No better image for this look back on 40 simulated USFL seasons than the 40th season preview, showcasing the 12 founding franchises and the 30 participants in the 40th season. An Acorn to an Oak: The USFL’s Long Journey from Upstart to Empire When the USFL announced its intention to play high-level professional football in the Spring of 1983, there was certainly novelty to the concept, but there was also a familiar ring to the way the league defined itself. Yes, the concept of a spring football league was new, with early league founders citing their conviction that football could be and should be a year-round sport in the U.S., but there was also a sense that this was yet another attempt to challenge the NFL with the intent to gain access to the lucrative king of professional football. After all, wasn’t that what had happened throughout NFL history, with other “rival” leagues lasting just long enough to force a merger and absorption of teams into the NFL? We had seen that play out in the 1950’s with the A.A.F.C. sending the Browns, 49ers and Colts into the stronger and more stable league. It was also the outcome of the ambitious American Football League in the 1960’s, producing the AFC and NFC format which has been a stalwart of the NFL for over 50 years. Even the short-lived World Football League, which folded midway through its 2nd season fought to get their Birmingham and Memphis franchises into the NFL. That effort failed, but many could be understood as seeing the 1982 announcement of a new football league as much the same effort. And there were certainly owners who seemed to share that ambition, evident in the 1984-5 efforts to move the USFL from a spring schedule to a fall season that directly rivaled the NFL. The USFL had already begun making major signings, bringing in Herschel Walker and Mike Rozier in its first two years, back-to-back Heisman winners, and had also raided NFL rosters for players like QB Brian Sipe and safety Gary Barbaro. It was no secret that several owners, led by the New Jersey Generals’ owner, Donald Trump, had sought to force the NFL to consider merger through the combined efforts of a move to fall and a massive anti-trust lawsuit. The merger talk faded quickly when league owners, led by John Bassett, the owner of the 1983 champion Tampa Bay Bandits persuaded owners that despite early losses, the spring football concept could be a successful venture and that merger was a form of defeat. Bassett’s leadership helped keep the USFL in the spring, and while this thwarted the plans for a quick absorption of several well-heeled teams into the NFL, eventually driving Trump from the league, the long-term vision of Bassett, paired with a financial windfall from the successful anti-trust suit, helped the fledgling USFL gain its footing and build its brand. Forty years later it is hard to imagine just how shaky the ground under the USFL was at the time, but in the 1980’s, before the term “Summer Bowl” was even invented, the young league struggled with everything from delinquent owners to extravagant expenditures, but it persisted. Yes, the millions from the anti-trust agreement was a huge boon for the league, but so was a steady expansion, bringing in solid franchises (for the most part) and eventually growing from 12 founding franchises to the current 30-team format we enjoy today. It did not happen in a day, or even a decade, it took a long history of compromise, competition, and shared responsibility, but the USFL has reshaped the sports landscape in America, now solidly the 2nd most successful league in the nation, and making professional football the undeniable passion of the American public. As we look back at the first 40 years of the United States Football League, it is easy to remember the superstars, big games, and highlight reel plays, from Herschel Walker to Bandit Ball, then Jim Kelly’s Run & Shoot, Brett Favre, Robert Drummond, and so many Summer Bowls that were competitive, exciting, and superior in many ways to the often lopsided January NFL title games. It is easy to tell stories of your favorite player, whether a superstar like Calais Campbell, Deuce McCallister, or Jake Plummer, or the lesser-known contributors like LB Putt Choate, TE Adrian Cooper, or even kicker Tim Mazzetti. But, we should also remember the leaders in the C-suites, the owners, the GMs, the team presidents who weathered some tough years, made tough choices, and helped keep the league moving. Sure, there were frustrating times, and frustrating realities. Some teams just did not make it, some struggled to find a home that provided what they needed, and there were times where supportive fanbases were not enough. No one wanted to see the LA Express leave for St. Louis (only to leave again 2 more times, from St. Louis to Nashville, and finally to Las Vegas), or to see the proud Portland Thunder fanbase watch their team depart for Vegas (and now San Diego). It was tragic that San Antonio lost the Texas Outlaws to a combination of natural disaster and both municipal and private corruption, though we all celebrated this year as the new Gunslinger franchise brought playoff football back to the Alamo City. The USFL, seen today as a bastion of professional sports, a league that not only rivals, but in some ways surpasses the NFL, in innovation, in daring, and often in creative and engaging play on the field, but it was not always that way, and it certainly was not easy. The rest of our 40-year retrospective will focus on the players, records, and gameplay that made the USFL the “more fun league”, but we felt it was essential to start with the long path the league has taken and the leadership that helped turn upstart into mainstay and longshot into a sure thing. Looking Back at 40 Seasons of Superstars As part of our retrospective of 40 years of USFL football, we are going to look at the individual moments, the seasons that created superlatives, and the careers that turned the USFL into America’s spring obsession. We kick it off with a quick look at the league records for all three, individual games, season stats, and career accomplishments. Here is your breakdown of the records across both offense and defense in all three timeframes. So, what do we see here? Let’s start with the greatest gameday performances of all time. There are certainly many names you will immediately recognize, including the diminutive QB-who-could, Doug Flutie, who threw more passes and completed more than any other player in league history in a single game, tossing up 61 passes and completing 45 in a 1998 Michigan-Houston showdown that saw Flutie and Jim Kelly abandon the run and just keep chucking the ball. You also are likely no stranger to league legends like Joe Cribbs (272 yards in one game), Trumaine Johnson, Marques Colston, Brian Urlacher, or Kurt Gouveia, but for those who may not have been with us in USFL fanship all the way back into the early 1980’s, perhaps the names Cornelius Quarles, Virgil Livers, or Fred Besana are not familiar to you. For those of us who have followed the USFL since those early days, we remember the league’s opening season, when a lot of players who had not made their names at big time colleges or had seasons of success in the NFL made a mark and put themselves on the map. Cornelius Quarles is perhaps my favorite example. A little known back out of HBCU Howard became a one-season standout for the Birmingham Stallions, moving from fullback to halfback, Quarles would play only one season with the club before Joe Cribbs’s arrival from the NFL, but what a season, putting up 1,407 yards and 17 touchdowns, including the 4-TD masterpiece against Arizona that gave him a record which still stands (others have matched it but no one yet has surpassed it.) Fred Besana was another early success story for the USFL, Besana had sipped a couple of cups of coffee with the Bills and Giants in the 1970’s but was playing minor league ball with the Twin City Cougars when the USFL came calling. He emerged as an early star of the league, throwing for over 3,700 yards and 26 touchdowns with the 1983 Oakland Invaders. He would lead Oakland over 2 years before serving as a backup to Jim Kelly for 1 year in Houston and retiring after a 1-day contract to return to Oakland. His 6 touchdowns in an early game against the favored Chicago Blitz put him on the map and made him an early superstar for the Invaders, themselves trying to define their club as more than a replacement after the bitter relocation of the Raiders to LA. The last of our favorite single-game standouts has to be Sam Garcia. Don’t know that name? We are not surprised. Garcia played 12 seasons in the USFL, but appeared in only 6 games, a deep bench backup for Jacksonville most of his career, but in 1984 he was called on to sub for QB Jim Kelly and for one day he was the best QB the USFL has ever seen. In a one-game call-up from the practice squad, Garcia led the expansion Gamblers against the Arizona Wranglers and he played about as well as any QB has ever played, recording a 158.3 QB rating by going 20 of 20 for 218 yards and 2 TDs. It would be his only USFL start as he would move on to the Bulls to back up players like Doug Williams, Chris Miller, and Tony Eason before retiring in 1995. The USFL did not propel him to stardom, but it gave him 12 years as a member of a pro football team and one day that lives on in USFL annals. Our list of the USFL single-season record holders has perhaps fewer “unknown” players, though we expect that most don’t remember the career of players like Chuck Hartlieb, Elbert Shelley, or Jeff Query. We get the huge names that we all talk about as USFL greats: Calais Campbell, Kerry Collins, Troy Aikman, Herschel Walker, Eric Truvillion and Brian Bosworth, and we have those records that seem untouchable. Will anyone ever top a 25-touchdown year? It has not happened in 37 years since Eric Truvillion set that high bar. Brian Bosworth’s 155 tackles in 1990 stil stands 32 years later. Troy Aikman’s dual record 5,674 yards and 54 TDs in that brilliant Bandit Ball season of 1998 is now more than 20 years old. And while the NFL has seen 5 different players top 2,000 yards in a 16-week season, the USFL still has not had a back top Herschel Walker’s 1983 debut season of 1,767 yards. We certainly cannot imagine that record standing forever, but 40+ years is still an amazing run as the league’s best rushing season. Finally, we have our career leaders, names almost every USFL fan knows by heart. From Doug Flutie and Jake Plummer through Urlacher, Joey Porter, Mike Vrabel, and Calais Campbell, our choice for the Greatest USFL Player of All Time. Not many surprises here as we are all familiar with the superstar careers of the league’s all-time leaders, most of whom are enshrined in Canton at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. What is perhaps most amazing about the career leaders is that so many of their numbers simply dwarf their NFL counterparts. For example, Deuce McCallister’s 19,271 yards rushing tops NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith’s 18,355 by nearly 1,000 yards. Likewise, Joey Galloway’s 24,313 yards receiving is more than 1,500 more than Jerry Rice’s legendary numbers in the NFL. And, of course, the most ludicrous difference is among pass rushers, where Bruce Smith, who spent a few years at the end of his career with the USFL, finished his NFL career with 244 NFL sacks, while Calais Campbell’s 402 career sacks dwarfs the former Buffalo Bills’ numbers. The one anomaly, an odd one considering what a passing league the USFL is, is that the USFL career passing yardage leader, Jake Plummer, topped out at 59,759, a number that puts him well below NFL career leaders Peyton Manning (71,940), Philip Rivers (63,948) and Matt Ryan (62,792), though it should be noted that when we combine former General and Invader QB Tom Brady’s USFL and NFL numbers, the 23-year pro football veteran had a career total of 91,202 yards, though only roughly 30,000 of that occurred during his 8 years in the USFL, with the rest coming as a member of the 3-time NFL champion Cowboys. We finish our look at all time league leaders with a special shout out to one of the few players on our career leader