2018 USFL Week 15 Recap: Down to the Wire.

Week 15 may have added only 1 more team to the 2018 playoff field, with Atlanta’s victory over Charlotte locking up the Southeastern Division, but it certainly gave us far more clarity as to the playoff picture. With 1 week left we know who controls their own destiny, who will need help in the final slate of games, and which two teams will play a season-ending “play-in” game. We also learned this week that one more USFL coach will be out the door as of next Monday, our story of the week as we discuss the decision by Orlando coach John Fox to leave the club after 6 frustrating seasons with the Renegades. We will outline that story, review the Game of the Week from Atlanta, then cover all the Week 15 stories as we look ahead to the final week of the regular season and the playoff impact of each upcoming game. There is a lot to unpack, so don’t go anywhere.

Fox to Step Down from Renegades after 6 Seasons.

In a press conference yesterday afternoon, Coach John Fox of Orlando made it known that this week’s upcoming matchup with New Orleans would be his final game with the Renegades. After a successful run with the Atlanta Fire/Boston Cannons, Fox left the club prior to their relocation to Dallas, becoming the Orlando head coach after only a few weeks away from football. Combining his two tenures, he has been a head coach in the USFL for 18 seasons, but the last 6 have been tough sledding for the veteran leader of the club. His tenure in Orlando produced playoff teams in 2015 and 2016, but in both cases they fell in the divisional round. But with another losing season guaranteed by Orlando’s 6-9 record, his overall coaching record in Orlando can be no better than 48-48. In fact, since the 2009 season, when his Boston Cannon’s won the league title, Fox has been unable to recapture that success, or even moderate success in either Boston or Orlando.

With many now vocally calling on the franchise to go a new direction, and many more lamenting the “waste” of Calais Campbell on a team that simply never truly challenged for a league title, Fox is stepping away from the sideline. His teams have had moments, but they simply have not been able to put together enough offense, or enough on the back end of their defense, to be considered an elite squad. Fox did not specify what his plans for the future are, though many believe he may move into broadcasting, but the Renegades now know that they will join the LA Express in the list of clubs seeking a new head coach, a new culture, and a new path.

What does this mean for the current Renegade squad? Well, it could mean a lot of change. We know that Orlando is likely to lose HB Latavious Murray and CB Johnathan Joseph, two of a pretty short list of players who are not under contract past next week. They could also be looking to shift up their roster more completely by trading away some key players. Does that mean Calais Campbell could be available? Not particularly likely, as it would take a pretty huge offer for the Renegades to move away from their one consistent achiever. But, others, like QB Russell Wilson, CB Dee Milliner, WR Jeremy Maclin, or DE Arthur Moats could find themselves as trade bait for the Renegades if they engage in a rebuild or a redesign. We won’t know how widespread the changes in Orlando will be this offseason, as that will largely depend on the coaching staff that comes with Fox’s departure, but we do anticipate that Orlando will want to use Fox’s departure as a clear pivot point to try to regain the fans’ enthusiasm, something sorely lacking the past 2 years as Orlando has floundered on the field.

CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 20  ATLANTA FIRE 27

There were no last-minute heroics in this game, no late game drama, but what we got instead is a truly meaningful game, one that determined the SE Division champions, and a pretty intense game at that. Turnovers were a huge factor in the game, and the star may be a name you simply don’t know yet, an unsung player who came up big when it mattered the most.

With both clubs coming into the game in a position to win the division,Atlanta, winners of 5 in a row, at 9-5, with Charlotte just a game back at 8-6, we knew this game would be a battle. The winner would take the division title and would have a very good shot at the 2-seed, granting them a much-coveted bye week before opening postseason play. The loser would be at serious risk of losing out on the postseason altogether. With 3 clubs in the Northeast also in that ballpark, a loss here, paired with another next week, would almost certainly spell disaster and a long offseason of questions.

That was the hornet’s nest that the Fire and Monarchs entered as they took the field at Mercedes Benz Stadium, facing off with their playoff lives very much on the line. Both clubs had similar aspirations and similar strategies, use the run game to provide play-action opportunities for their QBs, hope that the defense could get pressure and produce takeaways. That strategy worked better for one than the other, as one team escaped with only 1 turnover and no interceptions, while the other had 3 picks cost them drives in this game, And yet, for the entirety of the game neither team ever built more than a 7-point lead, meaning that at no point did either team feel a sense of desperation, not until the final seconds, that is.

The game started off somewhat slowly, with a first quarter that produced 1 drive each into the other team’s side of the field. Atlanta got the better of that tradeoff, putting up 3 points for the only score of the quarter. Charlotte had two short drives in the period but never got in range for their kicking team. They would, however, find better success early in the 2nd quarter, when they had their first scoring drive, a 12-play, 61-yard drive that showcased HB Adrian Peterson with two nice runs before Mitch Trubisky gave Charlotte the lead by finding TE Brandon Pettigrew for a 6-yard score.

