2017 USFL Week 15 Recap: Down to the Wire!
- USFL LIVES
- Mar 31
- 31 min read
A huge week across the USFL, with a huge game on Friday Night to kick us off. The Houston-Arizona game was an instant classic, even with Colt McCoy sidelined. It will be remembered as one of the games of the year, but was just one of several high drama matches as teams go tooth and nail to try to lock in a playoff spot. There are now only 7 teams left in the hunt for 4 remaining spots, with 2 of the 6 Wild Cards locked up this week. We will cover the races, including the breakdown of what everyone needs in the season’s final week. We will also take a look at what has happened in Birmingham since Cam Newton’s trade demand tirade. The Stallions have won 4 straight and could be in the playoffs if they can make it 5. We will also take a look at Jordy Nelson’s pursuit of a 30-year-old record, and all the latest injury news as we prepare for the season finale and the playoffs. Don’t go anywhere. This is the USFL bas your football fix right here.
Did Newton’s Tirade Spark a Stallion Surge?
Can a locker room explosion of anger and frustration really turn around a season? We may be getting an answer to that question this year in Birmingham, courtesy of Cam Newton and his highly publicized “I want out!” rant after a Week 11 loss to the Breakers. Birmingham had just suffered a pretty humbling 32-14 beat down at the hand of their division rivals. Newton had thrown for only 136 yards, been sacked 3 times, and rushed 8 times for exactly 0 yards. It was a bad performance by him and by the entire team, and he let them know it. In a locker room rant, he covered all the bases, challenging his fellow players to care more and do more, but most publicized was his attack on the coaches and his demand to be traded. He seemed emphatic that no one around him seemed to care enough to do what it took to win, and he did not want to play on a team that was not going to try.
It was all caught on tape, thanks to a local reporter with a cellular phone. It was broadcast to the world, and it was all the local media would talk about for days. And yet, the result of that epic tirade were felt. The next week Birmingham eked out a 16-5 win over visiting Las Vegas, a game in which the defense came up huge against Eli Manning with 2 picks and 3 sacks, T. J. Yeldon had his best game of the year, and Coach Ellard tried to push Newton, calling QB run after QB run late in the game. At the time it was viewed as an attempt to humble the outspoken QB, but perhaps that was not the motivation, perhaps it was about building a sense of shared responsibility in the team.
What has happened since Newton’s tirade has been nothing less than a stunning turnaround. The Stallions followed the victory over Las Vegas with another, a huge one, traveling to Houston and knocking off the 11-1 Gamblers. They then shut down Orlando to win a 3rd in a row, and this week, traveled to Washington and beat the Federals by 12 points. They are 4-0 since Cam Newton’s frustration-fueled rant. And in those 4 games, what has Newton done? How about throwing for 7 touchdowns with only 2 picks? And how about rushing for 44 yards in Houston, then 151 yards and 2 scores against Orlando, 121 and another score against Washington. That makes 10 TDs in the past 4 games, all wins for the Stallions?
Whether you find Newton’s Week 11 rant to be the sign of a brash, overly dramatic diva or the legitimate concerns of a player who just wants everyone to give as much of himself as he does, the final verdict is that it did have an impact. Maybe it shifted the team’s focus. Maybe it got players and coaches to reevaluate their own effort. Or maybe it just got the team to play angry, to push their frustration on their opponents rather than each other. Whatever the reason, we now find Birmingham sitting at 8-7, a vast improvement from 4-7, and with a realistic shot to make the post-season. They need some help, a loss by either Baltimore or New Orleans this week, along with a win in their game against Jacksonville, but it is entirely possible that the team which Newton decried for giving up too easy and not putting in the work, will find their way to the playoffs because of his calling them out. And the irony could very well be that if New Orleans stumbles this week, it could be the very team that sparked Newton’s now infamous rant, the team that humbled the Stallions, that ends up losing out to the same Stallion team in the playoff race. That would be a true turnaround of fortunes.
HOUSTON GAMBLERS 31 ARIZONA WRANGLERS 38
It was the most hyped game of the week, perhaps of the season. The 11-1 Houston Gamblers traveling back to a familiar place, Glendale, Arizona, to face the 11-1 Arizona Wranglers. Had it not been for the divisional realignment that came when Boston’s franchise moved to Dallas, this would have been a showdown for the SW Division. Instead it was a potential preview of Summer Bowl 2017, with two of the best teams in the league facing off in a huge late season clash.
The game would not be the ultimate showdown of the two clubs, the injury to Colt McCoy would make sure of that. It would be Landry Jones going up against the Wrangler defense, or at least that was the plan. By game’s end it was 3rd stringer Jeff Driskol more than holding his own, throwing 2 touchdowns and helping Houston stay right there with the Wranglers until the very end. On the other side it was pure Wrangler football, with potential repeat MVP David Carr throwing for 300 yards and 4 touchdowns, and former Mauler TE Jimmie Graham proving to be almost uncoverable, catching 4 passes but extending them for 138 yards, a nearly 35-yard per reception average. It was Houston’s pluck and determination up against Arizona’s cruel efficiency and big play capacity. It was one of the best games of the year without a doubt, and one that had fans up late on a Friday night cheering and enjoying spring football to the fullest.
