2022 USFL Week 16 Recap: Down to the Wire
- USFL LIVES
- 4 hours ago
- 36 min read
We are coming down to the wire, the finish line in sight, and while Week 16 gave us some answers, there are still questions out there and playoff scenarios to be played out in the season’s final week. So, what did we learn this week? We learned the identity of the NE Division Champs, and that Oakland will finish out the Western Conference playoff roster. We learned that Tampa Bay is focused, forceful, and fully capable of making a run for an unprecedented threepeat. We also learned that at least 2 division races and 2 playoff spots will be up for grabs when Week 17 kicks off. Our coverage kicks off with a show of force from the Bandits, as they rested their “Big 3” offensive weapons and still dominated the Chicago Machine in Chicago, a sign that perhaps no one is on Tampa’s level right now. We will break down all 15 games from the weekend, take a look at what is at stake in the season’s final week, and give you a bonus 40th Season list, our ranking of the Top 10 Head Ball Coaches in USFL history, another list that is sure to produce some controversy and plenty of debate. It’s all coming to you right here, so let’s get to it.
Bandits Build Case for the Threepeat
If there was any doubt about who should be seen as the favorite to hoist the John Bassett Trophy in D.C. this August, the Tampa Bay Bandits just wiped it out. The Bandits just went into Chicago and handily defeated the Chicago Machine with one hand tied behind their back. It was about as impressive a display of depth, quality, and domination as we have seen from a team in years. Chicago, who went into the game at full strength and with an identical 12-2 record as the Bandits had to come out of it feeling like the season, and their sense of self, was slipping away.
A 31-16 loss is bad regardless of the particular situation in the game, but for each team the final score sent a very different message. For Tampa Bay, who had decided to rest some starters now, rather than in Week 17, the clear message was that they were a very good, very deep team who could challenge even the best competition and come out on top even when they were not at full strength. For Chicago, coming off a loss in St. Louis, and now giving up back-to-back 30+ point games, when in their prior 13 games they had never given up more than 27 (Oakland), and only on that one occasion given up more than 20, well, the message could well be that they peaked too soon and now could face some real struggles.
Chicago’s confidence has to be shot after back-to-back losses, while Tampa Bay has to feel like the threepeat is now a probability if not an inevitability. The Bandits, hoping to stagger how they rested players, opted to go without their star QB, HB, and WR in this game, with the expectation that they would play in Week 17 to avoid rust, before their Wild Card round bye. So, without Dak Prescott, Dalvin Cook, and Dez Bryant, they went into Chicago expecting to show the Machine little, safe in their already assured 1-seed in the East. What they showed the Machine was actually quite different, a winning strategy that is sure to send shivers across the league as playoff teams from coast to coast are forced to recognize how good this team is.
Even without their three biggest offensive stars, Tampa Bay took a 24-7 halftime lead and never let Chicago get within 10. Matt Coral threw only 15 passes, but completed 12 and connected with Ryan Grant on a 24-yard strike. Halfbacks Matt Breida and Bobby Rainey combined for 138 yards, with Rainey scoring only his 3rd TD of the season in the game. The defense, which was at full strength, held the Machine run game to a paltry 40 total yards and picked off Sam Bradford twice, including a Jalen Ramsey pick-six in the 2nd half, putting the icing on the cake for the Bandits.
It was about as dominant performance as we have seen this year, including Arizona’s 42-0 trouncing of Oklahoma. And that it was done to the presumptive 1-seed in the West tells us that this Bandit team is poised to defend their title for the 2nd year in a row, and deep enough to withstand even a major injury in the playoffs. Coach Trestman has this team believing they are the best team in the league, but not taking their opponents for granted. Tampa Bay will finish their season with a home game against 3-win Atlanta, a game when we should expect several other key players to get a week of rest, including defenders like corners Asante Samuel and Jalen Ramsey, SS Derwin James, and LB DeMeco Ryans. We expect to see DE Brian Burns in action as he is chasing the sack title for the season and has only a 1-sack advantage over Orlando’s Montez Sweat.
Jackson
For Chicago, they have the Central Division title wrapped up thanks to tiebreakers, but a loss could cost them home field advantage and the 1-seed as the Arizona Wranglers are in position to snap both up if they can get a win and the Machine slip in Week 17’s home finale against Charlotte. A 3-game losing streak going into the playoffs is certainly not what the Machine want, as their confidence cannot be high after getting knocked off by the Skyhawks and then knocked down by the Bandits.
ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 27 ORLANDO RENEGADES 30 OVERTIME
While the Tampa Bay-Chicago clash was the biggest draw of the weekend, bringing in the highest TV ratings in the history of the ESPN/EFN Saturday Night Football broadcast, it proved not to be the tightest or even the most energetic game of the weekend. That honor goes to an inter-conference matchup between two very good playoff teams both trying to peak at the right time and make a run deep into the postseason.
The St. Louis Skyhawks, fresh off a huge home win over Chicago, headed to Orlando to take on a Renegades squad that has won 5 in a row and 6 of their last 7, rising up the standings and securing a Wild Card. Both teams have had breakout seasons from some key figures, like QB Lamar Jackson and WR Deionte Johnson for the Skyhawks and HB Chris Carson and CB Michael Jackson for the Renegades, and both have proven more than capable of taking on the favorites in their conferences. In this game they would take on each other and produce a high-energy showdown of East v. West.
We got the usual slow start for an interconference game, with both teams very much unfamiliar with each other despite all the film study. The only points of the opening period came on a Mason Crosby field goal, the result of a poor punt from St. Louis and a short field for the Renegades. St. Louis would open the 2nd quarter by getting those points back, with Skyhawk kicker Zane Gonzalez connecting from 47. Not to be outdone, Orlando responded with a drive of their own and Renegade kicker Mason Crosby knocked the ball home from 50 to again give the homestanding Renegades a 3-point advantage.
