2018 USFL Week 8: Midseason Report

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We arrive at the season’s midway point with a lot of big stories, from the surprising decline of the Baltimore Blitz to the surprising successes in Memphis and Pittsburgh, this has been a season of big moves. Week 8 gave us strong performances from Arizona and New Orleans, the league’s two best records, and dramatic wins by Charlotte, Orlando, and Birmingham. We saw a lot of backup QBs in action, most with pretty poor outings, but we also saw a strong 2nd game from Lamar Jackson, and a possible sign that San Diego and Seattle are not done yet in the Pacific. We will recap all of this week’s games, talk about the strength of the Southern Division, and take a look at all 28 clubs at the season’s midway point, including team MVPs for each club, and a look at the latest power rankings, all coming up right now in This Week in the USFL.

The South Has Risen Again

After years of being seen as one of the league’s weaker divisions, the South is showing us this year that they are a force to be reckoned with. Led by the 7-1 Breakers, with Houston and Memphis only a game back at 6-2, and Birmingham still in the mix at 3-5, the South is proving they are a top to bottom brutal division right now, especially at home. The four Southern squads are currently a combined 16-1 in their home stadiums, and a combined 16-4 in interdivisional games, the best record of any division in the league.

The division includes the 2nd and 3rd leading scoring teams (New Orleans and Houston), the second best scoring defense (Memphis), the 2nd and 3rd best rush defenses (New Orleans and Memphis), and the 2nd best team in turnover differential (Birmingham). You also have the two top passers (yardage) in Colt McCoy and Drew Brees, and three of the top 5 receivers (Mike Evans, Jordy Nelson, and JuJu Smith-Schuster). It is a division that could place 3, maybe even all 4 teams in the playoffs if they continue to dominated inter-divisional games. This is a long way from only a few years ago when the division had a streak of champions with 9 wins (2013 & 2012), or even only 8 wins (2011) and most viewed the division as a weak sister to the NE and SE Division.

Now, one reason for the shift is a change of teams, with Nashville leaving for Las Vegas and replaced by Houston, who were a power in the Southwest and have brought that dynamic to their new division. The other reason may well be improved run games across the division, with Todd Gurley in Memphis, Carlos Hyde in Houston, and Leonard Fournette in New Orleans all looking stronger this year. Even Birmingham seems to have improved after the trade of T. J. Yeldon that brought Rex Burkhead to the Stallions.

While there are still many who would point to the NE Division as the league’s toughest, an argument can be made that it is the South where we see the most competitive teams and the potential for multiple playoff contenders. The second half of the season will tell the tale, of course, as there will be 6 more divisional games between the division’s 4 clubs, but, as a 4-team division the South also have a higher number of inter-divisional games, and if they continue to excel in those matchups, we could well see all 4 clubs finish at or above .500 and in the playoff mix.

ATLANTA FIRE 19 CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 24

With both the Fire and the Monarchs caught in a three way tie atop the Southeastern Division, you knew this Atlantic Coast rivalry was going to produce a hard-fought and close game, and that is exactly what we got. Both clubs stress defense, and both have outstanding linebacker groups, with Atlanta led by Luke Kuechley and Patrick Willis, while Charlotte boasts Rolando McClain and Jerod Mayo. One of those four would go on not just to be player of the game, but USFL player of the week, and it would not take long to see why.

It was on Atlanta’s very first possession of the game, taking over barely 10 minutes in, after Charlotte punted the ball with a perfect coffin corner kick to the 1 yard line by one of the league’s best, 11-year veteran Ken Walter. First and 10 from the 1 and Atlanta sends rookie Nick Chubb up the middle for a 1 yard gain, tackled by a combination of Mayo and Gabe Miller. Second and 9 and Jerod Mayo announces that has come to play. Coach Mora, expecting Atlanta to try to pass on 2nd down, sends Mayo on a blitz off the right guard, Mayo clears the guard with ease, cracks Aaron Murray across the right side, forcing out the ball, which he then gathers and falls on in the endzone for the game’s first points. The always coveted strip-sack-recovery-touchdown for Mayo would be the highlight play of the game, but only one of many plays that helped the Charlotte linebacker win POTW this week.

But while Charlotte’s defense had put the Monarchs on the board, Atlanta’s defense was also having a good first half. They held the Monarchs to only 1 first down in the half, absolutely stuffing HB Adrian Peterson, who would finish the game with only 11 carries and, yes this number is right, a total of exactly 0 rushing yards. It was a masterful performance from Keuchley in particular,, though Coach Arians was also quick to praise play of DT Sione Pouha, getting 37 snaps after only arriving with the club on Wednesday, traded over from Birmingham. Atlanta shut out the Charlotte offense in the first half, and over the course of the two quarters equalized the score on a Kenyan Drake TD run and then took the lead with two 2nd quarter field goals from John Bounds.

Down 13-7 at the half, Charlotte needed inspiration, and once again it would be Jerod Mayo providing it. On a 3rd and 1 from the Monarch 48, Atlanta did what most expected, handing the ball to their main man, rookie Nick Chubb, but Mayo was in the hole produced for Chubb and he just flat out stood up and knocked down the rookie, with a crash that could be heard in the announcers booth. It was just a loss of 1, but it was also a resounding message to Atlanta that the Monarch defense was not going to give an inch. The Fire were forced to punt, and the Charlotte offense got a jolt of adrenaline from the big hit. As teammates surrounded Mayo on the sideline with congratulations, fist bumps, and pats on the back, the offense finally found a rhythm. Mitch Trubisky, who had a solid outing, hitting on 20 of 25 passing, found Hakeem Nicks for a nice 16-yard gain on the opening play of the drive. He then connected twice with Brandon Pettigrew to get Charlotte in field goal range. When a 3rd and 3 toss to Isaiah McKenzie fell wide, the Monarchs sent out Stephen Earl and put 3 on the board to bring the game to 13-10.

The fourth quarter began with Atlanta moving the ball well, Aaron Murray surviving his 4th sack of the game, but then finding Roy Williams for a 35-yard catch and run on 3rd and 18, helping the Fire get in field goal range once again. John Bounds put them up by 6 once again at 16-10 with a short kick and Atlanta was once again on defense. But this time, Charlotte was feeling their mojo. It would take the Monarchs only 4 plays to take their first lead of the game. Following an initial first down on a short pass to John Stupar, Trubisky faked the ball to Peterson on first and 10, then found Isaiah McKenzie on a corner route, with the safety out of position. McKenzie cut inside the corner and took off for a 57-yard catch and run for 7 points. Charlotte’s first lead stood at 17-16 with just over 6 minutes to play.