The Charlotte score put the visitors up with 10:05 left in the half, but would not hold, as Atlanta had themselves a very nice scoring drive 2 possessions later. Aaron Murray got help from HB Nick Chubb, who had a beauty of a 22-yard run on 2nd and 7 to cross midfield. Five plays later, Murray found WR Roy Williams for a 39-yard scoring strike, taking advantage of play action and the single coverage, it produced. Atlanta was back up by 3, and, following Mitch Trubisky’s first pick of the day, a self-inflicted mistake that gave Atlanta the ball in Charlotte territory, the Fire added another 3 to boost their advantage to 13-7 with just 1:03 left to play.

Charlotte would use an effective 2-minute drill to get into position for kicker Stephen Earl, and their kicker would shrink the gap to 3 with a 43-yard kick at the buzzer. We had seen a battle for 30 minutes, and we had another 30 to go. Atlanta would need to keep the pressure on Trubisky, who had shown a tendency to force balls into coverage all year, producing 18 picks already this year. For Charlotte, the key was to keep Nick Chubb’s gains to a minimum, forcing Aaron Murray to try to convert 3rd and more than 5, a situation that essentially took Chubb out of the equation on 3rd down.

When the Monarchs equalized the score on a 37-yard kick from Earl, the game was once again back to a war of field position, with each team forcing the other to give up on a drive before they even reached their own 40. But on their 3rd possession of the half, Atlanta figured out a soft spot in the Charlotte defense. They used 4-wide receiver sets and saw that in their nickel coverage; Charlotte was forced to put a linebacker on slot receiver Trey Quinn. That was a mismatch to be sure. On the drive, Murray found Quinn first on a 12-yard inside slant, then, after marching the ball down to the Charlotte 28, he found Quinn on a seam route, and this time it was for 6 points. It was the rookie’s first TD of the season, on only his 7th catch of the year.

Atlanta had found a gap in Charlotte’s coverage, but Charlotte had also found an issue with Atlanta’s D, as Adrian Peterson started to see success in the 2nd half, with runs of 8, 11, and 7 on his next 3 touches. Those runs, paired with some dump-off passes, helped Charlotte move methodically down the field, with Trubisky eventually finding Austin Proehl from the 5 to once again equalize the score. There were still nearly 10 minutes in the 4th, but Charlotte was still very much in business in this game, with Atlanta having to adjust their coverage once again.

The Fire still wanted to test Charlotte’s nickel coverage, and they found it lacking once again. After a couple of short completions from Murray to TE O. J. Howard and flanker Dorial Green-Beckham, they went back to Quinn again, and once again the rookie came up big. A slant and go worked perfectly to free up Quinn, and the pass from Murray allowed him to run under the ball, catch it in stride, and race off to a 43-yard touchdown. Still, with 8:42 left to play and only a 7-point lead, the Fire needed to keep the pressure on.

Atlanta’s defense did exactly that, producing both a sack and an interception on the next drive. The sack came on 2nd and 5, creating a 3rd and 11 after Mario Edwards spun Trubisky to the ground. On that 3rd and 11, Atlanta brought pressure, with SS Derron Smith getting into the backfield in a flash, an unblocked blitzer that forced Trubisky to put the ball up early. That ball ended up in the hands of CB Darius Slay, ending the Charlotte drive and putting Atlanta in a position to kill some clock and expand their lead. They succeeded in the former but failed in the latter as Coach Arians opted not to trot out John Bounds to try a 51-yarder, instead pooch punting the ball inside the 15 and challenging Charlotte to move more than 85-yards for an equalizer.

The Monarchs were not up to the task. On a 2nd and 7 from their own 31, the turnover bug struck again. This time it was DT Nick Fairley getting a hand up and tipping a low throw from Trubisky. The ball ended up in the hands of Daniel Ellerbe, the Fire linebacker, who gained only 2 yards before being knocked to the turf by a frustrated Charlotte lineman. But with only 2:13 left to play at this point, that pick meant that Atlanta could try to run out the game. They stuck to the ground, gaining one first down before having to punt, but killing nearly 1:55 in the process. That time was too much for Charlotte to overcome.

The Monarchs got their last possession with barely 18 seconds left to play. The desperation to gain chunks of yards forced Trubisky to stand in the pocket, producing a sack on 1st down, and then two incompletions as the clock ran down. Atlanta had won their 6th in a row, had come from 4-5 to now sit atop the division at 10-5, clinching the title and sending Charlotte to 8-7, on the fringe of the Wild Card group, and potentially out of the postseason if they could not earn a win in their season finale against the Baltimore Blitz.

BALTIMORE 33  PITTSBURGH 27

The Blitz, playing without Ben Roethlisberger, deal Pittsburgh a franchise-shaking loss, one that could drop them completely out of the playoffs. It was a 20-0 run in the 2nd half that undid a 20-13 Mauler lead and gave Baltimore an upset that drove Mauler fans into hysteria. The Maulers got 284 yards and 3 TDs from Andy Dalton, but it was not enough as they found themselves down 13 with only 2:21 to play and just could not get 2 scores in. The loss drops them to 7th in the East, meaning they now need help to get back in the playoff picture.