Both St. Louis and Orlando focused on a balanced attack in the first half, with Chris Carson getting 11 carries for 51 yards while James Conner had 6 carries for 23 and QB Lamar Jackson rushed the ball 4 times for 17 yards. The first TD of the game would come from the Renegades as they got the ball back from the Skyhawks with 2:23 to play in the half. They used only 4 plays, fueled by the first big-gainer of the game, a 43-yard connection between Russell Wilson and former Portland Stag Josh Gordon. That put the ball deep in St. Louis territory, and another NFL import, Tarik Cohen, took it from there, sliding through a gap in the line, juking the linebacker and racing 17 yards for the score. The Skyhawks would get their 2nd field goal just as the half ended, but that Cohen score gave Orlando the 13-6 advantage at the half.
It was an advantage that would grow in the 3rd quarter as Tarik Cohen again found the endzone, this time leaping over the pile from the 1 to give Orlando a seemingly insurmountable 20-3 lead with 2:17 left in the 3rd. St. Louis, however, did not feel that the lead was too much to handle. They put together a quick scoring drive of their own, with Lamar Jackson connecting with David Nelson for 30 yards, then Jakobi Meyers for 26 more before James Conner had his own goalline leap for 6. Down 7, St. Louis decided to go big, surprising Orlando with an onside kick from the standard deep kick formation. The trick play worked, with WR Hakeem Butler recovering the pooch kick and giving the Skyhawks the ball only 50 yards away from a game-tying touchdown.
Butler would once again show up big 6 plays later, taking in the pass from Lamar Jackson for that game-tying score. Jackson had escaped a possible sack from Montez Sweat, rolled, pivoted, changed directions and found Butler in the endzone for the score. What had been a 20-6 advantage was now a 20-20 deadlock with 9:28 left to play.
The Renegades regrouped, slowed down the action, trusted in their run game, and that trust paid off with Chris Carson busting runs of 8, 10, and 17 on the next possession. But with the ball again deep in St. Louis territory, Carson came out and Tarik Cohen came in. The elusive back caught a short flat pass from Wilson and scampered to the endzone, diving over the pylon just as he was knocked out of bounds. The refs called it a score, the replay confirmed the call, and Orlando was back on top with 4:54 left on the clock.
You know that nearly 5 minutes is just too much time to feel good about a 7-point lead. St. Louis knew it too and they moved the ball effectively, racking up 3 first downs and then catching Orlando overplaying James Conner's run to the left. The Renegades nailed Conner behind the line, but the problem was that he did not have the ball, QB Lamar Jackson had it, and with a nice juke move on CB Kevin Johnson he had the sideline. Twenty-seven yards down the field and into the endzone to once again even up the score. St. Louis had come back again.
But, just as we knew that 5 minutes left too much time for St. Louis, Orlando getting the ball back with nearly 2 full minutes and 2 timeouts also felt like too much time. It could have been as well, but Russell Wilson, who is still criticized quite often for forcing the ball, did just that as he crossed midfield. A pass intended for Nelson Agholor found CB Damian Swann instead, giving St. Louis the ball at their own 33 with just under 50 seconds to play.
When Lamar Jackson’s first two passes fell to the ground, the Skyhawks opted to kill some clock, running the ball on 3rd down and punting to Orlando with 17 seconds on the clock. Orlando took a knee and we headed to overtime. Orlando won the toss, much to the delight of the more than 48,000 on hand for this game. But, when the Skyhawks shut down the Renegades on their own 44, there was no choice but to punt. St. Louis watched as the kick bounced and then rolled to the endzone.
St. Louis started on their own 25, moved the ball to the 48, but they too struggled to convert on a key third down and were also forced to punt. With both teams having possessed the ball, we were now in a sudden death situation, and Orlando knew that a field goal would be enough for them to earn the win. They were cautious, almost too cautious, but when A. J. Epenesa jumped at the snap count, the free play allowed Wilson to improvise, rolling to his right, pumping to get the linebacker up in the air, and then throwing the ball sidearm to Hunter Renfrew for a 14-yard gain and a first down inside Mason Crosby’s range. Orlando would run the ball on the next 3 plays, gaining another 9 yards, but on 4th and 1, they opted to let their kicker send the game to bed.
Mason Crosby knocked the ball through and the Renegades improved to 10-5, placing themselves solidly in 4th place in the East, which would mean a home playoff game in the Wild Card round, the best Orlando could hope for as they were still 3 games behind Tampa in their division. St. Louis dropped to 11-4, which gave the division to the Chicago Machine, but also meant that St. Louis would need only a Week 17 win to lock up their own 4-seed ranking and their own home game in the Wild Card round.
SCORES
SEATTLE 28 HOUSTON 21
The Gamblers held their own against the Dragons, tying the game early in the 4th before Knowshon Moreno gave Seattle the win on a 7-yard TD run in the final minutes of action. Moreno led Seattle with 100 yards on 30 carries, while Brett Hundley found Devin Funchess, Jack Doyle, and Greg Jones for scores in a tough inter-conference road win.
POTG: Dragon QB Brett Hundley: 27/36, 271 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
WASHINGTON 14 PHILADELPHIA 17
A good game between two clubs playing for pride. Derrick Henry was held to only 52 rushing yards, but scored both touchdowns for the Stars, who held off a late Washington drive to preserve the win. Philadelphia played most of the game with Jeff Tuel at QB after Jacoby Brissett was out early after catching a finger to the eye.
POTG: Stars DE Danielle Hunter: 6 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 Sck
BALTIMORE18 DALLAS 26
The Blitz drop their 4th in a row and drop out of playoff contention after the loss in Big D. Josh Jacobs had a good game, averaging 9.2 YPC for 110 yards on only12 touches, but it was not enough as Samaje Perine and Duke Johnson combined for174 yards rushing and the Roughneck D picked off Jake Locker 3 times to improve the Roughneck record to 7-8.
POTG: Dallas CB Ja’Sir Taylor: 4 Tck, 2 Int
ARIZONA 18 OHIO 0
The Wranglers complete back-to-back shutouts as their defense holds Ohio to a miserable 4 first downs and only 2 of 14 on third down in a game that clearly showed the difference between a team gearing up for a deep playoff run and another which is playing out the string after being eliminated from contention. Ohio held Justin Fields out of the game and Deshone Kizer was unable to get anything going, throwing for only 93 yards in the game.