list who has yet to earn a gold jacket in Canton, cornerback Donnell Woolford, the all-time interception leader. Woolford’s 54 career picks over 15 seasons with the Baltimore Blitz seem a glaring omission from the Hall, especially when you add in over 1,200 tackles, 24 furced fumbles and 7 career defensive touchdowns. If members of the Legacy Committee for the Hall are reading this, we think Woolford is long overdue for recognition. And in recognition that the USFL greatness is not limited to the players who hold leaguewide records, we finish this part of our retrospective with two great lists, the Top 5 players in each of 8 USFL statistical categories (Passing Yards, Passing TDs, Rushing Yards, Receptions, Receiving Yards, Offensive TDs, Tackles and Sacks) both by season and career stats. Lot’s of great players on both lists, and several who take more than one spot in our top 5 seasons lists as well. THE USFL'S ALL-TIME GREATEST SEASONS: 1983-2022 THE USFL'S GREATEST CAREERS: 1983-2022 Let’s Talk Dynasty It is a debate topic that simply never fails to bring out passion among USFL fans, which is the greatest dynasty of all time. There are several contenders, with Arizona becoming the latest in the list of teams to win multiple titles in a short span. It all began back in the 1980’s when the Michigan Panthers and Philadelphia Stars alternated titles between 1984-1987, Michigan winning both even-numbered years with the Stars qualifying for the title game in 3 consecutive years and winning the title in both odd-numbered years. There is no clear “Team of the 90’s” as between 1991-2000 9 different teams brought home the John Bassett Trophy, with the only repeat winner being Jim Kelly’s Houston Gamblers (1992 and 1996). But, if we add in 1990, we get 2 titles for Sam Rutigliano and the Federals. The 2000’s started with one of the greatest back-to-back seasons in league history, with the Ohio Glory going 17-0 to win the title in 2002 and then returning for the league’s first repeat championship in 2003, but that amazing 2-year run was not followed by further playoff success. New Jersey won two titles in the mid-2000’s, with Tom Brady leading the Generals to titles in 2004 and 2006. But if we are looking at sustained success, perhaps we have to consider the Memphis Showboats, who won the title in 1999 and again in 20007, but who also appeared in the 2002 and 2008 Summer Bowls. Jump to the past 12 years and the debate becomes a 2-team race, between the Arizona Wranglers, who have now won 4 titles in a 10-year span, starting in 2013 and winning every 3rd year since, 2016, 2019, and now in 2022. They are challenged by a Bandits team that won the league title in 2011 and then came back for their own repeat title run in 2020 and 2021. The edge, in most people’s minds, goes to Arizona, not only for their 4 titles, but the fact that they appeared in a total of 6 Summer Bowls in the decade (2013-2022). Hard to argue against that. We decided to look all time, count up all the appearances and all the victories and provide you with a list of all 40 USFL championships and the all-time record of the 27 teams who have appeared in a title game, from Houston’s 10 appearances to the 0-1 records of the Portland Thunder, St. Louis Knights, LA Express, Charlotte Monarchs, and Texas Outlaws. And yes, we include the hard luck Chicago Machine, 0-3 all-time in the Summer Bowl, as well as the 5 teams to have never lost a Summer Bowl, led by the 3-0 New Jersey Generals. Unfortunately, there will be some teams (We are looking at you, Jacksonville) who have yet to make an appearance, but for these Summer Bowl participants, the debate still rages as to who the USFL’s true blue blood team is. We honestly think there are more than a few, and would list the Bandits, Gamblers, Panthers, and Wranglers as the clear choices. And, one last table for all you USFL data-geeks out there: Our Year-by-Year breakdown of every USFL title game since 1983, complete with venue, score, and MVP of the game. One Final Word Forty seasons down, and who knows how many more to come. And whether you have been with the USFL since its awkward “baby deer” steps in 1983, rooting for a team that still sits right where it did 40 years ago, in D.C., Detroit, Oakland, and so many other cities across the country, or if you just signed on in the past few years, perhaps aligning yourself with the newest transplants in San Diego, Las Vegas, Oklahoma, and Boston, we hope you have found This Week in the USFL to be your premier source for all things related to spring football, to this league, its teams, its players, and its legacy. We have loved bringing the USFL to you for 40 years and we are hoping to stay right at the forefront of this great American sports tradition for a long time to come. A Note from Your Humble Alt-Historian: To all the folks who have been following this Alt-History, I truly hope you have enjoyed the experience. It may not have always been the truest representation of the USFL, and it certainly took some twists and turns even I did not plan on, but I have loved giving new life to a league that I fell in love with at the age of 16 and whose end came way too soon. Every spring I miss the USFL, and every league that has come and gone since has felt like a pale effort to recapture lightning in a bottle. I, myself, am going to try to capture that same lightning in a bottle starting in September, when I hope to premier my new project “The WFL Reborn”. I will venture back before my memory of football, into the early 1970’s to envision a World Football League that avoided some of the mistakes that caused it to falter and fail in less than 2 seasons. I will again try my best to produce a realistic alternate timeline, to envision something quite different from the USFL, and to bring a long-dead league back to life. More will come between now and September, and I likely will be seeking your input as well (primarily through the Cris Creamer’s Sportslogos.net message board), but I hope you will join me once again with a new league and a new universe to explore when the WFL Reborn debuts later this year.

Summer Bowl 2022 was billed as a battle of dynasties, a clash of titans, and a game that would make history. It lived up to all three hype lines as the Arizona Wranglers a 17-point deficit in the first half, and did the unthinkable, shutting out the high-powered Tampa Bay Bandits in the second half, adding 2 scores, one defensive, to take a late lead, holding on to win their 4th title in the past decade and laying full claim to their dynasty and Coach Jim Tomsula’s legend. It was a game that turned late in the 2nd quarter and demonstrated the value of 2nd half adjustments as a Bandit squad that put up a huge play for 6 in the 1st quarter and at one point held a 17-point lead was unable to find the plays or release their playmakers in the second half as Arizona held them down and finally passed them on the way to the finish. Not exactly the tortoise and the hare, but certainly a prime example of how pro football is a game that requires all 60 minutes to determine a winner. Audi Field in Washington, D.C.,. home to the 40th USFL Championship Game With fans suffering through hot and muggy 90-degree heat for most of the afternoon as they tailgated and bar-hopped around Audi Field in D.C.’s Buzzard Point neighborhood, the stadium stayed uncomfortably hot through the first half, but started to cool as halftime approached, much like the Bandit attack. And maybe it was that the hot humid air slowed down Arizona in the first half, because the break seemed to bring with it not only a cooling of the air, but a heating up of the Arizona Wrangler defense. But we get ahead of ourselves. Vice President Harris cheering the pre-game flyover. The game began with all the pomp and circumstance you would expect from a major sporting event in the nation’s capital. While President Biden did not attend, VP Kamala Harris was in attendance, along with a range of D.C. big wigs from government and industry. The United States Marne Corps Band was on hand to lead the National Anthem, along with Pharrell Williams performing America the Beautiful. We also had perhaps the most complex flyover in USFL history as the league celebrated 40 seasons with 4 different flyovers, including aircraft from Joint Base Andrews, the Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Fort Belvoir and nearby Annapolis. It was a red, white, and blue celebration not only of D.C. but of the USFL as a part of the American identity. The ceremonial coin toss saw Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Mark Milley throw heads, giving Arizona the call, and, as has become almost inevitable, they chose to defer, giving Tampa Bay the ball first. From then on, all the ceremony, celebratory rites, and big name guests took a back seat to the action on the field, as it should be. Both teams started off slowly, not uncommon for an inter-conference matchup, especially one with so much on the line. The first successful third down conversion and the first new set of downs occurred on Tampa Bay’s second possession, when Dalvin Cook converted on a 3rd and 1 run from the Bandit 29. The Bandits would start to show some real threat on the 2nd drive, with Dak Prescott finding TE Jeff Heuerman for a 35-yard connection that took the ball to the Arizona 22. But Arizona would not wilt under the late afternoon heat. With a first and 10 just outside the 10-yard line, Wrangler DE made a huge play, swinging outside the block of the tackle and clipping Dak Prescott around the hip. It looked initially like Prescott would spin out of the tackle, but he misstepped and fell to the ground for a 5-yard loss. The Bandits would get those 5 yards back on 2nd and 15 with a short pass to Deebo Samuel, but a shot into the endzone on 3rd and 10 did not find Dez Bryant, and the Bandits had to settle for 3. They did not know it yet, but the difference between putting up 7 and putting up 3 on this drive would end up being huge in the final outcome. The Bandit drive was followed by Arizona’s first successful foray into Bandit territory, a 9-play drive that saw Ka’Deem Carey break off a 10-yard run and Ryan Nassib connect with DeMarcus Robinson for the first of what would be 6 receptions for 139 yards on the day. The drive fizzled inside the Bandit 20 as Nassib suffered a sack on third and 5, with LB Preston Smith getting his 1st of 2 on the day. That play put the ball at the 21 and set up Arizona’s Elliott Parson for a 38-yard equalizer. The Bandits came out after a nice return, intent on cracking the Wrangler D, and they would, snagging the biggest individual play of the game on what would be a 1-play drive. With the ball on the Bandit 35, Dak Prescott faked the handoff to Dalvin Cook, drawing in the Arizona linebackers as well as safety Budda Baker. That move freed up Dez Bryant, pushing CB Joe Haden down the field. Prescott laid up a perfect deep ball and while Haden had good position, he lost the battle of height with Bryant and fell short of deflecting the ball away. Bryant glided down the sideline to complete the 65-yard play and give Tampa Bay the first touchdown of the game, just 6 seconds after Arizona’s score. That play stung the Wranglers, who had set as a goal to keep the Bandits in front of their secondary. It also seemed to stymie any offensive confidence gained by the field goal only seconds earlier. Arizona would go 3-and-out on their next possession and a backwards bounce on the ensuing punt gave Tampa Bay possession on their own 38, another good field position start for Tampa Bay. There would be no huge individual gainer on this next Bandit drive, but over the remaining 3 minutes and 45 seconds of the first quarter, the Bandits succeeded in picking up 61 yards, placing the ball on the Arizona 1, first and goal, as the quarter changed. There would be no goal line stand from the Wranglers as the 2nd quarter began. Tampa Bay lined up on the 1 in their heavy personnel set and Dalvin Cook would burrow behind the left guard to score the Bandit’s 2nd touchdown of the half, giving them a 17-3 lead just as the 2nd quarter began. Arizona would need to dig in or the game could get out of hand quickly. Arizona QB