If there was a theme this week it was that of “Any Given Sunday”. We saw results this week that flew against the trends, against the Vegas Odds, and which proved that nothing matters until the two teams take the field. Whether Atlanta’s upset of the Bulls, Arizona’s thrashing of the Bandits in Tampa, Boston’s explosion against Michigan, or Texas handling the Denver Gold, this week showed that no result is known ahead of time. While the oddsmakers may be right more often than wrong, there is always a chance that things go very differently once both teams take the field. We start, however, with a game that was always going to be close, but still a bit of a surprise as an undermanned Philadelphia Stars team still found a way to pull out a win by the skin of their teeth against Washington.
PHILADELPHIA 23 WASHINGTON 22
Down two of their three starting receivers, and facing a tough Washington defense in a divisional game, the Philadelphia Stars knew that their defense and their run game would need to step up. Both did as the Stars struggled to contain Deuce McCallister, but managed to limit Washington’s scoring opportunities, and used both Ahman Green and backup Michael Robinson to control the clock and the ball.
The game did not start ideally for the Stars. After an initial 3-and-out, a miscalculation on the punt return left Philly with the ball on their own 8 yard line. A false start on their first play moved it back to the 4. A failed run on the replayed 1st down pushed the ball back to the 2, and on 2nd and 16, Kurt Warner was caught in the end zone by rookie Matthias Kiawanuka for the safety. Not how Philadelphia wanted to start at all. That rough start got worse when the ensuing kick was returned to the Stars 44, and only 4 plays later Kordell Stewart connected with Courtney Roby for a 33-yard touchdown.
Down 9 points with fewer than 5 minutes of action played, the Stars were against the wall. But they responded with a 14-play drive that ate up over 6 minutes before backup halfback Michael Robinson took the ball from the 14, swept left,and found his blockers clearing a path to the endzone. It would be his first TD of the season, and the first 14 yards of what would be a 67-yard effort spelling Ahman Green. The Stars had their strategy.
The problem was they also had to contain Washington if they were going to stay in the game. That proved difficult in the first half, as the Federals, with a 14 of17 day from Kordell Stewart, moved the ball well. Deuce McCallister gained 104 yards on the ground in the first half, and his success helped the Federals add 10 more points in the 2nd quarter to take a 19-7 halftime lead.
Philadelphia made adjustments at the half, with Coach Harbaugh adjusting the defensive strategy to ask more of his front 4 in the passing game, allowing him to drop 7 into coverage. He would also tighten up the front 4, forcing McCallister to bounce more runs outside, where LBs Mike Crawford and Zach Thomas would be waiting. Both adjustments proved fruitful, as Philadelphia held Washington to only 3 points in the final 30 minutes of play. McCallister would gain another 60 yards, but the Federals would not reach the end zone again.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia would continue to build on their early success with short passes and an inside run game. In the third they added a Warner to Roland Williams TD to pull back within 5 at 14-19. Williams, and fellow TE Dallas Clark would get more targets than was typical, 16 between them, as Warner compensated for the absence of Amani Toomer and Roddy White. In the 4th, Washington would get 3 points to expand the lead to 8, but Philadelphia would respond again, a 13-play drive that led to Williams’s 2nd TD on the day. Philly went for 2 but failed, which left them trailing 20-22 with only 1:41 left to play.
The Stars would need to go for an onside kick. They lined up in an unbalance formation, with 8 of the 11 men on the right side of the field. Mike Nugent topped the ball and got a perfect 3rd hop, as the ball looped high into the air. Philly blocked out the initial line of Washington coverage players and Charles Lee made his most important contribution of the day, swatting at the ball and then landing on it as it went past Washington up man Jamie Morant. The Stars would have the ball at midfield with just over 1:30 left to play.
