2022 USFL Week 14 Recap: Father's Day Delight

It was a Father's Day weekend to celebrate, and what better way than with some great USFL action. More divisional rivalry games, more close games, and a few upsets to throw into the mix in Week 14. We also saw the league's six teams with 6-6 records split their games this weekend, leaving three with a leg up at 7-6 and three in real danger that another loss could end their playoff dreams. That is our big story, reviewing the situation for every team that entered Week 14 at 6-6. We will start there, then run through all of the week's results, look at the potential impact of Cam Newton's potential absence in Week 15, after taking a tough loss in Week 14, and offer our thoughts on five teams that might want to shake things up this offseason. All this, and the 3rd and 4th Greatest Players in USFL history, at least from our estimation. It's all coming up right now.

The Fate of the 6-6 Clubs In Flux

Some started the year strong, racing out to a solid record in the first weeks of the year, only to fade as the heat of summer began to take hold. Others have started to build up their resume over the past few weeks, building on early defeats and winning more games of late. This week we will look at 5 teams that came into the week at 6-6, and one who started at 5-7 but is now putting themselves in the mix. How did they fare and what could it mean for their final 3 games?

New England (7-6): Defeated Birmingham

The injury to Cam Newton helped the Steamrollers put together back-to-back wins to improve from 5-6 to 7-6 and placed them in a 3-way tie atop the Northeast Division with the Blitz and Generals. If all three continue to mix wins with losses, the division winner could be the only club to qualify for the postseason, but if any can win their final 3, they pave their pathway to the playoffs. The good news for the Steamrollers is that of the three they are the club who can control their own destiny. After what should be a solid matchup against Atlanta this week, the Rollers face both New Jersey and Baltimore to finish out the year. They have the Generals at home, but even with a win there, it could come down to a Week 17 road trip to Baltimore to face the Blitz. The goal for New England now should be to win in Atlanta and home against New Jersey, pushing them to 9-6, which may make Week 17 a battle for the division, but not a battle to earn a playoff spot.

Ohio (6-7): Lost to Michigan

Things are looking rough for the Glory, who have now lost 3 in a row and could potentially be eliminated from realistic (if not mathematical) post-season contention with just one more loss. That is not what you want to see when your next three games are against 8-5 Orlando, 10-3 Arizona, and 8-5 Los Angeles, all potential playoff teams who do not present easy matchups for the Glory. Ohio travels to Orlando this week in their last road game of the season. If they can get a win there, then they at least have hope with 2 home games, but a loss to the Renegades and what started out as a very hopeful season in Columbus could fade quickly into a mid-table finish and another year of “building for the future”.

Oakland (7-6): Defeated Los Angeles

We don’t think it is possible to overstate how big the win in LA was for these Invaders. They are still trailing the Express and the Dragons in the division, but they are in range, and even if they cannot pull out a late surge for the division title, they are now solidly in the playoff picture, currently holding the tiebreakers over other 7-6 clubs to earn the final Wild Card spot. That means they control their own destiny moving forward. They finish up with 3 teams currently under .500 (v. Portland, @ Las Vegas, @ New Orleans), but cannot let up. Those two road games to end the year will not be cupcake games, but 9-7, and even 10-6 are not out of the question, and we think either gets the Invaders into the post-season.

Dallas (6-7): Lost to Chicago

The Roughnecks had won 4 in a row, but Chicago is on another level right now. Dallas should shake off that road loss and refocus on their next 3 games. They are still alive, but need help from others as they are a game behind the current 6^th seed (Oakland). The Roughnecks have two tough games coming up with Seattle and Baltimore both coming to town before finishing up with a road game in Denver. The goal has to be to win out, as that seems like their only shot at snagging a Wild Card berth. The problem is that none of those games will likely see Dallas favored, as Denver may be down this year but are always tough playing at Empower Field and will be looking to spoil things for Dallas if the Roughnecks are still in the picture by Week 17.

San Diego (6-7): Lost to Seattle

The Thunder are still alive, which is more than we expected of this club, but they too need to win out and get some help to jump past Dallas and Oakland. That looks like a lot to ask for as they face LA and Birmingham in the next two weeks. Getting to 8-7 before their final week road trip to Portland would be a major coup. It is not impossible, as we have seen San Diego shock some teams, but both LA and Birmingham are in tough division races and are unlikely to dismiss San Diego as an easy win, so the Thunder will need to earn both wins.