POTG: Baltimore WR Brian Hartline: 4 Rec, 101 Yds, 2 TD

SEATTLE 7  SAN DIEGO 27

This one was all Seattle from the start. The Thunder put up 14 in the first, with Ponder hitting Nick Toon and Luke Willson for scores. Down 14-0 at the half and with nothing happening on offense, Coach Riley tried putting in Jacoby Brissett to mix things up. It helped a little, but not nearly enough to catch the Thunder, who added 13 more in the 4th to move a game up on Seattle and give themselves a Win & In scenario for Week 16.

POTG: Thunder QB Christian Ponder: 12/25, 294 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int

LOS ANGELES 13  WASHINGTON 16

The Express gave Washington a scare, but in the end the Feds held on and kept their playoff hopes alive. With Mike Flynn in for the injured Garrard, the offense was not what Feds fans wanted, but it did just enough to get the W, thanks in large part to Anthony Allen’s 78 yards and 2nd quarter TD. LA dropped another close one as Brock Osweiler suffered 4 sacks, a pick, and averaged only 5.3 yards per completion.

POTG: Washington SS Kyshoen Jarrett: 9 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty

BIRMINGHAM 7  NEW ORLEANS 27

The Breaker D sacked Cam Newton 5 times, held him to only 3 yards rushing, and thoroughly dominated the Stallions. Drew Brees connected twice with Kenny Britt for scores, and Jordy Nelson had another 100-yard day as New Orleans put themselves in position to claim the 1-seed in the East with a win in their finale. Birmingham drops to 6-9 and will need a win to avoid a 10-loss season for Coach Ellard, who could well be on the hot seat in a week’s time.

POTG: Breaker DE Cameron Jordan: 5 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 Sck, 1 FF

MEMPHIS 30  DALLAS 23

Dallas got a nice 93-yard day from Samaje Perine and kept this one close, but Memphis QB Paxton Lynch found Mark Clayton for 2 scores, and special teams ace Cordarelle Patterson contributed a 74-yard punt return TD to help Memphis take the W and stay within 1 game of the Breakers. Assure a playoff spot, Memphis is now fighting for position and a chance to play at home in the postseason.

POTG: Memphis WR Mark Clayton: 5 Rec, 101 Yds, 2 TD

DENVER 20  ST. LOUIS 17

After a scare that sent Lamar Jackson to the bench with an ankle issue, Coach Reich opted to let Kyle Boller play the rest of the way. Boller almost got St. Louis the win, putting up 2 TDs and building a 17-3 halftime lead, but the Gold came out determined in the second half and scored 17 unanswered to take the 3-point win and stay alive for a Wild Card. Golden Tate shone with 6 catches, 117 yards, and a 3rd quarter TD to start Denver’s run.

POTG: Denver WR Golden Tate: 6 Rec, 117 yds, 1 TD

CHICAGO 13  MICHIGAN 23

The Panthers got the memo that their title defense depended on a win over Chicago. They are still not clear for a playoff spot, but can earn one with a win in the finale after sending Chicago down to 7-8 and out of contention. They did it largely thanks to the D, which included a pick-six from LB Odell Thurman and 5 sacks of Ryan Fitzpatrick. Cody Latimer added 99 yards and a score as Michigan stayed alive for 1 more week, and now face a win & in game in Seattle in the finale.

POTG: Panther LB Odell Thurman: 7 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD

TAMPA BAY 34  JACKSONVILLE 21

The Bandits showed some pride, winning their 3rd game of the year in impressive fashion. Dez Bryant caught 7 for 116, but all 4 Bandit TDs came on the ground, two from Devontae Booker, 1 from David Wilson, and one from Dalvin Cook. The D even stepped up, holding Jacksonville and Teddy Bridgewater to only 1 converted third down in 10 attempts.

POTG: Bandit DE Tank Carradine: 11 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 FF, 1 FR

OHIO 49  ORLANDO 17

Chants of P-E-A-D from the small Glory contingent in the stands as the Ohio back accounted for 4 touchdowns in a game thoroughly dominated by the new Central Division champion Glory. Tim Tebow, in for Wilson, threw 3 picks, was sacked 3 times, and scrambled 8 times for a combined -4 yards as the Glory D was ready for him. The same could not be said for the Renegade defense, which watched as Isaiah Pead rushed for 2 scores, caught 3 balls for 82 yards and 2 more scores, and just looked like a man on a mission. That mission won Ohio their first Central title since 2007.

POTG: Glory HB Isaiah Pead: 16 Att, 87 Yds, 2 TD, 3 Rec, 82 Yds, 2 TD

PHILADELPHIA 7  NEW JERSEY 13

The Stars’ D did not make it easy for the Generals, sacking Nick Foles 4 times and holding MJD to only 44 yards rushing, a 1.5 YPC average, but in the end, the Generals pulled this one out. Their only TD on the day came in the 1st on a pick-six from CB Aqib Talib, but two later Fairbairn field goals proved to be enough as the New Jersey D also played very well in this one. The win, paired with the Baltimore upset of Pittsburgh, means the Generals can lock up the division title with a win next week, something that seemed nearly impossible 3 weeks ago.

