2022 USFL Week 12 Recap: McCoy & Houston Both Down
- USFL LIVES
- 5 days ago
- 26 min read
A week with some really fun rivalry games, like Memphis @ Birmingham, Seattle @ Oakland, Ohio @ St. Louis, and Orlando @ Atlanta. It was also a week that saw the 9-1 Wranglers clipped by a road trip to the Atlantic Coast and Baltimore’s M&T Stadium. We got a great game from San Diego QB Mason Rudolph, and a tough season-ending injury for the 2021 MVP as Colt McCoy went down in the same game. We will break it all down for you, starting with a look at the “Chutes and Ladders” nature of the 2022 season, a recap of this week’s games, an update on Colt McCoy and the Gamblers, and a familiar face making himself a menace to opposing quarterbacks once again. All that plus two legends of the USFL get called up to our Top 40 Greatest USFL Players list. It is a week with a lot to report, so let’s get to it.
2022 Proving a Year of Chutes & Ladders
Some seasons seem to protect the status quo, like having a USFL champion repeat, or having 10 of the 12 playoff teams from the year before find themselves in the playoffs again. Other seasons are what we call “Chutes & Ladder” seasons, years in which the standings see huge changes from one year to the next, teams climbing the ladder from irrelevance to contention, while others drop off precipitously. 2022 is absolutely shaking out as a Chutes and Ladder season. Here, in our Big Story this week, we look at 4 teams climbing the ladder to a possible 17th game or more, and 4 who have started sliding down the chute towards an early draft pick.
Ladder: St. Louis (5-11 to 8-3)
With 3 more wins than all of last year, a position 5 games over .500, and still 5 more games to go, the Skyhawks are in great position to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. Coach Brian Schottenheimer has found the formula to make Lamar Jackson’s physical gifts part of an effective offense (6th in scoring and surprisingly 8th in passing), while the defense has taken a huge leap up, now ranked 2nd in the league by allowing only 17.2 points per game. A. J. Epenesa is perhaps the breakout star of 2022, and WR Deionte Johnson is already over 1,000 yards for the season. It is a new day in the “Battledome” as the Skyhawks are flying once again.
Chute: Michigan (10-6 to 1-10)
From Conference Champions to first team out of the playoff picture in 2 seasons. That is not a good look, and for the most part it is one no one saw coming. Last year’s 10-6 season was not the best Panther performance in recent years, but still, compared to their current 1-10 debacle, it was a solid year. So, what is going wrong? Well, the offense is averaging only 14.4 points per game despite not being in the lowest third of the league in any other category, but the defense, wow, even more surprising. Ranked 25th against the run and giving up 24.9 points per game. Not much is going right for Michigan. Throw in a league worst -10 turnover differential and and a 36 of 137 third down conversion rate (only 26.2%) and you can certainly see how their 10-game losing streak is happening.
Ladder: San Antonio (6-10 to 8-3)
This preseason we thought San Antonio had a shot at a significant improvement in their 3rd season, and the Gunslingers have certainly had one. They are already 2 wins ahead of their 2021 total, with 5 games to play, are sitting at 5 games over .500 and have a share of 1st place in the division. Joe Flacco is having a great season, with the Gunslingers ranked 3rd in passing, averaging 285.6 yards per game. Melvin Gordon has had a solid year and rookie Garrett Wilson could be a lock for Rookie of the Year. In other words, this year is going about as well as anyone in the Alamo City could have hoped.
Chute: Philadelphia (10-6 to 3-8)
We did not see this one coming. Philadelphia was solid last year, with Carson Wentz looking like a very good NFL import call and Derrick Henry emerging as one of the league’s best backs. Henry is still getting it done, with 898 yards so far, but little else is working for the Stars this year. They are 27th in scoring defense and 22nd in scoring offense, and have had losses by 22, 10, 14, and 22 again, which means they are not even staying close in their 8 losses. Even with a perfect 5-game run, they will finish .500 and out of the playoffs, so this is absolutely an unwanted setback for a team that surprised many with a division title last year.
Ladder: Los Angeles (7-8-1 to 7-4)
The Express may have finally found themselves an offense to go with their outstanding defense. It took a while, and the 3-team trade that brought Andy Dalton to town, but in their last 3 games they have scored 27, 26, and 27, all well above their average over the first 8 weeks. Combine that with a defense that averages 18 points allowed each week and LA could well be on their way to the division title and a return to the playoffs.