Las Vegas (6-7): Defeated Denver

We are adding the Vipers to the mix, though they were 5-7 going into Week 14, because their back-to-back division wins over Arizona and Denver puts them in the middle of the 6-7 cluster of teams only 1 game behind Oakland for that 6^th playoff spot. What is more, in 2 weeks the Vipers will host the Invaders at Wynn Arena, a perfect chance to not only knock Oakland down a peg, but earn a tiebreaker over the Invaders. They have 2-win Michigan first, a must win game for them, but if they can get that win, they will be in position to help themselves immensely with a win over Oakland and then a home finale vs. Oklahoma. 9-7 is very much viable for the Vipers, a record which could get them a Wild Card, and something that should fire them up as they head to Detroit this weekend. For a team that started the year 0-4, and then 1-5, even finishing at 9-7 without a Wild Card would be a great comeback, but a Wild Card would be truly worth celebrating.

OAKLAND INVADERS 23  LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 21

The Oakland Invaders and some form of LA Express have been division rivals since the league first kicked off in 1983, and even though the original Express now live in Las Vegas and the current version has been in LA only since 1995, this is still a rivalry that is always worth the price of admission. The two have played 55 times (with Oakland leading the all-time series 32-23), and this time around it was a vital game for both clubs, with LA hoping to either stay even or move a game above Seattle in the division title race, while Oakland, 2 games back, wanted to get back in the picture and also get themselves into solid Wild Card position by moving over .500 once again.

So, what we had here was a classic rivalry, another great California Derby, between two foes who know each other well, two fanbases who love to hate each other, and two teams that need this win. That means intensity, big plays, and battles at every turn. We got that, plus a bit of West Coast chippiness, with a few skirmishes mixed into the official game action, and 5 lead changes, including 2 in the final 2 minutes of the game. That is just fun football, and when you add in a perfect 73 degree day with a colorful sunset, on Juneteenth and Father’s Day weekend, you get just about the perfect USFL experience.

While the season high LA crowd of 50,303 was loving the weather, the festive atmosphere, and the pre-game mini-concert by La’s own Snoop Dog (a huge USFL fan), the two teams were gearing up for a battle of wills. Once the game started, everything except the action on the field faded away and it was all about those 100 yards of muscle, sweat, and strategy. After a scoreless first quarter that saw both defenses dominate, Oakland took advantage of a nice punt return of 27 yards that put the ball at their own 44. The short field helped the Invaders put points on the board on the drive, moving the ball to the LA 29 before Roberto Aguayo put them up 3-0 to open the game.

The next two possessions, one for each team, produced little aside from a pair of punts, but on their 2^nd possession of the quarter, LA, guided by their new QB, Andy Dalton, found their groove. They Expressed connected on a pair o big plays to get on the board, both involving HB Ty Montgomery. The first was a pitch out that led to a 21-yard run by the elusive back. The second a screen to Montgomery that got great up front blocking, leading to a 23-yard score to put the Express up 7-3 and got the crowd into full voice. Oakland would bounce back with another field goal as the quarter ended, with the scoreboard a 7-6 affair as the teams headed into the locker room.

The Invaders got two huge plays in the 3^rd quarter, turning the tide of the game their way. The first was a sack of Andy Dalton, the first of 8 on the day. It came on a 3^rd and 4. Dalton tried to set up a quick hitter to Jeremy Maclin, but his receiver was blanketed, forcing him to bring the ball back down, and giving Michael Bennett the time he needed to wrap up the Red Rifle and force a punt. That play led to a short field for the Invaders, who took advantage to add a 3^rd field goal and take a narrow 9-7 lead. But the bigger play would come only 3 plays later. With a poor return putting the ball on the LA 11, the Express tried to run the ball out of the shadow of their endzone, but gained only 3 yards. After a false start turned 3^rd and 7 into 3^rd and 12, Dalton made a huge miscalculation, expecting LB Shaq Barrett to follow through on the blitz he was showing. Instead Barrett took a step forward only to back into coverage, just in time to fill the space where TE Jacob Hollister was headed, picking off the Dalton throw and cruising into the endzone for a huge defensive score for Oakland. That score, and the ensuing 2-point play from Mills to Hooper, put them up 17-7 as the 3^rd quarter wound down and the game headed to the 4^th.

Down 10 with only 15 minutes left to play, LA needed a momentum shift. After an early field goal (Aguayo’s 4^th on the day) gave Oakland a 20-7 lead, some fans started heading out, but the diehards, who were more than enough to make some noise, stayed and watched as LA turned the tide. It began with a nice 8-play drive that ended with Paul Perkins plunging into the endzone to pull LA within 6 at 20-14. That score, coming with just over 5 minutes in the half, gave LA hope. A rare fumble by Christian McCaffrey on Oakland’s next possession, gave LA more than hope, it gave them purpose. MLB Keith Rivers had perfectly executed the punch-out of the ball on the play, falling on the ball for the FF/FR combo. That gave LA all they needed to get the crowd into the game. It would take LA 10 plays to move the 39 yards to the endzone, but when Hollywood Brown grabbed a laser throw from Dalton, the game was tied, with Dan Bailey sent out for the PAT that would give LA their first lead of the half.