The game started well for Houston, with the defense holding up against Arizona on the Wranglers’ first two possessions. The plan was obvious, keep Larry Fitzgerald under wraps (he would finish with only 1 catch on the day) and keep Carr throwing underneath. That plan, along with a good amount of pressure from the D-line of Albert Haynesworth, Antwan Applewhite, and Dante Fowler, kept Arizona from starting fast. Houston’s offense, relying on Carlos Hyde to keep pressure off of Landy Jones, struggled at first, but put together a strong second drive, one that put the first points on the board in the form of a TD toss to rookie sensation Juju Smith-Shuster.
But, Arizona’s big play capacity could not be contained for long. The second quarter saw them explode, scoring 21 unanswered points before Houston could respond. It was not Fitzgerald, but it was definitely David Carr showing what Arizona could do, first with an 11-play drive that ended with a Carr to Fitzgerald TD (his only catch of the day), and then a big play, with Carr hitting Antonio Bryant on a 39-yard strike to give Arizona the lead. Only 2 minutes later they would get help from their defense. With Landry Jones temporarily out of the game after a blow to the head, Jeff Driskol came in cold and almost immediately made a near fatal mistake, underestimating DB Nate Allen’s speed and throwing a ball late. Allen made up the ground on the Houston wideout, snatched the ball away and raced 21 yards to the endzone to push the Arizona lead to 21-7.
Houston could have folded at this moment. Their early schemes had stopped working, their QB situation was problematic, and Arizona had all the momentum. But a Wade Phillips team is nothing if not gritty, and Houston clawed their way back before the half. It took 13 plays, with Jones back on the field, but Houston added a Carlos Hyde TD plunge from the 1 with just over 40 seconds left in the half to get back to within 7 and stay focused and in the game.
During the break, the Gamblers apparently reconsidered having Jones return to the game, because when they came out for the second half, he was not on the sideline, remaining in the locker room. That meant that third string QB Jeff Driskol would go the rest of the way. If he went down, it would be emergency QB and full time fullback Madison Hedgecock who would have to take over. Fortunately for Houston, the emergency did not come. Driskol stayed in the game the rest of the way. On the opening drive of the 2nd half, he looked good, connecting on short passes, avoiding a blitzing Karlos Dansby on a key 3rd down and connecting with Dante Rosario to convert the play and earn 3 more downs. The Gamblers drove to the Arizona 40 and then Carlos Hyde had his biggest play of the game. On a sweep to the left, Hyde cut the ball back, sliding past the pursuing linebacker, then stiff-arming safety Nate Allen to break into the clear, from there he easily outpaced LB Scooby Wright and galloped 40 yards for the game-tying score.
Arizona, despite playing against Houston’s 3rd string QB, was knotted up in an even ballgame with the Gamblers. They would again turn to the big play to try to get out ahead. Once again, the big play was there for them, as it had been all season long. On their next possession, Carr used play action to HB Ka’Deem Carey to find Antonio Bryant in single coverage. With Fitzgerald always the focus of the Houston defense, Bryant was often in single coverage, and this time Carr made the defense pay, throwing a perfect deep ball to his wideout and scoring from 32 yards out to once again give Arizona a lead. On their next possession, he hit on an even bigger play. With the two wideouts a major concern for Houston, TE Jimmie Graham had been largely covered by linebackers, which is not a great plan, and on Arizona’s next possession, that plan backfired in a big way.
Houston had remained in man coverage, as they had done most of the game. Arizona had sent both Bryant and Fitzgerald to the sidelines with out routes, leaving the middle of the field exposed. A toss to Jimmie Graham garnered the Wranglers 14 yards and would have been a first down, but when safety Budda Baker, an outstanding rookie who has made a lot of key tackles all year, misjudged the angle, he found himself flailing at Graham’s left leg. Graham shook out of the tackle and took off. It would be a 62-yard scoring play for the big tight end, clearly winded by the time he collapsed in the endzone. It gave Arizona its second 14-point lead of the day, but the game was not yet over.
The 4th quarter began with Houston having to settle for a field goal, a 30-yarder from Younghoe Koo that dropped the lead to 11, but when Arizona responded with a 3-pointer of their own, Houston had little time and still trailed by 2 touchdowns. QB Jeff Driskol would respond, hitting Dante Rosario with a scoring toss with just over 2 minutes to play. That late drive brought the game to within 7 points at 31-38, but the drive forced Houston to use 2 of their 3 timeouts, meaning that they did not have the ability to stop the clock more than once. That reality forced Wade Phillips’s hand. He had to go for the onside kick rather than kicking deep and trusting his defense.
And so, Younghoe Koo would need to find a way to get the ball to his own teammates to give Houston a shot. The Gamblers overloaded the left side, but put both Mike Evans and Carlos Hyde on the right side. Koo swivel kicked the ball back to the right, trying to find Hyde, but Arizona had countered with Joe Haden, their All-USFL cornerback. Haden saw the swivel and raced towards the ball. He touched it before it had gone the requisite 10 yards, always a risky move, but he also tucked it away and rolled to a fetal position on the turf, forcing Houston to touch him down and giving possession to the Wranglers.
Arizona would run out the clock, gaining a first down on a short Frank Gore run, and then kneeling the ball to end the game. The Wranglers’s style of big play offense and hardnosed defense had again triumphed, but an undermanned Houston squad had proven that they could stick with the Wranglers, and if given the chance to go into the game at full strength, with Colt McCoy back under center, the Gamblers could well get the better of Arizona. It was an epic battle of two very well-coached and highly talented teams, a potential Summer Bowl preview, and if that is the case we could be in for a great title game this year.
