2021 USFL Week 8 Recap: Perfection Undone & Records Broken!
- USFL LIVES
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Week 8 of the 2021 season gave us two of the biggest headlines of any week in recent league history. First, we saw both of the league’s unbeatens fall on the same week, both at home, as Pittsburgh and New Jersey stunned the previously unblemished Chicago Machine and Tampa Bay Bandits. But, as huge as that was, we also got one of the most incredible single game performances anyone has ever witnessed, with Ohio Glory QB Justin Fields sending a warning shot to the entire league that he had arrived as a successor to the USFL bloodline of scrambling QBs. Fields will be our Big Story of the week, but we will be sure to highlight how the Generals and Maulers surprised their hosts to remove the last unbeaten records from the USFL standings. We will also update our Power Rankings with a new list after 8 weeks of action, and take a look ahead to our Midseason Report, now in Week 9 of the 17-week season. Stay tuned, this is not a week you want to miss.
Rookie Racks Up Records in Rivalry Romp!
Forget the Rookie of the Year debate, Ohio QB Justin Fields may have just inserted himself in the MVP conversation. The former Buckeye, who chose to remain in Columbus with the Ohio Glory, had a game that made us all stand up and take notice. This week in St. Louis, Fields broke not one, but two records for a USFL quarterback, all part of a 45-31 win that has Ohio sitting at 5-2 and looking like one of the rags-to-riches stories of the season.
Fields, whose passing numbers have been solid but uninspiring (1,215 yards, 5 TDs and 6 picks in 8 games), has been impressing with his legs. A scrambler by nature, Fields put his full skillset on display against the Skyhawks, going 13 of 21 passing but breaking two USFL records in one game by rushing the ball for 243 yards and scoring 4 rushing touchdowns. And he did both on only 11 carries. It was an absolute clinic on how to use the QB as a big play weapon, a strategy that new Glory coach Jay Gruden has embraced ever since signing the Buckeye QB in the 2021 Territorial Draft.
Ohio was already looking good after a first quarter that saw them take a 14-0 lead on an Isaiah Pead 1-yard run and a Fields TD pass to newly acquired WR Dontrelle Inman. On their first two drives, Fields had largely played the role of a pocket passer, handing the ball off to Pead and Trey Sermon, using play action, and connecting with Inman for the score on a 1st and 10 from the 11. But on the third Ohio possession, opening the 2nd quarter, Fields got his first chance to show off his legs, and he brought the house down. It was a 1st and 10 from their own 33 after a St. Louis punt, the call was an option call, with Fields given the task of gauging edge rusher A. J. Epenesa’s break and opting to either hand the ball to Pead for an inside run or keeping it and heading outside. Epenesa broke towards Pead, Fields kept the ball, and found the corner unencumbered by defenders. Fields was 10 yards downfield before the Skyhawks secondary got close at all. He used a shoulder fake to disengage the initial tackle attempt, then turned on the burners, outpacing the safety on his way to a 67-yard touchdown run that was both a combination of his own skills and some pretty poor containment by St. Louis.
Chalking that one up to a poor defensive scheme, the game plan stayed largely as we saw in the first quarter. Up 21-0, Ohio got a bit more conservative after another defensive stop, using short passes and their halfbacks to drive down the field once again, with Fields getting his 2nd touchdown on a QB sneak from the 2. Now up 28-0, it seemed more likely that Fields would get to rest in the 2nd half rather than be risked as a ball carrier. But, when St. Louis finally responded, with Lamar Jackson hitting Deionte Jackson for a long TD throw, Coach Gruden opted to let Fields continue to run the ball.
With the Glory up 28-7 at the 2-minute warning, Gruden called another option run, and once again the St. Louis defense overplayed the handoff to Pead. This time Skyhawk LB Cody Glenn stayed in position, but a nice juke from Fields caused him to whiff completely on the tackle. When confronted by safety Tyree Gillespie, Fields used a straight arm and a ¼ spin to bypass the tackle once again, and at that point he was off to the races for a 2nd time. The 62-yard run would be his 3rd touchdown of the day, and would give Ohio a very convincing 35-7 lead with less than 2 minutes to play in the half. Fields took a well-deserved rest on the bench while the Ohio defense took the field for what we all expected was the final possession of the half.
St. Louis put up a field goal to make the score 35-10 with just under 30 seconds to go, forcing the Ohio offense back on the field for a potential kneel down to go to half. But, sometimes a kneel is not a kneel. After taking the ball at their own 13 after a poor kickoff return, Fields handed the ball to Pead on 1st and 10, only for the handoff to go awry. The ball popped out of Pead’s breadbasket, was picked up by Fields, who instinctively headed towards the sideline. With the entire St. Louis defense still confused and believing Pead had the ball, Fields quickly realized he had a clear path down the sideline. Even the cameramen were fooled, losing sight of Fields for a second as he turned the corner and had a clear path down the field. The Ohio QB took full advantage of the defensive confusion, racing untouched 87 yards for a league record 4th QB rushing TD in the game, heck, in the half.
It was a half of football unlike any the USFL has ever seen, with three QB touchdown runs of over 60 yards and a total of 228 rushing yards by the QB in a single half. Both were league records. In a league that had seen Doug Flutie, Jake Plummer, and Cam Newton, no quarterback had ever rushed for 200 yards in a game, much less in a half. Justin Fields had done that and more, putting 28 points on the board all by himself (not to mention the early TD pass which made it 35 of the team’s 42 halftime points.)
Fields would come out for the first drive of the 2nd half, producing a field goal after adding another 15 yards rushing on his total, but, with Ohio now up 45-10, it would be his last action on the day, with former starter Christian Hackenberg given most of the 2nd half to mop up. In less than 40 minutes of game action, the rookie QB of the Glory had almost single handedly destroyed a division rival, had set two USFL records, and had provided enough highlights for a whole season. What was more, he had sent out a clear warning to the rest of the league. The Ohio Glory, known for nearly 2 decades as a conservative team, living on defense, the run game and a solid pocket passer ever since the iconic early 2000’s seasons with Kerry Collins at the helm, were no more. This was a new, wide open, dangerously unpredictable Ohio Glory squad, and they had a QB at the helm who could not only beat a defense but make them look foolish as well. This is not your Dad’s Ohio Glory.
WASHINGTON FEDERALS 33 ATLANTA FIRE 27 OVERTIME
With both Chicago and Tampa Bay going down to defeat this week, and with Justin Fields’ record setting game, how is a battle between 1-6 Washington and 5-2 Atlanta our game of the week? Well, while our GOTW process does take into account factors like playoff impact, surprise factor, and rivalry energy, the key to being a GOTW has always been the drama of the game itself. Fantastic finishes, amazing comebacks, back and forth shootouts, and overtime thrillers tend to get the nod, even if the two teams involved don’t produce a marquee matchup on their own, and even if the game was not one of the week’s hyped-up affairs. And that is certainly the case for this game at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the Fire were expected to have a pretty easy time of their matchup against the 1-win Federals.
