2018 USFL Week 14 Recap: The Dam Has Broken!

When it rains it pours, and this week it was pouring playoff bids as 6 clubs punch their tickets for the postseason. Arizona locked up the SW Division for the 4th straight year, pulling 3 games up with only 2 to play. Houston, Oakland, New Orleans, Memphis, and Ohio also earned berths, though their divisions remain unsettled with 2 weeks left to play. That leaves 6 slots unclaimed, and we have 12 teams still alive in the hunt. So, you know every game from now on is a big game. We will recap the Week 14 action that finally broke through and gave us some playoff teams, we will also update you on Sam Bradford’s nasty injury, talk about MVPs for all 28 clubs and take a look at the last of our expected 2020 Expansion groups, with Miami hoping 4 teams in Florida is not a deal-breaker.  All of it starts now, with our story of the day, The Wild Wild West.

Seven Teams, Three Wild Cards. The West is Truly Wild in 2018.

With 2 weeks left in the 2018 season, we finally have some playoff teams locked in, but what we have in the Western Conference could produce one of the craziest and most complex finishes in league history. We have Ohio, sitting at 9-5 and assured no worse than a Wild Card, but we also have both Chicago and Michigan, who face off in Week 15. The winner of that game could still unseat Ohio atop the division. In the Pacific, we have Oakland with a 2-game lead over both the Thunder and the Dragons. Those two also face off in Week 15, with the winner possibly in position to catch the Invaders. But, even if those in the chase fall short of the division, we still have 3 wild card spots, and between the 8-6 and 7-7 clubs, we have seven teams who could be fighting for those three spots.

As of today, San Diego and Seattle, sitting at 8-6, have an advantage, but since they face off this week, we know one of them will almost certainly drop back to the pack at 8-7. Add to that the pack of five 7-7 clubs, and you could have a logjam for those Wild Card spots. As we said, Chicago and Michigan will be playing a quasi-knock out game this week, with the loser dropping to 7-8 and almost certainly out of the chase. We also have Portland, who next face the Invaders, Denver, who head to St. Louis in what is a must-win game, and we have Oklahoma, who must try to knock off the Wranglers in Arizona to stay alive.

So, what do we think happens? Well, the winner of the Dragons-Thunder clash will have a clear win-and-in situation in Week 16. The winner of Chicago v. Michigan likely will have the same control of their own destiny in the season’s final week. As for all the other 7-7 teams, 2-0 in the final two weeks is their best shot, but nearly all need the right combination of wins and losses by fellow 7-7 or even 8-6 teams to make it happen. Nine wins is nice, but it may not lock you into a playoff berth.

Meanwhile, in the East, we know that a minimum of 9 wins will be needed, and this week’s Atlanta-Charlotte game means that you will have 1 SE team in the battle for the last Wild Card along with at least 2 NE Division clubs as the gap between Pittsburgh, New Jersey, and Washington is only 1 game. It could all sort out this week, or it could drag into Week 16, with a lot depending on what happens when the Maulers host the Blitz on Friday night. A Mauler win and they will have a playoff spot for certain, which may kill the chances for several teams. Not quite as crazy as the West, but still something on the line in several games on the schedule.

SEATTLE DRAGONS 24  OHIO GLORY 23

Two teams trying to gain respect, both very possibly playoff bound, and both looking for a win to help that quest. That is what we got on Sunday, when the Seattle Dragons flew east to face the Ohio Glory. Seattle, winners of 4 in row and 6 of their last 7, would take on an Ohio team that was challenging the defending league champions for dominance in the Central Division, and themselves winners of 3 in a row and 7 of their last 8. Two very hot teams. Two teams that feel they don’t get the attention or the accolades they deserve, and now they were facing off in hopes of proving the doubters wrong.

It would be a game that would showcase both teams and what they do well. Ohio would get 130 yards on the ground, mixing Isaiah Pead’s inside runs with contributions from Delone Carter and Marion Mack. Seattle would focus on an aerial attack, with Matt McGloin throwing for 328 while connecting with 8 different receivers. It was also a game with some big defensive contributions, with 5 turnovers over the course of 60 minutes. It was a game that would require the full 60 before a winner was chosen as the game saw 2 scores in the final 60 seconds of action, thanks in large part to one amazing play.

The game began with Ohio forced into a 3-and-out on their opening possession, while Seattle, when they got the ball, was quite successful on offens, McGloin hitting TE Dennis Pitta on a seam route that went for 37 yards. Pitta’s big play did not result in a touchdown, however, as the Ohio defense tightened up in the red zone, forcing Seattle to settle for a 36-yard Jeffery Harris field goal. When Ohio got the ball back, they would be inspired by Seattle’s run and would put together a solid drive of their own. Christian Hackenberg hit Mario Manningham for 13 on a key 3rd and 9, keeping the drive alive, and 7 plays later Marion Mack, in for Pead in a goal line formation, plunged over the line on 2nd and 1 for the score.

Following the score, Ohio would control the 2nd quarter, holding Seattle to only 2 first downs over the 15 minutes and putting up 10 more points, first on a Robbie Gould field goal, and then a second TD run, this time from Delone Carter, the game’s leading rusher with 73 total yards. On this drive, Carter had two meaningful runs, a 9-yarder at midfield and the TD run from the 2. So, as the two teams headed into the locker room at the half, it was Ohio up 14, with a 17-3 lead.

Seattle would waste no time in the 3rd quarter cutting into that lead. They got the 2nd half kickoff and went 68 yards in only 8 plays, with McGloin connecting with Mike Wallace for 17 and then Pitta for the score to pull the Dragons within 7. It was a quarter that saw Seattle’s adjustments work, as the Ohio run game struggled with the Dragon line shifts, and Christian Hackenberg threw a pick in Seattle territory, his only truly bad throw of the day.