Atlanta got the ball back and again found some success. This time it was the run game, with Nick Chubb hitting his best carry of the day, a 15-yarder, followed 2 plays later by Kenyon Drake taking a toss outside for 11. Atlanta was knocking on the door, but once again Jerod Mayo stepped up, this time taking down Murray for his second sack of the day, a key play on 2nd and 8 from the 12, creating a 3rd and 20 situation on the 20. Murray, flustered by the big hit from the Monarch linebacker, missed high on an endzone throw to Kelvin Benjamin, forcing the Fire to settle for 3 points, but they did have the lead back at 19-17 with 2:13 to play.

But, just as we saw with the 3rd down stuff of Chubb earlier in the game, Jerod Mayo’s big play not only fired up the Charlotte D, it gave the offense a lift as well. The Monarchs’ offense took the field with a sense of swagger, despite their absolute inability to run the ball. With just over 2 minutes to go, the run game would not be a factor anyway, and Adrian Peterson was replaced on the field by rookie 3rd down back Nyheim Hines as Charlotte prepared to attack through the air. Trubisky would not look Hines’s way, but would connect with Hakeem Nicks, then Justin Blackmon, the former Ohio Glory star. After scrambling for 3 yards, Trubisky then found Blackmon again, with a throw that split the safeties and got Blackmon all the way to the 3 yard line. With nearly 90 seconds left to play, and down only 2, Charlotte went with the run game on first and second down, but the Fire run defense remained stalwart. Hines gained 1 yard on first down, then lost that yard on 2nd, giving Charlotte a 3rd and goal at the 3. Atlanta loaded the box, expecting a 3rd inside run and then a field goal for the win, but Charlotte, threw them a curve. Trubisky faked to Hines, rolled to his right and found Hakeem Nicks, the lone wideout on the field, streaking across the goalline. The throw was low and outside, but Nicks dropped to the turf and picked it up for the score and the Charlotte lead with just 90 seconds left to play.

Atlanta was now down 5 with 2 timeouts and 90 seconds to find paydirt. But, once again, they had to face that Monarch defense and the very fired up Jerod Mayo. The Fire had a good first play, with Murray finding Benjamin on the sideline for a quick 9 yards. They converted the first down on a Kenyan Drake pitch outside, with the back getting out of bounds to stop the clock. But on 1st and 10 from the 41, it all started to fall apart again. On first down, Mayo pressured Murray, and while he did not get the sack, he forced an early throw that was off target, missing Dorial Green-Beckham wide and low. On second down, Mayo dropped into coverage, taking away the inside route of O. J. Howard, and forcing Murray to try to hit Roy Williams in double coverage. Another incompletion and now it was 3rd and 10. Murray lined up in the shotgun, 3 receivers to his right, and Jerod Mayo making a lot of noise in front of him. Again, the Atlanta QB, perhaps flustered by Mayo’s vocal display and presence on the line, made a bad read, trying to hit Howard over the middle and nearly having the ball picked off by Rolando McClain, who had dropped back in coverage. That made it 4th and 10 and one last chance for the Fire.

Murray again lined up in the shotgun, and again had 3 receivers to his right, Benjamin, Green-Beckham, and Howard. Williams was the lone receiver to the left. The ball would go over the middle to Howard, but once again Mayo was there, hitting the tight end with a textbook wrap tackle 8 yards down the field and 2 yards shy of the first down. It would be Mayo’s 11th tackle (technically his 15th, but with several shared tackles, he got only half credit) and it would be the one that salted away a vital division win for the Monarchs. There was no doubt in the stadium who the hero of the day was, though we should recognize Trubisky’s solid game as well. This game was dominated by, and the Monarchs inspired by, the play of their 10-year veteran OLB.

MEMPHIS 14 BIRMINGHAM 20 OVERTIME

A huge win for the Stallions as they stay relevant in the brutal Southern Division by knocking off their archrivals. The Stallions got off to a great start, spurred by their defense, as Antonio Cromartie returned a poor throw from Paxton Lynch 37 yards for a defensive TD. Newly-acquired HB Rex Burkhead made it 14-0 with a 2nd quarter TD, but Memphis fought back in the second half, with Lynch finding both Robert Woods and Jamison Crowder for scores. The game went into overtime, where Cam Newton found rookie HB Kerryon Johnson for a short TD to end the game and give the Stallions the win.

POTG: Stallion HB Kerryon Johnson: 13 Att, 50 Yds, 1 Rec, 1 TD

LOS ANGELES 10 SAN DIEGO 34

A rough start for LA interim coach Emmitt Thomas, as San Diego got two pick-sixes against Sam Bradford to run away with this one. Bradford was under pressure all game, taking 4 sacks, and throwing two picks, both of them returned for scores. The San Diego offense, led by backup Christian Ponder, was not exactly explosive, gaining only 278 total yards, but they did enough to keep themselves well ahead of the Express, building up a 24-3 lead by the half and controlling the ball in the second half to gain their 3rd win of the year.

POTG: San Diego CB Tye Smith: 4 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD, 1 FF, 1 FR

DENVER 17 NEW ORLEANS 38

Leonard Fournette had his best game as a pro, including 2 first quarter TD runs and 92 yards receiving, which included a 60 yard explosion that lead to a C. J. Spiller 1-yard TD run as New Orleans improved to 7-1 at the midway point. Denver stayed close through three quarters, with TDs from Murray and Crabtree pulling them to within 24-17 at the end of the third, but two late Breaker TDs sealed the deal for New Orleans.

POTG: Breaker HB Leonard Fournette: 23 Att, 64 Yds, 2 TD, 3 Rec, 92 Yds

BALTIMORE 0 NEW JERSEY 34

In what may be the ugliest loss in Blitz history, the Generals utterly dismantled the Blitz for a blowout win. Maurice Jones-Drew ran wild, averaging 5.9 yards per carry on his way to a 160-yard rushing game. Odell Beckham Jr also came on strong with 7 receptions for 116 yards for the Generals, who had no trouble at all managing the Blitz’s defensive scheme. The Blitz offense had all kinds of trouble with the Generals, committing 2 turnovers, and converting only 4 of 11 third downs, but the huge issue for the Blitz was discipline as they racked up 14 penalties for 124 yards against them. An ugly display from a Blitz team that drops to 2-6 at midseason.

