The playoff picture comes into vivid shape as Nashville, Tampa Bay, LA, Oakland, and Arizona all earn spots, leaving only 3 playoff berths available to be claimed in the season’s final week. Pittsburgh survives a scare in Houston, and we have a cluster near .500 in the West, where there are 6 teams all within 1 game of the final Wild Card slot. It is getting very serious very fast, and yet, with several spots locked up we may well see some backups get a shot to play next week, especially for Pittsburgh, Nashville, Texas, and LA, who are all locked into their seeds. Let’s start with the wild game in Houston where the Maulers were almost undone by last year’s league champions, and then we will walk through all the Week 15 results and prep for what could be a very complex set of Week 16 scenarios.
PITTSBURGH MAULERS 32 HOUSTON GAMBLERS 28
If you ever wanted an example of why you should not look at team records and assume a win is evident, this game is good evidence of it. Now, admittedly, when the underdog is the prior year’s league champion, the potential is always there that they will put the pieces together and prove to be a tough out, and that is exactly what happened for the Gamblers. Houston, after suffering a shocking 8-game losing streak to scuttle what was supposed to be another deep playoff run season, has rebounded, with 3 wins in their last 4, including victories over Arizona and Denver in division. Pittsburgh, having locked up the #1 seed in the West has, admittedly, let up on the gas a bit, losing to Texas last week in blowout fashion, so a trip to Houston may have been a situation where the Maulers simply did not have the juice to play at their best. Either way, the result was a game that saw Houston give the Maulers a serious run for their money, but in the end the 12-2 Maulers pulled out the win.
It was a game where Pittsburgh would outgain Houston 412-266, largely on the basis of 330 yards passing from Cody Pickett. The Maulers would also win the turnover battle, but 7 penalties would disrupt the offense just enough for the Gamblers to keep the game close throughout. Houston started well on their first drive, needing only 6 plays to march the ball down the field and for Matt Hasselbeck to find Ike Hilliard with a 17-yard TD toss. Pittsburgh would respond with a Ryan Succop field goal, his first of 4 on the day, but after 1 the Gamblers were proving a tough opponent.
The game had its first lead change early in the 2nd when Brandon Jacobs completed a long Mauler drive with a 2-yard TD plunge. Houston would respond, and with 1:50 left in the half, they would retake the lead as Hasselbeck again found the veteran Hilliard for his 2nd TD of the day. Pittsburgh would narrow the gap with a 2nd Succop field goal as time ran out and we went to the half at 14-13 Houston.
The Gamblers would extend that lead in the 3rd as Hasselbeck connected on a third TD, this time to Roy Williams. The Mauler defense, one of the league’s best, was struggling to stop drives, largely due to poorly-timed penalties that gave Houston new life on third down. Matt Hasselbeck also enjoyed good protection all game, sacked only once and able to complete 17 of 26 attempts. Cody Pickett was also protected well, not sacked in the game, and on the final drive of the 3rd quarter he would find Jimmie Graham for a 22-yard touchdown that again pulled Pittsburgh closer, but the 2-point conversion failed, leaving the Maulers 2 points down at 21-19 after three.
In the 4th the Maulers continued to push to retake the lead. It did not take them long as Pittsburgh’s next drive got them close enough for Succop to connect on a 42-yard field goal. Up 22-21, they would double down 5 minutes later with Succop’s fourth kick, taking a 4-point lead. Houston would respond, taking the ball at the midpoint of the period and using nearly 6 minutes to drive the ball deep into Mauler territory. Helped again by a penalty, this time an offsides on a good use of voice inflection by Hasselbeck on 3rd and 4, Houston got the ball to the Pittsburgh 4 and then used play action to Shaun Alexander to free up Roy Williams for his 2nd score of the day. With just 1:47 left, Houston went up by 3, 28-25.
Pittsburgh would play for the field goal and the tie. That was the theory at least. And for most of the drive, that seemed the logic as the Maulers played the sidelines, preserved their last timeout, but still moved the ball deeper into Gambler territory. But, on a 2nd and 3, a slip by Houston veteran CB Ronde Barber allowed Vincent Jackson to turn a 5-yard out into a 25 yard catch and run. He got the ball to the Houston 12 yard line, with time and a timeout left, and that changed the perspective of the Mauler offense. They would have time for 2, maybe 3 shots into the endzone before bringing in Succop. They would need only 1 play to take the lead.