Chute: Pittsburgh (8-8 to 3-8)
After an 0-5 start to the year, the Maulers have clearly moved into full-on rebuild mode. They traded away their veteran QB, are going the rest of the way with a rookie at the helm, and are trying to build pieces for a defense that can win them some games. It won’t happen this year, as their 30th ranked offense, scoring barely 13 points a game, is not going to produce many wins. They have the worst run game in the USFL and will need to address not only the HB position but the O-line as well this offseason. From playoff hopeful to blowing it all up in less than 8 weeks, that may be a record.
Ladder: Memphis (6-10 to 7-4)
This may be more of a rebound than a ladder situation. Memphis was 13-3 in 2020 and last year’s drop to 6-10 was unexpected. We think their current standing, competing for the Southern Division title is right about where they should be. The offense is still not great, 12th in scoring, 14th in yards per game, but the Rex Ryan defense is keeping them in games and helping them get some short fields to work with.
Chute: Houston (10-6 to 5-6)
At 5-6, we would not normally rule out Houston for a late run, but now, with Carlos Hyde still out, with Colt McCoy lost for the season and still trying to sort out one of the league’s worst defenses there is not a lot of hope that Houston can avoid their first losing season since 2013, and maybe their first 10-loss season in over a decade.
MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 26 BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 22
Another Southern Division classic in perhaps the best rivalry in spring football (don’t tell folks between Philly and NYC). The Showboat-Stallion game kicked off at 7:12 on Friday night, but there were fans camped out in the parking lot since about 10am, with every imaginable shape and size of grill and smoker ready to go. When kickoff finally arrived, it was standing room only in the 52,000 seat Protective Stadium, with a large Memphis contingent on the NE corner and a lot of scarlet and gold everywhere else.
The fans got what they came for, a nip and tuck game that 4 lead changes in the 2nd half alone and a last minute touchdown for the win, though a win that did not make the home crowd happy. Stallion Nation watched their man, QB Cam Newton, playing like a true MVP candidate, throwing for 382 yards and 3 touchdowns while also scrambling 5 times for 32 additional yards. Former Crimson Tide standout Henry Ruggs was huge in the game, catching all 3 Newton TD tosses and gaining 124 yards on 6 receptions. They also saw a handful of solid tailback runs, with starter Najee Harris gaining 67 yards on only 6 carries. All in all a very good outing for the Stallion offense against a traditionally tough Rex Ryan defense.
But, the Memphis contingent in the stands had to be happy with their offense as well. Blake Bortles played within himself, made good decisions and threw for 2 scores and 274 yards on 27 of 35 passing. Jameson Crowder had only 2 catches, but both were scores, while Robert Woods put up 98 yards on 9 catches. The run game was also working for the Showboats, with Todd Gurley rushing for 51 on 13 attempts and David Williams adding 24 more on 6 touches.
So, a more offensive-minded game than either coach prefers, but certainly an entertaining one for the rowdy Protective Stadium crowd. And a game that heated up as it progressed into the Alabama night. The showdown started off slowly, as rivalry games often do, with both teams struggling to find the formula to string together first downs. But on Memphis’s 2nd possession, they found some plays that worked, a 12-yard Gurley run, a key 3rd down toss to Dallas Goedert, and, at the end of a 10-play drive, a short slant to Crowder that went the final 9 yards for the score.
Memphis added another 3 points early in the 2nd quarter to take a 10-point lead, but that finally got the Stallion offense sparked. Birmingham had its longest drive of the day in the 2nd half of the 2nd quarter, a 15-play, seven and a half minute drive that produced a Newton to Ruggs 5-yard TD toss on a beautiful short corner route. The Stallions went into the half trailing by 3, but feeling momentum was on their side.
The opening drive of the 2nd half would prove them right, with Harris and Isaiah Pead doing just enough to force Memphis into a standard alignment instead of nickel coverage, they got the matchup they wanted, Henry Ruggs in man coverage against Memphis corner Josh Jackson. It was an immediate mismatch and Newton exploited it for a 40-yard strike that put Birmingham up 4 and was the first official lead change of the game. Memphis drew the game back to 1 point with a second Lewis Ward field goal, but as the 4th quarter began, Birmingham retained their lead.
Memphis got a break on Birmingham’s first possession of the final period when a catchable ball glanced off the hands of Devonta Smith, allowing Josh Jackson to make amends for his poor coverage of Ruggs earlier. Johnson brought down the “tip drill” ball and gave Memphis possession on the Birmingham 33. It would take 7 plays for Memphis to cash in on the turnover, but they did when David Williams plunged over the line from the 1 to change the lead to 19-14 Memphis. The Showboats went for 2, but failed, giving them a precarious 5-point advantage with 7:54 left to play.