Yes, Washington played well in their 14-17 loss in Philly, and the QB swap from Nassib to Brissett was giving Federal fans some optimism, but this was not viewed by many as a must-see game. Atlanta, at 5-2, coming off a tough loss to the unbeaten Bandits, were expected to play angry and rebound with a pretty decisive win over the undermanned Federals. But, as is so often the case in pro football, heart and a good gameplan can make any expected results look completely unjustified. The Federals came into this game hungry, the Fire perhaps a bit overconfident, and perhaps eagerly looking forward to their upcoming Week 9 bye.
The first quarter of the game largely held up the narrative that Atlanta was going to storm through the Feds on their way to 6-2 and their bye. In the opening period, the Fire defense held Washington to only 1 first down on 2 possessions, while the offense found the endzone twice, including a big play that got the fans to their feet. Up 7-0 after an opening drive that covered 77 yards in 11 plays and finished with a fade route from Murray to A. J. Green, the Fire quickly got the ball back again after holding Washington on 3rd and 11. After an initial first down on short O. J. Howard 2nd and 7 reception, Atlanta lined up at their own 42. The call was a simple “counter tre”, a play that had been in every USFL playbook since the early 80’s. But, this time the blocking was perfect, the linebackers out of position, and the back more than capable of getting through arm tackles from the secondary.
Nick Chubb went untouched through the line, easily evaded the linebacker, and then just leveled CB Richard Crawford, using a devastating stiff arm to avoid the tackle. He was in the open, racing 58 yards for a score, with only a late diving tackle attempt from Kenny Vaccaro complicating his final 10 yard dash to the score. It was an electric run, sending the 42,218 in “the Benz” to their feet, feeling very good about their Fire on the day. The Fire, it seemed, were poised for a big win over a pretty lackluster Washington Federals squad.
Fortunately for the Federals, neither Head Coach Kevin Gilbride, nor newly-anointed starter Jacoby Brissett, were quite ready to cede the game. Both were seen on the sideline riling up the players as the Fire kicked the ball off to Washington. A nice return by Kavontae Turpin put the ball on the Washington 39, and Brissett took to the field ready to finally get the Washington offense moving. Brissett did just that, completing his first 3 passes on the drive, and helping the Feds push the ball into the red zone. After a zone run from rookie Travis Etienne got the ball to the 5. Brissett missed on a throw to TE Kellen Winslow, but then found the elusive Turpin on an in-cutting route for the first Washington points on the day.
The Feds were back in play, down only 7. But they would soon suffer a potential spirit-killer. Atlanta again hit on a big play against the error prone DC defense. This time it was Murray to A. J. Green for a 49-yard TD toss as an out-and-up completely took CB Prince Amukamara out of the play and allowed the speedy Fire receiver a clear path down the sideline. Back down 14, Washington took over with 1:02 left to play. Again, Brissett was effective, helped by a very nice draw play by Etienne, which picked up 22 on a 2nd and 6 and got the ball into range for kicker Adam Vinatieri. With seconds left to play in the half, Vinatieri connected and Washington went into the half down 11, 21-10. Not an auspicious first half, but one that would keep the Federals alive and believing they could pull the game out.
That feeling was reinforced when the Federals offense found real success with their run game on the opening drive of the 2nd half. Etienne rushed 4 times for 31 yards and backup Darrynton Evans added 11 more on 3 carries, helping Washington get deep into Atlanta territory. A tipped ball at the line on 3rd and 4 forced Coach Gilbride to go for 3 and Vinatieri pulled Washington to 21-13 with his second field goal.
That field goal would prove to be the only points of the 3rd quarter. Washington’s oft-critiqued defense played a very solid quarter, sacking Aaron Murray to end one drive, and picking off the Fire QB for a second stop. Unfortunately, Washington could not capitalize on the takeaway, but after getting the ball back after a short Atlanta drive sputtered out, the Feds suddenly made this game a lot less comfortable for Atlanta. Using short passes to Jarvis Landry, Keenan Allen, and Kellen Winslow Jr, and with a pair of solid Etienne runs mixed in, Washington quickly moved the ball inside the Atlanta 10. A swing pass to Darrynton Evans looked like a score, but upon review the ball was placed inside the 1-yard line. On the next play, Etienne plunged in for the score, and Washington was a 2-point PAT from equalizing things at 21. Brissett rolled out on the conversion, pump faked the trailing defender into a bad jump for the tip, then scooted behind him and into the endzone for the score equalizer. With only 17 seconds gone in the 4th quarter, we had a new game, all tied up at 21, and the Fire fans were noticeably concerned.
The nerves both on the stands and on the Atlanta bench were not helped much by the ensuing drive, ending in a John Bounds field goal. Nerves were put on edge soon after when Vinatieri again leveled the score. Washington had never led in the game, but they were keeping pace with every Atlanta move, and the Fire were not finding anything easy. When an apparent TD pass from Murray to Kelvin Benjamin was overturned by replay (Benjamin’s foot had landed on the white line, out of bounds), Atlanta again had to settle for 3, now holding a 27-24 lead with 1:02 left to play.
Fire confidence, the bravado they had shown early in the game, was shattered. Washington’s sense of possibility was very much alive, and it showed as Brisett found Tyreek Hill on a 27-yard strike for a huge momentum-enhancing first play on their next possession. The big play to Hill started as only a 7-yard pass, but the elusive speedster simply made people miss as he raced across the 50 and into Fire territory before being shoved out of bounds. The Feds were looking at ending the game with another big play, but the Fire held, limiting Washington to one more first down before Washington was forced to settle for a game-tying field goal, the 3rd game-tying score in the quarter for Brissett and the Feds. The game would go to overtime with Washington certainly feeling they had a real chance to claim a win against all expectations.
The toss went to the Fire and Atlanta chose to take the ball. They would rely on Nick Chubb on the drive, with the back building onto his 100-yard game by rushing the ball 5 times for 37 yards on the Atlanta drive. He would finish the day with 151 yards, his best outing of the season, but on this drive, it came down to a 3rd and 11 after a false start. Atlanta was in the fringes of field goal range for Bounds, sitting on the Washington 36, so if a 1st down conversion was not possible, even gaining 5 yards would help the Fire cause. But, what Atlanta got was the worst possible situation. Aaron Murray struggled to find a receiver on the 3rd down play, and with Joe Giles-Harris bearing down on the Atlanta QB, Murray opted to force a ball towards TE O. J. Howard, rather than throw it away. Washington safety Rafael Bush not only kept the ball from Howard, but snatched it out of the air on the bounce, ending the Atlanta drive without a field goal attempt.