With 1:47 on the clock, the Express held a narrow 21-20 lead as they kicked off to Oakland. A stand by their vaunted defense and they would move to 9-4 and be guaranteed at worst a share of first place. Oakland would fall to 6-7 and quite possibly be out of any serious playoff hunt. But Oakland was not ready to give up this game or their playoff hopes. They had 107 seconds, 2 timeouts and a pretty good kicker in Roberto Aguayo, who had already given them 12 of their 20 points on the day and who needed only 1 more shot to give them the win.

Oakland went to an interesting alignment, with two backs, Bryce Love and Christian McCaffrey, two receivers, Adams and Floyd, and TE Zach Ertz. It was not the normal hurry up formation, but with two backs and a TE who were outstanding receivers, it gave Oakland a multi-pronged attack through the air. They would run only once on the drive, a ball-positioning run just before their FG attempt. Davis Mills, who had gone 21 of 26 on the day, would go 5 of 6 on this drive. He would mostly hit short passes, good enough to move the ball across the 50 and close in on field goal range. But the play of the game would be a short pass that turned into something special.

It was a simple enough route, a slant from the outside, helped by Zach Ertz running a fly route to produce a natural rub or pick. Malcolm Floyd caught the ball 7 yards form the line of scrimmage, but spun just as the safety came up, and that spin gave him open field ahead. He would race 37 yards downfield before being tripped up by LA corner Jalen Ramsey. That put the ball on the LA 9. With 27 seconds left and LA without any timeouts, Oakland had Bryce Love run the ball to the middle of the field, gaining 5 yards on the effort and placing the ball at PAT range for kicker Roberto Aguayo. The 7-year veteran who had already hit 4 field goals on the day was looking at a 21-yard chip shot. The ball went through as the clock struck double zeroes and the small contingent of Invader fans in the stadium had their moment, while a disappointed Express crowd filed out.

The Express were still well in the playoff mix at 8-5, a game behind Seattle after the Dragon victory over San Diego this weekend, but not feeling good about their situation. Oakland, on the other hand, was now 7-6, 2 games behind Seattle, 1 behind LA, but in the mix for a Wild Card if nothing else. That, combined with an equalizer in their series with the rival Express, has them looking ahead to the next 3 weeks with a lot of optimism.  

TAMPA BAY 16  ATLANTA 13

The Fire shocked many, including Bandits coach Mark Trestman, by finding a way to slow down the Bandits offense, forcing two Dak Prescott picks and limiting Tampa Bay to only 2 of10 on third down, but it was all for naught as Atlanta’s offense was unable to take advantage, falling by 3 despite putting up 10 fourth quarter points. A lone Dez Bryant touchdown and 3 Harrison Butker field goals proved just enough for the Bandits to escape Atlanta with their 11^th win.

POTG: Bandit WR Dez Bryant: 6 Rec, 107 Yds,1 TD

OHIO 24  MICHIGAN 27 OVERTIME

The Panthers finally showed some offensive coherence, with 103 yards from LeVeon Bell and 312 yards from Kirk Cousins as they upset the road favorite Glory at Ford Field. Cousins went to some unexpected targets, throwing TDs to Ryan Izzo and Khari Blasingame to help Michigan pull off the upset despite Justin Fields rushing for 109 and going 18 of 26 for 189 in the game. Down 10 in the 4^th, the Panthers not only evened the score late, but got the win in overtime on a 41-yard Chase McLaughlin field goal.

POTG: Michigan DE Aiden Hutchinson: 7 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 Sck, 1 FR

NEW JERSEY 23  JACKSONVILLE 27

Another upset as Trevor Lawrence survives 6 sacks (3 from General DE Yetur Gross-Matos) to throw for 344 yards and 3 scores as the Bulls knock off New Jersey. Tee Higgins returned to action and caught 3 for 79 and a score, while Mike Williams hauled in 5 for 102 and a TD of his own. Christian Kirk rounded out the TD trio and a late Blankenship field goal gave Jacksonville the 4-point upset victory in front of only 22,018.

POTG: Bulls’ QB Trevor Lawrence: 15/25, 344 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int

ORLANDO 13  CHARLOTTE 12

The Monarchs came close, putting up the first 12 points of the game, but a brutal mistake early in the 4^th quarter cost them the game. Up 12-6, Paxton Lynch forced a ball to Calvin Ridley only to have D. J. Swearinger pick it off and return it 42 yards for what would end up as the game winning score. The Monarchs had a shot late, but a sack of Lynch forced them out of late field goal range and they were forced to attempt a Hail Mary. The play failed and the Renegades hung on to improve to 8-5.