POTG: Arizona WR Brandon Aiyuk: 5 Rec, 131 Yds
PORTLAND 12 LOS ANGELES 20
The Express built up a 20-3 lead in the first half, thanks to a Jamar Taylor pick-six and a Dalton TD to Austin Pettis. From their they coasted to their 10th win and a chance to snatch the Pacific title away from Seattle next week. Paul Perkins came up big for the LA offense, rushing for 66 yards and catching a 53-yard pass to help LA earn a big early lead. Marcus Mariota’s 2 picks and 3 fumbles by the Stags were a big part of a rough day for Portland as the LA defense focused on takeaways.
POTG: LA corner Jamar Taylor: 7 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD, 2 FF, 2 FR
BIRMINGHAM 9 SAN DIEGO 14
A bad road loss for the Stallions as San Diego played spoiler and Cam Newton still did not look like he was back to form after missing 2 games. Newton completed only 19 of 45 passes and ended up with only 7 yards rushing as the Thunder held Birmingham without a touchdown. San Diego only had 6 first downs to Birmingham’s 17, but a 39-yard Charles Sims run was enough to put them over the top and potentially cost Birmingham the Southern Division title and a chance at a bye in the postseason.
POTG: San Diego DE Malik Jackson: 4 Tck, 3 TFL, 1 FF
NEW ORLEANS 24 MEMPHIS 7
A big win for the visiting Breakers keeps them alive in the Wild Card hunt while hurting Memphis’s chances for the postseason. The Breaker defense allowed 23 Memphis first downs but forced 3 takeaways, while DeMarco Murray rushed for 130 yards and a TD to help New Orleans outpace their division rivals. Neither QB looked sharp in this one, with Geno Smith going 7 of 17 for only 84 yards, but it was Blake Bortles’ picks that set up 2 of the 3 Breaker TDs and gave the game to the visitors.
POTG: New Orleans LB Jerome Baker: 4 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int
TAMPA BAY 31 CHICAGO 16
A statement game for the Bandits, as we have elaborated, as they rested several key offensive starters and still defeated the Western Conference leaders handily. With Dalvin Cook resting, Matt Breida and Bobby Rainey combined for 138 yards and a TD, while Matt Corral went 12 of 15 as Tampa Bay built up a 24-7 halftime lead and held Chicago at bay all game, the defense giving up only a lone touchdown and 3 field goals.
POTG: Bandit CB Jalen Ramsey: 8 Tck, 2 Int, 1 Def TD
JACKSONVILLE 38 ATLANTA 32
It was a meaningless game between two 3-win teams, and only 23,057 were at Mercedes Benz Stadium to watch it, but this was a fun one as the Bulls and Fire put up 70 combined points and over 800 combined yards in a shootout. Trevor Lawrence threw for 317 yards and 4 scores, Kyler Murray 299 and 2 scores as both teams took advantage of each other’s defensive issues. Bulls fans may actually be upset, as the win means they will likely pick later than Atlanta in January’s draft.
POTG: Bulls’ QB Trevor Lawrence: 17/23, 317 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int
CHARLOTTE 7 SAN ANTONIO 17
The Gunslingers take over 1st in the South and control their own destiny next week, with a possible 2 seed and a bye on the table, thanks to their solid win over visiting Charlotte and the Stallion’s tough loss in San Diego. Both Raheem Mostert and Melvin Gordon scored as the two combined for 83 yards rushing and 3 receptions for 22 yards. The Gunslinger offense was outgained by Charlotte, largely due to Paxton Lynch connecting with rookie Drake London 7 times, but they held the Monarchs out of the endzone and got the W they needed to clinch their first playoff appearance.
POTG: San Antonio CB Michael Carter Jr: 7 Tck, 3 PDef, 1 Int
NEW JERSEY 34 NEW ENGLAND 24
The Generals survive 3 Teddy Bridgewater picks, thanks mostly to a horrible 5-interception day form Ryan Tannehill. The win gives them the division title and put New England’s playoff hopes in serious doubt. Lano Hill had a pick six, and was one of 5 Generals to come down with a Tannehill pass in a game the Steamroller QB will have trouble shaking off. New Jersey took the lead midway through the 2nd and never relinquished it, earning their first division title since 2018.
POTG: New Jersey SS Lano Hill: 9 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 PDef, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
DENVER 21 OKLAHOMA 27
Josh Allen left the game with a hip pointer and Denver used 3 quarterbacks but none could come close to matching Jalen Hurts’s numbers: 20 of 30 for 178 and a TD, and, oh, by the way, 184 rushing yards on 18 attempts, a 10.2 YPC average that included a 17-yard TD run and 10 of Oklahoma’s 21 first downs in the game. C. J. Prosise was the bright spot for Denver, rushing for 147 against a tired Oklahoma defense, but in the end Hurts’s production was too much as the Outlaws get the win that will keep them from a 10-loss season.
POTG: Outlaw QB Jalen Hurts: 20/30, 178 Yds, 1 TD, 18 Att, 184 Yds, 1 TD
OAKLAND 26 LAS VEGAS 20
Oakland headed down to Sin City knowing this was a “play in” game, and they did what had to be done to get that playoff ticket. Las Vegas outgained the Invaders but could not find the game winner when they needed it. Oakland got 2 TDs from QB Davis Mills and a solid 128 yards form scrimmage from Christian McCaffrey, including a 48-yard touchdown on a well-timed screen pass. Oakland would score on all 4 possessions in the 3rd quarter, turning a 13-7 deficit into a 26-13 advantage and an eventual playoff-clinching win.
POTG: Oakland LB Bobby Wagner: 8 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 PDef, 1 Int, 1 FF
PITTSBURGH 23 MICHIGAN 34
The Panthers turned their season-long frustration onto the Maulers, playing like they were contending for a division title and not the 1st draft pick. LeVeon Bell rushed for 116 and a TD for Michigan. The Panther defense, while allowing 136 yards rushing to the league’s worst running game, held Pittsburgh to 4 of 11 on third down, forced 3 turnovers, and held the lead from early in the game through the final whistle. Not the season the Panthers wanted, but at least the team is still playing with some pride.