Birmingham responded quickly, with Newton hitting his two tight ends, Hunter Henry and Tre McBride on 3 consecutive plays (Henry, McBride, and Henry) to move from their own 24 to the Memphis 47. After a Harris run of 9 yards and a Newton scramble on 2nd and 1, they had a new first down on the 35, then another on the 20. And, on 1st and 10 from the 20, they found paydirt, Newton again hitting Ruggs on a corner route, this time against double coverage. The Stallion tandem’s 3rd touchdown connection of the day, and a successful 2-point PAT throw to McBride gave Birmingham a 3-point lead with 4:26 on the clock.
But, as we all know, 4 minutes is certainly enough time for a good offense to put together a drive, and on this day Memphis’s offense was playing well. The Showboats started off slowly, using Gurley to push the ball and finding short passes to Goedert and Geronimo Allison, but their pace lulled Birmingham into a rut, a comfort zone of defending short to long instead of cutting off the deep ball first. The Showboats recognized this, and on a 2nd and 6 from the Birmingham 45, they used it to their advantage. Jameson Crowder started what looked like a standard slant, but when he drew in the safety, he turned it to a slant-and-go and got the advantage. Bortles hit him in stride and with only open field in front of him. Crowder cruised to the endzone. This time the Showboats went for 1, and when Lewis Ward’s kick went up and through the uprights, the Showboats had a 4-point advantage with 1:54 to play.
Again, 1:54 is certainly enough time to mount a drive, but unlike the Showboats, Birmingham knew that a field goal would not cut it. They needed a 7-point score, and that meant picking up yards in chunks. Memphis knew that too, and that meant bringing pressure. J. J. Watt and Sam Acho would both get to Cam Newton on the drive. Cornerback Mike Williams would deflect away two passes, and suddenly, with 33 seconds left, the Stallions were down to 1 time out and faced a 4th and 5. They needed a big play. The call came in, a zone-beating multi-level route combo for Ruggs, Henry, and HB Najee Harris. The choice for Newton was clear, with Henry getting position 7 yards down field, but the throw was not ideal, coming in too low and forcing Henry to try to crouch and roll to the turf to bring it in. The ball bounced off his forearms, up into the air, and down to the turf. Turnover on downs and time for the Memphis section of the stadium to cheer. Birmingham, winners of 7 in a row, had gone down, and Memphis, had picked up a win, putting them 3 games over .500 and only 1 game back of the co-leaders in the South (San Antonio and Birmingham). What is more, with a 4-1 record in the division, Memphis, if they could make up that game, could find themselves in 1st place over both the Gunslingers and the Stallions. A huge win for the road team and a tough loss for the full house of Stallion fans on Friday night.
SEATTLE 13 OAKLAND 6
An ugly win for the Dragons, but they will take it, especially in a tough place to play like Oakland (Well, Santa Clara, really). Despite both teams racking up 15 first downs apiece, this was very much a defensive battle. The only TD of the game was a 1-yard run by Moreno set up by a defensive penalty. Trevor Siemian got the win, with 177 yards passing, but it was Richard Sherman, Khalil Mack, and Kamal Martin that gave this win to the visiting Dragons.
POTG: Seattle LB Kamal Martin: 5 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 PDef
ARIZONA 19 BALTIMORE 21
Arizona eked out a win in Denver last week but could not find the same magic this week in Baltimore as Jake Locker hit rookie Christian Watson with 2 TDs and found TE Mike Gesecki for a third. That was barely enough to get the W, but Baltimore will take it. Arizona was down 21-12 until the final 2 minutes, when Ryan Nassib found Robert Tonyan for a score, but the onside kick was recovered by Baltimore and they ended the game with the ball in their hands.
POTG: Blitz QB Jake Locker: 25/34, 245 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int
ORLANDO 16 ATLANTA 14
Another close game, but another win for the Renegades, who now stand above .500 at 6-5, solidly in the playoff mix. This one was all Chris Carson, who averaged 7.2 YPC against the Fire defense, rushing for a season high 130 on the day. Throw in another 2 sacks from Montez Sweat and an 8-tackle, 1-Int game from CB Michael Jackson and you get Orlando victorious once again.
POTG: Renegades’ HB Chris Carson: 18 Att, 130 Yds
MICHIGAN 24 LOS ANGELES 27
The Panthers finally cross the 20-point margin, but it is not enough as they drop their 10th in a row. LA gave up Cousins to Bennett TDs on back-to-back drives in the 4th but still held on for the home win. QB Andy Dalton could become a very popular figure in the City of Angels if he plays like this every week, throwing for 3 scores with no picks. Behind Dalton, LA built up a 24-3 lead, which was challenged in the 2nd half, but with just one more field goal they had enough to improve to 7-4 and hold on to 1st place in the division.
