The penultimate week of the 2005 USFL season and for teams across the league there was a lot at stake even as the clubs went across conferences to play their last out-of-division games. It was a week that would finally see at least one team in the East clinch a playoff spot as Chicago and Nashville punched their tickets to the postseason with Week 13 wins. Chicago becomes the first club in the East to clinch, and controls their own path towards the #1 seed, And yet, despite 6 of 12 spots being settled, there remains going into the season’s final week six of the league’s twelve playoff spots unclaimed, and four of the six division titles still up for grabs. In all 12 teams remain viable for a playoff spot, but only 6 spots remain open, so this is going to be a wild week, a play-in week for half of the league.
Generals 16 Gold 14
New Jersey needed this game to keep any hope of a playoff appearance alive. Denver was already in, and needed help if they were to have a shot at the division title. With Houston playing earlier, by game time it was known that Denver could only be a Wild Card, so there was a fear that they would lack passion or rest some players if needed. That absolutely did not happen as both teams threw body blows at each other all game long. This one was a game for fans of hard-nosed defense, big hits, and perseverance as New Jersey hung close and found a way to get one late drive to pull out a much needed win at home.
The Generals entered this game as winners of 4 of their last 5, clawing their way back into the playoff hunt, but they also understood that it would almost certainly require 2 more wins for New Jersey to qualify for the postseason and a chance to defend their title. Denver had been the first team to clinch a playoff berth 2 weeks ago, and they had let that accomplishment soften them, losing a game last week to Texas that should have been an easy win for an 8-3 club. They needed to regain their focus if they wanted to avoid a late season swoon. This would be a game in which both defenses would be called on to slow down the pace, contain the run games of their opponents and not give up big plays, and in that both were quite successful. It was a war of attrition between two evenly matched foes, both content to run down the clock and shrink the game to only a few key plays.
Denver had the early advantage, shutting down Curtis Enis early and forcing New Jersey to punt on its first 4 possessions. They slowly built a modest lead thanks to two Jeff Wilkens field goals, and a fluke safety when a long snap sailed to the right of New Jersey punter Todd Sauerbrun, who was alert enough to fall on the ball in the end zone to avoid a Denver recovery for a TD. Up 8-0 at the half, Denver had effectively shut down the General offense, with only one missed field goal attempt even close to getting the Generals on the board. Tom Brady had had a decent half, completing 15 of 17 passing, but almost all were underneath throws, and with New Jersey going only 1 of 6 on third down conversions, the offense simply had not shown much life.
That changed in the 3rd quarter as the Generals changed up their strategy and added 13 points to the board in the period. In the third it was the New Jersey defense that stifled the opposition, getting the ball after an initial Denver possession and using a combination of James Jackson and Curtis Enis runs, paired with passing to TEs Patrick Hape and Anthony Becht, to get the ball into scoring position. Not wanting to go so far only to kick a field goal, New Jersey went for it on 4th and goal from the 1, and big back Brock Forsey plunged over the line to put the Generals on the board. They failed on the 2-point PAT, but were in the game at 8-6.
After a short Denver drive, New Jersey were back in action once again, and once again they used short passes and improved production from their backs to mount a successful drive. It was a pass to an unusual target, HB Curtis Enis, that gave them the lead. Enis is not known to be a big part of the General passing game, but on this drive, he swung out for a screen pass on 2nd and 10 from the 14 yard line and got a head of steam going, enough to plow his way through the secondary and into the end zone. New Jersey entered the 4th quarter up 13-8.
Denver would find their offense once again late in the final period, as they caught a break on a tipped ball that was picked off by LB Nick Rogers. That play gave Denver a spark, and, four plays later, Mark Brunell found Peerless Price for Denver’s only TD of the day. They tried for two to give themselves a 3 point lead, but failed, meaning that their advantage was only 1, sitting at 14-13 with 3:23 left in the game.
