2021 USFL Week 13 Recap: 4 Games Left to Find Answers
- USFL LIVES
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A good week for the two hottest teams in the league as New Jersey improved their winning streak to 9 games while Seattle’s bumped up to 10. It was also a good week for several teams trying to get their head well above the .500 watermark, with Orlando, Ohio, Arizona, Michigan, and Houston all avoiding a 6-6 mark and improving to 7-5 on the season. Not a good week for the Fire, who dropped to .500 after a strong start to the year, or for the Invaders, who lost their 3rd in a row and now share a 6-6 mark with the LA Express. The change of fate for the Invaders led to a surprising decision from Coach Kubiak, one that we kick our coverage off with, the benching of legendary QB Tom Brady in favor of rookie Davis Mills.
Coach Kubiak to Bench Tom Brady as Oakland Drops 3rd in a Row
Yes, the Oakland coaching staff, led by HC Gary Kubiak, talked about the change at QB as a strategy to spark the offense, many in the Bay Area, including some players, seem to be reading the surprising move as something very different. Following a third consecutive loss with Oakland dropping their game in Ohio by a score of 34-19, Coach Kubiak made the announcement on Monday, that the Week 14 starter would not be former NJ General and Dallas Cowboy Tom Brady, but rookie Davis Mills.
It was a move that very few saw coming, and to hear from local reporters, it is a move most thought would come if and when the Invaders were truly out of the playoff race, a handing over of the reins to the rookie when the season was truly done, not when the Invaders were at .500 with 4 weeks to play and every possibility of a late run.
Brady, who turned 45 this year, had started the season strong, helping Oakland gather 5 consecutive wins in the early season and helping the offense average over 30 points per game. But that early season success did not hold. Oakland is currently ranked 25th in scoring with an average of only 18.6 points per game. Brady’s offense had failed to score more than 20 points in 6 of 7 games since their 4-1 start, losing 5 of those 7 outings. After managing only 3 points in a tough loss in Seattle, and only 13 against Pittsburgh at home last week, this week’s loss in Ohio proved to be a turning point for the organization.
Kubiak cited a desire to mix things up, to possibly provide a spark to the offense by starting talented rookie Davis Mills, a local product from nearby Stanford signed through the Territorial Draft. But those close to the organization say the inescapable truth is that Oakland, despite sitting at 6-6, was already looking to 2022. The expectation all along was that Mills would sit this year and with Brady expected to retire in the offseason, he would get those months off to prepare for his first real action in 2022. But, with the team losing 4 of their last 6 and struggling to put points on the board, it seems the decision was made to use the final 4 games of the year not as a playoff push but as a testing ground for their young quarterback.
If Mills finds success, then Oakland will go into the offseason with QB not among their roster priorities, if he struggles, he may well have competition in the QB room next year, and not just from fellow 2021 draft pick Sam Ehlinger, but from a likely veteran signing as well. Does the shift mean that Oakland is officially out of the playoff race in the West? No, a solid 4-game span from the rookie could actually keep them in the mix, but it seems clear that the Invaders are less concerned about immediate results than they are the future of the team at the QB position.
PHILADELPHIA STARS 20 PITTSBURGH MAULERS 19
The Friday night game kicked off with a lot of fanfare as 46,792 fans cheered on their squads, with a pronounced Mauler advantage as Heinz Field was predominantly purple and orange clad. The two teams were cautious in the opening quarter, both trying to establish their run game and protect their somewhat immobile QBs. Derrick Henry would certainly have the best day of the backs in this game, outrushing Pittsburgh’s lead rusher, Cam Akers, by a 103-28 mark. But it was Pittsburgh who put the first points on the board, following a Carson Wentz interception with a short drive and an Andrew Franks field goal to wrap up the 1st quarter up 3-0.
But as the half progressed, Philadelphia’s stronger offensive performance started to pay dividends. Following a 35-yard scamper from change-of-pace back and former Mauler Marcus Lattimore, Wentz found TE Travis Kelce for the red zone touchdown to take their first lead of the game. They would follow that drive with another scoring drive, with Eddie Pineiro making it a 10-3 lead for the Stars at the half.
Philadelphia would have the better offensive performance all game, outpacing the Maulers 368-271 and outgaining them on the ground to the tune of 153-43, but the Stars suffered 4 turnovers, including 3 picks of Carson Wentz, and that carelessness with the ball helped the Maulers stay in this game. Pittsburgh used Wentz’s second interception as the energizer to get their first touchdown of the day. Taking the ball over on their own 44 after LB Vince Biegel snagged what would be the first of two picks on the day, Pittsburgh quickly added 7 to the board, with Adam Thielen advancing the ball 30 yards on their first offensive play, and the Maulers finding paydirt 3 plays later, with Dalton connecting with rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown for the young receiver’s 2nd score of the season.