OHIO 30 DALLAS 24
It was a better game for Johnny Manziel (302 yards, 3 TD, 3 Int) than for Christian Hackenberg (210 yards, 1 TD, 3 picks), but the Glory got the result they needed, thanks in part to the combo of Pead and Jennings, who combined for 134 yards and 2 scores. Manziel hit Tiquan Underwood for 2 scoring throws, including one with 21 seconds left, but it was not enough as Ohio moves to 8-7 and can clinch a playoff spot with a win next week.
POTG: Ohio CB Chidi Chekwa: 11 Tck, 4 PDef, 1 int
NEW JERSEY 25 PITTSBURGH 14
The Generals snag a Wild Card with their road win in Pittsburgh. MJD rushed for 147 and a score, averaging 5.8 YPC against the Mauler defense. It was also the triumphant return to action for LB Rey Maualaga, who made both POTG and Defensive POTW honors for his outstanding first game back from injury.
POTG: General LB Rey Maualaga: 5 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 Sfty
JACKSONVILLE 26 ATLANTA 13
The Fire had a playoff spot on the line, but they just could not overcome the Bulls’ defense. Jacksonville put 4 field goals on the board in the first half to take a 12-0 lead and finally got a TD on the board, from the defense, as Charles Godfrey returned an Errant Aaron Murray throw 50 yards for the decisive score. C. J. Beathard did little more than dink and dunk, completing 14 of 18 but for only 118 yards on the day.
POTG: Bulls’ DB Charles Godfrey: 4 Tck, 2 Int, 1 DefTD
PORTLAND 14 OAKLAND 27
Bob Volek had a game he will remember for a long time, completing 27 of 36 and throwing for 4 TDs as Oakland took out some of their frustration on the visiting Portland Stags. Volek threw 2 TDs to lead receiver Davante Adams, and one each to TE Zack Ertz and slot receiver Taylor Gabriel. Marcus Mariota was sacked 5 times as Oakland’s D dominated the line. Even league leading rusher Doug Martin could only muster 34 yards on the ground against the angry Invader D.
POTG: Invader QB Bob Volek: 27/36, 238 Yds, 4 TD
PHILADELPHIA 9 LOS ANGELES 13
One of the best defensive performances of the year gave LA the win over favored Philadelphia and gives the Express a shot at a playoff berth in next week’s showdown with Seattle. Philadelphia could not run the ball against the Express front 7, with Derrick Henry averaging a paltry 1.9 yards per carry, going for only 35 yards on 18 attempts. LA struggled on offense as well, but had the lone TD of the game on a Bradford to Sneed TD toss. The D did the rest as the Express stay alive.
POTG: Express DE Greg Scruggs: 4 Tck, 1 Sck
MICHIGAN 26 ORLANDO 10
The Panthers extended Orlando’s losing streak to 7 games by sacking Connor Shaw 6 times and holding the disgruntled Knowshon Moreno to only 26 yards on 7 carries. Michigan dominated time of possession, 37-22, with LeVeon Bell rushing the ball 21 times for 79 yards and Kirk Cousins completing 30 of 40 pass attempts. Cody Latimer, Jerrel Jernigan and TE Martellus Bennett each had 5 or more receptions and Michigan simply shortened the game while protecting Cousins from Orlando’s pass rush.
POTG: Panther QB Kirk Cousins: 30/40, 261 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int
OKLAHOMA 34 DENVER 17
A frustrating day for both clubs. Denver took a loss and looked pretty bad doing it, but Oklahoma, despite the nice win, found themselves eliminated from playoff contention by the Monday morning. Marshawn Lynch was huge again for the Outlaws, rushing for 118 on 28 carries and punching the ball in for 6 twice. The Outlaws also benefitted from a 20-yard fumble return for TD from CB Pacman Jones, but in the end, they still find themselves outside of playoff contention at 7-8.
POTG: Outlaw HB Marshawn Lynch: 28 Att, 118 Yds, 2 TD
BIRMINGHAM 34 WASHINGTON 22
Cam Newton played angry football, and good football, putting up 4 touchdowns (3 passing, 1 rushing) and once again went over 100 yards on the ground as Birmingham kept their Wild Card hopes alive by winning their 4th in a row. For Washington, and interim head coach Mike New, too many mistakes as they committed 2 turnovers and 8 penalties.
POTG: Stallion QB Cam Newton: 11/26, 146 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int, 10 Att, 122 Yds, 1 TD
ST. LOUIS 9 CHICAGO 29
Trevor Siemian put together a solid game against a bad St. Louis defense as the young QB tries to make his case to be the starter in 2018. Siemian completed 15 of 27 attempts for 244 yards. The TDs came from the backs, with both Matt Forte and Brandon Boldin scoring. Kyle Boller struggled, throwing 2 picks and sacked 3 times as St. Louis dropped their 12th game of the season, a season to forget for the Skyhawks.
POTG: Chicago kicker William Hopper: 5 of 5 on field goals.