Cody Pickett looked to Jackson again, pumped, but then brought the ball down as the safety moved over to Jackson, only to find Jimmie Graham again, this time cutting towards the goal post and uncovered by the safety. Pickett threw a frozen rope down the middle and Graham brought it in for the game winner with just 11 seconds left to play. The Maulers had found a way, giving them a franchise record-tying 3th win on the season. Houston would drop their 10th game of the year, and their 7th game by less than 1 score. Close but not quite there was apparently the theme of the year for the Gamblers, whose luck turned sour after a brilliant 2010 campaign.
DENVER 28 TEXAS 38
A big win for the Outlaws, a devastating blow for the Gold. Denver’s playoff hopes are on life support as the Gold drop to 7-8 with their 4th loss in a row. Matt Leinart did what he could to help the Gold, throwing 3 TD passes, but he also forced the ball, causing 2 picks. Meanwhile Joe Flacco was flawless, throwing for 319 yards and 4 TDs to take the win as Texas continues to impress.
CHARLOTTE 23 ATLANTA 20
Charlotte’s run of good play continues in Atlanta, where the Monarchs pick up their 9th win and putting them in a position to control their own destiny going into the final week of the season. The run game was the key as Shonn Greene and Taiwan Jones combined for 156 yards, helping the club overcome 3 Delhomme picks. Atlanta was in this one till the end, but the loss means their playoff hopes are officially dashed.
JACKSONVILLE 13 ORLANDO 13 OVERTIME
If ties are like kissing your sister, this one was like kissing your sister after she has been eating picked herring. Orlando needed a win here to stay on pace with Charlotte and Baltimore, but they fell into a trap game against a bad Bulls squad and it caught them. Despite outgaining Jacksonville 430-251, the Renegades had costly turnovers, bad penalties, and just let the Bulls hang around. Jacksonville sent the game to overtime, but neither team could do anything with the extra period, so we get the 2nd tie of the season in the USFL.
PORTLAND 7 LOS ANGELES 13
Clearly Coach Brooks’s announcement of resignation did not inspire the Stags to win one for their coach. Portland was lackluster all game, while LA also looked a bit out of sorts. If not for a Ray Rice TD run of 41 yards, this one would have been an absolute snoozefest. LA will take the win and hold onto first place, but they will need to do better if they want to make a splash in the playoffs.
BIRMINGHAM 7 NEW ORLEANS 23
Interim Head Coach Lamar Lathon is making his case to remain at the helm of the Breakers. After taking over an 0-8 team, he lost his first 2 games, but since then has won 5 of 6. Despite not having Eli Manning available, the Breakers won this one going away against the Stallions. The defense starred with CB Patrick Peterson the star with a pick 6 that turned the momentum fully to the Breakers.
NEW JERSEY 24 PHILADELPHIA 34
The Generals were up to the challenge in this rivalry game, but the Stars found a way to put this one away with a late Reche Caldwell TD pass from Matt Gutierrez. The Stars’ backup played a good part of the game after Kurt Warner hopped of the field after turning his ankle. The Stars turned to the run game without their MVP candidate QB in the game, and Steve Slaton came through with 124 yards and a TD.
MEMPHIS 31 NASHVILLE 20
This is not a good look for the Knights as they prepare to host a Wild Card game. Memphis ,which has struggled on offense all season with rookie Ryan Mallett at the helm, suddenly found a rhythm. Mallett threw for 2 scores and the defense made the stops it needed to to hold Nashville down. Two Jay Cutler picks also helped the Showboats get the upset in the Tennessee Tussle.
LAS VEGAS 13 OHIO 10
The Thunder defense continues to carry this team as they move to 9-6 and in range for a playoff spot. Ohio was held scoreless well into the 4th quarter and managed only 163 yards passing on the game as Vince Young struggled to find open receivers. Marshawn Lynch put in a workman 72 yards on 19 carries, and the defense did the rest.