But, come the 4th quarter, Ohio once again expanded their lead, adding a 49-yard kick from Gould, who guessed right on the swirling winds in Columbus, his ball looking wide right before being pushed back into play and through the uprights. Seattle was now down 10 and needed to get points on the board. They would, thanks to a nice 17-yard gainer from Tyler Kroft, a defensive PI call on 3rd and 6, and then a beautifully timed slant from McGloin to Wallace for 6 points. With 5:25 left to play, Seattle was now down only 3 points, 20-17, and had their sights on a possible kick to tie the game.

But, Ohio had the ball, and while they tried to run out the clock, they did not pull into a shell, mixing play action with runs along the way. That balance allowed them to get as far as the Seatle 26 before sending out Robbie Gould for his 3rd kick of the day. Gould connected and Ohio had a 6-point lead with only 30 seconds left on the clock. Surely they could hold Seattle at bay for the final 30 seconds.

Well, that was not as sure as many expected. Seattle got the ensuing kickoff, with returner Wendell Smallwood getting out to the 26 before being tackles. It would take the Dragons only 2 plays to prove Ohio’s confidence to be misplaced. On first down, pressure on McGloin forced him to throw out to Knowshon Moreno in the flat, a 5-yard gain that still left the Dragons 69 yards away from paydirt. But with Moreno stepping out of bounds, Seattle held their final timeout. They would need to go deep, and soon, with only 22 seconds left in the game.

The call was a basic cluster tree, with Wallace on a fly, Newhouse headed up 10 yards before cutting to the goalpost, and John Brown also running 10 yards and cutting inside for a deep cross. The play developed just as Ohio had hoped, with confusion among the safety and corners leading to two men taking an initial step to follow John Brown over the middle. That freed up Newhouse running a post pattern, and McGloin found him in stride. With only 1 man to beat, Newhouse simply turned on the afterburners and with nearly 55,000 in utter shock, hands to their heads in disbelief, Newhouse pulled away and ran the full length of the field and into the endzone.

As the Dragons celebrated in the endzone, everyone else, from the Ohio players to the bench, to the fans just hung their heads. They had let a win slip away, and with only 15 seconds left, they would need their own miracle. It was a miracle that would not come. Hackenberg was unable to connect deep with a receiver on first down, and his attempts at Hail Mary’s were equally unable to find a receiver. Seattle held on, saddling Ohio with the home loss and walking away in very good position for a Wild Card at 8-6. Ohio Drops to 9-5, but still clinches a playoff berth thanks to other results (including another Michigan loss), but this loss to the Dragons certainly stung, as all last-second miracle plays do for the team that gives them up.

PITTSBURGH 10  NEW JERSEY 27

The Generals stay alive, and pull Pittsburgh back to the pack with a huge home win. MJD was again the star for New Jersey, rushing for 163 yards and 2 scores, but kudos as well to the defense, who held the Maulers to only 271 total yards and 10 points. Pittsburgh also hurt themselves with 11 penalties, many of them pre-snap errors. They now are under the 8-ball as they try to wrap up a division they could have won outright had they not fallen in New Jersey.

POTG: Generals’ HB Maurice Jones-Drew: 31 Att, 163 Yds, 2 TD

HOUSTON 24  DENVER 13

The Gamblers got the win they needed to lock up a playoff spot, severely damaging former division-mate Denver’s chances at the same time. Colt McCoy threw for 2 scores and Carlos Hyde rumbled for 104 yards and a score as the Gamblers opened with a 17-0 run and never let Denver get within 10. Matt Leinart was sacked 7 times in the game, but stayed in the entire game as the Gold tried to come back.

POTG: Houston DE Donte Fowler: 3 Tck, 2 Sck, 2 FF

JACKSONVILLE 12  ORLANDO 7

Orlando, playing without Russell Wilson, continued to fade down the stretch as Jacksonville limited Tim Tebow to 186 yards passing and only 10 on the ground. The Bulls’ offense was hardly impressive either, but they got a Bridgewater to Williams TD (PAT no good) to take and hold the lead in the 4th, giving them their 4th win of the season and eliminating the Renegades form the playoffs at 6-8 in another “wasted season” for a clearly upset Calais Campbell, who was still the POTG in the loss.

POTG: Orlando DE Calais Campbell, 7 Tck, 3 Sck

MEMPHIS 31  BALTIMORE 14

The Showboats claimed their 10th win and with it a playoff spot as they took a 24-0 lead after 3 quarters before their backups allowed Baltimore to get some late scores. The Showboats racked up 328 yards with a balanced attack that saw Todd Gurly and David Williams combine for 133 rushing while Paxton Lynch threw for 2 scores. Big Ben was sacked 4 times and threw 2 picks in the first half in a truly forgettable outing for the now 10-loss Blitz.

POTG: Memphis DE Mario Williams: 4 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR

BIRMINGHAM 5  OKLAHOMA 31

One of two games this week that saw the loser score 5 points, this one was 7-5 Outlaws after one and then the home team just took over. Joe Flacco would throw for 247 and 4 touchdowns, taking over after Marshawn Lynch had to sit after tweaking an ankle. HB James Ridley had 2 of Flacco’s scoring throws, but it was a full team effort, with 10 different receivers catching a pass from the veteran QB. The Outlaws spied Cam Newton to great effect, as the dual threat QB was held to only 4 yards rushing on the day, hobbling the Stallion attack.

