A good week for the road teams, with 7 of 14 games going to the visitors, including a 1-point squeeker by Charlotte over Orlando, a big inter-conference win for Philadelphia over Texas, and a blowout victory for the Invaders in Seattle. We also saw Houston knock off Arizona in a battle of backups, Denver fell to the Feds in DC, and the St. Louis Skyhawks remained alive with a big home win over Michigan. It is getting to be crunch time across the league, and every game seems to be impactful, so let’s take a look at Week 12, and then maybe explore who we see that is coming into form at just the right time and who is slipping.
ARIZONA WRANGLERS 28 HOUSTON GAMBLERS 31
Two teams that have had very different seasons than most predicted, but also two teams without their starting QBs and hoping to win some games with the backups in play. That’s right, it was the highly anticipated matchup of Jim Sorgi and Tim Rattay in Houston. But, more importantly, it was Arizona, sitting 1 game ahead of Texas in the SW Conference against Houston, who just last week snapped an 8-game losing streak.
So what did we get Sunday with this game? How about a really entertaining back and forth game, lots of offense, lots of scoring, and a pretty dramatic finish. That’s not bad for a game between a first place club and a last place club. We saw Shaun Alexander and LaDainian Tomlinson both running well, a strong 121-yard outing from Larry Fitzgerald, and a pick 6 from Houston LB Keith Brooking. Not a bad day at the ballpark.
Arizona wasted no time getting their gameplan in action as they marched down the field in just over 2 minutes and put points on the board with LT scoring from the 5 after only 7 plays. Houston immediately responded, fresh off their first win in over 2 months. Tim Rattay, filling in for the injured Matt Hasselbeck, connected with Ike Hilliard for a 23-yard equalizer. Rattay would only complete 11 passes on the day, but he did find some deep balls over the course of the afternoon. Houston would rely more on Shaun Alexander for consistency, as they did on their next possession, when he gave them the lead after a 1-yard TD plunge. 14-7 after only 1 quarter.
In the second Houston made the lead 21-7, shocking the few Wrangler fans who made the trek. But, it was the D, not the O, that got the job done. Passing out of the shadow of his own endzone, Jim Sorgi tried to hit TE Rob Gronkowski, but did not see LB Keith Brooking closing in. Brooking slid in front of Gronk and 17 yards later was celebrating in the endzone.
Down 14, Arizona needed a good drive, and they got one, thanks to LT and Larry Fitzgerald. The two combined for 67 of the 76 yards of the drive, and Fitzy got himself the points, turning a 7-yard slant into a 29-yard touchdown and helping Arizona get within one score at the half. They would even the score with the only points of the third quarter, as both clubs struggled a bit to get started in the 2nd half. It was not until the 4 minute mark of the 3rd that we saw more points, and once again it was LT for the touchdown, another 5-yard run for the veteran back. The game went into the 4th all knotted up at 21.
But, this Houston squad, for all the issues they have had this year, has not given up, and they did not in this game. They got the ball back after the Tomlinson TD and proceded to march 82 yards down the field in precision fashion, needing only 1 third down along the way. Shaun Alexander carried the ball 4 times for 22 yards and Tim Rattay connected with 3 different receivers, finishing the drive with a seam route to TE Vernon Davis for the lead once again.
Once again down 7, Arizona would need to rally, and they did. Jim Sorgi, as we mentioned before, did not complete a lot of passes, but he hit on a big one on this drive. On a third and 11 from the 34-yard line, most expected the Wranglers to dump off on a screen and improve their field goal position, but Sorgi saw Domenic Hixon in single coverage and took a shot on a deep ball. His gamble paid off and Hixon stretched out to make the catch, getting one knee down before his right foot fell out of bounds. The game was once again tied, and Houston would get the ball with 5:59 to play.