The even score would be short-lived as Philadelphia put 7 more on the board only 4 minutes later, this time Wentz hitting Randall Cobb for the Stars’ second lead of the game. With the PAT, the Stars now lead 17-10 as the third quarter wound down. Pittsburgh would tighten the game with an Andrew Franks field goal early in the 4th. Up only 4, The Stars pressed on their next drive and once again Carson Wentz made a poor decision, trying to squeeze the ball into Kelce’s hands, he again was picked off by Biegel, this time in the red zone. Pittsburgh would get the ball off the turnover with 6:05 to play.
In no hurry to score, the Maulers, slowly dinked and dunked their way down the field, all the while milking the clock. With a first and 10 on the 5, and the clock ticking, Pittsburgh back Sony Michel pushed the ball to the 3 with a solid inside run. On 2nd and goal from the 2, the threat of the run was enough to freeze the linebackers, allowing Dalton to find a wide open Anthony Hill for the score. The PAT would put them up 3, but only if Franks connected. He did not, doinking the ball off the left upright and leaving Pittsburgh with a precarious 2-point lead with 1;45 left to play.
The Stars received the kickoff with receiver K. J. Hamler returning the ball to the 23 and leaving the offense 1:39 to get into field goal range. Pittsburgh needed a stop, and they thought they got one, with Wentz missing on a throw to Cobb on first down, connecting with Kelce for a gain of 7 on 2nd down, but losing 5 of those yards on third down, when Wentz was dragged down by Shaquile Riddick on 3rd and 3. The sack brought up a game-defining 4th and 8 play on the Philadelphia 25. Pittsburgh opted to send LB Brian Cushing on the blitz, dropping 5 back in coverage to prevent the first down.
At first it appeared that they had, with Carson Wentz pushed out of the pocket and forced to throw on the run. He released the ball just as DE Vic Beasley tried to bring him down. The ball bounced in front of E. J. Moore, and the fans prepared to celebrate the turnover on downs. But out of the pocket of the side judge came a flag. The crew gathered to discuss the infraction and the Head Umpire announced the call, Roughing the Passer on Beasley for his hit on Dalton. The call drew immediate boos from the Mauler fans, but it also produced a first down and a 15-yard move up the field. Replay, debated by the NBC announcers, showed neither a blow to the head or the use of Beasley’s body weight on Dalton. Both the NBC crew and the Mauler radio team were puzzled as to what the line judge saw, but the call was made and video replay did not alter the decision.
Philadelphia, now playing with a chorus of something that rhymes with “Full ship” raining down on them, completed 2 more passes, a 17 yarder to Cobb and a final throw to TE Pat Freiermouth that put them in range for a Pineiro kick. It would be a 44-yard attempt, well within Pineiro’s range. Pittsburgh tried to ice him with a timeout, but when it was time for him to have his shot, Pineiro easily parted the uprights with a kick that would have been good form 55 yards out.
The crowd booed the two teams (and the refs, the target of their ire) off the field, but the game was settled. Philadelphia would stay on pace to challenge New Jersey for the Northeast Crown, while the Maulers would drop a game behind Chicago in the Central. It is a call that mystified the studio crew that night and was a major topic of conversation on every network over the weekend, but in the end, the result is what it is, a Stars victory.
DALLAS 31 DENVER 10
A big win for the Roughnecks, bringing them back to .500 with 4 games left, while for Denver a harsh defeat that has their fans questioning Coach Hufnagel. Dallas may have given up 301 yards passing to Josh Allen, but they held him to only 1 TD and they sacked him 6 times, 4 of those drive enders. The Roughnecks also took advantage of Denver’s defense for 141 yards rushing (Perine with 73, Johnson with 68).All this, plus Herbert TDs to Watkins, Sutton, and Tim Wright simply left a sour taste in the mouths of Gold fans.
POTG: Dallas DE Taylor Hart: 3 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR
ATLANTA 23 NEW JERSEY 26
The Fire and QB Pat White looked good, but a late Ka’imi Fairbairn kick did them in as they could not hold at the end. White put up big numbers against a Generals’ D that was focused on containing HB Nick Chubb. White finished the day with 343 yards on 27 of 35 passing. A. J. Green brought in 7 of 10 targets for 105 yards and a TD, but in the end, New Jersey found a way. They got 85 yards and a TD from Delone Carter, a Jonnu Smith TD catch, and 4 Fairbairn field goals, with the final one coming with 17 seconds to play to provide New Jersey with their 9th straight win.