WASHINGTON 29 BOSTON 19
Boston is playing hard, we will give them that, but with Jake Locker completing only 16 of 43 passes, the offense is just not good enough, especially against a tough Federals’ D. In a game that saw 9 field goals, it was a TD from, who else, Deuce McCallister that gave Washington the advantage and the defense held Boston to only 3 points in the second half as the Feds are still on pace for that top seed in the East.
BALTIMORE 10 MICHIGAN 28
A good win for the Panthers as they move to 8-7 and into position to control their own destiny. They hold the final Wild Card position, so a win next week guarantees them a playoff bid. They won this game on the arm of Brian Griese, whose 4 TD passes mark a season high for him. The defense also did their part, limiting Ron Dayne to a season low 19 yards rushing.
ST. LOUIS 13 CHICAGO 30
St. Louis was hoping for more but Chicago still has a slim chance at the playoffs as well and their experience won out. The defense sacked Josh Freeman 4 times and held him without a TD pass as Chicago dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and stayed alive at 7-8.
OAKLAND 31 ARIZONA 28
The Wranglers have struggled to regain their early season form, and while the offense was explosive in this one, racking up 457 total yards against a solid Oakland defense, the Wrangler D let them down at the end. Arizona had taken the lead on a Larry Fitzgerald TD late in the 4th, but the D could not stop Joey Harrington, who led the Invaders down the field and connected with Greg Jennings for his 3rd TD of the day to steal the win in the desert.
SEATTLE 10 TAMPA BAY 23
The Dragons’ playoff hopes are fading as they lose their 3rd in 4 games. The cross country trip to Tampa Bay was clearly not what the Dragons needed as they gave up 13-0 lead in the first half and could not recover. Shane Vereen did well subbing for Willis McGahee, rushing for 80 yards on the day. Daunte Culpepper went 22 of 31, mostly short dump off passes against a shell defense, but it was enough to control the clock and the ball and keep Tampa Bay within range of the #1 seed with 1 game left.
Texas Wins Division for 1st Time in 25 Year History
Congratulations all around to Coach Greg Landry and the Outlaws as, for the first time in franchise history, Texas will be a division champ. It took 25 years for the Outlaws to finally come out on top. Not only that, but they are also locked into a Top 2 position, which means a bye week is their reward in the playoffs.
Texas has done it on both sides of the ball. Landry, who was brought in to improve the Outlaw offense and coach up Joe Flacco, has had great success with both tasks. Flacco is a very likely MVP candidate and the Outlaw offense now sits at 2nd in the league in both points and yardage. What is even more impressive is that this offensive improvement has not led to a decline in defensive quality as the Outlaws now sit in the Top 10 in both points allowed and yardage allowed. That is an impressive combination and balance, one that could make Texas a truly dangerous team in the postseason.
Expect Landry to get some votes for Coach of the Year, along with both Joe Flacco and T. J. Duckett in the running for offensive awards. The defense does not have quite the big name players or singular stars, but it too deserves recognition. CB Michael Boulware, LB Chad Greenway, and SS Terrance Holt have all had good years, but the player who has really come on is DE Reynaldo Wynn, who leads the team with 16 sacks and should get some All-USFL votes.
Texas, which in its history has had a tendency to fade down the stretch of seasons, is breaking that bad habit, and have now won 6 of the last 7. In a season that saw Arizona jump out to a huge advantage with an undefeated first half, Texas has kept plugging along and bit by bit made up the gap. Now they sit atop the SW Division and they want more. After having defeated Pittsburgh handily last week, this is truly a team to focus on as we head into the postseason.
Orlando Tie Complicates Eastern Wild Card
Admittedly, the final Wild Card spot in the East was always going to be a 3 team race. However, had the Renegades won this week, we would have 3 teams at 8-7 with 2 Wild Cards on the line. That would make the math pretty easy. 2 teams would be in with a win, the 3rd with a win and 1 team losing. Now, with Orlando a half-game behind both Baltimore and Charlotte, we start getting messy. Basically, the Renegades need help. They need to win in Week 16, of course, but they need at least one of the others, preferably both, to lose their season finales. It is not the worst scenario possible for a playoff spot, but it is certainly not what the Renegades were hoping for.