Ryan Nassib in pregame warmups. The Wranglers needed to avoid another 3-and-out, and they did just that by leaning on the run game. A pair of runs from Tyler Allgeier got them their first new set of downs. They would get 2 more on the drive, one thanks to TE Robert Tonyan, the star of the Conference Final, and one from Ka’Deem Carey on a short swing pass. But, while the Wrangler drive ate up a solid 5 minutes, it ended with a punt from the Bandit 48. Tampa Bay took the touchback and started another offensive drive with just under 10 minutes to play in the half. The Bandit’s again moved the ball well, at least at first. A pair of runs from Cook, a nice Bryant reception along the sideline and a rare catch from FB Roger Gregory helped the Bandits work their way into Arizona territory, where Harrison Butker would put up another 3 on a 45-yard kick that gave the Bandits a 17-point margin with just under 8 minutes left in the half. It was do or die time for the Wranglers. A quick turnaround could spell disaster for the Western Conference Champions. The Wranglers responded well to the pressure of the moment, and finally broke a big play of their own, with Ryan Nassib escaping what would be the 3rd sack of the game and finding DeMarcus Robinson open behind the defense. The play would cover 59 yards, the longest completion of the day for the Arizona quarterback. Robinson’s catch put the ball just outside the Bandit 20. From there the Wranglers pushed the ball down to the 3, but on 3rd and goal from the 3, a well-timed all-out blitz caught Nassib by surprise, forcing him backwards before getting wrapped up by LB DeMeco Ryans. The Wranglers would have to settle for a 23-yard field goal from Parson, which still left a 14-point deficit on the board. A frustrated Dak Prescott after a 1st half interception. But, football is a game of opportunities and Arizona got theirs only 6 plays later, when, on a 3rd and 8 form their own 31, the Bandits made the first major error of the game. Prescott was flushed from the pocket by LB Malik Jefferson, tried to find Deebo Samuel backtracking, but did not account for Joe Haden, who had been covering Dez Bryant until the play broke down. Haden closed on the ball and on Samuel, popping the ball into the air and then coming down with it in perfect tip drill form. The first turnover of the game would prove to be a turning point as it gave Arizona possession with 1:51 left to play and only 39 yards to the Bandit endzone. Arizona was patient with their newfound possession. It would take them 7 plays to move the 39-yards, short, safe tosses to Tonyan and Aiyuk underneath along with inside runs from Allgeier. On 1st and goal from the 1, following an Allgeier run that fell just short of a touchdown, Nassib faked the ball to Allgeier and found Brandon Aiyuk on an inside-out route. The speedy receiver was hit immediately by Asante Samuel, but held on, falling into the endzone for Arizona’s first touchdown and a score that made the halftime margin only 7. As the two teams headed into the locker rooms for the half, all thoughts were on how to alter the trajectory of the 2nd half. For the Bandits, it was about avoiding mistakes, turning those 3-point plays into 7-pointers, and finding more opportunities to break down the Wrangler defense. But, at the same time, over in Arizona’s locker room, Coach Tomsula was changing the plan. He would shift away from his single-safety deep strategy, challenge Tampa Bay to run the ball with Cook by keeping the safeties back, but also putting more pressure on the inside of the line by sliding both Bud DuPree and Carlos Dunlap inside of the tackles. That would take away the inside run, forcing his linebackers to maintain containment, but also forcing more plays to start off laterally rather than forward-facing. Halftime headliner Post Malone goes old school with a red solo cup. The extended halftime gave Tomsula and his staff time to emphasize discipline to his defense and patience to his offense. They would need both in the second half. And as a halftime show headlined by Post Malone, with a surprise appearance by Dua Lipa, wrapped up, the Bandits and Wranglers took to the field with very different points of emphasis, Tampa Bay wanting to turn up their big play potential, and Arizona focused on steadiness and disciplined play. The Wranglers would almost lose that discipline on the very first play of the half. Harrison Butker’s second half kickoff hit that awkward spot at the 5 where a returner has to decide if he will take it on the fly and seek a return or let it bounce into the endzone for a touchback. Brandon Johnson, the Wrangler return man on the right side of the field took too long to decide, with the ball bouncing up towards him at a bad angle. It glanced off his shoulder and into the endzone, but, fortunately for Johnson, the play had pushed Tyler Allgeier his direction and the rookie back was able to fall on the ball before a Bandit could get to it. Disaster avoided, but a rough start for the Wranglers. Arizona would produce only a single first down on the drive, but that helped them flip the field, punting from their own 33, and with a booming 61-yard punt from Corey Bojorquez, Tampa Bay found themselves pushed back to their own red zone. From here certainly they would start their drive cautiously. At least that is what most imagined, but not Coach Mark Trestman, who used the 1st and 10 from their own 12 as the perfect prelude for a deep ball attempt. Expecting single safety deep coverage, Budda Baker’s drop back just before the snap threw a wrench in the planned deep ball to Grant. Prescott looked his way, but he was in double coverage and the Bandit QB could only try to loft the ball outside of the coverage. It sailed out of bounds just out of reach for Grant, but the failed play gave Coach Tomsula the chance to reinforce his halftime message of discipline and focus on every play. The Bandits would not gain a first down in the entire third quarter. Dak Prescott would be sacked twice, despite the lack of blitzes from the Wranglers. He would also nearly suffer a second interception, saved only by a bobble from LB A. J. Klien that kept the ball from being caught. Arizona did not fair much better, though they at least produced a pair of first downs on one drive before punting the ball back to the Bandits. What had begun as a game with big play potential had now morphed into a defensive struggle. That shift would benefit the Wranglers, who were more than happy with their newfound defensive success. The scoreless period produced 4 total punts, and would end with Arizona backed up to their own 7 after a good punt by Matt Araiza of the Bandits. The Wranglers would get out of the shadow of their own endzone with a nicely-timed screen to Ka’Deem Carey, gaining 12 yards and helping the Wranglers move the ball out to the 41 before having to punt once again. For the 2nd time in a row, Corey Bojorquez would uncork a beauty, this one traveling nearly 60 yards again but bouncing out of bounds at the Bandit 4, setting up the Bandits with a first and 10 from their own goalline early in the 4th. Predictably, Tampa Bay tried an inside run on 1st and 10, but Dalvin Cook was stuffed by LB Scooby Wright, forcing a 2nd and 11 from the 3. Arizona had not blitzed once in the third quarter, but with the ball inside the 3, they took a chance, expecting Tampa Bay to try to pass their way out of the endzone. The guess was a good one, the blitz a perfect call, and immediately effective as Carlos Dunlap found Dak Prescott just as the Bandit QB tried to dump the ball off to Cook in the flat. Prescott was forced to eat the ball and that produced a safety that moved the Wranglers to only 5 points down with 11:16 to play. The ensuing free kick pushed Arizona back to their own 43, and they could not advance the ball, so the Bandits took over again just 3 minutes later, but the safety had impacted both Prescott’s confidence in the pocket and Coach Trestman’s insistence on big play dynamics. Tampa would move the ball down the field, eventually getting in range for a Butker kick from 48 yards out, but the ball slipped to the left and outside the uprights, keeping the score an awkward 20-15 with just under 6 minutes to play. Could you have picked Arizona TE Robert Tonyan out of a lineup 2 weeks ago? Arizona was down 5, and with time slipping away, the odds of getting two field goal tries seemed less than favorable. They needed a touchdown. And to get that, they needed to do something Tampa Bay did not expect. The Wranglers turned to one of the unsung heroes of their team, a player who came up big only a week ago in their hard-fought victory over Seattle, tight end Robert Tonyan. Coach OC Nick Jones called a play designed to match up Tonyan with Bandit LB Preston Brown. The play would force the safeties and corners deep to deal with Aiyuk, Robinson and Lockett, allowing Tonyan open space underneath. The play worked perfectly, with Tonyan finding room underneath, catching the 9-yard pass, and finding open space ahead of him. He would get a brilliant block from Tyler Lockett, who, amazingly, would finish the game without a catch, but who did his part on this play, blocking Derwin James away from Tonyan, a move that allowed the big man to shrug off a cornerback on his way to a 52-yard gain, placing the ball on the Tampa Bay 12. From there it would be a 4-yard run by Carey, followed by another big play to the TE, this time blocking end Maxx Williams, who took on an initial rusher before rolling out to the flat, catching the ball from Nassib and rumbling into the endzone for the go-ahead score. Arizona had turned the script inside out, using a big play to break down the Bandit defense and then finishing the drive efficiently to take their first lead of the game. With 4:11 left to play, they would go for 2 to try to build a 3-point lead, one they would need to defend against what would certainly be a blistering Bandit attack. The PAT attempt, a roll-out pass intended for Aiyuk, did not connect and the Wranglers now faced the reality of a 1-point lead to defend for 4 minutes against the league’s most potent offense, but a lead is still a lead and for the Wranglers it was more than they could have realistically hoped for when they were down 20-3. The final 4 minutes of the game saw the Bandits get only 1 real shot at scoring. Their next possession ended quickly, with two incompletions forcing a punt after only 68 seconds had come off the clock. They would get the ball back after sacking Ryan Nassib on both 2nd and 3rd downs on the ensuing Arizona possession, but it would force them to use all three of their timeouts, getting the ball back with 1:31 left, but needing to reach at least the Arizona 35 to have a real shot at a game-ending field goal from their veteran kicker. Arizona had been defending against the big play all game, had been dropping safeties for the entire second half, but now it was not the 40-yard play that was the risk, it was a series of 11 yard plays that had Coach Tomsula reminding his defenders of their assignments and the need for focus. The very first play of the drive proved why that focus is so important. What started as a 10-yard completion to TE Jordan Cameron turned into a 33-yard gain when Cameron shrugged off a hit intended to send him out of bounds, regained his balance and rambled down the sideline before finally stepping out. The Bandits were now close enough to produce real worry, sitting on the Wrangler 49, only 15 yards from a realistic field goal attempt for Butker. Coach Tomsula called a timeout to give his defenders a moment to breathe, to refocus, and to remember that the game was not yet lost. They returned to the field focused on the task at hand, defend that 15 yards like it was the last 15 on the field. On 1st and 10, Prescott tried to find Samuel on an out-cutting route, but his throw went too far to Samuel’s outside, forcing the receiver out of bounds before the ball came in. On 2nd and 10, Prescott found his receiver, but Dez Bryant’s catch produced only 4 yards, leaving a 3rd and 6 from the 43. Third down proved even worse for the Bandits as a bubble screen to Bryant was blown up before the receiver could even get