It was a lead for the homestanding Gold, but, as we learned last year, Tom Brady is often at his best when in the 2-minute drill, and that was certainly the case in this game. Brady did not have to hurry, as a field goal was all the Generals needed, so he again used short passes, in this drive underneath routes by Terry Glenn and Mark Clayton, rather than TE routes, and in 7 plays he had the Generals in field goal range. The key play was a 3rd and 3 on their own 43. It was Denver’s best chance to force a tough 4th down play out of the Generals, but on 3rd down, Brady found Clayton on a quick in route and Clayton edged the ball over the line to gain and converted the play.
With a first down well inside Ryan Longwell’s range, New Jersey forced Denver to use all of their time outs by simply sending Enis up the middle to center the ball on 3 consecutive plays. They wound down the clock to 18 seconds and sent out Longwell for a very makeable 34 yarder from the 17 yard line. Longwell did his duty and the Generals went up for good, earning them their 8th win of the season and keeping alive their playoff hopes. New Jersey, despite spending a good portion of the season in last place in the division, could actually win the division title with a win in Philadelphia and a Federals upset of Baltimore in Week 14 in what has to be one of the tightest 4-way battles any USFL division has ever had.
Blitz 33 Wranglers 30
The Blitz are in the enviable position of controlling their own destiny after surviving quite a scare in the desert. Arizona’s Santana Moss had a field day against Baltimore’s #1 defense, a day that included a 72-yard TD as the Wranglers shocked Baltimore by opening up the offense for Andrew Walter, leading to 474 yards of production and the first 30-point game given up by the Blitz since a week 4 loss to Philadelphia. But, the Blitz got the W thanks to a late Daniel Graham TD reception, and can now win the Northeast Division by defeating their nemesis from DC, the Federals, next week.
Stars 14 Gamblers 24
Houston locked up the Southwest Division and the overall #1 seed in the Western Conference with an impressive home win against the Stars. Limiting Philadelphia to only 245 total yards of offense, and picking off Kurt Warner 3 times, it was a coming out party for the Houston defense, CB Ronde Barber was all over Steve Smith and Kurt Warner’s attempts to get the ball deep led to two Barber picks that helped Houston build up a 24-7 lead that would not be relinquished. The win, along with Denver’s loss, locked up the title and means that next week’s game against the Gold may see Houston rest some starters ahead of the playoffs.
Federals 13 Outlaws 6
The Texas defense has been much improved over the season’s second half, having knocked off Denver last week, but in the end the Federals just had more to play for as they kept their playoff, and division title hopes alive with a tough 7-point win in this one. The only TD was a Deuce McCallister run in the first quarter, but Washington also kept Texas out of the endzone, and that was enough to earn the road win and stay one game behind Baltimore.
Cannons 28 Stallions 24
Birmingham again played tough against a heavy favorite as backup Eric Zeier avoided turnovers and the defense forced 3 takeaways to keep Birmingham in this one. Only a late drive ending in a Bledsoe to Ochocinco TD toss allowed Boston to escape this game and remain in the hunt for the Southern Division title. They face Tampa Bay in a game that will decide the Southeast next week, both teams tied atop the division at 9-4.
Bulls 13 Showboats 10
Jacksonville won a slugfest in Memphis to stay one game back in the Southeast, but with Tampa and Boston playing next week, their only chance for a division title is a Cannons-Bandits tie. Their best option may be to take a Wild Card position and hope it is the #1 Wild Card, which would give them a home game. In this one both clubs showed up on defense and it came down to a Kris Brown 38-yarder in the final minute for the Bulls to move to 8-5.
Renegades 3 Knights 19
With Memphis losing to the Bulls, Nashville knew that a win against Orlando would again find them in first place in the Southern Division. They dominated the line of scrimmage against the Renegades, limiting Orlando to only 73 yards rushing, as Frank Gore put up 103 to help Nashville get the W they needed. So, it all comes down to a winner-take-all game in Adelphia Stadium next week to determine which Tennessee club will take home the division title.