TAMPA BAY 21 CHARLOTTE 24
The Bandits proved to be a tough out, with Dalvin Cook rushing for 87 yards and 2 scores and Dak Prescott throwing for 303, but in the end, Charlotte found a way to pull the game out, scoring 14 in the 4th quarter to turn a 21-10 deficit into a 24-21 victory. Mitch Trubisky hit Jonathan Stupar and Brandon Pettigrew for scores in the final period, making tight ends everywhere happy.
POTG: Charlotte QB Mitch Trubisky: 17/29, 249 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
SAN DIEGO 3 SEATTLE 26
A bad loss for the Thunder as they are now locked into the 3 seed in the West. They just were outhustled by Seattle, who got solid games from HB C. J. Anderson, QB Jacoby Brissett, and their defense. Seattle now faces LA in what could be a “play in” game in Week 16. San Diego mustered only 138 total yards in a game that has to make fans nervous about their upcoming playoff situation.
POTG: Seattle DE Muhammad Wilkerson: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR
MEMPHIS 16 LAS VEGAS 19
It took all 60 minutes to get there, but Las Vegas clinches a playoff berth after knocking off the Memphis Showboats. Memphis looked solid, with a strong defensive gameplan and a good game from Paxton Lynch (30 of 45 for 228 and a TD). Las Vegas was down 23-21 with 3:04 left after Lynch hit Mark Clayton for a go-ahead TD, but Eli Manning, facing his former team for the first time, was calm and collected on the drive. With just 1:15 left to play a TD pass to Denarius Moore put Las Vegas back on top. Not an easy win, but one that was worth it as Las Vegas clinched a Wild Card at 9-6.
POTG: Viper QB Eli Manning: 21/35, 217 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Int
NEW ORLEANS 17 BALTIMORE 25
The Blitz win the battle of Eastern Conference Wild Card contenders, but both Baltimore and New Orleans remain in a “control your own destiny” situation. Both need to win next week to lock up Wild Card berths. In this game, the Blitz got solid contributions from their run game (100 yards even on the day), from Big Ben (2 TD tosses and 213 yards) and from their defense, as pressure forced Drew Brees and Pat White out of the game. That almost backfired for Baltimore as rookie QB Chad Kelly came in and threw for 2 late TDs to get New Orleans close and put a scare into the Blitz.
POTG: Blitz QB Ben Roethlisberger: 14/21, 213 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int
Outlaws Win the Battle, but Lose the War
It was a good win for the Oklahoma Outlaws, a road win against a quality club, a divisional win, the kind of win that could help propel a team into the playoffs with a very positive self-image. But there was one problem. The win was not enough. Oklahoma had done their part, picking apart the Denver defense, setting Marshawn Lynch free once more like a bull in a China shop. They built up a 17-0 lead in just one quarter and never allowed Denver to get closer than 10 points all game. But their future was not theirs to control.
Beating Denver certainly helped, but in order for Oklahoma to stay alive for the postseason, they needed help from some unlikely sources. They needed Dallas to knock off Ohio, sending the Glory. They needed San Diego to beat Seattle at Lumen Stadium, and they needed LA to fall at home to the 13-1 Philadelphia Stars. San Diego and Philadelphia were favored, and Dallas was at home, so there was hope in OK City that the Outlaws could get exactly what they needed to stay alive for a Wild Card going into the season’s final week. That hope dimmed on Friday night, when Ohio held off the Roughnecks and got the W they needed. Then in the 4pm slot on Saturday the Outlaws watched as LA shut down the Stars and got the home win they needed to stay alive. And on Sunday, after the Outlaws played their part, the last nail in the coffin. Seattle not only upended San Diego, they blew them out of the water.
“We have no one to blame but ourselves” said a resigned Coach Landry. And he was right. Oklahoma had come alive after adjusting their offensive scheme in Week 12, but by then they had dug themselves a 4-7 whole. They would win 3 of their next 4, but even with that, the best they could hope for was .500 and an 8-8 record is no guarantee at all of a playoff berth. And so, on Sunday they were officially eliminated. They will host the New Orleans Breakers in Week 16, with a chance to play spoiler as now it is New Orleans on the precipice of playoff elimination, but they will also use the opportunity to thank the fans of their home, Oklahoma City. Every home game this year was a sellout, and that is in itself a huge victory for the Outlaws, the kind that cannot be taken away by other teams.
Harbaugh Says Los Angeles Defense “Ate Our Lunch And Stole Our Milk Money”
Coach Jim Harbaugh was pretty blunt about how his team played in Los Angeles on Saturday. In the post-game interview he was “not so much angry as disappointed”, a classic “dad line” but one that seems appropriate for a team that only lost their 2nd game all season. As it turned out, that loss in LA would not hurt their chances for a 1-seed, as Houston also was upset this week, meaning that Philadelphia still controls their own destiny, and can lock up home field advantage in the Eastern Playoffs with a win at home v. Baltimore next week. But, even with that rosy situation still in front of them, it is no fun seeing your team flounder, and so Harbaugh summed it up with the colorful analogy in our header. Yes, he was right. LA’s defense did eat Philadelphia’s lunch and steal their milk money. It was a classic playground bullying from the Express.