But the Gamblers went 3-and-out, with Coach Phillips making the obvious call to punt on 3rd down from his own 19. The Gambler defense would have to hold in order for the Gamblers to get another shot. They would not only hold, they would get the ball back to the Gamblers with a short field. This time it was veteran and former All-USFL CB Ronde Barber who would step up big. Jim Sorgi tried to connect with Antonio Bryant on a quick bubble screen, but Barber saw it all the away, jumping in to first tip the ball up, and then come down with it. Bryant managed to tangle himself with Barber to avoid a runback, but the pick gave Houston the ball on the Arizona side of the field, with time to spare to get into scoring range.
The Gamblers used their time outs and the legs of Shaun Alexander, and with 38 seconds left they found themselves with a 3rd and 4 on the Wrangler 17 yard line. Playing cautiously, Coach Phillips sent the FG team out on third down, and David Buehler paid that trust off, connecting on a 34-yard kick. Arizona would try to move the ball down the field in the game’s final seconds, but they just simply could not find room outside, which burned more time and left them outside of field goal range when the clock ran out on them.
Houston has now won 2 games back to back, and while it is far too little and far too late for a playoff run, they could well play spoiler for the rest of the season. Arizona gets lucky as well, with Texas also losing they retain their 1-game lead on the division, but until David Carr comes back, every Wrangler game is going to be a nervous affair.
CHARLOTTE 22 ORLANDO 21
A big win for the Monarchs, a tough loss for the Renegades as they fall a game back in the SE Division with the defeat. Jake Delhomme had a big game for Charlotte, completing 33 of 43 for 335 yards and leading the Monarchs on two 4th quarter field goal drives that eventually got the visitors the win in a game they absolutely had to have to stay alive in the Wild Card hunt.
NEW ORLEANS 23 CHICAGO 20
Break up the Breakers. They have won 2 in a row after 10 straight defeats, this time taking the show on the road and upending the Machine in Chicago. Touchdowns from Matt Forte and Donnie Avery, along with three David Green field goals, were just enough to topple the Machine. Chicago tied the game on a Michael Turner TD with 1:22 left to play, but that was still enough time for Brees to get the team in range for Green, who nailed it from 48 yards out at the buzzer for New Orleans.
TAMPA BAY 36 JACKSONVILLE 7
Not much drama in Jacksonville, where the Bandits rolled to an easy victory by holding the Bulls to only 153 total yards of offense, including only 53 yards for C. J. Spiller. Shane Vereen, subbing for an injured McGahee, rushed for 72 yards and Daunte Culpepper threw 4 TDs in one of his best games of the season as Tampa Bay now takes a 1-game lead over Orlando in the division.
BALTIMORE 26 BOSTON 23
We will say this for John Fox’s Cannons, they are playing hard. But, once again to no avail as Baltimore gets the W in overtime. Ron Dayne rushes for 109 and Darius Heyward-Bay goes over 100 in the air as the Blitz hold on to get the win on the road against a feisty Cannon squad.
PHILADELPHIA 24 TEXAS 14
Another inter-divisional win for the Stars as they head down to San Antonio and upend the Texas Outlaws. Steve Slaton rushed for 109 but his biggest play was a 30 yard TD reception to give Philly a 14-7 lead that they would never relinquish. The Stars’ D sacked Joe Flacco 5 times and kept him off his game all day, while also limiting T. J. Duckett to only 51 yards rushing as Philadelphia stays 1 game behind the lead in the NE Division.
ATLANTA 17 LOS ANGELES 26
The Express are making us believers each week, this time with a solid home victory against a tough Atlanta squad. Ray Rice exploded for 155 yards to be the game MVP, but it was also a strong game for Mark Sanchez, who threw for 3 scores on a 21 of 32 game. Both Moss and Johnson got on the scoreboard and the LA defense did the rest, holding Atlanta at arm’s length throughout the 2nd half.
DENVER 20 WASHINGTON 23
A fun game to watch as two very solid teams clashed at RFK. Denver at one point had a 20-10 lead, but Washington just kept clawing its way back, outscoring Denver 10-0 in the final period to snag the 3-point win. David Garrard struggled a bit in his first full game back, throwing 3 picks, but a late TD to Deion Branch helped the Feds get the home win and maintain their lead over the NE Division.