POTG: Outlaw QB Joe Flacco: 20/27, 247 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int

NEW ORLEANS 38  DALLAS 31

Dallas put a major scare into the Breakers, picking off Drew Brees 3 times and taking a 31-17 lead after 3 quarters, but a 21-0 explosion in the fourth helped New Orleans capture a playoff spot and improve to 10-4. Drew Brees hit Coby Fleener and Jordy Nelson with back-to-back scores over a span of only 2 minutes, helped by a Freeman pick, and C. J. Spiller got the game winner on a 3-yard run at the 2-minute warning to help the Breakers take out the very feisty Roughnecks.

POTG: Breaker TE Coby Fleener: 6 Rec, 172 Yds, 1 TD

ST. LOUIS 5  CHARLOTTE 16

Charlotte’s D came up big against the Skyhawks, as the offense played without Mitch Trubisky. Tyler Thigpen went 20 of 29 and threw the game’s only TD, but it was a struggle for the Monarch offense, which only rushed the ball for 75 total yards against a stacked front 8 for the Skyhawks. St. Louis could not get Eddie Lacy rolling, and that limited Lamar Jackson’s effectiveness all game long as St. Louis converted only 2 of 15 third downs, with 12 of them 8 yards or longer to gain.

POTG: Charlotte DE Anthony Zettel: 5 Tck, 1 Sck

SAN DIEGO 16  PORTLAND 14

The Thunder win a huge Pacific showdown, setting up another next week with Seattle. Christian Ponder survived 2 picks on a day when Ryan Williams was limited to only 43 yards rushing. The key was a second half that saw San Diego put up 3 field goals while Portland never crossed midfield. The Stags finished with more yardage, fewer penalties, fewer turnovers, and more time of possession, but the most important number, the one on the scoreboard, was not in their favor as they dropped to 7-7.

POTG: San Diego LB Myles Jack: 6 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF

WASHINGTON 27  PHILADELPHIA 30  OVERTIME

The Feds take a major blow to their playoff hopes, dropping to 7-7 as Philadelphia scores the final 17 points in regulation and takes the W in overtime. The Washington D just wilted down the stretch as a 27-10 lead faded away with Randall Cobb and Zac Stacy putting up 4th quarter touchdowns. An onside kick and a 41-yard field goal by Mike Nugent sent the game to overtime and Nugent added a 36-yarder for the Philly win. Despite the win, Philadelphia, at 6-8 is still eliminated this week from playoff contention.

POTG: Stars’ QB Matt Gutierrez: 30/48, 373 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Int

ATLANTA 14  TAMPA BAY 10

The Fire avoid the trap game in Tampa Bay and stay even with Charlotte, setting up a huge SE Division showdown this week between the two division co-leaders. Tampa Bay led 10-7 at the half, but a 3rd quarter Murray to Vance McDonald toss gave Atlanta the lead and they held Dak Prescott at bay in the second half to take the win and put themselves in position to take the division.

POTG: Fire DE Mario Edwards: 1 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR

OAKLAND 23  LOS ANGELES 19

The Express showed up for this longstanding rivalry game, lost Sam Bradford early to a nasty injury, and had a shot late, but Brock Osweiler, in his first action since being traded from Ohio, missed on a 4th and 11 throw in the waning seconds of the game. Oakland survives, but has to be concerned as the Express gave them a serious run. Jimmy Garoppolo threw 2 picks and Christian McCaffrey was held to only 17 yards rushing by an Express D that had upset on their minds.

POTG: LA CB Stephon Gilmore: 6 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int, 1 Def TD

LAS VEGAS 7  CHICAGO 21

Chicago stays alive and sets up a huge game with the Panthers this week by shutting down Eli Manning and Montario Hardesty. Down 7-3 at the half, Chicago held Las Vegas scoreless in the second half, while getting TDs from both TE Tyler Eifert and HB Jeremy Hill to secure their 7th win and stay in the Wild Card hunt in the West.

POTG: Chicago DT Kedric Gholston: 5 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 FR

ARIZONA 25  MICHIGAN 24

A good game from both teams, but Arizona edges the Panthers, locking up the Pacific Division with a late field goal and sending the Panthers to 7-7 and a showdown with Chicago this week that could lead to the defending league champions missing out on the playoffs. Ryan Nassib was held in check by the Michigan D, with only 1 TD on the day, but Arizona had enough to put the final 13 points on the board and steal the road win from a game Panther team.

POTG: Wrangler CB Mike Morales: 7 Tck, 1 Int

LA Loses Bradford for 4 Months, For What?

It was an ugly injury late in the 1st quarter, and the result was that QB Sam Bradford will be in a cast for at least 2 months, with significant rehab to follow. Not what any team wants to see for their starter, but with LA sitting at 4-9 and well outside the playoff hunt, the injury seems all the more meaningless. Sure, there was little chance that the Express were going to pull Bradford and have Brock Osweiler or Brody Croyle start the season’s final games, but now they have no option after Bradford went to the sideline (and the hospital) with a compound fracture of his throwing arm and wrist. The x-rays revealed 3 separate fractures, one each to the radius and ulna, and a third in the wrist itself.

It was a nasty injury that saw Bradford’s arm hit the turf awkwardly and the hand bend back unnaturally, essentially folding all the way back to the arm. Bradford was rushed into the locker room and then off to the hospital. Osweiler warmed up, and LA fans once again wondered if their club was somehow cursed, another lost season, and now their QB likely unable to participate in offseason training, possibly choosing to retire at only 30 years old, depending on the recovery process. It is an ugly end to an ugly season in LA, one of many over the club’s snakebitten history.