POTG: Orlando FS D. J. Swearinger: 3 Tck, 1 Int, 1 DefTD

WASHINGTON 20  ARIZONA 34

Ka’Deem Carey’s 104 yards helped offset Travis Etienne’s 116 and Ryan Nassib carved up the Federals’ secondary for 319 yards and 3 scores. The one-time “failed” Federal QB went 20 of 32 with both Brandon Aiyuk and DeMarcus Robinson going over 100 yards in a bit of a revenge game for the short-lived Washington starter as Washington rebounded from an upset loss last week and clinched the Southwest Division Title with the win.

POTG: Wrangler QB Ryan Nassib: 20/32, 319 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int

SAN DIEGO 10  SEATTLE 26

San Diego’s winning streak ends at 4 games as the Dragons used 4 Jeffery Harris field goals, a Knowshon Moreno TD run and a Siemian to Funchess TD toss to upend the Thunder. We credit the offense, but it was the defense’s ability to shut down Charles Sims (15 yards on 12 carries) that truly gave Seattle the edge. With Brett Hundley expected to return to action next week, the Dragons are right back in the hunt for the Pacific crown at 9-4.

POTG: Dragon HB Knowshon Moreno: 25 Att, 113 Yds, 1 TD

PHILADELPHIA 20  BALTIMORE 13

The Stars play spoiler with Ryan Lindley stepping in when Carson Wentz went down with a possible dislocated shoulder. Lindley threw for 201 and a TD, avoided turnovers, and found Randall Cobb for a 66-yard strike to shock the Blitz. The Stars’ defense also came up big, holding Josh Jacobs to only 41 yards rushing and keeping Jake Locker off balance all game as Philadelphia keeps Baltimore from taking advantage of the New Jersey loss, retaining a tie atop the division.

POTG: Stars’ QB Ryan Lindley: 13/19, 201 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int

BIRMINGHAM 0  NEW ENGLAND 13

Cam Newton crumbled to the ground on a scramble and that was all she wrote for the Stallions. Newton’s knee was the issue and while Tim Tebow went 10 of 13 in relief, the Stallions never challenged New England. Breece Hall rushed for 108 and Ryan Tannehill found Zay Jones for the only TD of the day as a scoreless first half turned into a Steamroller victory in the third quarter. Newton is doubtful for next week, while New England now joins a 3-way tie atop the NE Division.

POTG: Steamroller HB Breece Hall: 19 Att, 108 Yds

OKLAHOMA 27  PITTSBURGH 34

Where has this offensive production been all year? That is the question Mauler fans are asking after their club put up 34 points, including 3 TD passes from Pickett to Brian Quick. Even the run game was adequate, for perhaps the first time all season. For Oklahoma, a familiar story as Jalen Hurts tried to do it all, though he did get some help from Eddie Lacy’s 108 yards rushing. But, once again it was just not enough as Oklahoma fell behind 34-20 and ran out of time for a comeback.

POTG: Mauler WR Brian Quick: 6 Rec, 120 Yds, 3 TD

SAN ANTONIO 29  MEMPHIS 28

Down 28-16 at the start of the 4^th quarter, Joe Flacco rallied the Gunslingers to victory with a pair of late touchdowns, first finding Julius Thomas to pull within 5 and then hitting rookie Garrett Wilson with the game winner with 1:32 left to play. Up only 1, it was the Gunslinger defense that pulled out the win, forcing a 2^nd Blake Bortles interception thanks to a well-timed blitz. The win moves San Antonio into a tie atop the South, while sending Memphis 2 games back and likely into Wild Card territory.

POTG: San Antonio QB Joe Flacco: 28/35, 275 Yds, 3 TD, 2 Int

DALLAS 14  CHICAGO 27

The Machine just keeps producing wins, the defense again the star as Chicago holds Dallas to 219 total yards and only 61 yards rushing. The Machine picked off Justin Herbert twice, including a pick-six from Jason Verritt as they overcome an early 14-0 deficit and score the game’s final 27 points to claim victory again. TDs from OBJ and rookie Rachaad White helped pave the way for the 12-1 Machine.

POTG: Chicago CB Jason Verritt: 5 Tck, 3 PDef, 1 Int, 1 DefTD

ST. LOUIS 30  PORTLAND 10

Portland proved no challenge for the Skyhawks, with QB Lamar Jackson throwing for 2 scores and running a third in. The Stags actually outgained St. Louis 369-314, but never led in the game, with 3 Mariota picks sealing the deal for the Skyhawks. The win is St. Louis’s 10^th on the season and has them on the verge of clinching a playoff spot for the first time in nearly a decade.