Kurt Warner would connect with Dallas Clark on first down for a gain of 11, and then Green on a draw would get the ball to the Federals 35. Philly tried to trick Washington with another draw on 2nd and 6, but gained nothing. They tried to get the ball closer on 3rd and 6 but Warner could not connect with Edward Stinnett. Time out, and Mike Nugent would come out to try to hit a 52-yarder for the win. The Stars’ kicker lined the ball up, and drilled it through the uprights with 23 seconds left on the clock. Philadelphia would take this important division game on the road, sending Washington to 2-3 and boosting their record to .500 at 2-2-1. More importantly, the shift in strategy showed the Stars that they could hold their own defensively and get a bit of luck as well as they headed into their big rivalry game with New Jersey the next week.
CHICAGO 14 OHIO 24
One of the bigger divisional games this week featured a major comeback as Chicago lept out to a 14-0 in the 2nd, only to be totally dominated by the Glory in the second half. Kerry Collins threw 3 TDs and 160 of his 225 yards in the second half as the tenor of the game did a complete 180 after the break. Michael Turner had a strong first half, with 73, yards, but gained only another 30 in the second, while Eddie George was bottled up for the first 30 minutes, gaining only 27 yards, and then was unstoppable in the second, adding 86 yards to finish with 113 as Ohio gets the home win.
DENVER 9 TEXAS 27
Denver looked to be the better team on paper, but their offense was held in check all game, and by the time they woke up Texas already had a 27-0 lead. A big day for T.J. Duckett, one of many this year, as he rushes for 129, while Ike Hilliard, perhaps stinging from the commentary he saw last week, went for 8 catches, 90 yards, and 2 scores against the Gold as Texas moves to 2-3 on the year.
JACKSONVILLE 10 ATLANTA 21
Atlanta gets their first win in the Georgia Dome as they surprise the Jacksonville Bulls with an effective run game. Kevin Faulk and Rod Smart combined for 181 yards as the Fire controlled the clock and the game. The Bulls looked sluggish, with Antowain Smith limited to only 57 yards rushing and Jake Delhomme unable to get the club to the red zone. Atlanta’s 2nd win puts them clearly ahead in the battle of the two expansion clubs, as St. Louis has yet to secure their first win.
NEW ORLEANS 27 MEMPHIS 9
Memphis continues to struggle without Heath Shuler, and New Orleans gets their 3rd win of the year, but first on the road, by upending the Showboats in Memphis. Troy Davis rushed for 120 yards on 17 carries, and Chris Perry added another 44 as the Breakers dominated the game on both sides of the ball. Mike McMahon was pulled at halftime, but Ken Dorsey would fare no better and Memphis would lose their 4th in a row.
SEATTLE 17 HOUSTON 10
A rare home dud for the Houston Gambler offense, as Seattle picked off Matt Hasselbeck three times. Byron Leftwich hit Jeramy Stevens and David Boston for scores as the Dragons built up a 17-3 lead and then held on to take the game in NRG Stadium.
ARIZONA 42 TAMPA BAY 28
At times it seemed like everything that could go wrong did go wrong as the Bandits were manhandled by the Arizona Wranglers. Stanley Pritchett rushed for 93 yards, including a 39-yard TD scamper, as the Wranglers scored in just about every way possible in this one. Jake Plummer hit 9 different receivers on the day, and threw TDs to Santana Moss and rookie Domenic Hixon as the Wranglers steamrolled the Bandits in Tampa.
LAS VEGAS 10 PITTSBURGH 7
Steve McNair got his first start for the Thunder, but the game felt very much like those won during Henry Burris’s tenure. McNair would complete 23 of 36 passe, but it was the defense that came up the biggest, holding Terrell Davis to 78 yards rushing and stopping Pittsburgh on 12 of 16 third downs to snag another low-scoring win, and moving to a surprising 4-1 on the season.
ST. LOUIS 13 OAKLAND 37
Quincy Carter continues to struggle, sacked 6 times by the Invaders, as Oakland dominates the Skyhawks. Trent Green goes 16/28 for 238 and the combo of Fargas and Williams combine for 101 yards rushing as Oakland adds 2 TDs in the 3rd to turn a 16-6 advantage into a 30-6 gap. The one bright spot for St. Louis was WR Taylor Jacobs, who caught 4 balls for 146 yards.