POTG: Generals’ CB Aqib Talib: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD

PORTLAND 23  OAKLAND 7

Did Oakland rest on their laurels, or did Portland just step up? We may never fully know, but what we do know is that this was a very good win for the Stags, who remain alive for a Wild Card with only 1 game left. They need some help, but they are still in it thanks to TDs from Brandin Cooks and Doug Martin and a defense that only allowed Jimmy G 158 yards passing. The pass rush was much better than usual for the Stags, who pressured Garoppolo into several scrambles and several bad throws despite not recording a sack.

POTG: Stag LB Lance Briggs: 6 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR

LAS VEGAS 31  HOUSTON 20

A shocker in Houston as the Gamblers drop out of the top spot in the East and make room for the Breakers to steal the 1-seed out from under them. Las Vegas came in fired up, with Eli Manning throwing for 298 and 3 TDs, while unheralded James Wilder Jr. rushed for 72 against a usually tough Gambler D. Colt McCoy found Mike Evans for 2 scores, but it was not nearly enough as the Vipers also scored on a pick-six in the 4th to take the surprising W home.

POTG: Viper QB Eli Manning: 30/42, 298 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int

OKLAHOMA 17  ARIZONA 31

The Wranglers took care of business and wrapped up another 1-seed as their long run of success, and Ryan Nassib’s run at a 3rd straight Arizona MVP award, continued. Nassib went 18 of 29 for 265 yards and 4 TDs, including 2 to All-USFL wideout Larry Fitzgerald. Oklahoma could not run the ball at all with Lynch out, so it was all on Flacco, who threw for 2 scores but just could not escape the Wrangler pass rush, forcing several poor throws and recording 4 sacks. Oklahoma is mathematically alive, but only a PhD in Calculus could tell us how they can get past all the 8-7 teams next week.

POTG: Wrangler QB Ryan Nassib: 18/29, 265 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int

San Diego D Forces QB Change as Dragons Flounder

To say it was not the day that the Dragons, Coach Riley, or QB Matt McGloin hoped for is a major understatement. The Thunder absolutely dominated in front of over 48,000 rabid fans at Snapdragon Stadium. They drove McGloin from the game at the half, having taken a lot of hits and produced next to no offense in 30 minutes. Jacoby Brissett started the 2nd half, fared a bit better, at least putting 7 on the board with a toss to slot man John Brown, but that was nowhere near enough as San Diego dominated the game and all but assured themselves of a playoff spot. Seattle is still very much alive in the mix, but will have to upend the defending league champs next week to qualify.

It was a very strong game from Christian Ponder who certainly has earned Coach LeBeau’s trust over the course of Brissett’s injury. He will lead the Thunder into their season finale at LA next week, and with a win, to San Diego’s first home playoff game since a stunning loss to the Dragons in last year’s Wild Card round. So, a bit of revenge for the Thunder, but they are not done yet. They need to lock up the 4th seed with a win win next week, and they could very well be facing the Dragons in the Wild Card round. Seattle could well be the 5 seed if they knock off the Panthers, potentially setting up a rematch of last year’s tough loss in the playoffs. But, after this game, perhaps the Thunder are feeling that even a rematch is not a problem.

Manning Not Going Quietly into Retirement

Eli Manning may be headed to retirement and even more ads filmed with his brother Peyton, but he does not seem ready to go out quietly. The younger Manning put up some huge results this week in an upset win over the Houston Gamblers. He will now have one more game to share with the fans in Las Vegas as the Vipers finish out the year with a home game against Dallas. Las Vegas won’t be making a playoff appearance, but the game could still be a big one for Vegas fans as they say goodbye to Manning. While Manning has only played 2 years with the Vipers after a career that had stops in New Orleans, Orlando, Memphis, and Tampa Bay, he will hang up the cleats in Las Vegas, with one more outing in front of him, one more chance to stand on a USFL field and share in the cheers of a fanbase that is appreciative of his contribution to the game.

Locker Gets the Start, Gets Hurt, but gets the W in Upset of Maulers

When it was announced on Friday that Big Ben would not appear in Pittsburgh, but that Jake Locker would get the start, many thought it was a sign that Jim Caldwell was tanking, throwing the game in hopes of getting a better draft position, but Jake Locker is no slouch, and the Blitz definitely were not tanking as they took it to the Maulers, possibly costing Pittsburgh not only the NE Division crown, but a playoff spot altogether. Locker played well, but perhaps more surprisingly the Blitz D played well, and there was no sign that this club, sitting at 10 losses, was giving any ground or tanking to get a better draft position. Much to the contrary, they seem to be battling for Coach Caldwell. Will that be enough to give their coach another season in Baltimore? That is yet to be seen, but at the very least they are clearly still feeling the fire as they head into their final game of a disappointing season.

