2022 USFL Week 9 Recap: Midseason Madness
- USFL LIVES
- 3 hours ago
- 37 min read
Welcome to Week 9 and the midway point of the 2022 USFL season. The first half of the season has certainly provided us with a lot of excitement and quite a few surprises. Week 9 continued the trend of close games, big performances, and potential season-impacting trades. We will break it all down, including our Game of the Week which saw Philadelphia and Houston go into overtime before a winner was decided. We start with our Big Story, and in typical midyear fashion, we are focused on the coaches who are beginning to feel some heat, a need to get results quickly or risk finding that pink slip on their desk come Black Monday. We will start there, then recap all the week’s action, break down the news of the week, and preview Week 10 as we start to await the first playoff locks and the mad dash towards the postseason.
Midseason Hotseat for USFL Coaches
As we have said, midseason is when coaches really start to feel the pressure of unmet expectations. Whether it is a trend over several years of diminishing returns or a sudden collapse, there is no shortage of reasons why a head coach may start to feel the temperature rising and the pressure building. We have selected 6 such coaches, coaches whose positions may well be determined in the coming weeks, with a change of fortune or a slow march towards the inevitable. Some are looking to prove they can get more out of their teams, others are trying to show that they have a plan and that the plan can start to produce results. We already know that they won’t all be successful, but there may still be time to make a case for another year and another opportunity to prove the job can get done. Here, with no further introduction, are the six coaches we believe are feeling the need to produce change now or risk losing the chance to do so later.
Kliff Kingsbury (DAL)
What started as a nice upward climb, from 3-13 in 2018 to 6 wins in 2019, and a possible culture shift with a 10-6 record and a playoff appearance in 2020, has stagnated. With Dallas viewed as an up-and-comer after their 2020 playoff appearance, the Roughnecks slid back to 8-8 last season and now sit at 3-6 at the 2022 season’s midpoint. That is not what most expected from this Dallas club and their young QB Justin Herbert, not after a very solid 2020 campaign.
The issue in Dallas is twofold. The offense has not proven to be as potent as many had predicted, with Herbert seemingly plateauing after an impressive rookie campaign. His 2021 QB Rating was a solid 20 points lower than his rookie year (76.7 vs. 98.6) and 2022 is producing another year in the mid-70’s. The second factor, and perhaps the bigger issue, is that Dallas has simply not improved their defense year to year. The 2022 Roughneck D is ranked 29th in points allowed, giving up 27.7 per game. They are dead last against the run, allowing opposing backs an average of 126.3 yards per game, and the pass defense is not much better, sitting 23rd in the league. Without rapid improvement in either the offense’s ability to put points on the board or the defense’s ability to stop foes from doing the same, the Roughnecks could finish last in the SW Division, and that kind of backslide is almost certain to end Kingsbury’s run with the club.
Gary Kubiak (OAK)
The Invaders sit at 4-4 right now, and are in range of Seattle, so why the negativity about Coach Kubiak? Well, when you consider that Oakland has finished 8-8 each of the past 3 years, you can see how another break-even season is going to be viewed very harshly. Davis Mills is playing well, the run game is among the league’s best, and the defense is the league’s best against the run. So why is this club sitting at .500 instead of leading the division?
That is the question Kubiak is struggling to answer. Losses in Portland and St. Louis are not sitting well with fans and there is a sense that if the Invaders cannot find their way above .500 and into the postseason, Kubiak could take the blame. Oakland could still be a factor in the Pacific Division race, and the game against 4-4 LA this week may be key to that, but if they falter, even at 8-8 once again, we think that will push ownership to make a change.
Dan Quinn (PHI)
Do we really think the Stars would fire last year’s Coach of the Year because of one bad season? Ordinarily, no, we wouldn’t, but there is a lot of grumbling coming out of the Stars’ locker room, the kind of grumbling that might indicate that the coach has lost his team. That, more than a poor season, could be trouble for Dan Quinn.
The thing is, when we look at Philadelphia statistically, you could guess that they are atop the division, or at worst in the middle of the pack. They are 10th in total yards, including a Top 10 passing game, and they are 9th in yards allowed, with a Top 10 pass defense, so why are they 2-7? Well, the obvious answer is that their yards are not turning into points. They rank 19th in points per game and 28th in points allowed. Too many mistakes, too many turnovers, and too many missed opportunities, all of which tend to get laid at the feet of the head coach. Our current thinking is that if the Stars can go 3-4 or better in their final 7 games, then Coach Quinn should weather the storm, but it they continue to fritter away games, the team will not stay together and will not support their coach when the rubber hits the road.
Skip Holtz (PIT)
The son of famed Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz was something of an unexpected “left field” selection three years ago, but after going 10-6 in his first year with the Maulers, there was a feeling that Pittsburgh might have caught lightning in a bottle. Two years later and we have an 8-8 sophomore season and a 2-6 mark midway through Holtz’s third season. Add to that the chaos of selecting a high cost rookie QB and then trading away the starter who has led the club for over a decade and there is a lot riding on how the Maulers finish this season. A 10-loss season could be viewed as a sign that Holtz inherited a better team than he has built since. Avoiding that inglorious record means winning 5 of their final 8 games, and we are not sure that is within the realm of the possible for the Mauler squad we have seen this year.
Kevin Gilbride (WSH)
If there is anything holding Kevin Gilbride back it is the question of perception vs. reality. After a 6-10 campaign in his first year, one that saw the team switch quarterbacks mid-season, there was a sense this offseason that two things were on the verge of happening in 2022. The first was that the Federals would compete for the NE Division. So far that remains very much in doubt, especially after Washington suffered key losses against New Jersey and New England in their first two games. A win in Baltimore helped, but losing to the Stars in Week 5 was no confidence builder, and a 16-0 embarrassment in New England was just plain deflating.