McGloin Spurs Dragons, Will Start Rest of the Way

With Jacoby Brissett now set to come off the injury list for the first time in nearly 3 months, and with backup Matt McGloin sitting at a 98.0 QB rating, with 24 TDs on the season, you knew a decision would have to be announced. Few were surprised to learn that McGloin, who has led Seattle to an 8-4 record in his 12 starts, was named the starter the rest of the way. McGloin had a nice game this week against the Ohio Glory, our game of the week and a nice road upset of a very good Glory squad.

The Dragons have now won 5 in a row and 8 of their last 9 to become real playoff contenders, and McGloin has built a real rapport with his receivers, especially 11-year vet Mike Wallace, who has 3 touchdowns in the past 2 games, Former Philadelphia Star Marshall Newhouse has also found a rhythm with McGloin, with 12 touchdowns in McGloin’s 12 starts. So, it is not a surprise that Coach Riley is sticking with the hot hand. With Seattle seeming ready to pull off the astounding 0-5 to playoff run for a second year in a row, with a 2nd QB at the helm, now is not the time to muck about with a formula that is clearly producing results.

Panthers Drop 3rd in a Row as Ohio Locks Up Playoff Berth

Michigan has dropped their last 3 games, at St. Louis, at Ohio, and home to Arizona, in a streak that could cost them any chance to repeat as champions. In fact, a 4th loss, either home this week to fellow 7-7 Central Division rival Chicago, or in the season finale at Seattle, could very well mean that the defending champs are not going to be playoff bound. It certainly is not the first time such a post-title flop has occurred in the USFL, but in most cases we see a huge exodus of talent, or a wave of retirements altering the roster of the champs ahead of the next year. Michigan was about as stable in the offseason as a team can expect, and yet, their 2019 results are a far cry from what we saw in 2017, when the Panthers roared to a 12-4 record and a league title. The season started well enough for the Panthers as they went 4-1 out of the gate, but over the second half of the season they have won only 2 games, going 2-4 so far, with 2 games left. They now need to win out in those two games, and get some help, just to qualify for a Wild Card as they sit 2 games behind the Ohio Glory in a division they dominated last year. Even with few major shifts in the offseason, Michigan is showing us how tough it is to repeat as champion, when everyone has their eyes on you and the fire may just not be stoked quite as high.

MJD & Generals Top Maulers, Setting Up 3-Team Race for Division

With a win this week, the Maulers would have essentially wrapped up the division, 2 games up on the Feds and 2.5 up on the Generals, but it was not to be as Maurice Jones-Drew and the Generals would not give up on their quest for a division title. With a 163-yard rushing performance, spread over 31 carries, Jones-Drew almost single-handedly pulled Pittsburgh back to the pack. By the end of the 1st quarter alone, MJD’s two touchdown runs, including a beauty of a 39-yard pitch, juke, and sprint to the endzone, had given New Jersey a 14-3 advantage. It would turn to 27-3 before the Maulers put up their next (and final) points of the day.

While we certainly should recognize the efforts of the New Jersey defense in holding Pittsburgh to only 10 points, and getting the Maulers to commit 11 penalties, 8 of them on offense, we have to give the accolades this week to MJD. Not only did he put those early scores on the board, but of New Jersey’s 15 first downs, 11 came via the run. MJD was also a huge reason why New Jersey finished the game with over 37 minutes of possession, simply reducing the number of drives Pittsburgh could put together. It was a huge win for the Generals, who now sit at 7-6-1, just ½ game behind the 8-6 Maulers. It also helped Washington, who sit at 7-7 stay in the hunt as well.

Fire, Monarchs, Thunder & Dragons In Huge Week 15 Showdowns

There are always big games in the final weeks of a season, but this year Week 15 may be giving us two of the best of the year. We have two games that could well decide the playoff lives of all 4 teams, with Seattle facing off against the Thunder in San Diego, both at 8-6 and both hoping to lock in a surprising Wild Card after rough starts. Meanwhile in the Southeast, we have the Monarchs and the Fire both sitting at 9-5, sharing first place. The winner of their showdown at Mercedes Benz Stadium will lock up the SE Division and could well be in line for a bye. But here is the kicker, with a loss, either the Monarchs or the Fire could be forced into a must-win scenario in Week 16, with 3 NE Division teams possibly in position to surpass them for the final Wild Card spot (teams from the South having locked down the other two). So, while there is great motivation for the Fire and Monarchs to win this weekend, the motivation not to lose is equally powerful.

The Vegas bookmakers have both home teams as slight favorites, with San Diego a 2-point favorite over Seattle, while Atlanta, who have won 5 in a row, are a 3-point home favorite over a Monarchs squad that has been up and down the past few weeks, losing to both Pittsburgh and Jacksonville while defeating Tampa Bay and St. Louis. Back on the West Coast, we have a Seattle squad that has now won 5 straight facing off against a San Diego team with an equally impressive run, winning 6 of their last 7, with a tough 13-7 loss at Pittsburgh their only blemish. So, it will be Trubisky v. Murray, McGloin v. Ponder in two of the biggest games of the year next week. Time to set up that TiVo, or just get out to the sports bar to catch these games.

Six teams are now locked into a playoff spot, with Arizona earning the SW Division Crown this week (their 4th in a row) and Houston, Memphis, New Orleans, Oakland, and Ohio guaranteed at least a Wild Card. The final two weeks of the year will determine who wins the remaining 5 divisions, with this week’s Charlotte-Atlanta game likely to bring us a champion in the Southeast. Pittsburgh can also wrap up the division with a win and losses by both the Generals and Federals. Ohio captures the Central with a win, as Michigan and Chicago fight this week to hold 2nd place and hope for 2 consecutive Glory losses. In the Pacific, a win by Oakland locks up the division for them, while Seattle and San Diego will battle for 2nd place, also hoping the Invaders drop their last two to give them a potential shot at the Division crown. Finally, Houston, New Orleans, and Memphis may go down to the wire, however, if the Gamblers win this week, and both the Showboats and Breakers go down to defeat, they would also clinch their division in Week 15.