Defense has been the calling card of Coach Reid’s team all season and that was certainly the case this week against the favored Stars. While the Stars only logged 3 sacks, that does not mean that Matt Gutierrez was free from pressure. He was hit early and often. And the same could be said for HB Derrick Henry, who averaged only 1.9 yards per carry and simply was not given a chance to break out of the front 7 all game long, with his longest run totaling only 6 yards. It was a master class by the LA defense, and had Philadelphia not also brought their A-game on defense, this game would certainly have been uglier than the 13-9 final score.
Nelson Needs Huge Game for Record
With the Breakers going through 3 quarterbacks in their tough loss in Baltimore, the production from the passing game was understandably lower than the norm. Drew Brees only threw 7 attempts before he was lost for the game with an apparent concussion. In came Pat White, who also threw only 7 passes before a gimpy ankle forced him out of the game. Rookie 3rd stringer, Chad Kelly, nephew to famous Houston Gambler Jim Kelly, was up. Kelly played well, throwing for 2 late touchdowns, including one to Jordy Nelson, but that was Nelson’s highlight for the game. A game that finished with only 75 yards in his receiving total.
Seventy-five yards is a fine day for many receivers, but when you have to average nearly 140 per game over the season’s final month in order to break a 30-year-old receiving record, well, it puts a major hitch in the plan. How much of a hitch? Well, in order to get the record, Nelson is going to need to rebound in a major way this week against Oklahoma. He needs 225 yards to overtake Eric Truvillion and hold the single season receiving record of 1,960 yards. That, even for a player as talented as Nelson, seems like a big ask.
Carr Closes in on MVP, but Thinks Fitzgerald Deserves Honor
David Carr is the current USFL leader in passing yards, with 4,269 to date, the only player currently over 4,000 yards. He also leads the league with 43 touchdowns, 14 more than 2nd place Kirk Cousins. And, thanks to Colt McCoy missing enough time to drop him from eligibility for the Passer Rating category, Carr is also leading that category with a 127.6 rating. That is the trifecta, and with that honor there is almost always another, that of season MVP. Carr is the defending MVP after a brilliant 2016 season that saw the Wranglers win the league title and saw Carr emerge as a truly elite QB.
When we look at this year’s numbers, they are already significantly better than the 2016 MVP season, with Carr over 4,000 yards, something he did not accomplish last year. His 43 touchdowns, with one week left to play, surpass the 36 from last year as well. And yet, Carr has said he does not believe he should get the award for a 2nd year in a row. He may be the only person left in America who believes that, but in Carr’s words “I am honored, but when I look at what Larry Fitzgerald does game in and game out to get open, get deep, and make me look good, I am certain he should be considered for MVP”. Carr has a point, Larry Fitzgerald has been an unstoppable force of nature this year, but a receiver can never succeed unless his QB is right there with him. So, while many may consider Fitzie a quality candidate for OPOTY, we are still leaning towards Carr to repeat as MVP.
Jones Lost for Playoffs, Coach Phillips Mum on McCoy.
Houston has a tough call ahead of them in next week’s season finale against Tampa Bay. A win, paired with a Philadelphia loss in Baltimore, means that the Gamblers, and not the Stars, get home field, which could be huge if the two meet in the Conference Title Game. Much better to have that game in Houston than in Philadelphia, at least if you are the Gamblers. But, in this week’s epic matchup with the Wranglers, Houston suffered a blow that will complicate their plan. They lost Landry Jones, understudy to Colt McCoy, to an injury that will keep him out of the entire playoff postseason.
While losing your QB could be disastrous, the reality is that Colt McCoy is cleared to play this week. He is not 100% and were Landry Jones available, the Gamblers would almost certainly play Jones and have McCoy rest up for the Divisional Playoff round. But Jones is gone, which means that Houston has to decide whether to risk McCoy’s health ahead of the playoffs, or go with 3rd stringer Jeff Driskoll in a game that could decide who plays where in the Conference Title Game. On the one hand, playing McCoy gives you the best chance to win in Tampa Bay and the best chance at that one seed, but if he aggravates his injury, that could lead to a quick playoff exit. Play Driskoll and you are sure to get McCoy back at 100% in 2 weeks, but you could be facing a tough road game in Philadelphia. That is why Wade Phillips is getting paid the big bucks, to make exactly these kinds of decisions.
Seattle’s Win Comes at a Cost
The Seattle Dragons remain alive for the postseason, a reality that seemed unimaginable after an 0-5 start to the year, but their upset win over San Diego did come at a price. Two key pieces of the Dragon offense are now gone for the season finale, with one out for any future games even if they do make the postseason. HB C. J. Anderson is expected to miss 1, possibly 2 weeks after taking dislocating his elbow in a nasty tackle. That means that Joseph Addai will likely see a true lead-back share of carries next week in LA. What may be more devastating to Jacoby Brissett and the Dragon offense is that TE Dennis Pitta is out for the remainder of the season and postseason after x-rays revealed a fracture in his pelvic bone, not the hip pointer that was hoped for. Pitta is the 3rd leading receiver for the Dragons, with an impressive 64 receptions and 562 yards. He is one of Brissett’s safety outlets on most routes, and while his replacement, Tyler Kroft, is a solid receiver, he does not provide the same sure hands and physical presence as Pitta. Seattle will have to make use of slot receivers Jerrico Cotcherry and Legedu Nannee much more than they have so far this year (only 33 catches between them) if they are going to find success against a very tough LA defense. It is a chance to prove something to the doubters who are still out there, but not the way the Dragons wanted to enter the game. “Shorthanded” is never a word you want to hear in a must win situation.