OHIO 3 NASHVILLE 30
It was all Knights in this one as Frank Gore returned to action with 90 yards and a TD. Jay Cutler went 24 of 32 and threw for 2 scores, while the Nashville defense forced 4 Ohio turnovers in a sloppy game for the Glory.
BIRMINGHAM 10 NEW JERSEY 28
New Jersey found plenty of holes in the Birmingham Defense as Sam Bradford survived 5 sacks to throw 3 touchdowns and pull away from the Stallions. Cam Newton had a costly pick that turned the momentum New Jersey’s way late in the 3rd. The Generals’ D also held Joseph Addai to only 46 yards rushing on 15 carries as Birmingham falls to 5-7.
MEMPHIS 14 PITTSBURGH 31
The Maulers scored the only points of the first half, building a 14-0 lead, and then just kept matching Memphis score for score in the 2nd to secure their 11th win of the season. Ronnie Brown rushed for 111 and Kenny Watson added another 85 as the Maulers simply ground down the Memphis defense with their rushing attack. Add in 3 Kenny Pickett touchdown tosses and this one went solidly Pittsburgh’s way.
MICHIGAN 16 ST. LOUIS 23
The Skyhawks stay alive with a home win over the Panthers, thanks in large part to backup HB William Bethea, who, subbing for Antowain Smith, rushed for 137 yards and caught a 19 yard TD pass from Josh Freeman to give the Skyhawks the win. Brian Griese threw two costly picks, both in the red zone, as Michigan squandered good drives far too often in this one.
LAS VEGAS 23 PORTLAND 14
With Lynch still out, Las Vegas split carries between Rashard Jennings and Cedric Benson and the duo combined for 95 yards rushing. Not a huge number but enough to keep drives going for the Thunder. A pick six from Thunder LB Shantee Orr was huge as it helped Las Vegas build a 14-point advantage that they would not relinquish.
OAKLAND 45 SEATTLE 20
The game started off pretty even, but Seattle faded in the second half, allowing Oakland to pull out to a commanding lead. Joey Harrington looked sharp, throwing for 3 scores and avoiding any sacks as the Invader line kept him secure all game. Add in a very good game for Ryan Williams, with 159 yards on only 15 carries, and you have an impressive division win for an Invader squad that seems to be finding their stride just at the right time.
Who’s hot, who’s not?
As we turn the corner on the final quarter of the USFL season, there are some teams making late pushes, others seem to be fading. Here is our assessment of who might be peaking at the right time and who may need to be concerned.
HOT: Oakland Invaders
The Invaders have won 3 in a row, all division games, which has propelled them right back into the discussion in the Pacific. They trail LA by only a game and they still have 2 divsiional games in their next two, including a California Derby with the Express in Week 14. Oakland is finally looking like the team that had won the division in both 2008 and 2009 before Joey Harrington’s injury, and Harrington himself is looking like he has returned to form, with a 5:2 TD:Int ratio the past 3 games.
NOT: Birmingham Stallions
The early season shine on Cam Newton and the new look Stallions has started to fade as the Stallions are mired in a 4-game losing streak in which they have failed to earn more than 18 points in any game. What is worse, with the club sitting at 5-7, they now have back to back games against Pittsburgh and Nashville. Unless they can pull the major upsets, they will be eliminated from the playoff hunt before the relative ease of their final 2 games against divisional foes New Orleans and Memphis.
HOT: Charlotte Monarchs
The Monarchs came off a 5-game slide in which they struggled to put up points and won back to back games against good teams (LA and Orlando). Can they keep that momentum going? They have Jacksonville this week, but finish with a tough final 3 of Orlando, Atlanta and Washington. It will be an uphill climb, but if Orlando can win 3 of their final 4, that may be enough for them to sneak into a Wild Card spot.