As we outlined above, the Wild Card race is a mess, with all sorts of permutations and combinations, though we expect that this week’s games may well produce at least a few locks. The winner of Seattle and San Diego’s game could well lock up a a spot, while the loser of the Chicago & Michigan game could well be out of the running. Speaking of out of the running, this week we saw St. Louis, Las Vegas, Orlando, Philadelphia, and Birmingham all lose out on a chance to stay alive. Each of these clubs is now eliminated bringing the total to 10 of the league’s 28 teams, with 6 more to come over the next two grueling weeks.

The injury to QB Sam Bradford was certainly the worst of the week’s new listings, but it was hardly the only one. Several teams in the playoff hunt could well be without key players this week, including Charlotte, who goes into the big game with Atlanta without one of Mitch Trubisky’s favorite targets, WR Haekeem Nicks, who will miss the entire postseason after suffering a hip fracture. Less severe, but possibly enough to keep them out of the final two weeks of the regular season are Marshawn Lynch’s shoulder, a pinched nerve for New Jersey LB Matt Milano, and back issues for Atlanta DT Sione Pouha.

We are also keeping an eye on both QB David Garrard and WR Keenan Allen of Washington, as both are listed as questionable with concussions. The Feds cannot afford to be without those two for this week’s big game, one that could either keep them alive or send them packing in their quest for a playoff spot. The same attention will be given to LB A. J. Hawk in San Diego, as the Thunder face a huge test against Seattle this week.

OUT

QB         Sam Bradford             LA          Broken Wrist/Arm        IR

WR       Hakeem Nicks                 CHA      Broken Hip                   IR

G         Mitch Morse              LA          Neck                             1-2 Weeks

DE     Connor Barwin               DAL       Pinched Nerve                 1-2 Weeks

HB           Marshawn Lynch            OKL       Shoulder                       1-2 Weeks

LB         Matt Milano                   NJ           Pinched Nerve                 1-2 Weeks

DT      Sione Pouha               ATL         Back                                1-2 Weeks

DOUBTFUL

LB        Keenan Clayton        OAK      Concussion

QUESTIONABLE

QB          David Garrard           WSH     Concussion

WR       Keenan Allen                WSH     Concussion

QB        Russell Wilson                 ORL       Pinched Nerve

CB         Patrick Peterson             DAL       Neck

LB         A. J. Hawk                    SD          Concussion

2018 MVPs for All 28 Teams

As we enter the final weeks of the season, we recognize that even on teams whose seasons have been major letdowns, there are still players doing their best, lifting up others, and getting their job done. So, we decided that rather than focusing only on the teams at the top of the standings, and their star players, we would look at all 28 USFL franchises and pick one player who has stood out, outperformed expectations, or lifted up the team when they needed it. This is our look at each club’s MVP for the season. Feel free to disagree, but we feel pretty good about these picks.

ARIZONA:   QB Ryan Nassib

No doubt about it. When Carr went down we all thought Arizona was done, but instead we have the very likely QB Ratings champ for 2018 stepping up and stunning us all, paving the way for free agency insanity as he looks to get a starting gig somewhere.

ATLANTA:              QB Aaron Murray

In his second year as the starter, back home in Georgia where he played his college ball, Murray has surprised us all with his growth. His QB Rating is up nearly 10 points, now sitting at an All-USFL level at 98.6. He has 23 touchdowns, nearly 3,300 yards, and has helped put Atlanta in a position to possibly win the division this week.

BALTIMORE:       DE Olivier Vernon

With all the offensive stars for the Blitz having down years simultaneously, we turned to the team’s defense, itself not having the best year, but in Vernon we see a player who has not given up. With nearly 40 tackles and 12 sacks on the year, Vernon has been consistent across the season. It has not been enough for the Blitz D to escape mediocrity, but not for a lack of trying.

BIRMINGHAM:   CB Antonio Cromartie

It is generally not a good sign if a corner is your team’s leading tackler, but in the case of Cromartie, that is as much about his willingness to play the run as his quality as a pass defender. With 17 passes defended, 2 picks and a single defensive TD, Cromartie’s numbers may not stand out, but when we add in the 88 tackles he has as of this week, you can see his value to the team.

CHARLOTTE:       LB Rolando McClain

There are many on the Charlotte defense who have played above their pay grade this year, but the clear leader, captain, and focal point of the defense remains LB Rolando McClain. With 100 tackles and contributions in both pass rush and coverage, McClain’s versatility has been the key to the Monarch D all season.

CHICAGO:           HB Jeremy Hill

He needs nearly 300 yards o reach 1,000 for the year, but even without reaching that milestone it is clear that Hill’s presence as a balance to Matt Forte, or simply as a replacement when Forte was hurt, has been huge for the Machine. Add to that the fact that Hill has clearly become the preferred goal-line back for Chicago and you can see why we picked him.

DALLAS:                LB Brandon Spikes

With the 28th ranked offense, and the season starter at QB on season-ending suspension, you kind of had to think we would pick a defender. That may seem odd for the Roughnecks, but the Dallas D is ranked 9th in yards allowed, and a big reason for that is the play of Spikes, who leads the club with 93 tackles, and has10 for a loss, along with 2 picks for a defense that is not particularly good at taking away the ball.

DENVER:               QB Matt Leinart

In his swan song season, Matt Leinart saved some of his best for last. He is set to finish the year with more than 3,500 yards passing, and will almost certainly top 24 touchdowns with fewer than 8 picks, a 3:1 ratio that every QB likes to see. With Josh Allen on the bench, the clear successor already in house, Leinart has kept the Wyoming product from the field by guiding the Gold offense to one of its best years in recent memory.