POTG: LA quarterback Andy Dalton: 14/27, 210 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
NEW ORLEANS 31 SAN ANTONIO 34
The Breakers cannot catch a break as once again they lose out in a close battle. Geno Smith hit Jordy Nelson for the pair’s 2nd TD combo of the day in the 4th, but that only equalized the score and San Antonio did what it had to, putting up a chip shot field goal with 1:37 left to play, to avoid overtime. Garrett Wilson continues to impress, with 6 catches for 64 yards and a TD while Melvin Gordon rushed for 71 yards on 14 carries for the Gunslingers. With the win, San Antonio is looking solid at 8-3 on the year.
POTG: Gunslinger CB Jaquan Johnson: 7 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int
OHIO 7 ST. LOUIS 27
The Skyhawks firmly establish themselves as the 2nd team in the Central by thoroughly outperforming the Ohio Glory. It was 24-0 at the half and Ohio did not put any points on the board until the final 30 seconds of action in a thoroughly one-sided game. Lamar Jackson threw for 262 and 3 scores and the defense came close to the shutout but gave up 7 late in garbage time.
POTG: Skyhawk QB Lamar Jackson: 13/15, 262 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int
TAMPA BAY 37 PHILADLEPHIA 15
The Bandits had this one in hand all game long, despite two turnovers, thanks to a defense that sacked Carson Wentz 5 times and held Philadelphia to 249 total yards. Dak Prescott threw for 295 with 2 TDs, and both Deebo Samuel and Dez Bryant went over 100 yards as the Bandits improve to 9-2 and retain their hold on the 1 seed in the East.
POTG: Bandit WR Dez Bryant: 6 Rec, 148 Yds, 1 TD
PORTLAND 7 PITTSBURGH 16
Signs of life in the Steel City as the Mauler defense held the Stags to only 21 yards rushing and 4 of 13 on third down. The Mauler offense still struggled, rushing for only 32 yards themselves, but Kenny Pickett found Brian Quick on a deep 61-yard throw and the D did the rest, giving the Maulers their 3rd win on the season, sending Portland to an identical 3-8 record.
POTG: Mauler QB Kenny Pickett: 18/29, 196 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int
JACKSONVILLE 24 CHARLOTTE 25
The Bulls thought they had this one, up 24-9 at the end of 3, and they should have, but Charlotte put up an unanswered 17 points in the 4th to steal away the win. Touchdowns from K. J. Hill and Ben Mason got Charlotte to within 2, and a perfectly executed 2-minute drill from Paxton Lynch got the Monarchs in range for a 36-yard game winner at the buzzer.
POTG: Charlotte LT Penei Sewell: 12 Pancake Blocks, 0 Sacks Allowed
OKLAHOMA 17 NEW JERSEY 28
Teddy Bridgewater threw 4 touchdowns to account for New Jersey’s 28 points, hitting 4 different receivers and helping the Generals build a 21-7 and later a 28-10 lead over visiting Oklahoma. Jalen Hurts passed for 230 and rushed for another 67, but he also threw 3 picks, two to MLB Matt Milano as he tried to force the ball to Mark Andrews. It was too much for the Outlaws to overcome on the road.
POTG: General LB Matt Milano: 8 Tck, 2 PDef, 2 Int
DALLAS 24 NEW ENGLAND 21
The Steamrollers seemed to have their act together as both T. J. Yeldon and Breece Hall scored on 3rd Quarter TD runs to give New England a 21-17 lead at the end of the 3rd, but the offense fizzled in the 4th and Dallas got what they needed when Ryan Tannehill threw a ball right to LB Samson Ebukam, who rumbled to the endzone with a Roughneck caravan for the game winner. Dallas was outgained 345-250 and only converted 3 of 13 third downs, but the big defensive play gave them the road win and sent New England to defeat for the 4th straight week.
POTG: Dallas LB Samson Ebukam: 2 PDef, 1 Int, 1 DefTD
HOUSTON 15 SAN DIEGO 24
Any hope Gambler Nation had for a late season surge may have just flown out the window as the Gamblers not only lost to San Diego but lost Colt McCoy for the remainder of the season as their star QB suffered a fractured tibia in the late 1st quarter. Landry Jones finished out the game and will now have to finish out the season for the 5-6 Gambles. For San Diego, the win moves them to 5-6, but with a far more positive vibe as Mason Rudolph went 13 of 21 for 244 and threw 3 TDs.