POTG: Michigan HB LeVeon Bell, 22 Att, 116 Yds, 1 TD
Generals Claim Northeast Division Title
New Jersey’s 34-24 victory in New England was not exactly the prettiest game of the year, not with 10 combined turnovers in the game (4 for the victors and 6 for the homestanding Steamrollers), but it got the job done. That job, winning the NE Division, came with the New Jersey victory. It was the product primarily of a 24-point 2nd quarter that saw New Jersey get TDs from rookie Kyren Williams, slot receiver Pharaoh cooper, and a pick-six from the POTG, Lano Hill. New England would pull within 7 early in the 3rd, but New Jersey came back with a Victor Cruz TD and held their lead until the final whistle.
The win was New Jersey’s 4th in 5 weeks, and gave them the sweep over their rivals from New England. That sweep meant that even if the Generals lost in their finale, they would retain the division crown on the tiebreaker. For New England, the loss was doubly devastating. It not only gave the division to the rival Generals, but sent the Steamrollers to 8-7, and even worse, into 8th position in the playoff standings. That meant that they would not only need to get a W in Week 17, but they would need both Memphis and New Orleans to take losses in their closing games. Only that combination could send the Steamrollers to a 17th game. A tough situation for New England, and a feeling of satisfaction for the Generals.
Oakland Earns Final Western Wild Card
The Invaders pulled out the other “play in” game this week, upending the Las Vegas Vipers at Wynn Arena to step into the 6th and final Western Playoff spot. The win is Oakland’s 4th in a row, a streak that saw them knock off rival LA and now claim a Wild Card and a very likely trip to St. Louis in 2 weeks. They will face New Orleans this week, and we could see some starters resting as no result will allow Oakland to jump up to the 5th seed, not with LA a game up on them and sporting the better division record.
Oakland has had their share of ups and downs this season, but over the past month they have put together a combination of solid defense, especially against the run, where they rank as the stingiest team in the league, allowing only 55.2 yards per game, and a balanced offense, highlighted by the running back combo of Christian McCaffrey and Bryce Love. The two backs are only 2 yards apart, with Love’s 794 yards slightly ahead of McCaffrey’s 792, and both have proven capable of taking over games this year. So, now Oakland is in, we likely see some backups this week, and then back to playoff football with a road trip in the Wild Card round.
Stallions Slip Gives Gunslingers the South
Three seasons is all it took for former USFL quarterback Chuck Long to lead the San Antonio Gunslingers from expansion team to division champions. The loss this week by the Birmingham Stallions, paired with San Antonio’s 17-7 victory over Charlotte made it official. Champagne was popped in the San Antonio locker room as they celebrated a rapid rise to the top of the division. From a 3-13 opening season, to a modest improvement to 6-10 in Year Two, the Gunslingers made the leap this year, winning 10 games so far, and looking for more.
A win this week in their season finale at the Alamodome would be huge for the Gunslingers, as it would not only knock division rival Memphis from likely playoff position but also ensure the Gunslingers of the 2nd seed in the East, which comes with both a home playoff game and a bye. Expect San Antonio to come out guns blazing as they try to lock up the precious bye week and drive home their new position as champions of the South.
Outlaws & OKC Give Stoops a Fond Farewell
Things have not gone the way many hoped for Coach Bob Stoops in his foray into pro football. Stoops joined the Oklahoma Outlaws in 2019 after a pretty illustrious career as the coach of the OU Sooners. He brought with him a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of fans, helping to make the Outlaws one of the league’s toughest tickets, but what did not come with him were the wins that fans in Oklahoma were used to with his OU teams. His first year saw the Outlaws finish 6-10. They improved to 8-8 in his second season, but have dipped below .500 both in 2021 (6-10) and again this year (6-8-1 presently). Having already announced that he was resigning from the team after the conclusion of this season, Coach Stoops headed into this week’s home finale against Denver with a rough streak of games behind him.
The Outlaws had not won a game since Week 8, earning only a tie in Washington in Week 9, and then proceeding to lose their next 5 games, including a humiliating 42-0 debacle in Arizona last week. So, the 27-21 victory over Denver in this week’s game not only stopped the bleeding but provided a nice opportunity for Stoops to go out in style in his final home game with the Outlaws. It was not a Gatorade pour, but fans gave Coach Stoops a nice round of applause and some old school Oklahoma Boomer Sooner cheers as the Outlaws left the field with the W. A nice tribute to a coach who is still very much respected in the state and among the Sooner fans turned Outlaw fans.
Josh Allen Out of Season Finale with Hip Issue
The Outlaw-Gold game saw not only the end of Bob Stoops’ run at OGE Energy Stadium, but also became the on-field finale for QB Josh Allen of Denver, a week ahead of schedule. Allen took a tough hit on a scramble and seemed stiff as he headed to the sideline late in the 3rd quarter. Coach Hufnagel opted to keep him out for the rest of the game, and afterwards the medical team revealed that Allen had suffered a hip pointer, essentially a deep bone bruise on the pelvic bone. With the Gold at 5-10, with only a home finale against Dallas left on the schedule, it did not take long for the Gold to announce that Allen’s season would be shuttered and Mitch Trubisky would lead the Gold into their season finale.
While not at all the season that Allen and the Gold had hoped for after finishing 12-4 and battling their way to the Western Conference Final in 2021, the 5-10 Gold took a major step back this year. But despite the team’s issues, Allen had a very solid season, his final stats for the year now reading as 3,461 yards, 22 TDs to only 6 picks, a 64.6% completion rate and a very strong 111.6 QB rating. Often seen as a one-man offense, Allen certainly could have used more help from the rest of the roster, and now Denver will begin the process of retooling their roster as they approach the offseason.
A lot was settled this week, but there are still some questions to answer in the season’s final week, and some positioning to lock in as we get ready for the 2022 USFL Playoffs. Let’s start with what is known. We know 4 of 6 division winners, led by the Eastern Conference 1-seed, the 13-2 Tampa Bay Bandits. New Jersey has locked up the NE Division title and both Chicago and Arizona have their division titles in hand and are now fighting for that 1-seed.
We also know 6 other teams have locked up playoff spots, with Oakland, San Antonio, and Orlando joining LA, St. Louis and Seattle as playoff teams this week. We know Oakland will be the 6 seed in the West, but there is still plenty of shuffling of seeds to come, including division battles still alive in the South (San Antonio has a 1-game lead on Birmingham) and in the Pacific (where Seattle leads LA by a game).