Week 16 Playoff Scenarios
ARIZONA (14-1): The Wranglers have clinched the 1 seed in the West, will get a Wild Card
bye and have home field throughout the Western Conference playoffs.
MICHIGAN (12-3): The Panthers have clinched the 2 seed in the West, will get a Wild Card
bye and a home game in the Divisional Round.
SAN DIEGO (10-5): The Thunder have clinched the 3 seed in the West and will host a Wild
Card playoff against the 6 seed.
PHILADELPHIA (13-2): The Stars have clinched a Top 2 seed, with a Wild Card bye. With a
win over Baltimore or a loss by Houston, they will clinch the 1 Seed
which provides home field throughout the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
HOUSTON (13-2): The Gamblers have clinched a Top 2 seed, with a Wild Card bye. With a
win over Tampa Bay and a Stars loss to Baltimore, they would claim the 1
seed, with home field throughout the Eastern Conference Playoffs.
CHARLOTTE (10-5): The Monarchs have clinched the 3 seed in the East. They will host the 6
seed in the Wild Card round.
LAS VEGAS (9-6): The Vipers have clinched a Wild Card. With a win over Arizona, they
would receive the 4 seed in the West, giving them a home game against
the 5 seed in the Wild Card round.
NEW JERSEY (9-6): The Generals have clinched a Wild Card. With a win over Oakland, they
would receive the 4 seed in the East, giving them a home game against
the 5 seed in the Wild Card round.
DENVER (8-6-1): The Gold control their destiny. A win would clinch them a Wild Card as
the 5 seed, but a win and a Las Vegas loss would give them the 4 seed
and a home playoff game.
BALTIMORE (8-7): The Blitz control their destiny. A win would clinch them a Wild Card as
the 5 seed. A win plus a New Jersey loss would almost certainly give
Baltimore the 4 seed and a home playoff based on points scored
(4th tiebreaker)
OHIO (8-7): The Glory control their destiny. A win assures them of a Wild Card berth.
NEW ORLEANS (8-7): The Breakers control their destiny. A win assures them of a Wild Card
berth
LOS ANGELES (8-7): The Express can earn a Wild Card with a win over Seattle and a loss by
either Denver or Ohio.
SEATTLE (8-7): The Dragons can earn a Wild Card with a win over Los Angeles and a
loss by either Denver or Ohio.
BIRMINGHAM (8-7): The Stallions can earn a Wild Card with a win over Jacksonville, and a
loss by either Baltimore or New Orleans.
With only 1 week left in the season, one wonders why teams bother to use the Injured Reserve, or to announce multiple week injuries, at least those already removed from playoff contention. The reasoning is two part, first, moving a player to IR frees up a space to bring someone onto the active roster from the practice squad, secondly, it is needed to trigger some of the more lucrative injury support mechanisms at the league level, concessions won by the players’ union in the last CBA agreement. Essentially, salary paid out to players on IR is taken from league funds and not counted against the team’s salary cap, creating a benefit for the team, while assuring that players cannot be either cut or placed on lists such as the PUP or others that do not allow for full salary. And so, with only 1 week left, we have one of our largest IR lists of the season.
OUT
OT Charles Leno NOR Hip IR
FS Jairus Byrd PHI Hip IR
SS Jaiquawn Jarrett OAK PCL IR
QB Landry Jones HOU Leg IR
FS Calvin Pryor MEM Achilles IR
G Garrett Gilkey DEN Back IR
LB Paul Posluszny PIT Hamstring IR
CB Dunta Robinson PIT Hamstring IR
SS Jabril Peppers MGN Wrist 2-4 Weeks
OT Dennis Kelly OKL Arm 2-4 Weeks
WR Ronald Johnson PHI Hand 1-2 Weeks
WR Kevin White DEN Hand 1-2 Weeks
G Chris Watt MGN Shoulder 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
LB Kiko Alonso POR Eye
DE Cameron Jordan NOR Concussion
TE Jordan Cameron POR Shoulder
TE Ben Watson DAL Hamstring
SS LaRon Landry OHI Hand
QB Pat White NOR Hand
QUESTIONABLE
G Davis Martin STL Concussion
CB Justin Gilbert SD Hamstring
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey BAL Back
DE Dion Jordan POR Pinched Nerve
Stat Races to Watch in Week 16
One week left in the regular season means not only a playoff push for the teams that remain alive but not locked in, but also a race for stats. From players hoping to renegotiate contracts to others looking for All-USFL recognition, the final week can be one where records are broken, league leaders shift, and individual accomplishments are celebrated, especially when the team’s goals are already well-defined as successes or failures. We have no shortage of players that are going to be making a push for individual statistical markers this year. We start with the big one, now considered a longshot, a push to break a record that has stood for over 30 seasons.
The Breakers need to win to earn their Wild Card berth, but in addition to that, Jordy Nelson is in range, a distant range, but in range for Eric Truvillion’s 1986 receiving yardage record of 1,959 yards in a season. That may not happen for Nelson, who would need 224 yards to tie the record, but he may very well break up the monopoly Truvillion has on the record book, with the former Bandit holding the top 3 spots on the season receiving record list. Nelson should break into that top 3 even with a moderately successful performance this week.