NOT: Portland Stags
The Stags peaked at 3-2, but have lost 6 of their last 7 and are all but dead in the playoff hunt. This was not what most expected from a Portland squad that seemed to be headed in the right direction. With three of their upcoming games against teams well over .500, the best the Stags might hope for is to finish strong, play spoiler and avoid the basement of the division.
HOT: Washington Federals
No team has been playing better football over the past month than the Federals. With big wins against Baltimore and Denver, the Feds have put themselves in position to not only control their own playoff destiny, but to grab the #1 seed in the East as well. They lead the division by a game over both the Stars and Blitz, and will get another shot at Baltimore in Week 14. They also have 2 games ahead against 1-win Boston. We see Washington having a pretty clear path to the top seed, and with that bye week, a good chance to be the East’s representative in the Summer Bowl.
NOT: Arizona Wranglers
Are we truly worried about the Wranglers, no not long term, but with David Carr out for now, they are struggling, losing 3 of 4, including 2 divisional games. They are now 2 games behind Pittsburgh for the #1 seed, which may be out of reach, and they have Texas and Denver breathing down their necks for the Division. They just cannot afford to continue struggling. If Carr can get back in form quickly, the Wranglers could still be a very dangerous team, but with a final 3 games at Philly, against Oakland and at Denver, the division title could be a tough target to reach.
Would Boston Really Let John Fox Go?
It seems unthinkable, after all Coach Fox brought a league title to the Cannons only 2 seasons ago, but with the retirement of Drew Bledsoe, the club slipped to 7-9 and out of playoff contention last season. The arrival of highly touted rookie QB Jake Locker has not gone as planned, and now he has players like Chad Johnson threatening to abandon ship. Basically, it feels like the upside of Fox’s tenure in Boston is fading fast.
Now, before we get too silly, one bad year (and this year has been all kinds of bad) is likely not enough for management to cut Fox loose, but if another club comes calling with a deal to hire Fox away, would the Cannons consider it? There is a real chance they would. It feels very much like a generational change for the franchise, and after 10 seasons with the club, maybe it is a good time for both the club and the coach to part ways. It is certainly an attractive prospect for other clubs hoping to find a proven winner as their new coach. But is Boston smart enough to do what is needed to keep Fox in place?
Can Williams and Moore Catch Cam for ROTY?
With Birmingham quicky sliding out of playoff contention, and losers of their last 4, the chinks in the Cam Newton armor are beginning to show. The Auburn rookie has only 2 TDs in the past 4 games, and it very much looks like the long season, coming right after a bowl season at Auburn, is wearing on the young QB. Meanwhile, two other rookies are lighting things up in the past month, making the ROTY vote likely far closer. Oakland HB Ryan Williams is finally clicking with the Invaders’ offensive scheme, evident in his 159 explosion this week. He is also playing a role in the passing game. In Nashville, Denarius Moore has been solid all year long and continues to put up strong numbers. He currently sits at over 800 yards, nearly 70 receptions and 5 touchdowns. If he can hit 1,000, 90 receptions and 8 TDs, all within reach, he could be a real challenge to Newton come ROTY voting time, especially with Birmingham falling below .500 while Nashville cruises to another division title.
Where Were These Gamblers All Season?
Don’t look now, but the Gamblers we have seen these past two weeks, scoring 34 against Boston and then 31 at home against Arizona, is the club we expected to see all year. It is the club that beat Philly in Week 1, and the kind of offensive performance that we expected from the Gamblers in our preseason picks. What is so odd about the last 2 weeks is that it has been Tim Rattay, not Matt Hasselbeck, delivering on the club’s offensive potential. With the former MVP downed by injury, Rattay has stepped in and proven that the Gamblers still have life in their offense.
Does this mean we have a real QB controversy? We don’t think so, but perhaps adjusting to Tim Rattay has forced the Gamblers to refocus and rededicate themselves to playing smart, and putting in the time and effort to win games, something that seemed lost in the post-championship hangover that cost them 8 games in a row.