to the line, with Joe Haden and Malik Jefferson trapping the 2021 OPOTY 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Back at the 46, with 38 seconds left in the game, Coach Trestman had a tough call to make. Would he trot out Butker for what would be a near impossible kick of 63 yards, well beyond his career best of 57, or would he send out Prescott and the offense to try to convert a 4th and 7? Without a timeout available to think the play over, Trestman kept Prescott on the field, setting up a “4th and the Game” situation. Coach Tomsula gets a 4th ring, cementing his place in USFL history as the Wrangler Dynasty nabs another title. Coach Tomsula signaled to MLB A. J. Klien to both shorten widen the coverage. The Wranglers might allow Tampa Bay to catch a ball over the middle, but not on the outside, inside and the clock keeps ticking, outside and at least 8 yards down field and they get a timeout and a real shot to set up a field goal. The play came in, Prescott in the shotgun, Cook moving in motion from the backfield out to the right. At the snap, the two Arizona safeties took man coverage along with all 3 corners. Linebackers Malik Jefferson and Scooby Wright dropped back into the shallow zones. Tampa shifted their blocking outwards, hoping to keep Bud DuPree from reaching Prescott, but it was that shift that would produce immediate pressure, with DT Snacks Harrison looping around linemate Jason Hargrave and finding a path towards Prescott. The Bandit QB had to release the ball early, hoping he could place it where TE Jordan Cameron could bring it in. But Cameron had not been able to break past Jefferson. The ball came in low and Cameron was not in a position to scoop it off the turf. The ball careened off the Audi Field grass and the Wrangler faithful in the stadium erupted in celebration. It would take only one Ryan Nassib kneeldown to end the game and give the Wranglers their 4th title in the past 10 years. Arizona had come back from 17 down, had shut out the Bandits offense for nearly 38 minutes, and had fought their way back to a USFL title. For the Bandits it was an opportunity lost, a chance to make history slipping between their fingers, and a frustrating paucity of the very big yardage plays that had been their bread and butter all season long that did them in. Coach Trestman congratulated Coach Tomsula mid-field, and as copper, red, and gold confetti rained down on the stadium, the Wranglers celebrated another title and another trophy in a case that had stood empty for 30 years but was now getting quite cluttered with honors. Ryan Nassib, who just one year ago had been demoted in Washington, finished his first year back with the Wranglers with a ring and with the Summer Bowl MVP award. His 20 of 34, 311-yard, 2-TD day had crept up on many, with more eyes on Prescott, who would finish only 12 of 27 for 241. And as the stars came out over the District, the night belonged to the 4-time USFL Champion Arizona Wranglers. Hello USFL Fans. A quick word that this Summer Bowl recap will not be the last thing I post on the USFL Lives before shutting down and starting work on a new project. You may have already noticed that I have updated the Hall of Fame, Teams, and League History Pages to provide a full 40-year alt-history perspective to this project. I will follow this article up with one more 40-Year Retrospective on the USFL Lives project, including more stats and facts from the project's 40 simulated seasons. I hope you have enjoyed what started as a pet project during COVID 19 and turned into a 6-year trip that saw me put out 40 seasons of imagined USFL football, with just about 10,000 pages of text and hundreds of articles. I have loved hearing from you about what you love and what you wish could have been in a world where the USFL did not die out in 1986. Hoping you will join me as I go even further back into the annals of failed football leagues to reimagine a very different path for the short-lived World Football League. The goal is to kick off the Alt-History with league building over 1973-1974 in the first week of September. Before that, please check out the Concept message board at Chris Creamer's outstanding Sportslogos.net website, where I will post some pre-kickoff designs, announce opportunities for you to participate in the WFL Reborn project, and to help me design the league, and its path from 1973 into the future. It will not be a rehash of the USFL Lives project, as I plan to take the league in a different direction, but it will be (hopefully) just as engaging, and offer a lot of "what if" moments, as I hope The USFL Lives has.

The Conference Finals produced a Summer Bowl matchup that we know the league, the network, and the sponsors are going to love. The 2-time defending champions will be taking on perhaps the team of the decade and 3-time Summer Bowl winner as Tampa Bay faces off against Arizona in a battle of the two conferences' top seeds in Summer Bowl 2022. Both teams found themselves in tough title game matchups this week, but both prevailed and will move on to face each other in Washington D. C. this Saturday night. We will break down how both teams got to Summer Bowl 2022, preview the game, and provide you with the latest updates, including our Big Story, some major retirement news that could again shake up the offseason for several teams. All that, plus news out of Tennessee, LA, and League HQ in New York, as well as the 2022 Award Winners and All-USFL team in a jam-packed edition of This Week in the USFL. Bradford Contemplates, Lacy Bows Out at 29, and More Retirement News Retirements continue to become big news across the USFL as the offseason has led to some significantly impactful announcements, beginning just 2 weeks ago with Calais Campbell announcing that his 2022 campaign would be his last. In that first week we also heard from Denver WR Golden Tate, Atlanta safety Earl Thomas, and a trio of starting left tackles (Carimi, Dotson, and Oher). Then, last week, fans in Houston learned that their team was going to look dramatically different in 2023 after both 2021 MVP quarterback Colt McCoy and All-USFL halfback Carlos Hyde had also put on the Gambler jersey for the last time. This week we have a mix of announcements and rumors that could cause major revisions to their club’s plans for the offseason. Let’s start with what we know. Former St. Louis Skyhawk and current Oklahoma Outlaw back Eddie Lacy has announced that the 2022 season would be his last. This was a bolt out of the blue for the Outlaws as Lacy is only 29 years old and still has 2 years on his contract, a deal he extended only last year. Lacy has struggled in Oklahoma City, appearing in only 12 games each of the past 2 years and watching his production drop as well, with his last 1,000-yard season coming in 2019 with the Skyhawks, his two seasons in OKC have produced 797 yards and only 590 yards this year. The grind of the game, impacted certainly by Lacy’s style of play as a predominantly inside runner, may well have caused his body to break down, evident in the missed games over the past 3 seasons (18 in 3 years). With Lacy’s departure, the Outlaws now have to either prioritize the tailback position in the offseason or build around Devin Singletary, who had only 78 carries for 282 yards in 2022. In Dallas the concern is again for the defense, a problem area for several years now, but certainly made more problematic by the announcement this week that All-USFL cornerback Patrick Peterson will leave the game at age 35. Peterson, who has averaged over 80 tackles per season since his 2014 campaign in New Orleans, is one of the league’s best ball hawks, producing 42 picks in his career and a league record 13 defensive touchdowns off of pick-sixes. Peterson set another league record with 5 pick-six scores in 2021, but failed to record one this year. His absence leaves a huge hole in the secondary, one which we expect the Roughnecks will seek veteran leadership to fill, rather than promoting Ja’Sir Taylor to the 1-spot after only one year in the league. Finally, we have to address the rumors coming out of Chicago, because if they prove to be true, then the Machine has a major issue to address after what had been a very positive year. There is a lot of talk this past week that starting QB Sam Bradford is poised to announce his retirement after 13 years in the USFL (6 in New Jersey, 3 in LA, and 4 in Chicago. Bradford is 34, and has certainly taken a lot of physical punishment over his career, but has put up his two best seasons statistically in 2021 and 2022, surpassing 4,000 yards and 20 touchdowns both seasons. With Chicago reaching the playoffs with identical 11-5 records in both seasons, winning the Central Division in back-to-back years for the first time for the first time in team history, there was a lot of positivity going into the offseason, and it was expected that Bradford would be at the helm for another run at a possible Summer Bowl appearance in 2023. The rumors, however, seem to be from credible sources close to Bradford and the Machine, and could indicate that the quarterback is looking long term, is concerned about his health, and is simply not feeling the same fire in his belly as in past years to return to training again in a few weeks. If true, if Bradford does step away from the game, then the Machine have to focus on the QB position as a primary target of offseason attention and team resources. Bradford was in a contract year, and while no deal had been struck, one was expected even at this late date. If he steps away, that leaves the Machine with only 34-year old veteran backup Mike Kafka, and 2nd year practice squader Ian Book as options. Losing Bradford will almost certainly force Chicago to consider a possible free agent quarterback like a Matt McGloin or Kirk Cousins, or take a shot at one of the top tier QB options in the draft, players like Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C. J. Stroud. It also almost certainly means re-evaluating the goals for 2023, building in a year of adjustment and development before a Summer Bowl run could be in the works, a major change of focus for a team and a fanbase that though they were on the cusp. SAN ANTONIO GUNSLINGERS 20 TAMPA BAY BANDITS 27 The Eastern Conference Finals felt very much like a David v. Goliath situation. On one side of the field you had the San Antonio Gunslingers, a team brought back to existence only 3 seasons ago, having qualified for their first postseason action ever, and very much a team with more ambition than experience. On the other sideline were the two-time defending USFL champions, looking to solidify their place in league history as a dynasty and potentially the first team in the league’s 40-year history to win three titles in a row. So, did the Gunslingers really have what it took to pull off a major upset and take down the Bandits at Raymond James? While both the Vegas books and most USFL fans did not give Coach Chuck Long’s Gunslingers much of a chance, no one bothered to tell the team, and they played the game very much like a team that felt they deserved to be there and had a real chance at success, an attitude that kept this game far closer than most anticipated and provided more than a fair share of concern from the 58,272 in attendance at Raymond James. But, in the end, the experience and talent of the Bandits proved to be enough to provide them with the final advantage and move Tampa Bay one step closer to an unprecedented 3rd straight title. In a game that would be tied at 20-20 after 3 quarters, San Antonio showed time and again that they belonged in the Conference Final, and that they were not awestruck by the Bandit team they were facing. They cam in with a bend-don’t-break defensive scheme, one which relied on flooding zones with defenders rather than trying to put pressure on Dak Prescott. That strategy was largely effective, leading Dak Prescott to a somewhat pedestrian 12 of27 on the day, limiting him to only 198 yard passing, and only a lone TD pass, though that pass proved to be a big one. On offense, San Antonio balanced the run and the pass, focusing on possession and creating manageable 3rd downs to keep Tampa Bay’s offense off the