Bandits 31 Breakers 17
Tampa Bay’s offense found its stride in the second half, rattling off three straight TD drives (including 2 long TDs to TE Jeremy Shockey) as the Bandits pulled away from the Breakers and secured a share of first place, leading up to next week’s showdown with Boston. New Orleans is still alive, and can get into the postseaston at 5-8-1 if both LA and Seattle lose next week and the Breakers win their season finale against 2-11 Birmingham.
Machine 15 Thunder 10
It was not a pretty win to be sure, but Chicago’s narrow victory against the Thunder in Las Vegas was enough to lock up a playoff berth and place Chicago one win away from the #1 seed in the East. For Las Vegas, the run game was a shambles, as QB Aaron Brooks led all rushers with only 25 yards. Detron Smith had all of 4 yards in the game.
Panthers 41 Express 35
Both the Panthers and Express are on playoff life support, but both are still alive. They fought like two teams on the edge in this one, with Michigan scoring the final 10 points of the game to get the comeback road win and stay on pace to possibly snag a playoff spot with a win next week. LA can also get in with a win, but need a Seattle loss to sneak in at 6-8.
Glory 41 Invaders 23
Oakland tested themselves against one of the league’s best offenses and came up short. While the Invaders limited Eddie George, they could not contain Kerry Collins as the 3-time league MVP cut them up for 412 yards and 5 TDs. It was Troy Brown (3 TDs) and Stephen Alexander (2 TDs) who made the Invader defense pay for their over-emphasis on stopping Joey Galloway. Ohio still has a shot at the division title, but needs help from a pretty moribund Mauler squad to get there. If they don’t get the division, a win next week at least gives them a home game in the Wild Card round, while Oakland still locks up the West thanks to the LA loss this week.
Maulers 14 Dragons 42
Hard to imagine, but the Seattle Dragons control their own destiny after pummeling the Maulers this week. Winning their last 2 means that Seattle can snag the 6th and final spot in the West with a win against lowly Las Vegas next week. Hardly seems possible after an 0-4 start, but the Dragons could be headed to the postseason. In this one the offense was on fire from the opening kickoff, With Corey Dillon racking up his best game of the year (132 yards) and Darren Sproles contributing 2 scores as he becomes more and more a target in the passing and screen game of the Dragons.
League Leaders On the Line
One week left in the 2005 USFL season and while most of the focus is rightfully placed on the playoff hunt, with teams fighting to be included and others looking at seedings, there are also individual honors to consider. With one week left, there are several key statistical categories left to be decided, and, with bonuses often tied to these results, there will be efforts made to try to garner those rewards. Looking across the league, here are the league leader races still to be decided.
PASSING: With Kerry Collins pretty much untouchable when it comes to QB Rating and TD passes, the one big stat which could still change hands is that of passing yards. Drew Bledsoe (BOS) has the current lead with 4,104 on the year, but Michigan’s Drew Brees is only 35 yards behind at 4,069. The two are the only quarterbacks currently over 4,000, so this should come down to Brees and Bledsoe.
RUSHING: In the Rushing stats we have two potential races to follow. Tiki Barber (BOS), who has been among lead leaders for years, but has never taken home the crown, is the current leader with $1,205 yards. But two other backs are within striking distance. Rookie Frank Gore of Nashville is only 38 yards behind, and Ron Dayne is 84 yards back, but with the big games he has had lately, a late surge is not entirely out of the question. The other big rushing stat up for a possible shift is Rushing TDs, currently led by Antowain Smith’s 13. The Bulls’ HB has been the leader for most of the second half of the season, but, with 11 scores apiece, either Ron Dayne (BAL), or Chicago’s Michael Turner could have a big day to either catch or surpass Smith.
