2021 USFL Week 7 Recap: Byes & Blowouts
- USFL LIVES
- 5 hours ago
- 27 min read
While Week 6 offered hope to the underdogs, Week 7 felt very much like a time when teams flexed their muscles, and the favorites came out fired up. Lopsided wins by Tampa Bay over Atlanta, New Jersey over New England, Denver over Memphis, Baltimore over Jacksonville and Arizona over Las Vegas very much felt like teams trying to claim their status as frontrunners and favorites. We had a few close calls as well, and one defensive slugfest that ended without either team reaching double digits on the scoreboard. As always, we will run down all the scores, take a look at the performances of the week, and prepare you for Week 8 action, with 8 more teams taking their bye week for another 11-game schedule. But we kick it off with an early peak at the MVP race, with 6 candidates looking like contenders as we approach the mid-point of the season (now solidly in Week 9).
Handicapping the MVP Race as We Approach Midseason
With 8 games in the book and the statistical leaderboards feeling somewhat static, we are ready to start looking ahead to the league’s big awards, and we very well may have some shakeup this year, as new players emerge and some of the anticipated frontrunners have struggled, including Dak Prescott, now looking like he will miss games a second time this year, and LeVeon Bell now sitting in 5th position in the rushing leaderboard. So, who is stepping up and who might well get some MVP votes come July and August? Here is our look at 6 potential contenders.
QB Josh Allen (DEN)
Right now, the odds-on favorite, having taken a huge step in his 4th pro season. Allen has the Gold atop the Southwest Division and has them ranked 2nd in passing and in scoring at 33.1 points per game. His individual stats are no less impressive, with 2,285 passing yards, 20 TDs and a 121.7 QB Rating after 8 weeks. He is completing a solid 62.8% of his throws, is averaging nearly 330 yards per game and has a QB Rating 20 points above his prior career best. Most importantly, he is leading a Denver team that many undervalued in the preseason (including our team) to big wins and dominant performances.
QB Cam Newton (BIR)
Birmingham is another team that has exceeded expectations, sitting at 4-2 with a share of 1st place in the South, and Cam Newton has certainly been a catalyst for that improvement. Not only has the 11-year vet been outperforming past years, with a career best 107.1 QB Rating after 8 games, but he is proving to be tough to stop. Overplay his rushing (236 yards and 3 TDs) and he will kill you from the pocket. Allow him to scramble and you risk a huge gainer. His passing stats (1,606 Yds, 14 TDs) are not in the stratosphere with some more traditional passers, but it is his impact on defensive game plans that is making the difference for the Stallions.
HB Dalvin Cook (TBY)
Our first of three non-QBs to be considered, we are looking at Cook, not Prescott, as the centerpiece of the 2021 Bandits, who still have yet to taste defeat. A true dual threat, Cook has racked up 596 yards rushing, putting him in the Top 5 in the league, while also catching 14 balls for 333 yards, a stunning 23.8 yards per catch, a top tier number for a wideout, much less a back. Throw in his combined 6 touchdowns (4 rushing, 2 passing) and we have to look at Cook as a possible MVP candidate, especially if he can keep up these numbers with Prescott out of commission.
QB Colt McCoy (HOU)
Our third QB to consider has been in this pool before. Colt McCoy has yet to win an MVP, and there is some sentiment that if he can be a league leader this year and the Gamblers rebound to win the division after an off year in 2020, well, that may well get McCoy some points for career stats in addition to his 2021 numbers. Those 2021 stats are looking very good on their own, with 2,161 yards, 13 TDs to only 6 picks, and a very solid 105.4 QBR.
HB Derrick Henry (PHI)
The Stars have had a magical run so far, going 6-1 in their first 7 games, and while many are praising the choice of Carson Wentz to come in at QB, we all know who is at the heart of the Stars offense. “King” Henry is the current league leader in rushing with 645 yards, on pace for more than 1,200 yet again. He has 5 total TDs on the year, and there is no doubt that his value to the Stars is irreplaceable.
WR Dez Bryant (TBY)
One more MVP candidate from the league’s best offense. Dez Bryant is having himself a career year, and even with B. J. Daniels subbing for Prescott over 2 games (and likely another 2 coming up), Bryant has remained a constant threat. He has 32 receptions in his first 7 games, and with that has 706 yards, an average over 100 per game, which would put him above 1,600 for the year. Throw in 8 TDs (a pace to possibly attain 20 by season’s end) and with 2 different QBs, you have to acknowledge his value to the Bandit offense.