Panthers Back in Playoff Hunt, with Huge Week 16 Showdown in Seattle

It is a true pre-playoff playoff game when the Panthers head into Seattle next week. Regardless of other results in the week, the winner of that game will be making a playoff appearance. Michigan was on the ropes, needing a win against rival Chicago to even have a shot at a meaningful Week 16 game, but the 2017 league champions got the win they needed and now face a play-in situation against a Seattle team that has demonstrated heart and determination all season long.

Seattle is in a very similar position to the Panthers. A win in the finale, now scheduled for Sunday night, and they leap right back into the 2018 playoffs, duplicating their amazing 0-5 to 9-7 run from last season. It was a feat few thought they could accomplish, but once again they can control their own destiny, playing at home, against a tough and determined team, but that is not new for these Dragons. Just who will come away with the playoff berth and the win is not known at this point, but what we do know is that we are going to get some true playoff football in Week 16 when these two meet.

One week left, 5 playoff berths still up for grabs and 10 teams still mathematically in range to claim one. But, not all opportunities are equal. Some can control their own destiny, others will need help, perhaps too much help to be a realistic contender. But, by the end of this weekend, we will know not only the 12 teams that will continue playing in the USFL playoffs, but who and when they will play in the league’s 17th week. We will go conference by conference, breaking down each teams’ situation and what they need to get their best playoff position, starting in the West, where the top seed is already locked in but plenty is still on the line.

Arizona: The Wranglers have locked up the SW Division and the 1-seed, so do not be shocked if we see a lot of subs in this week’s season finale as Arizona preps for a bye week and a home game in the Divisional round.

Oakland: The Invaders know they are headed to the playoffs, but they want that division title and the 2 seed. They need a win this week to lock up both and hold off the hard-charging San Diego Thunder.

Ohio: The Glory locked up the Central Division this week, so the only thing on the line for them is a possible 2-seed. But, here is the thing. Oakland plays Saturday and Ohio does not play until Sunday. If the Invaders win, then Ohio has nothing to play for, locked into the 3-spot, so they will rest some starters, but if Oakland loses, then there is a lot on the line when the Glory take on the Wranglers.

San Diego: Despite an 0-4 start, the Thunder can win the division. They need Oakland to stumble and then they have to ensure they get past LA and the Division, even a possible 2-seed could be theirs.

Portland: The Stags have no chance at the Division, or even a home playoff game, but they still need to ensure they get into the dance. A win over Oklahoma gets them there, but the Outlaws also need a win to qualify, so this won’t be an easy Week 16 matchup.

Seattle: The Dragons had their “play in” game last week, and struggled against the Thunder. They have a “mulligan” because a win this week at home will still get them a Wild Card. Problem is, they face not only a team that is also in with a win, but a team that won last year’s league title and is not looking forward to dropping out of the hunt if they can prevent it.

Michigan: The Michigan-Seattle game is a true “play in” game. The winner is guaranteed a playoff spot, the loser almost certainly out (not entirely, but realistically, yes.). No wonder the league put this game in the prime Sunday night slot.

Denver: The Gold are still alive, but they need to beat Chicago at Invesco Field, which seems doable, but also hope that Portland stumbles at Oklahoma. Honestly, when we say it out loud, it does seem viable.

Oklahoma: Believe it or not the 7-8 Outlaws are still in the mix. They need to upend Portland at home in OGE Energy Stadium, that is a given. They also need Chicago to knock off Denver, and that may be the tough part. But, if they get both results, they would leapfrog over the Stags, the Gold, and the loser of the Michigan-Seattle game and claim the final spot. It is the most tenuous of all situations, so the Outlaws just need to focus on the task at hand, knocking off Portland.

That is the situation in the West, where we have 3 open playoff spots and 6 teams in play. We move now to the East, where only 2 spots remain, and we have 4 teams not yet guaranteed a playoff spot, all battling for the right to get one more game.

New Orleans: The Breakers sit in a 3-way tie atop the Southern Division. They are the club, of the three, who can control their own destiny. A win over Orlando and the 1-seed is theirs. After a long season that saw all 3 contenders take over the top spot at some point, it is the Breakers in the best position to claim the title, the bye, and homefield advantage.

Atlanta: The Fire are locked into the 2-seed, so they can rest some starters, take it easy, not show much against Baltimore, and know that they will be resting next week ahead of their home game in the Divisional playoffs.

New Jersey: The Generals have crept up on the Maulers, taken over the lead in the division by ½ game and now control their own destiny. They have what should be a very winnable game against a 3-12 Tampa Bay club with nothing to play for. Of course that also means the Bandits have nothing to lose. If the Generals win, as you would expect, they wrap up the NE Division crown and will host the 6-seed next week.

Houston: The Gamblers hold the 4-spot currently, but they know that if Orlando can knock off the Breakers, then Houston could leap all the way to the top spot and get themselves homefield for the entire Western Conference playoff run. They face Memphis in a game that matters for both teams, both hoping for the 1-seed, but both also knowing that a loss would drop them all the way to the 5-seed, and a road game next week.