POTG: Generals’ HB Maurice Jones-Drew: 27 Att, 160 Yds, 1 TD

PITTSBURGH 14 SEATTLE 23

The “Seattle Surge” is alive and well as the Dragons upset Pittsburgh to win their third in a row. Seattle built up a 20-0 lead by the half and held on despite a Rasul Douglas pick-six of Matt McGloin. The Dragons got TDs form Marshall Newhouse and Wendell Smallwood, but it was the defense that starred in the game, picking off Andy Dalton twice and limiting the Mauler run game to a measly 10 total yards.

POTG: Seattle FS Donte Whitner: 3 Tck, 3 PDef, 2 Int

OKLAHOMA 20 DALLAS 17

A good divisional win for Oklahoma, moving them to .500. It was a close game throughout, with both teams making mistakes but also making some big plays. The Outlaws held a 20-10 advantage in the 4th but Dallas made a valiant effort to equalize the game, but a holding penalty pushed the Roughnecks out of range for a final field goal to tie the game, forcing Brandon Wheedon to try for a Hail Mary on the game’s final play. The play failed and Oklahoma held on for the W.

POTG: Outlaw LB Jonathan Moulton: 7 Tck, 1 Int, 1 FR

PHILADELPHIA 9 WASHINGTON 19

A bad loss for the Stars as backup Tony Pike struggled to only 9 of 28 passing and was sacked 7 times by the Federals. Washington took advantage, with Anthony Allen having his best day of the year, with 94 yards rushing and 2 receptions. Keenan Allen scored both Federal touchdowns, enough to get the W and push Washington to .500 at the midway point, with Philly dropping to the same 4-4 record.

POTG: Federal WR Keenan Allen: 7 Rec, 91 Yds, 2 TD

ARIZONA 20 LAS VEGAS 3

And to think we were worried about Coach Tomsula’s defense this offseason. Arizona is now ranked first in points allowed after holding Las Vegas, and backup QB Jeff Tuel, to only 3 points. Ryan Nassib again looked to be in command, going 14 of 21 for 206 yards and 2 scores with no turnovers. The D also held Las Vegas under 300 yards of total offens and produced 3 takeaways.

POTG: Wrangler CB Joe Haden: 13 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR

OAKLAND 27 TAMPA BAY 3

The Invaders take command with a 6-2 record in the Division, their defense keying the win once again as they hold Tampa Bay to 252 total yards and a lone field goal on the board. Jimmy Garoppolo was taken out of the game at the half, with Oakland up only 10-3, due to concerns about his thumb, after it got bent back when it hit a helmet on a late 2nd quarter throw. Bob Volek came in, threw for 144 yards and a TD.

POTG: Invader SS Jaiquawn Jarrett: 6 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 Sck, 2 PDef, 1 Int

ST. LOUIS 21 CHICAGO 34

Chicago reaches .500 at the midway point by scoring 20 points in the 2nd half to pull away from St. Louis. The combo of Forte and Hill gained 10 yards on the ground against the hapless Skyhawk run defense. Lamar Jackson played well in the loss, completing 22 of 36 passes for 244 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also used his legs, with 3 scrambles, including one for a first down. But, Chicago was just too much, with balance producing 391 offensive yards.

POTG: Chicago HB Matt Forte: 16 Att, 98 Yds, 1 TD

OHIO 28 PORTLAND 14

A nice road win for Ohio, as Troy Smith throws for 2 TDs and gets 2 more from HB Isaiah Pead. Kellon Clemons struggled for Portland, sacked 3 times and picked off once. The lone highlight for Portland was a 58-yard pick-six by CB A. J. Bouye. It was 14-7 Portland at the half, but Troy Smith came on in the 2nd half, connecting with HB Delone Carter and WR Eric Weems for scores.

POTG: Ohio FS LaRon Landry: 8 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Blck FG

JACKSONVILLE 10 HOUSTON 35

Houston has their way with the 1-7 Bulls, putting up 395 yards of offense, including 94 yards and 2 touchdowns from Carlos Hyde. Teddy Bridgewater threw 2 more picks, giving him 5 on the year with no touchdowns yet, which has some believing that Robert Griffin III may get the next start. For Houston, a huge game as well from JuJu Smith-Schuster, who had 128 yards and a score on 5 receptions.

POTG: Gambler HB Carlos Hyde: 22 Att, 94 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Rec, 30 Yds

ORLANDO 23 MICHIGAN 20

A fabulous Sunday night matchup between two solid teams as Orlando gets the winning field goal in the final minute to upend the Panthers in front of nearly 60,000 at Ford Field. Russell Wilson threw for 269 in the game. Michigan played with 2 backups, with Taylor Heinecke and Drew Stanton both seeing action due to Kirk Cousin’s injury. LeVeon Bell rushed for 182 and a TD, but the Panthers just could not shake Orlando, who got TDs from Latavius Murray and Dwayne Bowe in the victory.

POTG: Orlando WR Brashad Perriman: 10 Rec, 118 Yds

Leonard Fournette Shines for League’s Best Breakers

LSU’s Leonard Fournette has not been the immediate breakout player the Breakers had hoped for, but if this week’s performance against Denver was any indication, the 2nd year back may be gaining more and more trust in New Orleans, with big things ahead. Yes, his rushing total was only 64 yards, after a season-best 87 last week, but he also turned in 90 yards in the passing game, including a brilliant 60-yard catch and run on an outside screen play. Fournette was kept in on more 3rd downs than in the past, a sign that he is gaining the trust of the coaches and his QB as a receiver. Balance in the offense has long been a goal for Coach Lathon, and this season we are seeing a better distribution of run and pass plays, allowing Drew Brees a bit of respite from those 50-attempt games of the past. Sitting at 7-1 atop the Southern Division, New Orleans is hoping the recent surge in production from Fournette is a sign of things to come. The Breakers still have 4 divisional games to play this year, including 2 against the surprising Showboats, so they need to keep the pedal to the metal and not get complacent. If they can keep Brees’s arm loose by not overtaxing the passing game, they could very well be looking at a one seed, a bye, and homefield in a very tough Eastern Conference.

MJD Looking for MVP

Don’t tell Maurice Jones-Drew that the league MVP award almost always goes to a QB. He does not want to hear it. After a 160-yard rushing game this week against Baltimore, part of a 34-0 drubbing of the division foe, MJD is talking MVP in a big way. This week was his 3rd 100-yard game, the 4th time he has had over 150 yards of combined yards from scrimmage, and he also leads the league with 12 touchdowns, giving him more points this season than any of the league’s 28 kickers, something that we often see in weeks 1-2 but not after 8 weeks.