6 Teams & 1 Spot in Western Wild Card Race
If you want complex math related to the USFL, the Western Wild Card race is providing it. We have Michigan currently sitting in the 6th position at 8-7, a game behind both Oakland and Arizona (whose spots are assured). But we also have Las Vegas at 8-7, but losing on a tiebreaker, and then St. Louis, Chicago, Denver, and Seattle all at 7-8. The easiest scenario next week is for Michigan to win in their matchup against the #1 seed Pittsburgh Maulers. If they can do that, then they lock up the spot and nothing else matters. The nightmare scenario for the league is for both Michigan and Las Vegas to lose and for St. Louis, Chicago, Seattle, and Denver to win, creating a 6-team cluster at 8-8.
That worst case scenario would force the league to first rank the divisions, with Michigan, St. Louis, and Chicago looking at division record and possibly margin of victory. Seattle and Las Vegas would have to do the same, while Denver would find itself matched up with whichever Central and Pacific team ended up in the top position. So then we have a 3-way battle of head to head, then conference record, and possibly margin of victory. A nasty mess that will not be fun to sort out. So, the folks in New York, at league HQ may be hoping that the Maulers rest some starters, that Michigan gets the W, and that none of the complex comparative statistics are needed.
Fitzpatrick Injury Could Impact 2012 Season
In a bad game at the end of a bad season, Portland got even more bad news. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick came off the field early in a lot of pain. He made it to the sideline, but the Stags eventually needed to bring the cart out to him to take him to the locker room. He would later be taken to a local hospital for further review. The diagnosis? A torn abdominal lining. That is a nasty injury that is in part muscular, but mostly tissue-based, and one that is hard to heal because it is hard to isolate and immobilize the muscle groups to allow for the lining to mend itself.
The concern in Portland is that Fitzpatrick will not only miss the final game of the year, but almost certainly all of the offseason minicamps, with the potential for the injury to impact training camp, preseason, and even the opening weeks of the 2012 season. Now, Fitzy is a smart guy, he did go to Harvard and all, so we expect he will be very vigilant about his care and the physician’s instructions, but the possibility is still there that Portland may need a plan B through the offseason and into the next year of play.
Is Week 16 Jim Haslett’s Last Game with Memphis?
That is the question being asked around the Mid-South. After helping the Showboats win a title in 2007, Haslett has struggled to find success, particularly after Brett Favre’s second retirement. From 10 wins in both ’07 and ’08, the Showboats dipped to 4-10 in 2009, 6-10 in 2010, and now are sitting at 4-10-1 with 1 week left, guaranteed another 10-loss season.
Without the 2007 title, Haslett would almost certainly be out the door, but he did win it all only 4 seasons ago, and, quite honestly, the lack of a QB on the roster who can win games for him is not entirely his fault. After the failed Jake Delhomme project, Ryan Mallett was drafted this year, but his rookie season has been more growing pains than sparks of hope. Mallett has a QBR hoving around 60 points, well below the league average, and has thrown more picks than touchdowns, never a good thing. The defense, however, is Haslett’s project, and it has largely been a failure. The Showboats, rank 27th of the 28 USFL clubs, allowing nearly 355 yards per game, and their 20 points per game average is also near the bottom of the league.
If ownership is looking to make a move, they will likely point to that defense, as well as the decline of the run game (only 23rd at 80.6 YPG) as reasons why they wish to move on. No statement has come from ownership yet, neither in support of Haslett or showing signs of wavering, so it is hard to gauge, but with Black Monday only a week away, we should have an answer soon.
A lot is settled, but there are many teams still fighting for something. Let’s run through the current playoff standings and tell you what each team is looking at.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
WASHINGTON: The Feds are only 1 game up on Tampa Bay for the #1 seed. A loss against Charlotte and they could get bumped to number 2.
TAMPA BAY: They have the division and the bye week, and still have a shot at the #1 overall seed. If they don’t want to play in DC for the Conference Title, they will want a win and root for the Monarchs to upend the Feds.
NASHVILLE: They are the Southern Division Champions and are locked in at #3, so they could rest their starters, but do they really want to finish at .500? A loss and that is what they would be doing.
PHILADELPHIA: Locked into the #4 slot, we expect the Stars to rest a lot of starters in their season finale.
