2020 USFL Week 14 Recap: Closing in on the Playoff Field
- USFL LIVES
- Oct 29
- 27 min read
Week 14 has Wrangler nation worried, the Machine Guild feeling good, and tensions high between fans of the Bandits and Fire as those two prepare for one of the biggest games of the year. It was a bad week for Denver, Oakland, and Orlando, but things are looking up for the Portland Stags and Houston Gamblers. In other words, it is end-of-season drama at its best. We will break down all the Week 14 results and their impact for the next two weeks and the postseason. We will also take a sneak peak at the top of the draft and teams likely to be there, our Big Story of the week, then highlight some big performances, including at least one very familiar name to USFL fans, and take a look at what could be brutal Black Monday in two weeks. All this, plus our game of the week features a team rallying together after losing their starting QB. Sounds intriguing? Of course, this is the USFL after all.
Who Wants the First Pick in the 2021 USFL Open Draft?
The USFL Draft is a funny thing. Not only do you not know who is going to be available in the Open Draft until 1 week prior to making your picks, thanks to the USFL’s long history of a Territorial Draft that allows each team to protect 3 players from a pool of regional schools, but you also have the NFL in the mix every year, which means that at best you have a 50/50 chance of actually landing the player you pick, even with the USFL’s overall number one pick. We have seen time and again that teams just don’t have confidence in the pick, and with the T-Draft in the mix, so many top prospects are taken off the board even before you get to walk your card up to the podium. Many believe that the best use of the 1st overall pick is as trade bait, to get you access to another team’s best T-Draft prospect. Others realize that there are always blue chip options left in the Open Draft and that teams near the top of the draft always have multiple needs. For some, the key is to pick a player who almost certainly will be chosen in the middle of the NFL 1st round, because that league’s rigid compensation system for rookie contracts gives a Top 5 USFL pick almost certainly a better deal to play in spring than to take the contract available to the 15th pick in the NFL draft.
So, who are the teams that are still alive for the 1st overall pick, and what might they do with it. Well, it starts with 1-win Philadelphia and moves all the way through the teams at 2 or 3 wins, with diminishing odds each step, but we know all of these teams are looking at potential Top 5 picks, so what is their path forward? Do they hold the pick? Go for needs? Best Player Available? Or do they use the pick as bait to acquire veteran players or to get access to someone else’s T-Draft selection and maybe nab that coveted prospect who will never make it to the floor in the Open Draft? So many options, so many possible missteps. It is what makes the USFL Draft exciting, exciting like a single role of the dice at a craps table, because the odds are not in your favor, but a lot is riding on that roll of the dice.
Philadelphia (1-13)
The Stars are the frontrunner for the 1st overall selection, and in what could be a QB-rich draft, they certainly could benefit from having that pick. The problem is that none of the top QB prospects are unprotected from potential T-Draft selection. That means that the Stars need to think not necessarily of retaining the 1st pick, but of using it as trade fodder to get access to a T-Draft eligible QB. For example, they could trade with Jacksonville to get a shot at Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, though they likely won’t be the only team barking up that tree. They could also package the pick with some other collateral to get a current USFL QB in trade, though that is not likely the path to getting a franchise guy, because those just are not traded.
St. Louis (2-12)
The Skyhawks’ win this week pulled them a game ahead of Philadelphia, which means more likely they are the 2nd pick than the first, but if Philly pulls out a win in the final weeks, they could again be in the running. They do not need a QB, as that is just about the only position they have locked down. So, if they get the pick, they are likely to hold onto it and snag the best defensive player available. That just makes too much sense.
San Diego (2-12)
A playoff team over several years, the Thunder are still trying to figure out the reasons for their absolute collapse. They don’t think the issue is Christian Ponder, though he certainly has not been at his best this year. If he is fine, then they too are not a QB-hungry team, which means they can look at either halfback, receiver, some line help or defense. If by some miracle they end up at the top of the draft order, and if OT Oregon’s Penei Sewell does not end up on the Stags’ protected list, we could see them go for the QB bodyguard, but if not, and it does seem a longshot, then they, like St. Louis have to go for defense.
Birmingham (2-12)
The Stallions always have such a rich pool of talent in their T-Draft, thanks to the Alabama-Auburn pipeline, that they tend to undervalue the Open Draft. That may not be the case if they have the 1st overall pick. We think they too go defense, though they could surprise us and essentially treat the 1st pick like a 4th T-Draft option, using their 3 official T-Draft picks on positions of need and still getting the best Alabama prospect left with this pick, which makes a lot of sense, especially if they go WR in the T-Draft ands save Najee Harris for this choice.