Skyhawks to Miss Antowain Smith Down the Stretch
We finish our league roundup with a bit of bad news, as a strong season for the Skyhawks, and another productive season for HB Antowain Smith took a hit this week when the halfback was diagnosed with a torn abdominal wall. This is a tricky injury and one that cannot be sped up with treatment or therapy. It means that Smith’s season is over with 4 weeks left to play, and it means that St. Louis’s bid to hit a team record for wins, and possibly the club’s first ever .500 season, could well be in jeopardy.
The Skyhawks will have to turn to 2nd year player William Bethea and 3rd year back James Ridley to provide the run game going forward. Both are largely untested in their time in the USFL, with the two combining for only 89 carries this year, compared to Smith’s 199. We expect Bethea to be the main back on 1st and 2nd down, with Ridley coming in to assist with the passing game and spelling Bethea. St. Louis did bring in former Panther, Breaker, Thunder, and Stag HB Chris Perry this week for depth, but we just don’t see Perry being a major factor for the Skyhawks.
This puts more pressure on Josh Freeman, and on the 23rd ranked Skyhawk defense to help the team reach their 6th win, much less the 8 wins it will take to reach .500. St. Louis has a favorable schedule down the stretch, with 6-6 Seattle being the only team they will face that does not currently have a losing record. They also play Ohio twice in the next 4 weeks, as well as Chicago, so 3 divisional games. It will be a test of Coach Arian’s ability to rally a squad that simply is not used to winning key games.
Twelve weeks into a sixteen-week season and we still only have one playoff team locked in. The Maulers, sitting pretty at 11-1, are still the only club guaranteed a spot. Arizona, LA, Washington, Tampa Bay, and Nashville all lead their divisions, but they all still have rivals within range. As of this week, Baltimore, Philly, and Orlando are all 1 game back of their division leaders and in Wild Card position, but both Atlanta and Charlotte are right there at 6-6. In the West, Texas and Denver are 2 games behind the Wranglers, while Oakland and Las Vegas are only 1 back of the Express.
We did have 1 more team join the group of eliminated squads as Memphis joined the Breakers and Cannons in that unwanted distinction. Looking at the bottom of the standings, Jacksonville may be next, with the three 4-8 teams in the West (Portland, Chicago, and Houston) also likely to get the bad news with another loss.
In addition to the Antowain Smith injury we see quite a few potentially impactful players out, including Portland center Brad Meester (neck), Michigan DT Marcus Spriggs (hip), New Orleans CB Randall Gay (groin), and Baltimore Tackle James Brewer (arm). Chicago could be without one of their best defensive players for at least 2 weeks as Anthony Weaver is dealing with a ton meniscus, while Birmingham is getting thin on the O-line with both Ben Grubbs and Otis Hudson out this week at guard.
Tampa Bay is listing Willis McGahee as doubtful with an ankle concern this week, and Memphis will be without LB NaVorro Bowman. Also doubtful are NJ wideout Michael Crabtree, Ohio LB James Laurinaitis, St. Louis DT Richard Seymour, and Philly CB Quientin Jammer. Arizona still has David Carr as questionable, and Las Vegas has Marshawn Lynch, now practicing with the team, as questionable as well. Houston wideout Roy Williams, Tampa’s Joey Galloway, and Oakland FS Roman Harper are also listed as questionable.
The Coaching Hot Seat at Final Turn
Four weeks left to play and for several USFL coaches, it may also mean 4 weeks to make a final case for their jobs. Mike Nolan was out at midseason after a disastrous 0-8 start, and his interim coach Lamar Lathon is certainly trying to make the case to get the permanent job, but he is not the only man on the hot seat this last month. Here is our look at several coaches who may well be trying to make one last push to save their jobs.