The fans in Atlanta were crushed, the sideline clearly upset, but the Fire defense stepped up, holding Washington without a first down and forcing a quick punt after Luke Kuechley rushed Brissett on 3rd and 5 and forced an incompletion. Atlanta got a second chance but they too struggled to move the ball, missing on a 3rd and 7 after picking up only 1 first down. Washington got the ball back at their own 17, but with only 1:22 left in overtime to avoid the tie.
While the game’s announcers, ABC’s Joe Tessitore and Matt Leinart, debated whether Washington would settle for a tie, killing the clock rather than giving Atlanta another chance with the ball, Coach Gilbride was intent on getting into range for Adam Vinatieri. He would need only 1 play to do it. The call was for a pair of out routes by Keenan Allen and Jarvis Landry, with Turpin and Hill inside, crossing the zone. The call produced exactly what Gilbride hoped for, single coverage inside. Nickel corner Desmond King was on Hill, and it took almost no time at all for Hil to get the advantage with his speed. Brissett saw Hill coming open over the middle, hit his speedy receiver with a frozen rope of a pass and Hill was off to the races. It would be 57 yards later before a lucky swipe of the ankle by safety Baccari Rambo avoided the touchdown and sending Hill tumbling to the turf.
Washington was in range for Vinatieri, and were content to run the ball 3 times before going for the game winning kick. But, when Travis Etienne broke through the line and got the ball down to the Atlanta 10 with 27 seconds still on the clock, Coach Brissett opted to give it one shot for a touchdown before bringing out Vinatieri. He called an option for Brissett, who bootlegged left, drew in the defenders and lobbed a quick pass over them to Turpin for the 5-yard TD and the game. With the 6-point margin, Atlanta would not be given another possession, the game was over and the Feds had pulled off a major upset.
It was a gritty win from a team few had much hope for, the kind of win that could help Gilbride build something within the Federals. It was the kind of win that gave Federal fans hope, while leaving Atlanta Fire faithful disturbed and disappointed. Atlanta would go into their bye on a very sour note, while Washington would return home uplifted and ready to host the Ohio Glory next week with a bit of confidence in them.
ARIZONA 20 NEW ORLEANS 36
The Wrangler defense continues to struggle as New Orleans scores on 8 of 11 possessions to take a double digit win over the visitors from Arizona. HB DeMarco Murray rushed for 105 yards while Geno Smith threw for 199 and 2 scores against Arizona. Add in 5 Randy Bullock field goals and you get a solid win for the Breakers, who improve to 3-4, while sending Arizona to .500 at 4-4. Both QBs came out of this one bruised, with Smith sacked 5 times and David Carr 7.
POTG: Breaker LB Kwon Alexander: 4 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 PDef, 1 Int
PITTSBURGH 16 CHICAGO 7
Chicago falls at home, suffering their first loss of the season as the Mauler defense holds the Machine to a lone TD despite 416 yards of total offense. Six sacks and 3 picks of Sam Bradford tell the story as Pittsburgh gave up yards but made big plays when they needed to. Chicago had a shot, down only 6 in the 4th, but Bradford’s 3rd pick of the day, this one to Mauler CB Rasul Douglas, set up the Maulers for a late fieldgoal that gave them a 2-score lead, and the eventual W.
POTG: Mauler CB Rasul Douglas: 9 Tck, 3 PDef, 1 Int
SAN DIEGO 13 ORLANDO 28
Orlando claws their way back to .500 thanks to solid outings from Wilson and Carson. Russell Wilson threw for 220 and 3 scores, 2 to TE David Njoku, while Carson rushed for 72 and a score. The Orlando D also came up big when needed, picking off Christian Ponder in the 4th and forcing 2 fumbles on the day. Down 21-13 in the 4th, it was a David Wilson fumble that gave the ball back to Orlando in Thunder territory, and Chris Carson punched it in from the 3 to give Orlando a 15-point lead.
POTG: Renegade CB Dee Milliner: 8 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int
OHIO 45 ST. LOUIS 31
An absolute showpiece for Ohio QB Justin Fields, who ran the ball 11 times for 243 yards and 4 TDs. Fields was simply uncontainable in this game, with 3 TD runs of over 60 yards, a 4th in the redzone, and a TD pass to new Glory WR Dontrelle Inman. It was a record setting day for Fields (most rushing yards by a QB and most rushing TDs by a QB in a single game) and an embarrassment for the reeling St. Louis defense.
POTG: Ohio QB Justin Fields: 13/21, 164 Yds, 1 TD, 1 Int, 11 Att, 243 Yds, 4 TD
MEMPHIS 10 OKLAHOMA 28
The Showboat offense continues to struggle in 2021, held to only 10 points despite 410 yards of offense. Oklahoma, meanwhile, improved to 3-5 thanks largely to Jalen Hurts’s 334 yards and 2 TD tosses. Mark Andrews reeled in 54 for 138, while both Nick Toon and Justin Hunter scored for the Outlaws as they pulled away from the Showboats with 28 unanswered points.
POTG: Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts: 12/18, 334 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int
NEW JERSEY 30 TAMPA BAY 16
New Jersey silences the critics with one of the biggest upsets of the year, dominating the unbeaten Tampa Bay Bandits. Coach Saleh pressured Bandit backup B. J. Daniels all game, producing 2 picks and disrupting the Bandit Ball passing game. Meanwhile, much maligned QB Nick Foles was solid, going 19 of 28 for 199 yards and 2 TDs without a pick. The General run game also proved potent, with Tony Pollard going for 94 yards on 16 carries and Delone Carter adding 62 and a TD on 10 touches.
POTG: New Jersey CB Aqib Talib: 5 Tck, 4 PDef, 1 Int, 1 FF, 1 FR
JACKSONVILLE 38 CHARLOTTE 20
The battle of 0-7 clubs was a sparsely-attended game, but a good one for the Bulls, who had their most complete game of the year. Rookie Trevor Lawrence went 21 of 30 for 177 yards and 3 TDs, while the defense picked off Jimmy Garoppolo 4 times. The Bulls scored 17 in the 2nd to take a 10-point lead and never trailed after that. LB Sean Lee got POTG, thanks to 2 of Garoppolo’s 4 picks.
POTG: Bulls’ LB Sean Lee: 7 Tck, 3 PDef, 2 Int
BIRMINGHAM 21 SAN ANTONIO 37
The Gunslingers held Cam Newton to only 6 yards rushing, using SS Walt Harris as a spy all game long. That, combined with 2 picks of the MVP candidate helped the Gunslingers contain the Birmingham offense. Meanwhile, veteran QB Joe Flacco found plenty of open receivers in the Stallion secondary, completing 27 of 35 passing for 348 yards and 3 TDs. Add in a combined 156 yards rushing from Gordon (69) and Procise (87) and you get a 3rd win on the season for the 2nd year San Antonio squad.
