Opening week, all the jitters and anticipation and all the hopes for a good start to the year, and yet we know that 14 of 28 teams will come away without a W in the opening week. The 2013 season kickoff started with a good debut from the Eastern Conference champions as Charlotte knocked off division rival Atlanta on the road in Friday’s kickoff game. We also saw Dallas draw over 56,000 to watch the new Roughnecks outlast the LA Express in overtime for the franchise’s first victory.
St. Louis and Texas also looked ready to roll this week, and we got a smattering of upsets as well, with Birmingham stunning the Knights in Nashville, thanks to 4 TDs from Cam Newton, and Orlando edged Tampa Bay in Raymond James thanks to a strong performance from Russell Wilson and the ‘Gade offense. Let’s run through all the week’s action, starting with Texas’s last minute victory over a very game Ohio squad. We will take a look at the debut games for several new starters, rookies, and players in new places, run through all the news of the week, and prep for Week 2, all here on This is the USFL.
TEXAS OUTLAWS 36 OHIO GLORY 29
Texas answered a lot of questions on Sunday as they outlasted a very game Ohio Glory squad on the road to pick up a win in the season opener. Joe Flacco, taking the field for the first time since a hip injury ended his 2012 campaign prematurely looked every bit like the 2011 MVP, completing 13 of 20 passes for 309 yards, a 15.4 yards per completion average. He had Texas’s offense humming, with 396 yards of total offense, and yet, with 1:27 left in the game, Texas found themselves trailing by one and needing a score to avoid a Week One upset.
For their part, the Ohio Glory, led by head coach Bart Andrus and newly acquired former Outlaw QB Chris Weinke, came out ready to show that they were a team on the rise. Weinke survived 4 sacks and 2 picks to put the Glory on top late in the 4th in a game that showed the potential of the Ohio offense. The Glory racked up 374 yards of offense, including 259 through the air from Weinke and 78 yards rushing from 2nd year back Isaiah Pead.
The game started with a huge defensive play for Ohio as a punt after their initial drive placed Texas at their own 1-yard line. In an attempt to give themselves some room, the Outlaws gave the ball to newly acquired HB Felix Jones, but the first carry for Jones was a nightmare, with the back coughing up the ball at the goal line. When the pile was unstacked, it was Ohio DE Chauncey Davis who emerged with the ball and a 6-point defensive recovery.
Texas would get their first big play on special teams, where rookie speedster Marquise Goodwin introduced himself to the league with a stunning 51-yard punt return touchdown on Ohio’s next drive. The speedster blew through the initial coverage, spun out of an attempt by the punter to send him out of bounds and sped to the endzone. After 1 quarter it was a 7-7 game with neither offense having contributed at all.
That odd score line would shift in the 2nd quarter as both offenses calmed down and we started to see more of what each team would be able to do. Ohio had a nice 51-yard drive, relying on a mix of Pead and Rashard Jennings runs along with a couple of well-timed play action passes from Weinke, but when the drive ground to a halt, Ohio brought out David Green to kick a 32-yard field goal from the 15 and give the Glory the lead. Texas responded with a nice drive of their own, with runs by Arian Foster and a couple of good balls to Marques Colston, who would finish with 6 receptions on the day. The scoring toss went to his opposite, Brandon Marshall, who would bring in all 3 of Joe Flacco’s TD tosses on the day. Marshall’s score would give Texas a 14-10 lead at the half.
When the second half began a nice defensive stop by Ohio got them the ball back, and they added a second kick from Green to pull within 1 at 14-13. Texas could not advance past the 50 on their next drive, but caught a break when Chris Weinke had a ball tipped at the line. The ball fluttered towards Steve Smith, but was snagged instead by Texas safety Terrance Holt, who wound his way through offensive players on his way to a pick-six, growing Texas’s lead to 21-13.
Ohio responded on their next drive but were again held to only 3 and the 3rd quarter ended with Texas holding a 21-16 advantage. They would expand their lead to 28-16 on their next drive, scoring only 30 seconds into the quarter as Marshall brought down a jump ball in the red zone to add his 2nd TD of the day. Ohio, showing no quit, replied to the Texas score with a quick drive that took the ball from their own 28 all the way to the end zone in only 7 plays, the scoring toss going to Arrelious Benn from the 6 yard line. They added a Green PAT kick and now were down only 5 at 28-23.