HOUSTON:          WR Mike Evans

There are a lot of potential candidates from the Gamblers, but leading the league in receiving yards, likely to cross 1,700 on the season, and in receiving touchdowns, we had to pick Evans, who has just been indefensible this year. Yes, McCoy gets credit too, but if you watch Evans’s highlight reel, you also see how often he simply outmuscles the defender for the ball, and that is all him.

JACKSONVILLE:  LB Sean Lee

No matter the team’s record, you know what you are going to get from Lee, pure effort and an endless motor. Lee could finish the season as the league’s leading tackler. He is already over 100 on the year. And, yes, that is often the sign of a defense with issues, but it does not take away from the quality we see from the Bulls’ MLB each and every week.

LAS VEGAS:         WR Denarius Moore

We looked up and down the Las Vegas roster, seeking out a player who stood out, and quite frankly, we did not see much. Moore at least has numbers that look like a team leader’s, creeping up on 100 catches and likely to surpass 1,200 yards. He may not make the final league leaderboard with those totals, though he could, but on a pretty lackluster Las Vegas stat board his numbers certainly pop.

LOS ANGELES:  LB Clay Matthews

Express fans are going to hate this pick, because it is very clear that Matthews is headed out the door as soon as this long and painful season is over for LA. But, while it might anger them that their best player does not want to be there, even jaded LA fans have to admit that this season Matthews has been the best player on the field for the Express.

MEMPHIS:            HB Todd Gurley

There are a lot of reasons for Memphis’s unexpected success this year. The defense has been much better. Paxton Lynch is making better decisions. But the biggest shift is the reliability of the run game and of Gurley in particular. He is on pace for 1,100, maybe 1,200 yards, could hit 10 TDs on the ground, and he has also contributed to the passing game with over 20 receptions this year. All good for a Memphis team that is one of the season’s great stories.

MICHIGAN:         HB LeVeon Bell

Across the board the Panthers have not played as well this year as in last year’s championship run, but the one consistent remains Bell. He could well cross 1,600 yards this season, averaging more than 100 per game, and he is doing it with fewer touches per game than in the past. The Panthers are not wearing him down, and the impact of that is that he has stayed strong, productive, and dangerous all season long.

NEW JERSEY:      HB Maurice Jones-Drew

This one is a no-brainer. With nearly 1,300 yards and leading the league in rushing TDs, MJD has been the undeniable focal point of the team’s offense. While the D, which is quite good, is more of a team effort, the offense has been all about Pocket Hercules.

NEW ORLEANS:  QB Drew Brees

Another swan song season, another QB going out in style as Drew Brees is on pace for what could be his 3rd MVP award. He will easily cross 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns, and if New Orleans can hold on to win the Southern Division, we think the Old Man at the helm of the Breaker offense is very likely getting that 3rd MVP trophy, and deservedly so.

OAKLAND:          LB Bobby Wagner

We love the Oakland D, ranging from Michael Bennett’s pass rush to Chris Gamble’s 7 picks, but the star of the show remains Wagner. The LB is having another stellar season, on path for 100 tackles, but also potentially 10 sacks as well. He is a wrecking ball for offensive game plans and a huge reason Oakland could reassert themselves as Pacific Division champs.

OHIO:                    HB Isaiah Pead

We expect many of you thought Hackenberg in this spot, but when you look at the Glory season, where we saw Hackenberg, Osweiler, and Troy Smith all get starts, it has been Pead’s consistent presence that has helped keep the team moving forward and on the cusp of dethroning the Panthers to win their first division in a decade.

OKLAHOMA:      QB Joe Flacco

The plan going into the season was for the Outlaws to lean on Marshawn Lynch. But when the smashmouth strategy proved too easy to defend and too ineffective to produce W’s, it was back to Flacco for the save, and he very well could still save the Outlaw season and get Oklahoma to the postseason.

ORLANDO:          WR Brashad Perriman

The season has not gone as planned for the Renegades. The defense has slipped, the run game has not materialized, and the team is likely done when it comes to competing for a playoff spot, but the one bright spot has been the emergence of Perriman, who could reach 100 catches and 1,600 yards by the end of this campaign.

PHILADELPHIA:  LB Kirk Morrison

The offense has been erratic, the defense often absent, but there is one man on the field each week who is clearly not giving up for the Stars. Morrison could finish with 130 tackles or more on the year, has 4 forced fumbles, and is just about the one thing that Stars fans can count on in a season that has not at all gone as planned

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PITTSBURGH:     DE Dwight Freeney

When the Maulers last competed for a division title it was the passing game that blew folks away. This season it is the Mauler D that is doing most of the heavy lifting, and with his 15 sacks and 57 tackles, Dwight Freeney is the biggest star on that defense (with all due respect to Aaron Donald, who we also considered for a long time.)

PORTLAND:        WR Brandon Cooks

Cooks is almost certain to lead the league in receptions, with over 175 targets already, and with those targets come catches, yards, and touchdowns, though not as many as Stag fans wish for. A lot has gone right for the Stags this year, but Cooks’s growth has to be the biggest improvement for the 2018 club.

SAN DIEGO:        WR Marques Colston

The Thunder knew what they were getting when they made the deal to bring Colston to San Diego. He has been among the best receivers in the league for nearly his entire career, and 2018 did not disappoint. Colston won’t reach 100 catches, but he should reach 1,600 yards, and could have 10 or more touchdowns for a Thunder team still very much in the playoff hunt.