RECEIVING: The receiving leadership has been one of the most fluid throughout the year, and the gaps are small between the top contenders. Looking only at receptions, Antonio Freeman (HOU) is currently on top by 1 catch, 95-94 over Denver’s Peerless Price. New Jersey’s Terry Glenn is 6 catches back, which may not seem like much, but to garner 6 more receptions than Freeman at this stage could be tough unless Houston opts to rest Freeman in what is a largely meaningless game against Denver. The other race, that for receiving yards, is also largely a 2-man race. Hines Ward (MGN) has 1,492, with Joey Galloway (OHIO), only 16 yards behind at 1,476. They are currently the only two receivers over 1,400 yards, so we see it coming down to these two this week. With both clubs needing a win, both players should see more than their fair share of targets.
DEFENSE: On defense, the title of the league’s leading tackler could go one of four directions. The lead has flipped between Tampa Bay’s Kavika Mitchell (currently at 107) and Chicago’s Brian Urlacher (103) for most of the season, but don’t assume that Jacksonville Bull Mike Vrabel (100) and Houston’s Sam Cowart (100) are ruled out. A big game from either and we could see them catching Mitchell for the title.
The league leader in sacks is often a frontrunner for Defensive POTY, and this year that looks to be out of reach for anyone but Chicago’s Anthony Weaver. After his 5-sack performance against Ohio, Weaver holds a 22-18 advantage over Birmingham’s Mike Rucker. That gap may even be enough for Stallion coach Dennis Franchione to rest Rucker in a season-ending Week 14 road game for Birmingham.
Those are the major statistical races we are watching as we enter the final week of leaguewide action. But what about the major awards? How close are the battles there, and will we see any upsets in the major categories this year?
COACH OF THE YEAR: This one could honestly come down to a popularity contest. Good arguments could be made for Houston’s Wade Phillips, who led the Gamblers to a #1 seed in the West, or for Baltimore’s Tom Coughlin, who reinvented the culture of the Blitz and has them poised to win the Northeast Division, the league’s toughest. This final week could be the determining factor, if the Blitz can hold on and take the division title. We probably should also consider dark horses such as Michigan’s Dick LeBeau or Chicago’s Marty Mornhinweg. If you want a real darkhorse, you have to look at Chicago’s Defensive Coordinator, Ron Rivera. Never has a coordinator won the award, but with the performance of the Chicago defense, and the fact that Mornhinweg has all but handed over the defensive reins to Rivera, it would not be out of the realm of possibility for voters to give the award to a DC who very well could be the #1 candidate to move up to a head coaching position next year.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: This year, it seems no competition at all. Third round pick Frank Gore out of Miami has been a revelation in Nashville. Admittedly, the Knights have always prided themselves on their run game, but for Gore to come in and not only take a run at the league title for rushing yards (trailing Tiki Barber by only 35 yards) but to easily outgain former Knight rushing leader Ahman Green, that is impressive. Gore’s 1,167 yards put him 151 yards ahead of Green, who now totes the rock for the Stars. The only other rookie whose impact is even close to Gore’s is LA linebacker Lofa Tatupu, but a defender is never going to get the focus when there is a rookie on offense who has had the immediate success Gore has.
MVP: This one should be relatively cut and dry, but when the frontrunner is Kerry Collins you have to factor in the fatigue factor. There are a lot of voters who simply do not want to give Collins a fourth MVP crown. Add to this that both Bledsoe and Brees have more yards, and an argument could be made that perhaps this is a year when none of the top QB’s should garner the award. But if not Collins, Bledsoe, or Brees, who should get the title? Antowain Smith and Tiki Barber would likely split the HB vote. Freeman, Ochocinco, or Joey Galloway could all be considered as receivers, but what about a defender?
This could be the year, and the player who is looming large as the clear Defensive Player of the Year could end the season on the Summer Bowl favorite. Chicago’s Brian Urlacher has had a monster season. He has a legitimate shot to be the league leader in tackles despite playing on a squad that simply does not allow many long drives or opportunities. He also has 3 picks, two of which were returned for scores, and 4 sacks, Add to this that Urlacher is the team captain and clear leader on the #1 ranked scoring defense in the league and a good argument can be made to that he should be one of the top candidates.