We have 6 receivers all looking at the season TD lead with interest this week. Larry Fitgerald, Brian Hartline and TE Jimmie Graham each have 13 TDs on the season, with Jordy Nelson, Marques Colston, and Houston TE Vernon Davis one back at 12. Is it a race to 14 or 15 for someone to grab the title outright?
Currently only Pittsburgh’s Adam Thielen has surpassed 100 receptions this year, but there are 4 others who are within 10 of that big mark: Odell Beckham Jr (NJ), D. J. Hackett (CHA), Denarius Moore (LV) and Aaron Dobson (CHI) could reach 100 if they can get as many as 10 receptions in Week 16 action.
Doug Martin has the rushing lead, as he has held it for most of the year, but two other backs could potentially leapfrog Martin on the season’s final week. MJD is the closest, needing only to outperform Martin by 37 yards in the season finale to overtake him and earn his first rushing title. LeVeon Bell, who started the season with huge ambitions, has come up short of setting a league record and would need to outperform Martin by 100 yards to get the rushing title.
Three other backs are staring at the 1,000 yard mark and hoping they have what it takes to earn their first 1,000-yard seasons. Jacksonville’s Matt Jones needs only 31 yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark. Oakland rookie Christian McCaffrey needs 65, and Anthony Allen, who has not even started the entire season, can reach 1,000 if he can put together a 124-yard outing in his final game of the season, possibly his final game as a Showboat as he remains unsigned beyond Week 16.
While David Carr is well over 4,000 yards passing, sitting at 4,269 after 15 weeks, there are 3 other QBs with a reasonable chance to hit that huge number. Philadelphia’s Matt Gutierrez, having a real bounceback season, needs only 41 yards to eclipse 4,000. Michigan’s Kirk Cousins also needs a modest number, 141 yards this week, while Joe Flacco, who has had his share of 4,000-yard campaigns in the past, could do it again if he can have a very Flacco-esque day, needing 384 yards to get their once again.
Perhaps more of a dubious honor than one players want, there are currently 3 quarterbacks tied for the most interceptions thrown this season. Aaron Murray, Christian Hackenberg, and Paxton Lynch are all sitting at 17 picks on the year. They would each love for one of the others to pull ahead and earn the dubious honor of throwing the most of any starter in the league.
The race for the league’s leading tackler is very close, with 3 players within 1 tackle of each other’s totals. Tampa’s Brian Orakpo and Jacksonville’s Sean Lee both sit at 116, with Birmingham’s DeMarco Ryans only 1 back at 115. All three have been outstanding players saddled with pretty bad supporting casts this year, so winning the tackle title will be at least one positive that comes out of the year.
The sack title has been decided for weeks, with Calais Campbell again proving he is the absolute GOAT as a pass rusher, but there are three players all tied for 2nd with 18 sacks apiece. You know each of them would like to be able to claim 2nd place all for themselves. The four in battle this week for that 2nd place finish are Denver’s Von Miller, Pittsburgh’s Dwight Freeney, New Jersey’s Vic Beasley, Jacksonville’s Robert Ayers, and Campbell’s linemate Arthur Moats are all 9 sacks behind Campbell, but one of them could jump into 2nd with a big game.
Gone But Not Forgotten: San Antonio’s Bittersweet Season
It has been a weird spring and summer in San Antonio. For the first time since 1986 they have gone through the spring season without pro football in town. Yes, the Outlaws were still out there, but they were playing nearly 500 miles away in Oklahoma City. Few fans of the Texas Outlaws made the trip up to OKC to watch their former team, and resentment over how the Outlaws “took the money and ran” rather than staying and playing locally is pretty much the overwhelming sentiment in the city. Many former Outlaw fans are ready to jump ship to the new expansion franchise the city has been promised for 2020, but the Outlaws were a part of their lives for 30 seasons, so it was a rough USFL season watching Oklahoma and their new black, crimson, and orange uniforms receiving huge crowds and plenty of fanfare in their new home.
San Antonio fans are holding onto their royal, kelly, and white gear, secure in the knowledge that former Outlaw owner Red McCombs has retained the rights to the colors, if nothing else, and that he has promised that the 2020 expansion team will return those colors to the city. Of course, many fans wish that the team in Oklahoma had taken a new name, much as the Browns became the Ravens when they moved from Cleveland to Baltimore in the NFL. But, the deal needed to be approved, and the folks in OKC were right in saying that the original USFL Outlaws were an Oklahoma team, playing in nearby Tulsa.
2020 will be here before you know it, and we expect McCombs and his new ownership group to reveal the new team well before March of 2020 rolls around, but between now and then, the people of San Antonio, and much of southern Texas are a people without a team, and that is a feeling they have not had in a long time.
Federals Reveal 2018 Uniforms, including “Black Ops” Alternate
The Federals become the 6th and final team to present their new Under Armor makeovers. With their season this year going much worse than expected, and some major changes on the way for 2018, it seems as good a time as any for the club to redefine itself and its look. The new Under Armor uniforms help to do that, with major changes to the design of the club, including a fascinating new alternate look.