San Antonio (2-12)
The only team in this group that is not absolutely devastated to be so high in the draft. The Gunslingers expected their first year to be tough. And with Joe Flacco still looking like a good option, they are not QB-obsessed, so even if they get the top pick they are more likely to look at positions of need than to focus on the QB position. We think a HB, maybe a WR, or, perhaps most likely, a solid edge rusher if they think they see one in the draft is the pick for them.
Ohio (3-13)
Very unlikely they end up with the first pick, and honestly, they really don’t need it. Picking in the Top 5 or 6 is going to get them what they want. Why? Because their obvious issues at QB can, and almost certainly will, be solved by selecting Ohio State QB Justin Fields in the T-Draft. Fields is athletic, disciplined, and basically pro-ready after playing for the Buckeyes against top level opposition. We cannot imagine the Glory let him slip away as they almost certainly will start wooing him even before the draft and because playing in Columbus will give him instant merchandising and sponsorship options that going elsewhere in the NFL would not.
Las Vegas (3-13)
Matt McGloin is not the big issue for the Vipers, but they could still get QB Fever. If we assume they are picking in the Top 5 but not at number 1, the most likely scenario is that they go for a halfback. Their run game is just tragically unreliable, and while that cannot be solved by one rookie tailback, it won’t hurt. They can build up the O-line through plenty of paths this offseason, but getting stud to carry the rock is usually a build-through-the-draft proposition.
OAKLAND INVADERS 21 PORTLAND STAGS 24
For the second time in the 2020 season the Portland Stags were facing an injury to their star quarterback. Marcus Mariota missed both Week 2 and Week 3 to injury earlier this year, and last week he suffered a hamstring tear that ended his season. But, while many immediately began to write off the Stags, some remembered that when Mariota went down early in the season, backup A. J. McCarron came in and helped the Stags defeat the Oklahoma Outlaws.
Well, McCarron was back under center again this week against a tough Oakland pass rush and a pretty good Invader secondary, and he proved once again that he could lead this team. The Portland backup went 17 of 29 for 276 yards with 2 TDs and 2 picks. Despite absorbing 8 sacks in the game, he was in position to win the game on a final drive and he did what needed to be done to get the Stags into field goal range and keep their playoff hopes alive.
It was not all McCarron, of course. Halfback Doug Martin stepped up in a big way, rushing for 101 yards on 26 carries and scoring the game’s first touchdown. Tight end Trey Burton had a nice game as well, catching 6 of 8 targets and rackin gup 82 yards, but the big star of the day, at least for the Stag offense, was WR Alshon Jefferey. While Brandin Cooks racked up more yards, it was Jeffery who brought in two touchdowns, including a toe tapper in the 3rd quarter that gave the Stags a 21-10 lead.
All this against an Oakland defense that had helped the Invaders win 8 games and which put points on the board itself. While Doug Martin’s 1-yard TD plunge in the first quarter was the only scoring of the opening period, the Oakland defense got the Invaders right back in the game. Jahleel Addae read McCarron’s eyes perfectly and jumped the throw on an out route to Cooks. He nabbed the ball out of the air and ran it back 35 yards for the equalizer, causing the Portland QB to slam his helmet to the turf on the sideline. But McCarron rebounded and on his very next possession led the Stags on a 14-play, 71-yard trek, taking back the lead with a TD toss to Jeffery.
By the half it was 14-10 and Portland was feeling very much like this was a game they could win. Despite the gloom and doom when Mariota was placed on IR and done for the year, the Stags players rallied and pulled together and now they had the lead with 30 minutes to play. They felt even better when another McCarron-led drive, helped significantly by a 25-yard Doug Martin run, put 7 more points on the board. Alshon Jeffery kept both toes on the turf as he leaned out of the endzone to bring in the McCarron pass, and Portland had themselves an 11-point lead with 8 minutes left in the 3rd
But, Oakland being Oakland, and Tom Brady being Tom Brady, that 11-point lead was in no way secure. The Invaders got a field goal later in the 3rd to pull within 8, and just as the 4th quarter began, they got their biggest play of the day against a conservative Portland shell defense. On a 3rd and 7 on their own 22, Tom Brady looked to be sacked by Portland LB Nico Johnson, but somehow slipped out of the sack, scrambled to his right and found former Stallion Jerrel Jernigan for an 11-yard gain to keep the drive alive. That play sparked the Oakland offense, and 6 plays later Brady found Davante Adams on a perfect slant & go route, producing a 28-yard TD strike. Down 2, the Invaders went for the play from scrimmage to tie the game. Brady faked the ball to McCaffrey and then found the back in the flat. The Oakland tailback gave a shoulder fake to the safety and dove to the corner, getting the ball across the plane before his knee hit. We had a tie score with just under 8 minutes to go.