POTG: Thunder WR Chris Givens: 3 Rec, 111 Yds, 1 Td
WASHINGTON 28 LAS VEGAS 25
The Feds get a nice 3-TD game from Jacoby Brissett and a solid defensive performance to edge past the Vipers in Las Vegas. The game was not quite as close as the final score indicates as Washington built up a 28-10 lead before Las Vegas finally started making plays on offense. A late Minshew-to-Dobson TD made it a 3-point game, but the onside kick attempt failed and that was all she wrote for the Viper comeback.
POTG: Washington LB Patrick Queen: 11 Tck, 5 TFL, 1 Sck, 1 FF
CHICAGO 28 DENVER 13
The Gold are getting sick of playing 1-loss teams as the Machine knock them off at Empower Field one week after Arizona did the same. This one was not quite as close as last week, with Chicago scoring 28 unanswered between the 2nd and 3rd quarters, including 2 Bradford-to-Beckham TDs to put Denver out of range. Denver’s shorthanded line had no luck slowing down the Chicago pass rush, with QB Josh Allen sacked 9 times in the game, including 2 each for Arik Armstead and Jason Pierre-Paul.
POTG: Machine WR Odell Beckham Jr: 6 Rec, 123 Yds, 2 TD
Campbell Still Kicking
He is 36 years old, in his 15th USFL season, and he is not ready to go gently into that good night. Calais Campbell, after 12 consecutive seasons as the USFL sack leader, had to share the title last year, when he ended the season tied atop the leaderboard with his replacement in Orlando, Montez Sweat. This year, with J. J. Watt and A. J. Epenesa getting off to very fast starts, we have not spoken much about Campbell and his performance in Baltimore. But this week, after putting up 4 sacks against a pretty solid Arizona line, we probably should send a bit of attention his way. The 4-sack outburst marks the first time Campbell has recorded more than 2 sacks in any game this season, and yet, despite a drop off in multi-sack games, the big man, the future first-ballot Hall of Famer, is only 4 sacks behind the league leaders, sitting in 6th position with 15 sacks. Are we saying he will once again surge to the top of the leaderboard by season’s end? No, not really, but we are also not saying he can’t.
Roughnecks Pour Fuel on the Fire for New England
Last week we reported about the sideline scuffle and locker room divisiveness that had been ignited by a 3-game losing streak. This week, as the tally rose to 4 losses in a row, the Dallas Roughnecks simply added fuel to the self-destructive fires within the Steamroller locker room. Playing without both WR Davante Parker and CB Benjamine St. Juste, both sitting out the first game of their 2-week suspension, the Steamrollers were in the game through three quarters, holding a 21-17 lead, but in the final 15 minutes New England fizzled and faded, while Dallas not only took the lead on a pick six of embattled Steamroller QB Ryan Tannehill, but held the Steamroller offense in check time and again.
It was the kind of loss that again pushes emotions to the surface, and it was clearly not a happy team heading into the locker room after the final whistle blew. We did not get sideline hysterics this week, but what we all saw was a team that just does not believe in itself. The Steamrollers have a chance to bring back at least a portion of their early season mojo as they face the 2-9 Jacksonville Bulls this week, but if they drop this game, we could again see a lot of finger pointing and back stabbing in what is beginning to look like a roster at war with itself in Foxboro.
Three Man Race for ROTY
With 5 games left for all 30 USFL clubs, the race for the Rookie of the Year seems to be down to three men, and, in part, could come down to how their teams perform overall. The men in question are San Antonio receiver Garrett Wilson, Baltimore wideout Christian Watson, and Michigan DE Aiden Hutchinson. Hutchinson’s numbers are impressive, sitting in 5th place on the USFL sack board, only 2 sacks behind the league leader. His 17 sacks as a rookie are impressive, and with a shot at 20+ this season, he certainly will be a contender, and yet, with Michigan now in a 10-game losing streak and already eliminated from postseason play, it seems unlikely that even a 20-sack season would bring Hutchinson the ROTY trophy. While it is not an indictment of Hutchinson’s play, the fact that his individual achievements have not helped Michigan escape the worst record in the league will, almost certainly, be a factor in the voting this season.
That reality leaves us with two wideouts. In raw numbers, Wilson seems to have the edge. The San Antonio wideout has 70 receptions to Watson’s 56, he has 274 yards on Watson (975-701) and has produced only 1 fewer touchdowns than his counterpart with the Blitz. But, of course, we need to also watch as both teams battle down the stretch for their overall record and their playoff seeding. Currently, Baltimore sits in 1st place in the NE Division with a 7-4 record. San Antonio has a game on the Blitz, sitting at 8-3, and they are also in their divisional race, tied with Birmingham atop the South, bumped only by a difference in conference record. While we think the edge in the ROTY race has to go to Garrett Wilson, based primarily on statistical achievement, a late run from Watson and the Blitz could make this race very tight very quickly.