BALTIMORE 16 NASHVILLE 26
Big trouble for Baltimore as Big Ben goes down in the first quarter. Alex Van pelt comes on but is clearly rusty. Meanwhile, Nashville gets 122 from Frank Gore to outpace the Blitz and move their record to 2-3. Michael Barrow made his presence known as a former Federal with no love for Baltimore, recording a 32-yard pick six in the third quarter, Nashville’s first TD of the day.
LOS ANGELES 26 ORLANDO 21
Orlando is playing teams tough, but falls to 1-3-1 as Cade McNown connects with Tory Holt for a 72-yard TD in the 4th to pull out the win on the road. Sedrick Irvin and Anthony Davis combine for 124 yards, but DeShaun Foster and Maurice Jones-Drew match them with 121 yards on the ground as LA stays in a 3-way tie atop the Pacific at 4-1.
MICHIGAN 21 BOSTON 45
An ugly game for the Panther D as Boston gains 537 yards in this one, 489 off of the arm of Drew Bledsoe, as three different Boston receivers top 100 yards (Ochocinco 176 with 2 TDs, Jurevicius 126, and TE Whalen with 111). Drew Brees went 28/39 for 351 and 3 TDs but simply could not keep up with Boston’s offensive explosiveness.
BIRMINGHAM 19 NEW JERSEY 30
New Jersey used some home cooking and 134 yards rushing from Enis and Jackson to take on the Stallions’ defense in this one. It was 19-13 Birmingham after 3, but the D-line started to tire, and the New Jersey run game did the rest, outscoring Birmingham 17-0 in the final period to take the win.
Five weeks in and the stories of 2006 are beginning to take shape. Six divisions, each with different strengths, weaknesses, and internal battles. Dominant or Declining, bunched or spread out, each division is a microcosm of the league as a whole, with teams seeking to pull away, while others hope to just hold on. Here is our look, five weeks in, at the six divisions and what we might expect over the next 9 weeks.
The Surprising South
Amazing what one injury can do to a season. This year was expected to be a battle between Nashville and Memphis, and yet the car accident that cost Heath Shuler the year, and may prove to be career ending, has thrown the division into turmoil. Add to the unanticipated mix the fact that Nashville got off to a very slow start while both Birmingham and New Orleans have surprised over the course of the league’s first month. There is still time, of course, for Nashville to right the ship and take control of a division that most picked them to win, but as long as Birmingham and the Breakers keep overdelivering on preseason expectations, this division could stay tight. New Orleans has their final home-away-from-home game in the South as they play in Houston this week, and then the entire operation relocates to Portland for the rest of the season. How Coach Nolan and the Breakers deal with that move will go a long way in determining if the Breakers can make a run or will fade back into the pack as the season moves forward. We still like Nashville, as the known entity, to take this division, but the Shuler injury and the stubbornness of both Birmingham and New Orleans have made it interesting.
The Prolific Pacific
This is something we absolutely did not anticipate, that it would be the Pacific Division with the best overall record in the league, with 3 clubs at 4-1 and the Invaders sitting a game back at 3-2. We did not expect anything like this from Las Vegas, and are still somewhat stunne that they have won 4 games despite scoring only 77 points all season. Seattle is better than anticipated, moving to 4-1 with another win this week, and the LA Express have come together quickly under Coach Hue Jackson. That is all bad news for last year’s champion, Oakland, who had been picked by many to win the division. They will need to up their game and stay healthy as they find themselves in a suddenly very demanding division.
The Split Central
More than any other division, the Central appears to be a story of the Haves and Have-Nots. Ohio, Michigan, and Chicago are the haves, as they were last year, while winless Pittsburgh and expansion St. Louis are the clear Have Nots. Ohio is doing it with offense, as expected, Chicago with defense, though their squad does not seem as dominant as in the past, and Michigan we cannot figure out. Their 122 points given up is not a good number at all, and their lack of a run game continues to be an issue, but all three clubs should feast on the weak sisters and all three could easily qualify for the playoffs. Meanwhile, this week’s matchup between St. Louis and Pittsburgh could be an early sign of whether or not the Maulers have any life in them or may need to undergo a full roster rebuild next year.