The following 8 minutes included 3 changes of possession, starting with a 3-and-out from the Portland offense. That was followed by a rarity, a 2nd Tom Brady interception in the same game. Brady tried to squeeze the ball into the hands of Taylor Gabriel, his leading receiver on the day, but the ball glanced off his outstretched hands. In classic tip drill style, Portland’s Taron Johnson dove into the play and snagged the ball before it hit the turf. The Stags were in business with 2:17 left to play and the ball on the Invader 48. They did not rush, using Doug Martin and a nice TE screen to Burton to get the ball into range. Not wanting to risk a turnover they ran the ball three times in an attempt to keep the drive going, but when Martin failed to reach the line to gain on 3rd and 4, they sent out Cody Parkey to kick a go-ahead field goal form 40 yards out. Parkey’s kick went right down the middle and Portland was up 3 with 1:20 to go.
Oakland mounted a final drive to either win or tie the game, but the Portland defense held, forcing Roberto Aguayo to attempt a 55-yarder to tie the game. The kick sliced right and the Stags got the win, their second in a row, evening their record with Oakland at 8-6 and leaving a very complicated final 2 weeks in the Pacific as Oakland, Portland, and Seattle all sit 1 game behind the 9-5 LA Express. Just how complex? Well, here are the games on tap the final two weeks for these 4 teams:
WEEK 15
Portland vs. Seattle in what could be a playoff elimination game. LA has to face a desperate Arizona Wranglers team, eager to hold onto the 1 seed. Oakland has what appears to be a cakewalk against 2-12 San Diego, but this is a California Derby game, so who knows.
WEEK 16
None of the 4 teams have a division game. Portland’s road is perhaps toughest, with Arizona on the schedule. Oakland will face the Oklahoma Outlaws, LA goes up against the Las Vegas Vipers, and the Seattle Dragons have the Denver Gold. We could see all 4 win, creating a cluster atop the division, or we could see some teams lose their shot with a badly-timed loss in an interdivisional game. It could be a whole heck of a lot of scoreboard watching too.
ORLANDO 24 NEW JERSEY 30
The Generals got back over .500, kept the flame alive for a division title, and eliminated the Renegades from playoff consideration all in one fell swoop, and all despite being outgained. The way they pulled that off was with takeaways. New Jersey won the turnover battle 4-0, a very decisive advantage as they picked off Russell Wilson three times and forced a fumble from Knile Davis on their way to the win. They also got 3 touchdowns from Nick Foles as the New Jersey QB went 22 of 33 in the victory.
POTG: New Jersey LB Aldon Smith, 9 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR
LOS ANGELES 17 SEATTLE 27
A huge win for the Dragons as they knock LA back a game and pull themselves within 1 of the division lead. Knowshon Moreno was again the focal point for Seattle, and while he only had 89 yards, his 2 touchdowns helped propel Seattle to 8-6. Kyler Murray hit Eric Weems with 2 TD tosses but it was not enough to get LA the win and a larger margin in this tight division.
POTG: Seattle LB Khalil Mack: 8 Tck, 3 TFL, 1 Sck
MICHIGAN 20 PITTSBURGH 7
With Andy Dalton sidelined by Covid-19, the Maulers struggled to match the Panther offense. They were limited to only 66 yards rushing, well below LeVeon Bell’s total of 115. Michigan got an early TD from Martellus Bennett and added a late one from backup HB Alexander Mattison, and that was really all they needed against a weakened Mauler squad.
POTG: Michigan CB Keivarae Russell: 6 Tck, 5 PDef, 1 Int
MEMPHIS 33 SAN ANTONIO 13
Paxton Lynch returned under center for the Showboats and promptly threw for 295 yards and 2 scores, while Todd Gurley added 119 on the ground as Memphis rolled past the expansion Gunslingers. Devin Funchess was again outstanding, catching 8 of 10 targets for 138 yards, while Robert Woods and TE Dallas Goedert caught TDs from a healthy Paxton Lynch.