In the East, we still have 2 Wild Card spots unclaimed. After 16 weeks the Birmingham Stallions and Memphis Showboats hold those two spots, but one or both could fall out of position with Week 17 losses, giving both New Orleans and New England hope for a flip of the standings and a final week playoff ticket. There are a lot of permutations to consider, from top to bottom of the playoff standings, so check out our Week 17 preview to get the quick and easy options for your favorite team to snag a playoff spot, take the division, or capture that higher seed.
Outside of the Allen injury, the biggest impact will be for those teams still fighting for playoff position, as well as potential playoff-impacting injuries. Orlando, for example, will be without center Ethan Pocic next week, and possible for several weeks with a knee issue. Oakland will have both guard Joshua Garnett and LB Shaq Barrett out, with Barrett expected to miss the playoffs as well. St.Louis goes into their regular season finale with SS Terrell Edmunds listed as doubtful, while Arizona will battle for the 1-seed in the West without their breakout star receiver DeMarcus Robinson, expected to sit out the finale after suffering a shot to the eye that had swollen up considerably.
OUT
DT Dexter Lawrence SD Wrist
QB Josh Allen DEN Hip
C Ethan Pocic ORL Knee
DE Bradley Chubb WSH Jaw
FB Andy Janovich OKL Ankle
G Joshua Garnett OAK Concussion
C Wesley Johnson LV Back
DT DeVante Wyatt ATL Ankle
LB Shaq Barrett OAK Concussion
DOUBTFUL
SS Terrell Edmunds STL Wrist
OT Gabe Carimi LV Knee
QUESTIONABLE
WR DeMarcus Robionson ARZ Eye
SS Will Harris SAN MCL
G Michael Dunn NOR Migraines
WR Aaron Dobson LV Concussion
CB Justin Gilbert SD Concussion
USFL POWER RANKINGS
As we offer you the final Power Rankings of the regular season, with 1 more week of action left, we thought we would focus on each team’s MVP, the player who stepped up and gave it their all, even if the team record does not show a lot of victories. Some of these will be obvious, some not so much, but all deserving of kudos for the way they approached the game.
1—TAMPA BAY BANDITS (13-2)
Team MVP Dak Prescott is likely also going to be the league MVP, as he closes in on 4,000 yards passing, having added another 30-TD season to his resume.
2—ARIZONA WRANGLERS (12-3)
We have to give it to Ryan Nassib, who came off two horrible years in Washington, returned to the desert and has put up over 3,900 yards passing with a 13:6 (26-12) TD:INT ratio. Guess he is a system QB and Arizona has that system.
3—CHICAGO MACHINE (12-3)
We could go 3-for-3 at the QB position, but we want to recognize just how huge a signing Odell Beckham Jr. has been for the Machine. He came in, opened up the Chicago offense and got himself a 1,000-yard, 10-TD season, a rebirth of sorts.
4—SEATTLE DRAGONS (11-4)
The Dragons have a lot of talent, and while Khalil Mack again had a monster season (104 tackles, 6 sacks), we are going to celebrate one of the best corners in the game. Richard Sherman is closing in on 100 tackles and has 6 picks to lead the team. A man you just don’t want to throw to or run towards.
5—ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS (11-4)
It took several years, and a coach who finally figured him out, but Lamar Jackson has owned 2022. With over 3,200 yards passing, 22 TDs to only 7 picks, and nearly 700 yards rushing, the dual-threat QB has the Skyhawks soaring. And yes, we know A. J. Epenesa deserves kudos too, and he will almost certainly get them in this year’s award season.
6—ORLANDO RENEGADES (10-5)
It would be easy to recognize Montez Sweat for his 28 sacks (shooting for 30 with 1 week left), but we need to recognize the impact that Chris Carson has had on the Renegades. With his 1,00-yards the Renegades have shortened games, won the time of possession game in each of their 10 wins, and kept pressure off Russell Wilson, which helped him flourish.
7—SAN ANTONIO GUNSLINGERS (10-5)
Ask Joe Flacco what has been different about the Gunslinger offense this year and he will point to rookie Garrett Wilson, leading the team with over 1,200 yards and 8 TDs. The rookie sensation has made the San Antonio offense one of the league’s best and helped Joe Flacco have a career year.
8—LOS ANGELES EXPRESS (10-5)
Look, we know we should celebrate the nasty LA defense, but the team was simply awful on offense until they made the deal for Andy Dalton. Dalton’s stats are not eye-popping, but his confidence, leadership and timely big plays have made LA a much more difficult offense to contain, and a much better overall team.
9--NEW JERSEY GENERALS (9-6)
Third year edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos came into his own this season. He has 16 sacks and 74 tackles, a true dual-use and 3-down lineman. He has also made Kony Ealy a better player, giving the veteran more single-blocks and more access to the QB. The combo has been great for New Jersey, producing 28 combined sacks and making life easier for the secondary.
10—OAKLAND INVADERS (9-6)
We thought about a two-headed recognition for the McCaffrey-Love combo, but Jevon Holland is not letting us bypass him. Leading the league with 8 picks at the FS position, Holland has been a revelation in his sophomore season. He had no picks as a rookie, appearing in only 1 game, but he was given the starting job this year and has come up huge.
11—BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (9-6)
Let’s assume it is Cam Newton (it is), but just for fun, who else has been big for the Stallions? How about Henry Ruggs? The former Crimson Tide receiver is connecting with his Auburn QB in a big way, leading the league with 15 receiving touchdowns and over 1,500 yards. This combo has been lighting it up for Birmingham all year long.
12—MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (8-7)
In his 2nd year after jumping from the NFL, J. J. Watt is reviving the Memphis love affair with the sack. Not since Reggie White has the Liberty Bowl seen so many fans wearing a defender’s number on their replica jerseys, and Coach Rex Ryan is loving every minute of it, especially those minutes where Watt is bringing down the QB once again.
13—NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (8-7)
Geno Smith was brought to New Orleans for depth, but has emerged as a top flight QB. He is already over 4,200 yards for the year, has 31 TDs to only 12 picks, and is proving that a good system, a talented receiver group, and a bit of faith can turn around a QB’s career and our perception of them.