When Texas kicker Kai Forbath missed on a 43-yard attempt, it gave Ohio the ball back with time to drive for the lead. The Glory did just that, marching down the field in 11 plays and putting the ball in the endzone with 1:27 left on a Weinke to Steve Smith toss that got all 44,502 in attendance to their feet. But nearly 90 seconds is a long time to give Joe Flacco and the Outlaws, especially when they have all three of their time outs remaining.
The Texas offense took the ball at their own 33 after a good return from the rookie, Goodwin. On first down Ohio got to Flacco with their 6th sack of the game as CB Chimdi Chekwa blitzed from the left side and caught Flacco unaware. Facing a 2nd and 16 from the 27, Texas tried a draw play, but Arian Foster clipped the ankle of his lead guard and fell to the ground right at the line of scrimmage. Facing a 3rd and 16, Texas needed a big play, and on third down they got one. Joe Flacco lined up in the shotgun, with trips to the left and Marques Colston the only receiver to his right. Ohio sent pressure, but when the Texas line created a solid pocket, absorbing the extra defender, Flacco was able to find Marshall racing down the left sideline, tossed up a deep ball, and found Marshall perfectly in stride. Cornerback Derech Cox dove but failed to bring down Marshall, and safety Jermaine Philips was too far to the right to make up the distance. Marshall cruised 73 yards for the score and with only 57 seconds left, Texas took the lead. They would go for two and with a completion to TE Chris Cooley, Texas built the lead up to 7 points, 36-29.
Ohio would have less than a minute to respond, and that is clearly not the way the Glory offense is built. After a short completion to Javon Walker on first down, Chris Weinke missed the mark on second and third down, leading to a 4th and 6 with time running out. He would try to find TE Zach Miller, but Texas LB Vontez Burfict was there to break up the pass to the TE and end the game. Texas starts the year 1-0, Joe Flacco returns to his winning ways, but Ohio also impresses in a game that was entertaining from start to finish.
CHARLOTTE 26 ATLANTA 10
Charlotte’s defense was in playoff form as they held the Fire to only 42 yards rushing (Stephen Jackson was not suited up), while Jake Delhomme threw off his poor Summer Bowl performance, completing 80% of his throws (20 of 25) and connecting with Brandon Pettigrew for his first TD of the season. Charlotte also got a TD from Fred Jackson and, right on cue, 3 field goals from 2012 special teams player of the year, Brandon Coutu, as the Monarchs take this season opening division win.
NEW JERSEY 31 MICHIGAN 21
Michigan got off to a slow start before providing a challenge to the Generals late. Kirk Cousins shook off a rough first half and ended the game with 30 completions on 51 attempts for 342 yards. His 3 TDs were matched by 3 picks however as the New Jersey defense held Michigan at arm’s length. Maurice Jones drew had 2 TDs on the ground and Sam Bradford connected with Michael Crabtree for a third. The General D contributed a pick 6 from new LB Chase Blackburn to help NJ to a season opening win. Michigan rookie LeVeon Bell had a solid debut, rushing for 68 yards on 16 carries for the Panthers.
JACKSONVILLE 28 NEW ORLEANS 31
A really fun opening week in the Big Easy as Jacksonville built up a 21-0 lead before Drew Brees sparked a Breaker comeback. New Orleans would score 24 unanswered to take the lead, bu tit was a late Brees to Avery TD pass that got them the win in front of nearly 55,000 at the Super Dome. Brees would finish the game with 4 TD passes to 4 different receivers. Early Doucet was the engine, catching 7 balls for 124 yards.
HOUSTON 30 ST. LOUIS 27
Another great game as Houston edged St. Louis on the day they unveiled their 2012 championship banner. The Gamblers got 3 Hasselbeck TD tosses against the Skyhawk D. Josh Freeman tried to rally the troops, hitting on a late TD to Taylor Jacobs after 2 scoring throws to Jordy Nelson, but there just was not time on the clock and when Houston converted a 3rd and 3 to keep possession late, they were able to kill the clock and take a very hard-earned opening week win on the road against the defending champs.