POTG: Generals’ CB Rashard Robinson: 4 Tck, 2 FF, 1 FR
LOS ANGELES 21 CHARLOTTE 17
Charlotte took a 17-14 lead into the half, but were shut down in the 2nd half, limited to only 3 first downs after the halftime break. Los Angeles struggled on offense as well, but only needed one drive, a 4th quarter TD from Murray to TE Jacob Hollister, to put themselves on top and stay there. Both teams got their backs involved early, with Nyheim Hines rushing for 109 while Paul Perkins had 130 yards on 18 carries.
POTG: LA end Nick Bosa: 4 Tck, 2 Sck
OAKLAND 19 OHIO 34
Ohio pulled 2 games over .500 thanks once again to a dual threat attack from rookie QB Justin Fields. In another POTW performance, Fields rushed for 143 yards on 12 carries, with 3 TDs mixed in, including a 76-yarder. He also threw for 163 and a 4th TD as Ohio went through, over, and around the Invader defense. Tom Brady was forced to put the ball up 54 times as his Invaders tried to come back from a 17-7 halftime deficit that grew to 31-9 in the 2nd half.
POTG: Glory QB Justin Fields: 16/22, 163 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int, 12 Att, 143 Yds, 3 TD
NEW ORLEANS 13 BIRMINGHAM 26
The Breakers’ 2021 collapse continued as the Stallions doubled them up thanks to 2 Tim Tebow TD throws and 133 yards from Henry Ruggs. Tebow had an up-and-down game, completing only 12 of 28 attempts, but managed to put points on the board, with TD tosses to Devonta Smith and TE Ricky Seals-Jones. New Orleans, again with Tajh Boyd at QB struggled to do the same, managing a lone TD by Coby Fleener in the game.
POTG: Birmingham WR Henry Ruggs: 3 Rec, 133 Yds
WASHINGTON 23 BALTIMORE 20
The Federals stay alive and deliver a blow to rival Baltimore, as they build a 23-6 lead early in the 4th before two late Jake Locker TDs. The Federal D was impressive, as was Baltimore’s Calais Campbell, who added 3 sacks to his total for the year, pulling into a tie for 2nd in the league. But, Campbell’s efforts were not enough to stop Washington as they got scores from TE Rob Housler, a Travis Etienne TD run and a pick-six from FS Rafael Bush.
POTG: Federals’ safety Kenny Vaccaro: 9 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 PDef, 1 FF
ST. LOUIS 17 MICHIGAN 20
The Panthers win their 3rd straight division game, improving to 7-5 on the year, but it was not easy. St. Louis got 2 Taylor to Deionte Johnson TDs to pull the game to a 17-17 tie at the start of the 4th, but Michigan got the final points, adding a field goal with only 12 seconds to play to snatch the win and keep their playoff hopes very much alive. Taylor threw for 364 and 2 TDs in a losing cause, while Michigan got 2 scores from WR Cody Latimer on their way to win number 7.
POTG: Michigan DE Dee Ford: 6 Tck, 3 Sck
NEW ENGLAND 18 ORLANDO 21
Orlando was their own worst enemy in this game, building up a 21-3 lead, but then suffering 2 pick-sixes as Russell Wilson got careless with the ball in the 2nd half. New England never scored an offensive TD, but were in striking range in the 4th. They just could not get the ball into the endzone to steal the win, helping Orlando improve to 7-5 on the season.
POTG: Orlando HB Chris Carson: 21 Att, 118 Yds
MEMPHIS 28 JACKSONVILLE 26
Another razor’s edge loss for Jacksonville as Memphis wins their 3rd game in the past 4, moving to .500 with 4 weeks left to play. The Bulls held a 20-14 lead at the half, with TDs from HB Chubba Hubbard, who had a banner game with 142 yards on only 16 carries, and Montario Hardesty. Memphis rebounded in the 2nd half, with a Todd Gurley TD giving them a 1-point lead before Robert Woods’s TD catch from Lynch made it 28-20. Jacksonville would score a late TD but failed to connect on the 2-point conversion, preserving the win for the Showboats.
POTG: Memphis CB Rashaan Golden: 9 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR
PORTLAND 17 TAMPA BAY 37
No concerns in Tampa Bay as the Bandits dominated early, building a 24-0 lead and coasting their way to victory number 10. Dak Prescott threw for 255 and 4 TDs. Ryan Grant went over 100 yards, while he and 3 other receivers all found the endzone. Portland did nab a pick-six, the one big mistake from Prescott on the day, but the offense did not muster a touchdown until garbage time as Tampa Bay allowed several backups to get some playing time late.
POTG: Bandit QB Dak Prescott: 12/24, 255 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int
CHICAGO 26 OKLAHOMA 16
The Machine defense forced 3 second half turnovers as they expanded a 13-6 halftime lead into a comfortable win in Oklahoma City. Sam Bradford threw for 258 and 2 scores, while Jalen Hurts was picked twice and fumbled once. The win pushed Chicago to 8-4, atop the Central, while Oklahoma drops to 4-8.