14—NEW ENGLAND STEAMROLLERS (8-7)
It is hard to pick out a star on New England’s version of the No Name Defense, but the Rollers would not be anywhere without DT Aaron Donald. He has 7 sacks from the inside, is a nightmare to try to run through, and is a vocal and passionate team leader on and off the field. No shock, we knew this about Donald, but this year he has taken it up a level as New England fights for their franchise’s first playoff appearance.
15—SAN DIEGO THUNDER (7-8)
When Mason Rudolph was named the starter, San Diego turned a corner. His numbers are modest, though there is nothing wrong with a 63% completion rate and a 15:5 (3:1) TD:InT ratio. But what Mason has brought to the Thunder is a belief that they are good enough, smart enough, and gosh, darn it, people like them (shout out to Stuart Smalley on that one.)
16—BALTIMORE BLITZ (7-8)
The season has gone south on the Blitz, but one player who has always given it 110% has been HB Josh Jacobs, averaging 4.4 yards per carry and closing in on a possible 1,200 yards, Jacobs has been the one reliable piece of the puzzle for the Blitz this season.
17—LAS VEGAS VIPERS (7-8)
Look around the crowd at any Viper game and you will immediately know who the MVP of this club is. Those mullet wigs are a visible sign of Minshew Mania. Gardner Minshew has breathed energy and a love of the game into the Vipers, and it is contagious.
18—DALLAS ROUGHNECKS (7-8)
In the midst of a very up-and-down season, the brightest light has come from the emergence of Courtland Sutton as a top tier receiver. Sutton has 1,057 yards and 9 touchdowns, leading the team in both categories. He is 7 catches away from 100 and you very well know that the Roughnecks and Justin Herbert are going to try to get him those 7 in the season finale.
19—OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS (6-8-1)
Name any player on the Outlaw roster who is not Jalen Hurts? Hard to do, right? That tells you what we all saw, that this is a 1-man team, which is why they are under .500 and why it is so important for Oklahoma to build more around their superstar QB.
20—CHARLOTTE MONARCHS (6-9)
We thought about giving this to Paxton Lynch, just for consolidating the QB position into a non-liability, but when we look at the Monarchs this year, we have to celebrate a long-suffering, long-achieving star in LB Rolando McClain. He is leading the league with 129 tackles, and is the heart and soul of a defense that is much improved, currently 9th in scoring in the league.
21—HOUSTON GAMBLERS (6-9)
A rough year with injuries, a weird QB situation, and one of the league’s worst defenses, but you know who has been his usual outstanding self, WR Mike Evans, ever the man you want going up for that 50/50 ball, ever the professional, ever open. It’s Mike Evans for the win.
22—OHIO GLORY (6-9)
Early this season it was all Justin Fields, but as teams started to figure out how to defend him, his life got a lot tougher. And when that happened, another player took over as the heart and soul of the Glory, LB Ryan Shazier. One of two 100-tackle LBs on the team (Steven Daniels is the other), Shazier is the defensive QB, calling plays, lifting spirits, and delivering some of the nastiest hits in the league.
23—WASHINGTON FEDERALS (5-9-1)
Keenan Allen may have more targets, catches, and TDs, but when you want a big play, the kind of play that deflates a defense, you look to Tyreek Hill. Perhaps the fastest man in the league, Hill has moves, quickness, and pure run-away-from-you speed. Now the Feds just need to find a way to use him more.
24—PHILADELPHIA STARS (5-10)
Hard to find bright spots in a downright depressing year for the Stars, but you cannot question the effort that Derrick Henry is putting in. He is nearing 1,200 yards despite averaging only 3.5 YPC. And when you look at the film, what you see is a back who is getting almost no help from his line, hit in the backfield and carrying players forward time and again. Get this man a real line and he could chase Herschel Walker’s rushing record.
25—DENVER GOLD (5-10)
As much as we want to say that Denver is a 1-man team much like Oklahoma, that would be unfair to WR Golden Tate. The man is turning 37 and is still putting up huge numbers. He has over 1,200 yards and 8 TDs when he is almost always double covered. He just finds a way to get open.
26—JACKSONVILLE BULLS (4-11)
After that 11-sack game when Brian Burns basically tossed him around like a Doberman with a plush toy, we want to give this to Trevor Lawrence just for showing up the next week. Oh, and he showed up by throwing for nearly 400 yards and 4 TDs. He is a star on a player that needs a few more to have a shot.
27—PITTSBURGH MAULERS (4-11)
The worst rushing offense in the league, a rookie QB after trading away the veteran mid-season, and the league’s worst scoring and yardage offense. How the heck did this defense not revolt? Well, they stayed solid and focused thanks to their captain, MLB Brian Cushing. Cushing and his D kept Pittsburgh in more games than their offense deserved them to be in.
28—MICHIGAN PANTHERS (3-12)
An ugly year, a shockingly bad season, and yet, in the midst of it all a star was born. Rookie LB Aiden Hutchinson was a bright shining star in the darkness. With 22 sacks in his first 15 games, the former Wolverine is making Panther fans cheer in a year when they are also spending a lot of time with bags on their heads and sending boos down to the field.
29—PORTLAND STAGS (3-12)
Complain all you want about the Portland Stag offense, they deserve a lot of criticism, but keep Brandin Cooks out of it. How did this man rack up 110 catches and 1,299 yards with this team? How are teams not putting 3 DBs on him and forcing Mariota to look elsewhere. The guy is a stud, too bad the team is a dud.
30—ATLANTA FIRE (3-12)
The Fire fell apart when Aaron Murray went down. Just plain and simple, and the second half of the season if felt like many were just giving up and coming to the stadium just for the paycheck. But not WR A. J. Green. He was breaking tackles, blowing the roof off coverages, and making plays even when the game was out of hand. He will likely finish the year with over 100 catches (he is at 98 with 1 game left) and 1,400 yards, and with 3 different QBs over a very tough season. Kudos to Green for staying focused and getting open time and time again.
The 10 Greatest Coaches in USFL History
We have ranked the 40 Greatest Players in USFL history, but what about the men in charge? Who ranks as the best motivators, play-callers, scheme designers, and forgers of team culture? We went through the entire history of the USFL, every coach who has ever led his team to the field, and while there were a lot of tough calls, we think we have the definitive Top 10 List of USFL Coaches. So, as we celebrate 40 years of USFL football, here is our list of the Greatest Coaches to Walk the USFL Sidelines.