The second expectation may be the harder one for Gilbride to overcome. He was brought to the Federals with a reputation as an offensive schemer, a coach who could match his gameplan to the talent he had and make their skills effective in putting points on the board. The problem is that the 2022 Federals are not exactly lighting up the scoreboard. After 9 weeks they rank 22nd in the league in points at 19.2 per game, and 19th in yards. Their run game has not been much to celebrate, ranked 23rd of 30 teams, and they just have not proven to be very explosive despite having some very talented receivers. If Gilbride can get more out of his offense, even if the Feds finish out of the playoffs, we think he is back in 2023. If they flounder to a sub-500 record and the offense looks as it has so far this season, we don’t think he escapes Black Monday.
Sean McDermott (MGN)
Look, we get it. Under McDermott, the Panthers have made the playoffs for 8 consecutive years, including a Summer Bowl appearance as recently as 2020 and a League Title in 2017. So, how can we have McDermott on the hot seat? Well, have you seen the 2022 Panthers? They are 1-7, are averaging 13.4 points per game and give up almost double that, giving them the worst margin of defeat in the league. They just lost to Pittsburgh in a battle of 1-6 clubs, and in the entire season they have not scored more than 20 points in any game. In other words, they are currently the runaway winner for Worst Team in the League. That is something no one expected to hear about the Panthers, Not with the run they have had over the past decade.
So, does management put the blame on their head coach? Maybe, maybe not. They could opt to cut loose QB Kirk Cousins, who has struggled all season. They could point the finger at the GM for some pretty weak draft classes, or they could decide to clean house, make some big deals to trade away aging stars and start fresh. If it is the latter, which is drastic, but sometimes the best way to quickly rebound, then we think McDermott gets caught up in the housecleaning. If not, then he could well be back to guide a very different Panther team in 2023.
PHILADELPHIA STARS 34 HOUSTON GAMBLERS 37 OVERTIME
We had a couple of unexpected shootouts this week, and while both were exciting affairs, the added drama of a last-minute field goal to send the Stars-Gamblers clash into overtime, and the drama of that extra period put this game over the top as our Game of the Week. With over 870 yards of combined offense, 31 first downs between the two teams, and 71 combined points, this one was a rip-roaring game that proved to be more than 60 minutes could contain.
Despite being an very high-scoring game, however, this was not truly a back and forth affair. Houston led or was tied for nearly 54 of the original 60 minutes, with Philadelphia only gaining the lead for a short 6-minute stretch crossing from the 3rd to the 4th quarter. And yet, despite seemingly always playing from behind, there was no quit in this Stars team as they came back from being down 14-0, 21-14, 24-17, and 34-27 before finally bowing out with less than 20 seconds left to play in overtime.
The game began with Houston driving 77 yards in only 2 minutes and 4 seconds, with Colt McCoy going 3 of 4 on the opening drive, finding Mike Evans on a 39-yard connection on the game’s first play and then pushing the ball deep into Stars’ territory before recent practice-squad call up, Trayveon Williams scooted into the endzone from the 4. Williams and Clyde Edwards-Helaire would combine for 108 yards on the day, with Edwards-Helaire getting the lion’s share of the touches 26 to Williams’s 4, but on the opening drive Williams would snag his first career USFL touchdown.
After an ineffective first possession for the Stars, Houston was back in action, but in an interesting twist, it was Landry Jones coming out for the 2nd drive. Coach Cotrell, working with a new strategy to keep Colt McCoy fresh longer into the game, would have Jones take 1 drive per quarter all game long, a strategy that certainly paid dividends when the game went to overtime. On this 2nd drive, it was Landry Jones, not the 2021 MVP McCoy who would connect with JuJu Smith-Schuster to put the Gamblers up 14-0.
Philadelphia’s inauspicious start would turn around quickly on their 2nd possession as Carson Wentz started to heat up against a Houston defense that has struggled all year long. Wentz would finish the day going 36 of 52 for 382 yards, and after a miss on his opening drive, he was perfect on the second drive, connecting on all 4 passes, including the 20-yard strike to Randall Cobb which cut Houston’s lead in half. In a game that saw Derrick Henry facing 8- and 9-man fronts, rushing for only 33 yards, it would be Wentz taking advantage of Houston’s run-focused defense for a big game.
That big game continued after a 3-and-out on Houston’s 3rd possession (with McCoy back under center) gave Philadelphia a short field, starting at their own 37. Again Wentz found his mark, connecting with Elijah Moore for a 28-yarder before finding K. J. Hamler in the endzone from 15 yards out to even up the score at 15. Twenty-eight points and the first quarter still had 13 seconds left. Houston would use those 13 seconds and only 60 more before they took the lead back, this time McCoy hitting on a deep strike to Smith-Schuster to produce a 64-yard crowd-pleasing bomb. After only 73 seonds, Philadelphia was back in a hole.
The Stars climbed partially out with an Eddie Pineiro field goal on their next drive, but as the half wound down, Landry Jones, in once again, led Houston into range for Younghoe Koo to put up a kick of his own, returning the homestanding Gamblers’ lead to 7 points at the half, a fun half that saw Houston head to the locker room with a 24-17 advantage.
In the third quarter that advantage was wiped away. The Houston Gamblers had 2 punts and a fumble in the quarter while Philadelphia added 10 points to their score to take a 27-24 lead just as the third turned into the 4th. With 4 seconds left in the 3rd, Carson Wentz again found Randall Cobb, this time on a goalline crossing route for a 2-yard touchdown, Wentz’s 3rd of the day and one that gave Philadelphia their first lead, 27-24.
We entered the 4th with the game very much up in the air. Landry Jones again led the Gambler offense and again they were stopped short of the endzone, but the Koo kick brought them back to a tie with the Stars at 8:55 left in the game. Philadelphia would falter on their next drive, a holding penalty negating a key 3rd down conversion and producing a 3rd and 18 that led to a punt. It was one of 13 penalties for 137 yards that the Stars suffered, penalties that may well have cost them this game.
Houston responded to the defensive stop, McCoy back under center for the rest of the game, and it was Mccoy scoring his 2nd TD pass of the game, a 25-yard strike to Josh Reynolds, which put Houston up 7 with 5:46 to play. But, this game was all about Houston’s defense and Carson Wentz finding receivers against it, and he did once again, first connecting with Randall Cobb for 21 yarder, then TE Travis Kelce for 14, and finally back to Elijah Moore for the game tying touchdown with 12 ticks left on the clock. This game was going to overtime.