POTG: St. Louis QB Lamar Jackson: 14/20, 204 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int, 9 Att, 16 Yds, 1 TD

NEW ORLEANS 16  HOUSTON 13

Believe it or not, Houston was down to their 4^th QB in this game as Kellen Clemons went down late, sacked 6 times. Practice squad QB John Williamson came in, completed 2 passes but also threw 2 interceptions in the 4^th quarter to help New Orleans retain their lead and move out of the basement of the Southern Division.

POTG: Breaker QB Geno Smith: 18/35, 339 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int

DENVER 17  LAS VEGAS 27

Viper backs combined for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns, Gardner Minshew found TE Ricky Seal-Jones for another, and the Denver offense sputtered with Golden Tate sidelined. Josh Allen completed only 11 of 25 passing for 174 yards and the Gold simply could not keep pace with the Vipers, dropping Denver to 4-9 and near certain playoff elimination just one year after winning the division.

POTG: Viper LT Gabe Carimi: 12 Pancakes, 0 Sacks allowed

Newton Out, Birmingham Down

It was not the diagnosis that everyone feared. No ACL tear, no MCL damage, just a dislocation of the patella without ligament or tendon damage, easily treated, but it was enough to knock Cam Newton out of the game and make his status for a Week 15 matchup against Houston very uncertain. And, what was worse, it was enough to completely shut down the Birmingham offense against a very solid New England Steamroller defense. Newton’s departure from the game in the 2^nd quarter, just 2:02 before halftime, not only shut down a promising Stallion drive, but meant that the Stallions would go into a 2^nd half of a scoreless game without their playmaker.

Tim Tebow came into the game before the half but could not put points on the board. That would be the story for the rest of the game, with New England frustrating Tebow and the Stallions all game long. Birmingham would not cross the Steamroller 40, nor try even a field goal all game long. The Birmingham defense did their best to keep them in the game, but even a meager 13 points from the Steamrollers in the 2^nd half proved sufficient to win the game and produce a rare shutout for a USFL team. And now, with a division rival coming to town in Week 15, the Stallions, who still sit atop the Southern Division, must hope they can get their backup ready to go because even a single loss down the stretch could be the difference between a bye week and home playoff game and a possible road trip in the Wild Card round.

Lawrence Leads Upset Minded Bulls

To say 2022 has been a disappointing campaign for both QB Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Bulls as a whole would be an understatement. Losers of 5 straight and sitting at 2-10, the Bulls have been one of the most disappointing teams of the season. The blame is not Lawrence’s. In his 2^nd season he has looked solid, throwing for over 2,900 yards, earning a 103 QB Rating, well above his 84.8 rookie campaign, and with 19 touchdowns, Lawrence had done what he could. But the league’s worst defense (30^th in both points allowed and yards allowed) and a run game that never materialized (28^th in the league) have made the 2022 campaign a big letdown form preseason hopes.

That frustration got a nice venting this week as Lawrence helped the Bulls pull off a major upset over New Jersey. With three TDs and 344 yards passing, it was one of the Bull QB’s best games of the year. He hit Mike Williams, Christian Kirk, and Tee Higgins for scores, showing that the Bulls do have weapons outside. He also got help from a defense that has done little all year, with a pair of drive-killing sacks against Teddy Bridgewater, a timely interception that avoided a New Jersey field goal in the 3^rd, and a nice stop in the final minute of action to preserve the win. The bulls have 3 games left in a pretty dismal 2022 campaign, but if they can muster a couple of wins in the season’s final weeks, perhaps Coach Vrabel and the club can go into the offseason with some hope and with a strong plan to improve the defense, get 2022 rookie James Cook more space in the run game, and maybe come out stronger in 2023.

Panthers Pounce on Stumbling Ohio

If Jacksonville has been a disappointment, the 2022 Michigan Panthers have been more like an abject failure. This was a team that many picked to win the Central Division, but that team has just not shown up. Coming into the week at 1-11, with an ugly 11-game losing streak following their Week 1 victory over Charlotte, the Panthers have been brutal to watch. Their offense rarely topping 20 points, their defense unable to contain even modest rushing attacks, and the club shooting themselves in the foot time and time again.

That was the scene as the Panthers hosted rival Ohio at Ford Field. But Ohio, who came in on an 0-3 slump of their own, were perhaps the perfect foils for the desperate Panther squad. The rivalry status of the game helped boost Panther attendance back over 45,000 for the first time in 5 home games. The energy from the fans was there, and the Glory seemed to be as bumbling and unfortunate as the Panthers. The combination was just what Michigan needed.

