that did not take long. All 6 playoff spots in the Eastern Conference have been claimed with 2 weeks left to play. The gap between the top 6 teams (none worse than 9-3) and the next six (the best being 6-6) means that the hunt for playoff spots in the East is done, and now it is all about positioning. New Jersey has clinched their division thanks to their big win over Washington this week, but in the Southeast, Tampa Bay still holds a slim 1-game lead over Boston, who is undefeated in division, which would win the tiebreaker. In the Central Division, Ohio, Pittsburgh, and Chicago all sit at 9-3, with Ohio winning the 3-way tiebreaker thanks to a 4-1 division record, but Ohio has a tough game in Week 13 against New Jersey. Pittsburgh and Chicago need New Jersey to win, because Ohio finishes with Michigan, while Pittsburgh and Chicago face off in a season finale that could be huge for both teams.
In the West, the records are not nearly so good, and that means that the playoff spots are still very much up for grabs. Denver and Arizona have clinched spots, but that is it. Those two will face off for the divisional title next week, winner take all. In the Southern Division, Nashville holds a two game lead over New Orleans, so they need to only win one game to lock up the division, and the game to win is this week when they host the Breakers. Finally, in the Pacific, Seattle has not wrapped it up yet, as they hold a 2-game lead over the LA Express. If they can knock off Las Vegas this week, they will win the Division. Of course, even with losing records the Express, Breakers, and Gamblers are not out of Wild Card position, with the very likely situation that 2 of 3 will get a spot (unless Oakland or Memphis suddenly get hot and win both of their final games) and we are almost assured that a team with a losing record will be in the Western Conference playoffs.
With only two weeks left in the season it is a bad time for even a short term injury, especially to your QB, but that is what 3 different teams are facing this week. The biggest issue is in New Orleans, where the Breakers are desperately trying to get to 7-7 and assure themselves a playoff spot. Trent Dilfer suffered a shoulder injury in this week's game, and while it is not an issue that will require surgery or weeks to rehab, Dilfer is questionable for this week's game, which puts the ball into the hands of rookie Eli Manning. Kordell Stewart (concussion) and Drew Brees (finger) are also questionable this week, but with both the Feds and Panthers out of playoff contention, we don't see any reason to risk either QB by putting them in this weekend.
Among teams in the playoff fight, a few injuries could impact their final 2 weeks. Tampa Bay loses Free Safety BryanScott to the IR with a broken collarbone. Boston will miss WR Cedric Wilson to a fracture as well, in this case to his leg. He could be back if Boston gets 1-2 weeks into the playoffs, but they will have to battle Tampa for the division without him. Boston also loses LT Jon Stinchcomb for at least 2 weeks with a collarbone fracture, a tough time to be without Drew Bledsoe's protector. In Arizona the issues is guard Lindsay Knapp, out with a broken toe for 1-2 weeks, while their rival in the Southwest, Denver, will finish the season without LB Alsherwood Singleton, out with a fracture in his right arm. Finally, Seattle has listed CB Marcus Truffant, the outstanding 2nd year player, as questionable with a hip pointer.
Hall of Fame Class of 2004 Announced
This week the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the USFL announced the five members of the Class of 2004, and, as we all suspected, every member of this new class is a first-time candidate, the first time this has happened since the Hall opened its USFL wing in 1995. The semi-finalist list included perhaps the strongest pool of first-time nominees ever, and it is no surprise that all five enshrinees are getting in on their first ballot. Here are your five newest Hall of Famers.
QB Jim Kelly (Houston Gamblers 1984-1999): The three-time USFL Champion, three-time USFL MVP, and ten-time All-USFL quarterback was about as much of a shoe-in for enshrinement as any player in the USFL could be. Kelly was the leader of the Run & Shoot offense in Houston, a tough player who simply refused to lose, and a player who combined knowledge of the game with a rocket of an arm. Kelly retired with pver 53,000 yards passing, 412 touchdowns, and a QB Rating of 101.8. One of the first true superstars of college football to sign with the spring league, Kelly’s success helped the USFL become a staple of the American sports scene.
DE Reggie White (Memphis Showboats 1984-1999): What Jim Kelly was on offense, Reggie White was for the defensive side of the ball, a dominant player, a charismatic leader, and a symbol of all that the USFL could be. White was a 12 time All-USFL player, the 1990 league MVP and 1992 Defensive Player of the Year, and a league champion in his final season, walking away from the game with a John Bassett Trophy in his hand. He retired the all-time sack leader with 259 career sacks, averaging 16 sacks a season for a decade and a half, with a career best 21 sacks in both 1992 and 1994. The Minister of Defense put Memphis on the map for sports fans.
HB Robert Drummond (Portland Thunder 1989-1999): The Syracuse product did not come to Portland with a lot of fanfare or an expectation that he would quickly become a dominant runner in the USFL, but that is what happened. The big back with the shifty hips arrived in the Pacific Northwest only 1 year after the team was formed, and was not made the starting HB until his third season in 1991. He rushed for 924 yards that season, starting 11 games. It would be the last time he would leave a season with fewere than 1,000 yards. Drummond would be the dominant back of the mid and late 1990’s in the USFL, racking up 2 Offensive Player of the Year awards (1995 and 1997), three rushing titles, and over 12,800 yards in his career. He rushed for 91 touchdowns in 11 seasons, and left the game as one of the most prolific running backs in USFL history, trailing only Rozier, Walker, and Bryant in career yards, while also recording two of the top 6 rushing seasons in league history and setting a league record with 18 rushing touchdowns in 1995.