POTG: Gunslinger HB C. J. Prosise: 15 Att, 87 Yds, 2 Td, 1 Rec, 11 Yds
DENVER 14 MICHIGAN 9
The Denver defense has not gotten much attention this year, not with all of the offensive fireworks being put up by the Gold, but when they found themselves in a dogfight, it was the Gold defense that stepped up. Michigan reached the red zone only 3 times in this game and each time had to settle for a field goal. Denver stopped the Panther offense three times, including a goal line stand, as Michigan could not put 7 on the board. After Josh Allen found Golden Tate for the go-ahead score in the 3rd, Michigan would have 4 possessions and not reach even the Denver 30 on any.
POTG: Denver DE Odafe Oweh: 4 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 Sck, 1 FF
BALTIMORE 16 HOUSTON 23
Despite a very solid day from Carlos Hyde (114 Yds rushing, 67 and a TD receiving), it would be Houston’s defense that would get them the win over Baltimore. Tied at 16 late in the 4th, LB Ramik Wilson tipped a Jake Locker pass, caught it, and ran it back 51 yards for what would prove to be the deciding score. It was the lone turnover for either team, but it was about as big a play as any this season. In a game that saw Colt McCoy harassed (7 sacks and only 9 of 24), it was Hyde and the defense that stepped up and got Houston their 5th win in 7 games.
POTG: Houston LB Ramik Wilson: 6 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 int, 1 Def TD
Generals & Maulers Knock Off the Last Unbeatens in Double Dip Upset Weekend
With both the Machine and Bandits playing at home in Week 8, and against teams lingering around .500, there was little expectation of an upset this week, much less for both unbeatens to taste defeat in the same weekend. Chicago was a 9-point favorite over the visiting Pittsburgh Maulers, while Tampa Bay was given an 11-point advantage by the Vegas books, but apparently no one told the Maulers and Generals that they were not supposed to try. So, how did they do it? Different strategies, but both games were highlighted by surprisingly ineffective offense from the favorites, timely plays from the visitors, and a solid game plan to contain each unbeaten team’s biggest advantages.
For the Maulers, the key was to absorb pressure and avoid mistakes, while also finding a way to force Chicago into turnovers. They did both exceptionally well, finishing the game with a 4-0 turnover advantage as they picked off Sam Bradford 3 times and forced a fumble as well. It was Pittsburgh, not Chicago that produced constant pressure. While the Mauler offense limited itself to 2-3 receivers on a play, using “max protect” schemes, even on 3rd and long, to avoid costly QB sacks or poor decisions on tight throws, the Machine struggled to adjust to the variety of stunts and blitzes presented by the Mauler D. Sam Bradford was under constant pressure, taking 6 sacks on the day. Despite throwing for 345 yards, the pressure clearly impacted Bradford, with Rasul Douglas snagging a pick and Mauler safety Robert Sands getting 2 on the day. Those turnovers would lead to the only Mauler TD of the day, Dalton finding Brian Quick on a 13-yard strike, as well as the game’s final points, an Andrew Franks field goal in the 4th. Chicago only scored on 1 of 10 drives, with 4 of them ending with a turnover and 4 more ending with a punt from the Chicago side of the field. The Machine would outgain Pittsburgh 416-266, but the patient Maulers took advantage when field position was on their side or when their D gave them a short field, while Chicago struggled to get out of their own way.
In Tampa Bay, it was a surprisingly similar story, with the Generals also winning the turnover battle 3-0, thanks to 2 B. J. Daniels picks and a fumble from TE Jordan Cameron. However, unlike the Mauler-Machine game, what we saw from New Jersey was a very capable offense, one which rushed the ball for 161 yards against the Bandits. Tony Pollard, getting more carries than we have seen all season, rushed the ball 16 times for 94 yards, just barely missing out on his first 100-yard game. Delone Carter, who crossed 100 yards 2 weeks ago when New Jersey took out another unbeaten in Philadelphia, finished with only 10 carries, but added 62 yards with an impressive 6.2 YPC average. With Nick Foles looking sharp, hitting on 19 of 28 passes, including TD throws to both Muhamed Sanu and TE Jonnu Smith, it was the New Jersey offense that looked like the juggernaut, not the Bandits.
Admittedly, with Dak Prescott out to injury, there was some expectation that the Bandit offense might not be at its peak ability, but with Daniels having put up 307 yards and 4 TDs earlier this year in a Week 3 demolition of Charlotte, Bandit fans still had high hopes that their squad could handle the Generals. But this New Jersey team has been on a tear ever since Teddy Bridgewater’s season-ending injury forced the team to return to Nick Foles under center. Since that move, the Generals have now won 5 in a row, including their upset over unbeaten Philadelphia in Week 6, a 47-9 demolition that Tampa might have wanted to take into account. Now at 5-3, New Jersey is looking very much like a dangerous contender in the Northeast.
Both the Machine and the Bandits are still seen as elite clubs this year, and we certainly would not want to be in the shoes of New England or Jacksonville, the next clubs set to face Chicago (this week) and Tampa Bay (week 10, after their bye), but this week, both of the unblemished clubs got knocked down. It was a blow which could prove to be a good thing as the two look at the weeks ahead and the tough climb to a Summer Bowl. The defeats certainly will give their coaches plenty to focus on as they prepare for the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, both Pittsburgh and New Jersey need to use the unexpected victories as a way to focus on the road ahead as well, because, with both squarely in the playoff hunt, finding lightning in a bottle, and being able to replicate that success are two very different things.
Michigan Drops 3rd in a Row as Offense Sputters
Things are getting a little tense up in Detroit as the Michigan Panthers drop their third straight this week. After dropping their first game of the year at home to Pittsburgh in Week 5, then being dismantled by the then-unbeaten Chicago Machine in Week 6, Michigan hoped to use their bye week to refocus and get back in the form that helped them start the year 4-0, but this week’s 14-9 loss to the Denver Gold, a second home loss in 3 games, has to have folks in the Panther organization worried.
With the Panthers scoring 10 points against Chicago and then only 9 points against Denver, the focus of the anxiety is squarely on the offense. Seven games into the year and the numbers are not looking good. Kirk Cousins has solid numbers, but hardly strong ones, with 1,753 yards and 10 TDs. Over the past 2 weeks, however, we should note he has not thrown for over 230 yards and has no touchdowns in those losses. Even more troubling, LeVeon Bell is also seeing his numbers dip. After back-to-back 100-yard outings against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the past two games have seen him rush for 83 and 57. And while folks will certainly give Chicago’s defense its due against Bell in Week 6, gaining only 57 yards against Denver feels like a sign of something bigger.