Houston won the toss and took the ball first, but after marching into Philadelphia territory, a sack of McCoy pushed them back to their own 49 and they were forced to punt. The big play was recorded by Philly DE Danielle Hunter, his 2nd sack of the game, but the first against McCoy. On Philadelphia’s possession, the offense got the ball as far as their own 44, but Wentz missed on a 3rd and 7 throw to Kelce, with safety Jessie Bates helping to break up a throw that was just behind Philadelphia’s talented tight end.
Houston got the ball back with 5:02 left to play, and they opted to move slowly, with Edwards-Helaire seeing the ball 4 times and McCoy throwing only 3 passes. As the Gamblers moved into Philadelphia territory and into range for Younghoe Koo, they ate up clock, ensuring that if their kicker were to miss, there would not be time for Philadelphia to turn a tie into a Houston loss with a last second field goal. Coach Quinn did not use timeouts to preserve time, so when Koo lined up for a 49-yarder, the result would either be a Houston overtime win or a tie between the two teams. Koo’s kick was true, splitting the uprights with distance to spare and the Gamblers escaped a major upset, Philadelphia had shown the issues in Houston’s defense, but the Gambler offense, with Colt McCoy rested throughout, but able to play the final 25 minutes of action, had prevailed.
DENVER 24 ARIZONA 26
A fun one to be sure at State Farm Stadium, but despite a furious 4th quarter comeback, Denver could not get the edge and upend the Wranglers. Two early TDs from Nassib to Brandon Aiyuk set up Arizona with the lead, one they never relinquished despite scores from C. J. Prosise, Jonathan Ward, and Golden Tate. Denver gets close, but close is not enough as they drop to 4-5.
POTG: Wrangler DE Bud DuPree: 4 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 Sfty
TAMPA BAY 42 JACKSONVILLE 35
Talk about fun, this was a shootout from the opening drive, with Dak Prescott hitting Dez Bryant on a 73-yard TD 3 plays into the game. Jacksonville responded, with Trevor Lawrence throwing for 431 yards and 4 TDs, but the Jacksonville QB was also sacked 10 times. TEN TIMES! That included a downright nasty 5 sacks from Bandit DE Brian Burns. Meanwhile Prescott finished with fewer yards (349) but with 5 touchdowns and the W, which is all the Bandits really wanted anyway.
POTG: Bandit DE Brian Burns: 6 Tck, 1 TFL, 5 Sck
NEW ENGLAND 13 NEW JERSEY 31
The Generals tighten up the NE Division race by taking care of the Steamrollers at MetLife Stadium. The New Jersey D picked off Ryan Tannehill twice, including an Aldon Smith rumbling pick-six touchdown, and limited Breece Hall to only 29 yards rushing. Meanwhile, Tony Pollard and rookie Kyren Williams combined for 114 yards and 2 scores as the Generals controlled the game, building up a 31-6 lead until late in the 4th.
POTG: New Jersey CB Aqib Talib: 7 Tck, 4 PDef, 1 Int
SAN ANTONIO 22 BALTIMORE 21
A nice road win for the Gunslingers as they bounced back from a 21-7 deficit with a 4th quarter pick-six from Jaquan Johnson followed by a 2-minute drill that produced a Flacco to Rhamondre Stevenson TD with 37 seconds to play, breaking the hearts of over 45,000 Blitz fans on hand for this one. Jake Locker threw 3 early touchdowns, but the D could not hold as this one slipped away late for the Blitz.
POTG: San Antonio CB Jaquan Johnson: 4 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int, 1 Def TD
NEW ORLEANS 13 PORTLAND 3
A muddy field and a wet day meant a low scoring slugfest in Portland as the Breakers sack Marcus Mariota 7 times and pick him off 3 times in a defensive gem. The Breakers also struggled on offense, with only 193 total yards, but hey did get the one big play that gave them the win, a 33-yard strike from Geno Smith to Jordy Nelson. That proved enough as Portland sank into the muck.
POTG: New Orleans CB Tra’Davious White: 8 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int
LAS VEGAS 14 DALLAS 27
Two defensive touchdowns saved Dallas from embarrassment as their offense produced only 14 yards rushing. Samson Ebukam returned a poor Gardner Minshew throw 20 yards for the pick six, and Ja’Sir Taylor picked up a Kareem Hunt fumble and ran it back for a score as well. Throw in a Herbert to Pharaoh Brown TD throw and that was enough to upend a sloppy Las Vegas club.
POTG: Dallas CB Ja’Sir Taylor: 7 Tck, 2 FF, 1 FR, 1 TD
CHARLOTTE 14 ORLANDO 17
Orlando put the first 14 points on the board and then withstood as Charlotte tried to claw back into the game. It was hardly an offensive showcase for either team, though Chris Carson’s 98 yards helped Orlando shorten the game and kill clock late. Phillip Lindsay had 99 yards for Charlotte, but with Paxton Lynch only able to put up 187, the Monarchs fall short and drop to 2-6 halfway through their schedule.
POTG: Orlando HB Chris Carson: 22 Att, 98 Yds, 1 TD
OKLAHOMA 26 WASHINGTON 26 OVERTIME
We got our first tie of the season as the Outlaws and Federals both put field goals on the board in extra time. After tying the game on a 53-yard field goal with 20 seconds to play, Oklahoma watched as Washington put 3 on the board in the opening drive of overtime. They responded with a drive and another Kai Forbath kick to even the game at 26, and that would be the way it ends as neither team could find a game winner. Travis Etienne had a strong day for the Feds, rushing for 97 yards and a score, but the combo of Lacy and QB Jalen Hurts put 114 yards on the board, along with two Eddie Lacy touchdowns. But, all said, a tie is a tie.
POTG: Outlaw QB Jalen Hurts: 35/50, 326 Yds, 0 TD, 1 Int, 10 Att, 48 Yds
MICHIGAN 11 PITTSBURGH 14
A game between two 1-win teams was bound to be ugly, and this one was. After a scoreless first quarter, Kenny Pickett found Brian Quick for a short TD, with Sony Michel adding a 2nd late in the 3rd to give Pittsburgh a 14-3 lead. Michigan got a late Ryan Izzo TD and went for 2 to draw within 3, but the Maulers managed to run out the clock without giving Michigan a chance to hit a game-tying kick.