Lamar Lathon (NOR): Might as well start with the case we already mentioned. Lathon took over as Head Coach, rising up all the way from LB position coach after Breakers ownership fired not only Mike Nolan but both coordinators as well. What has Lathon done since taking over? Well, he did manage to get the Breakers their first win of the year, two, in fact. But he sits currently at 2-3 after 5 weeks at the helm. If, by some miracle, Lathon can finish the year at 5-4, or maybe even 4-5, that might help make his case that he has been able to turn a disaster into a competitive team. The players seem to be responding to Lathon’s game-hardened style of coaching. He has been particularly adept at getting more out of the defense, which has had several good outings since he took over. But is it enough to win 3 or 4 games if the owners are looking at blowing the whole thing up?
Jim Haslett (MEM): Just up the road from New Orleans we have the 2-10-1 Memphis Showboats. Jim Haslett took over for Jim Mora Sr in 2007 and took a 5-11 team to 10-4 and a league title. That was impressive, as was returning to the title game the next year, but since then his clubs have lost 10 or more games every season, including this year’s complete collapse. We fully expect the GM to be replaced sooner rather than later, but will Haslett’s early success be enough to survive what may be a 2 or 3 win season? Memphis looks very much like a club that is spinning its wheels, and some of their losses have been pretty ugly, so we are not holding out a lot of hope that Haslett gets the vote of confidence this time around.
John Fox (Boston): Another title-winning coach who is suffering through a very bad season with a rookie QB who is struggling. With this really being the first truly bad year for the Cannons in a long time, we think Fox makes the call here. If he feels he needs to move on, he may well resign, but if he thinks he has pieces to work with, we think the Cannons’ ownership will give him another shot to show some improvement, particularly with Jake Locker, next year. Of course, by then it looks like Chad Johnson, who is on a contract year, may well be elsewhere, which leaves what star power left on the roster?
Marty Mornhinweg (CHI): There were rumors last year that regular playoff appearances and regular losses in the postseason were beginning to wear down Marty Mornhinweg’s welcome. Well, if making the playoffs only to lose was not good enough in Chicago, the current 5-9 season has to be a major concern. Chicago is very unlikely to make the postseason again this year, their first missed chance in 5 years and only the 2nd in Marty’s last 10 seasons. For most teams 8 playoff appearances in 10 years would be enough, and that includes 2 Summer Bowls, but Chicago is feeling like the ceiling has been hit for the club with Mornhinweg at the helm, and a losing season in 2011 could be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Rich Brooks (POR): Higher expectations make a fall that much worse. After helping the expansion Stags to .500 records pretty much since their inaugural season, Rich Brooks was supposed to do more with this year’s squad. With Portland stagnating at or near the bottom of the Pacific Division, and already guaranteed a losing record for the year, the mood in Portland is turning away from the former Oregon Duck head coach. Portland was supposed to contend for a division title, but instead they are now mathematically out of playoff contention, and we think that will force Stags ownership to make a change.
Five Players Who Need a Change of Scenery
Coaches are not the only ones who sometimes need to step away from a position and seek a new start. Players also can be bad matches for schemes, or poor fits with a shifting culture, and sometimes a change of scenery is the best option. Here are five players we feel are due for a reboot, including one who has all but said that it is happening.
Chad Johnson (WR-BOS): Yup, ol’ Ochocinco has all but declared that he is done with Boston. He still seems to like Coach Fox, but the team is not what it once was and that has impacted his personal numbers, which is something 85 has always been very protective of. So, we fully expect to see Johnson hit the free market pool and very likely garner top dollar as a true #1 receiver, just as he did years ago when he left Ohio and Joey Galloway’s shadow.
Brady Quinn (QB-CHI): This all depends on Marty Mornhinweg. If he is let go, Brady may well be fine with a new coach and a new system. But if Marty stays, we expect Quinn to ask to leave. The two have simply not been seeing eye to eye for a while now. Brady feels underutilized in the run-first, dink & dunk scheme Mornhinweg offers him. Mornhinweg seems to believe it gives them the best chance to win, and that may also be a statement about Quinn’s arm. Quinn still has another year on his contract, but could be a trade consideration if Chicago can get a QB they covet either in free agency or the draft.