POTG: Memphis QB Paxton Lynch: 28/47, 295 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int
DALLAS 45 DENVER 30
Four Josh Allen picks helped Dallas fend off the Gold and move to 8-6, eliminating Denver from the playoff race in the mix. Allen threw for 310 yards and 3 scores, but the picks were brutal, including a 39-yard pick-six from Dallas CB Patrick Peterson. Dallas also got a strip-sack-recovery-touchdown from DE Connor Barwin and 4 TD passes from rookie Justin Herbert in a battle of two of the league’s young gunslingers.
POTG: Dallas CB Patrick Peterson: 7 Tck, 3 PDef, 2 Int, 1 Def TD
CHARLOTTE 27 WASHINGTON 17
The Monarchs won their third straight, but both they and the defeated Washington Federals were both eliminated this week. In a battle of backups, Kyle Boller and Tajh Boyd fought for the win and for respect, and for the 3rd week in a row it was Boller getting the win. He got help from the run game with Murray and Hines combining for 145 yards and a TD, and from WR Justin Blackmon who caught 9 passes for 116 yards.
POTG: Monarch WR Justin Blackmon: 9 Rec, 116 Yds
ATLANTA 24 PHILADELPHIA 16
The Fire seemed a bit doused in this one but still managed to get their 12th win against a deeply troubled Philadelphia squad. Nick Chubb rushed for 121 and Aaron Murray threw for 2 scores despite the absence of star WR A. J. Green. Ryan Lindley was replaced midway through the game as the Stars’ QB as P. J. Walker got a chance to show what he could do. The two Star QBs combined to go 22 of 35, but neither threw a TD and both threw a pick as the Stars all but locked up the 1st pick in the draft with their 13th loss.
POTG: Atlanta FS Earl Thomas: 8 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int, 1 FF, 1 FR
HOUSTON 16 NEW ORLEANS 24
In a huge game for both Southern Division teams, it was a surprise player who starred for the Breakers as Myles Gaskin again made a case for the starting job, rushing the ball 18 times for 112 yards. The threat of the run kept Houston’s pass rush in check and that allowed Geno Smith to hit Jordy Nelson for 114 and a TD and to find TE Coby Fleener for 132 and a score as well. Despite 113 yards from Carlos Hyde, the Houston offense sputtered, with Mike Evans catching only 1 ball on the day, and that was enough for the Breakers to take the game.
POTG: Breaker LB Kwon Alexander: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
OHIO 13 ST. LOUIS 21
In an odd game that had fans of both teams hoping their club would lose (and improve their draft position) it was St. Louis getting the win, their 2nd on the year, thanks to a Lamar Jackson TD toss to Stevie Johnson and 5 Zane Gonzalez field goals. Connor Shaw got the start but struggled to 10 out of 21 passing and only 119 yards. Not an impressive win from St. Louis to be sure, and one that many Skyhawk fans dreaded as it now likely removes the Skyhawks from a shot at the first overall draft pick.
POTG: Skyhawk LB Trey Hendrickson: 10 Tck, 3 TFL
ARIZONA 10 OKLAHOMA 23
A very bad sign for Wrangler fans as Brandon Allen and the Wrangler offense struggled to get anything going against an Outlaw squad that was eliminated from playoff contention last week. The Outlaws outgained Arizona 472-258 despite a ridiculous 5-sack performance from Calais Campbell. DeeJay Dallas had 100 on the ground and rookie QB Jalen Hurts was back under center and looked very solid, throwing for 332 yards and 2 scores despite being sacked 12, yes, that is right, 12 times by the aggressive Wrangler D (although 3 of those were just him running out of bounds behind the line to be honest.)
POTG: Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts: 14/24, 332 Yds, 2 Td, 1 Int, Survived 12 sacks.
LAS VEGAS 30 SAN DIEGO 24 OVERTIME
San Diego continues to play teams tough but also continues to come up short. They pushed Las Vegas to overtime in a battle of 2-win teams, and again, as with St. Louis, Viper fans seemd almost disappointed when Matt McGloin found Aaron Dobson for a game-winning score in overtime. McGloin looked about as good as he has all year, completing 41 of 50 passes for 360 yards and 3 TDs against an ineffective Thunder secondary.