OAKLAND 17 SEATTLE 12
A hard-fought game in rainy Seattle as the Invaders edged the Dragons by holding Byron Leftwich out of the end zone, keeping all Dragon points to the foot of Dave Rayner. Ryan Williams had a strong opener, rushing for 92 yards and a score on 17 carries for the Invaders. Rookie Keenan Allen led all Invader receivers with 4 catches for 31 yards, while Pierre Garçon had 76 yards and a TD for the visiting Invaders.
BALTIMORE 10 PHILADELPHIA 13
Both offenses seemed out of synch as the Stars and Blitz struggled for yardage and first downs all game. It was 6-3 Philadelphia into the 4th quarter, when Anthony Dixon gave Baltimore the lead with a short TD run. That score sparked the Stars as Matt Gutierrez led a drive and found Stevie Johnson in the end zone for the game winner with just over a minute to play, giving Philadelphia the win at home on opening day.
DENVER 3 ARIZONA 17
Frank Gore was the workhorse for the Wranglers in this slog of a win on opening day. The former Nashville Knight carried the ball 29 times in his Wrangler debut, rushing for 96 yards and a TD. Stephen Ridley had the other TD on a short pass from Carr. Denver struggled to move the ball, with Murray and James combining for only 48 yards rushing. Seven Gold penalties did not help the cause as Denver failed to reach the end zone in the rivalry game.
LAS VEGAS 29 CHICAGO 13
An impressive road win in the season opener for Las Vegas, as their defense led the way, holding Chicago to only 78 yards rushing and keeping Brady Quinn without a TD. Chicago led 13-10 at the half, but Las Vegas got into step with scores from Plummer to both Kevin Everett and T. J. Houshmandzadeh, who led all receivers with 131 yards on the day. Three turnovers, including two Quinn picks, helped Las Vegas hold Chicago down in the second half and take the road win.
BIRMINGHAM 28 NASHVILLE 24
One of very few upsets in Week 1, Birmingham got 4 TDs from Cam Newton, despite completing only 11 of 29 passes. Newton connected with 4 different receivers, including two 4th quarter scores, one each to Dontrelle Inman and Randy Moss as the Stallions turned a 24-14 deficit into a 28-24 victory. Peyton Manning had better numbers, with 273 yards on 29 of 36, but could not rally the Knights late, giving Birmingham an opening week win in the division.
WASHINGTON 27 PITTSBURGH 21
The Maulers were game, despite Andy Dalton getting knocked out of the game in the 3rd. They pulled within 7 in the final minutes but could not get the game winner at home. Deuce McCallister rushed 22 times for 65 yards, but it was newly acquired former Dragon Jahvid Best who got the first rushing TD of the season for the Feds. Best also caught a swing pass and took it 44 yards for another score in a pretty auspicious debut with his new team.
LOS ANGELES 17 DALLAS 20 OVERTIME
The Dallas Roughnecks opened their USFL season in front of 56,202 happy fans, and gave them something to cheer about, taking an early lead and then surviving a late LA drive to send the game to overtime and get the win on the right foot of Stephen Haushka. Jake Locker went 27 of 45 for 335 yards and a TD to Percy Harvin as Dallas held off the Express, playing without NFL import Reggie Bush. Stand in LeRon McClain played well for LA, rushing for 74 yards, but it was not enough as the defense could not prevent the overtime drive that led to Dallas’s winning kick.
MEMPHIS 14 PORTLAND 24
Jonathan Stewart scored the first 2 touchdowns of the season for Portland, and with a 14-0 lead, the Stags held off the Showboats to claim a home victory in front of a full house at Columbia Sportswear Stadium. Stewart would finish with 104 yards and 3 scores, snagging a screen for a score later in the game. For Memphis, Eli Manning had a rough opening outing, going 19 of 38 and throwing 2 picks. He did connect with Darren McFadden on a short TD toss, but otherwise it was not a great outing for the Showboat offense.