Let’s start with some honorable mentions, because over the last 4 decades there have certainly been more than 10 coaches who deserve recognition. The first “HM” goes to former Knights’ coach Jim Johnson. Though he never won a title, in 18 years with the St. Louis and then Nashville Knights, Johnson’s .562 win percentage, 168 total wins, and12 playoff appearances make him perhaps the most celebrated USFL coach to never get that ring.
Our other two Honorable mentions each have 1 title in their repertoires, but both entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame for their combined USFL and NFL careers. However, in the USFL both also coached for only 8 years each, which makes it hard for them to rack up the win totals or even the reputations of some of the league’s elites. The Oakland Invaders have won only 1 title in their 40-year history, and the man to get them there, former Eagles’ head coach Dick Vermeil just missed the Top 10. His .544 winning percentage in Oakland (97-78-1) included 8 playoff appearances and that 1991 USFL title. The other coach who we had close, but not quite there was Washington Federals’ head man Sam Rutigliano. Rutigliano spent 8 seasons in D.C., producing 84 wins and 60 losses, 6 playoff appearances, and, with a bit of help from QB Don Majkowski, DT Jerome Brown, and DE Charles Haley, a league title in 1990.
Having recognized 3 very deserving coaches who just missed the cut, it is time to look at our Top 10, each boasting at least one championship ring.
10) Ron Ehrhardt (BIR 1992-2000)
Record: 88-56 (.611)
Playoffs: 6 Appearances in 8 years.
Title: 1993
Hall of Fame: 2021
Ron Erhardt will forever be associated with a brash young QB who lit up the league with his enthusiasm, devil-may-care attitude, and rocket arm. Erhardt recognized the value of those traits and with Brett Favre at the helm he had the Stallions in the postseason in 6 of his 9 seasons at Legion Field. His crowning jewel was in 1993, when Favre, joined by WRs Ernest Givens and Lawrence Dawsey led a Birmingham offense that put up 545 points (over 34 per game) in a 14-2 season that won them a division title, before outpacing Jacksonville 45-42, Washington 27-21, and finally, Houston 38-36 in one of the league’s greatest Summer Bowls, taking home what is still the only league title in Stallion history.
9) Ray Willsey (HOU 1990-2000)
Record: 99-75-2 (.569)
Playoffs: 7 appearances in 11 seasons, including 4 Summer Bowl trips.
Titles: 1993 & 1996
Hall of Fame: 2018
A two-time league champion, Coach Willsey lost some points in our ranking due to a lower win percentage than several others on our list. That aside, how do you knock a coach that took his team to 4 Summer Bowls, earning a 34-28 victory over Pittsburgh in Summer Bowl ’92, then, after losing to Birmingham in 1993 and Pittsburgh in 1995, Willsey again tasted victory, leading the Gamblers to a 38-35 victory over the Tampa Bay Bandits to give Houston and QB Jim Kelly their 3rd title as a franchise.
8) Dick Jauron (DEN 1998-2015)
Record: 167-106-1 (.618)
Playoffs: 13 appearances in 18 years, 3 Summer Bowl appearances
Titles: 2000
The Denver Gold had always been an “almost” team, making the Summer Bowl in the league’s first season, but never able to get a title. Dick Jauron changed that. In his 2nd year in Denver, he returned the Gold to the Summer Bowl for the first time since that 1983 inaugural season. His team lost Summer Bowl ’99 to the Memphis Showboats, but they came back even more focused the next year, winning the 2000 title by upending the favored Philadelphia Stars 27-20. Then, in an attempt to become the first team to repeat as champions they made the Summer Bowl as a Wild Card team, but fell to Orlando 34-27. That 3-year run is not only the best 3-year span by a Denver team, but is also one of only 3 teams to ever appear 3 consecutive years (Stars 85-87 and Gamblers 2017-19).
7) Steve Spurrier (TBY 1983-93, 2004-10)
Record: 151-117 (.563)
Playoffs: 12 appearances in 18 years
Titles: 1983
Hall of Fame: 1998
It is hard to believe that Steve Spurrier’s lone league title was that 1983 inaugural season. Why? Because his teams were always near the top of the standings, always tough to gameplan, and always in the fight. Many look to the 2011 season and the league title won by rookie coach Mike Shula as a team built by, mentored by, and forged by Spurrier, almost a pseudo 2nd title. Spurrier does not need to take credit for the 2011 Bandits to get a spot on our list, his 151 wins and his impact on the game and the league in its early years more than did that.
6) Lamar Lathon (NOR 2012-Present)
Record: 109-65-1 (.664)
Playoffs: 9 appearances,
Title: 2015
The first of only 2 contemporary coaches on our list, Lamar Lathon bleeds Breaker blue. A player with the team for 15 seasons, the former Breaker linebacker returned to his old team 8 years after he hung up his cleats and immediately brought a fighting spirit to a team that had always been a “close but no cigar” squad, losing in the Conference Title Game 6 times, and in the Summer Bowl once before Lathon’s return. Lathon, and Drew Brees, of course, got the Breakers over the top, leading the Breakers to a 13-3 season, victories over Orlando and Pittsburgh in the playoffs, and a 23-17 Summer Bowl win over the Arizona Wranglers to give New Orleans their first (and only) title.
5) Jim Stanley (MGN 1983-93)
Record: 106-70 (.603)
Playoffs: 6 appearances in 11 seasons
Titles: 1984 & 1986
Hall of Fame: 1998
Coach Stanley was hardly a known quantity when he was hired as the first head coach of the USFL’s Michigan Panthers. A D-line coach for the unspectacular Atlanta Falcons, Stanley took the gig in the fledgling league and immediately became one of its premier strategists. His Panthers became the first repeat champions, alternating titles with the Philadelphia Stars over a 4-year span, even knocking off one of those great Star teams in the 1987 USFL Championship (before the name Summer Bowl had come about. Stanley’s teams made household names of players like Bobby Hebert, John Williams, Dereck Holloway, and John Corker. His Panthers could grind out a win with defense and an inside run game or go over the top to Holloway or Anthony Carter. Stanley left the game after only 11 seasons at the helm of the Panthers, but was recognized for his talent soon after, entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998, along with Spurrier, two long-time rivals.