McCoy Fractures Tibia, Could Miss Final Month
A season of struggles for the Houston Gamblers just got a lot tougher as they lose their starting QB, and the 2021 MVP, to a season-ending injury. QB Colt McCoy went down in Saturday’s loss to San Diego, taken down by DE Malik Jackson, with an awkward twisting of his right leg. That twisting produced a fracture in McCoy’s tibia, not a full break, but a bad enough crack that the defending MVP will have to be put on IR and kept off the field for the rest of the season. It is another blow in a season that has already seen HB Carlos Hyde miss 6 games to an MCL injury, with more likely as he remains on the team’s injury list as “Out” for Week 13. Houston, in Hyde’s absence, has lost 4 of 5 and now finds themselves under .500 and looking up at the playoff contenders without their field general available to help them pull out of the downward spiral.
Houston has already made a move to add another QB, bringing back former Gambler Jeff Driskel, who last played a game in 2017, but has been off and on rosters the past 4 seasons. He will be third on the depth chart behind new starter Landry Jones and veteran backup Kellen Clemons. Jones, who has seen action in every game this year due to the fatigue-inducing syndrome that McCoy revealed only weeks ago, will now take over as the starter and will be tasked with trying to reverse the direction of the club, not easy considering Houston has a very tough outing at LA this week, followed by 3 more very tough games against the Breakers, Stallions, and Dragons. Without Hyde, and now, without McCoy, what started out as a very positive year, with Houston opening 3-0 and 4-1 out of the gate, now looks like a season that will be remembered as one of the team’s toughest in recent memory.
Twelve weeks and 11 games in for each team and we still have 29 teams active in the playoff hunt, with none locked in yet and only 1, the 1-10 Panthers, eliminated. Michigan received the dubious honor of being the first team removed from mathematical possibility for a playoff spot with their 10th consecutive loss this week. Everyone else, including 2-9 Jacksonville, is still mathematically alive, but we expect some will not be able to say the same next week.
As far as clinching goes, with 5 games left, the frontrunners to clinch soon have to be 10-1 Chicago, who have a 4.5 game lead over 7th place Oklahoma. A win this week and they will lock up no worse than a Wild Card. Arizona has a 3.5 game lead, so they would need a win and an Oklahoma loss to lock up a spot. With only a 3-game lead over 7th place New Jersey, as well as 6-5 Orlando within the division, the Bandits will need 2 good weeks to claim a playoff spot. Teams on the edge of elimination start with Jacksonville (4 games behind 6th place Orlando) and the 4 teams at 3-8 (Atlanta, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Portland).
A rough week all over, with 5 more players now added to the Injured Reserve, including Colt McCoy. Washington loses 2 to IR in the same week and Memphis’s defense takes a blow with Rakeem Nunes-Roches out for the rest of the year. Tampa Bay could be weakened this week if both Ryan Grant and Jalen Ramsey are not able to go, while Chicago will be without Manti Te’o at least this week, but possibly longer.
OUT
FS Adrian Amos WSH Torn PCL IR
DT Rakeem Nunes-Roches MEM Neck IR
G Kenyon Green LV Shoulder IR
LB Anthony Walker Jr WSH Torn ACL IR
QB Colt McCoy HOU Leg Fracture IR
DT Vincent Taylor OKL Wrist 1-2 Weeks
WR Austin Proehl CHA Knee 1-2 Weeks
LB Manti Te’o CHI Shoulder 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
CB Asante Samuel Jr. TBY Pinched Nerve
DT Sheldon Richardson OHI Knee
LB Vince Biegel PIT Bruised Jaw
QUESTIONABLE
DE Dante Fowler BIR Groin
WR Russell Gage NOR Hip
G Dan Feeney BAL Hand
HB Travis Etienne WSH Concussion
WR Nick Toon OKL Concussion
WR Ryan Grant TBY Shoulder
Third Quarter Power Rankings
As we look at our third quarter 1-30 ranking of the USFL clubs, let’s take a moment to celebrate a pretty solid rookie class by highlighting each team’s top 1st year performer.
1—Chicago Machine (10-1)
HB Rachaad White is leading the team with 515 yards rushing and a 3.8 YPC average.
2—Tampa Bay Bandits (9-2)
P Matt Azaiza is averaging 45.7 yards per kick and has placed 14 inside the 20.
3—Arizona Wranglers (9-2)
HB Tyler Allgeier has slowed down a bit after a fast start, but is still averaging 4.0 yards per carry and has a team-best 7 rushing touchdowns.