LeVeon Bell put in 103 yards, Kirk Cousins made a few key plays, and the Panther defense, despite giving up 109 yards and a TD to Justin Fields’ feet, did not allow the Glory to get the early upper hand. They built a 14-0 lead in the first half, fell behind 24-14, in head-slapping manner, but then rallied, scoring the final 13 points of the game to pull out a 27-24 victory and end their horrific losing streak at 11 games. They still hold a 1-game lead over Portland, Jacksonville, and Atlanta for the 1^st pick in this year’s draft, a huge prize due to the change in draft rules that remove the T-Draft as a separate entity and put more value on the early picks of the Open Draft. It is a small consolation for a lost season, but the feeling of beating a rival and still getting that first pick may be all Michigan has to hold onto right now.

A big week in the USFL playoff picture as 2 more teams punch their ticket for the postseason and 2 more are officially out of the running. Arizona locked up the Southwest Division at 10-3, 4 games up on their closest rival. Tampa Bay also locked up the Southeast Title and now have a 2-game lead over the Stallions for the 1 seed. Meanwhile, close races in the Southern and Northeastern Divisions, with Birmingham currently holding the tie-breaker over San Antonio, while New Jersey, Baltimore, and New England all sit at 7-6 in the Northeast. In the Pacific, Seattle holds a tenuous 1-game lead over the LA Express, while both Oakland and San Diego remain in the Wild Card mix.

Denver and Portland join the Panthers, Bulls, Fire, and Stars as teams playing out the string, eliminated from playoff contention. Pittsburgh’s upset win this week keeps them alive for one more week, while Houston, Charlotte, and Oklahoma still hold hopes for a 3-game sweep and a shot at a Wild Card at 8-8 (8-7-1 in Oklahoma’s case.)

A very light week around the league with no new IR additions and the most serious issue being a quad injury to Brandon Pettigrew that could be 2-4 weeks. But, look deeper at the list and what you see are some injuries that are sure to impact the big Chicago-St. Louis showdown in the Central Division. The Skyhawks will be without WR Allen Robinson, and could also be missing LB Christian Sam, while Chicago knows that G Patrick Omameh is out, but are hoping they can get CB Josh Norman ready to go, because he would be a big absence in that Machine secondary, especially with the Skyhawks looking to exploit the passing game.

OUT

TE     Brandon Pettigrew  CHA      Torn Quad        2-4 Weeks

LB           Aaron Wallace         LA          Arm                      1-2 Weeks

WR         Allen Robinson       STL         Abdomen                1-2 Weeks

G            Patrick Omameh     CHI        Neck                       1-2 Weeks

TE           Kyle Pitts              STL         Shoulder                  1-2 Weeks

DOUBTFUL

LB           Christian Sam                  STL         Concussion

C             Bradley Bozeman           MGN     Hernia

CB          Ronald Darby               PIT         Turf Toe

QB         Cam Newton                BIR         Knee

CB          Josh Norman                CHI        Concussion

QUESTIONABLE

DE          Adrian Clayborn         JAX         Concussion

LB           Bobby Wagner              OAK      Knee

HB         Chris Carson               ORL       Pinched Nerve

Five Teams that Need to Shake Things Up for 2023

Every offseason there are teams trying to build on what they have in place, others just beginning to put the pieces together, and others who need to blow it all up and consider starting from scratch. And, though you would expect that these are all teams at the bottom of the standings and on their way to an early draft pick, that is not always the case. Sometimes it is a team that has gotten as far as they can get with their current identity, roster, and style of play, even if that is a regular playoff spot. So, who do we think needs to give serious thought to a reboot? Here are 5 teams our crew agrees could use some shaking up, from the top down to the bottom.

Denver Gold (4-9)

Yes, the Gold were 12-4 last year, but this season has shown just how fragile that success was. We love Josh Allen, but not the offense that Coach Hufnagel has him in. They already blew up their run game mid-season, but even so, they may want to do a lot of reworking, from the defense (at every level) the receiver group, the HB options, and, perhaps most importantly, at the OC position. We think Coach Hufnagel can get them back to a division title, but not with the conservative way they have been using Allen. They need to get him out of the pocket more, plan some runs, send somebody deep on occasion. With Golden Tate turning 37 this offseason, the time is now to reinvent the passing game, find the next Garrett Wilson or Christian Watson, add some dynamism and unpredictability to the offense, oh, and maybe consider getting a true playmaker at the tailback position, maybe a Bijan Robinson (Texas) or Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama) in the draft. 