MJD is arguably having his best year in his 13th season, and at age 32. He is averaging 4.0 YPG, the first time he has done that in 3 years, and is on pace for 1,500 yards, which would eclipse his career best by nearly 200 yards. He is contributing in the passing game as well, with 15 receptions. The offense clearly runs through him, as Nick Foles is using play action to great effect, and teams are loading the box but still struggling to contain the “Pocket Hercules”. But is it enough to really put him in the MVP race? At 5-2-1, New Jersey could well be looking at a bye and possibly a top seed, so the answer may well be yes, it it.

Atlanta Cannot Hold the Mayo

Our game of the week saw Charlotte outlast Atlanta to claim a share of first place in the Southeast, tied with Orlando at 5-3, and while both teams had a lot of stars on display, it was Charlotte LB Jerod Mayo who shone the brightest. Mayo finished the game with 11 tackles, 2 sacks, and the play of the game, a strip sack, recovery, and touchdown on defense that opened scoring in the game. Had this one play early in the game been his only contribution, we would not be singing Mayo’s praises today, but what we saw in this game was a linebacker causing absolute mayhem on nearly every drive. His blitzes were devastating to the Atlanta line, leading to Aaron Murray being sacked 5 times. He also disrupte the Atlanta run game, helping to hold standout rookie Nick Chubb to only 3.4 yards per carry, well below his season average. Finally, Mayo was a vocal leader on the field, working alongside Rolando McClain to rile up the defense at key moments. In other words, he talked the talk and also walked the walk, exactly the kind of game the Monarchs needed, and the kind of game that won Mayo the Player of the Week.

Blitz Bottom Out in 34-0 Drubbing

Things are getting ugly in Baltimore. The Blitz, once thought to be among the contenders for the NE Division, have fallen to 2-6 on the season, and did so in one of the ugliest performances Baltimore has seen since the final scene of John Water’s 1972 Baltimore film “Pink Flamingos” (Don’t ask, you don’t want to know.) The 34-0 drubbing in New Jersey highlighted many of the problems the Blitz have evinced all season: a shaky defensive line that just does not stop the run effectively and cannot get to the QB, a run game that is hit or miss, but cannot be counted on for key 3rd down runs, poor route running by receivers who have been outstanding in the past, and a seemingly indecisive Ben Roethlisberger, something we are just not used to seeing.

Baltimore now ranks in the bottom half of the league in Scoring (17th), yards per game (16th), rushing (16th), points allowed (19th), yards allowed (17th), and, most notably, pass defense (240.6 YPG, 20th in the league). None of these numbers were expected from a Blitz team that some had as an outside contender for a Summer Bowl appearance. Coach Caldwell does not seem to have any easy fixes either. It is not like he is going to replace Big Ben at QB, or find a new starting HB who can gain a 3rd and 2 when needed, or suddenly have an epiphany with the defense. Nope, it just looks like Caldwell will have to find a way to motivate better play from across the roster, find some new schemes on defense, and open up the offense somehow. All tall orders for a team that is now solidly in last place in a very competitive and balanced NE Division.

Denver Loses Suh to Broken Leg

We often talk about teams or players getting a bad break, but in the case of Denver’s star DT Ndamukong Suh, we are speaking quite literally. Suh got caught up in a combination block, and had the center for the Breakers, Chris Spencer, fall across his shin. The impact was immediate and devastating. Suh fell to the ground in obvious pain, and while not quite as visible or visceral as the famous Joe Theismann injury, it was clear that bone was protruding from Suh’s leg. He was taken off the field on the cart, and by day’s end it was revealed that both the tibia and the fibula had suffered fractures, with the tibia suffering a clean break that did not break the skin, but protruded it outwards. Suh would be out for the rest of Denver’s 2018 campaign, a huge loss for a team that had started strong this year but was now fading at midseason.

The injury meant that Sharrif Floyd would be joining Amobi Okoye in the starting four on the D-line, but more than that it meant that Denver would now have to rely far more on more elaborate schemes to stuff the run or find pressure on the QB. Even with Von Miller and Justice Cole forming a pretty formidable duo outside, it had always been Suh’s inside pressure and blocker-occupying physicality that had given Miller and Cole favorable matchups outside. The impact was immediate, even after the initial shock was shaken off by both teams. For the remainder of the game, Breaker QB Drew Brees would not feel considerable pressure, completing 11 of his final 13 passes. Breaker HB Leonard Fournette also saw greater success running the ball with Suh out of the game.

Denver, looking ahead to the next 8 games, will need to find a way to generate pressure and also to contain the run. They face San Diego this week, the team with the top-rated run game in the league, so Suh’s absence will be immediately tested. What follows after that is a series of games where Denver will need to both pressure the QB and stop the run without their best inside defender. It was a bad break quite literally, but also figuratively as the 4-4 Gold must now try to find a new way to defend and a new leader for the defense.

The injury to Ndaukong Suh was hardly the only one this week as we saw 3 more players added to the IR list, as well as several more expected to miss a month or longer. Among the high impact injuries are HB Kenyan Drake in Atlanta, suffering a hairline fracture in his right arm; former Stallion and current Bandit T. J. Yeldon, with a partial PCL tear; Dallas WR Tim Wright also with a PCL injury; and Orlando’s young corner Dee Milliner, with damage to the meniscus in his right knee after an awkward landing atop a receiver’s foot. Add to these several shorter term injuries, and we have a pretty long and gnarly injury list to report this week.

OUT

SS Chuck Clark STL Hamstring IR

C Marcus Martin ATL Torn Quad IR

DT Ndamukong Suh DEN Fractured Leg IR

HB T. J. Yeldon TBY Torn PCL 6-8 Weeks

WR Tim Wright DAL Torn PCL 6-8 Weeks

HB Kenyan Drake ATL Fracture 4-6 Weeks

OT Ryan Ramczyk BAL Broken Leg 4-6 Weeks

DT Ryan Carethers ARZ Neck 4-6 Weeks

C Wesley Johnson LV Ribs 4-6 Weeks

CB Dee Milliner ORL Miniscus 2-4 Weeks

G Logan Mankins OAK MCL 1-2 Weeks

C Erik Cook JAX Concussion 1-2 Weeks

QB Taylor Heinecke MGN Hand 1-2 Weeks

DOUBTFUL

FS Jamal Adams DAL Concussion

C Sean Harlow POR Hand

G Kyle Long WSH Knee

WR DeDe Westbrook OKL Hamstring

WR Mike Wallace SEA Stress Fracture (Foot)

QUESTIONABLE

G Luke Joeckel OAK Neck

DE Cliff Avril OAK Hamstring

G Max Jean-Gilles ORL Wrist

TE David Njoku ORL Hand

Mid-Season Report Cards

With 8 weeks down and 8 to go, it is time to evaluate where our teams stand across the league. We have opted to provide a mid-semester report card, dishing out grades from A+ to F across the league. It is not just about wins and losses but met or missed expectations. With each club we will provide a key theme, while later on, in our Power Rankings, we will also award a midseason MVP for each club. So, we start with our division by division analysis of the 2018 playoff race and season to date at the midway point.