POTG: Chicago CB Josh Norman: 5 Tck, 4 PDef, 2 Int
SAN DIEGO 3 SEATTLE 31
Seattle wins their 10th in a row by demolishing the visiting Thunder. Moreno rushed for 92, Amari Cooper caught 5 for 80 yards and 2 scores, and TE Kyle Rudolph brought in 6 passes for 66 yards and a score in the Dragons’ dominant performance. Richard Sherman had himself a game as well, batting away 5 Ponder throws and forcing a fumble on a rare completion on his side of the field.
POTG: Seattle CB Richard Sherman: 5 Tck, 5 PDef, 1 FF
ARIZONA 55 SAN ANTONIO 3
The Wranglers played their most complete game of the season, dominating on both sides of the ball to move to 7-5. Isaiah Crowell scored 3 times in the 2nd quarter alone, finishing the game with 82 yards on 15 touches. David Carr went out at the half with a nagging calf injury, but Brock Osweiler did not show any rust, going 6 of 13 for 100 yards and finding both Victor Cruz and TE Maxx Williams for 4th quarter scores as Arizona simply overwhelmed the Gunslingers.
POTG: Arizona CB A. J. Bouye: 4 Tck, 6 PDef, 1 Int, 1 DefTD
LAS VEGAS 20 HOUSTON 34
Houston also joined the 7-5 club with a solid win against the Vipers. It was tight into the 4th, with the Vipers pulling to within 4 on a Matt Gay field goal early in the final period, but from that moment it was all Houston, with Mike Evans catching a McCoy toss to put them up 10. McCoy finished with 329 yards and 3 TDs. Houston struggled against the run, with Kareem Hunting breaking free several times on his way to a 13-carry, 103-yard day, but in the end it was not enough as Houston held off the Vipers and stayed 1 game behind Birmingham in the South.
POTG: Houston QB Colt McCoy: 15/33, 329 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int
Tebow Rusty But Rewarded Against Breakers
Completing 12 of 28 passes is hardly the stuff of legends, but leading his team to a solid 13-point victory over a division rival to move them to 8-4 is certainly all that Stallion fans could have hoped for in Tim Tebow’s first start under center since last year and his first truly meaningful start since 2018. Tebow was rusty, missing several open receivers with balls that sailed on him, but he kept his cool, connecting for 2 scores and avoiding costly turnovers to the New Orleans defense. It was by no means a dominant win over the spiraling Breakers, but in outscoring New Orleans 17-3 in the second half, Birmingham was able to pull away and, more importantly, retain their 1-game lead over the Houston Gamblers. The Stallions have only 1 more division game left to play, hosting San Antonio in 2 weeks, and they have a tough final 2 weeks, with the Stars and Wranglers on the schedule, but winning the games they are favored to win, like this week’s game against the Breakers, is the first step for both Tebow and the Stallions if they hope to reach the playoffs and the return of Cam Newton later this summer.
Taylor Puts Scare into Panthers
While many Michigan fans expected a blowout win by their home town Panthers this week, St. Louis QB Tyrod Taylor not only kept that from happening but put a real scare into the Panthers before Michigan finally went on top with 12 seconds left to play. Taylor, subbing for the injured Lamar Jackson, completed 18 of 30 passes, amassing 364 yards against a normally-solid Michigan defense, and added 2 touchdowns to keep St. Louis in the game and keep Michigan fans on edge. When Taylor hit Deionte Johnson for the wideout’s 2nd TD of the game, knotting up the score in the 4th quarter, you could cut the tension in Ford Field with a knife. Would Michigan fall to the lowly St. Louis Skyhawks? Would their hopes to catch Chicago and regain the division be dashed? They would not, as Kirk Cousins got the Panthers in position for Chase McLaughlin’s game winner in the final seconds, but Taylor’s performance, even with St. Louis again falling short, was enough to impress Skyhawk fans and cause a good bit of anxiety for the Panther faithful.
Blitz’s Late Rally Falls Short Against Federals
Down 23-6 at home to the rival Washington Federals, the Blitz certainly did not look like the preseason favorites to claim the NE Division title. And at 6-5 they were already 2 games back of the New Jersey Generals in the division. For more than 3 quarters Blitz fans at M&T Stadium had watched as Travis Etienne, Jacoby Brissett, and a shaky Washington defense had managed to dominate the game against the favored Blitz. Many of them had already started heading for the exits before Baltimore started their comeback attempt in the final period, but in the end, perhaps they were right to do so.