Ohio Glory (6-7)

The Glory are not a bad team, not a great team, they are just stuck in the middle. There are players we love, like QB Justin Fields, WR Terry McLaurin, and FS Mark Barron, but Ohio, like Denver is just too conservative on both sides of the ball. The fact that Fields is leading the team in rusining is an obvious sign that tailback needs some attention, but with a huge drop off after McLaurin, receiver is another area where more “pop” is needed. The Glory have a steady defense, (10^th in the league in both scoring and yards allowed) but lack the big playmaker who can destroy an offensive gameplan. We would recommend perhaps looking for a more aggressive defensive coordinator, focusing free agency on an edge rusher or blitzing LB, and then maybe a HB in the draft. Or flip that if any true lead backs come out in free agency, and use what seems destined to be a mid-round draft pick to look at a defensive playmaker like Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson or Georgia’s Nolan Smith.

Oakland Invaders (7-6)

Can Oakland actually finish with a record other than 8-8? The Invaders have been stuck in neutral for 3 years, all 8-8, and this year has great capacity to finish the same. Coach Kubiak could be gone if that happens, but more might be needed. We are OK with the year that Davis Mills has put together, and the combo of Bryce Love and Christian McCaffery looks solid, but what if the Invaders used the trading block to ship off McCaffrey, invest in Love, and get a ton of value for their star back? That might help them address needs at WR and across the line, and maybe get them a young DE who can rotate in for the aging Vinny Curry and Michael Bennett. Some speed at corner would also help the league’s 26^th ranked defense. That and a new energy seem needed in Oakland, where mediocre has gotten too comfortable. 

New Jersey Generals (7-6)

Getting rid of Norv Turner 2 years ago to bring in Robert Saleh was supposed to add toughness, aggression, and energy to a Generals team that lacked all three. But 2 years into Saleh’s tenure in East Rutherford and what do we see? 7-6 this year, 9-7 last year. Not much different from 7-8-1 in 2020, 9-7 in 2019, 9-6-1 in 2018. The Generals are not a bad team, but they are a team that does not seem to improve year to year. We think Saleh is fine, but something else is needed. Maybe it is a new OC, someone who can maximize Teddy Bridgewater’s talents, or maybe the issue is that neither Bridgewater, nor his predecessor, Nick Foles, is the kind of playmaker that a team needs to be dynamic on offense. The Generals have needs on defense, but they also just need someone who gives the team energy. OBJ used to do that before he got disillusioned and eventually traded. They need someone to shake things up for sure. 

Baltimore Blitz (7-6)

Again, not a bad team, but the Blitz have finished 9-7 each of the past 3 years and, like Oakland, a 4-peat of the same record does not feel good. Pair that with going 1-and-done the past two years in the playoffs and you have to wonder what the Blitz can do to get out of their solid, but still unsatisfying rut. We might go big, and say that the time has come to put someone else at the helm. Jim Caldwell’s record in Baltimore is a solid 83-58), but he has not reached 10 wins since 2015 and the Blitz don’t look like they are a true contender this year either. We also think they have been “getting by” with Jake Locker at QB. We all know he is no Big Ben Roethlisberger, and he certainly has not been a disaster, but imagine what Baltimore could do with Josh Jacobs, Christian Watson, Michael Pittman Jr., C. J. Uzomah and a QB with the flair of a Lamar Jackson, Justin Fields, or even Josh Allen. Could Alabama’s Bryce Young be that guy? What about C. J. Stroud from Ohio State, or even Anthony Richards of Florida. Now may be the time to think bigger than 9-7.

40 Greatest in USFL’s 40 Seaons: 3-4

We are coming down to the wire, the best of the best, and this week that includes our top-ranked quarterback and halfback of all time. Yup, the top 2 positions will not be the 2 historical glamour positions of quarterback and tailback. Those spots are held at number 3 and number 4. We expect that if you have been following our ranking you have a very good idea who those two USFL icons are. And while you may not agree with our rankings, you at least recognize that these two players are iconic stars whose impact on the league was enormous, both on the field and well beyond. So, here they are, the greatest Quarterback and Halfback in 40 years of USFL football.

4) QB Kerry Collins (1998-2009)

The top QB in our ranking comes in at number 4, with a league record career QB Rating of 113.6. Kerry Collins does not lead the league in career yardage (8^th), or passing touchdowns (3^rd), largely because he played only 12 seasons in Ohio, but no player has been more efficient or more productive. Look at season-by-season records and you find Collins’ name twice in the Top 5 for passing TDs in a season (52 in 2003, 51 in 2001), with the 3^rd best yardage output ever (5,466 in 2001), and 4 of the top 10 QB Rating seasons of all time, including a massive 143.6 QBR in the 2003 season.