Memphis: The Showboats are in exactly the same situation as Houston. A loss puts them in the unwanted 5-seed. A win means they at least get a home Wild Card game as the 4-seed, and if New Orleans loses, a possible 1-seed. Here is the thing though. How much do you fight for that home game next week? How much do you show, since a Breaker win means that Houston and Memphis will certainly meet in the Wild Card round. So, do you show everything to get a home game, or do you hold something back so that you can surprise the other next week?

Charlotte: After holding the division most of the year, the Monarchs have slipped and lost the crown to Atlanta. Now they are fighting for their playoff lives. A loss and they are almost certainly out of the postseason, with both Pittsburgh and Washington right there to jump over them. But, a win and they claim the last spot, dooming the two Northeastern clubs to watch from the outside. They control their own destiny, but still must be wondering how it came down to this in the first place.

Pittsburgh: Another team that has to be shaking their heads. They had the division won, but have lost 3 in a row, allowing New Jersey to leapfrog them. Now, they need a win plus a Charlotte loss just to get in as a Wild Card. If they are very lucky, they get a win, a Charlotte loss, and somehow Tampa Bay stuns the Generals, which would provide Pittsburgh with the NE Title and their only shot at a home game next week.

Washington: The Federals play the Maulers in the season finale, and just like Pittsburgh, they need help. They too can earn a Wild Card with a win and a Charlotte loss. Or, just like the Maulers again, a win over Pittsburgh and a loss by the Generals and it is Washington atop the NE Division and sitting pretty with a 3-seed. So, they, like many other teams, need to focus on the job at hand, and hope others do their part as well. Not ideal, but the chance is still there.

Few injuries to report this week, not compared to some weeks this season, though with nearly every game having some influence on the playoff picture, any one of these injuries, even those where players could take the field at less than 100% could be a factor.

OUT

WR       Nelson Agholor        LA          Hip                12-16 Weeks

DT        Corey Liuget                BIR         Back               6-8 Weeks

OT         Erik Pears                   LA          Leg                  4-6 Weeks

DE        William Gholston           ATL         Neck                1-2 Weeks

DOUBTFUL

QB          Jake Locker              BAL        Concussion      

SS            Leon McQuay          OKL       Neck

DE         Kemoko Turay        BIR         Concussion

QUESTIONABLE

OG         Michael Dunn             LV           Concussion

CB         Dunta Robinson              PIT         Hip

C            Sean Harlow                 POR      Neck

LB           Keenan Clayton           OAK      Concussion

LB         Matt Milano                  NJ           Pinched Nerve

League Sets Final Week Schedule with Panther-Dragon Play-in Game as Sunday Nighter

On Monday, following the study of all playoff permutations, the USFL finished its usual Week 16 flex scheduling, and they have given us a weekend full of questions and full of must-watch games, ending with a crescendo on Sunday night when the Panthers and Dragons will face off in Seattle, the winner advancing to the Wild Card round, and the loser headed home for the year.

The weekend will start with 2 huge games for the Northeast Division at Noon on Saturday. As always, when possible, games that impact each other are scheduled at the same time and that is certainly the case on Saturday afternoon when Pittburgh faces Washington and New Jersey finishes their season in Tampa Bay. If the Generals win, then the Mauler-Federal game could be for a Wild Card berth (depending on what happens with Charlotte. If New Jersey loses, then the Mauler-Federal winner would claim the NE Division title and the 3-seed, hosting a Wild Card playoff.

At 4pm the focus shifts to the Pacific, with St. Louis taking on Oakland and San Diego headed to LA. Oakland is already locked into a playoff spot, but San Diego needs the W to earn their berth. If the Thunder can win, and if Oakland falls to the Skyhawks, it would be San Diego claiming the Pacific Division, a total shock after their 0-4 start to the year. If both clubs win, Oakland keeps the division and the bye week, while San Diego will host a Wild Card game as well as the 4 seed.

The night game on Saturday is a big one for the Southern Division as Houston faces Memphis with both 11-4 and behind New Orleans on tie-breakers. The winner of this game has a shot to claim the 1-seed if New Orleans falters on Sunday. The loser is likely a 5-seed and on the road for their Wild Card game. The Breakers won’t play until noon on Sunday, so this game won’t involve scoreboard watching, but you know the winner will be tuned in to the Renegades-Breakers game and rooting hard for Orlando.

Sunday’s noon games include that ‘Gades-Breakers game, but also a game that will be huge for the NE Division as Charlotte heads to Birmingham. If they win, the last Wild Card is theirs, regardless of what happens with the 2 NE Division games on Saturday, but if Birmingham pulls off the upset, it means that a 2nd NE Division team will get in, and by the time this game starts we will know which team will be on the edge of their seats hoping against hope that the Stallions can get the job done.

Sunday at 4pm we have 3 games that pit the Central Division against the Southwest, with Ohio at Arizona, Chicago at Denver, and Oklahoma hosting Portland. We expect both Ohio and Arizona to put in several subs as both are locked into their playoff spots. But, the other two are huge games in the Western Wild Card race. Denver can earn a Wild Card spot with a win, but only if Oklahoma can upset Portland. Oklahoma can get in if they pull off that upset, but only if Denver is losing, so a lot of scoreboard watching from both those clubs. Finally, Portland is in with a win, plain and simple, so they will be going after Oklahoma with everything they have.