Down 17 with 7 minutes to play, Baltimore did produce some drama, first scoring on a Brian Hartline TD to pull to 10 points down, and then, only 1:23 later, getting another score on a screen to Josh Jacobs to make it a 3-point game. An onside kick and a field goal would send this game to overtime, something absolutely unimaginable only 6 minutes earlier. But, as so often happens in both the USFL and the NFL, the onside kick was recovered by the opposition and Baltimore simply did not have enough time outs left to force a punt. They dropped to 6-6 and are now 3 games back of white-hot New Jersey, but they at least showed some spirit in the final minutes, something Coach Caldwell hopes will be seen early on as they face the Steamrollers this week.
Allen Ineffective Amid Roughneck Blitzes
There are a lot of reasons the Dallas Roughnecks were able to head into Empower Field and crush the Gold 31-10, but the one that truly stands out is their ability to get to Josh Allen. Allen, an MVP candidate for most of the season, was under constant pressure from a team not known for huge sack numbers. They managed to get to the Denver QB six times, force him to scramble on 4 occasions, and got in several hurries and big hits as well.
The lack of a run game from the Gold (only 27 yards total in the game) meant that Dallas’s edge rushers could focus on pressuring Allen, with both Connor Barwin and Taylor Hart getting to the Gold QB, along with 2 sacks from blitzing safety Dezmen Southward and 2 more from the linebackers. Allen would finish the game 14 of 28, and while he did connect with T. J. Hockenson for one big play (a 75-yard throw, catch, and run) it would be his lone highlight in a long and tough game for Denver’s young QB.
Monarchs Confirm Coaching Change at Season’s End
It is not happening immediately, but Charlotte Monarch Head Coach Vance Joseph now knows that he is, without any doubt, in the job market as of mid-July. The Monarchs announced this week that while Joseph will finish the year, he will be released following the conclusion of the season. It is something of an unorthodox move to notify a coach that he has 4 games left and no chance of saving his job, but apparently the Monarchs felt it was important to indicate that a change was coming, while also keeping the current leadership intact over the next month.
Joseph, who has yet to manage a win in his first season as the Monarch head coach, now has 4 week to try to salvage something from a lost season. The Monarchs face Jacksonville, the only other team already eliminated from the playoffs, this week, and have another potential win opportunity in Week 17, as they visit the 3-9 San Diego Thunder. Of course, neither of those teams wants to be the one to fall to a team that has not produced a win in 12 outings and there is pretty good money saying that Charlotte very easily could finish the year without tasting victory once. But, with 4 games to go, and his fate with the team already established, Vance Joseph can still try to avoid the fate of coaching one season and failing to obtain a single victory.
We have our first playoff spot claimed as the Tampa Bay Bandits, sitting at 10-2 have locked up at least a Wild Card. Of course, with a 3-game lead over Orlando, odds are that they will lock up the division title within the next 2 weeks. San Diego, also sitting at 10-2, have not yet locked things up as there are more 7-win clubs in the West, so they need to keep that winning streak going to lock up a title. They are 4 games up on LA, but with the tiebreaker in place they need either 1 more win or an LA loss this week to lock up the division title.
The other divisions are certainly closer, with Chicago only 1 game up on Pittsburgh, Michigan, and Ohio, all sitting at 7-5. In the Southwest, Denver’s lead over Arizona is down to 1 game as well. In the East, New Jersey has a 1-game lead over Philadelphia, 2 games over Baltimore. In the South, Birmingham is at 8-4, with Houston also 1 game back at 7-5, and Memphis coming on strong, now 6-6.
We did have a 2nd team officially eliminated this week, with Jacksonville joining Charlotte with that undesirable distinction. San Diego, also 3-9 like Jacksonville, still has a mathematical chance thanks to some tiebreakers, but one more loss is likely going to add them to the list as well.
No new IR additions, which is always good to see, but several players who may well be missing through the remainder of the regular season. The Maulers, Dragons, Renegades, and Wranglers are all hoping to make the postseason, so even if their injured players are not able to play in the next month, don't expect them to be added to IR as they can come back in time for a playoff run.