The Northeast has not played out the way we expected. New Jersey is what we thought we would see, a solid team with a strong run game. Pittsburgh has been surprisingly good on defense, Philadelphia strangely weak on that same side of the ball. Washington is plucky but feels very much like a one man show with David Garrard in the center ring. Baltimore is a clown car that just isn’t fun to watch.

New Jersey A-

Solidly where we expected them to be with a huge game against the Maulers this week.

Pittsburgh A

The game at Heinz Field this week could propel the Maulers into a lofty position atop a division few picked them to win.

Washington B+

While 4-4 may not seem like much, it is a positive step for a Federals team that was seen as a rebuilding project.

Philadelphia C

While 4-4 gives Washington a B+ it has to be seen as a poor situation for a Stars team many picked to win it all. Philly has time to make a push, but they cannot let either the Maulers or Generals get any further ahead.

Baltimore D

This season has been a disaster, and there are no major injuries or controversies to explain it. It just feels like nothing that worked in the past is working now.

We expected a balanced battle in the division, and that is what we have after 8 weeks, with 3 teams all battling it out for the top spot. We expected more from both Tampa Bay and Jacksonville, especially from Tampa’s offense and Jacksonville’s defense, both of which have not been as advertised.

Charlotte B+

The Monarchs could be in a better position, but it seems like Mitch Trubisky is suffering a sophomore slump. If they can fix that, they could pull out ahead with a solid run game and a strong defense.

Orlando A-

We are still somewhat shocked that Orlando is winning with offense and not their defensive front. Imagine how good they could be if the defense tightens up a bit.

Atlanta B

The Fire are hoping that defense will carry them forward. Despite a solid year from Aaron Murray, the offense is still not producing enough to win consistently.

Jacksonville D

Not much was expected of the Bulls, and not much is what we are getting. But how long will the Teddy Bridgewater experiment last when he has yet to throw a single TD pass?

Tampa Bay F

The addition of Dez Bryant was supposed to make this a dynamic offense, one capable of propelling Tampa towards the top of the division, but it just is not materializing.

The addition of Memphis to the mix, and even Birmingham’s occasionally strong outing make the South our rising division this year. There is an outside chance that all 4 clubs could make the post-season, though our bet is that the top 3 will get in and Birmingham will fall just short once again.

New Orleans A+

The defense is playing lights out, the offense is explosive and more balanced than ever. This is a very dangerous team, with a huge game in Houston this week to prove it.

Houston A

The Gamblers are right there with New Orleans. If they can win the home matchup with the Breakers this week, they gain the upper hand in a very tight race.

Memphis A

No one expected Memphis to be here, but the defense has exceeded expectations (especially with Bowman missing several weeks) and Paxton Lynch seems to be developing nicely as he gets more games under his belt.

Birmingham C+

While 3-5 is not where Birmingham wanted to be, we are seeing better defensive play, a better run, game, and as their win over Memphis showed, the capacity to rise to the occasion, but can they do so consistently?

Michigan is still atop the division, but their title defense is proving a bit tougher than many expected, with both Ohio and Chicago playing above our expectations. There is still work to do in St. Louis, that seems obvious, but Lamar Jackson is at least providing some excitement and some hope for the future in the Gateway City.

Michigan B+

It still feels like Michigan’s division to win, but this does not feel like the club that had all the answers last postseason. They are still winning games, but the dominance we saw late last year has not returned, at least not yet.

Ohio A-

We are impressed with how well this club has weathered the injury storm that took out their top 2 QBs. With Hackenberg expected back, can we expect even more from the Glory in the second half?

Chicago B+

Sitting at .500 is a solid spot for a Machine club that had a lot of question marks coming into the year. The offense is finding some answers and the defense is much improved over last year.

St. Louis C-

While we love what we have seen the past two weeks from rookie QB Lamar Jackson, until Coach Reich can fix that defense, it will be tough to win games.

Arizona’s demise was apparently greatly exaggerated. We all feared their defense would be a shambles after all the offseason departures, but they are playing amazing team defense, leading the league in points allowed. They are solidly ahead of the pack, but both Oklahoma and Denver could close the gap if they could just play their best ball more consistently. Dallas has improved on defense but now lacks a true threat at QB, and Las Vegas has been very disappointing and seems to be intent on building for the future instead of winning right now in what could be Eli Manning’s final season.

Arizona A+

He may not be among the front runners for Coach of the Year, but the work Coach Tomsula has done with this defense is nothing short of amazing.

Oklahoma B-

The defense is holding this team together. They need to figure out why their emphasis on power runs is producing Marshawn Lynch’s worst statistical year of his career.

Denver C+

Denver looked very promising early, but have lost 3 of 4 after a strong start. They need to find their mojo again because this is a division that should produce 2 playoff teams, and they are a squad that can make that happen if they get their minds right.

Dallas C

The Manziel suspension was an unwanted distraction that turned into a much bigger problem. Fans who were upset that the Roughnecks did not prepare by signing a backup QB in the offseason are feeling pretty vindicated for their offseason concerns.

Las Vegas C-

This was a team that many thought could challenge for a Summer Bowl berth, but this season has not produced enough energy on offense or consistency on defense, and it feels already like Coach Neuheisel is planning for 2019.

The resurgence of the Invaders is a great story, as was a strong early season from Marcus Mariota and the Stags, but Portland seems to be fading, and San Diego, expected to win the division, may just now be finding their form, perhaps in time for a surge in the 2nd half. Seattle is hoping they can duplicate last year’s miracle finish after once again starting a bizarre 0-5, and LA, well, the less we say about the Expres, perhaps the better.

Oakland A

The Invaders survived a rough start with 2 QB injuries, but now that Jimmy G is solidly in place as the starter, they are winning, winning ugly in many cases, but that is just another way to say that their defense is ahead of the offense and helping out a lot.