POTG: Pittsburgh MLB Brian Cushing: 9 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR
OHIO 27 SAN DIEGO 31
Despite 297 yards passing and 91 more on the ground from Justin Fields, the Glory get upended in San Diego by a surprising Thunder offense. Charles Sims was front and center, rushing for 120 yards and 2 TDs, but QB Mason Rudolph played well also, going 15 of 21 for 234 yards and 2 TDs. Ohio had the lead 27-24 with 5:14 to play, but the Thunder rolled down the field, with Rudolph hitting Luke Willson for the game winner just after the 2-minute warning. Needing 4, Ohio had to go for a touchdown and it proved just too far to go in the time remaining as San Diego earns their 3rd win.
POTG: San Diego HB Charles Sims: 24 Att, 120 Yds, 2 TD
CHICAGO 31 ATLANTA 20
Sam Bradford threw for 3 scores, Rachaad White added another, and the defense held Nick Chubb to 61 yards as Chicago built up a 24-6 lead and held off Kyler Murray in his first action with Atlanta to earn their 8th win in 8 tries. Murray came in for an ineffective Rosen, and while his legs helped him against Chicago’s defense, including a nice play where he escaped the pocket and found A. J. Green for a 44-yard TD, it was not enough as Chicago kept the Fire at bay all game.
POTG: Machine QB Sam Bradford: 21/30, 239 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int
Lawrence & Prescott Put on a Show
While the overtime battle between the Stars and the Gamblers was our eventual GOTW, we gave a lot of thought to the 77-point shootout between in-state rivals Tampa Bay and Jacksonville. The Bandits entered the game as 12 point favorites, with the Vegas books showing very little confidence in the Bulls’ ability to keep pace with Coach Trestman and the Bandit Ball offense. But on this day, with the heat index closing in near 100 degrees, the Bulls did not wither. They had their best offensive game of the year, with Trevor Lawrence throwing for 431 yards and 4 touchdowns. Both NFL import Christian Kirk and TE Eric Ebron went well over100 yards on the day, with the big man racking up 145 and a TD on 4 catches, while Kirk brough in 3 for 130 and a TD. And, yes, from those numbers you can tell it was all about the big play. Lawrence’s 4 TD passes were from 3, 7, 59, and 74 yards. Jacksonville also had a 59-yard pick six from Isaiah Oliver, but it still proved to be one score too few.
For their part, the Bandits put up 501 yards of offense, including 118 yards on the ground from Dalvin Cook and 349 through the air for Dak Prescott. Prescott also one-upped Trevor Lawrence, throwing 5 touchdowns to the Bull QB’s 4. Prescott found his tight end, James Cameron, for 2 scores, but also connected with Dez Bryant on a 73-yard scoring throw, and short touchdown throws to Deebo Samuel and Ryan Grant. Prescott may not have put up the yards that Lawrence had, but his 5 TDs, along with a Bobby Rainey scoring run gave the Bandits a 42-21 advantage in the 4th quarter, a lead that even two late Lawrence TD throws could not overcome.
Houston Tries New Strategy in Shootout Win
When Colt McCoy announced his battle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, fans worried that there would come a day when an exhausted McCoy would not be able to lead the team in the final minutes of a close game. Apparently Coach Ted Cotrell had also thought of this. This week’s game turned out to be the perfect scenario, a nip and tuck game that went nearly a full additional 15 minutes beyond standard time. Call Coach Cotrell savvy or perhaps clairvoyant, but he picked the right week to try a new strategy, pulling McCoy from the game in each quarter, allowing him extended rest after a long drive and having Landry Jones take over for short stints so that McCoy would be available late in the game.
It was a strategy with a lot of possible flaws, including the loss of momentum with each QB change, and the possibility that either QB could lose focus, come in cold, and produce a turnover at the worst possible time. But that did not happen. Jones proved a capable stand-in, going 4 of 10 for 65 yards and a touchdown, while a rested McCoy went 10 of 17 for 264, two touchdowns, and was able to play the entire overtime period, helping Houston get in position for the game winning field goal. It is a plan we should expect to see moving forward, and while it certainly is not guaranteed to work every time, there is a confidence factor that comes in to play when McCoy is able to finish out games.
Flacco’s Big Day Nets Win & Stat Boost
Joe Flacco’s 312-yard, 28 of 39, 2 TD passing day against Baltimore not only helped the Gunslingers earn the road win and improve to 6-3 on the year, but also boosted his yardage total to the top of the list of all USFL quarterbacks. Flacco’s 2,421 yards at midseason is more than 150 yards ahead of 2nd place, Birmingham’s Cam Newton (2,286). Flacco still ranks 9th among USFL quarterbacks with a 99.2 QB Rating, hurt by 9 picks and only 14 touchdowns on the year, but when your former expansion team is now 6-3 and you are leading the league in yardage, maybe you don’t care as much that you are not pulling in a 120 point QB rating. After all, the league’s best QB rating is Josh Allen’s 122.9 and the Gold are below .500. We think Flacco is happier where he is.
Sims the Difference in Thunder Strike
One of the bigger upsets of the week was San Diego’s 31-27 victory over Ohio. The key to that victory was a 24-carry, 120-yard, 2-TD performance from 2021 breakout star Charles Sims. With uncertainty at QB for the Thunder, Sims has been the focus of pretty much every defense the Thunder have played this year, a fact evident in his dip from 4.0 YPC in 2021 to 3.2 midway through this season. But despite the reduced production, Sims has been able break out a couple of times, including a 102-yard game against Seattle that also saw him add 50 more through the air. This week’s performance, was Sims’s 3rd 100-yard game of the year, and it helps keep alive hopes that the Thunder are improving as a team. After scoring only 3 wins in all of 2021, the Thunder have already matched that total. They have an improved defense, allowing only 18.7 PPG, and with Sims leading the way, the offense is improving.