If we were picking right now, our money would be on Josh Allen, but so much lays ahead, and the number of wins and losses for each team will certainly be a huge factor moving forward. The candidate who helps his team reach a Division title, or even a first seed, could get a huge advantage, though we still think that QBs have an edge, as always.
SAN ANTONIO GUNSLINGERS 31 DALLAS ROUGHNECKS 42
The San Antonio Gunslingers are only in their 2nd year in the league after the city got an expansion replacement for the departed Outlaws. So it is a bit early to say they have a clear rivalry with anyone. But, while the natural rival should be division opponent Houston, it seems San Antonio is more than game to build a grudge with the league’s other in-state team, the Dallas Roughnecks.
San Antonio came into their game in Dallas with all the focus and energy of a long-time rival, and that made this week’s game with the Roughnecks all that much more entertaining and all that much closer. Despite an eventual 11 point win by the homestanding Roughnecks, this was a tight game until the final minutes, and San Antonio certainly acquitted themselves admirably. The Gunslingers outgained Dallas 373-318, and were much more proficient on the ground, outrushing the Roughnecks 140-87, thanks in large part to 97 yards from NFL import Melvin Gordon. Both teams managed a defensive score, but it was San Antonio’s difficulty containing the Dallas offense that ended up costing them the game in the final 2 minutes.
The game started very well for the visitors as San Antonio stopped Dallas on the opening drive of the game, took over with the ball on their own 17 and drove it down the field before settling on an Evan McPherson field goal. They again stopped Dallas on the Roughnecks’ 2nd possession, and this time, with the ball in their hands, they took it all the way for 7, with Joe Flacco finding veteran wideout Marquise Goodwin for a 6-yard TD to build a 10-0 lead late in the 1st quarter.
But, Dallas was undeterred by their early struggles, hitting San Antonio’s questionable defense with a big play early in their 3rd possession. After moving the ball to the San Antonio 47, where they faced a 2nd and 2, Dallas used play action to perfection, with Justin Herbert drawing in the defense with a nice fake before finding 2020 breakout star Sammy Watkins on a 47-yard throw, catch, and run for 7. Watkins used a double move to escape the corner and the safety was late in covering, which allowed Watkins to catch the ball, angle away from safety coverage and outpace the defenders to the endzone.
Dallas had cut the lead to 3, but were still struggling with San Antonio’s offensive balance. Using a mix of Gordon runs and short passes from Flacco to Noah Fant and Jaelen Reagor, the Gunslingers moved the ball quickly down the field. Inside the red zone, Gordan took a couple of downs to rest, so it was C. J. Procise who got the call and the score on a 6-yard off-tackle run to bolster the Gunslinger advantage to 10. Down 17-7, Dallas again turned to their offense, and again they found success with the deep ball, this time a 40-yard completion to Tim Wright put them deep inside Gunslinger territory. Five plays later it was HB Duke Johnson, who has been getting more touches than Samaje Perine the past few games. Johnson dove over the scrum and into the endzone to pull Dallas back to a 3-point deficit with 6 and change left in the half.
Dallas’s defense held on the next drive, but a nice punt by Gunslinger specialist Matt Haak, placed the ball at the Dallas 4. A penalty for illegal motion on 1st down pushed the ball back to the 2, and the 1st down run by Samaje Perine was stuffed, at first looking like a safety before being ruled down at the 1-foot line. Very much looking for the safety on 2nd down, San Antonio blitzed three to create a 7-man rush. That rush got to Herbert, producing a fumble which DE Demarcus Lawrence fell on to give San Antonio the defensive TD and once again a 9-point advantage. The missed PAT kept it from being a double-digit advantage, but while Dallas would hold the Gunslingers after the free kick, the Roughnecks still went into the break down two scores, 23-14.
The third quarter very much felt like a reset as the Roughnecks not only shut down the Gunslingers but forced turnovers on every single San Antonio possession. Yes, you heard that right. 4 turnover in one quarter, including 3 lost fumbles and a Flacco interception. It was a nightmare quarter for San Antonio as they simply could not hold onto the ball. Dallas, however, only managed to add 14 points despite 4 possessions going their way in the half. They first added a score on defense as the Flacco pick was returned 30 yards for a score on the quarter’s 1st possession. That turned into a feeding frenzy as Dallas forced 3 fumbles in the period, one leading to a 20-yard Herbert to Courtland Sutton TD toss. The swing gave Dallas a 5-point advantage, one many thought should have been more.