Portland B

A 3-1 start surprised many, but the Stags have gone 1-3 in the 2nd quarter of the season, and now, with Mariota hurt, there are concerns that the early season success was as good as the team will be all year.

San Diego B-

The season started poorly, with 3 consecutive losses, but San Diego seems to be on the precipice of finding their identity and making a run. If it materializes, we could see them catching Oakland, especially if they can win their head-to-head matchup in Week 10.

Seattle INC

Incomplete is the only grade we can give this club, mostly because we are having a hard time believing they can really pull off another playoff run after a 2nd straight 0-5 start to the year. If they do, then the question has to be what they can do to start the season stronger next year.

Los Angeles F

After a marginally successful 8-8 year in 2017, the wheels have fallen off this express train, and Andy Reid has left the building. This team has too much talent to continuously underperform, and yet they do.

Player Awards

Midseason is not just a time to look at team success, but individual player success as well. With that in mind, we offer you our best guesses as to the top contenders for each of the USFL’s major season-ending awards, from what could be a very tight MVP race to a really interesting cluster of candidates for Coach of the Year, here is our assessment of the individual accolades and who is looking good for recognition this year.

MVP:

While we are very much appreciative of the outstanding season Maurice Jones-Drew is putting together in New Jersey, and while we think he absolutely should be in consideration, we all know that the MVP award goes to a QB nine times out of ten, and this year there are some very strong candidates. Right now we see it as a 3 QB race, with New Orleans’s Drew Brees and Houston’s Colt McCoy clearly having topflight seasons, but we also love what David Garrard is doing in Washington. He has single handedly willed the Federals to 4-4, and if the Feds can reach a playoff, he may well get a lot of consideration. Right now, looking at the stats, the three are ranked 1-2-3 in yardage, with McCoy slightly ahead of Brees and Garrard. Brees has the edge with 16 touchdowns to 14 each for McCoy and Garrard, and when we consider QBR it is once again Brees, the league’s 2nd rated QB with the edge. If the Breakers continue to hold the league’s best record it could very well be a 3rd MVP award for the Breaker QB, a full 11 years since his last award.

OPOTY:

If the MVP is locked in for a QB, then Maurice Jones Drew (HB-NJ) has to be considered a front runner for the Offensive Player of the Year. He will have competition however, particularly from Michigan’s main man, HB LeVeon Bell, who currently leads MJD by 29 yards for the league rushing title. Don’t count out a pair of receivers also, returning once again to the Southern Division to recognize the league’s top two receiving yardage leaders, Houston’s Mike Evans (882 yards) and New Orleans’s Jordy Nelson (49 yards back at 833). A strong second half from any of these four candidates could put them over the top.

DPOTY:

While it was clearly Charlotte’s Jerod Mayo making a huge splash this week, we don’t see the Monarch LB as a top candidate for Defensive Player of the year. Right now we think it has to be a 2-man race, with our main “usual suspect” Calais Campbell of Orlando leading the league in sacks for the umpteenth consecutive year. But watch out as well for Oakland’s Bobby Wagner (LB-OAK). The Invaders are getting a lot of attention and it is their defense that is shining brightest, with Wagner the clear leader and impact player on that squad. If there is a possible dark horse for the award, keep an eye on another Invader, cornerback Chris Gamble, whose 6 sacks are well ahead of pace to set a league record, currently at 9 picks for the year. Gamble needs only 4 in the final 8 games to set the league mark, and that will certainly garner him some votes if he is successful.

ROTY:

An interesting race for Rookie of the Year because we really only have one offensive standout, which means there is room for two strong first season defenders to get consideration. The odds right now are that the winner this year will be named Chubb, but will it be Atlanta halfback Nick Chubb or Washington DE Bradley Chubb. Both have had very nice starts to their career, with Nick currently 8th in the league with 544 yards in 8 games, on pace for 1,000, possibly 1,100 yards. Bradley has not gotten as much press in DC, but his impact is being felt. The NC State product has 5 sacks and 25 tackles (7 for loss) in his first 8 games. He has come on of late, with 13 tackles and 3 sacks in his last 3 games, a sign that he may have a strong second half ahead of him. The darkhorse here is in Denver, where LB Harold Landry has gotten more and more playing time each week, and now could have an even larger role as the Gold have to adjust to the loss of Ndamukong Suh on the D-Line. Landry has 37 tackles (5 for loss) and 2 sacks, and could be used more in passing downs as a blitzing outside threat, with hopes that teams cannot defend him and Von Miller on the same side.

COTY:

With several teams outperforming expectations this season, there are plenty of Coach of the Year candidates. As much as we would love to see Arizona’s Jim Tomsula here, most considered Arizona a pretty solid division favorite before the year, so even the surprising success of a rebuilt Wrangler D is likely not enough to give Tomsula the award. Right now it is another defense and another defensive-minded coach who is getting a lot of attention, Memphis’s Rex Ryan. No doubt that the surprising start of the Showboats has a lot of folks praising the job the outspoken Ryan is doing in the home of the Blues. If Memphis fades, which does not seem likely but could happen, then we look at some other surprising squads and their coaches, including former COTY, Pittsburgh’s Vic Fangio, Oakland’s first year import from the NFL, Gary Kubiak, and a very respected coach out of Philly, former Star DC and new Federals’ HC Gus Bradley.

POWER RANKING

The third and final part of our midseason report is always the most controversial, our mid-year power rankings. We look at who is hot, who is rising right now, and who may be overrated. Our list from 1 to 28 is sure to have some close calls and controversial placements, so get ready to debate the list, and just to add some fuel to the fire, we have not only made a quick assessment of each team, but offer you our best assessment of who the first half MVP has been for each club. Some are obvious, some perhaps not known to the casual fan, but in our minds, all worthy of recognition for their output this year.

1-NEW ORLEANS (7-1) Up 6 from Preseason Ranking

Hard not to be near the top with the league’s 2nd rated scoring offense and 4th best scoring defense. First Half MVP: QB Drew Brees: 100.7 QBR, 2,197 Yds, 16 TDs

2-ARIZONA (6-1-1) Up 4 from Preseason Ranking

Despite all the changes, Arizona now boasts the league’s best overall scoring defense, allowing only 13 points per game. 1st Half MVP: QB Ryan Nassib: Almost no drop off from Carr with 13:1 TD-INT ratio and league best 118.2 QBR.