WR Cris Carter (Portland Thunder 1990-1993, Philadelphia Stars 1994-1999): All he does is catch touchdowns. That was the weird, offhanded comment that became a mantra about Carter. What most say now about him is that he had an almost superhuman ability to control his body, making him perhaps the greatest sideline catch specialist we have ever seen. Able to get the toes down, the ball in his hands, and the catch made even when it seemed every part of his body was already well out of bounds. Carter was not the fastest receiver on the field, but in many cases he was the best. A 3-time All-USFL player at perhaps the most competitive position in the league, Carter also retired with a title to his name, a Summer Bowl victory in his first season in Philadelphia. You may not find Carter among the league leaders for career yards or receptions, but ask any receiver in the game today and they will tell you that Carter is without doubt one of the players they study in order to become a better receiver.
TE Keith Jackson (Memphis Showboats 1988-1993, Denver Gold 1994-1999): A player with two careers, one in Memphis and then a second act in Denver, Jackson was one of the premier pass-catching tight ends in the game for 12 seasons. He retired in 1999 with 1,063 receptions amassing 8,542 yards and 49 career touchdowns. Named All-USFL three times, Jackson and Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe defined the position in the 1990’s. Sadly, Keith Jackson missed out on title runs both in Memphis and in Denver, retiring without a ring.
So, there you have it. Five superb players who will be marching across the stage in Canton this October as the USFL celebrates their accomplishments. All well-deserving of the accolades and the recognition.
Only two weeks left and so much to be decided, whether it is who gets into the postseason out West or playoff positioning in the East, maybe it is just impressing your coach, or priming yourself for top dollar in free agency, a lot is on the line these last two weeks. Week 13 is the last week of interdivisional play as the Eastern clubs play across divisions while the Western Conference is looking at back to back divisional weeks. Let’s start there with the week’s big playoff-impacting games.
Denver @ Arizona: This is the big one in the West. The Division title, the best record in the conference, and a very good shot at home field advantage are on the line. Both clubs come in at 8-4, only one can get that 9th win. It could be the difference between 1 home playoff game, and the entire conference playoff run coming through your backyard.
New Orleans @ Nashville: If the Knights win this one at home, the Southern Division is theirs, and they may even be knocking division rival New Orleans out of contention as well. For the Breakers, a road win moves them to within 1 game of the Knights, but more importantly, it keeps them alive in the Wild Card race.
Oakland @ Los Angeles: The California Derby still has some meaning. Believe it or not, even at 4-8, the Oakland Invaders are still in range for a late playoff push. LA at 5-7 is currently right there as well. The loser of this one is in bad shape with one game to play, the winner could be able to control their own destiny.
Texas @ Houston: The Gamblers are still alive but a win against their in-state rival is essential. With Kris Kershaw struggling, it looks like Doug Flutie will get the start for the Gamblers, can that Flutie Magic spark them on to a victory and possibly a Wild Card berth?
Seattle @ Las Vegas: A win on the road and Seattle locks up the division, making next week’s game against LA just for show. Seattle wants this division. In their 10-year history they have not yet won a division title, and this is their chance.
Memphis @ Birmingham: A sad game between two great rivals because both of these clubs expected a lot more out of this season. Can one of these clubs salvage just a little pride by beating their arch rivals or are both teams just ready to get to the offseason?
Those are the six games out West, where only 2 playoff spots have been claimed. What is happening in the East, where all 6 are locked up and it is only a battle for seeding and the chance to play a game or more at home.
New Jersey @ Ohio: This game is huge for both clubs. New Jersey has their sights set on that top seed. They need to win out and hope Tampa Bay gets a loss, but with the division title in hand, they are playing for byes and homefield. Ohio is not so secure, stuck in a 3-way tie atop the Central despite their 9-3 record. They cannot afford to lose or either Pittsburgh or Chicago could leapfrog them, sending the Glory to the Wild Card slot.
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh: While the Maulers are happy to be home for this game, the Blitz have not been pushovers. Hard to say how they will play with their playoff hopes dashed, but this is a Tom Coughlin team, so you know they will be under pressure to put in 100% against Maulers. Pittsburgh is hoping that a New Jersey win at Ohio will help launch them to a division title.
Chicago @ Jacksonville: The Machine were in first all by themselves until they lost to Ohio, and now they need to win out and hope for some help if they want that divisional title. The Bulls looked like a playoff contender early but have been fading hard over the past month. Do they have fight left in them at this point?
Philadelphia @ Tampa Bay: The Bandits, winners of only 4 games last year, control their own destiny. Win out and they are the top seed with the best record in football. But the Stars are not the kind of team that rolls over against a tough foe. They will still have some fire in them.
Washington @ Orlando: The Federals have to be disappointed that at 6-6 they are out of playoff contention while in the West there are teams with significantly worse records that are still in the mix. But, that is the season the Feds have had. They head to Orlando, where change is in the air. Can former NFL QB Jeff Blake spark a win against a disappointed Feds squad?
Michigan @ Boston: Drew Brees may not play, which bodes well for the Cannons, who need to win. A loss this week makes next week’s showdown with Tampa Bay a moot point. Win against Michigan and the game next week could be huge for both clubs.