San Antonio had survived one of the worst quarters a team could have, and came into the 4th down only 5. Unfortunately, they would add 2 more turnovers in the 4th for a nasty game total of 6 on the day. The first cam on their next possession, increasing the total to 5 drives in a row. The Gunslinger D held Dallas once again and the fumble ended up not costing San Antonio more points. The offense came out again and the focus was clearly on ball control and avoiding a 6th turnover. This drive was mistake free, and after 9 plays, San Antonio was in scoring range. Flacco found Goodwin with a nice pass down to the 3, and after a Gordon run failed to produce a score, it was Flacco to LaFell to once again give the Gunslingers the advantage. They led 31-28 with only 4:40 left to play, but they were not done helping Dallas earn a win.
The Roughnecks did it on their own with their next possession, with Herbert leading the Dallas offense down the field briskly, they were closing in on both the 2-minute warning and the red zone when Herbert saw Tim Wright gain a step on his defender. The Dallas QB put up a perfect pass as Wright glided down the sideline, the veteran catching the ball just as he crossed into the endzone, putting Dallas back on top, 35-31 just as the 2-minute warning was called.
The Dallas score left San Antonio with 2 minutes to score a TD and win the game. A field goal would be no help, down 4. Flacco and the offense took the field, prepping for a 2-minute drill. The veteran QB connected on his first pass, a 13-yarder to TE Noah Fant. Then caught Dallas with a Gordon draw that gained 16. But on their next first down, the mistake that all Gunslinger fans had to be dreading showed up. The 6th Dallas takeaway was a clean pick of Flacco. The San Antonio QB simply underestimated Patrick Peterson’s recovery speed, threw the ball with too much air under it, and Peterson not only caught up to LaFell, but pulled the ball away from the Gunslinger receiver for his 2nd pick.
That turnover clearly broke the Gunslinger spirit, evident as Dallas not only ate some clock, but made very nice gains with their run game in the final drive. Intent on killing the clock, Dallas fed the ball to Johnson and Perine, and on a 2nd and 8 from the Gunslinger 30, Duke Johnson did more than eat time, he ate up yards, rushing 30 yards before falling backwards into the endzone. It appeared that Johnson tried to stop himself, but instead of sliding, he tried to come to a halt on the 1, but his momentum forced him backwards, into the endzone, producing another TD and Dallas’s eventual 9-point victory.
For San Antonio this game had to feel like a victory lost. The Gunslingers had played so well for a half, only to have 6 second-half turnovers destroy any chance at victory. Dallas, recognizing that they had gotten lucky on a couple of those miscues, also took to heart the idea that playing aggressively could lead to opportunities and taking advantage of those opportunities was often the difference between winning and losing. A valuable lesson for both teams was the final result of this back-and-forth affair.
TAMPA BAY 30 ATLANTA 12
The Fire saw this game as a chance to prove they were a true contender, but after putting up only 4 field goals and giving up 415 yards on defense, it seems that the Fire only showed us that Tampa Bay will be a tough team to knock off as they defend their title. The win was a costly one, however, for the Bandits, as QB Dak Prescott had to leave the game after suffering a hyper-extended knee. That injury could keep Prescott out for 2-3 weeks. But as we have seen before, B. J. Daniels can step in and succeed, evident by his 5 of 7 outing, producing a TD to Jordan Cameron to lock up the W.
POTG: Bandit HB Dalvin Cook: 21 Att, 96 Yds, 1 TD, 2 Rec, 35 Yds, 1 TD
NEW ENGLAND 3 NEW JERSEY 26
It was all New Jersey as the Generals won their 4th in a row to move over .500. Nick Foles continues to silence the critics by winning games, though this one was all about the New Jersey defense. The Generals’ D held New England to only 83 yards rushing and kept the Steamrollers from rolling into the endzone as the Generals put up 17 to start the game and never trailed.
POTG: New Jersey FS Shamarko Thomas: 4 Tck, 3 PDef, 1 Int, 1 FF
SEATTLE 30 ORLANDO 24
The Renegades held a 24-20 lead after 3, but Seattle got a Hundley to Newhouse TD at the 9-minute mark of the 4th, added a field goal later, and shut out Orlando in the final period to take the road win as they take a strong hold over the Pacific Division. Russell Wilson continued to struggle, throwing 4 picks in the game. For Seattle, it was Knowshon Moreno with a big game, rushing for 132 yards on 23 carries.
POTG: Seattle LB Josh Allen: 9 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 PDef, 1 Int
LOS ANGELES 9 OAKLAND 7
Two of the league’s best defenses came to play and that meant a very low scoring but hard-hitting game in Oakland. The Express managed only 3 field goals, but that was enough as Oakland’s 2nd quarter TD (Brady to Adams) was the only time the Invaders put anything on the board. Despite the solid defensive game by Oakland, LA receiver Hollywood Brown racked up 111 yards while Paul Perkins ground out 79 yards.