First Tie of the Season Helps No One
Houston avoided a tie with a late Younghoe Kim field goal in overtime, but neither the Federals nor the Outlaws could manage a game winner as the two battled to the season’s first tie. Both teams scored in overtime, but with the two kicking field goals on back-to-back drives, neither got an advantage and the game ended with both stuck at 26 points. The tie keeps Oklahoma in 2nd place in the Southwest, but still pushes them another half-game behind Arizona, who now stand 2.5 games up at 8-1. For Washington, sitting at 3-5-1, the tie means they remain in 4th place, 1.5 games behind division-leading New England, but also behind both 5-4 clubs, Baltimore and New Jersey.
Trades Continue before Friday’s Deadline
We are in the final days before Friday’s Trade Deadline, and we are still seeing deals getting done. We had two over the past 5 days which are both signs that teams on the fringe of playoff contention are still working the wires to try to get the pieces in place that can help them make a late season push. Both Orlando and Denver made moves this week to address needs, both securing talent from teams in sell-mode at the midpoint of the season.
For Orlando the goal was to add an outside weapon after the season-ending injury to Brashad Perriman. The found what they were looking for in Portland receiver Josh Gordon. The Stags offered Gordon to Orlando, but at a pretty steep price, acquiring DE Chase Winovich as well as a 3rd round pick in this January’s draft. Winovich had 8 sacks for the Memphis Showboats last year, came to Orlando in free agency, but has struggled with the Renegades. He now gets a new start out West as he joins the Stags, who are still hoping to get rookie Kayvon Thibodeaux back from injury before the season concludes. For Orlando, they get themselves a deep threat receiver who already has 49 receptions and 636 yards on the season. Gordon is likely going to take on Perriman’s role as the deep ball threat for Russell Wilson, allowing Braxton Berrios to focus on his slot work and Nelson Agholor to work the mid-level routes.
The other big move was made by the Denver Gold, who gave up two draft picks to get some help in the secondary. San Diego was willing to let their “swing” safety, Landon Collins go to the Mile High City in return for a 4th rounder both this January and in 2024. Collins, who has been cycling in behind both SS Marquise Blair and FS Jordan Fuller, will now get a full time starting gig in Denver, taking over for Camryn Bynum, who has struggled for the Gold in the season’s first half. That means that Collins will now be a full-time free safety, leaving the SS position to Nick Cross.
We still have just over 2 full days before the trade window closes, and while we are not hearing any huge news or major rumors, there is no guarantee that the trading block has seen its last deal. Week 10 is a tough deadline with 7 more weeks of action, but there are certainly teams that could use a late infusion of talent in a key position, especially teams like both Orlando and Denver, who are sitting on the outside of the early playoff picture, looking in with envy.
A better week than most, but still several players who will miss action, including a key member of the Orlando defense in LB Darryl Shaprton, and both of Denver’s rookie linemen, with Jergens out up to a month with an ACL sprain, while LT Evan Neal could miss this week after suffering a concussion. Jacksonville has said that their young WR Tee Higgins could be a gameday decision, as could both Josh Jacobs for the Blitz and Samaje Perine for Dallas.
OUT
C Cam Jergens DEN ACL 2-4 Weeks
DT Akim McNeill CHA Knee 2-4 Weeks
G Logan Bruss PHI Knee 1-2 Weeks
G Daniel Kilgore OHI ACL 1-2 Weeks
LB Darryl Sharpton ORL Shoulder 1-2 Weeks
LB Jelani Jenkins HOU Hand 1-2 Weeks
DOUBTFUL
CB Jason Verritt CHI Groin
WR Tee Higgins JAX Ankle
QUESTIONABLE
OT Evan Neal DEN Concussion
CB Amani Oruwarije PHI Toe
OT Ross Burton TBY Hand
SS Delarin Turner-Yell MEM Collarbone
CB Keenan Lewis JAX Groin
HB Josh Jacobs BAL Thigh
HB Samaje Perine DAL Pinched Nerve
Divisional Prediction Update
We have been doing this long enough, and you have likely been reading our posts long enough to know that we are horrible at predictions. We tend to lean too heavily on the past year’s results, underestimate season-to-season momentum and offseason roster shifts, as well as the impact of aging on players. So, we often get both our season record picks way out of whack with what happens on the field, and our award winners misaligned with how the votes eventually go. This year is no different, though there were some picks that came through, while others now look ridiculous. We offer now our usual mid-season reassessment, complete with a statistical breakdown where we look at each division, the wins and losses, but also the rankings in the 4 major team statistical categories: points per game, yards per game, points allowed, and yards allowed. Those four stats can tell the story as to why some teams are looking like surefire playoff contenders, others are up and down, and some are just down all the time. After our assessment, we will recalibrate our picks for the end of the year, maybe with 9 weeks of results we can be a bit more accurate.
RECORD DIV PPG YPG PPGA YPGA
NE 5-3 3-2 14 16 10 18
NJ 5-4 3-0 16 26 23 29
BAL 5-4 2-2 9 12 19 5
WSH 3-5-1 1-4 22 19 16 27
PHI 2-7 1-2 19 10 28 9
What stands out in the NE Division is that we don’t have a lot of superlatives. We have odd combinations, like a Philadelphia defense which does not give up yards but is among the league’s worst in giving up points. That is almost certainly a byproduct of their turnover issues. On the positive side, watch out for Baltimore. Their stats should have them atop the division, with a very solid defense and a good offense. They are only ½ game back, so we think they make a run. But we should note that NJ has the division record advantage, not having lost at all in division this season. If they can finish 5-1 or 4-2 in the division, they will likely get the tiebreaker. Something to watch.
As for our picks, we said in the preseason that this division would be a cluster, and it has proven us right. We did not see Philadelphia collapsing entirely but did tip our hats at the job John Fox is doing in New England. So, after looking at 8 or 9 games for each team, and after breaking down the stats, what do we see now? Honestly there is still a cluster, but we think the good money may be on Baltimore to rise up the list. They have a Top 10 scoring offense and their defense is solid. We will change our pick to have them on top by season’s end, but don’t be surprised if at least 1 other team finds a path to the playoffs from the top 4 in the division right now.