So will Collins lose out on the title despite another strong year on one of the league’s best offenses? Will Urlacher become the first defensive MVP since Reggie White in 1990? 15 years seems a long wait for another defensive MVP, but Urlacher will have a tough fight ahead of him.
So, what do we know with 1 week left to play? We know that there are 6 playoff spots claimed, and 6 still to award. We know that only 2 of 6 divisions are settled, with Houston and Oakland the only confirmed division winners. We know that there are 12 teams fighting for 6 spots, and only 6 clubs eliminated from playoff scenarios. So, where do we go from here? How about the best case scenario for each club still in the mix.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
HOU: They have locked up the #1 seed, so they can rest players this week against Denver
OAK: A win at home against LA gives them the #2 seed and a bye, plus likely eliminates their arch rival.
NSH: They host the Showboats, a win gives them the division. If Oakland loses, that title would also come with a bye week.
MEM: A win in Nashville means an unlikely but very welcome division title.
DEN: The Gold are locked into the Wild Card, but beating Houston this week will ensure they have a home game in the Wild Card round, and a bit of revenge for an earlier loss to the Gamblers.
SEA: Win and they are in. That is all you need to know.
LA: The Express need to defeat Oakland and then hope that Seattle falls at home to the 2-11 Thunder. That feels like slim pickins.
NOR: Still mathematically alive, if the Breakers can win at home against Birmingham, if Oakland beats LA in Oakland, and if Seattle is upset by the Thunder, the Breakers claim the #6 spot. Those first two seem probable, that third one feels very tough to picture.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
CHI: A win in Pittsburgh and the Machine claim the #1 overall seed.
TBY: The team with the best chance to move up if the Maulers pull the upset. A win by the Bandits and they win the Southeast, but if Chicago also loses and Ohio wins, then Tampa would win the tiebreaker (Head to Head) with Ohio and take the #1 seed.
BAL: A win against the Feds and Baltimore takes the Northeast. If Tampa Bay falls, that will come with a bye as well.
OHIO: Win against Michigan and hope Chicago loses in Pittsburgh. That is how Ohio wins the Central. They could also get a bye in this scenario, depending on what Tampa and Baltimore do.
BOS: Defeat the Bandits and claim the Southeast Division. It is that simple. A bye could also be in the mix if Baltimore falls to the Feds.
PHI: The Stars need to knock off the Generals and then have the Feds get the win at home against Baltimore. If that happens, Philly is your Northeast Champion.
NJ: New Jersey is basically in the same boat as Philly. If they win and the Blitz Fall, then New Jersey has a shot at the Division title.
WSH: The Federals are currently outside looking in. Their best shot is if New Jersey wins, because then division record evens up and it comes down to later tiebreakers, but it still looks very dicey for the Feds.
JAX: The Bulls need a lot to go right for them to sneak in as a Wild Card. Winning against the Renegades is the one constant that would help them the most.
MGN: It is a slim hope, but there is hope. They need to beat Ohio, and hope Boston and Baltimore also lose. It’s a lot to ask for, but perhaps finishing 9-5 is more than Michigan fans could expect even if they don’t make the playoffs.
Not a good week on the injury front as several teams took some big hits with only 1 week left to go in the season. We will start with clubs still alive in the playoff hunt and then cover other injuries that may lead some lower tier teams to consider resting starters in Week 14.
LA will go into their vital final game without their pivot, as Center Zach Austin is out, added to the IR with a significant ACL injury that could endanger his ability to start when 2006 starts in March. In Michigan, TE Lovell Pinkney is out at least 1-2 weeks with a wrist injury. Pinkney is not a primary target for Drew Brees, but does play a role in most run formations for the Panthers. Jacksonville will absolutely be hurting in Week 14’s matchup as their breakout player for this year, wideout Rashaun Woods is out with a shoulder injury. Woods also would likely miss a wild card game matchup if Jacksonville can get into the dance.