POTG: Express CB Jamar Taylor: 7 Tck, 1 PDef, 1 Int
CHARLOTTE 13 PORTLAND 23
The Monarchs drop to 0-7 as Portland finally earns their 2nd win. The homestanding Stags got 77 yards from rookie HB Javontae Williams and Mariota found both Josh Gordon and Williams for TD catches. Jimmy Garoppolo found 9 different receivers on the day, but simply did not turn those plays into points, with their first TD coming in garbage time, with Portland up 17.
POTG: Portland QB Marcus Mariota: 24/30, 206 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int
DENVER 38 MEMPHIS 6
Staying in the South after last week’s victory over the Breakers paid off for Denver, who dominated this game, outgaining Memphis 413-244, and on the scoreboard, with a 28-0 run in the second half to blow this game wide open. Josh Allen went 16 of 20 for 300 yards and 2 scores, both to Kevin White, who more than subbed for a dinged-up Goldent Tate. Lindsay and former Breaker Fournette also put points on the board as the Gold offense rolled. Meanwhile, Paxton Lynch threw 3 picks as nothing went right for the Showboat offense.
POTG: Gold WR Kevin White: 8 Rec, 152 Yds, 2 TD
BALTIMORE 34 JACKSONVILLE 13
Like the Monarchs, the Bulls also drop to 0-7 as Baltimore sacked rookie Trevor Lawrence 6 times (2 from Campbell) and picked the rattled Bulls QB three times as well. The Baltimore offense took advantage, adding 21 points off the three takeaways, with Michael Pittman Jr. scoring twice and Josh Jacobs diving in for a 3rd. Jacobs finished with 85 yards on the ground, and another 24 through the air.
POTG: Blitz WR Michael Pittman Jr: 5 Rec, 114 Yds, 2 TD
OKLAHOMA 24 SAN DIEGO 41
Jalen Hurts survived 5 sacks to throw for 348 and 3 TDs, but it was not enough as the Oklahoma defense simply had no answers. San Diego HB Charles Sims rushed the ball 29 times for 144 yards and 3 TDs, with backup David Wilson adding 55 and a score as well. Throw in a Ponder to Nauta TD toss and the Thunder score their 3rd win as Oklahoma drops to a surprising 2-5.
POTG: Thunder HB Charles Sims: 29 Att,144 Yds, 3 TD
LAS VEGAS 21 ARIZONA 45
The Wranglers get right back into the SW Division race by knocking off Las Vegas in State Farm Stadium. Ka’Deem Carey had 90 yards and a score, Crowell another 79 with a TD as Arizona racked up 170 yards rushing. Vegas ran the ball well also, with Matt Jones rushing for 100 yards and Hunt adding another 62, but when it came to turning yards into points, the Wranglers had the formula and the Vipers did not.
POTG: Wrangler CB A. J. Bouye: 10 Tck, 2 Pdef, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
WASHINGTON 14 PHILADELPHIA 17
Jacoby Brissett got the start for the Feds and looked pretty good too, throwing for 287 and a TD, but with Travis Etienne limited to only 30 yards on 13 carries, Washington could not eke out a win. Carson Wentz hit Randall Cobb for a TD, Marcus Lattimore nabbed a 3rd, and Eddie Pineiro put the game winning 3 points on the board as Philadelphia rebounds from their first loss of the season, moving their record to 6-1.
POTG: Stars’ WR Randall Cobb: 6 Rec, 91 Yds, 1 TD
Who is Charles Sims?
That is the question being asked all across the USFL as the San Diego Thunder have found themselves one of the breakout stars of 2021. The 27-year-old former Mauler and Roughneck is making a huge impression, with 558 yards and 6 TDs already this season. He currently ranks 6th in the league, just outside of our leaderboard but ahead of some pretty familiar names, names like Christian McCaffrey, Todd Gurley, Carlos Hyde, and Nick Chubb. But just who is Sims and why is he having himself a belated break out in the USFL this year?
Sims was a solid back in college, splitting his NCAA career between the University of Houston (2009-12) and West Virginia (2013) before coming out in the 2014 draft. He was selected by the Maulers using a Territorial pick, and Pittsburgh outbid the NFL Buccaneers, who selected Sims in the 3rd round of their draft. His first year with the Maulers was hardly anything to get excited about, appearing in only 2 games and finishing the season with 1 carry for 3 yards. Yes, that is right, 1 carry.