4—Birmingham Stallions (8-3)
TE Tre McBride is 4th on the team with 30 receptions, good for 304 yards and a lone TD.
5—San Antonio Gunslingers (8-3)
WR Garrett Wilson is leading the pack for ROTY with 70 receptions, 975 yards, and 5 TDs for the 3rd year Gunslinger franchise.
6—St. Louis Skyhawks (8-3)
LB Micah McFadden is 3rd on the team with 51 tackles, 5 for a loss.
7—Baltimore Blitz (7-4)
WR Christian Watson has to be another ROTY contender with 56 catches, 701 yards, and 6 TDs, all team best for the resurgent Blitz offense.
8—Seattle Dragons (7-4)
DT Jordan Davis has seen more snaps in rotation lately and has 2 sacks in the past 4 games.
9—Los Angeles Express (7-4)
DT Zachary Carter is still playing behind Chris Jones and Linval Joseph, but is seeing more snaps on 1st and 2nd down in the past month.
10—Memphis Showboats (7-4)
CB Alonte Taylor has played sparingly but has picked up his first pro pick and pro sack in recent weeks.
11—Orlando Renegades (6-5)
C Luke Fonner has no starts at center, but is seeing some plays in relief for Ethan Pocic.
12—New Jersey Generals (6-5)
HB Kyren Williams has not had the huge impact many expected, but has 4 TDs rushing and a 5th from the passing game.
13—Ohio Glory (6-5)
LB David Ojabo has 30 tackles and a pick as a rotational player in the Ohio LB group.
14—Oakland Invaders (5-6)
OT Trevor Penning has started 4 games and has looked solid in rotation as well.
15—San Diego Thunder (5-6)
G Sean Rhyann started from Week 1 and has 39 pancakes in his rookie campaign.
16—Oklahoma Outlaws (5-5-1)
DT Perrion Winfrey got 1 start in Week 7, recording his first sack and a forced fumble.
17—Dallas Roughnecks (5-6)
CB Ja’Sir Taylor struggled early, but has com eon in the past month, with 17 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, and a fumble return for TD in the last 3 games.
18—New Orleans Breakers (5-6)
OT Charles Cross has been solid all year, with a whopping 75 pancakes in his first 12 games as a pro.
19—Houston Gamblers (5-6)
DE Kingsley Enagbare has been a starter all season and has racked up 5 sacks and 18 tackles.
20—New England Steamrollers (5-6)
HB Breece Hall is leading the team with 663 yards, but has seen T. J. Yeldon cut into his touches, especially in the red zone, where Yeldon has 6 TDs to Hall’s 3.
21—Washington Federals (4-6-1)
CB Sauce Gardner is 3rd on the team with 61 tackles, but his lone interception is less than what Feds’ fans had hoped for form the highly touted corner.
22— Denver Gold (4-7)
OT Evan Neal has struggled at left tackle, giving up 7 sacks and missing 2 games to injury.
23—Las Vegas Vipers (4-7)
OG Kenyon Green has played well for the Vipers, particularly in pass protection, where he has 45 pancake blocks and has given up only 2 sacks.
24— Charlotte Monarchs (4-7)
WR Drake London leads the Monarchs with 57 catches, 652 yards, and 4 TDs
25—Atlanta Fire (3-8)
DT Devante Wyatt has been a revelation as an interior run stuffer. He has 53 tackles, second only to Luke Kuechley on the Fire defense.
26—Philadelphia Stars (3-8)
OG Logan Bruss has seen spot action with 3 starts due to injuries as he continues to play the swing guard position.
27—Pittsburgh Maulers (3-8)
QB Kenny Pickett was thrust into action early, and while wins have been hard to come by, Pickett’s play has been solid, especially for a rookie: 2,173 yards, 9 TD, 6 Int, and a 75.2 QB rating after 10 starts.
28--Portland Stags (3-8)
K Cameron Dicker has hit on all 21 PAT attempts and on 78.3% of his kicks, which, in soggy Portland, is no small feat.
29—Jacksonville Bulls (2-9)
HB James Cook leads the Bulls with 453 yards and 4 TDs. His 3.9 YPC average is solid, but with only 9 receptions, Bulls fans are hoping to see more in the passing game.
30—Michigan Panthers (1-10)
DE Aiden Hutchinson is a bright spot in a dark season for Michigan. The former Wolverine is 5th in the league with 17 sacks and very well could hit the coveted 20-sack total by season’s end.