3-HOUSTON (6-2) Down 1 from Preseason Ranking

Houston boasts the league’s best passing attack at 291.5 YPG, and the defense has 30 sacks already, spread among 10 different players. First Half MVP: WR Mike Evans with 43 catches for 882 yards and 5 TDs.

4-NEW JERSEY (5-2-1) Up 5 from Preseason Ranking

Lead the league in points per game, thanks in large part to balance between the 5th best rushing attack and the 7th ranked passing game. First Half MVP: HB Maurice Jones-Drew leads the league with 13 touchdowns, actually ahead of all 28 kickers in points scored.

5-MEMPHIS (6-2) Up 16 from Preseason Ranking

Rex Ryan’s defense is solid in all areas, rating Top 10 in points per game (5th), yards allowed (2nd), passing (9th) and rushing (7th). First Half MVP: DE Mario Williams has picked up his game with 8 sacks in 8 games.

6-OAKLAND (6-2) Up 12 from Preseason Ranking

The league’s 2nd best scoring defense has given Oakland time to get Jimmy Garoppolo up to speed. Despite the league’s 2nd worst passing yard average (157.6 ypg), Oakland is finding ways to win. First Half MVP: LB Bobby Wagner: Leads the team with 58 tackles, but also has 3 sacks, a pick, 2 forced fumbles, and 9 tackles for loss.

7-ORLANDO (5-3) Up 16 from Preseason Ranking

Surprisingly, it has been the offense helping Orlando to 5 wins, thanks to a 25.6 PPG average, though the defense (4th best in yards allowed) has not been too shabby either. First Half MVP: WR Brashad Perriman, with 50 catches, 820 yards and 6 TDs, Perriman is making a name for himself this season.

8-MICHIGAN (5-3) Down 7 from Preseason Ranking

Top 10 in both points scored (22.5 per game) and points allowed (17 per game), Michigan excels against the pass, allowing fewer than 200 yards per game. First Half MVP: CB Dre Kirkpatrick, not only has 3 picks, but leads the team with 64 tackles, playing a lot of pressure coverage and contributing against the run.

9-PITTSBURGH (5-3) Up 11 from Preseason Ranking

The new offensive scheme is still a work in progress (21st in yards per game but 12th in points), while the defense is the league’s best against the run (62.1 YPG), forcing teams to be one-dimensional in their attacks. First Half MVP: CB Rasul Douglas, with 36 tackles, 3 picks, 2 returned for scores, and 13 passes defended.

10-CHARLOTTE (5-3) Down 6 from Preseason Ranking

The Monarchs are middle of the pack in most categories, but are finding ways to win despite Mitch Trubisky developing an interception issue (leads the league with 12). First Half MVP: CB Derech Cox, with 46 tackles, 5 picks, and 10 passes defended, Cox is one of several defensive standouts for Charlotte.

11-OHIO (5-3) Up 1 from Preseason Ranking

The Glory have played 4 different QBs and are still 2 games over .500. They rank dead last in passing, but are top 10 in rushing, and their pass defense is among the league’s best, allowing only 195.8 YPG through the air. First Half MVP: LB Ryan Shazier, with 42 tackles (12 for a loss), 3 sacks and 2 forced fumbles, he is an OC’s worst nightmare, covering sideline to sideline and blowing up plays.

12-DENVER (4-4) Down 4 from Preseason Ranking

The Gold are struggling on defense, ranked 22nd in points allowed at 22.6 per game, but still rank 5th in the league against the run, so it is pass defense that has to concern them. First Half MVP: QB Matt Leinart: 13 touchdowns with only 2 picks and the ability to audible to a wide playbook for Coach Hufnagel. He is keeping top draft pick Josh Allen on the bench.

13-OKLAHOMA (4-4) Up 2 from Preseason Ranking

The “Smashmouth” offense is not working, ranked dead last in rushing (59.4 YPG) despite having bruising Marshawn Lynch as their lead back, but the defense is keeping them in games, and Joe Flacco can still pull out games. First Half MVP: CB Pacman Jones, leading the team with 3 picks, including a pick six, he also has 11 passes defended and 40 tackles.

14-CHICAGO (4-4) Up 5 from Preseason Ranking

The Machine have rediscovered their defense, third in the league by allowing only 15.6 points per game, and the acquisition of Jeremy Hill has given them a boost in the run game, where they rank 3rd at 121.1 YPG. First Half MVP: HB Jeremy Hill: 548 yards and 5 TDs despite sharing carries with Matt Forte for most of the season. Hill’s arrival has helped bolster the Chicago run game.

15-WASHINGTON (4-4) Up 11 from Preseason Ranking

The surprising success of the Federals is almost all David Garrard, as Washington has the league’s 3rd best passing attack, helping them overcome a defense that has been less than stellar (26th in points allowed, 24th in yards allowed). First Half MVP: QB David Garrard, with a huge season, throwing for 2,095 yards and 14 touchdowns in the first 8 games.

16-PHILADELPHIA (4-4) Down 13 from Preseason Ranking

A very up-and-down first half for the Stars, who expected better. The defense is dead last in yards allowed, a bad stat to be bad in. The big issue has been the pass defense, also last in the league, allowing 298.6 YPG despite a pretty solid 26 sacks this season. First Half MVP: QB Matt Gutierrez, with a very solid 100.4 QBR and 10 touchdowns, despite no receiver having more than 25 catches (not counting Doug Baldwin, who just arrived from Vegas).

17-ATLANTA (4-4) Down 5 from Preseason Ranking

The Fire are solid against the pass, and are hoping that their new DT acquisition will help their mediocre run defense. Now, if they could just muster more out of the passing game, they could make a run. First Half MVP: Rookie HB Nick Chubb, with 544 yards, on pace for a 1,000-yard season.

18-PORTLAND (4-4) Up 10 from Preseason Ranking

The Stags have looked good on defense (9th in scoring, 8th in yards allowed), but still fall just short on points, giving up 18.9 per game while scoring 18.8. That seems about right for a team sitting at .500. First Half MVP: HB Ben Tate came in when Doug Martin got hurt and has rushed for over 600 yards to help salvage the Stag run-first offense.

19-SEATTLE (3-5) Down 5 from Preseason Ranking

Here we go again, with another 0-5 start and a 3-0 rebound. Can they really keep this up? Well, the secondary may well be the league’s best, with FS Donte Whitner playing lights out and 3 top tier corners in Xavien Howard, Richard Sherman, and Desmond Truffant. First Half MVP: Safety Donte Whitner has 4 picks, a sack, 25 tackles and is taking command of a true shut-down DB group.