OUT
OT Rashan Slater PIT Hernia 2-4 Weeks
DE Deshon Hall SEA Broken Collarbone 2-4 Weeks
G Amini Silatulo ORL Sprained Ankle 2-4 Weeks
WR Brandon Aiyuk ARZ Back 2-4 Weeks
HB Devin Singletary JAX Knee 1-2 Weeks
CB Scott Whitmore DAL Groin 1-2 Weeks
CB Kevon Seymour OHI Quad 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
OT Riley Reiff BAL Ribs
FB Anthony Sherman HOU Foot
WR Kenny Golloday LV Knee
CB Dominique Rogers-Cromartie LA Thigh
QUESTIONABLE
WR Gabe Davis ATL Pinched Nerve
DT Joe Demarco NOR Thigh
CB Eric Murray BAL Knee
WR Dontrelle Inman OHI Hip
FS Robert Sands PIT Concussion
HALL OF FAME TO WELCOME 6 MORE USFL LEGENDS
The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio will see five very impactful players and a coach undervalued for too long join the ranks of the enshrined legends of the USFL this October. The Hall of Fame and the USFL announced this week the Class of 2021, and it is one for the ages. Five players from the 10-player short list of semifinalists made the list, along with a choice from the Legacy Committee, this year choosing to honor a coach who helped bring a title to the South.
The Legacy Committee named former Birmingham Stallion head coach Ron Ehrhardt as the newest Legacy addition to the Hall. Ehrhardt, an offensive coordinator before getting the job in Birmingham, would lead the Stallions from 1992 through the 2000 season, when he retired from coaching. That may only be 9 seasons, but they certainly were impactful ones. Ehrhardt’s tenure in Birmingham aligned with some of the biggest high points in Stallion history, with the club making the playoffs 6 times in that 9-year span, including 4 Division Titles and the 1993 League Championship, Birmingham’s sole USFL title in 39 seasons. He retired after 3 decades as an offensive coach and a 9-season head coaching record of 78-60 and a USFL playoff record of 7-4.
Ehrhardt's 1993 Stallions were one of the best teams in league history, amassing a 14-2 record before a 3-game playoff run that saw them knock off Jacksonville 45-42 in one of the league’s greatest playoff shootouts, defeat the Washington Federals 27-21 and then take out the Jim Kelly-led Houston Gamblers 38-36 in one of the best Summer Bowls ever played. His teams in the 1990’s certainly did not lack for stars, starting with QB Brett Favre, but also featuring TE Shannon Sharpe, WRs Ernest Givens and Lawrence Dawsey, kicker Scott Norwood, CBs Chris Dishman and Anthony Blaylock, LB Kevin Greene, and FS Blaine Bishop. Known for an aggressive pass-first mentality and a defense that prioritized QB pressure, Ron Ehrhardt joins the Hall of Fame, where his bust can stand aside some of his best players: Favre, Sharpe, Givens, Dawsey, and tackles Emory Yates and Richmond Webb.
Joining Coach Ehrhardt in the Class of 2021 are Two quarterbacks, a dynamic halfback, an impactful wideout and one of the best middle linebackers in USFL history, with 4 of the 5 making the hall in their first year of eligibility. The unquestioned leader of the Houston Gamblers from 1999 through 2016, QB Matt Hasselbeck threw for over 54,000 yards and 394 touchdowns, garnering both the League and Playoff MVP awards in 2010 as he led the Gamblers to a league title. QB Byron Leftwich also wears a championship ring, leading the plucky Seattle Dragons to the title in 2005, a feat that also garnered him a playoff MVP title. A six-time All-USFL nominee in his 13-year career as the leader of the Dragon offense, Leftwich joins Hasselbeck in a 2-QB Hall of Fame Class.
To no one’s surprise, former Washington Federal Deuce McCallister made the class in his first year of eligibility. With over 19,000 yards rushing, a truly eye-popping number, as well as 138 total touchdowns and a decade and a half of unbelievable games, we all knew that the Deuce would be among this year’s class. So too did we assume that MLB Brian Urlacher would make the cut this year. A 10-time All-USFL selection and 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, Urlacher was a tackling machine and a force to be reckoned with in his 17 seasons in Chicago. He joins other Chicago MLB legends, players like Dick Butkis and Mike Singletary in the Hall of Fame.
The final nominee was the only returning candidate. Wide Receiver Steve Smith, in his second year of eligibility, joins the Hall after 16 USFL seasons. Smith spent the early part of his career in Philadelphia before moving to Ohio in 2011. He won a title with the Stars in 2008, was nominated All-USFL five times and retired with more than 15,000 receiving yards and 94 career touchdowns. Never one to shy away from the camera, Smith’s acceptance speech is sure to be one of the highlights of this October’s enshrinement ceremony.
Third-Quarter Power Rankings
With all teams now having completed 12 games, we can provide our 3rd Quarter rankings, and we have a change at the top. Seattle, having just knocked off Tampa Bay in a head-to-head classic at Lumen Field jumps up to the top spot. New Jersey, riding a 9-game winning streak sits now in the 2-spot, while the 10-2 Bandits drop from first to third, a move that may well provide them with some motivation as the season heads quickly towards its conclusion and the postseason to follow. Here are the full rankings, from 1 to 30 (with no surprise at the bottom either). With huge clusters of teams at 8-4, 7-5, and 6-6, there is going to be plenty of room for debate in our rankings, so enjoy the back-and-forth.