POTG: Viper QB Matt McGloin: 41/50, 360 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int
TAMPA BAY 27 NEW ENGLAND 10
The Bandits bounced back from their surprising loss last week by putting together a 24-0 run against the Steamrollers, thanks to three Prescott to Bryant TD tosses, each over 40 yards long. Bryant’s stat line was insane, with 5 receptions for 213 yards and 3 scores. Prescott was sacked 6 times as the Steamrollers played them tough, but the New England offense just could not respond to the Bandits’ scoring run.
POTG: Bandit WR Dez Bryant: 5 rec, 213 Yds, 3 TD
JACKSONVILLE 23 BALTIMORE 35
The Blitz retained their slim lead in the NE Division, thanks in large part to a 292-yard, 4-TD day from QB Jake Locker. It was TE C. J. Uzomah who stood out as a target in this game, with three of his five receptions going for scores. The Blitz also got huge numbers from Josh Jacobs, who averaged 6.2 YPC on his way to 162 yards on the ground.
POTG: Blitz QB Jake Locker: 23/39, 292 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int
BIRMINGHAM 17 CHICAGO 30
The Machine contained Cam Newton, holding him to 26 yards rushing, and rookie WR Chase Claypool had a nice 6-catch, 2-TD game as Chicago locked up a playoff spot with the win. Sam Bradford is in playoff form, completing 20 of 31 for 331 yards and 2 scores. It was 10-10 at the half, but the Machine put up 20 unanswered before a garbage-time TD from Newton to Anderson made the game a bit closer.
POTG: Chicago QB Sam Bradford: 20/31, 333 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int
Campbell a One Man Show for Arizona
Yes, there are real concerns for Arizona after they dropped their 2nd in a row without David Carr, but don’t tell defensive end and team captain Calais Campbell that they are out of it. From this week’s effort it seems Campbell is ready to carry this team on his back if he has to. The league’s all-time sack leader not only put himself back on top of the statistical leaderboard this week, after trailing Montez Sweat all season long, but he also set an Arizona team record with 5 sacks of Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts (who clearly hurts after this game).
Campbell cannot produce points for the Wranglers (now that I say that I expect he will score on a fumble recovery next week), so there are still issues with Arizona’s bid to repeat, but the 11-time Sack Champion can certainly make life tough for opposing offenses and give the Wranglers a shot. They just need to find an answer or two on offense and they could well run the table, a table set by their future Hall of Fame DE.
Back to Bandit Ball in Tampa Bay
The Bandits got exactly what they needed after suffering their first loss of the season in Week 13. Facing expansion New England they had a chance to play their game, lean on the passing game, and play defense aggressively. They did all three against the Steamrollers, with Dak Prescott throwing for 287 and 3 scores and the D holding New England to only 257 total yards. Oh, and we should mention the insane performance from Bandit WR Dez Bryant. The NFL import again showed why he is one of the best deep ball receivers in the league. He had only 5 receptions on the day, but those 5 included touchdowns of 41, 52, and 68 yards. Add them up and throw in two non-scoring deep balls and Bryant finished the day with a season-best 213 yards receiving, on 5 catches!!! 5!!!
That is Bandit Ball folks, an aggressive defense, a complementary run game, and a deep ball threat that is there on every play. It is fun to watch, and so far it has helped the Bandits to the best record in the league, 13-1 with 2 weeks left to play. They have a huge matchup with 12-2 Atlanta, in a game that could blow right past Las Vegas’s 55 point over-under this week. That is a high mark, but we honestly think 70 or more points is what we could see. Bandit Ball fans would love nothing more.
Charlotte Wins 3rd in a Row with Boller
The 2020 season for the Charlotte Monarchs has not exactly been a trip through Wonka’s wonderful chocolate factory. Or maybe it has. Every time they think they are getting a sweet treat, they end up losing a game and getting a sad Oompa Loompa song about how they screwed up. Well, that was the story when they sat at 3-8, but they made one move which has at least given fans something to cheer about. After benching pick-prone Mitch Trubisky and giving the ball to veteran backup journeyman Kyle Boller, the Monarchs have rattled off 3 straight wins.
And while this week’s 27-17 victory over Washington may seem a bit mundane after last week’s stunning upset of the Bandits, it still marks a significant improvement, an ability for this team to be in games, to compete each week, and to string together wins. They have 2 weeks left and they could finish the season at 8-8, which seemed nearly impossible less than a month ago. Does Boller’s success mean that they will stick with the veteran next year? Maybe not entirely, but we would not be surprised if Boller does not get a legitimate shot to compete with whatever new talent the Monarchs bring to town. That could be a talented rookie or a free agent from across both pro leagues, or it could mean a deal with another club looking to clear cap room, but what we think is likely is that Boller has given himself a shot. One he could well carry into next year.