Others who are doubtful or questionable this week among playoff contenders are Seattle LB Takeo Spikes, Tampa Bay MLB John Vilma, Washington DT Robaire Smith, and Oakland center Jeff Saturday. Among non playoff teams, Arizona takes a hit as LB Lance Briggs is done for the season with a knee injury, while Birmingham will shut down Jason Campbell for the year as the rookie QB suffered a wrist injury in this week’s game. Orlando will also shut down the season for wideout Donte Stallworth after the big receiver suffered an injury to his left knee. Surgery is already scheduled.
Dallas-Fort Worth Officially Out of Expansion Hunt
Fans in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth are are going to have to continue to wait for spring football. After earlier reports of fractures within the DFW bid for a 2008 expansion club, the USFL made it official this week that the DFW Group bid has been withdrawn as the ownership group is dissolving their alliance. While early efforts to reconcile the Dallas-focus the league had insisted upon with the desires of lead investor Robert Bass, it quickly became clear that Bass was not going to move off his position and the other investors were simply unable to muster enough financial backing to field a viable bid.
With the USFL hoping to expand by two clubs, and targeting one in each conference, this all but ensures that the bid from Portland, Oregon will get a speedy review and has a clear path towards potential approval. There are no guarantees, of course, but rumors around league headquarters have the financials looking good for the Portland group, and with a stadium already under construction, and rumored to be completed no later than April of 2006, the pieces are in place for Portland to get a quick approval, perhaps as soon as the mid-summer owner’s meeting scheduled for July in Houston (as usual the owners’ meeting coincide with the site and date of the Summer Bowl.)
As for the other bids, those focused on the East, all three nominees (Charlotte, Norfolk/Virginia Beach, and Raleigh-Durham) have cleared the early hurdles, and all three seem to have the financial support to be viable candidates, making for a more complex process for the owners. Stadium issues often derail bids in expansion consideration, and that could be an issue for at least one of the three bidders. The Charlotte group (CFFC) has an initial agreement in place to share the stadium that currently houses the NFL Carolina Panthers. The Triangle Football Group, representing the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill triangle, have proposed that the facility at UNC represents their preferred option, due to size and agreeable terms with the university, but are open to relocate to the somewhat larger faciility at NC State in Raleigh if the league wishes to target the largest city in the region and a larger stadium for the franchise. Norfolk/Virginia Beach has perhaps the weakest case, as the stadium under consideration is that of Norfolk State University, an FCS school. The stadium is both small and outdated compared with many USFL stadia, and particularly when compared with the stadia built more recently to house both NFL and USFL franchises.
Of course, market is the other big factor, and there is an allure to being the only major league sport in a market. Norfolk would certainly represent that option, while Raleigh-Durham would only have the NHL Hurricanes as spring competition. Charlotte would be looking at potential investment and sponsorship competition from both the NBA Bobcats and the NFL Panthers, which could be seen as a significant challenge, though we have certainly seen many strong collaborations between USFL and NFL franchises to develop a city’s market for pro football and the cost of maintaining and developing stadium options. Cities like Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Houston, and Nashville attest to this, but Charlotte has not yet developed a clear link with the NFL Panthers, which could be a sign that their relationship could be one of tolerance rather than cooperation.
For now, the question of Eastern Conference expansion seems to be on the back burner, but with the loss of the DFW bid, we could very soon have news on Portland’s bid to return to the USFL fold.
Is Retirement Looming for Franchise Players
Every year around this time we start to wonder just who we may be watching on the field for the last time this Spring. Looking at the rosters of the various USFL squads, we know that there will be retirements from among their ranks, but not all retirements are the same. Just as Birmingham has suffered this year from the somewhat-incomplete retirement of Brett Favre, a team that loses a franchise player may simply not be prepared to make adjustments in the year that follows.
