SCORES
PIT 31 HOU 16 Alan Risher & Mike Rozier spark the Maulers to their first win of the year.
MGN 37 NOR 16 Panthers overwhelm Breakers with 27 first-half points.
BIR 13 DEN 24 Denver D comes up big again as Stallions fall at Mile High.
JAX 24 OAK 38 Brian Sipe throws for 5 scores as Invaders win 3rd straight.
TBY 37 ARZ 13 Landry struggles and Tampa Bay catch Bulls in Southern Division.
BYES: Baltimore, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington
GAME OF THE WEEK
Memphis Showboats 13 Los Angeles Express 10
It is not often an 0-7 team is going to have some highlights, so the Showboats need to celebrate this win. Memphis traveled out to the coast and held LA’s Steve Young to only 187 yards passing, while mustering just enough offense to pull out their first win of the season. To be honest, this game could have been a lot more in Memphis’s favor, but an incredible 18 penalties for 145 yards kept LA in the game and kept Memphis from expanding on a halftime lead of 10-3.
Memphis QB Damon Allen was at times flustered, at times effective, as he led the Showboat attack. He threw for only 168 yards, but no picks, and his 24 yards rushing helped Memphis do just enough to win. Richard Williams contributed 72 yards rushing of his own, but this was clearly a game where the defense was the true star. The oft-maligned group came up big, holding LA to only 39 yards rushing on the day, while sacking Young three times and picking him off for the game’s only turnover.
LB Nathan Adams had a big game with 7 tackeles, 3 for a loss, and a sack, while All-USFL DE Reggie White, double teamed most of the game, still scored 5 tackles, 2 for losses and a sack of his own. The Express, who have now lost four in a row after a 4-1 start, have plummeted all the way down to the basement of the Pacific Division. While a single win is not going to be enough to raise spirits in Memphis, that this team rebounded from a 41-0 shelling by Birmingham to take out the Express is a sign that the players are still playing hard for first year coach Vince Tobin. The Express host New Orleans next week and it is not out of the question that they could pull off a 2-game win streak if they play this type of defense again. For LA, this has to be a major disappointment as they clearly underestimated the Showboats. They go into their bye with a sour taste in their mouth and desperately in need of some retooling before facing a brutal streak of games against Arizona, Baltimore and Michigan.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK
While he was outgained by Jacksonville’s Doug Wiliams 317 to 292, there was no doubt who had the better game as the Bulls faced the Invaders. Brian Sipe hit on 20 of 31 passes, many off of play action to Arthur Whittington, and found 3 different receivers for a total of 5 touchdowns. This year, with Sipe having one of the better receiving corps at his command, the veteran QB has been slowly rising up the QBR rankings. With this game’s 134.7 rating, he is sure to find himself in the top 5 again. Sipe found TE Ray Chester six times for 68 yards and 2 scores, former Dolphin Mark Duper 5 times for 145 and a score, and 3rd year receiver Henry Ellard for 2 scores on only 4 catches against double coverage. And while Whittington certainly did his part, with 150 yards rushing, it was Sipe who demonstrated total command of one of the league’s best offenses. With LA and Arizona fading, Oakland looks ripe to jump into a division battle with Denver and their first playoff appearance.
NEWS & NOTES
Most teams on their bye week find it hard to get in the news. Sure, there is the occasional QB replacement, or off-field incident, but the norm is for teams to fade from the spotlight as they rest. No one bothered to tell that to New Jersey Generals owner Donald Trump. In addition to some choice bulletin board quotes about the “overrated” and “over the hill” 3-time division winner Philadelphia Stars, Trump also let it slip that he is actively working with the league to sell of the controlling share of the Generals. Never one to shy away from a microphone or a camera, Trump was pretty clear that he felt the decision of the USFL to stay in the spring meant that it would never be, in his words “a big time player”. He added that his goal was to own the best franchise in pro sports, and that was not going to happen in a “small potatoes spring league”. Those are certainly words that will not go over well in the league’s main office, and may provide extra incentive for the league’s Ownership Committee to speed the process of a sale, just to divest themselves from the often-contrarian Trump. So, stay tuned, the Generals Soap Opera is getting interesting on the field and off.
Across the country from this drama the LA Express have drama of their own. After a 4-1 start, the Express have lost 4 straight. The offense which was so dynamic in the opening weeks has sputtered, and the defense has simply not been able to get to opposing QB's. The Express looked to remedy both situations this week. While Young and his receivers are working with the offensive coaches to adjust the passing game, Coach Campbell has announced that he is benching popular HB Tony Boddie in favor of 2nd year HB Kevin Mack, who is more of an inside power runner than the elusive Boddie. On defense, the Express did something even more drastic, using their Week 10 bye to bring in a new player and hopefully get him ready to start in Week 11. And this is not just any starter, the Express have signed LB Chip Banks, who was disgruntled with leadership at the Cleveland Browns and who comes to the Express as either the latest NFL signing of 1986 or the earliest post-season signing ever. Banks is expected to be incorporated into blitz packages and 3rd down defense immediately, with an eye on having him serve as a 3-down LB in short order.
INJURIES
In another week where we saw almost no significant injuries, it is a good time to look at players who should be coming back into the lineup. Washington will be glad that the timing of their bye allowed Craig James a chance to rest his hamstring and they expect him to play next week. The same is true for Philly tackle Will Wolford, who may finally be ready to return from several weeks on the bench with an issue with his right leg. Bill Brooks, after missing this week’s game, should be back for Denver after their Week 10 bye, and Arizona is hoping to get back both LB Jim Fahnhorst and SS Vincent Edwards. Not so certain to return are New Jersey deep threat Lam Jones (Hip) and Memphis DE Booker Reese (Foot). Arizona will not be able to get CB Nolan Cromwell back (biceps) and we expect the Wranglers to also use the bye week to get Robbie Bosco ready at QB after two rather poor performances from Greg Landry. When starter Rick Neuheisel will be able to return is still uncertain.
LOOKING AHEAD
The last of the bye weeks sees the Pacific Division getting their chance to heal and rest before big Week 11 matchups. In Week 10, a with most post-bye weeks, the bye week returnees face off. Baltimore has a big game at New Jersey, while a stunned 3-5 Philadelphia team is home to the Federals who are also 3-5 but far less shocked by it. In other matches, the Central Division will be hosted by the four Southern squads. Of those games the best is sure to be in Tampa Stadium, where the undefeated Panthers run up against the red hot Bandits. Pittsburgh, fresh off its first win, has eyes on a second as they head to 3-5 Birmingham, while the other 1-7 squad, Memphis, hopes their fortunes have also turned as they host the Breakers. Finally, the Houston Gamblers try to change their stars as they face a 5-3 Jacksonville Bulls squad in the Gator Bowl.