field. That too proved effective, at least through three quarters. Both teams came out onto the field a bit tentative, evident in the 3 initial drives of the game, two by the Gunslingers and one from the Bandits, that produced almost immediate punts, with only one first down among the three possessions. But, as so often happens, by the final third of the opening period the two teams started to find themselves offensively. It began with the Bandits finally hitting on a third down play, with a draw play catching San Antonio off-guard as Dalvin Cook sprinted for 8 yards on a 3rd and 7. That play sparked the Bandit offense and 6 plays later it would be Cook putting the first points of the game on the board, breaking free of an initial hit before cutting back behind the guard and into the endzone to put Tampa Bay up 7-0 at the 3:37 mark of the period. That touchdown drive would get the ball rolling, and it looked like the Bandits were ready to add more after they forced a quick 3-and-out and got the ball back with 2:12 left to play. But three consecutive incompletions from Prescott, one a tipped ball and one nearly picked off by Gunslinger corner Jaquan Johnson, produced a punt only 51 seconds later, and that punt proved a turning point for the Gunslingers. DeMetrius McCay, who had only averaged 6.3 yards per return all season, did significantly better than average, taking the ball on his own 38, immediately taking an upfield angle and shaking past the initial wave of defenders on his way to a punt return touchdown that silenced the previously celebratory Bandit crowd. The game would go to the 2nd quarter tied at 7, but, with most able to dismiss the punt return score as a lucky play, the Bandit fans were still in full voice and still feeling good. They would feel even better when, 1:35 into the 2nd quarter, Dalvin Cook put up his 2nd TD of the game, this one a 7-yard edge run that saw him find the corner, get a good block from Ryan Grant, and into the endzone to again put the Bandits ahead by 7. They would not relinquish the lead in the half, but they would see it tighten as the 3 final drives of the half produced 2 San Antonio field goals and one by the Bandits. The final Gunslinger drive kept San Antonio’s spirits high, having gone down 17-10 with 1:18 left, Joe Flacco led a furious 5-play drive that included a trick play that worked to perfection as HB Raheem Mostert took a lateral on a flat route, drew in the defense and then threw the ball across the field back to Flacco, who picked up 7 before going out of bounds. With a QB known as a living statue in the pocket, the play caught Tampa completely off guard. San Antonio would put up a final play field goal and went into the half down only 4. Tampa Bay moved the lead back to 7 with an early field goal in the 3rd, but they never got that key score that would put them up by double digits and change the tone of the game. In fact, when Joe Flacco connected with Brandon LaFell for a 31-yard strike to the Bandit 5 and 2 plays later flipped the ball to Julius Thomas on a shovel pass screen for the score, both the Bandit sideline and the crowd started to show signs of concern. The game was tied at 20 as the teams prepped for the 4th quarter and while San Antonio’s sideline seemed energized, there was an air of concern up and down the benches on the Bandit side of the field. The Bandits needed a statement drive, and both Coach Trestman and Dak Prescott were well aware of it. Trestman conferred with his OC up in the booth, with the key word being “tempo”, and Tampa Bay came out with what would be a 13-play drive that averaged only 21 seconds between plays. With Prescott in the shotgun for most of the drive, using muddle-huddles near the line to quickly get from play to play, the Bandits moved the ball from their own 20 to the San Antonio 10-yard line in short order. Underneath routes let Dez Bryant and Deebo Samuel contribute to the quick-paced drive, combined with a pair of quick-hitting run plays by Dalvin Cook, a nice Matt Breida pitch play, and finally a goalline connection from Prescott to TE Jordan Cameron. That drive not only returned Tampa Bay to a 7-point lead, but left both the team and the nearly 60,000 inside Raymond James with the impression that Tampa Bay could score when they wanted, which meant that they controlled the final period. Even if the Gunslingers could tie the game, the Bandits and Bandit Nation now felt like they could storm back and take the lead again, having shown what they could do with focus. They would not need to prove that theory. San Antonio would not cross midfield for the rest of the game, with the Bandit defense also proving they were up to the task. Two of the team’s four sacks in the game would come in the 4th, along with the game’s only turnover, a forced ball towards Garrett Wilson snatched away by FS Hamsah Nasirildeen that gave the Bandits the ball with 3:37 left to play. They would run off nearly 3 full minutes before punting the ball back to the Gunslingers, and with 48 seconds to work with, San Antonio could not muster a game-saving drive. The Bandits had escaped, and that is how it felt, that San Antonio had found a formula to slow down and contain the Bandit Ball offense, but just could not muster enough offense in the 2nd half to overtake the Bandits. An escape, not a dominant win, but it was an escape that got the job done. The Bandits would be heading to D.C. and Summer Bowl 2012, their third trip in three years and a chance to rewrite the USFL history books with a possible threepeat as champions. SEATTLE DRAGONS 14 ARIZONA WRANGLERS 16 The night game from State Farm Stadium would determine who would stand in Tampa Bay’s path towards a historical threepeat. The home team, the Arizona Wranglers, were the conference’s one seed, a 13-3 squad that had combined big play offense with a Top 10 defense that was particularly tough against the run. Facing them would be the Seattle Dragons, winners of 8 in a row, owners of the 3rd best scoring defense in the league, the league’s leading rusher in Knowshon Moreno, and one of the three teams to have beaten Arizona in the regular season, a pretty solid 27-14 victory at Lumen Field in Week 8. We highlight the defenses for both teams because that would be the dominant factor in the game, with both teams limited on offense and both relying on short fields to put points up. There were 4 turnovers forced in this game, two for each team, and of the 30 points scored, 21 would come from an unexpected change of possession, including the opening score of the game. After a scoreless first quarter that saw only 3 combined first downs between the two teams, Seattle got the first break of the game when a short pass from Ryan Nassib to Brandon Aiyuk appeared to produce a first down, but when Aiyuk was hit by FS Quandre Diggs, the ball popped out of his hands, bounced off Diggs and was brought down by CB Chidobe Auzie for the first turnover and a first down for Seattle on the Arizona 31. From there Seattle got a nice connection from Hundley to Kyle Rudolph and followed it with a 9-yard TD run by the league’s leading rusher, Knowshon Moreno. The takeaway-turned-touchdown would be repeated as a theme only 2:34 later as a quick Arizona 3-and-out was followed by a tough break for Seattle HB and punt returner Wendell Smallwood, who tried to spin out of a tackle only to have the ball pop loose. Recovered by LB Mykal Walker, the Seattle turnover sparked the Wranglers for the equalizer, with Ryan Nassib connecting with Tyler Lockett for the slot receiver’s only catch of the day, but a meaningful one as it equalized the score at 7-7. It looked like the game might go to the half with that score, but with Arizona pushing to get in field goal range late in the half, Ryan Nassib made a rare mistake, forcing a ball towards DeMarcus Robinson. Quandre Diggs was again the man on the spot, picking off the pass and returning it to the Arizona 40. After a Knowshon Moreno run gained only a single yard, Seattle took a chance that would pay off. They shifted pre-snap to a Wildcat formation, with Moreno under center and Hundley lined up in the slot next to Devin Funchess. Moreno took the snap, with Hundley in motion. The QB took the ball on a short lateral, moving left to right, and looked back towards Funchess. The movement had worked, drawing the safety in and leaving the receiver in single coverage. Hundley planted, turned and three an arcing ball to the left sideline, where Funchess snatched it out of the air before cutting inside, avoiding the diving tackle of the corner, giving a couple of high steps as he crossed the plane and put 6 on the board. The State Farm Stadium crowd was stunned, the Wranglers deflated, and the Dragons overjoyed as they took a 14-7 lead into the half, feeling very much like a team that had overcome the crowd and the mystique of a team that had made 5 Summer Bowl trips and won 3 titles in the past decade. Seattle had used a trick play and had relied on takeaways to score 14 in the half, but they were feeling confident. In the locker room, Coach Jim Tomsula urged the Wranglers play within themselves, to avoid making negative plays, and just do their jobs. There were 30 minutes of play left and Seattle had gotten lucky, not outplayed the Arizona team. That message took hold with the Wranglers, who came out in the 2nd half with focus and determination. Their opening drive brought Wrangler Nation back from the concession stands and bathroom breaks, crossing midfield in only 4 plays, with both Ka’Deem Carey and Tyler Allgeier both having their longest runs of the day on the drive, a 14-yarder for Carey and a 10-yarder that crossed midfield for Allgeier. The two would combine for 108 yards on the day, with 71 coming in the second half as Arizona started to wear down the Seattle line. After crossing midfield, Ryan Nassib would take on the bigger role in the drive, first connecting with TE Robert Tonyan, his primary target on the day, for a toss that took the Wranglers down to the Seattle 24, and then, 2 plays later, finding Aiyuk for a 22-yard TD. A rare doink off the goalpost for Elliott Parson meant that Seattle maintained the lead, now 14-13, but the drive had given Arizona a sense of control that they had not felt in the first half. That sense ended up proving itself in the 2nd half. Seattle, after gaining 201 yards in the first half would gain only 91 in the second, and their lone scoring opportunity, a Jeffery Harris 51-yard field goal, would be called back on a penalty, forcing a punt. Seattle would not force any more Arizona turnovers, and while their defense played well enough to avoid another touchdown, they would give up a field goal in the final minute of the third to give Arizona a slim 16-14 lead. That lead would prove to be enough, with Seattle’s offense able to penetrate deep enough into Arizona territory to give Harris another shot at a field goal, Arizona would eat up 9 of the 4th quarter’s 15 minutes of gametime. With 2:02 left to play, the Wranglers converted on a key 3rd and 3, with Nassib taking a risk, throwing the ball to Tonyan instead of using the run. That play allowed Arizona to kill clock down to only 17 seconds to play before punting the ball back to Seattle. The Dragons tried to go deep on the next 2 plays, but failed to connect, and that ran down the clock with no real threat to Arizona’s slim lead. The Wranglers would be heading to Washington’s Audi Field in what would be billed a battle of dynasties. The Wranglers, winners of 3 titles since 2013 against the Bandits, winners of the past two USFL championships. Tomsula vs. Trestman, a resurgent Ryan Nassib vs. MVP Dak Prescott, and two defenses known for aggressive play going head to head. Dalvin Cooks for Bandits Go back through our reports all year and you will see that we have not spent much time praising Tampa Bay halfback Dalvin Cook. That felt like a mistake on our part this week as the Bandit ballcarrier came up big against the Gunslingers, carrying the ball 23 times for 85 yards and putting the ball in the endzone twice. While we tend to focus on the big play receivers, Bryant and Grant, and Dak Prescott’s skill at the long ball, the reality is that without Cook’s 