ORLANDO 34 TAMPA BAY 29
The Renegades came out swinging and stunned the Tampa Bay crowd in this rivalry opener. Russell Wilson looked like a savvy veteran, completing 19 of 34 passes for 176 yards and 3 scores, while Daunte Culpepper went 21 of 42 and had both Vincent Jackson (10 receptions) and Santonio Holmes both over 100 yards apiece by the game’s conclusion. Knowshon Moreno racked up 119 yards on only 14 carries as Coach Fox’s emphasis on balance paid off for the Renegade offense.
Dallas Roughnecks A Hot Ticket
If there were any lingering doubters within the USFL about the decision to approve the relocation of the Boston Cannons to Dallas and the Cotton Bowl, the team’s season opener against Los Angeles must have dispelled them. We already knew that Dallas had succeeded in their season ticket campaign, selling the initial 30,000 season ticket packages in only 3 months, and reaching their cap of 35,000 packages by Christmas, but with attendance of over 56,000 on hand for Dallas’s season-starting overtime victory over Los Angeles, the message seems to have been sent loud and clear, the DFW is not only a good investment for the league, but a market that will rival other Southern markets in enthusiasm.
The crowd was noticeably invested in the team already, with the team colors of sky blue, black, and red noticeably dominating the stands. Online sales of team merchandise were strong, and in-game sales at the stadium’s various merchandise shops was reported to exceed all expectations, with fans snapping up tees, hoodies, jerseys, caps and other accessories. Whether the team on the field can build off of the momentum to improve on the 3-13 season that the Cannons put together in their last season in Boston is still to be seen, but the enthusiasm of the Texas-sized crowd certainly seemed to help as the Roughnecks battled Los Angeles for 4 quarters before snatching victory in overtime. While there is still certainly aggravation and hurt in Boston, the league cannot regret the decision after seeing the reception the new Dallas franchise received, particularly with a crowd that was 12,000 attendees stronger than Boston’s stadium could even contain. It looks like Dallas was the right choice, even if it was a painful one.
New Leaders Make a Statement
Several teams made QB moves this summer, some only this past week, and the overall initial impression has been that these moves were successful. Michigan opted to move 2nd year prospect Kirk Cousins into the starting role with the retirement of Brian Griese and the former Michigan State product looked ready for the part in his first game as the first stringer, putting up 342 yards and 3 touchdowns in Michigan’s loss to New Jersey. The results were even better for Orlando, who traded away 2012 starter Eli Manning to Memphis, putting the weight of the offense on another 2nd year player, former NC State and Wisconsin QB Russell Wilson. Wilson’s numbers were not as strong, throwing for 176 yards, but his 3 TDs helped pace the ‘Gades to an upset victory against the rival Bandits in Tampa. In Ohio the decision came early last week that it would be former Monarch starter Chris Weinke, and not NFL import Vince Young, who would get the start. Weinke, who had not appeared in any games for Seattle or Texas over the past two years, responded with 259 yards and 2 TDs in his opener, a narrow loss to his 2012 squad, the Outlaws.
Not all debuts were as auspicious, with Eli Manning struggling to move the offense in Memphis, and Andy Dalton getting knocked out of his first season opener as Pittsburgh’s starter, but overall, the first impressions of the new QB’s, particularly the two 2012 rookies Wilson and Cousins, was a positive one that fans could get behind.
Newton Throws for 4 Scores in Big Divisional Win
He only completed 11 of 29 pass attempts, and his yardage total was hardly eye-popping, with 196 yards passing, but when the Stallions were in position, Cam Newton got the ball into the endzone, finishing off the Nashville Knights with 4 touchdown passes in a huge opening week victory for Birmingham. The 2013 season has been viewed as a make-or-break year for the 3rd year starter, Newton. After a 21-TD rookie year promised great things to come, 2012 proved a step back for Newton, who finished the year with only 18 TD to 15 picks. If this opening week has shown anything to Stallion fans it is that their QB may be able to live up to the big play hopes that fans had when he was signed out of Auburn.