And then we get to Sunday night, where the Panthers and Dragons know that the winner is in the playoffs and the loser goes home. That is a true play-in game, and we expect it to be a beauty. A great set up by the league, lots of crossover games happening at the same time, and a Sunday night finale that should be a true war of wills, a game we all can enjoy as the final regular season game in what has been a highly entertaining 2018 regular season. When the schedule is over, it is then on to Black Monday (sorry, coaches) and Wild Card Weekend for mid-summer playoff football!!

League Leader Boards As Week 16 Looms

As we look across the league with one week left, the playoffs are clearly the main focus of attention, but for many players this last week is about putting together a big game to reach a milestone, an incentive-laden stat, or to leapfrog over another player and claim a statistical title this season. We are going to run through the major stat categories and see who is in range to challenge for the top spot in each, and who is closing in on a big milestone, record, or statistical marker.

PASSING

Basically the same names in rotation, but with almost no chance at all that one player can win the big 3: yardage, touchdowns, and QB rating. In yardage, the race is between Colt McCoy and Drew Brees. The Gambler has about 150 yards on the Breaker, and both QBs will almost certainly see lots of action this week as their games determine the 1-seed in the East. Others with possible milestone-achieving games include Ryan Nassib (57 yards from 4,000) and Dak Prescott (92 yards away).

For Touchdowns, we have a tie right now between McCoy and Brees again, and while Ryan Nassib is only 2 back, with 32 to their 34, Arizona is unlikely to keep their MVP candidate in for more than a series or two, with nothing on the line for the Wranglers in the game result.

QB Rating: Ryan Nassib seems to have this wrapped up at 117.9. Even a masterful game by Brees at 104.7 won’t produce a 10-point leap. We should note that San Diego’s Christian Ponder is currently the only other player above 100, with a 102 rating, but he has insufficient pass attempts to be included in the big board when it comes to QB Rating.

RUSHING

We know who is going to win the rushing title. LeVeon Bell’s 135 yard lead is nearly uncatchable, especially with Bell and the Panthers playing a very meaningful game this week. Maurice Jones-Drew will need to focus on winning the game, but if he gets up around 150, he may start thinking about reaching 1,500 for the year, currently 168 yards away.  Several other players are hunting for a 1,000-yard season, including Atlanta rookie Nick Chubb (37 yards away), veteran Monarch HB Adrian Peterson (62 yards away) and Seattle’s Knowshon Moreno (98 yards off).  As for touchdowns, MJD has a 2-score lead over LeVeon Bell, 15 to 13, with Houston’s Carlos Hyde likely too far off the pace at 11.

RECEIVING

We have 2 receivers already over the 100-catch mark, with Portland’s Brandin Cooks running away with the title at 120 after 15 games. Aaron Dobson is just over 100 at 101. Closing in on that magic number are Viper Denarius Moore (99), Denver’s Golden Tate (93), Breaker Jordy Nelson (91), and Orlando’s Brashad Perriman (90).

Mike Evans has a healthy lead in yardage, sitting at 1,533, with 2nd place Larry Fitzgerald at 1,468. Fitzie will see very limited action, if any at all, this week, so he may be lept by New Orleans’s Jordy Nelson at 1,445 currently. For those closing in on 1,200 yards, a common contract boosting number, we have Denarius Moore again (1,180), JuJu Smith-Schuster (1,177), Mauler Adam Thielen (1,161), and Michigan’s Cody Latimer (1,111). We should also note that Coby Fleener is the only TE over 1,000 yards, sitting at 1,098, more than 200 yards ahead of 2nd place.

For receiving touchdowns, it is again Mike Evans leading the pack, sitting on 15 scores in 15 games.  Three behind him are Breaker Kenny Britt and Seattle’s Marshall Newhouse, both at 12. Then Jordy Nelson and Antonio Bryant at 11, and TE Julius Thomas leading all big men with 10.

DEFENSE

Do we even have to say who is going to win the Sack title this year? Once again it is not a race, with Calais Campbell sitting pretty at 29, hoping to hit 30 yet again, the only man ever to do so. Von Miller is well back at 18, but still comfortably ahead of Chris Long and Dwight Freeney, both at 15.

Among the tackle leaders we have Philly’s Kirk Morrison (123), with Arizona’s A. J. Klien next up at 117, and Jacksonville’s Sean Lee at 114.  Likely to reach the century mark are Oakland LB Bobby Wagner (99), Dallas’s Brandon Spikes (97) and a fun race on the same team, with both Campbell and LB Sean Spence sitting at 98 apiece.