20-SAN DIEGO (3-5) Down 16 from Preseason Ranking

The Thunder started slowly, but with the league’s top rushing offense (126.6 YPG), they are a team to keep an eye on. They need to tighten up on defense and hope that Joe Webb can get more in synch with Marques Colston if they want to make a 2nd half run. First Half MVP: HB Ryan Williams, on pace for 1,200 yards and 10 TDs this year.

21-LAS VEGAS (3-5) Down 11 from Preseason Ranking

We are not sure about some of the moves, especially trading away Doug Baldwin. The Vipers still have a Top 10 passing attack (when Manning is healthy), but have to be concerned with Eli’s 12 picks this season. First Half MVP: DE Mathew Judon, with 9 sacks, he is the primary threat on defense, where Vegas needs more production from some others.

22-BIRMINGHAM (3-5) Down 6 from Preseason Ranking

The Stallions traded away T. J. Yeldon, but like what they are seeing from Rex Burkhead. That said, their offense ranks 26th out of 28 teams in both points scored and yards gained, not good numbers if you want to compete in a very tough division. First Half MVP: CB Antonio Cromartie is leading the team with 54 tackles, which may be more of a bad sign for the rest of the defense, but certainly also shows his effort level.

23-DALLAS (3-5) Down 6 from Preseason Ranking

Thrown into chaos by the suspension of Johnny Manziel, Dallas is seeing improvements on their previously disastrous defense. They now rank 7th in yards allowed and are 4th against the pass, which is a good sign for the future. First Half MVP: Free agent acquisition, CB Patrick Peterson, is paying immediate dividends, with 3 picks, 2 sacks, a forced fumble and 46 tackles. He is also becoming a vocal leader on the improved Roughneck D.

24-ST. LOUIS (2-6) Up 3 from Preseason Ranking

Not a lot has gone well for St. Louis this year, especially with the worst ranked defense in the league, giving up 30.2 points per game. But, the strong play from rookie QB Lamar Jackson these past two weeks has given St. Louis hope for the future. First Half MVP: Free agent acquisition, WR Stevie Johnson, has been all that was promised, leading the team with 31 receptions and 503 yards. He seems very happy to have Lamar Jackson in action as well, so his 2nd half numbers could see a further boost.

25-BALTIMORE (2-6) Down 14 from Preseason Ranking

This is not where the Blitz expected to be, especially not with a 34-0 drubbing as their last outing. The Blitz are somehow in the bottom 5 in points per game at 17.5, while the defense has simply not done enough, ranked 19th at 21.5 PPGA. First Half MVP: CB Jabari Greer. Don’t blame Baltimore’s poor first half on Greer. With 3 forced fumbles and a pick, Greer has been doing all he can to keep the Blitz in games.

26-JACKSONVILLE (1-7) Down 1 from Preseason Ranking

The Bulls expected much more than this, but their defense has been pretty shaky, and it was expected to be the key to the team’s success. It does not hurt that their offense has the worst time of possession of any team, also leading the league in 3-and-outs. First Half MVP: LB Sean Lee remains the glue that holds Jacksonville’s D together, but he needs more help from the line and from a secondary that has not stepped up.

27-TAMPA BAY (1-7) Down 3 from Preseason Ranking

A lot has to fail for a team to be 1-7, and that is certainly true in Tampa, where the team is near the bottom in both points scored and points allowed. They give up an average of 9 more points per game than they score. That is not a stat that you associate with a winning squad. First Half MVP: NFL import Dez Bryant has been a bright spot on a pretty dark season for the Bandits, with 506 receiving yards and 5 TDs, he is proving a valuable addition.

28-LOS ANGELES (1-7) Down 6 from Preseason Ranking

When your coach steps down after only 7 games you know it has been a rough year. LA is just not scoring points, 24th in the league at 17.9 per game, and the defense, once considered their strength, is also failing, giving up 24.2 per game and spending way too much time on the field with a pretty poor third down conversion rate. First Half MVP: DT Chris Jones is maturing into a very solid player, leading the team with 5 sacks and 2nd with 40 tackles, not bad for an interior D-lineman.

Only 5 divisional games in Week 9, but some great interdivisional matchups. We get off to a great start with the Friday night doubleheader. It kicks off with Atlanta taking on Memphis and then we get a battle of Southern Division titans with New Orleans traveling to Houston. Saturday starts with two NE Division clashes as Philadelphia travels to Baltimore, and the two top teams in the division face off in Pittsburgh, when the Generals visit the Maulers. Saturday also sees an interesting Western Conference matchup with Oklahoma at Michigan, then interdivisional play at night with Washington at Orlando and San Diego headed to the Mile High City to face the Denver Gold.

On Sunday it is do or die time for two 3-5 clubs as Las Vegas head into Birmingham to face the Stallions. Then at 4pm, we have the Pacific Division in the spotlight with Portland headed to LA and Seattle hoping to make it 4 in a row when they head down to Oakland to face the Invaders. The weekend finishes with an interconference matchup as the Monarchs head up to the Windy City to take on the Machine.

Friday @ 6pm ET Atlanta (4-4) @ Memphis (6-2) NBC

Friday @ 8pm ET New Orleans (7-1) @ Houston (6-2) FOX

Saturday @ 12pm ET Philadelphia (4-4) @ Baltimore (2-6) ABC

Saturday @ 12pm ET New Jersey (5-2-1) @ Pittsburgh (5-3) FOX

Saturday @ 4pm ET Tampa Bay (1-7) @ Arizona (6-1-1) ABC

Saturday @ 4pm ET Oklahoma (4-4) @ Michigan (5-3) FOX

Saturday @ 7pm ET Washington (4-4) @ Orlando (5-3) NBC

Saturday @ 9pm ET San Diego (3-5) @ Denver (4-4) ESPN/EFN

Sunday @ 12pm ET St. Louis (2-6) @ Jacksonville (1-7) ABC Regional

Sunday @ 12pm ET Las Vegas (3-5) @ Birmingham (3-5) ABC Regional

Sunday @ 12pm ET Dallas (3-5) @ Ohio (5-3) FOX

Sunday @ 4pm ET Portland (4-4) @ Los Angeles (1-7) ABC

Sunday @ 4pm ET Seattle (3-5) @ Oakland (6-2) FOX

Sunday @ 8pm ET Charlotte (5-3) @ Chicago (4-4) ESPN/EFN