Our first concern is at quarterback, where one team had better hope they have planned well. Denver is making a strong bid for another deep playoff run, and central to that run is the leadership of Mark Brunell, but Brunell has been dealing with everything from aging knees to back concerns for the past few seasons. There is a lot of speculation that the lefty QB will be looking long and hard at retirement when the Gold complete their playoff run this year. So what would be Denver’s plan if Brunell did hang up the cleats?
Denver’s lead backup is Eric Wilhelm, who is no spring chicken himself, and behind him there is late round development project Derrick Anderson, so we are pretty sure that if Brunell were to depart the Gold would be looking either to Free Agency or the draft to try to land a QB who could step in and become the new face of the franchise. Thinking about the Gold’s usual frugality (a trend they busted this past year) we think the rookie route may be the way they go, though the example of Birmingham’s rough season, as well as New Orleans’s struggles with Eli Manning at the helm, might give the Gold some pause at the prospect. As we look at Denver and Coach Jauron’s offensive schemes, we could see the Gold trying to get into the hunt for someone like Matt Leinart, assuming LA does not jump on him in the T-Draft. Problem is, there are certainly many teams ahead of Denver in the draft order, so going after Leinart would almost require a significant trade to get into position to have a shot at the USC product.
Another offensive star who could well be making a final run in the league is Memphis’s All-USFL tight end, Adrian Cooper. The unlikely run of the Showboats this year, one already guaranteed to extend into the postseason, could be the perfect sendoff for the veteran receiver. Should Cooper go out on a high note with a playoff run in Memphis this year, he would be all but impossible to replace. We could see Coach Mora opt instead to invest in the wideout position and shift the TE to more of a blocking position, one which they could engage without seeking significant new talent. If, however, they wish to add or develop a pass-catching TE, they may have to look outside the organization. They obtained Ben Hartsook from the Machine last year, and both Erron Kinney and Andrew Walter are both capable blockers, but none of the three is a player you build an inside passing game around.
The other big names who we are hearing retirement rumors about are both on defense and both members of the LA Express. Linebacker Mo Lewis and cornerback Aeneas Williams are both of an age where retirement tends to be on the table. Losing both would be a huge blow to the Express, Lewis currently leads the defense with 98 tackles, 22 more than the 2nd leading tackler, rookie Lofa Tatupu. Aeneas Williams still occupies the #1 CB slot, and, with 2 picks this year, is second on the team. But Lewis is 36 years old, as is Williams, and in both positions longevity tends not to be a tendency we often see, even among All-USFL defenders. Whether one or both opt for retirement could profoundly impact the strategy the Express take into the offseason.
Birmingham gives Franchione vote of confidence, Bicknell, Nolan, Hall on edge.
For Dennis Franchione, the recent “vote of confidence” from Birmingham ownership could be read as a sign that the club understands the difficulty involved in retooling a roster and bringing a rookie QB up to speed in the pro game. Of course, with the shaky history of the “vote of confidence” as an early indicator a coach is about to be fired, Franchione should not take it as a given that his position is secure. More than a few head coaches have been patted on the back with one hand and shown the door with the other. Sitting at 2-11, and with Franchione in the pivotal third year of his contract, it seems that the vote of confidence could easily go either way.
The concern for Franchione is not just that the team is losing, or that Campbell has struggled to pick up the pro game, sitting at a QB Rating of only 60.5, one of the lowest in the league, but that other aspects of the club, including the run game of Shaun Alexander, or the 22nd rated defense, are very much in Franchione’s control and seem to have regressed since he took over the club in 2003. Alexander has only 1 TD on the season, and despite a healthy 3.9 YPC average, is only at 711 yards for the season. Meanwhile, the defense is giving up 26 points and 375 yards per game. Now, some of this is the result of an offense which struggles to maintain long drives, but some is just poor game planning and execution, and that does sit on Franchione’s shoulders.