SEATTLE:               QB Matt McGloin

Just like Nassib in Arizona, McGloin’s rise to the top of the QB ratings and stat leader board was not at all what fans expected when Jacoby Brissett went down. So now the Dragons have a QB controversy, though they are clearly sticking with the hot hand of McGloin the rest of the way this year.

ST. LOUIS:            QB Lamar Jackson

Ask any Skyhawk fan what has given them hope for the future and they will unanimously point to the start that Lamar Jackson has had after getting the starting gig in midseason. Sure, he is not winning every week, but even in losses we can see the potential. Now the Skyhawks just need to build around him.

TAMPA BAY:         QB Dak Prescott

Say what you want about the 2-win Bandits, but don’t blame it on their QB. Dak Prescott has been better than anticipated all season long, with a shot at 30 TDs on the year, and very likely 4,000 yards. There are a lot of issues in Tampa Bay, but even the most forlorn Bandit fans have to believe they have their QB in hand.

WASHINGTON:  WR Keenan Allen

We have talked about David Garrard as the key to the Feds all season long, but we should not ignore his number one target. Allen has been the one truly consistent target for Garrard, could see 100 catches this year, and is one of the best in the game at escaping the initial coverage.

Five Unsung Heroes of the 2018 Season

We have looked at the biggest stars, the MVPs of each team, but every season there are players who have a big impact on their teams but may not get the recognition they deserve. We have found five of these unsung heroes, each contributing in a big way but perhaps not getting the accolades they deserve.

Orlando LB Sean Spence

We talk a lot about Calais Campbell when we discuss the Renegade defense, and understandably so, but no man can do it all on his own, and this year, while Campbell has continued to put up stellar numbers, we also want to recognize another member of Orlando’s defense. Spence, in his 6th year after being selected out of “The U” in the 2012 Territorial Draft, is having his best season as a pro. Spence has been starting in the Renegade’s 3-4 alignment since 2014, but his 2018 numbers are a big step up from prior years. He actually leads Campbell with nearly 100 tackles this year (Campbell has been the team’s tackle leader for several years now). He also has 12 TFL and 2 picks this season. Spence has been contributing in both pass coverage and as a run-stuffer for a defense that needs more around Campbell to return to elite status.

San Diego DE Jonathan Newsome

If you ask most fans to name the best pass rushers in the USFL right now, they would quickly cite Calais Campbell, follow that with Von Miller and then maybe fish around for Dwight Freeney, Cliff Avril, or maybe Mario Williams. Few would name Thunder DE Jonathan Newsom, but Newsome is right there with Miller after 14 weeks, and could well end up as the third best sack master of the season. And here is the thing. This should not be a surprise. After 3 seasons with only 3-4 starts and minimal big impact plays, Newsome took over the LE job full time in 2017, finished the year with 12 sacks, and showed real promise. This year that promise has turned to production. We think Newsome could finish with as many as 15-17 sacks, and that is not a number to sneeze at, so maybe we should start to talk him up a bit more.

Memphis CB Marcus Williams

Another defender who just is not getting much love or attention. Marcus is not even the most famous Williams on his own defense, with DE Mario Williams playing very well and LB Jason Williams coming on in his first year as a starter for Coach Ryan.  But it is unheralded Marcus Williams who is actually having the best year. He has been with the ‘Boats since being drafted in the 6th round in 2014, got his first starts in 2016, took on the full time starter role last year, but had a total of 3 career picks before this season. With 3 weeks left in 2018 he has 9 picks, and could set a new USFL record with just 2 more in the next 3 weeks. That is worthy of some attention.

Tampa Bay HB Dalvin Cook

Cook was a highly touted rookie when he came out of FSU last season. Miami locked onto him in the T-Draft and signed him to a nice 4-year deal. His rookie season, as so many are, was more potential than production, but this year, despite the many issues in Tampa Bay, Cook has come on in a big way. He is on pace for a 1,200, maybe a 1,300 yard season after gaining only 595 in 2017. Add to that 5 touchdowns and a nice presence in the passing game and we think that no matter the fallout in Tampa Bay after a truly nightmarish 2018 campaign, Cook will be one of the players the club is built around for the future.

Denver WR Golden Tate

Since coming over from Chicago in 2012, Golden Tate has been an outstanding member of the Gold. He had his first 1,000-yard season in 2014, has now had 3 in a row, and has been one of Matt Leinart’s most trusted targets. He does not put up a lot of big splash plays, but on 3rd down you want him on the field. This year looks like it will be his best yet, with a shot at 100 catches being very realistic, and already over his highest yardage total ever. Tate may have to adjust as a new QB comes under center next year, but we think that he will continue to be a trusted weapon for the Gold, one we should talk about more as one of the best possession men in the game.

Miami Hopes for Hoping for Fantastic Four in Florida

We have spoken about the upstart bid from Hartford, the two Midwestern cities vying for USFL expansion, and the two competing Boston groups hoping the 3rd time is the charm in Beantown, but there is one more bid on the table. In some ways it may be the longest of longshots, but in others it could well make sense. Miami, Florida is a city that really was put on the map by football. What was once a sleepy retirement community, became the place to be largely due to the rise of the Miami Dolphins in the early Super Bowl years of the NFL. Soon after came Miami Beach as a hotspot for youth, Miami Vice, and then just a blur of pastel and rum.

Schnellenberger found himself up I-95 from Miami when the 1987 expansion team landed in Orlando.

So, why has the USFL not landed there? They almost did, as far back as 1987. The original plan for the Orlando Renegades was for them to call the Orange Bowl home and for former University of Miami Coach Howard Schellenberger to bring spring-summer football to a city most famous for humidity and blazing sun in the summer. But the stadium lease fell through, the ownership shifted during the onboarding process and the USFL found itself with a club just up the highway in Orlando, rather than in direct competition with the NFL Dolphins.