1,116 rushing and 300 yards as a receiver. In this week’s Conference Title showdown, Cook was the most consistent and reliable weapon for the Bandits, helping to keep drives moving, and keeping the Gunslinger defense honest. It is not a glamorous job, though the occasional break away run can get fans to their feet, but Cook’s consistent threat as a ballcarrier helps make the Bandit offense the potent force that it is. Wilson Embarrassed by 2 of 6 Day Rookie wideout Garrett Wilson would be named Rookie of the Year, only 4 days later, but on Sunday he was not feeling like a champion. Wilson caught only 2 of 6 targets in San Antonio’s Conference Title Game defeat, with 2 of the 4 missed passes ruled drops. He would gain only 15 yards, a far cry from his average of 86.5 per game that took him to 1,384 yards in the regular season. Compared to his Divisional Playoff output of 5 receptions on 6 targets with 51 yards and a TD, Wilson was not feeling special on Sunday. Of course, this would not be the first time that CB Jalen Ramsey would make a receiver have a sub-par game, paired with SS Derwin James to bracket Wilson most of the game, it was not surprising that Joe Flacco would feel forced to look elsewhere, or that only 2 of the passes sent Wilson’s way would be brought in. The Bandits had Ramsey shadow Wilson all game, with Asante Samuel facing off against Brandon LaFell on the other side. San Antonio knew that the Bandit secondary would be tough to break, and that proved to be the case as both receivers had sub-par games, but rookie Wilson, in his first Conference Final, clearly felt the hurt of not coming through. By game’s end he was visibly upset with himself, the kind of frustration that winning the ROTY won’t resolve, only a strong sophomore campaign can help. So watch out for Wilson in 2023, because we think he will be on a mission. Dynasty Talk Motivates Haden & Wranglers While there is certainly plenty of focus on the possibility of the Bandits winning a 3rd consecutive title, we need to also look at the Arizona Wrangler legacy as a huge factor in the 2022 Summer Bowl, because the Wranglers themselves certainly are. Just ask All-USFL cornerback Joe Haden. “We respect the Bandits, but the dynasty is us, not them. The best of the best is us, and we know it.” Said a fiery Haden in a Monday press conference. Haden is not wrong. After all, since 2013 the Wranglers have appeared in the USFL playoffs all 10 years, winning titles in 2013, 2016, and 2019, while appearing in the Summer Bowl as well in 2015 and 2018. And while Haden was quite aggressive in his celebration of the Wranglers’ success, local Phoenix media has been playing up another point. With titles every 3rd year this decade, 2022 would fit the pattern. 2013 to 2016, then to 2019, and now to 2022. Is that a pattern to repeat again this year? Winning a 4th title in 10 years would certainly push Arizona into the rarest of air, challenging our perception of a dynasty, just as Tampa winning a 3rd title in a row would do. So, essentially, whoever ends up lifting the John Bassett Trophy this Saturday, it will be as part of a historic dynasty. Tonyan Stuns Seattle With Career Day Going into the matchup with Arizona, the Dragons felt they knew the keys to holding down the Wrangler offense. They would have to deal with the 2-headed HB duo of Carey and Allgeier, and they would need to keep the WR combo of Brandon Aiyuk and DeMarcus Robinson, with 2,374 yards between them, from getting behind the defense for big plays. What they almost certainly did not plan for was a focus on TE Robert Tonyan. No disrespect to the Wrangler tight end, but Tonyan has largely played the role of safety valve, not primary target for the Wranglers, but that was not the case this week. Perhaps we should give Kudos to Seattle for their ability to hold Aiyuk and Robinson to a total of 5 catches and 65 yards combined (and that includes Aiyuk’s 22-yard TD which accounts for a full third of the game’s total). But we should also recognize that Robert Tonyan finished as the lead receiver for either team , bringing in 5 of 8 targets for 118 yards and producing a pair of key third down conversions in the game. Sometimes when a defense has your leading weapons accounted for, you have to turn to someone else to step up, and in this week’s Western Final, that player was Robert Tonyan, and he stepped up just as Coach Tomsula told him he would need to do. Looks like we will have a largely injury-free Summer Bowl, with no players reported by Arizona and a very likely return of both center Frank Ragnow and guard Travis Bond for the Bandits. That is what we always want, to worthy opponents at full strength going toe to toe. TBY: C Frank Ragnow (P), OG Travis Bond (P) ARZ: None Reported 2022 USFL Awards & All-USFL Team The USFL Gala at Washington’s Howard Theatre was a star-studded event, bringing together USFL royalty, legends of the game, and a fair share of celebrities as well, including several major political figures, along with stars of stage and screen. But there were no bigger stars on hand for the event than the players being celebrated on the night, including the winners of this season’s five major awards as well as the full 2022 All-USFL team, both revealed over the course of the evening. This year’s awards and All-USFL list were not without some controversies, though we certainly believe that those honored were more than worthy for recognition for the season they put together in 2022. MOST VALUABLE PLAYER While official voting was not revealed, it seems clear that this year’s race was a 2-horse race, with voters deciding between the statistical superiority of New Orleans QB Geno Smith, who hit the QB trifecta by finishing the season atop the yardage, touchdown, and QB rating leaderboard, and the team success (and impressive numbers) put up by 2-time MVP Dak Prescott. Bandit fans may feel slighted, and perhaps there was some bias against a 3rd award for the Tampa Bay QB, but you cannot argue that the numbers which Geno Smith, this year’s MVP winner, put on the board, were not impressive. Smith led the league, as we said, with 4,620 yards (more than 500 more than Prescott), threw for 34 touchdowns (1 more than Prescott), and finished with a 107.0 QBR (Prescott’s 113.5 was not counted as his reduced snaps due to missed action in weeks 15-16 caused him to fall short of the required attempt total). His surge in the final six weeks of the season, topping 400 yards three times, and throwing for 13 touchdowns, helped New Orleans win their final 4 games to jump from 5-7 to 9-7 and a playoff spot. Prescott would win the head-to-head matchup last week to move into the Eastern Conference Finals, but on this night, the voters went with stats and gave the individual award to Smith, his first MVP title. OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Another battle took place within the OPOTY voting as voters had to decide if they would recognize Prescott here or stick to the familiar formula of choosing from players outside of the QB position. With league rushing leader Knowshon Moreno’s season totals falling well short of prior HB winners of the award (his 1,283 representing the lowest yardage total for a league leader since 2001, when Terrell Davis won with 1,234), it was truly about the receivers in 2022. Brandin Cooks led all receivers with 116 yards, but with Portland finishing at the bottom of the Pacific Division, his ability to garner votes was limited. Not so for Birmingham’s Henry Ruggs, who led the league with 1,592 yards and 15 touchdowns. That double dip was enough to give the former Alabama star the edge over players like Cooks, Moreno, and 2021 winner Dez Bryant. DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR No shock at all with the DPOTY, not when you get the first player to hit 30 sacks in a season who is not named Calais Campbell, and while Montez Sweat had an outstanding year, also crossing the 30-sack bar, it was Brian Burns who became the talk of the league in 2022. Not only did he finish the year ahead of Sweat by 1 sack (31-30), but he did it by leaping over several players with one of the most dominant single games any USFL defender has ever put together. Burns ran roughshod over a dispirited Jacksonville Bulls team in Week 15 to the tune of 7 sacks on the day, a new single game record. That game jumped him over J. J. Watt, A. J. Epenesa, and Montez Sweat, giving him a 4-sack lead, one which Sweat would eat into but could not fully catch. While we had some real fun with this year’s sack leaderboard, Brian Burns’s season was a thing to behold and his honor hear is absolutely well earned. ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Early in the year it looked like Arizona HB Tyler Allgeier might be the frontrunner for this award, with a ton of early season touches, yards, and touchdowns, but with Arizona sticking to its 2-back plan with Allgeier sharing carries with Ka’Deem Carey, he was soon outpaced by wideout Garrett Wilson of the San Antonio Gunslingers. Wilson’s quick adaptation to the pros was evident as early as Week 2, when he put up 132 yards against Birmingham. He would finish the year with four 100-yard games, a total of 1,384 yards, 8 TDs, and 102 receptions. His rapport with Joe Flacco was a big reason the Gunslingers improved their record by 5 games over 2021 and won the Southern Division in only their 3rd year of existence as a franchise. COACH OF THE YEAR This too was a no-brainer, with the rapid rise of the Gunslingers from 3-13 only 2 years ago to 11-5, a division title, and a trip to the Eastern Conference Title Game in year 3. Chuck Long, the former QB of the Chicago Machine and Philadelphia Stars (1987-1997) came to the expansion Gunslingers after finding success as an OC in Arizona, where he helped turn David Carr into an MVP and helped unheralded backup Ryan Nassib lead the Wranglers to a league title. Long did not need to develop his QB in San Antonio, just build an offense around Joe Flacco that built on his strengths and reduced the number of hits, sacks, and hurries he had been taking with the Texas/Oklahoma Outlaws. Along the way, Long also helped build the 3rd best run game in the USFL with a combo of speedster Raheem Mostert and the steady one-cut skills of NFL veteran Melvin Gordon. Despite having a lower tier defense (19th in scoring, 24th in yards allowed), the Gunslingers won the South by going 6-2 in the Alamodome and a solid 5-3 on the road, sweeping both Houston and Memphis and splitting their series with the Stallions and Breakers to win not only the South, but the 2-seed in only their 3rd year in the league. As the gala moved through the major awards, they paused to reveal the various positions which won the fan and coaches polls for the All-USFL team. Along the way there were a fair share of surprises, and a few snubs, but, as with the 5 major awards, you cannot deny that every representative on the team had an outstanding 2022 and deserved to be recognized as All-USFL performers. Here is your 2022 All-USFL Team: QB: League MVP Geno Smith is joined by Tampa Bay’s Dak Prescott and St. Louis’s Lamar Jackson. Jackson is a bit of a surprise, but fans apparently loved his style of play, which reminded many of a younger Cam Newton. Speaking of Newton, he and Joe Flacco were the two players many expected could be the 3rd QB, but were leapfrogged by the dynamic St. Louis QB. HB: No surprises here as the 3 leading rushers of the 2022 season made the cut. Knowshon Moreno (SEA), LeVeon Bell (MGN), and Derrick Henry (PHI) took the honors, in the case of Bell and Henry, they did so purely on individual merit as their teams finished near the bottom of the league standings. FB: Always a tough category because there just are not a lot of stats to go on and the fan vote tends to be all over the map. The coaches tend to be a bit more focus, and this year, their consensus choice, Orlando’s Patrick Ricard took the honors. Ricard is a devastating blocker and a huge reason that NFL import Chris Carson finished the year with over 1,100 yards. He is also a capable receiver, and a solid short-yardage back, evident in the 44 carries the Renegades gave him, none on longer than 2 yards to go for a first