40 Greatest USFL Players in 40 Years: Numbers 8 & 7
We are getting down to the true legends of the USFL and this week we have two of the very best to ever play the game, including a 3-time league champion at QB and the USFL’s all time career leader in rushing yards. Now it is not about merit, it is about those debates over who is the USFL GOAT. With both a QB and a HB ahead of our two players today, we are saying that they are both so close, but not quite the player we would list as the GOAT at their position. Feel free to disagree with us on that.
8) QB Jim Kelly (1984-1996)
One of the league’s brightest stars during its formative years, Kelly not only brought 3 titles to the Gamblers, starting in 1988, but was voted MVP three times, Playoff MVP 3 times, and All-USFL 10 times. He still ranks in the Top 10 in Attempts, Completions, Yards, and TDs, his 412 scoring throws only trailing Brett Favre. The original Run & Shoot gunslinger retired with 5 seasons of over 4,000 yards and 8 seasons with 30 or more TDs. When you think of the USFL as a passing league, designed around QBs who were willing to go deep at any time, you are seeing the influence of Kelly and the early Gamblers.
7) HB Deuce McCallister (2001-2017)
In 17 pro seasons, a ludicrously long career at the HB position, Deuce McCallister put up 15 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, rushed for over 19,000 yards, and earned 11 All-USFL awards. And yet, despite all his individual accolades, his Federals teams never won a title during a career that spanned nearly 2 decades. But, when it comes to those individual stats, McCallister is unparalleled, with all-time career records for carries and rushing yards, retiring 5th in career touchdowns as well.
Fans will, of course, debate between McCallister, Rozier, Walker, Bryant and Eddie George. Each had their own style, their own impact on the game, and their own strengths as running backs. McCallister was not the receiver that George was and was not the inside grinder that Walker or Bryant could be. He was a classic slasher, making one cut and leaving defenders leaning the wrong way. He did retire with 495 receptions and 4,207 yards through the air, so he was certainly not a one-dimensional back. And he could block as well, so in “The Deuce” you got a well-rounded and very productive back, technically the most productive in USFL history.
More rivalry games to spark excitement this week, starting with the Turnpike Classic in Philly as the Generals come to town. This one may not have the drama of a season where both are at the top of the standings, but you still know it will be intense at the Linc on Friday night. The other Friday game includes a matchup of two teams who first faced off in Week 1 of the league’s inaugural season.
Saturday also gives us some great rivalry games, with Baltimore at Washington to renew the Beltway Battle, Dallas and Oklahoma engaged in their own Red River matchup, and the Wranglers headed on their shortest road trip of the year, only 300 miles separating Phoenix from Las Vegas and the Vipers. We also have 2 highly important inter-divisional games on Saturday afternoon, when 5-6 Houston limps into LA to play the 7-4 Express and with 7-4 Memphis hoping to escape the tough home environment in Santa Clara for the 5-6 Oakland Invaders, who need this win to get back in the playoff hunt once again.
Sunday has 4 divisional games, including Charlotte and Atlanta’s budding rivalry, a Cascade Clash between the Stags and Dragons, and two Central Division grudge matches. It is Michigan heading into St. Louis and hoping to knock the rising Skyhawks back down to earth. Then, in the nightcap, it is 10-1 Chicago hoping to put the Ohio Glory in their rear view mirror. A win by the Machine would give them a 5-game lead over Ohio, removing the Glory as a contender for the division title.
Fri. 7pm ET New Jersey (6-5) @ Philadelphia (3-8) NBC
Fri. 7pm ET Tampa Bay (9-2) @ New Orleans (5-6) ESPN/EFN
Sat. 12pm ET Baltimore (7-4) @ Washington (4-6-1) ABC
Sat. 12pm ET Orlando (6-5) @ Pittsburgh (3-8) FOX
Sat. 4pm ET Houston (5-6) @ Los Angeles (7-4) ABC
Sat. 4pm ET Memphis (7-4) @ Oakland (5-6) FOX
Sat. 8pm ET Dallas (5-6) @ Oklahoma (5-5-1) NBC
Sat. 8pm ET Arizona (9-2) @ Las Vegas (4-7) ESPN/EFN
Sun 12pm ET Birmingham (8-3) @ San Antonio (8-3) ABC
Sun 12pm ET Jacksonville (2-9) @ New England (5-6) FOX Regional
Sun 12pm ET Atlanta (3-8) @ Charlotte (4-7) FOX Regional
Sun 4pm ET Denver (4-7) @ San Diego (5-6) ABC Regional
Sun 4pm ET Portland (3-8) @ Seattle (7-4) ABC Regional
Sun 4pm ET St. Louis (8-3) @ Michigan (1-10) FOX
Sun 8pm ET Chicago (10-1) @ Ohio (6-5) EFN
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