The Panthers offense is currently ranked 18th in scoring at 21.4 PPG. While its yardage averages are certainly better, those too reflect early season success and have been declining in recent weeks. So, what is the solution? Well, this week’s trade may be part of the plan (see below for the details), but the real question is if OC Ken Dorsey is doing enough to threaten defenses. The joke, and there is, of course, a joke, is that Dorsey is stuck in a 3-play cycle of Bell-Bell-Out Route. The tendency to run on first down is certainly a reality, with Michigan last in the league in 1st down pass percentage at only 27%. And with those runs not producing bigger gains, the 2nd and 3rd down calls are often dictated by distance, not by choice, so Michigan is becoming predictable. Dorsey will certainly be under pressure to use more 3-wide options, as well as to engage his backs into the passing game as more than a dump off. If the Panthers, now sitting in 3rd place behind both Chicago and the surprising Ohio Glory, are going to make a serious push for the division title, they will need a lot more innovation from Dorsey and a lot more production from their main weapons.
Rising & Falling at Midseason
With the USFL’s new 17-week season, our midseason point has shifted to Week 9, but that won’t stop us from doing some midseason analysis after 8 weeks. Looking across the league standings, it is pretty clear who has gotten hot and who is cooling off. The question is if the fortunes of these teams are now headed in a clear path forward or will we possibly see momentum again take a swing.
Strong Positive Momentum
New Jersey Generals (5-3)
The Generals have won 5 straight after an 0-3 start, and that 5-game streak includes big upset wins in both Philadelphia and Tampa Bay, knocking off two of the league’s unbeatens. The Generals now boast the league’s 2nd best scoring defense, allowing only 13.9 points per game, and their run game has been a huge surprise, currently 4th in the league at 111.4 yards per game, with Delone Carter and Tony Pollard now in a very nice duo format. They could still use more from Nick Foles, back under center after the injury to Teddy Bridgewater, but what they have gotten these past 5 weeks is a clean streak, with no picks thrown since Foles returned under center. Even with modest passing numbers, a pick-free QB is still a very nice thing to have.
Seattle Dragons (5-2)
Another 5-game win streak and another team doing it with their defense and the run game. Seattle I sonly 20th in passing but they are putting up over 100 per game on the ground and they are holding teams to only 63.9 YPG rushing and only 16.3 points per game. Knowshon Moreno is on track for another 1,200 yard season, with an impressive 4.8 yards per carry after 7 games. The defense, led by edge LB Khalil Mack, is stuffing the run, and forcing takeaways, with 17 in 7 games for a +8 turnover margin.
Positive Momentum
Houston Gamblers (5-2)
Winners of their last 3, including two big divisional games against New Orleans and Birmingham, the Gamblers are doing it with the league’s best offense (yardage), putting up 425.4 YPG, with Colt Mcoy averaging a league-best 331.9 per game through the air. They Gamblers have some concerns on defense, but they clearly are leading with that passing offense as they try to regain their spot atop the Southern Division standings.
Pittsburgh Maulers (4-3)
The Maulers have found their strengths after a 1-3 start, pulling their way back over .500 thanks to a 3-game streak that saw them knock off 3 pretty solid clubs in Michigan, Arizona, and this week’s removal of Chicago from the ranks of the unbeaten. Statistically there is not much to crow about (29th in rushing, 30th in rush defense, 23rd in total defense), but hidden within the numbers is a pretty stingy pass defense and a league-best turnover margin of +15. Pittsburgh has committed only 6 turnovers, but have forced 21 in their first 7 games, a pretty impressive 3 per game.
Denver Gold (6-2)
A 2-game slump seemed to derail the Gold, but they found their footing again, winning their last 3, all on the road, as they had a successful swing east by knocking off the Breakers, Showboats and Panthers. They are doing it largely with their passing attack, led by MVP candidate Josh Allen, and with a defense that is giving up the fewest rush yards of any USFL club, only 54 per game.
TRENDING THE WRONG WAY
Michigan Panthers (4-3)
Losers of 3 in a row, we have already established some of the issues in Detroit (see above), as the offense simply is not putting points on the board. They are still within range of the Chicago Machine, but will also have Ohio to contend with, as they face the Glory twice in the season’s second half.
Memphis Showboats (3-5)
The ‘Boats have also lost 2 in a row, turning 3-3 concern into a 3-5 midseason panic. The offense is not clicking, currently 25th in scoring, 20th in total yards, and 23rd in passing, but what is more concerning is that the Rex Ryan defense which was the engine for their 2020 success, has apparently gone beyond its warranty and is falling apart. Memphis currently ranks 24th, allowing 373.8 yards per game, and is giving up 25 points per game. Not the formula for a 2nd half surge.
Birmingham Stallions (4-3)
Another team that has dropped their last 2, both in division. Stallion Nation might have understood being beaten in Houston by a solid Gambler squad, but going to San Antonio after their bye and losing by 16 to the Gunslingers? That one is troubling. Troubling but not surprising when you realize that the Stallion defense is among the most porous in the league, dead last in total yards (426 per game) and passing yards allowed (346.4 per game). When you are practically giving up 350 per game through the air, you are going to struggle, even against teams you expect to beat.
Oakland Invaders (4-3)
The Invaders followed a 4-game win streak with two losses in which they failed to score 10 points. They were absolutely demolished by the Bandits, 33-9 in Week 6 and this past week they just did not impress at all as they lost at home to an LA Express team that did not even score a TD, falling 9-7. Statistically the Invaders are middle of the pack across the board, with scores ranging from 11th in the league to 20th. Does that mean that they are balanced or that they are pretty mediocre at everything? They had a bye this week to figure that out, before returning to action in Week 9, when they will start a 3-game divisional run (home to San Diego, then on the road in Portland and Seattle) that could determine their identity this year.
Winless Monarchs Lose Murray to Achilles Injury
To say that first year head coach Vance Joseph’s season is not going as planned might be the understatement of the year. Joseph’s Monarchs currently sit at 0-8 on the season, with an average loss of more than 14 points. They are in the bottom third of the league in nearly every offensive and defensive category we record, have a new QB who fans are already calling to be replaced in Oakland retread Jimmy Garoppolo, and now one of their more popular, and, quite frankly, more talented players, is lost for the season. Tailback Latavius Murray, who has been with the team since coming over in free agency back in 2019 from division rival Orlando, has a ruptured Achilles and will be out for at least the rest of the year. We say “at least” because recovery from an Achilles injury for a back who is already 32 years old may well be more than any reasonable person should ask.