1—Seattle Dragons (10-2)
You win 10 in a row and knock off the defending champs; you get to be at the top of our power rankings.
2—New Jersey Generals (9-3)
New Jersey has one fewer win than Tampa Bay, but their 9-game win streak is also impressing us, so they leapfrog the Bandits.
3—Tampa Bay Bandits (10-2)
Sometimes when you lose a game matters. After going 7-0, Tampa Bay is 3-2 in their last 5, and with two teams on major win streaks, we had to drop the Bandits to 3rd.
4—Chicago Machine (8-4)
Despite a 3-game losing streak, Chicago still gets a lot of respect for how they play the game, and that puts them at the top of a small cluster of 8-win teams.
5—Denver Gold (8-4)
Denver might have been ahead of Chicago before this weekend, but their bad loss at home to Dallas has left us a bit unsettled about the Gold.
6—Birmingham Stallions (8-4)
The Stallions have won 4 of 5, and probably deserve more respect, but their pass defense is still ranked 30th in the league and that worries everyone, including Coach Haley.
7—Philadelphia Stars (8-4)
The Stars have lost 3 of 5 since their bye, and their 2 wins were over Charlotte and a 1-point squeaker this week in Pittsburgh. Lots of folks are wondering if reality has caught up to them.
8—Orlando Renegades (7-5)
The Renegades, despite some consistency issues, have won 4 of their last 5, including a nice win over LA and a whooping of Atlanta. That has folks giving them some respect.
9—Houston Gamblers (7-5)
The Gamblers snapped a 3-game losing streak with their win over Las Vegas. Maybe we are too optimistic, but with McCoy putting up big numbers, Houston is still very dangerous.
10—Arizona Wranglers (7-5)
This week’s 55-3 annihilation of San Antonio was clearly a message game for the Wranglers. They don’t feel like their championship window is closing, and this last game may prove it is not.
11—Ohio Glory (7-5)
A nice win over Oakland, and a win over Chicago 2 weeks ago have Ohio fans feeling good. They face the Machine again this week and a win to sweep the series will pull them into a tie for first place.
12—Pittsburgh Maulers (7-5)
The Maulers are something of an under-the-radar team, which is surprising after a 3-game streak that had them beating the Machine, Express, and Glory back-to-back-to-back.
13—Michigan Panthers (7-5)
Don’t look now, but the Panthers have won 3 of 4, including a nice win over Chicago and another against the Glory. They have only 2 division games left, but with both of their foes (Ohio and Pittsburgh) currently tied at 7-5 with the Panthers, both could be huge.
14—Los Angeles Express (6-6)
3 wins in their last 4 keep the Express in the playoff hunt, and a win over Seattle this week would be huge. They need it for morale, but also to pull into the cluster of 7-win teams, because a 6-7 record is not going to help them moving forward.
15—Memphis Showboats (6-6)
The Showboats have also been hot lately, winning 3 of 4, but that one loss, a 31-24 loss in Birmingham, could haunt them as they try to get into the divisional mix. They have Houston this week in what is likely a must-win game for the Showboats.
16—Baltimore Blitz (6-6)
The Blitz are the epitome of inconsistency, up and down with almost no pattern. They need to fix that right away and may need to go 4-0 in the season’s final month to have any chance of a playoff spot.
17—Dallas Roughnecks (6-6)
Dallas followed a nice win in Las Vegas with an even nicer one in Denver, dominating the division-leading Gold. They need to go 3-1 down the stretch, maybe even 4-0 to have a shot, because being a game over .500 at season’s end may not be enough.
18—Atlanta Fire (6-6)
The Fire have gone cold, losing 5 of 6 after a 5-1 start. It is not all about the injury to Aaron Murray, but that certainly has not helped. No easy games moving forward in what could be a lost season for a team many had high hopes for.
19—Oakland Invaders (6-6)
We understand why a 6-6 Invader team would want to give Davis Mills some starts in his rookie year, but the idea of benching Tom Brady feels wrong. It seems to signal that Oakland is not even trying any more in 2021.
20—Las Vegas Vipers (5-7)
The Vipers were hot early but have lost 5 of 6 down the stretch. With Oakland, Arizona, Denver, and Dallas on the horizon, they may struggle to avoid another 10-loss season.
21—Washington Federals (5-7)
The Feds, once 1-6, have been a lot tougher to knock off lately, winning 4 of 5. Their lone loss in this streak was at New Jersey, who they now face at home in Week 14. They would love to level that score and stay alive another week.