CHARLOTTE: A win or an Orlando or Baltimore loss and they are a Wild Card. Those are good odds, but the best way to lock it up is to upset Washington at home.
BALTIMORE: Classic win and in scenario for the Blitz as they face a Portland squad without their starting QB. A loss and they have to root against the Renegades, who face the Bandits this week.
ORLANDO: That tie this week is going to make life tough. Orlando has to win against a Bandits team that is unlikely to rest their starters, and they have to hope that either Charlotte or Baltimore take an L this week. It is never a good feeling to rely on others to get you into the postseason.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
PITTSBURGH: The Maulers are in the classic #1 conundrum. Do you rest your starters in a meaningless Week 16 game, providing 2 weeks of rest, or does that create rust?
TEXAS: The Outlaws are locked in at #2, so they face the same issue as Pittsburgh, risking rust in 2 weeks or an injury this week. We think they will take their chances with rust.
LOS ANGELES: Another club locked into their spot at #3, and with a playoff game in the Wild Card round, we expect to see Mark Sanchez wearing a baseball cap and not a helmet.
OAKLAND: They are back in the postseason, but if they want to host that Wild Card game, they need to win this week.
ARIZONA: Yes, the Wranglers are in the postseason, but they cannot feel good about losing 6 of 7. Expect them to see this week as a tuneup game to try to regain their form from the first half of the year.
MICHIGAN: The Panthers control their own destiny. A win and they are in. A loss and it seems unlikely that they survive the scramble of 6 clubs to take the final Wild Card spot.
LAS VEGAS: The Thunder need to win this week to have a shot, and they need help. The easiest path is for a Thunder win and Panther loss. Any other combination creates a mess.
ST. LOUIS: They have a shot only because their 6-5 conference record is better than Vegas or Michigan. If both the Thunder and Panthers lose, the Knights could find themselves in a Wild Card for the first time ever.
CHICAGO: A win this week, along with losses by St. Louis, Michigan, and Las Vegas, puts Chicago in position to shock us and get in the postseason. Their division record would put them over the Panthers, and that could be enough.
DENVER: Pretty much they have to win and for most of the known universe to lose. They have a 6-5 Conference record, so that gives them some hope.
SEATTLE: They are basically in the same boat as Denver, but they also need the Gold to lose. Right now they have a 2.3% chance of making the postseason. “So you’re saying I have a chance” is the mantra for the Dragons this week.
With only 1 week left, you hate to see any players go down, but that is a part of the game, and we saw several, including the troubling injury to Ryan Fitzpatrick this week. Others who will miss the season finale include another Stag starter as center Brad Meester suffered a neck injury. It is not major, but it will be enough to take him out of the Week 16 game. Others who will miss Week 16 includeOhio TE Lee Smith (collarbone), Memphis WR Lee Evans (finger), and New Orleans QB Drew Brees (elbow). Among teams still hoping for a Week 16 win to propel them to the postseason we see Denver will be without DE Ryan Denney, not only for next week, but if they do make the postseason, he would miss that as well after suffering a knee injury this week. Michigan is in a similar situation with FS Tyrone Carter, who is expected to be out up to a month with a bicep tear. Michigan may also be without MLB Andy Katzenmoyer after he suffered a concussion this week, putting him as “doubtful” for Week 16’s important season finale.
On the other side of the spectrum, several playoff-bound or playoff competitive teams are getting players back for their final regular season game. Among those expected to return to action are WR Deion Branch and TE Heath Miller (WSH), DE Robert Mathis (PHI), SS Roy Williams (DEN), SS Pearson Prioleau (OAK), DE Anthony Weaver (CHI), and HB Willis McGahee (TBY).
Looking at 10 Possible Retirements This Offseason
We have reached the last week of the year, and just as fans start looking at the unsigned players to see what the free agent market might look like, we can also look to the rosters of teams across the league and wonder who we may see hang up their cleats and call it a career. Every year we are surprised by that player who opts out early, or another who opts to give it one more year, but we also know that each year we lose some quality veterans, creating tough choices and unwanted holes in the roster for GMs across the league. As we travel around the 28 teams of the USFL, we are hearing whispers and folks are asking questions. From these somewhat uncertain bits of info, we have built our 10 players to watch for, all of them possibly considering calling 2011 their final season on the field.