Chicago punched their ticket to the postseason and is hoping to lock up a home game in the Wild Card round in the next 2 weeks. They could still technically catch Michigan, but that is largely out of their control, while locking in the 4 seed is very much theirs to control. Arizona is guaranteed a bye as the SW Champion (with several games on the Pacific champ) and the winner of this week’s Atlanta-Tampa Bay game will almost certainly lock up the 1-seed in the East. Memphis and New Orleans are still battling to decide the Southeast, and Baltimore can lock up the NE with a win this week. Meanwhile, a cluster of 8-6 teams in the West are comparing tiebreakers and hoping for a 2-0 finish to climb into the playoffs. It seems likely that only 1 will make it, so will it be Portland, who currently hold down the 6-spot, or can Oakland, Seattle, or Dallas leapfrog the Stags and claim a spot.
Several teams were eliminated this week, including every 6-8 team except Jacksonville (gotta love tiebreakers). So that adds Orlando, Charlotte, Washington, and Denver to the list of teams playing out the string and possibly giving some young players a chance to show what they have.
The QB situation in San Antonio just got interesting. With backup Easton Stick now moved to IR with an ACL tear suffered this week, the Gunslingers have to decide if they want to risk Joe Flacco, still listed as Questionable this week, or trot out 3rd stringer Chad Kelly for a start or two to end the year. Our money is on Kelly, but Flacco wants on the field, so maybe he gets his way. One team wishing their QB could come back is Pittsburgh, but Andy Dalton continues to show symptoms, so he is on the Covid-19 list for a second week. Meanwhile in Philly, Ryan Lindley is likely to miss the final two games of the year, so it is back to Matt Gutierrez once again. Weird how injuries late in the year can lead to some odd starting lineups and tough decisions.
OUT
QB Easton Stick SAN ACL Tear IR
DE Dion Jordan POR Quad Tear 4-6 Weeks
DE Malik Jackson PHI Stress Fracture 2-4 Weeks
QB Ryan Lindley PHI Pinched Nerve 1-2 Weeks
WR Courtland Sutton DAL Thigh Bruise 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
LB Clay Matthews DAL Thigh Bruise
QUESTIONABLE
WR Mike Evans HOU Thigh Bruise
SS Leon McQuay OKL Foot
COVID-19 INACTIVES
DAL DE Taylor Hart
PIT QB Andy Dalton 2nd Week
SD CB Justin Gilbert 2nd Week
SD OT Antonio Garcia
SD CB Jaquan Johnson
STL LB Roquon Smith
Could 2020 Be a Very Bloody Black Monday?
The Magic 8-Ball seems to be pointing towards “Yes” on that question. We have already had two coaches lose their jobs by midseason, Philadelphia’s Jim Harbaugh and St. Louis’s Frank Reich, and from the look of things, neither interim head coach is likely to get an offer to stay on. So, already we have 2 teams almost certainly in the market for a new head man. And by out estimation, that is not where it will stop. We could see as many as 5 other coaches hit the pavement on Black Monday. Where are we looking? It is not hard to figure that out, just look for teams that have 10 or more losses already, of our 5 coaches looking very shaky, 4 of them are on teams with at least 10 losses. Here is our pool of potential departures, from the club with the worst record to the one that was just eliminated from the playoffs this week.
Tom Coughlin (OHIO)
We had Coughlin on our early Hot Seat along with Reich and Harbaugh, and while he was not let go midseason, it seems almost certain that the 3-11 Glory will be moving on from Coughlin and his disciplinarian ways. We expect Coughlin and QB Christian Hackenberg to be part of a franchise wide shakeup after the Glory took a surprising division title in 2018 only to drop to 4-12 last year and what appears to be an equally inept 2020.
Todd Haley (BIR)
As we seem to say every year, “this is the year the Stallions get into the mix” was heard often before the season, and despite some strong games from QB Cam Newton, we are looking at a 2-12 season, which does not bode well for Haley. The Stallions went 7-9 last year, but a collapse to only 2 wins right now means that they are guaranteed yet another sub-500 season. For a franchise that had such a tradition, we need to recognize that the Stallions have been at or under .500 in 18 of 20 seasons since the turn of the century. That is a hard pill to swallow for Stallion fans, who just never felt Haley was the guy.