22—San Antonio Gunslingers (5-7)
It feels like all the positive vibes the Gunslingers had built up recently went out the window in that loss to Arizona, but losing by 52 points will do that to you. They have a chance to rebound with winnable games against Atlanta and Charlotte coming up.
23—St. Louis Skyhawks (4-8)
The Skyhawks have won 3 of 5 of late, and that puts them at the top of our 4-win teams, but they still have a rough road ahead if they want to go 3-1 and avoid a 10-loss season.
24—Portland Stags (4-8)
Portland has struggled for consistent offense all season, and with upcoming games against 3 solid defenses in Arizona, Denver and LA, it likely won’t start looking better by season’s end.
25—New Orleans Breakers (4-8)
The Breaker collapse has been one of the season’s biggest surprises. We are still not entirely sure why, but nothing that worked in 2020 is working this year.
26—New England Steamrollers (4-8)
A pair of nice wins this month, knocking off both Philly and Houston, but it is clearly too little, too late for the Steamrollers, who will be lucky to equal last year’s 6-win total.
27—Oklahoma Outlaws (4-8)
Three straight losses, in games where they put up only 7, 16 and 16 points, has to be a huge disappointment for Outlaw nation. The development of Jalen Hurts seems to have plateaued, which Coach Stoops needs to address this offseason.
28—Jacksonville Bulls (3-9)
With just a handful of better bounces, this Bulls team could be in the thick of the playoff hunt, but here they sit, 3-9 and officially eliminated.
29—San Diego Thunder (3-9)
Coach LeBeau has to be expecting the axe after another 10-loss season. He just does not have the horses to compete, which in our minds points to the GM more than the coach.
30—Charlotte Monarchs (0-12)
Can Charlotte finish 0-16? Well, they face Jacksonville, San Antonio, and San Diego in the final 4 weeks. Those are three games where they are not obviously outmanned, but can they muster a win in any of them?
Six divisional games are peppered throughout Week 14, but so too are several inter-divisional games with playoff implications. We start on Friday night with two simultaneous divisional games. NBC will have New Jersey vs. Washington on their Friday Night Lights broadcast, while ESPN and EFN will head to the Midwest where Chicago hopes to put some space between themselves and the three 7-5 teams, facing Ohio at Soldier Field.
Saturday kicks off with an interesting inter-conference game as 7-5 Michigan heads to Philadelphia to face the 8-4 Stars. Also at noon, Orlando hopes to get solidly in the Wild Card race as they head to New Orleans to face the Breakers. At 4pm, an interesting game between two playoff hopefuls as 7-5 Pittsburgh visits 6-6 Dallas. In the two nightcaps we have St. Louis visiting Denver on NBC while Seattle can lock up the Pacific with a road win in Los Angeles against the Express. A win here and the division is theirs.
Sunday’s noon action includes a national game with Baltimore at New England, and two regional games, including San Antonio at Atlanta in a battle of teams right on the cusp of the Wild Card. At 4pm the national game on Fox is Las Vegas vs. Oakland, featuring the first start for rookie Davis Mills of the Invaders. We also have regional games on ABC with Portland in Arizona and the Tampa Bay Bandits on the West Coast to face the San Diego Thunder. The weekend wraps up with a big Southern Division clash as Houston travels to Memphis. The Gamblers have a game up on the Showboats, but Memphis is hoping to take this win and pull themselves right into the division race once again.
FRI @ 8pm ET New Jersey (9-3) @ Washington (5-7) NBC
FRI @ 8pm ET Ohio (7-5) @ Chicago (8-4) ESPN/EFN
SAT @ 12pm ET Michigan (7-5) @ Philadelphia (8-4) ABC
SAT @ 12pm ET Orlando (7-5) @ New Orleans (4-8) FOX
SAT @ 4pm ET Pittsburgh (7-5) @ Dallas (6-6) ABC
SAT @ 4pm ET Birmingham (8-4) @ Oklahoma (4-8) FOX
SAT @ 8pm ET St. Louis (4-8) @ Denver (8-4) NBC
SAT @ 8pm ET Seattle (10-2) @ Los Angeles (6-6) ESPN/EFN
SUN @ 12pm ET Baltimore (6-6) @ New England (4-8) ABC
SUN @ 12pm ET San Antonio (5-7) @ Atlanta (6-6) FOX Regional
SUN @ 12pm ET Charlotte (0-11) @ Jacksonville (3-9) FOX Regional
SUN @ 4pm ET Portland (4-8) @ Arizona (7-5) ABC Regional
SUN @ 4pm ET Tampa Bay (10-2) @ San Diego (3-9) ABC Regional
SUN @ 4pm ET Las Vegas (5-7) @ Oakland (6-6) FOX
SUN @ 8pm ET Houston (7-5) @ Memphis (6-6) ESPN/EFN
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