Houston FS Brian Dawkins (37)
Houston singed Dawkins to a 2-year deal at 36 years old, so it may not be that much of a surprise if Dawkins opts out after one year, particularly with the year the Gamblers have had. 2011 has not been a banner year for the safety, as he has only 25 tackles and 2 picks over15 game so far.
Tampa Bay WR Joey Galloway (37)
The question with Galloway is whether or not his outstanding 2011 campaign means he is game for more or now able to end his career on a high note. All across the board his move from Ohio to Tampa Bay has been a success. Not only are the Bandits the Southern Division Champs and battling for a top seed, but Galloway saw his numbers jump back to totals we have not seen since the early 2000’s. From 51 catches in 2009 to 90 this year and from 736 yards to a potential 1,300. It is his call, because it seems clear that Tampa Bay would love to have him back.
St. Louis HB Antowain Smith (34)
While 34 is not considered retirement age for many positions on a USFL roster, for a running back it is pretty rare to see backs reach 35. The injury-shortened 2011 season was Smith’s 15th in the league, a lifetime for a big back. His torn abdominal limited him to 12 games and 836 yards, and will require extensive PT to get back in form. At 34, that may be more than Smith would like to engage.
Charlotte QB Jake Delhomme (35)
After a 1-year disaster in Memphis, and two opening months that had fans calling for the backup, Delhomme has had a stronger second half. Is that enough to motivate him to come back for another year? Would Charlotte tender an offer for a 2nd year after Delhomme threw for over 20 picks? Hard to say, but Charlotte is in playoff position, and a solid final week, followed by a decent showing in the Wild Card game could be enough for the Monarchs to offer a deal. Is it enough for Delhomme to agree to it and return to the Monarchs?
Baltimore CB Chris McCallister (36)
After 13 years prowling the defensive backfield for the Blitz, McCallister would certainly be understood if he opted to retire at 36. Injuries are the obvious reason for such a decision. The past 3 seasons McCallister has struggled to stay on the field, appearing in only 13 games over the 3-year span. Very often the will is there for veteran players but the body is not.
Houston DE Kavika Pittman (36)
Houston has another core defender on this list as Kavika Pittman is rumored to be debating the issue. Sixteen seasons at DE is a very long career, and it has been a Hall of Fame one for the Gambler, who has 276 sacks to his name, a ridiculous total. Pittman, in 16 seasons, has never had fewer than 10 sacks in a year, and is often closer to 20 than 10. If he retired after this season he would be 26 sacks behind all-time great Phil Hansen, and that feels like a lot to try to make up in only 1 more year. We think he will be happy sitting in 2nd place, ahead of Reggie White, Santana Dotson and Mike Rucker, and so we think this could be his swansong.
Michigan QB Brian Griese (35)
Earlier in the year the questions were there. Had Griese peaked? Had his injury in 2009 led to permanent issues? His numbers were not great to start the year, and he was struggling to get the Panthers moving. But, ever since a Week 6 loss to Denver, Griese has found another gear. The Panthers have won 7 of 9 games, and Griese has a 19:7 TD:Int ratio. He is making good choices, protecting his body and the ball, and getting W’s for the Panthers. One more win and they are in the playoffs, and we think if that happens, there is no way Griese calls it quits.
New Orleans DT Jason Peter (36)
Another player who signed a 1-year deal at the end of a long career, Peter had a solid career in Arizona, then spent 2 years in Tampa Bay, and now 2011 in New Orleans. His numbers are still good, but it seems clear that he is not at the same form he was in as a Wrangler. Does that make him question the need to keep going at age 36? The Breakers are not a club on the verge of a title, so it is not as if Peter is hoping to go out on top.
Tampa DE Marcellus Wiley (36)
Wiley may be hoping to do just that, to go out on top. Tampa Bay is a serious contender, and Wiley is having a strong season, again over 10+ sacks for the year. If the Bandits can win it all, then Wiley will have nothing left to achieve. If they lose, he could possibly be swayed to stay for a 2nd chance.