Murray was having a pretty rough year to begin with, averaging only 3.4 yards per carry behind Charlotte’s questionable O-line. It would be his lowest per carry average in a 9-year career that saw him regularly above 4.0, and his pace was not one that would have him return to 1,000-yard status, as he had attained his first year with the Monarchs. Instead of pursuing a second 1,000-yard season, Murray now will spend the next few months in physical therapy after surgery next week. As for Charlotte, they have already apparently opted to build towards the future, with Joseph likely to engage in a very significant roster turnover, one which has already begun with a trade this week (see below). What this means for the rest of 2021 is very likely that Monarch fans will be struggling just as much with the year as Murray is with his Achilles tendon, a long year for a team without much to look forward to as the next 3 months play out.
The Murray injury was only one of three new IR additions, with Washington suffering the other two after both OT Cedric Ogbuehi (MCL) and safety Adrian Amos (Foot) were forced out of the game in the Federals’ upset of Atlanta.
OUT
HB Latavius Murray CHA Ruptured Achilles IR
OT Cedric Ogbuehi WSH MCL Tear IR
FS Adrian Amos WSH Broken Foot IR
LB Reuben Foster BIR Leg Fracture 4-6 Weeks
LB Jabril Cox MEM Covid Protocol 1 Week
DOUBTFUL
OG Dan Feeney BAL Hamstring
QUESTIONABLE
DE Kwity Paye MGN Concussion
HB Charles Sims SD Deep Thigh Bruise
FS Derek Jordan NE Back
Four Trades in Last 24 Hours Show Teams Seeking Answers
With just about 10 days until the USFL Trade Deadline, teams are getting active. We saw four trades just in the past 24 hours, each featuring teams in the middle of the pack, hoping to make one move that helps push them towards a playoff run. The focus was clear, improve areas of weakness, particularly on offense, to help teams compete in what feels like a very balanced season, one in which we currently have 18 of the league’s 30 teams sitting between 3-5 wins, meaning that we have a huge middle-of-the-pack cluster, one where teams feel they have a shot at either a division title or a Wild Card if they can just put the right pieces together. So, what did the 4 trades we saw over the past day do? Let’s break them down.
Michigan Seeks Offensive Help
Riding a 3-game losing streak and now 2 full games behind Chicago, the Michigan Panthers made a move to try to get LeVeon Bell and their run game, the engine of their offense, back on track. The Panthers parted with WR K. J. Hill, practice squad fullback Ben Mason, and a 5th round pick to acquire veteran FB Khari Blasingame and WR Mac Hollins from the winless Charlotte Monarchs.
Hollins is a solid possession receiver, and could prove useful in the red zone, but the key to the deal was Blasingame, the 2020 All-USFL Team fullback. A brutal lead blocker as well as a very viable receiver, Blasingame followed up a strong 2019 rookie campaign with an All-USFL season in 2020. There is no doubt Michigan felt they needed an upgrade at fullback, and we could now see far more frequent use of 2-back formations and a heavier dose of Bell as the Panthers try to rebound from a bad month offensively and regain their swagger as they chase Chicago in the division.
Vegas Seeks More Weapons, New Orleans More Stopping Power
The Las Vegas Vipers and New Orleans Breakers have made what each hopes is a key deal for them, swapping 4 players and 2 draft picks in hopes of improving areas of weakness. For the Breakers, the issue was the secondary, which has struggled, particularly on third down. For Las Vegas, it is about finding a more explosive option on offense. With the combo of Aaron Dobson and Rashod Bateman struggling to spread defenses, the Vipers acquire speedy slot receiver John Ross from the Breakers, who had signed Ross from the NFL but had also largely in a swing role behind Nelson, Jefferson, and Lockett. Ross will start for the Vipers, taking over the slot role from Darius Slayton. Expect a rotation with Slayton and Kenny Golloday as Las Vegas seeks to employ more spread formations, which makes sense as a means of creating space as well for HB Kareem Hunt.
In return for Ross, Las Vegas sent veteran starting strong safety Eric Berry to the Breakers. Berry had seen more snaps going to rookie Zayne Anderson, who now will take over as the full time starter. Berry, an 11-year veteran of the Vipers, now heads to the Breakers, where he will step in for Terrance Brooks almost immediately. The move should help New Orleans’s pass defense, with Berry representing a significant upgrade. The versatile safety can play back in coverage or come to the line to impact the run game, a fact testified to by his 569 career tackles. The move comes after New Orleans has seen their passing defense decline in effectiveness this season, one of several issues leading to their current 3-4 record as well as the 4-game losing streak that prompted a roster review. In addition to the two bigger name players, Las Vegas sent kick returner Quintez Cephus and a 5th round pick to New Orleans, while the Breakers sent backup safety Kevin Hickey and the Breakers’ 4th rounder this offseason.
Express Part Ways with Agholor to Acquire Speed
The LA Express and Orlando Renegades swapped receivers in a 5-player deal which shakes up both rosters. For the Express the declining role of WR Nelson Agholor made the 6-year veteran expendable. Once considered the prime receiver for Kyler Murray, Agholor’s issues with drops and his struggles creating space with defenders led to him seeing his role reduced in 2020, where he started only 8 games, and again this year, where he had only 18 receptions in the Express’s first 7 games. He heads to Orlando, along with HB Boston Scott, and LB Scott Wilson. The Renegades part with a starting receiver of their own in speedster Jeremy Maclin, as well as linebacker Anfernee Jennings, for their part of the deal.
The move is an interesting one for Orlando, who likely don’t see Agholor as a starter, in fact, it appears that the ‘Gades will promote 3rd year receiver Hunter Renfrew to the starting position opposite Brashad Perriman. Renfrew has become a favorite for QB Russell Wilson and has demonstrated good mid-range quickness and an ability to find space in zone coverage. Agholor will likely serve as a red zone target and a swing receiver behind Perriman, Renfrew, and slot specialist Braxton Berrios. For Orlando, the key addition appears to be HB Boston Scott, who will step in behind NFL import Chris Carson. Scott has been effective as a 3rd down receiver as well as a relief back for Paul Perkins in LA, and we anticipate seeing him take on that role in Orlando.
As for the two linebackers included in the deal, both are likely to be swing players, backing up the starters across the LB groups of each club. Scott Wilson had yet to appear on defense, with only some special teams appearances for LA after coming to the team as a 6th round pick last year. Anfernee Jennings, also a 2nd year player, appeared in 10 games for the Renegades last year, making 6 tackles. This year he had been limited to special teams for the Renegades, but could see some snaps for LA as a backup to both Aaron Wallace inside or strong side LB Yannick Ngakue.