Newton was pressured often, succumbing to 4 sacks, and scrambling to safety on several other occasions. That is not a good sign for the Stallion line, but the results were certainly more than adequate for Coach Shanahan’s offense. In the 2nd quarter Newton escaped a Nashville blitz to find new TE Jabari Holloway for a 15-yard TD. In the third he used a bootleg to buy time to find slot receiver Julian Edelman for a 7-yard score. But down 24-14 in the early minutes of the 4th quarter, Newton truly started to shine. He extended the play by evading defenders before unleashing an arcing deep ball to speedy wideout Dontrelle Inman, completing a 45-yard bomb for the first of 2 touchdowns in the final quarter. On his next drive, he again used his stature and his legs to avoid a defender, shaking off DE Mario Addison before finding Randy Moss for the game-winning TD, a 39 yarder against a shell defense.
While Birmingham may want to focus on cohesion on their O-line, their QB proved he could extend plays, continue to look downfield, and prioritize open receivers over scrambling to produce both yards and scores for the Stallions. It is exactly the kind of growth that Stallion fans were hoping to see and, if it lasts, could prove to be the difference for a Stallion club that has high hopes of contending for the Southern Division title for the first time in many years.
Lotuleilie Makes an Immediate Impression
We return to Dallas for our rookie highlight of the week. Former Utah DT Star Lotuleilei showed in Week One that he was well worth the initial pick in the Open Draft by Dallas. The native of Tonga, Lotuleilei put on an opening week debut that any rookie would be jealous of. He was a force on the inside against the LA interior line, racking up 12 tackles at the DT position, including stuffing Express backs behind the line on 4 occasions. His disruption in the middle was a big reason LA was held to only 87 yards rushing and why Mark Sanchez was forced to scramble far more often than the pocket passer wanted.
Lotuleilei was something of a surprise pick at number 1 overall, with many expecting Dallas to go after a quarterback like FSU’s E. J. Manuel or West Virginia’s Geno Smith, despite having chosen Landry Jones in the T-Draft. Others felt that a high-profile DE like LSU’s Barkevious Mingo or BYU’s Exekiel Ansah would be the choice, but Dallas opted for the interior lineman to shore up the middle and that decision paid immediate dividends for the Roughnecks this week. While it seems very unlikely that an interior d-lineman would be a contender for Rookie of the Year, it seems apparent that in Lotuleilei, Dallas may have truly found a Star in the making.
Lynch to Miss 1-2 Weeks
Not all the debut games were as positive for teams across the league, and that is certainly the case for Las Vegas. Yes, the Thunder were able to dominate the Chicago Machine, winning by 16 on the road in the season opener, but the victory came at a cost. Star halfback Marshawn Lynch had to leave the game after only 9 carries with a shoulder injury that could cost him as many as 3 games. Initially thought to be a possible collar bone fracture, x-rays revealed no break, but possible ligament damage. While not as devastating as a knee or other leg injury for a running back, the injury to Lynch’s dominant shoulder does pose a problem for the ballcarrier, as it impacts both his ability to take on tacklers and his ball security as any weakness in the shoulder could impact his ability to maintain a firm grip on the ball.
While coaches were optimistic that Lynch could be back as quickly as Week 3, that is not assured. In the meantime, 9-year veteran Cedric Benson will likely take over the lion’s share of carries, with assistance from unheralded backup Stanley Schuster until Lynch can return. The Thunder are on the road again in week 2, traveling to Memphis to face the 0-1 Showboats before hosting Nashville in their home opener. They have their first division game in Week 4 when they visit Oakland.
Dalton Pinches Nerve, Could Miss Action
The Pittsburgh Maulers also lost a key offensive player during their season opener, with QB Andy Dalton suffering a nerve pinch in his throwing arm which could cost him 1-2 starts. Dalton went out after a hit from Washington LB Cameron Wake. He came to the sideline with his throwing arm dangling at his side. Fears of a break or major tendon or ligament damage were removed by an MRI, leaving a nerve pinch as the diagnosis. Dalton should be able to recover relatively quickly but will certainly miss the upcoming game against New Orleans. In his place, former Nashville Knight Quincy Carter will get the start. Carter, who is on the 5th team in his career, started 9 games in 2012 for the Knights as the club awaited the availability of Peyton Manning. In that time, he played relatively well, throwing for 13 TDs and only 4 picks and averaging 232 yards per game.