down. TE: A bit of a down year for tight ends across the league, with none reaching the magical 1,000 yard mark, and, in what could be a controversial result, neither of the two players who hit 900 yards (Oklahoma’s Mark Andrews or Denver’s T. J. Hockenson) won the votes needed to make the All-USFL team. Instead, the honor went to two veteran ends who just had higher name recognition, New Orleans’s Coby Fleener and Tampa Bay’s Jordan Cameron. WR: Always a tough category to limit, as with only 5 slots, someone who had an outstanding season is going to be missed. This year’s group is certainly a who’s who of big play receivers, starting with OPOTY Henry Ruggs from the Stallions. He is joined by Dez Bryant of the Bandits, Denver’s Golden Tate in his final year of play, St. Louis breakout star Deionte Johnson, and ROTY Garrett Wilson from the Gunslingers. Just outside of the top 5 are A. J. Green of Atlanta and Mike Evans of Houston, both of whom went over 1,400 yards in 2022. OT: No surprise that the lead vote getter was Arizona’s Brandon Scherff. He has become a regular on this list and with the run game the Wranglers put together this year, Scherff gets a huge bump as one of the best run-blocking left tackles in the league. Joining him are two first timers, New Orleans’s Charles Cross, who registered 123 pancakes while giving up only 2 sacks all season, and Ohio’s Greg Little, a bit of a surprise for fans, but a highly respected tackle in coaching circles, giving up a lone sack of Justin Fields all season. OG: The road graters, the big men who keep the pocket intact, guards don’t get enough love, but these three certainly earned our respect this year. The All-USFL guards are Arizona’s Corey Levin, Birmingham’s Benjamin Grubbs, and another Wrangler lineman, Xavier Su’a-Filo. The big man for the Wranglers is Utah-born, but of Samoan origin, the latest in a long line of All-USFL performers with Samoan heritage. C: Yes, a third Wrangler from the 5-man starting line is recognized as veteran Robert Vega gets his 2nd All-USFL nod, 5 years after earning the honors as a member of the Philadelphia Stars. He joins Houston’s Shaq Mason, earning his 8th consecutive honor and a mainstay of the All-USFL team. DE: You can guess who got the nod at the top of this list, DPOTY Brian Burns is joined by fellow 30-sack man Montez Sweat. The biggest surprise is not so much that J. J. Watt picked up the 3rd spot, but that for the first time in over a decade, Calais Campbell did not earn recognition. It would have been a nice nod after his retirement announcement, but the votes came in before he announced and the three who were named certainly earned the honor. St. Louis’s A. J. Epenesa had a monster season as well, but with only 3 slots, there just was not room to add him to this year’s team. DT: Two easily predictable selections lead this position group as LA’s Chris Jones and Pittsburgh’s Aaron Donald are now annual favorites, dominating at the line and racking up sack totals that look like those of an edge rusher. They are joined by an All-USFL first-timer and one of our favorites from a name standpoint: Snacks Harrison of Arizona. The 3rd year nose for the Wranglers did not have the big numbers of Jones or Donald, but was huge in the Wranglers earning Top 5 rankings against the run and for total points allowed. LB: An interesting vote in that 3 of the 5 named LBs play in the middle, not as hybrid pass rushers outside. That group includes Charlotte veteran Rolando McClain, San Diego’s Kyle Van Noy, and Arizona’s A. J. Klien. The two outside backers are Seattle’s Khalil Mack and Chicago’s Manti Te’o. A solid group but we are a bit surprised that Tim Williams, with 132 tackles, and Uchena Nwosu of LA, with 11 sacks, did not find a way in. CB: A group of lock down corners any team would love to have starts with Tampa’s Jaylen Ramsey, who just proved his abilities against the ROTY in this week’s Eastern Final. Joining Ramsey are Seattle’s Richard Sherman, Chicago’s Josh Norman, and LA’s Jamar Taylor. If you are looking for a surprising snub, we would have to say New Jersey’s Aqib Talib, with 6 picks and 87 tackles is oddly absent from the list. SS: Our two enforcers for this year are both known for the way they deliver blows and shut down inside receivers. Derwin James of the Bandits and Rahim Moore of the LA Express make going over the middle a “head on a swivel” experience. Arizona’s Budda Baker is a surprise absence, but we cannot argue with either James or Moore on the squad, not without them clobbering us anyway. FS: If the Strong Safety is about delivering bone-rattling hits, the Free Safety is all about swooping in and snatching the ball away from an unsuspecting receiver. This year there was no one better than co-interception leader, Jevon Holland of Oakland. His 8 picks were proof of his ball skills as well as his timing and field vision. He is joined by New Orleans’s Clyde Adams, who contributed 6 picks and 49 tackles to the cause for the Breakers this year. ST: Kicker was a bit of an easy choice this year, with Tampa Bay’s Harrison Butker not only leading the league in points, but also in field goal percentage, going 32 of 34 for a 94.1% rate. Despite having far fewer attempts this year than last, thanks to LA finally finding themselves an offense, Express punter James Sykes rounds out our team thanks to his league-best 48.2 punt average. Governor Lee Comes Out Against Showboat Move Well, Memphians, it looks like you have yourself a champion in Tennessee Governor Bill Lee. The Governor came out this week in strong opposition of relocation for the Showboats from Memphis to Nashville. Citing the history of the team at the Liberty Bowl, the major financial impact a move away from Memphis would have for the state’s 2nd City, and a desire to support the entire state, from the Smokies to the Mississippi, Lee announced this week that he would veto any funding bill or bond initiative that sought to find funds for a proposed stadium upgrade in Nashville if it involved relocation of the Showboats. Saying that the state had two pro teams and needed to support both right where they are, he laid out a plan that would provide state funds for stadium construction, but only if the construction plan included both a new Nissan Stadium for the Nashville-based Tennessee Titans and a new home in Memphis for the Showboats. The show of support for Memphis and the Showboats as Memphis’s team was a bit of a surprise for many in the state as Lee himself hails from central Tennessee and, of course, lives in Nashville as the state’s governor. But, as Lee himself cited, no state is healthy if all the money, all the growth, and all the opportunities reside only in its largest city. Lee celebrated the fact that Tennessee is a state with three very distinct regions, symbolized by the 3 stars on the state flag, and that he is governor of a state that want’s a strong eastern region, anchored by the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, a strong central region, headed by Nashville, and a strong western region, with Memphis as its hub and economic center. The Governor’s clear statement of support for a 2-stadium plan and for Memphis to remain home to the Showboats does not officially end the bid from the city of Nashville or the current stadium governance organization, but it certainly places a huge roadblock on any potential move, and provides potential state support for what the Showboat ownership group has consistently said they wanted, a new facility in the river city. Is Geffen Back in the Game for Express? Back in the 1990’s, when the city of LA was seeking a return of USFL football after the initial Express club relocated to St. Louis in 1992, one of the movers and shakers that helped make it happen was music and film executive David Geffen. The founder of Asylum and Geffen Records as well as DreamWorks SKG helped put together the deal that brought an expansion team and a new stadium to the 2nd largest city in the U.S. A founding member of the new LA Express, Geffen sold off his share of the team in 2008, around the time he left DreamWorks as well. But it appears that the urge to keep football in LA is strong with the multi-billionaire as Geffen’s name has emerged as a potential buyer for the Express over the past 2 weeks. Geffen is perhaps more well-known as an art-collector than a sports mogul, and would be the first openly gay owner of a USFL franchise, but his background in securing the expansion Express in 1995, his familiarity with the league, the team, and with the construction of Farmers Insurance Field, all give him a leg up on most competing bids. He is a known entity to other USFL owners, and, in a time when media savvy and connections are a huge part of the league’s profile and financial plans, having an owner in LA who is not only committed to the city, but to the league as a media-savvy entity is a huge potential boon for the Express and the USFL in Los Angeles. How Tampa Bay Wins Summer Bowl 2022 We start our preview of the 2022 Summer Bowl with the two-time defending champions. If you are not sure how the Bandits win ballgames, you have likely been in a coma for the past 3 years. The formula is pure and simple, Bandit Ball. On offense the Bandits use a multitude of formations and personnel groupings to stretch the field both horizontally and vertically. They love to use mid-range passing to set up the double move to hit deep balls, and they have the receivers to make it work in Dez Bryant, Ryan Grant, and Deebo Samuel. Overplay the outside game and they will use Dalvin Cook to soften up the pass rush or dump it down to either Cook or TE James Cameron. In other words, whatever you want to do, they will pivot to something else. On defense, the Bandits are one of the best in the league against the run, stuffing the line with DTs Sylvester Williams and Bryan Cowart, but also bringing either Devon Kennard or DeMeco Ryans in on run blitzes as well. If you overcommit to the interior, well, that is when 2022 Sack Champion Brian Burns get loose. The Wranglers will have to chip or double Burns to keep Ryan Nassib upright, and even if they do, he still has to worry about throwing towards either Jaylen Ramsey or Asante Samuel outside. The Bandits will win this game if they simply do what they have been doing all year, forcing Arizona into uncomfortable matchups on offense, and forcing Ryan Nassib to make quick decisions on defense. It is a formula that has worked on 15 of 17 opponents so far, and one that has won Tampa Bay the past two titles. So, will it be 3? How Arizona Wins Summer Bowl 2022 Arizona is no stranger to the Summer Bowl either, with 2022 representing their 6th trip to the title game in 10 years. Every Wrangler squad is a bit different, but what is consistent is the leadership and attention to detail that Coach Jim Tomsula brings to bear. The Wranglers are not a team that will be intimidated, or easily flustered. They will do what they came to do, and if Tampa finds ways to hold of Arizona early, Coach Tomsula will make adjustments, another strength of his approach. On offense the Wranglers want to establish the run, both inside and outside, alternating Ka’Deem Carey with Tyler Allgeier. Success there helps open up the passing game and gives Ryan Nassib the time he needs to read the coverages. Like Tampa Bay, the Wranglers can attack with a range of weapons, with DeMarcus Robinson and Brandon Aiyuk at their best between 5-15 yard downfield, but also with inside pressure provided by the quick moves of slot receiver Tyler Lockett and the post-up style of TE Robert Tonyan. You may not see Nassib heaving the ball 40 yards downfield like you see with Dak Prescott, but what you will see are crisp, efficient drives that keep the ball moving and the defense guessing what is coming next. Arizona’s defense is designed less for high impact plays and more for containment. Corners Joe Haden and A. J. Bouye keep receivers in front of them and are not particularly susceptible to double moves, which is a good trait to have when facing the Bandits. Their man skills help allow safeties Budda Baker and Taalanoa Hufanga to assist in run coverage or take on interior receivers. Arizona is not