Dick LeBeau (SD)
A legendary defensive mind, and a former USFL Champion with the Panthers, LeBeau may seem an odd choice, particularly since he has taken the Thunder to 4 straight postseasons. But even with a 42-22 record between 2016-2019, there were grumbles that the Thunder just could not with the big game, especially in the playoffs, where they were humbled by Arizona 41-10 last year and 38-6 the year before. The hope was that San Diego could finally get over the hump this year, but instead they are staring at 2-12 and, what is even worse, they sport the worst defense in the league, not a good sign for a coach who made his name on defense.
Rick Neuheisel (LV)
Another team that many thought was headed in the right direction only to fall flat on their faces with a current record of 3-11. After hovering around .500 the past 3 years under Neuheisel (9-7, 7-9, and 8-8), the floor fell out from under the Vipers. What is particularly troubling is that the weakest areas of the Viper squad are exactly what they were last year and simply were not addressed in the offseason. The run game is among the league’s worst, averaging only 69.7 yards per game. The defense gives up far too many big plays, and the Vipers are not a very complex team to gameplan for. All of those issues lead us to believe that four years under Neuheisel will be all she wrote.
Gus Bradley (WSH)
The lone coach whose team could escape the dreaded 10-loss threshold, Washington, and Coach Bradley, are here because of missed expectations. In 2018 the Feds went 9-7 and fans were hopeful that Bradley had found the formula to return Washington to playoff form, but they took a big risk in putting all their eggs in the Ryan Nassib basket, and that has proven to be a huge letdown. Add to that the fact that Bradley, another defensive guru, has struggled to get Washington out of the bottom third of the league in both yards and points allowed. They currently sit 23rd of 30 teams in yards allowed, and they are not much better in scoring defense, giving up 23 points per game. It is about 50/50 whether or not Bradley will be back for 2021, and the ability to avoid that 10th loss could be the key.
Six Teams that Could or Should be QB Shopping this Winter
As the season gets close to reaching its conclusion, many teams are already thinking about next year. Others are looking at unsigned QBs in their final year of a contract and wondering if they will stay put, and others still are hoping their teams are seriously looking for an upgrade. We went through the league and picked 6 teams who well could be on the QB market this offseason. No guarantees, but any of these 6 could be on a quest to find themselves a 10-year starter and a future champion.
PHILADLEPHIA: Currently Ryan Lindley/Matt Gutierrez
This one is an easy one. The Stars will soon have a new head coach and we fully expect that by February there will be a new starter. The only question is what route the Stars will take to get there. Will they make a deal to try to land a current USFL QB or will they be one of the teams approaching the Jacksonville Bulls to garner the rights to Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence? Our recommendation would be that they go rookie, because they could get a serviceable guy in free agency or via trade, but getting a true franchise guy is not something you often see.
OHIO: Currently Christian Hackenberg
While we are not willing to put all the blame for Ohio’s struggles on Hackenberg (what are his weapons? Where is his line?) we think the former Nittany Lion will be a casualty of a purge we think is inevitable in Columbus. Maybe Hack is the answer for the Stars? After all, he was a star in Happy Valley. But we digress. We think we already know what Ohio is going to do. They are going to go big on the Justin Fields train and claim the Buckeye signal caller in the T-Draft. A clearly popular direction among Glory fans, and not a bad option at all.
WASHINGTON: Currently Ryan Nassib
Back to the NE Division and an intriguing situation here because Nassib has a big contract and cutting him loose would coast the Feds a pretty penny (and a lot of dead space in the cap), so what other options do they have? How about this for a scenario? If David Carr cannot or does not return for 2021, could the Feds send Nassib back to Arizona, where he had the kind of season in 2018 to make him a cult hero among Wrangler fans? That would be fun, but more realistic is that they offer to cover some of the cap hit and send him to a team in need of a veteran. That, of course, does not tell us who they will go for at QB if they do find a taker for Nassib, but we think they do want to move on.
ARIZONA: Currently David Carr
We have mentioned Arizona, so let’s address the elephant in the room. David Carr turned 37 last month, and with a nasty injury to recover from, we could have seen him play his last game for the Wranglers. Fans don’t want to admit that, but it is a very real possibility. So, what would the Wranglers do if Carr does announce that he is not returning for 2021? Do they go fishing for Nassib, who certainly knows Coach Tomsula’s system, or do they try to get into the mix with a pretty solid rookie class coming up in draft season? We think the Nassib option is very real for this club, but we won’t know if that is what happens until we know what Carr wants to do.