The real fun may be watching Memphis’s Marcus Williams, who is sitting at 9 picks this year, and has to try to get one more, against Colt McCoy and the Gamblers, if he wants to tie the league record. Of course, he also has competition, with Orlando FS Deion Bush and Seattle FS Donte Whitner both sitting at 8 apiece. A 2-pick game from either of them could leap right over Williams and into the record book.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Finally, we should mention that we have one of the closest races for the scoring leader in several years. After 15 weeks we have two kickers, Oakland’s Roberto Aguayo and Memphis’s Lewis Ward tied at 123 points, but we also have Elliott Parson of Arizona and Caleb Sturgis of New Orleans only 1 point back at 122. And don’t count out Pittsburgh’s Andrew Franks (120) or Adam Vinatieri of Washington (118) and Greg Zeurlein of Denver (also 118). A big game, with several field goals, could propel any of them to the top of the leaderboard.

Stars Reveal Some Radical Changes with 2019 UA Unis

We wondered if the Under Armour Class of 2019 would reveal any radical changes. Most of the designs have been tweaks here or there, with a few retro elements built in. But with Philadelphia we finally got a bit more of a radical departure. Now, we should start by saying that the main logos for the team are not altered, the “phasing” star remains the focal point of Philly’s look. But what UA has done is take that motif and crank the intensity up quite a bit.

The new uniforms will be the first to feature a helmet stripe in Stars’ history. But no ordinary stripe, a stripe that transitions from red to orange to gold, and back again. That same “shifting” angled striping will be a feature on every element of the uniform, including side panels on the jerseys and the pants, with the design starting at the armpit in red, transitioning to orange, then gold, and then back again from the hip to the knee. It is a very different look from the more traditional thick red pant stripe or old-school sleeve stripes.

The other new feature is an almost military style bar on the chest. Another transitional stripe, the bar features the angled stripes, but also 3 stars, representing the 3 titles held by the Stars over their long USFL history. Beneath the bar will appear a small wordmark, displaced now from beneath the collar to the left chest.

These primary uniforms come with only the gold pant set, matching the helmet. For variation we will need to look at the alt jerseys and pants. Philadelphia released two alt looks. The first, as you might expect, was a pure callback to the early years of the league, featuring the team’s original logo, a thick red pant stripe, and modified Northwestern stripes on the sleeves. The club can use the same helmet shell as their primary uniforms, but now with the striping removed. The second look is an all-white jersey and pant set, apparently for high-heat outings, called the “Summer Sun” alternate.

This uniform removes all use of the team’s trademark scarlet red, and uses color shifting from gold to orange as the exclusive palette for the midsummer look. The ombre effect from orange to gold is present on the unique color-shifting helmet, on the numbers for the white jersey, and even on the socks. The pants are white and feature a gold and orange set of angled stripes which also extend to the side panels of the jersey. It is a bright, and very “heat” focused look, to be sure, one clearly aligned with the long tradition of Philadlephia Star football, but also quite unique in a history defined by a very traditional style.

OK. Here we are, Week 16. We have already broken down the playoff picture, and we know about the strategy of scheduling games with crossover impact at the same time. So, with very little more to say, here is the full rundown of Saturday and Sunday games, each with their potential impact on the playoff race included.

Saturday @ Noon             Philadelphia (6-9) @ Jacksonville (4-11)

                                 No Playoff Ramifications

Saturday @ Noon             Pittsburgh (8-7) @ Washington (8-7)

                                          Winner takes NE Division if NJ loses, Wild Card if Charlotte loses.

Saturday @ Noon             New Jersey (8-6-1) @ Tampa Bay (3-12)

                                          New Jersey Takes NE Division with Win.

Saturday @ 4pm               Dallas (3-12) @ Las Vegas (6-9)

                                         No Playoff Ramifications

Saturday @ 4pm               St. Louis (5-10) @ Oakland (10-5)

                                          Oakland Takes Pacific Division with Win.

Saturday @ 4pm               San Diego (9-6) @ Los Angeles (3-12)

                                         Thunder Takes Pacific Division with Win + Oakland Loss.

Saturday @ 8pm               Houston (11-4) @ Memphis (11-4)

                                         Winner Takes Southern Division with New Orleans Loss.

Sunday @ Noon              Baltimore (5-10) @ Atlanta (10-5)

                                        Atlanta is locked into the 2nd Seed in the East.

Sunday @ Noon             Charlotte (9-6) @ Birmingham (6-9)

                                          Charlotte earns a Wild Card with a victory.

Sunday @ Noon             Orlando Renegades (6-9) @ New Orleans (11-4)

                                           New Orleans Takes Southern Division + 1 Seed with a Win.

Sunday @ 4pm               Ohio (10-5) @ Arizona (11-3-1)

                                          Ohio Takes 2 seed with win and Oakland loss

Sunday @ 4pm              Chicago (7-8) @ Denver (8-7)

                                          Denver earns Wild Card with win + Portland loss.

Sunday @ 4pm              Portland (8-7) @ Oklahoma (7-8)

                                          Portland earns Wild Card with win,

Oklahoma needs win + Denver Loss

Sunday @ 8pm                Michigan (8-7) @ Seattle (8-7)

                                           Winner earns a Wild Card