The Similar Southwest
Bunched up at 3-2 or 2-3 it is very hard to tell if any of the teams in the Southwest are actually better than mediocre or any worse than average. Texas is winning with defense, but lacks explosiveness on offense. Houston has the ability to score through the air, but their run game is lacking. Arizona seems to be somewhat bipolar, dominating one week and rolling over the next, and Denver is clearly going through some growing pains, trying to find a run game without Rod Smart and breaking in a rookie QB. Can any of these teams string together 3-4 wins in a row to take control of the division, or will we be looking at an 8-6, 7-7, 6-8 cluster come Week 14.
The Knockout Northeast
We called this the toughest division in our preseason report, and we have seen nothing to show us otherwise. Washington, last year’s champions, are in last place at 2-3, and while New Jersey have taken the early lead at 4-1, this feels very much like a division that will battle it out to the end. This, along with the Central, feels like another division where 3 of 5 teams could make the postseason, if they don’t knock each other out along the way with their 8-divisional game schedule. Baltimore seems to be the weak link, and will struggle without Ben Roethlisberger in the next 2-3 weeks, but it is hard to guess which club will get hot and make a run to pull away. Perhaps none will.
The Slugfest Southeast
Of all the divisions in the league, this one is the only one where we can see a 2-team race as the central story. Jacksonville and Tampa Bay are the clear favorites here, but the Bulls have already let a game slip to Atlanta, and the Fire are only 1 game below .500, and could equal their projected win total after only 6 weeks with a victory this week. Orlando is having trouble on both sides of the ball, and yet seem to play every team very tough each week. Tampa Bay clearly has the best offense in the bunch, scoring 37 more points than the nearest rival, but their defense has been the worst in the division, giving up nearly 26 points a game. If they cannot get a handle on that, the Bulls could prove to be a more formidable opponent come the end of the year.
A bad week around the league as Tampa Bay and Atlanta both lose a key starter to IR, and several other teams are looking at lead players now missing a month or more. We all saw the injury to Ben Roethlisberger in Baltimore, and while the initial report was scary, it does appear that there was no ligament damage to Big Ben’s ankle. He could potentially play with a light brace on the ankle in 2 weeks, which gives Baltimore some hope. Tampa Bay had a big loss this week as a neck injury to MLB Keith Mitchell means the veteran who is often among league leaders in tackles is now lost for the season. Mitchell will need to isolate the neck for several weeks and then slowly work his way back for 2007.
In Atlanta, the clear concern is for guard Gennaro DiNapoli, who broke his tibia in a nasty pileup during the game this week. DiNapoli will need several months to set, heal, and rehab the leg. Not quite as bad for Las Vegas DE Hugh Douglas, though the veteran could miss more than a month with his ankle injury. A similar situation for Chicago DE Simeon Rice, who also injured his leg, though avoiding any ligament damage.
Washington’s star wideout Deion Branch landed awkwardly on a leaping catch, and snapped his collarbone. A full break could mean a month or longer on the bench, leaving Washington wondering what options they have. Other injuries that could leave players sidelined for 2 weeks or longer include a disc alignment issue for Orlando center Todd McClure, a deep thigh bruise for Chicago WR Curtis Conway, and a wrist injury for Arizona LB Lance Briggs. Players who are gametime decisions this week include Washington CB Charles Woodson (knee), Jacksonville TE Jeb Putzier (finger) and Houston wideout Antonio Freeman (hamstring.)
Stags Chosen as Portland's Spirit Animal
The fans have spoken and they have chosen the elk stag as the symbol of Portland's new USFL club. Beating the Grizzlies and Pumas easily, Stags was chosen by nearly 7 of 10 voters in the 2-month long fan vote. The new logo will feature the chest, head, and antlers of the majestic beast, depicted in the Deep Forest Brown, Blaze Orange, and Woodland Buff that was revealed earlier as the color scheme for all three potential mascots. Stags started off with an early lead in the polls, and time did not change it one bit, with the name continuing to gain momentum even after some design elements for each name were leaked. Maybe it is the famous White Stag sign in downtown Portland that inspired fans, maybe the potential to have a truly distinctive wrap-around helmet design with antlers acting much as the NFL Viking's Horns, Eagles' wings, or Chargers' bolts.