Pittsburgh traded away 2012 season starter Cody Pickett to the Knights in trade for Carter, and now it appears that Carter will get his chance to show that it was not a one-sided trade favoring the Knights. Carter will take the start against New Orleans, a familiar foe for the former Knight, and may also be in action in Week 3 when the Maulers first hit the road with a trip to Orlando.
While we highlighted the injuries to offensive keystones Lynch and Dalton, their injuries were relatively light and likely short-duration concerns. That was not the situation for all the injured players this week. No IR additions, but several players will miss a month or more as the season just begins. Here is the breakdown of Week 1’s injury report:
OUT
OT Luke Petigout (JAX) 6-8 Weeks Ankle
OG Travis Claridge (DEN) 4-6 Weeks Hamstring
SS Kenny Vaccaro (HOU) 2-4 Weeks Ankle
OT Ken Shackleford (PHI) 2-4 Weeks Back
CB Drayton Folorence (MGN) 2-4 Weeks Wrist
WR Percy Harvin (DAL) 1-2 Weeks Hand
HB Marshawn Lynch (LV) 1-2 Weeks Shoulder
LB Hannibal Navies (DEN) 1-2 Weeks Toe
QB Andy Dalton (PIT) 1-2 Weeks Pinched Nerve
DOUBTFUL
CB Brandon Carr (DAL) Finger
CB Josh Norman (CHI) Abdomen
CB Tracy Porter (LA) Concussion
LB Angelo Crowell (BAL) Concussion
FB Vontae Leach (CHI) Shoulder
QUESTIONABLE
CB Brandon Boykin (ATL) Toe
LB Marlon Greenwood (STL) Concussion
DT Marcus Thomas (ORL) Hamstring
LB Manny Lawson (DAL) Hamstring
Rookie Roundup
Week one is special for all players, but for rookies it is their one and only time to make a first impression. We have already discussed the stellar debut for Dallas DT Star Lotuleilei, but the big man was hardly the only rookie to debut in Week 1. Here is our quick breakdown of the rookies who contributed in their USFL Debuts.
HALFBACK
We saw two rookies open the year in the starting 11 in offensive backfields, with both LeVeon Bell and Eddie Lacy announced as starters earlier in camp. Bell had the better week, taking 16 carries for 68 yards, with a solid 4.2 YPC average. Lacy had more modest numbers in a St. Louis offense that opted to pass first and run only as a way to keep the defense honest. Lacy did get most of the snaps on offense, finishing with 20 carries for 59 yards, a 3.0 YPC average. Other backs who saw limited action were Latavius Murray in Orlando (6 carries for 36 yards) and Marcus Lattimore in Atlanta (15 carries for only 24 yards as the Fire await Steven Jackson to be cleared to play).
RECIEVER
Pittsburgh had two rookies in their 3-wide receiver set and the early winner in the WR battle was former Minnesota State product Adam Thielen, who finished the opening game with 5 receptions for 113 yards, an auspicious start to be sure. The more highly touted Tavon Austin returned kicks and played mostly in the slot, finishing the game with 1 catch for 10 yards on 2 targets.
In Chicago, rookie WR Aaron Dobson started well with 4 receptions for 83 yards on 10 targets. Brady Quinn struggled with accuracy or Dobson’s numbers could have been better. Oakland WR Keenan Allen also started well, catching 4 of 5 targets for 31 yards on the day. Philadelphia TE Travis Kelce also had a good first outing, catching 4 Matt Gutierrez passes in the Stars’s opening week victory.
DEFENDERS
In addition to Star Lotuleilei’s strong first game, kudos should also go out to Jacksonville DE Barkevious Mingo, who recorded 2 sacks in his pro debut, Baltimore LB Brandon Jenkins, who racked up 9 tackles in his first pro game, and safeties Kenny Vaccaro (HOU) and Jonathan Cyprien (NJ) who played well in the opening week, though Vaccaro did have to leave the game with an injury.
