The Michigan Panthers fulfilled their dream season by bringing home the USFL title, defeating the Birmingham Stallions 33-27 in overtime in an exciting matchup of two strong clubs. The Panthers, who began the year 11-0 behind a stingy, hard hitting defense and the dynamic play of quarterback Bobby Hebert, were the odds on favorites to win as they entered the playoffs having only lost twice all season (with one of those being a Week 17 resting of their starters.) Hebert got some payback after the Panthers were bumped from the playoffs in 1983 as he sat on the bench with an injury. Hebert would not be denied this year, throwing for 310 yards and 3 scores, including the overtime winner, to lead the Panthers to victory.
For Birmingham, the return of starting quarterback Cliff Stoudt produced a conundrum, as their backup, 1983 starter Bob Lane, had played very well in two playoff games to get the Stallions to the Championship. Coach Rollie Dotsch went back to his starter, but Stoudt struggled against the stingy Panther defense. Relying heavily on league rushing champion Joe Cribbs, the Stallions were able to put a scare into the Panthers, mounting a fierce second half comeback, but in the end, the league’s best team proved themselves just that with an overtime score to take the title.
The game did not begin auspiciously for Panther QB Bobby Hebert. His third throw in the game was tipped, picked off, and returned for a score by Birmingham’s Frederick Wilder. But, the Panthers offense was undaunted and over the course of the first half, they would mount several successful scoring drives to take what seemed like a commanding 20-7 lead into the half. Two Bojovic field goals and two Hebert TD passes, one to TE Mike Cobb and an acrobatic 34 yarder to wideout Derek Holloway, gave Michigan the advantage.
When Michigan scored again on the a John Williams 2 yard run to begin the 2nd half, the Panthers must have felt like the game was theirs, up 27-7, but there is a lot of fight in these Stallions. Cliff Stoudt rallied the troops and the Stallions would score the final 20 points in regulation over a quarter and a half to tie the game and send it to overtime. Behind 115 yards from Joe Cribbs, the Stallions turned momentum their way, leading to a Michael Haddix plunge for their 2nd score of the day. In the 4th they would add on a Scott Norwood field goal and a short Stoudt to Ross TD pass to pull back to within 3. Scott Norwood would once again be called upon to save the Stallions as, with 11 seconds left to play, he hit a 33 yard FG to tie the game and send it to overtime.
Michigan had struggled for much of the second half, but their firepower quickly became apparent and came alive in overtime. After winning the toss and receiving the kickoff, the Panthers started the drive on their own 22 yard line. A quick slant to Holloway got them a first down at the 34. John Williams ran for 2 to get them to the 34, and then, on 2nd and 8, the Panthers took a shot. Anthony Carter ran a slant and go, and with the success of the slant two plays earlier, the CB bit on the short route and found himself trying to pursue the lightning fast Carter down the sideline. Hebert threw a perfect arcing ball which Carter caught in stride, allowing him to glide down the sideline untouched for the 64 yard score to win the game. It was a fitting final play for a team that had depended on the big play all season.
Hebert would be named MVP of the Championship, to go along with his regular season and playoff MVP titles. In a year when it seemed the Panthers could do no wrong, they proved their dominance by fighting off a game opponent, and pulling out a championship moment when one was most needed. And for a second year in a row the USFL put on quite a show in its Championship Game. The overtime thriller followed a 1983 Championship decided by only 4 points, proving once again that the USFL knows how to put on a show, and that this upstart league is making a name for itself as the “More Fun League”.