RECORD DIV PPG YPG PPGA YPGA
TBY 6-2 5-0 2 2 9 6
ORL 4-4 2-3 23 24 12 23
ATL 3-5 2-1 24 7 22 3
CHA 2-6 2-3 27 25 13 24
JAX 2-6 0-4 17 28 30 30
No shock that the Bandits are light years beyond the 4 other clubs in the SE Division. They are Top 10 in all 4 categories. If you are looking for a late challenger, it would seem Atlanta is in a better position, but they need to figure out how they can be so good in yards allowed and still give up so many points. With only 1 division loss, we think Atlanta could make a run, but we will need to see how the QB battle develops now that Kyler Murray is in town to challenge Josh Rosen. And, as if there was any doubt why Jacksonville is disappointing at 2-6, well, having the worst defense in the league is a pretty good indicator that you won’t win a lot of games.
It was not really hard to pick Tampa Bay to repeat as Division Champs back in February, and after 9 weeks, the Bandits look to be well in control of the division. We were more hopeful about Atlanta, but the loss of Aaron Murray was certainly a huge factor in why they have struggled to reach and stay above .500. We think they still have possibilities, as does Orlando, but there is a good chance that Tampa Bay will just expand their division lead, and every possibility that the Southeast could be swept out of any Wild Card spots by the other two divisions.
RECORD DIV PPG YPG PPGA YPGA
BIR 6-2 2-2 3 1 20 7
SAN 6-3 2-1 11 3 14 12
MEM 5-3 3-1 15 23 2 10
HOU 5-3 2-3 5 4 26 25
NOR 5-3 1-3 6 11 4 19
A division where every team is over .500 is what you see here, with every team having at least one Top 5 statistical category. Birmingham can take the division if they can figure out how to force teams to kick more field goals and give up fewer TDs. San Antonio needs to get more out of their drives, though their numbers across the board should be playoff-worthy. Memphis is living on their defense, Houston on their offense, and New Orleans. Well, they score a lot, they keep teams from scoring, so that is a nice combo heading into the 2nd half of the season. We could see 4 teams from this division qualify if they don’t knock each other off within the division.
Hard to pick against the Stallions the way they are playing, and while San Antonio has surprised us with their offensive production, we think they could fade down the stretch as Memphis, Houston and the Stallions take some shots at them. We see 3 teams coming out of this cluster and into the playoffs, but it could well be 4. The hardest thing to predict at this point is which club will falter and end up in the basement, though very possibly an 8-8 or even 9-7 basement. With Carlos Hyde out for a while to come, it may be Houston, who also seem to have some issues on defense as the numbers above indicate.
RECORD DIV PPG YPG PPGA YPGA
CHI 8-0 5-0 4 6 1 1
STL 5-3 2-2 10 13 5 16
OHI 4-4 2-2 20 20 15 12
PIT 2-6 2-3 29 30 11 2
MGN 1-7 0-4 30 18 27 17
Like Tampa Bay, the Chicago Machine don’t exactly mystify us as to why they are winning. You cannot have the top defense in both key stats and have the 4th highest scoring team without winning a lot of games. Looking at the others in the division, St. Louis is the clear 2nd option. Pittsburgh would be a lot tougher if they had any semblance of an offense, while Michigan is dead last in scoring and near the bottom in points allowed, a combo that does not bode well for the rest of the year in Detroit.
Chicago is much better than we expected, Michigan incredibly worse than anticipated, and Ohio just too inconsistent to trust. We are believers in what St. Louis is doing and overwhelmed to see they have a Top 5 scoring defense. We have not seen that in nearly a decade. It still seems like Chicago is just on a different level, and they should lock up the division in short order, but St. Louis, and perhaps Ohio as well, could be in the Wild Card mix. As for Pittsburgh and Michigan, start working towards 2023.
RECORD DIV PPG YPG PPGA YPGA
ARZ 8-1 5-0 2 5 8 22
OKL 5-3-1 2-1 18 27 17 26
DEN 4-5 2-2 7 9 25 14
DAL 3-6 2-3 8 15 29 28
LV 3-6 0-5 21 8 21 4
Arizona can score, no doubt. And, apparently, they can keep teams from scoring, but why so many yards given up? We think that is the result of playing with a lead so often and letting up on defense late in games. Only way to explain it. If I had to guess who finished 2nd, these numbers point to Denver over Oklahoma. The Gold offense has options, and they keep making deals to improve the D, so we may see those numbers improve as well. Now, will someone tell Las Vegas that gaining yards and preventing teams from doing the same is great, but the key is to score points and prevent foes from doing so. They seem to have forgotten that.
It appears that we overestimated Arizona’s decline. They do not look like a team whose championship window has closed. Ryan Nassib’s return has worked better than anyone hoped, producing the league’s 2nd best offense (we think rookie Tyler Allgeier has also been a huge factor there), and while being 22nd in yards allowed is not great, being 8th in scoring is certainly a good indicator that Arizona is not going to go down without a fight when the division crown is on the line. We have seen enough from both Oklahoma and Denver to picture them in the postseason, especially if they can string together some wins to build momentum. Dallas and Las Vegas are just not there, not yet at least.
RECORD DIV PPG YPG PPGA YPGA
SEA 5-3 2-2 13 21 17 15
OAK 4-4 3-1 12 14 18 11
LA 4-4 2-1 28 29 7 8
SD 3-6 1-4 26 22 6 21
POR 2-7 2-2 25 17 24 20
Another relatively balanced division, with Seattle having the best aggregate ratings, LA living on defense, and the Invaders looking like a possible contender, especially if they can improve in their scoring defense. That means more 3rd down stops and more field goals vs. TDs. San Diego is an intriguing case as they give up quite a few yards but have learned how to tighten up in the red zone, giving up points like a playoff contender.
Seattle looks solid, if not quite as strong as last year. Oakland is balanced, with no ranking below 18th, while LA is all about the defense. If Andy Dalton can change that in short order, we could see the Express make a run. Even if they could be mediocre on offense, that could be enough. Portland is a huge disappointment this year, and San Diego still has a lot of questions to answer. Our best bet here is that Seattle hangs on, but LA and Oakland will be in the mix all the way to Week 17.