His 2nd year he had only 10 carries, spending most of the year on the practice squad. His first major action was in 2016 when the Maulers, suffering some injuries in the RB room, had Sims active for 5 games, in which he had 43 carries for 172 yards. That offseason, his rookie contract expiring, Sims signed on with the Dallas Roughnecks. In Dallas, Sims saw his touches increase, with 90 in 2019 and 153 in 2020. The Thunder saw something in Sims when he became available this offseason, signing the 7-year veteran to a 3-year deal and setting up a HB competition with David Wilson and two late round rookies (Demetric Felton and David Wilson). Many expected San Diego to go after one of the NFL free agent backs in the February transfer window, but they opted to stand pat, naming Sims the starter just before their regular season opener.
Sims has become the unquestioned lead back for the Thunder, with 139 carries in just the first 7 games, a solid 105 touches more than David Wilson. Averaging 4 yards per carry with 6 TDs this season, Sims has surprised everyone with his solid play, everyone except Dick LeBeau it appears. After a slow opening game (34 yards on 19 carries), Sims exploded against Ohio, rushing for 116 and scoring 3 times (2x rushing, 1 on a swing pass). The following week he topped 100 again, gaining 102 against Seattle. This week he once again crossed the century mark, with another huge game, rushing for 144 and 3 scores against Oklahoma. San Diego sits at 3-4, only 1 game below .500 and only 2 games behind division-leading Denver. With a pair of very winnable games (@ Orlando & @ Oakland) before the break, we could be looking at San Diego (along with Philly) as a rags to riches story this year, and a huge part of that is the back who finally got his shot and is making the most of it.
What can Monarchs & Bulls Do to Improve This Year?
It feels very much like Jacksonville has done something to anger the football gods. Maybe they insulted a gypsy woman or made a poorly worded wish on a monkey claw. Why do we say this? Well, the main reason is that they have had so many games where they did enough to win and yet came up just short. That includes a 3-point loss at home to Portland, followed by a 2-point margin against Atlanta, another 2-point loss in New England, and a 1-pointer in Orlando. That is 4 straight games lost by a total of 8 points. The last two weeks have seemed to indicate that their will has been broken, losing by 26 in Atlanta and this week by 21 to Baltimore at home.
So, what could Jacksonville do to turn things around and get a break? Well, it might help that they play Charlotte this week, perhaps the only team in the league with more issues than they have. They then get a bye before starting the 2nd half of their season. So, 3 weeks to try to find solutions. And we think they have some solutions that are obtainable. The first is to work on a trade to add some pop to the run game. Devin Singletary is a solid grinder, averaging 4.2 yards per carry, but he has only 1 run in 75 attempts that went over 15 yards. Montario Hardesty has fallen out of favor, so it is time for Jacksonville to look for a real change-of-pace back. That may mean giving rookie Chubba Hubbard more snaps, or it may mean seeking a trade.
The second move we think the Bulls need to make is to put in more 4-3 schemes. They have been running mostly 3-4 all season, and while we know that Coach Moss likes the nimbler 3-4, his LB group just does not have the speed or depth to make it work, especially on early downs. Putting a rotation of Beau Allen and Jimmy Staten in next to Montravious Adams to form a 4-man front would allow Jacksonville to have 3 solid LBs in the game (Lee, Anzelone, and Hicks, and allow them to spread wider so that they can cover the outside and let the D-Line worry about inside runs. The secondary could still be an issue, but if they can force more teams into longer 3rd downs, they may just get the D off the field sooner and avoid those close defeats.
In Charlotte, the main issues are too multiple to solve with one big deal. They are averaging only 77 yards per game rushing, despite having 2 backs who have had success in the past. Their line is likely the issue there, and with Jimmy Garoppolo’s erratic passing as well, as the new Charlotte QB is taking a lot of heat in the pocket. But perhaps more troubling is the Monarch defense, which is giving up 30.9 PPG, good enough for 29th position in a 30-team league. What is worse is that the Monarchs appear to be as inept against the pass (23rd) as they are against the run (21st). So, what could be done this year to help that situation?
First thing is to try to get some help up front. Rookie Peni Sewell is looking like a keeper, and center Mike Pouncey is an All-USFL player, but the other three positions, including both guards, are not getting the job done. It may not be possible to find 3 new players in mid-season trades, but even 1 interior lineman could help this team be more productive. As for the defense, the 4-man line seems pretty talented, led by DE Chandler Jones and the interior duo of Poona Ford and Leki Fotu, but the linebacker group is not getting the stops that they need to end drives. Rolando McClain is among the league’s best tacklers, evident in his current ranking on the leaderboard, but neither Germaine Pratt nor Randy Gregory is really athletic enough to either cover backs and tight ends or to get to a well-designed exterior run. So, at least 1 outside linebacker would be a big add.