Let’s start with the primary uniforms. While the team’s eagle logo is unchanged with the 2018 reimagining, there are several aspects of the design that are very much new for Washington. First, looking at the helmet, the team returns to a simple 3-stripe pattern, but UA adds a bit of flare by having the stripes end in curved tips at the back of the helmet, a design nod to the wing design on the primary logo. This motif, of 3 “feather” stripes, is a preeminent one in the entire design. On the jerseys, this is evident in the diagonal sleeve striping, which rises from the cuff in the back to the chest in the front, extending beyond the sleeves in another 3-stripe pattern. This is evident in both the all-green “home” jersey as well as with the green sleeves on the light or “away” uniform.
A second new feature in the jersey design is the use of a diagonally tilted number system, something we are more accustomed to seeing in a NASCAR design than on a football jersey. The curved block number rises from the observer’s left to right, again focusing on the theme of flight and upward motion. The pants also feature this theme, removing the long vertical stripes and again presenting a “rising” 3-stripe pattern, which highlights the wing motif once again. Both green and white sets are available for the Federals to mix and match.
The throwback uniforms are exactly what we expected, a return to the more traditional block font and horizontal jersey stripes of the 1983 Federals, though UA did retain a bit more color than the originals by having a two tone collar included in the look, something that was not present in 1983. This look will only have 1 pant set, as the Feds did not add green pants until several years later.
The final look is what UA is calling the “Black Ops” kit, a reference to either military or spy operations, appropriate to a team based in the nation’s capital. This uniform is another monochrome look with a matte black helmet, black jersey, pants and socks. The helmet features the same three truncated stripes as the new primaries, with a green-white-green striping, but no longer do we have the familiar eagle logo on the helmet. Instead, we have the crest-like secondary, looking very much like a government office design rather than a football logo. The jerseys are solid black, as are the pants, with the diagonal “rising” stripes much as they are on the primary looks. The numbering is kelly green with white piping. It is a very distinctive look for a club that has always been focused on white over green (to avoid comparisons with the hated Philadelphia Eagles of the NFL).
Saturday Noon Games: No playoff scenarios on tap here, with Charlotte having already been locked into the 3 seed, but what we have here is potential chaos in the draft order. We could end up with either a 3-way tie for the first pick if Portland loses to Washington and St. Louis loses to Orlando, or a 3-way tie for the 2nd Pick if Portland and St. Louis win, and Pittsburgh loses. May not seem like much, considering the impact the NFL has on USFL first round picks, but you know the GM’s have opinions on this.
SAT @ 12PM ET Portland (3-12) @ Washington (2-13)
SAT @ 12PM ET Orlando (5-10) @ St. Louis (3-12)
SAT @ 12PM ET Pittsburgh (4-10) @ Charlotte (10-5)
Saturday 4pm Games: Birmingham needs to win and have either New Orleans or Baltimore lose. They will be playing at the same time as the Breakers. Baltimore won’t play until the next day, but could be in the playoffs if Birmingham stumbles. Someone of those three (Breakers, Blitz, Stallions) is going to have bad news by Monday. Las Vegas needs a win to lock up the 4-seed and a home game. Arizona is almost certainly going to rest their starters.
SAT @ 4PM ET Birmingham (8-7) @ Jacksonville (6-9)
SAT @ 4PM ET New Orleans (8-7) @ Oklahoma (7-8)
SAT @ 4PM ET Las Vegas (9-6) @ Arizona (14-1)
Saturday Night Game: Denver needs this win. A loss could be catastrophic as both Ohio and the LA-Seattle winner could leapfrog them, knocking them out of the playoffs. San Diego is locked into the 3 seed, so they, like Arizona, could rest some starters and prepare for the Wild Card round.
SAT @ 7PM ET Denver (8-6-1) @ San Diego (10-5)
Sunday Noon Games: Lots on the line here. The main item on display is the 1-seed in the East. A Philadelphia win clinches it for them. Houston needs to beat Tampa Bay and hope the Blitz can stay hot against the Stars. For Baltimore, a win is essential for the playoffs only if both New Orleans and Birmingham won on Saturday. If either has lost, then the Blitz are already locked into a Wild Card and could opt to rest their starters. We don’t think Philly or Houston will do so.
SUN @ 12PM ET Baltimore (8-7) @ Philadelphia (13-2)
SUN @ 12PM ET Houston (13-2) @ Tampa Bay (5-10)
SUN @ 12PM ET Dallas (5-10) @ Memphis (6-9)
Sunday 4pm Games: Some low, intensity matches here, though New Jersey would like to get the win at Oakland to lock up the 4-seed and play at home next week. Michigan is locked into the 2, so they will almost certainly rest their starters. Ohio needs to win against the Fire to have a shot, especially if Denver has won the night before, because if the Gold won on Saturday night, then Ohio can only get in with a win. A loss means the winner of the Sunday Night game will bypass them for the final spot.
SUN @ 4PM ET Atlanta (6-9) @ Ohio (8-7)
SUN @ 4PM ET New Jersey (9-6) @ Oakland (6-9)
SUN @ 4PM ET Chicago (5-10) @ Michigan (12-3)
Sunday Night Game: The league put this Pacific matchup on Sunday Night because it is the only game that has the potential to be a Win-and-in-lose-and-out game for both teams. If either Denver or Ohio has already lost, then the winner of this game gets the playoff spot. Of course, if both the Gold and Glory get the W’s they need, then this is very anticlimactic indeed.
SUN @ 7PM ET Seattle (8-7) @ Los Angeles (8-7)
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