Award Prediction Update
While our preseason divisional picks may have been way off base, or hit and miss to be more accurate, we fared a bit better with our award winner picks. We still think some adjustments might be needed, as a few of the USFL stars we expected to be at the top of their games are not quite there and, as always happens, a few new names have popped up to the top of everyone’s list. Here is our revised look at the five big USFL awards, with our new frontrunners for each.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Preseason Favorites: Dak Prescott, Josh Allen, Colt McCoy, LeVeon Bell
Updated Favorites: While all four of our preseason picks are looking pretty good, with Bell perhaps slipping a bit as his Michigan team has fallen on hard times, we would now have to add a few more names to the mix, starting with Birmingham QB Cam Newton, who has a combined 25 touchdowns (19 passing, 6 rushing) and whose passing yards (2,286) are complemented by his 318 yards rushing. With the Stallions at 6-2 and looking very much like a contender for the 1 seed, Newton will certainly be a popular choice for the MVP title.
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Preseason Favorites: LeVeon Bell, Josh Jacobs, Knowshon Moreno, Dez Bryant
Updated Favorites: At this point in the year, with LeVeon Bell 2nd on the rushing leaderboard, behind only Derrick Henry, he is certainly not out of the running (no pun intended), but both his Panthers and Henry’s Stars are at the bottom of the standings, which does not usually produce award winners. Josh Jacobs and Knowshon Moreno are both in the Top 5 among rushers and their teams are in better shape, but the new frontrunner has to be a Dez Bryant repeat as OPOTY. Bryant leads the league with 974 yards receiving and has 7 touchdowns. A new name in the pool could be Birmingham’s Henry Ruggs. Ruggs is currently 7th in the league in yards, but could easily find himself in the top 5 by season’s end. He leads the league with 9 touchdowns in 9 games and, to state it again, Birmingham is looking like a Summer Bowl contender this year.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Preseason favorites: Bud DuPree, Jordan Poyer
Updated favorites: DuPree sits at 10 sacks, 4 behind Memphis’s J. J. Watt, so unless he has a huge surge (which is possible) we think Watt may be favored, especially if Memphis can keep the pressure on Birmingham in the South. Tampa Bay’s Brian Burns is a darkhorse, coming out of nowhere to rack up 13 sacks (5 in one game) to take 2nd in the sack leaderboard. Seattle’s Richard Sherman (5 picks) and Khalil Mack could also be in the running. As for Jordan Poyer, our preseason dark horse, the Machine are still unbeaten, but the defender getting more attention is CB Josh Norman, with 3 picks and 42 tackles to lead the team in both categories. Let’s add him to the list of DPOTY candidates as well.
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
Preseason Favorites: Breece Hall, Christian Watson, Aiden Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Sauce Gardner
Updated Favorites: We clearly missed one in our preseason picks, San Antonio WR Garrett Wilson, and now, 9 games in, we have to have Wilson at the top of the list. The Gunslinger wideout has 58 catches, 783 yards and 3 scores and has helped Joe Flacco hang with the best QBs in the league. If Wilson falters as the season wears on, there may be room for Hall (494 Yards, 2 TD), Watson (50 Rec, 625 Yds, 4 TD), or Hutchinson (10 Sacks) to get in the mix, but right now we think Wilson has to be the frontrunner.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Preseason Favorites: Kevin Gilbride, Marvin Lewis, any other 1st year coach
Updated Favorites: Picking COTY candidates is always tough because so much depends on the team’s success compared with everyone’s perception of their talent and likelihood for success. Right now, with the standings where they are, we think the two frontrunners are likely the head coaches of the two 2020 expansion teams. John Fox has New England atop the NE Division at 5-3 while Chuck Long has the Gunslingers in the mix in a very tough Southern Division at 6-3. Both could well have their clubs in the postseason in their 3rd year in the league, which is certainly an impressive feat. If there is a dark horse in this race it is St. Louis’s Brian Schottenheimer, who has the Skyhawks at 5-3 and looking like a solid Wild Card contender in his second season.
Summer Bowl Prediction Update
Looking back to our Season Preview, we went pretty conservatively, picking Tampa Bay and having Seattle as our backup, basically the 2 teams from 2021’s Summer Bowl tilt. Both of those teams are looking solid, with both atop their divisions, but at the midway point of the season we have to add the unbeaten Chicago Machine to the list of favorites, as well as the 8-1 Arizona Wranglers, and the 6-2 Birmingham Stallions. Right now, if we had to make a pick, we would have to go with Chicago out of the West and Birmingham out of the East. We just cannot go against a team that has yet to lose, so we are going for Chicago as the 2022 champion, though all the others we have mentioned, including the Wranglers, could be there as well. In other words, the 2022 postseason should be a good one.
40 Greatest Players in 40 USFL Seasons: 16-14
Let’s face it, every player on our list is amazing, and the names will just keep getting more and more familiar. We kick off our list today with our top-rated safety in league history, a pick that is sure to have detractors as the Polamalu-Blades debate rages on. We then move on to another beloved QB, but one whose resume has one glaring hole in it that keeps him out of the Top 10 on our list. Finally, it is another of the great receivers who have come to be the faces of the USFL and its love of the deep ball.
16) S Troy Polamalu (2003-2018)
We know we will get some pushback on this selection, because we know there are tons of Bennie Blades fans out there who cannot believe we are putting Polamalu this far above their guy, with the former Wrangler 10 spots above the former Showboat and Blitz safety. If we look at the numbers, that seems patently unfair. Polamalu’s numbers are impressive: 1,157 tackles, 52 Sacks, and 16 picks. But, Blades simply had more on paper: 1,256 tackles, 54 sacks, 20 picks.