The Birmingham HC is not the only coach feeling pressure as the season winds down. There is certainly concern in LA, where the usual odd-year bounce back of the Express has not materialized, potentially signaling that the Express could move on from Galen Hall. In New Orleans, even sneaking into the playoffs with 5 wins may not be enough to preserve Mike Nolan’s position with the Breakerss, and Pittsburgh has to be looking at how the Maulers have unraveled this year, though partially due to the injury to Charlie Batch, and may put the blame on Jack Bicknell. Black Monday is only a week away, and none of these 4 coaches can be considered a safe bet to return.
It all comes down to one week, and what a week it is! We have 12 games, all divisional matchups, and we can honestly say that only 1 game in the lot has no bearing on the 2005 playoff field. That is simply astounding. So, here are the games, with each divisional set aligned to play at the same time this weekend.
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET
BOS (9-4) @ TBY (9-4): A one-game battle for the Southern Division title. The loser still very likely gets in as a Wild Card, but it is not guaranteed. This should be treated as a Winner Takes It All scenario, which will definitely increase the pressure for both clubs.
FOX National Game
JAX (8-5) @ ORL (4-8-1): The Bulls can only win the division if Tampa and Boston end in a tie, which feels very unlikely, so the goal for Jacksonville is to get to 9 wins and hope that this is enough for them to lock up a Wild Card, but it all depends on who is tied with them at 9-5 as there are so many tiebreakers in play.
FOX Regional Game
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET
ARZ (2-11) @ TEX (3-10): Nothing to see here. Expect a lot of backups in this one as both teams try to assess needs ahead of what should be a busy offseason.
ABC Regional Game
DEN (8-5) @ HOU (9-4): Houston’s earlier win over Denver means that even with a Gold victory this week, the Gamblers still have the division title in hand. Houston is a surprising top seed in the West, but don’t expect the Gamblers to rest their starters. They will use the bye week for that.
ABC National Game
SATURDAY @ 8PM ET
BIR (2-11) @ NOR (4-8-1): The Breakers could still get into the postseason if both Seattle and LA lose this week, but it may be hard to convince the players to feel that energy. Birmingham will almost certainly shut down Jason Campbell in a game that has little meaning for them.
NBC National Game
MEM (6-6-1) @ NSH (7-6): The second Winner-Takes-It-All match of the weekend. Memphis is a half-game behind Nashville but a win in the Tennessee capital and the Showboats will jump over them and claim the division. Expect this one to be heated as these two teams do not like each other even in games when there is nothing at stake.
ESPN National Game
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET
CHI (10-3) @ PIT (4-8-1): The Machine only need to beat the Maulers to lock up the top seed in the East, so this is a game Chicago will take seriously. Pittsburgh is limping into this one, so they may opt to bench, and thereby protect some players as they look towards 2006.
ABC Regional Game
MGN (8-5) @ OHI (9-4): Michigan needs the road win and some significant help in order to make the postseason. Ohio need only win to take the top Wild Card seed, and could get the division if the Maulers surprise Chicago. Ohio will will play to win and to tune up for the next week’s Wild Card round.
ABC National Game
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET
LV (2-11) @ SEA (5-8): The Dragons control their own destiny, a win and they are in the playoffs as a Wild Card. A loss and they could easily be lept over by either LA or New Orleans.
FOX Regional Game
LA (5-8) @ OAK (7-6): LA does not control their destiny. With a win they still need a Thunder upset of Seattle to make the postseason, but this is their rivalry game with Oakland, so expect them to push for the W. Oakland also wants that W because finishing at 7-7 feels like a defeat.
FOX National Game
SUNDAY @ 8pm ET
BAL (8-4) @ WSH (7-5): A win and the Blitz clinch a surprising division title. A loss and any one of the other division foes could jump up and take the title.
NBC National Game
NJ (8-5) @ PHI (8-5): This is very likely a win-and-in, lose-and-out situation. With the level of competition for the Wild Card positions it is hard to imagine a scenario where the loser of this rivalry game is still able to make the field for the postseason.
ESPN National Game