San Diego Sets up QB Competition with Hackenberg Deal
In what is perhaps the most intriguing of the deals this week, Ohio shipped former starter Christian Hackenberg, along with wideout Marques Valdes-Scantling, to San Diego, receiving a 4th rounder and former NFL QB E. J. Manuel in return. Ohio had been shopping around Hackenberg for several weeks, following the initial success of rookie Justin Fields as their new starter. The two have radically different styles, which explains why Ohio opted for E. J. Manuel as a part of the deal, a quarterback who could more readily slip into an offense designed for Fields.
For San Diego, growing concerns about starter Christian Ponder are almost certainly the cause for the mid-season acquisition of Hackenberg. Following a solid pair of seasons in 2018 and 2019, seasons that helped lead San Diego to the USFL playoffs, the 5th year QB slumped significantly in 2020, struggling with picks and inaccuracy as San Diego’s fortunes as a team declined precipitously. Ponder’s QB Rating dropped from a career high of 104.9 in 2018 to a very solid 96.9 in 2019, but then collapsed, hitting 77.6 last season. His 2021 campaign has been equally troubling, with his completion percentage dropping to 57.3%, with 6 picks in his first 6 games, and with his per game yardage dropping to 180.3, among the worst among USFL starters.
Coach Lebeau clearly seems to want to either motivate Ponder by bringing in a true competitor at the position, or to move from Ponder to Hackenberg if improvement is not seen. Hackenberg was the starter in Ohio from 2016-2020, and in that time he had some solid years, throwing for 3,000 yards in both 2017 and 2019. He struggled in 2020, throwing 19 interceptions to only 13 touchdowns in a very rough 2020 campaign. The skeptics among us wonder if having two accuracy-troubled quarterbacks competing is truly a solution, but it seems clear that by opening a QB competition, LeBeau is hoping one of the two will rise to the occasion.
Not to be lost in this equation is the seeming “add on” of WR Marques Valdes-Scantling. A straight line speedster, MVS has had flashes in both LA and Ohio, but never stepped fully into a regular role, appearing for rarely more than a handful of snaps in LA his rookie and sophomore seasons, before getting a slightly larger role last year in Ohio. He finished 2020 with 19 receptions for 185 yards and 2 TDs and so far in 2021 has 13 receptions for 163 yards this year. In San Diego, the former Express receiver will get a chance to prove himself. San Diego has been moving away from Arrelious Benn due to serious criticisms about his ability to find space and create distance from defenders. Of Christian Ponder’s 6 interceptions this year, 4 have been passes intended for Benn and many have pointed out that Benn has been simply unable to create the space needed for Ponder to safely get him the ball. These concerns have led to Coach LeBeau shifting speedster Kadarius Toney from the slot, giving him more snaps in Benn’s split end role. Laviska Shenault has taken on more of the slot role in this structure, but we expect to see Valdes-Scantling also see significant snaps as an outside option opposite possession receiver Ronald Johnson.
With little over one week left in the trade window, we doubt we have seen the last of the moves, and we are left to wonder if we will see more starters (like safety Eric Berry) or more QBs (like Hackenberg) making moves across the league as teams gear up for what could be a very densely packed playoff peloton.
Week 8 Power Rankings
Eight weeks in, and while some teams have only completed 7 games thanks to the new bye system, it is still time for our second assessment of the power of each club. And while the past few weeks have seen several of the top contenders take a fall, including our two last unbeatens knocked out this week, we still see a pretty stable grouping at the top of our ranking. The middle is where it gets very messy and where we think we will hear the most debate among fans. After all, how do we decide which 4-3 or 3-4 team is truly ready to make a move upwards and who is headed down the ladder?
1—Tampa Bay (7-1)
No longer unbeaten, but expecting Prescott back, which we think keeps them at the 1 spot. Mid-season MVP: HB Dalvin Cook is perhaps the league’s best dual threat back, with 643 yards rushing, 444 receiving, and 6 combined TDs.
2—Chicago (6-1)
The defense is legit, but the offense has had some struggles. Mid-season MVP: CB Josh Norman has become a true shut-down corner for Chicago, and is still one of the best tacklers among league DBs.
3—Philadelphia (6-1)
The Stars rebounded nicely to their 1 loss and are ready for a rematch this week. Mid-season MVP: Yes, Derrick Henry is the centerpiece, but it is the success of Carson Wentz (11:5 TD:INT and a 93.5 QB rating) that is the difference for the Star offense this year.
4—Seattle (5-2)
The Dragons have won 5 in a row and boast on of the league’s best run defenses. Mid-season MVP: Averaging 4.8 YPC, Knowshon Moreno is keeping the Dragons’ offense in short, makable third down situations.
5—Denver (6-2)
Other than a 2-game hiccup, this Gold squad has been racking up yards and points. Mid-season MVP: No surprise, league MVP candidate Josh Allen, with 2,583 yards, 22 TDs, and a 121.7 QB rating is the key to the Gold’s success.
6—New Jersey (5-3)
Generals’ fans will not be happy with this placement, especially since NJ knocked off two unbeatens this year: Philly and Tampa Bay. Mid-season MVP: Two defenders stand out for New Jersey, MLB Matt Milano (52 Tck) and CB Aqib Talib (45 Tck, 2 Int).
7—Houston (5-2)
Colt McCoy has this offense humming, best in the league at 425 yards per game. Mid-season MVP: No reason to go away from McCoy, who has 2,323 yards, a 98.3 rating, and a14:6 TD:INT ratio.
8--Ohio (5-2)
Justin Fields is both the leading passer and leading rusher for the surprising Glory. Mid-season MVP: His passing stats are not impressive, but Justin Fields is a scary runner from the gun, and he has his team believing at 5-2.
9—Pittsburgh (4-3)
From 1-3 to 4-3, thanks to impressive wins over Michigan, Arizona, and Chicago. Mid-season MVP: The Maulers are winning with team defense, and have no statistical outliers, but the clear leader of that D is MLB Brian Orakpo, who is making the calls and rallying the D when needed.
10—Dallas (4-3)
The Roughnecks have 2 key games next, Arizona and Oklahoma, both at home. Mid-season MVP: A tough call between the team’ s sack leader, Connor Barwin (9) and their best DB, Patrick Peterson (3 picks), but we like that Peterson is also good in the run game, with 42 tackles to Barwin’s 22.
11—Atlanta (5-3)
4-0 in the first quarter turned to 1-3 in the second. Their bye could not come at a better time. Mid-season MVP: Has to be A. J. Green, who has 9 receiving TDs, 800 yards receiving, and 57 receptions, all team bests.
12—Las Vegas (4-3)
Defense and a surprisingly effective run game have the Vipers in the mix. Mid-season MVP: The first of 2 HB duos we will highlight in this list, the combo of Hunt and Jones has produced 889 yards rushing and 7 TDs, with Hunt averaging 5.2 per carry and Jones a very nice 4.4 as well.