Can any of our recommendations help the Bulls or Monarchs suddenly change their fortunes? Unlikely, but even a few wins over the second half of the season could be a starting point towards growth and improvement for 2022.
Oakland’s Slump Helps Seattle Take Over the Pacific
The Invaders were looking like a team in command after 5 weeks, sitting at 4-1 and touting one of the league’s best defenses, but a humbling 33-9 loss in Tampa Bay seems to have shattered the team’s confidence. They followed that game up with this week’s 9-7 loss at home to the LA Express, a game that set back offensive football 10 years. While statistically the Invaders still look very solid, in the Top 10 in points allowed, yards allowed, and rushing yards, while their offense is no worse than 18th in any category, this does not look like a team ready to reclaim the division lead.
The good news for Oakland is that they have a bye to interrupt their losing streak. Following the break, they will run a Pacific Division gauntlet that very well could determine their fate, hosting San Diego in Week 9 before road games in Portland and Seattle. That three game stretch will be essential to their hopes for a playoff return or even a division title. With Tom Brady now 45 years old, and his protégé already in the wings in rookie Davis Mills, this year is pivotal. It will either be a swan song for the 5-time USFL and NFL Champion QB or the start of a rebuild, and that all could be determined by the 3-game divisional stretch that Oakland will prepare for this week.
4 Teams over 500 in Southwest Creates a Logjam
Perhaps the hardest division to figure this year is the Southwest. We called it before the season, that Arizona may well take a step back towards the rest of the pack, but while we imagined Dallas as the primary rival, some very strong early season results have both Las Vegas and Denver looking very much like potential contenders. The Southwest is currently the only division with 4 of 5 teams sitting above .500. Only 2-5 Oklahoma trails the cluster of 4-3 teams (Arizona, Dallas, and Las Vegas) with Denver still a game up at 5-2.
So, what is fueling the early season success of the Southwestern clubs? It depends who you are looking at. Denver is in 1st thanks primarily to a giant leap in production from Josh Allen and the passing game. Allen’s offense is 2nd in the league in passing, averaging nearly 335 yards per game, with the Gold QB already accounting for 20 TDs. In Arizona, the defense is struggling, ranked 23rd in points allowed, but offensive balance, which includes a run game averaging over 100 yards per game and David Carr averaging 302 yards per game through the air, is keeping Arizona in games. Winning 3 of 4 divisional games has also helped the Wranglers, who now sit in 2nd place.
Third place Dallas is 6th in scoring and a solid 11th against the run. Their own run game needs some help, but Justin Herbert is helping to keep the Roughnecks in games. The Roughnecks have a bye this week, but return with 4 divisional games in 5 weeks, facing Arizona and Oklahoma at home before a road trip to Las Vegas in Week 12 and a trip to Denver in Week 13. Finally, there are the Vipers, who are a surprise 4-2 thanks in large part to a sweep of Oklahoma. Las Vegas boasts the league’s 3rd best defense in yards allowed, mostly due to a lock down pass coverage scheme that has them 2nd in the league, allowing only 214 yards per game. If they can keep their division foes from finding success in through the air, they could well prove to be a contender. For now it is a logjam with no clear favorite, and we expect to watch all season as the standings switch from one to another until we finally settle on a champion.
Prescott to miss NJ Game, Hopes to Return After Bye
This has not been the season that Dak Prescott imagined after winning back-to-back MVP awards. Yes, the Bandits remain unbeaten at 7-0, but for the second time this season Prescott is going to be missing action due to injury. His first was a dislocated big toe on his plant foot, costing him half of Week 2 and all of week 3. Now he is facing a hyper-extended knee which took him out of this week’s victory over Atlanta and will almost certainly cost him the New Jersey game this week. Fortunately, the Bandits have a bye in Week 9, meaning that Tampa Bay’s MVP QB could be back in action for back-to-back in-state division games. The Bandits head to Jacksonville in Week 10, then host Orlando in Week 11. With it looking like Prescott will essentially miss 3-4 games this year, a third straight MVP may be out of the question, but the bigger issue for Prescott and the Bandits is their quest to win the league title back-to-back for only the 2nd time in league history. If Prescott can stay healthy it seems the Bandits have everything else they need to make a serious run at that goal.
Another week without an IR addition has to be good news, but that does not mean that we did not have some issues which will keep some key players, like Viper DE Matthew Judon and Bandit QB Dak Prescott, from the field, potentially for multiple weeks. Others, like Viper WR Rashod Bateman and Steamroller HB Eddie Lacy, could take good advantage of the bye week to avoid missing action. Looks like the Bye Week system could actually help some teams this year.