So, why are these two so far apart, and why did we give Polamalu a much higher stop on our list? Well, you could call it recency bias, with Blades out of the USFL since 2003, while Polamalu retired 4 years ago in 2018. But we like to think it is about more than numbers, it is about impact on the game, and when you talk about impact, that has Troy Polamalu written all over it. Blades was an outstanding safety in the traditional mold of what safeties were, deep defenders with occasional run-stuffing or blitz responsibilities. Polamalu was different. He was like a linebacker with cornerback speed. He was as dangerous at the line of scrimmage as he was in centerfield, and the hits, you cannot understate the psychological impact that Troy Polamalu had on slot receivers, backs, tight ends, and wideouts when they dared to come into the middle of the field. Both are outstanding football players, but for our money, the intimidation factor that Polamalu brought for the Wranglers was huge, and worth a big jump up the board.
15) QB Jake Plummer (1997-2014)
For every USFL fan who is miffed that Troy Aikman was in our first 10 players announced (33rd spot), there will be more who are incensed that Jake Plummer is not in our Top 10. Yes, he was practically the prototype for a USFL dual-threat QB (though we would argue that Doug Flutie, Reggie Collier, and even Walter Lewis were there first). Yes, he ranks 1st in league history in passing yards with 59,759, is 4th in touchdowns, and was a 2-time MVP and 8-time All-USFL selection. All outstanding numbers, good enough to place him above Troy Aikman, but not into our Top 10.
Two things hold Jake the Snake back. First off, the picks. We all loved Jake Plummer, but the man threw 169 picks, including seasons with 8 seasons with 10 or more. He ranks 3rd all time, behind only Doug Flutie (253, ouch!) and Matt Hasselbeck (172), neither of whom made the 40 Greatest list despite being huge stars in the league. The other reason we have Plummer outside the top 10, and several QBs above him is pretty basic. He never won a title. It’s just that simple. We know it is not entirely fair to say that a QB without a title cannot be superior to one with a title, but when we look at the QB’s ahead of him, they have all the accolades, but they also have a championship ring (or several) as well. We want to celebrate Plummer, just as the NFL celebrates Dan Marino, but like Marino, the absolute elite QBs are judged on titles, and that is just an area where Plummer cannot be in the same conversation as some of the QBs to come.
14) WR Joey Galloway (1995-2012)
First all time in yards (24,313), Second in receptions (1,300), and second in touchdowns (167), Joey Galloway is among the absolute elite of USFL receivers. He is, in fact the 2nd receiver in our ranking, but with so many superstars at other positions, that very enviable position was not enough to put him in our Top 10. We know that seems unbelievable in a league known for passing, but our Top 10 includes 4 defenders, 2 backs, and 2 QBs, along with our top-rated WR in league history, so there just was not a way to move Galloway up. We wish the Top 10 had 20 spots, but that is just not how lists work.
Galloway was about as consistent a receiver as you could hope for, with 14 thousand-yard seasons and a streak of 8 years in which he scored double digit touchdowns. Galloway topped 100 catches in 1996, ’98, ’99, and then again in 2012, his final year in the league. He helped Ohio complete their amazing 2-year run with 2 titles and an unbeaten season, then, in the twilight of his career, helped Tampa Bay win a title in 2011. With 12 All-USFL awards and the 1996 OPOTY award, Galloway is one of the very best at what he did, and one of the names most frequently included in the “Who did it best” conversations about his position. But, we had to put one receiver ahead of him and when you see who it is, you likely will agree.
Week 10 is the fourth of our five 12-game bye week schedules, with Week 11 wrapping up the bye season. This week we have the entire Soutwest Division and the San Antonio Gunslingers all taking their week of rest and recovery. That means some late afternoon games coming out of the Eastern Conference for a rare summer treat (for those who love humidity). But, even with some oddly timed games, we have a good week of action kicking off on Friday night when NBC will broadcast a California Derby between the Express and the Invaders. This one should be a big one for both teams, with each sitting at 5-4 and hoping to get back into the race with 5-3 Seattle.
Seattle is in action on Saturday, hosting the New Orleans Breakers in a battle of 5-win clubs on ESPN’s Saturday night special. The other night game should also be a good one, with 4-4 Orlando headed to Protective Stadium to face the 6-2 Birmingham Stallions. Also, on Saturday it is Atlanta @ Ohio, Portland @ Houston, Pittsburgh @ Charlotte, and the Federals traveling to Charlotte to face the Monarchs.
Sunday opens with two good divisional games out of the Northeast. On ABC it will be Philadelphia headed up to Foxboro to take on the New England Steamrollers. With both the Generals and the Blitz only a half-game back, the Steamrollers cannot afford a slip up against the Stars. Those Generals and Blitz face off in Baltimore, with the winner hoping to snag a share of first place and the loser dropping to .500 after 10 games. Later in the day San Diego travels to Memphis with an upset on their minds, as do the Jacksonville Bulls who will face the 5-3 Skyhawks in St. Louis. The night game looked amazing on paper this winter, when the schedule came out, but now could be an ugly one, with 1-7 Michigan limping into Chicago to face the unbeaten Machine. If ever Chicago was going to get some payback for all their bad losses to Michigan over the years, this is the game where it could happen.
Fri. 7pm ET Los Angeles (4-4) @ Oakland (4-4) NBC
Sat. 12pm ET Pittsburgh (2-6) @ Tampa Bay 6-2) ABC
Sat. 12pm ET Washington (3-5-1) @ Charlotte (2-6) FOX
Sat. 4pm ET Portland (2-7) @ Houston (5-3) ABC
Sat. 4pm ET Atlanta (3-5) @ Ohio (4-4) FOX
Sat. 8pm ET Orlando (4-4) @ Birmingham (6-2) NBC
Sat. 8pm ET New Orleans (5-3) @ Seattle (5-3) ESPN/EFN
Sun 12pm ET Philadelphia (2-7) @ New England (5-3) ABC
Sun 12pm ET New Jersey (5-4) @ Baltimore (5-4) FOX
Sun 4pm ET San Diego (3-6) @ Memphis (5-3) ABC
Sun 4pm ET Jacksonville (2-6) @ St. Louis (5-3) FOX
Sun 8pm ET Chicago (8-0) @ Michigan (1-7) EFN
Byes: Arizona, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Oklahoma, San Antonio
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