But, of course, what most people think of when they think of Collins and his Ohio Glory teams was the 2-year run in 2002-2003 in which Collins led the Glory to an unbeaten 14-0 season in 2002 with a clean run to a title and the USFL’s only perfect season, only to return the next year, going 11-3, but repeating as champions for the first time in league history. Yes, those Glory teams had talent across the roster, including the “Triple Threat” of HB Eddie George, WR Joey Galloway, and Collins, but it is the QB who tends to get the credit, and deservedly so with the offense that Ohio had in that run. You can debate a lot of things about the QB position, and you may prefer Brett Favre, Jim Kelly or Troy Aikman as the GOAT of USFL QB’s, but it is hard to argue with perfection, which is what Collins and the Glory showed in 2002.

3) HB Herschel Walker (1983-1995)

Any player who can set a league record in 1983 and have it hold up 40 years later, well, that must be some special player. Herschel Walker is that and more for the USFL. For many he is the reason the league exists at all. It is impossible to oversell how important the signing of Walker was to the USFL in 1983. An absolute stud at Georgia, widely recognized as the best player in college football since his freshman year, Walker followed up a Heisman winning junior year by stepping out of the NCAA and into a New Jersey Generals uniform for the USFL, a league willing to sign the junior when the NFL would not. That move started a wave of signings, including 3 straight Heisman winners, that helped give the league legitimacy and star power.

But that signing would not have meant much had Walker not panned out as a pro, but did he ever. With Walker’s 1,767 yards in 1983 set a league record which has amazingly stood ever since, despite challenges from some of the best backs the league has ever produced. Walker followed up that record-setting rookie year with 10 more 1,000-yard seasons, nine All-USFL seasons, and a league title in 1989 that also saw Walker win the MVP and Playoff MVP for an impressive upgrade to his trophy room. Still one of the most popular and sought-after USFL faces of all time, Walker is about as big a star as the league has ever produced and remains an icon of the game and the league. So, who could possibly be ahead of him in our rankings?

Week 15 has 8 of 15 games with division foes going toe to to, starting Friday night when San Antonio heads to the Super Dome to face the New Orleans Breakers. The other Friday game could be a must-win for the homestanding Dallas Roughnecks, sitting at 6-7 and knowing that 8 losses could kill any Wild Card hopes.

Saturday has more divisional matchups like Houston at Birmingham, LA @ San Diego, and the Bulls in Tampa Bay to face the Bandits, but the game we are keeping an eye on is in Memphis, where the 7-6 Showboats host the 7-6 Baltimore Blitz. Neither club can afford a loss right now, so this could be a real slobberknocker of a game.

Sunday is a mix of divisional and interdivisional games, but only 1 game features two teams with winning records. That game, Sunday night’s EFN showdown between 12-1 Chicago and 10-3 St. Louis should be huge. The homestanding Skyhawks can pull within a game of the Central Division lead with a win, but the Machine are primed to capture that division crown, and a win against the ‘Hawks would get the job done and let them focus on securing the 1 seed and possibly resting some starters down the stretch.

Fri. 7pm ET       San Antonio (9-4) @ New Orleans (6-7)           NBC

Fri. 7pm ET         Seattle (9-4) @ Dallas (6-7)                             ESPN/EFN

Sat. 12pm ET     Ohio (6-7) @ Orlando (8-5)                               ABC

Sat. 12pm ET   Jacksonville (3-10) @ Tampa Bay (11-2)          FOX

Sat. 4pm ET      Los Angeles (8-5) @ San Diego (6-7)              ABC

Sat. 4pm ET       Philadelphia (4-9) @ Denver (4-9)                     FOX

Sat. 8pm ET       Baltimore (7-6) @ Memphis (7-6)                  NBC

Sat. 8pm ET      Houston (5-8) @ Birmingham (9-4)                  ESPN/EFN

Sun 12pm ET   Washington (5-7-1) @ New Jersey (7-6)        ABC

Sun 12pm ET     New England (7-6) @ Atlanta (3-10)                FOX Regional

Sun 12pm ET     Pittsburgh (4-9) @ Charlotte (5-8)                  FOX Regional

Sun 4pm ET      Portland (3-10) @ Oakland (7-6)                     ABC Regional

Sun 4pm ET       Las Vegas (6-7) @ Michigan (2-11)                 ABC Regional

Sun 4pm ET      Oklahoma (5-7-1) @ Arizona (10-3)                 FOX

Sun 8pm ET      Chicago (12-1) @ St. Louis (10-3)                    EFN