Las Vegas QB Jake Plummer (34)
At 34, Plummer is hardly the oldest QB in the league, but his body has taken a beating over his 15-season career. Honestly, most of us are shocked he has made it this far, particularly after the move from Arizona to Las Vegas, where his pass protection has not been ideal. His numbers are certainly down from his heyday, and Coach June Jones’ run & shoot variation has not produced the eye-popping stats that it did in previous iterations. All of these factors could lead Plummer to decide to hang it up before his body demands it.
As we see each year, all games in Week 16 will be played on Saturday and Sunday, with clusters of games based on divisional playoff positioning. It makes for a compact, but exciting week as the last playoff spots are decided and seeding is fixed. Here is the plan for Week 16 in the USFL.
SATURDAY @ 12pm
Birmingham (6-9) @ Memphis (4-10-1) ABC
No playoff implications in this one, but we expect the Showboats to play hard for Jim Haslett, even if the decision on his future is already decided.
New Orleans (4-11) @ Nashville (8-7) FOX
Could the Knights actually win the division at only 8-8? Seems possible, with the Breakers getting some steam later in the year for interim coach Lamar Lathon.
Portland (4-11) @ Baltimore (9-6) FOX
The Stags are out, Baltimore needs only a tie to lock up a playoff spot. Expect to see the Blitz try to get a lead early and then coast if they can.
SATURDAY @ 4pm
Houston (5-10) @ Oakland (9-6) ABC
Oakland is locked into a Wild Card, but if they want a home game, they need this win. Houston has been anything but a lame duck team the past month, so this could be interesting.
Los Angeles (10-5) @ Las Vegas (8-7) FOX
You know the Thunder will be motivated. A loss and they are out of the Wild Card. Will LA? They could rest their starters because even with a win and a Texas loss, they are still locked into the #3 slot.
Chicago (7-8) @ Seattle (8-7) NBC
Both clubs are technically still alive for a Wild Card. Only the winner has any shot, so this one could be one of the best games of the year as both will bring their best.
SATURDAY @ 8pm
Washington (12-3 @ Charlotte (9-6) ESPN
Both clubs want this win to lock up something. A playoff spot for Charlotte, the #1 seed for Washington. Don’t expect to see the backups in for either club as they both want this one.
Philadelphia (11-4) @ Boston (1-13-1) EFN
We have no idea if Boston will come to play or just phone this in after a brutal season. Jake Locker at least needs to show some spark. Philadelphia cannot catch Washington even with a win, so they may rest some starters ahead of next week’s Wild Card round.
SUNDAY @ 12pm
Ohio (5-11) @ St. Louis (7-8) ABC
The Skyhawks’ playoff hopes are on life support. A win and a lot of help are needed. They need losses by both Michigan and Las Vegas, but they better not just assume they will beat Ohio in this divisional game.
Pittsburgh (13-2) @ Michigan (8-7) FOX
The Maulers are almost certainly going to rest a few starters to avoid injuries. Michigan could use that to their advantage as they are in a Win & In situation. But does Pittsburgh want Michigan in the playoffs? They may keep the defense on the field to try to knock out their division rival.
Tampa Bay (11-4) @ Orlando (8-6-1) ABC
The Bandits might have considered resting the starters, but they are actually in range of Washington. A win and a Feds loss and Tampa Bay could get that #1 seed (the computations are tough because it takes several tiebreakers, but it is possible.) Meanwhile, Orlando is ½ game behind Baltimore and Charlotte for the final Wild Card, so you know they need this.
Atlanta (6-9) @ Jacksonville (3-11-1) FOX
No playoff issues here, just a battle of two teams that have built something of a regional rivalry, as much as you can between clubs that don’t have a lot of playoff success in their histories.
SUNDAY @ 4PM
Texas (11-4) @ New Jersey (6-9) FOX
Sort of a weird ending for the Outlaws. They have the #2 seed all locked up, so we likely won’t see Flacco, Duckett, or Colston on the field. New Jersey will also likely play some younger players just to see for the offseason.
Arizona (9-6) @ Denver (7-8) EFN
Denver is still alive, but not by much. Arizona has to find its form because this is not the squad that started the season 8-0. They have lost 6 of 7 and that is no way to go into the Wild Card round. Expect both clubs to fight for this one.