OUT
OT David Tremblay DEN Broken Leg 4-6 Weeks
DE Matthew Judon LV Torn MCL 2-4 Weeks
OT Gary Gilliam BAL Broken Nose 1-2 Weeks
QB Dak Prescott TBY Knee 1-2 Weeks
OT Jack Conklin SD Covid Protocol 1 Week
DOUBTFUL
LB Dont’a Hightower OKL Concussion
G Chance Warmack DAL Knee
WR Rashod Bateman LV Hamstring
CB Dale Luong POR Toe
QUESTIONABLE
HB Eddie Lacy NE Foot
WR Cody Latimer MGN Shoulder
G Eric Herman ORL Concussion
Chicago Embraces Machine with 2 Upcoming Games Sold Out
The Chicago Machine are having themselves a year. First, they take a risk and completely overhaul their look, moving from maroon & grey as the dominant colors to a brighter, more energetic sky blue and scarlet. The new look, complete with a lot of Chicago flag references, is a huge hit, with Chicagoans embracing the look and selling out stores to acquire new gear. Then, leading into the 2021 season, the Machine get offseason help, signing 9 of 10 draft picks and landing one of the best defenders available in free agency, safety Xavier Woods. And now, here they are, sitting at 6-0, having knocked off the Michigan Panthers ahead of their bye. They are looking at a very healthy 2-game lead over the Panthers (and others) in the division, and they are boasting one of the best defenses in the league.
So, it should come as no surprise that fans are jumping on the Machine bandwagon and doing so by buying tickets. The Machine announced this week that their next two home games, Week 8 against the Maulers and Week 9 against New England, are both sold out. That means potential crowds of over 60,000 to see the Machine play, a truly amazing turnaround from recent seasons, when Chicago has been happy to get 30,000 on hand for late season games. A playoff run in 2020 certainly helped, and this year’s outstanding start is another big piece of the puzzle as Chicagoans love to get behind a winner. With the Bears coming off two consecutive 8-8 years, having a team looking like a potential contender, and one that has embraced the city it calls home, seems to be what the doctor ordered, making the Machine a hot ticket.
Charlotte Fans Showing Dissatisfaction by Staying Home
On the other end of the fanbase spectrum, things are not going well for the Charlotte Monarchs. After back-to-back losing seasons, now sitting at a miserable 0-7, and with a QB situation that is not making anyone happy, the Monarchs are seeing fans protest their lack of competitiveness with their feet. The Monarchs last played at home in Week 5, and while attendance of 30,474 is not horrible, there were easily 10,000 Bandit fans who made the trip up the coast to root on the unbeaten division leaders and defending champs. Charlotte had absolutely no home field advantage, and by the end of the 37-10 whooping, most of the fans still at Bank of America Stadium were decked out in red and black, not purple and gold.
Now turn the clock forward to the Monarchs’ upcoming home tilt against Jacksonville, a fellow 0-7 squad. It appears that neither Monarch Nation nor Bulls fans are all that eager to watch a battle of winless clubs, as there have only been 4,982 single game tickets sold for this matchup. Pair that with Charlotte’s reduced season-ticket base of only 18,200 and you may well see fewer than 20,000 on hand in Bank of America season for this game, a number that would be a new low for the Monarch organization.
So, what can Charlotte do to turn this around? Well, the obvious answer is to win games. The next best thing would be to make some moves that bring known talent to the team. Fans were happy to see interception-prone Mitch Trubisky traded away, but obtaining Jimmy Garoppolo was hardly the swap they wanted. There had been hope that Charlotte would find a way to wrestle away Jacksonville’s rights to Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, but when the Bulls locked in on Lawrence, that dream quickly faded for the Monarch faithful. So, what options do they have? It is not as if an All-USFL quarterback is going to be cut loose or traded, certainly not midseason and very likely not in the offseason either. The draft in 2022 is not looking like one that will produce top tier QBs, so while Charlotte is on pace for a very early draft pick, they are unlikely to find a Heisman winning QB or a potential fan favorite early in the draft. Their best bet may be a trade, but if that is a trade to get a QB that fans can rally behind, it is likely to cost the Monarchs dearly. It’s a bad situation all around, and we are not sure there is a quick fix here.
Wranglers Update Their Look for 2022
Is the the end of an era, or simply a retooling for a bright future? That is the question as many Arizona Wrangler fans consider what the future holds. Well, this week the Wranglers and Under Armour gave fans a look at what the future will be, revealing the revised look for a team that has represented the Western Conference in 5 of the past 7 Summer Bowls, bringing home 3 trophies. The Wranglers unveiled their 2022 uniform sets, including a retro look and a new alternate that will have Arizona wearing a helmet other than their familiar copper dome for the first time.