13—Arizona (4-4)
The 25th-ranked defense is far from what we have seen during the dynasty years. Mid-season MVP: WR DeMarcus Robinson. Cruz may lead the team in yards, but with 36 receptions, 8 for TDs, Robinson is leading both categories for the Wranglers.
14—Baltimore (4-4)
Who are the real Blitz? They rank 1st in yards allowed and give up only 176 per game against the pass, but still have lost 4 of their last 6. Mid-season MVP: The good news is that Josh Jacobs currently leads the league with 711 yards rushing, the bad? He has only 1 rushing TD after 8 games.
15—Oakland (4-3)
Scoring 9 and 7 in their past 2 games has to be a major concern for the Invaders. Mid-season MVP: TE Zach Ertz leads the team with 552 receiving yards, and is one of 3 receivers with 4 TDs.
16—Birmingham (4-3)
Cam Newton is an MVP candidate, but where is Najee Harris or the defense? Mid-season MVP: No team is more of a 1-man show than the Stallions, and that man, no surprises, is Cam Newton, with 20 combined passing & rushing TDs.
17—Orlando (4-4)
A nice win against the Thunder has Orlando back at .500 midway through their schedule. Mid-season MVP: The only consistently excellent Renegade is the obvious choice, DE Montez Sweat (13 sacks).
18—Michigan (4-3)
Losing 3 in a row is bad, losing 2 of 3 at home is even worse. Mid-season MVP: We expect Dre Kirkpatrick to lead the Panthers in picks (3), but it is not a good sign that he also leads them with 45 tackles.
19—Los Angeles (3-4)
3rd in scoring defense but 29th in scoring offense is not a combo that will get you a title.
Mid-season MVP: DT Chris Jones leads all at his position with 7 sacks, and he is so good against the run as well, a clear DPOTY candidate.
20—New Orleans (3-4)
A much-needed win this week keeps them alive with 2 divisional games up next. Still time to get in the race. Mid-season MVP: TE Coby Fleener, with 485 yards and 7 TDs has been bailing out both Geno and Tajh Boyd this year.
21—San Diego (3-5)
Orlando exposed issues on both sides of the ball for the Thunder, most notably the league’s worst passing offense. Mid-season MVP: No shocker, it is Charles Sims, with 642 yards and 6 rushing TDs, on pace for 1,200 and double digit TDs.
22—San Antonio (3-5)
A very nice divisional win over Birmingham, but they have a tough road ahead. Mid-season MVP: We are giving this to the 2-headed HB C.J.-Melvin Procise-Gordon, who have combined for 870 yards and 6 TDs for the Gunslingers.
23—Oklahoma (3-5)
A tough road to .500 with trips to Dallas and Denver up after the bye. Mid-season MVP: There are lots of issues in OKC, but 2nd year QB Jalen Hurts (2,307 Yds, 19:5 TD:INT ratio) is not one of them.
24—Memphis (3-5)
Showboat fans want to know where the 2020 Memphis squad went. This ain’t it. Mid-season MVP: NFL Import J. J. Watt (13 sacks) has been amazing, but where is the rest of the Rex Reed defense this year?
25—Washington (2-6)
A gutsy win in Atlanta, now they need to build on that moving forward. Mid-season MVP: Rookie HB Travis Etienne (134-509-7) is a legit ROTY candidate on a 2-win team.
26—Portland (2-5)
When your only 2 wins are against Jacksonville and Charlotte, you may just be a bottom feeder. Mid-season MVP: LB Nico Johnson (42 Tck, 3 Sck, 1 Int) is doing a lot of everything. Is that a good thing or a bad sign for the rest of the D?
27—Jacksonville (1-7)
Get their first W of the season, but next up is Tampa Bay. Mid-season MVP: WR Tee Higgins (44-627-7) is Trevor Lawrence’s best weapon and could be All-USFL this year.
28—New England (2-5)
Ryan Tannehill is struggling and Eddie Lacy is underperforming for the Rollers. Mid-season MVP: DT Aaron Donald (45 Tck, 5 Sacks) needs a real edge threat to truly be successful, because he is doing it on his own right now.
29—St. Louis (1-6)
Any defense that gives up nearly 250 yards rushing to a QB is in deep trouble. Mid-season MVP: WR Deionte Johnson (29-505-5) has been the only consistent performer on an offense that has just not found itself.
30—Charlotte (0-8)
Murray injured, Garoppolo ineffective, the defense giving up 31.8 PPG. Portrait of a winless club. Mid-season MVP: LB Rolando McClain (58 Tackles) is the only defender earning his pay this year.
Six teams are on their byes in Week 9, representing the entire Southeast Division, along with Oklahoma, since an even number is needed. So, what will the other 24 teams provide us? How about an Ol’ Muddy River Classic as the Breakers head up the Mississippi to face the Memphis Showboats? With both teams currently under .500, this could be a big step for the winner in their hopes to get back in the hunt in a very muddled and muddy division.
Saturday has 6 games, with the return of an NBC night game, and it will be a good one, with the Stars traveling to New Jersey. The Generals knocked Philly from their unbeaten status and have won 5 in a row. Will they double up on their rivals or will Philadelphia get revenge and rebuild a 2-game lead in the division? The ESPN/EFN game will also be a nice divisional clash, with Arizona traveling to Dallas in a battle of 4-win Southwestern Teams fighting for playoff possibilities.
No regional games with only 10 teams in action on Sunday. We do have some good ones though, with LA heading to Pittsburgh, Houston visiting an old foe in Denver, and San Diego headed up to Oakland, with dreams of .500 or better still in their heads. We finish the week with Seattle, winners of 5 straight, heading into Detroit to face the Michigan Panthers.
FRI @ 8pm ET New Orleans (3-4) @ Memphis (3-5) NBC
SAT @ 12pm ET San Antonio (3-5) @ Baltimore (4-4) ABC
SAT @ 12pm ET Las Vegas (4-3) @ Birmingham (4-3) FOX
SAT @ 4pm ET New England (2-5) @ Chicago (6-1) ABC
SAT @ 4pm ET Portland (2-5) @ St. Louis (1-6) FOX
SAT @ 8pm ET Philadelphia (6-1) @ New Jersey (5-3) NBC
SAT @ 8pm ET Arizona (4-4) @ Dallas (4-3) ESPN/EFN
SUN @ 12pm ET Ohio (5-2) @ Washington (2-6) ABC
SUN @ 12pm ET Los Angeles (3-4) @ Pittsburgh (4-3) FOX
SUN @ 4pm ET Houston (5-2) @ Denver (6-2) ABC
SUN @ 4pm ET San Diego (3-5) @ Oakland (4-3) FOX
SUN @ 8pm ET Seattle (5-2) @ Michigan (4-3) ESPN/EFN
BYES: Atlanta, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Oklahoma, Orlando, Tampa Bay
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