With the announcement that the Stags would begin play in Portland in 2008, the club officially revealed the full logo and uniform design for the team, with t-shirts and other memorabilia expected in stores within 2 weeks. In addition to the three color primary logo, the Stags released two secondary logos and a wordmark. The 2nd logo is a football formed
by two antlers, with laces down the middle. The third is a replica of the famous stag neon sign in downtown Portland, once an advertisement for White Stag Sportswear. Finally, the wordmark features "Stags" in an upward rising script, and linked at the top to a bold font "Portland".
The helmet, as many had hoped, and as the earlier image leak from Reebok seemed to confirm, features two large antlers, one occupying each half of the shell, much in the vein of the St. Louis Rams or Minnesota Vikings. The helmet and mask are both Deep Forest Brown, with the antlers in white and buff, outlined in both brown and orange. In this way the Stags join a tradition of innovative helmets that began with the Breakers and Panthers in 1983, and continues with bold designs across the league.
The uniform, seen in full for the first time, features a brown shoulder yoke, outlined in golden antlers that wrap from front to back (turning to a thin piping along the back). The dark jersey is brown, which highlights the antlers, while the white jersey has the more obvious yoke. Both jerseys have no additional logos, save for the script "Stags" wordmark on the chest. The numbers are brown with a gold outline on the white jersey, white with brown and gold outlines on the dark jersey. There are two pant options, gold and brown. Both feature the primary logo on each hip and a 3-stripe horizontal stripe on each thigh. The socks have a brown upper calf, with a thin orange stripe separating the brown form the white base. We expect the brown pants to pair with the white jersey and the gold pants to be used equally with the white and brown jerseys.
A strong look and a unique color palette for Portland's team. And now, with the team revealed, we wait for the club to be staffed, a coach to be named, and a roster to be drafted. But first, we wait to see what other franchise will join Portland and become the 28th USFL franchise. More news on that is expected soon.
For those who are interested, you can see the designs for the Grizzlies and Pumas through the links for each on Imgur.
Week 6 brings us some big games across the divisions as we start reaching the mid-season push. Eight of 13 games are divisional pairings this week, so a lot on the line. Among the bigger games this week we have New Jersey @ Philadelphia as the Stars hope to gain ground on first place New Jersey. Birmingham battles New Orleans in Houston for what would be a surprising first place position for both teams. Las Vegas is in LA to take on the Express, with both clubs a surprising 4-1, and the winner guaranteed a share of first place. Ohio is in Michigan for another Central Division showdown. The Panthers are a game back of the Glory, so a win here could be essential for their division title hopes. Texas travels to Arizona, with both teams hoping to even their records at 3-3 with a win. Tampa Bay is in Orlando, where the Bandits hope a win helps them take control of the Southeast. Washington has their first matchup against Boston in the Northeast. Finally, speaking about needing a win, we have 0-5 St. Louis traveling to 0-5 Pittsburgh. If the Maulers cannot win here, we may see a total housecleaning by Coach Rivera. St. Louis also sees this as a must-win game against a foe who may be the closest to their talent level all season.
Among the inter-divisional and inter-conference games we also have some good matchups, with Nashville testing themselves against Houston, Denver headed to Chicago, Seattle headed coast to coast to take on a weakened Baltimore squad without Ben Roethlisberger, and Jacksonville is in Oakland in a battle of 3-2 clubs who cannot afford to fall behind in their divisions. Finally, Atlanta could reach 3-3 if they too can take advantage of Memphis’s unfortunate QB situation. The Fire take on the Showboats, and Ken Dorsey is expected to get the start for Memphis after some rough outings for Mike McMahon.
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