The new primaries are up first, and they certainly build on a history of looks for the Wranglers, complete with the familiar metallic copper helmet, now paired with a royal blue facemask. The new look retains the red jersey and copper pants (complete with the familiar flame pattern), but adds a bit more Southwest styling, with ombre effect numbers and sleeve cuffs with a multicolor swatch at the center. Both the white and red jerseys feature these elements, along with a 3-color collar, and the secondary blue “Brand W” logo on each sleeve. The numbers evoke flames as well, blending from copper orange to sun gold on the red jerseys and from deep red to copper orange on the whites. These sets will be worn with both copper and blue pant sets.
The alternates include a 1983 throwback, the first season for the club and the only season in which blue was the dominant color for the team. The 1983 throwbacks include a blue jersey with sun gold numbers, copper pants with a single blue stripe, and a series of red and yellow sleeve stripes. The team’s original branding iron logo will appear on the helmet for a truly authentic throwback look. The other alternate look, dubbed “Iron & Copper” is also a blue-dominant look, with a deep royal blue helmet, pant set, and blue-dominant jerseys. This will be the first time the Wranglers will wear a helmet other than their usual metallic copper. The blue helmet features a logo in metallic copper, combining the outline of the state with the simplified “W” primary. The pants do not have striping but do have the same logo on each hip. The jerseys follow the styling of the primaries, but use blue heavily, with copper as the secondary color. Both the team’s deep scarlet red and sun gold are completely absent from this look.
The Wranglers are hopeful that they will get to debut at least one set of the 2022 uniforms this summer as part of a playoff run. But for most fans, the transition to a new look in 2022 could also mean a transition for the team, as many wonder if the sun is setting on the roster that took Arizona to dominance in the 2010’s and a new age is ready to be built.
Week 8 is another heavy bye-week schedule, with 8 teams, including 4 from the Pacific Division, getting their week of rest. That leaves 22 teams and 11 games to be played. We kick the week off with an interconference matchup of 2020 playoff teams as Arizona heads to New Orleans to face the Breakers. The Wranglers have fought their way back over .500 while New Orleans has continued to struggle and sits at 2-4, needing some wins in this part of the season to avoid an early exit from playoff contention.
Saturday brings us two divisional matchups in the Central, with all 4 teams coming off their byes. Pittsburgh heads into Chicago hoping for an upset that will put them above .500, while in St. Louis, the Skyhawks are hoping the bye week gave them time to fix some major issues before facing 4-2 Ohio this week. We also have some interesting interdivisional and interconference matchups, including a battle of 3-4 teams hoping to get back to .500 as San Diego heads across the country to face Orlando. In the other big game, the nightcap on ESPN and EFN, we have a resurgent New Jersey squad facing the juggernaut Bandits in Tampa Bay.
Sunday will feature two more divisional games with Birmingham traveling to San Antonio while we get a battle of winless clubs in Charlotte, as the Bulls and Monarchs try their best not to become the league’s only 0-8 club. In the 4pm slot we have a nice battle of 4-2 clubs as Denver heads to Michigan to face the Panthers, while the weekend’s final game will bring 4-3 Baltimore down to Houston to face the 4-2 Gamblers. Will the extra week of prep help Houston get the win at home or is Baltimore ready to roll the dice and score a road upset?
FRI @ 8pm ET Arizona (4-3) @ New Orleans (2-4) NBC
SAT @ 12pm ET Pittsburgh (3-3) @ Chicago (6-0) ABC
SAT @ 12pm ET San Diego (3-4) @ Orlando (3-4) FOX
SAT @ 4pm ET Ohio (4-2) @ St. Louis (1-5) ABC
SAT @ 4pm ET Memphis (3-4) @ Oklahoma (2-5) FOX
SAT @ 8pm ET New Jersey (4-3) @ Tampa Bay (7-0) ESPN/EFN
SUN @ 12pm ET Washington (1-6) @ Atlanta (5-2) ABC
SUN @ 12pm ET Jacksonville (0-7) @ Charlotte (0-7) FOX
SUN @ 4pm ET Birmingham (4-2) @ San Antonio (2-5) ABC
SUN @ 4pm ET Denver (5-2) @ Michigan (4-2) FOX
SUN @ 8pm ET Baltimore (4-3) @ Houston (4-2) ESPN/EFN
BYE: Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New England, Oakland, Philadelphia, Portland, and Seattle.
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