That could end in 2020, when the USFL expands to 30 teams. A group called simply Miami USFL has pitched the idea of a Miami franchise once again. It won’t be the Orange Bowl this time, but a shared agreement with the NFL Dolphins to use Hard Rock Stadium, home of the Dolphins has given Miamians a shot at a USFL club. The group is headed by a well-known figure in the Miami sports scene, Carnival Cruise CEO & President Micky Arison, who also owns the NBA Heat. The son of Carnival’s founder, Arison is a fixture in Miami and a big money player, one of the 10 richest Miamians according to a recent Tribune article.

Arison, like many of the investment and expansion bid groups, also brought in some local celebrities and football connections, with former Dolphin head coach and current FOX NFL announcer, Jimmy Johnson, along with former U. of Miami, NFL and USFL QB Vinny Testaverde, and former All-USFL tight end Greg Olsen (now also in broadcasting). The bid has star power, local ties, and plenty of financial backing, but none of that may be able to overcome the one big issue that everyone sees. Location.

While an argument can be made that playing football in an outdoor venue like Miami in May, June, and July is a very unwelcome prospect (just ask Arizona fans who remember the days before the dome). Even early season Dolphin games can be played in an oven, one often producing significant complaints from visiting teams. But it is not the heat (or even the humidity) which produces the biggest challenge to a Miami club. It is the proximity to 3 other already existing and already very territorial Florida USFL clubs.

Just look at the regular battles about the T-Draft between Orlando, Tampa Bay, and Jacksonville and you can see that there will be no positive words coming out of any of those camps for sharing the state of Florida with a 4th team. Orlando certainly does not want to give up “The U” as a protected school, or battle with both Tampa Bay and Miami for season ticket holders. Both the Renegades and Bandits boast pretty sizeable Miami fan groups and provide regular bus outings from Miami to games at Camping World or Raymond James Stadium. They would certainly oppose a new club in Florida.

What may be even more interesting is that you might also expect both non-Florida teams in the Southeast Division to also oppose a fourth Florida franchise. Neither Carolina or Atlanta wants to be the club that would have to shift to the Southern Division to make room for Miami in the SE, the most natural placement for an expansion club in South Florida. Equally, neither club wants to be the one left behind in the SE Division with 4 Florida clubs. With the Atlanta-Charlotte rivalry becoming one of the SE Division’s best, neither club wants to split up a good 1-2 combo.

So, while Miami may well have a deal for a stadium and significant funding, it may well still be an outside contender with a pretty solid block of USFL teams ready to vote no on the Miami bid. That is a tough place to start, but Miami USFL says they know the challenge and they are up for it. We will see this Fall how that pans out. With 5 other bids known at this time (we are still wondering if Salt Lake or Indianapolis will jump in at the last minute) the competition will be tough, but we have been surprised before by league votes, so there is hope. 

It is all about divisional matchups and playoff position in Week 15, and who would expect anything else?  We kick it off on Friday, where Pittsburgh can take one more step closer to a division title by knocking off the Baltimore Blitz on NBC Friday Night Lights. Then at 8pm ET we have a massive game in the suddenly strong Pacific Division as Seattle and San Diego go head to head with 2nd place and a very likely Wild Card berth in the offing.

On Saturday it is Birmingham hoping to play spoiler against New Orleans after already knocking both Houston and Memphis down a notch with upsets. The night games are also huge, with a Week 15 clash between the Monarchs and Atlanta all but guaranteeing the division to the winner. Chicago is also in Michigan, where the surprising Machine can still leapfrog the Panthers and possibly send the defending league champions down to a humiliating playoff elimination.

Sunday’s big games start with Philadelphia hoping to spoil things for their rivals from New Jersey. The Stars are not headed to the post-season, but they can make sure New Jersey’s season ends in Week 16 as well. Then at 4pm the 7-7 Stags need to pull of the upset in Oakland to have any hope at a Wild Card. Can they upend the Pacific champs? Finally, a big game for the Outlaws, as they too need a win to stay alive in the Wild Card hunt, but they face the Wranglers, who want to lock up that 1-seed and home field advantage, so don’t expect any let up from Arizona in this one. (Divisional Games in BOLD)

Friday @ 6pm ET             Baltimore (4-10) @ Pittsburgh (8-6)                NBC

Friday @ 8pm ET             Seattle (8-6) @ San Diego (8-6)                       FOX

Saturday @ 12pm ET     Los Angeles (3-11) @ Washington (7-7)         ABC

Saturday @ 12pm ET     Birmingham (6-8) @ New Orleans (10-4)         FOX

Saturday @ 4pm ET         Memphis (10-4) @ Dallas (3-11)                     ABC

Saturday @ 4pm ET         Denver (7-7) @ St. Louis (5-9)                     FOX

Saturday @ 7pm ET       Charlotte (9-5) @ Atlanta (9-5)                     NBC

Saturday @ 9pm ET       Chicago (7-7) @ Michigan (7-7)                     ESPN/EFN

Sunday @ 12pm ET        Tampa Bay (2-12) @ Jacksonville (4-10)       ABC Regional

Sunday @ 12pm ET      Ohio (9-5) @ Orlando (6-8)                    ABC Regional

Sunday @ 12pm ET        Philadelphia (6-8) @ New Jersey (7-6-1)      FOX

Sunday @ 4pm ET           Portland (7-7) @ Oakland (10-4)                       ABC

Sunday @ 4pm ET         Las Vegas (5-9) @ Houston (11-3)                  FOX

Sunday @ 8pm ET           Oklahoma (7-7) @ Arizona (7-7)                      ESPN/EFN