CHARLOTTE: Currently Kyle Boller
Yes, Kyle Boller has won 3 straight for the Monarchs, but he is also a 13-seaosn vet who has not been a regular starter in over a decade. While we think the Monarchs keep Boller in the mix and try to find a new home for Trubisky, we have to believe they are going to be part of the mix for Trevor Lawrence, who plays just down the road at Clemson. That would be a coup for the Monarchs.
NEW JERSEY: Currently Nick Foles
Of the six, this is the one we are most ambivalent about. It seems obvious that Foles is not going to suddenly become the next Tom Brady for the Generals, but when he is healthy, he is a solid option. He finished last year with a 104.0 QB Rating and a 28:7 TD:INT ratio. This year has been a lot tougher, with some injury issues and some on-field struggles (75.1 QBR and a 14:10 TD:INT ratio), but the bigger issue is that fans in New Jersey are not feeling the love. They want a superstar, not a game manager. Is that an unrealistic request? Not really, not if you are serious about getting another trophy in the case at MetLife Stadium.
Only 2 weeks left in the 2020 regular season, and that means that pretty much every game has meaning either for the USFL playoffs or for the draft order. It means pressure, it means teams have to be at their best. And that even a small mistake can get amplified. It also means that there are few games any of us want to miss, since they all could matter to our favorite team. So, what does Week 15 hold for us?
How about Baltimore hoping to lock up the NE Division after a very up-and-down season? A win over the Feds on Friday (with a little help) could do it. How about Portland and Seattle playing a Cascade Clash which also could be doubling as a Playoff elimination game? That is what happens when both enter Week 15 at 8-6. And, what about a huge inter-conference game between the Chicago Machine and the New Orleans Breakers, neither of whom can afford a loss if their goal is to be playing at home in 2 or 3 weeks?
Saturday is also rich with playoff implications, like when 9-5 Pittsburgh faces 8-6 Houston in a game that could lock up a playoff spot for either or add more drama to Week 16. We also have New England hoping to reignite the Boston-NY rivalry by knocking off the New Jersey Generals and quite possibly ruining any chances they have to sneak into the playoffs. On Sunday we have a really fascinating matchup in Las Vegas, when the Wranglers, who have lost both games since losing David Carr, fight for their playoff position against a 9-5 LA Express team that boasts one of the league’s best defenses and that still has to win games to claim the Pacific title. And then there is the unquestioned Game of the Week, when the 12-2 Atlanta Fire take on the 13-1 Tampa Bay Bandits. This game will be enormous, a must-watch affair as the two battle for the SE Crown and an almost certain bye week in the playoffs. Can the Bandits wrap up the division and the 1 seed, or will Atlanta rise up and clip the team that has been atop the division all season long? No way we are missing that game.
FRIDAY
8pm ET Baltimore (8-6) @ Washington (5-8-1) Orlando NBC
8pm ET Portland (8-6) @ Seattle (8-6) Las Vegas ABC
9pm ET Chicago (10-4) @ New Orleans (11-3) TDECU ESPN/EFN
SATURDAY
1pm ET Pittsburgh (9-5) @ Houston (8-6) NRG ABC
4pm ET Dallas (8-6) @ Las Vegas (3-11) Glendale FOX
4pm ET Oakland (8-6) @ San Diego (2-12) Las Vegas ABC
8pm ET Charlotte (6-8) @ Jacksonville (6-8) Gainesville NBC
8pm ET New Jersey (7-6-1) @ New England (5-9) Tampa FOX
9pm ET Michigan (12-2) @ San Antonio (2-12) Rice ESPN/EFN
SUNDAY
1pm ET Ohio (3-11) @ Birmingham (2-12) NRG FOX
4pm ET Denver (6-8) @ Oklahoma (6-8) Glendale ABC
4pm ET Arizona (12-2) @ Los Angeles (9-5) Las Vegas FOX
8pm ET Philadelphia (1-13) @ Orlando (6-8) Orlando ABC
8pm ET Atlanta (12-2) @ Tampa Bay (13-1) Tampa FOX
9pm ET St. Louis (2-12) @ Memphis (11-3) TDECU ESPN/EFN
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