4) Al Luginbill (OHIO 1999-2011)
Record: 118-75-1 (.611)
Playoffs: 8 appearances in 13 seasons
Titles: 2002, 2003
Hall of Fame: 2016
Back-to-Back. That is all you have to say. Or maybe, Unbeaten Season. You can say that too. Al Luginbill’s 2002 Ohio Glory team did what no team had done before or since, win every game on his schedule. He, along with NFL legend Don Shula, stand alone in that honor, but it is hardly the only honor he holds. His Glory team was also the first to repeat, following up their unbeaten season with a 2nd Summer Bowl in 2003. With a glorious triplet group of Collins, George, and Galloway, the Al Luginbill Glory are still regarded as one of the pinnacles of USFL excellence.
3) Jim Mora Sr. (PHI 83-89, OAK 96-97, MEM 98-06)
Record: 153-124-1(.552)
Playoffs: 11 appearances in 18 seasons, with 5 Summer Bowl Appearances
Titles: 1985, 1987, 1999
Hall of Fame: 2011
It is one thing to lead a team to 2 titles in 3 years, including a 3-peat of appearances in the USFL Title Game, but then, to return 12 years later, with a different team, and earn a 3rd title, that is something special. And that is exactly what we get with Jim Mora Sr. The man who made the Stars the toast of Philadelphia, a notoriously tough city to win over, also became the hero of Memphis by taking the 1999 Showboats to their first league title, a gift to Showboat legend Reggie White in his swan song season. Famous almost as much for his hilarious “Playoffs rant” as for his record, Mora still stands as one of the early success stories of the USFL and one of its greatest coaches.
2) Wade Phillips (HOU 2001-2021)
Record: 194-126-2 (.613)
Playoffs: 16 appearances in 22 seasons, including 4 Summer Bowls
Titles: 2010, 2018
The winningest coach in USFL history, with 194 career victories, all in one glorious 21-season run with the Houston Gamblers. Phillips’s teams appeared in 4 Summer Bowls, winning two a full 9 years apart, but always in the mix as one of the best teams in the league. With players ranging from Matt Hasselbeck, Ike Hilliard, and Kavika Pittman to today’s stars, Colt McCoy, Carlos Hyde, Mike Evans and Ramik Wilson, Phillips was able to ride his defense, or push his offense into the stratosphere. You don’t get to nearly 200 wins without being able to adapt and merge your system with a wide variety of player styles and talents, and that is exactly what Phillips did in his long tenure in Space City.
1) Jim Tomsula (ARZ 2009-Present)
Record: 153-67-1 (.695)
Playoffs: 10 appearances in 14 seasons, with 5 Summer Bowl appearances
Titles: 2013, 2016, 2019
Jim Tomsula, or Mr. Wrangler as the entire state of Arizona calls him, has turned a perennial also-ran into true dynasty. His Wrangler teams appeared in 5 Summer Bowls in a 7-year span, winning 3 of them, and his 2022 team seems fast tracked to a possible 6th appearance. A defensive specialist who has become one of the most respected QB whisperers in the league, Tomsula has seemingly worked miracles, like the 2019 title run when they lost David Carr and went on to win the title with an unheralded Ryan Nassib as QB. Tomsula certainly has had talent to work with, especially on defense, with players like Joe Haden, Troy Polamalu, Calais Campbell, A. J. Klien, Nate Allen, and Adam Carriker. His offenses are also masterpieces of complexity, misdirection, and, especially in the Larry Fitzgerald-Antonio Bryant years, with the big play.
Tomsula is showing no signs of slowing down, either, winning yet another Southwest Division title this year and gearing up his Wranglers for a possible run to yet another Summer Bowl. Not bad for a team that until Tomsula’s arrival, had not won a title in 30 seasons of play.
Here is your look at the Week 17 slate, with special scheduling designed to feature matchups of playoff contenders during the same timeslot, creating a scoreboard-watching frenzy and building drama from Saturday afternoon through Sunday night.
Sat @ 12pm ET St. Louis (11-4) @ Pittsburgh (4-11) ABC
St. Louis earns 4th seed & home playoff game with a win.
Sat @ 12pm ET Houston (6-9) @ Washington (5-9-1) NBC
No Playoff Implications
Sat @ 12pm ET Orlando (10-5) @ Jacksonville (4-11) FOX
Orlando earns home playoff game with a win.
Sat @ 4pm ET Oakland (9-6) @ New Orleans (8-7) ABC
Oakland is locked into a road Wild Card game.
New Orleans earns Wild Card with win + MEM loss
Sat @ 4pm ET San Diego (7-8) @ Portland (3-12) FOX
No Playoff Implications
Sat @ 4pm ET Atlanta (3-12) @ Tampa Bay (12-3) NBC
No Playoff Implications
Sat @ 8pm ET Birmingham (9-6) @ Seattle (11-4) ESPN/EFN
Seattle wins Pacific Title with a win.
Birmingham wins South with a win + SAN loss.
Sat @ 8pm ET Los Angeles (10-5 @ Ohio (6-9) NBC
Los Angeles wins the Pacific Title with a win + SEA loss.
Sun @ 12pm ET Philadelphia (5-10) @ New Jersey (9-6) ABC
New Jersey wins 2 seed with a win + SAN loss
Sun @ 12pm ET New England (8-7) @ Baltimore (7-8) NBC
New England clinches a Wild Card with a win + MEM loss
Sun @ 12pm ET Memphis (8-7) @ San Antonio (10-5) FOX
San Antonio wins a 2-seed with a win.
Memphis earns a Wild Card with a win.
Sun @ 4pm ET Dallas (7-8) @ Denver (5-10) ABC
No Playoff Implications
Sun @ 4pm ET Oklahoma (6-8-1) @ Las Vegas (7-8) FOX
No Playoff Implications
Sun @ 8pm ET Charlotte (6-9) @ Chicago (12-3) NBC
Chicago wins the West 1 seed with a win or ARZ Loss.
Sun @ 8pm ET Michigan (3-12) @ Arizona (12-3) ESPN/EFN
Arizona wins the West 1 seed with a win + CHI Loss
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