KICKERS
Yes, we are going to mention the new kickers around the league, including New Orleans draft pick Caleb Sturgis, who went 1- for 1 with a 38-yard field goal and 4 PAT conversions. Atlanta rookie Ollie Brody also converted on his only FG attempt, a 22 yarder, while Pittsburgh rookie Elliot Parson struggled, missing both of his FG attempts in the Mauler loss to Washington.
NFL Transfers Expected to Take Field in Week 2
While the two biggest names from the NFL transfer window, halfbacks Reggie Bush and Steven Jackson, are not expected to suit up in Week 2, several other NFL imports have been moved to the active roster and are receiving significant snaps in practice this week. Among the NFL imports who we expect to see on the field in Week 2 we have new Blitz WR Brian Hartline, who is expected to start in the slot but perhaps see some snaps outside as well, particularly in 3rd down situations. Another highly anticipated wideout who will make his first appearance is new Mauler Josh Cribbs, who has been seen in practice both on offense and in kick return drills. Expect to see Cribbs returning kicks and punts even if he has not picked up enough of the offense yet to find himself on the field with QB Quincy Carter.
Halfback LeGarrette Blount has been cleared to play by the Portland Stags and will likely get some snaps in short yardage and when starter Jonathan Stewart needs a spell. Others who may see action this week include Birmingham DT Henry Melton, Washington LB Dannell Ellerbe, and in a move the Panthers have been waiting for, DE Michael Bennett. The Panthers were hoping to have Bennett in on obvious passing downs last week, but he was not yet cleared to play. That has been resolved and Bennett is expected to step in as the starter at LE, with the hopes of Panther fans that the former Buccaneer can help add some ferocity to the Panther pass rush.
Week two kicks off with a huge game for the Michigan Panthers as they open their home schedule with the defending champs on Friday Night Lights. The Skyhawks were stunned by the Houston Gamblers in Week One, while Michigan fell to a strong New Jersey team. Which Central Division rival will get their first win, and which will slip to an awkward 0-2 start?
Saturday brings us more divisional games, with Orlando, fresh off their upset win in Tampa Bay, now headed up the highway to Jacksonville for a 2nd straight Florida road game. Houston, who knocked off the Skyhawks in St. Louis are also on the road again, now facing their arch rivals, the Texas Outlaws in San Antonio. In a nice battle of teams with 1-0 starts, Arizona will head to Oakland to face a familiar foe of 30+ seasons.
Sunday's schedule starts off with a nationally televised ABC game between the Blitz and the Knights, both hoping to notch their first wins. We also see Tampa Bay headed to Birmingham in the early timeslot. At 4pm the national game on Fox is a Cascade Clash as Portland hosts the Seattle Dragons to renew their PNW rivalry. Then we cap it all off on ESPN/EFN with the Sunday Night Special, and it is a good one, with Philadelphia and Washington clashing at RFK in a key early season matchup in the Northeast. A good week of early season football as every team tries to get their season started the right way.
All times Eastern. National broadcasts in BOLD. Divisional Games in Blue.
Friday @ 8pm St. Louis (0-1) @ Michigan (0-1) NBC
Saturday @ 12pm Orlando (1-0) @ Jacksonville (1-0) ABC
Saturday @ 12pm Las Vegas (1-0) @ Memphis (1-0) FOX
Saturday @ 4pm Denver (0-1) @ Chicago (0-1) ABC
Saturday @ 4pm Arizona (1-0) @ Oakland (1-0) FOX
Saturday @ 7pm Atlanta (0-1) @ New Jersey (1-0) NBC
Saturday @ 9pm Houston (1-0) @ Texas (1-0) ESPN/EFN
Sunday @ 12pm Baltimore (0-1) @ Nashville (0-1) ABC
Sunday @ 12pm Tampa Bay (0-1) @ Birmingham (1-0) FOX
Sunday @ 12pm Dallas (1-0) @ Charlotte (1-0) FOX
Sunday @ 4pm Los Angeles (0-1) @ Ohio (0-1) ABC
Sunday @ 4pm New Orleans (1-0) @ Pittsburgh (1-0) ABC
Sunday @ 4pm Seattle (0-1) @ Portland (1-0) FOX
Sunday @ 8pm Philadelphia (1-0) @ Washington (1-0) ESPN/EFN
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