Maurice Jones-Drew (HB-NJ): We realize that MJD just got to New Jersey a year ago, but after a solid first year with the Generals, we are looking at his 2011 production and wondering what Coach Edwards is thinking. We watch MJD on film and we see all the skills for a 1,200 yard back, and yet he has never cracked 1,000, in either LA or New Jersey. Put him in the right system and we think his talent can take over, but right now New Jersey, with all their issues on the line and a throw-first mentality with Sam Bradford, does not feel like the place for him. He has 2012 as a contract year, so he will likely stick it out, try to impress, and then walk after next year. That makes him a prime trade candidate right now.
Glenn Cadrez (LB-OHIO): At 34 years old, the time may be now for Cadrez to make a move and get a shot at a title. Ohio is still rebuilding and there are just a lot of question marks. A slow build over several seasons is not what Cadrez needs after 10 years with the Glory. Shifting from MLB to strong side LB has also not been ideal. With so many of the “Glory Year” players already gone, perhaps it is time for one of their defensive stars to make a move as well, to a contender if he can.
Chris Canty (CB-MGN): Two years older than #1 CB Deltha O’Neal, Canty has been relegated to the #2 spot for years as a Panther. We could see him retire this year, or, since it is a contract year, he could make a case for a short term contract to become a #1 for someone else. The skillset is there, though there are some concerned about a perceived “loss of a step” on his high end speed. That could limit his market, but with the USFL being what it is, a good cover corner is always a high demand position.
We are officially at the ¾ mark of the season and that makes next week the somewhat unofficial start of the “home stretch”. A lot of playoff positioning to be had in Week 13’s lineup of games, starting with a nice matchup of division leaders on Friday, when Nashville heads to Tampa Bay. This could be the difference between a #2 seed and a bye week and a #3 seed and playing in the Wild Card round, so expect these two to go at it on NBC Friday Night Lights.
Saturday has three games of real interest. In the early slot we have two 5-7 clubs going head to head when St. Louis heads to Ohio. The loser is almost certainly out of the running for a Wild Card, while the winner stays alive one more week. At 4pm we have Texas at Las Vegas, with both clubs poised to make a run at their division leaders and eager to get this interdivisional win. Finally, at 8pm on ESPN it is Orlando at Atlanta. Both clubs need a win to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot with Orlando hoping to gain on Tampa Bay and Atlanta just looking to get into Wild Card position.
Sunday sees Birmingham with a tough task as they host the Maulers in a battle of Steel Cities. New Jersey gets the unenviable task of facing the 9-3 Wranglers, though David Carr is expected to miss this one. LA is in Seattle for a big Pacific clash, and the week ends with two regular playoff participants, the Stars and Gold, facing off at Invesco Field.
FRIDAY @ 8pm ET Nashville (8-4) @ Tampa Bay (8-4) NBC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET St. Louis (5-7) @ Ohio (5-7) ABC
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET Boston (1-10-1) @ Washington (9-3) FOX
SATURDAY @ 12pm ET New Orleans (2-10) @ Baltimore (8-4) FOX
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET Houston (4-8) @ Michigan (5-7) ABC
SATURDAY @ 4pm ET Texas (8-4) @ Las Vegas (7-5) FOX
SATURDAY @ 8pm ET Orlando (7-5) @ Atlanta (6-6) ESPN
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET Pittsburgh (11-1) @ Birmingham (5-7) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET Jacksonville (3-9) @ Charlotte (6-6) ABC
SUNDAY @ 12pm ET Chicago (4-8) @ Memphis (2-9-1) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET New Jersey (4-8) @ Arizona (9-3) ABC
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET Los Angeles (8-4) @ Seattle (6-6) FOX
SUNDAY @ 4pm ET Portland (4-8) @ Oakland (7-5) FOX
SUNDAY @ 8pm ET Philadelphia (8-4) @ Denver (7-5) EFN