a heavy blitz team, so you can expect to see all 3 linebackers in a mix of run coverage and shallow zone throughout the game. If they do blitz, it is likely to be either Baker sensing an opportunity or weakside backer Scooby Wright. But more often than not, they allow the front 4 to focus on containing and pressuring the QB while they help remove space in the secondary. Is Arizona’s defense a good foil for the Bandits? Quite possibly, though we think that if they leave too much time for Dak Prescott in the pocket, those zones will start to break down and even outstanding man coverage will falter. On offense, the key will be to use Allgeier, fullback Alex Armah, and 2nd TE Maxx Williams as a second set of hands on Brian Burns. If Nassib sees too much pressure, we could see him struggle, but if his pocket remains relatively clean, he has the weapons to find holes in zones or to outlast man coverage and make plays. Who Our Stars Say Will Take the Title We decided that before we got in hot water by picking a winner for Summer Bowl 2022, we would turn to some experts, players who faced the Bandits and the Wranglers on the field and know what they are capable of. Baltimore, Philadelphia, Ohio, and Michigan all played both the Wranglers and the Bandits, so we asked players from all four for their input on how this game could go. Here is what they said. Ohio FS Mark Barron: This is tough because the Wranglers shut us out, but we were hurting by the time we played them. What we saw in the Bandits was that they just can pull out a big play whenever they feel they need one. We had plays where we knew what they wanted to do and they still were able to do it. That is scary for a defense. I don’t think of Arizona that way, so I have to say that Tampa Bay feels like the more dangerous team. Michigan QB Kirk Cousins: What I remember about the Bandits game was that they had LeVeon's number. That is not something that happens all that often, but they had him second guessing moves. We had some luck getting LeVeon into space against Arizona, and I think Dalvin Cook is a similar back, so I think Tampa Bay can potentially do the same. I like both teams, they are both really well-coached and there is a lot of talent there, but I think Arizona’s defense is more likely to get caught for a play here or there. Baltimore DE Calais Campbell: I know we lost to the Bandits and beat the Wranglers, but I spent 2 years with Coach Tomsula and what I can tell you is that he will have his team prepared for anything the Bandits can do. He is not going to be surprised, not going to be out-coached in this one. I expect he already has some schemes in place based on what the Bandits did to San Antonio this week, but that he is also working on the mental game for every player on that squad. There is also so much experience on both teams, but I have to lean to the Wranglers because I know how they prepare for games. Philadelphia HB Derrick Henry: They are both tough, in different ways. The Bandits will take shots, they will spread you out, and on defense they will force you outside, but at the same time, you can work the underneath passing game. Arizona just fills the field with defenders. I think they will need to do something to get to Dak, but they are not going to leave defenders on an island. Now, I know I am biased, but I think whoever can run the ball early will get the upper hand, and right now, looking at both teams, I think Cook is the best back in that game and could make some plays. I am looking at the Bandits because of that. Who We Say Will Lift the Bassett Trophy This is tough, because either way this game goes, it will be a historic victory. Either the Bandits win a third title in a row, never done before, or Arizona wins a 4th title in 10 years, also never seen before. Both teams are talent rich, both have really good coaching, and both rarely make fatal mistakes. It really could come down to whose gameplan makes the best use of the players on the field and the small mistakes from the other team. It really could come down to a single turnover, or even just a bad penalty at the wrong time. Our team is pretty much in agreement that if the game starts turning into a shootout, then Tampa Bay has already won, but if it stays in a lower range, say the 20’s and not the 30’s or 40’s, well then, Arizona has a good chance to outlast and out-adjust in this one. But you want us to pick, of course, so we will. We have looked at the film, broken down the numbers, and assessed the matchups, and even though we think this is far more of a 55-45 split than a 70-30, we all lean towards the Bandits to complete yet another amazing season with a third straight title. We think their ability to capitalize on mistakes and make a modest play into a big play is tough to defend and gives them an edge. Our official prediction is Bandits 31 Wranglers 26, with the game starting slowly, but heating up in the final 20 minutes.

The Four top seeds in the USFL playoffs took to the field this weekend, and 3 of them advanced to the Conference Title Games. Only Chicago, losers of 3 in a row, came out on the short end of the scoreboard, taken down by the 3rd seeded Seattle Dragons, a club on a very different trajectory, winning their 8th in a row. Tampa Bay took out a huge lead on the New Orleans Breakers and held on against a late comeback effort. Orlando struggled to protect the ball, with 4 turnovers turning into 20 pivotal points for San Antonio, and Arizona, well, they just did what they have been doing to a lot of teams lately, dominating. We will break down all 4 Divisional games, take a look ahead at the Conference Finals, report on the stories of the week, including what may prove to be a generational change in Houston, and our big story for the week, a new broadcast deal that has USFL owners seeing dollar signs in their eyes. We will start there with the deal that will move games onto a pair of new platforms and provide the USFL with a major financial boost, but we will be sure to spend plenty of time with the on-the-field stories as well. USFL Reaches $15B Agreement with Google & You Tube It has been in the works for nearly 2 years, coming hot on the heels of the NFL’s $11B deal with Amazon, and now putting the USFL on a level footing once again with the senior league in pro football. The details are pretty basic. The USFL will offer You Tube and its subsidiary streaming service, YouTube TV broadcasts 14 regular season games per year, 2 playoff games, and provides full access to the full USFL Films library, including episodes of This is the USFL that go all the way back to 1983. In turn, YouTube, and its parent company, Google, will provide the spring league with $15B over 12 years. The deal comes as a blow to both Fox and ABC, which will each lose one game per week, though, for fans, particularly those with the enhanced YouTube package, the deal means that there will be no more regional blackouts. No issues with games being played simultaneously. ESPN, EFN, and NBC will retain the exclusive rights to the USFL’s 5 weekly night games, and the YouTube games will leapfrog over the bye weeks, when the USFL offers only 12 games, not 15 per week. That means you can expect to see games limited to YouTube coverage (or broadcast on the YouTube TV proprietary channel) from Weeks 1-6 (6 games) and from Week 12-17 (8 games over 6 weeks). It also means that one game in both the Wild Card Weekend and the Divisional Round will also be available through YouTube, removing one game each from NBC and ESPN/EFN. The deal is meant to cross the USFL over from a pure broadcast format to a streaming format, something we have seen in a smaller capacity through the ESPN Football Network’s streaming services “EFN Extra” which has streamed games for out-of-market subscribers as well as providing fans with the USFL Sideline Channel, a clear imitation of the NFL Network’s Red Zone channel, a streaming option that jumps between games to show big plays and high drama moments. USFL leadership has not yet announced how the new streaming deal will impact the league’s salary cap structure, but all speculation is that the new cap could jump as much as $20M per team in 2024. The league having already released a 2023 cap of $110M, could now see $130M or more in 2024, a number which again helps the USFL stand on a financially level playing field with the 100-year-old NFL. But, of course, as with any change to the status quo, there will be a downside, and for fans who simply don’t want to invest in both cable or satellite deals and a streaming service, the addition of YouTube and YouTube TV means that there will be even fewer options for them. While the average fan will still be able to catch the weekly NBC, ABC, and FOX broadcasts on their TVs, with or without a cable or satellite package (where stations exist to broadcast them), those games now drop from 10 games per week (Friday and Saturday nights on NBC, and 12pm and 4pm starts on both Saturday and Sunday on ABC and FOX), to potentially 8 or fewer. The deal also guarantees that having a full cable package that includes ESPN and EFN no longer guarantees that every USFL game will be available. The fans who come out on top are those who already use YouTube TV as their streaming and broadcast TV system, because those fans will have access to all the games, with no more Sunday afternoon regional games. The goal, of course, is for YouTube TV to gain even more households as the exclusive option for full USFL coverage, and for the YouTube Plus package to boost revenue for the online video provider as well. And so, the USFL again takes a step forward in how it reaches its public, another option and what could be the start of a move towards on-demand streaming as the primary vehicle for pro sports. What does it mean for you, the viewer? Well, if you have the right package, it means guaranteed coverage of your favorite team, and if you don’t? Well, maybe less available to you than before. The march of “progress” gives, and it takes away. ORLANDO RENEGADES 29 SAN ANTONIO GUNSLINGERS 37 Coaches preach it week in and week out, ball security. Turnovers can ruin even the best game plan. They can make a favorite into a dog, a better team into a loser, and when you are the road team in the playoffs you simply cannot afford to make mistakes, especially not the kind of mistakes that turn into points. Orlando made 4 mistakes on Saturday, and San Antonio ensured that all 4 turned into points. The Renegades came out of the game with 2 Russell Wilson picks and fumbles by both Tarik Cohen and David Njoku, and those 4 turnovers translated into 20 San Antonio points, more than enough to help support an 8-point victory. The Gunslingers, led by QB Joe Flacco, found ways to turn each Orlando gaff to their advantage, and when Flacco himself turned the ball over, the lone turnover of the day for Orlando, the Gunslinger defense got the ball right back. That disparity was the difference in the game, and the reason the Gunslingers will be heading to Tampa Bay to face the Bandits next Sunday. The first mistake came only 2 plays after San Antonio put the first points on the board. Following a 1st quarter field goal by the Gunslingers, Orlando got the ball back on their own 19. After a short run by Tarik Cohen, subbing for the injured Chris Carson, Russell Wilson tried to force a ball to Nelson Agholor, but safety Michael Carter Jr. got to the ball first, diving for the ball, and rolling to the turf to give San Antonio possession on the Renegade 27. It would take San Antonio 7 plays, but they finished the short 27-yard drive with a Flacco to Wilson TD that gave them an early 10-point advantage. To their credit, Orlando rebounded, putting up 2 scores to take the lead, including a beautifully designed play that freed up Boston Scott for a 60-yard score. But, San Antonio had big play capability as well. On the ensuing drive, the Gunslingers got a 28-yard Flacco-to-Julius Thomas completion on 3rd and 13 to continue a drive that would finish with Noah Fant catching Flacco’s 2nd TD toss of the day. On the ensuing drive, and with time winding down, Tarik Cohen bobbled the handoff from Wilson, got absolutely laid out by LB Gabe Miller, and SS Will Harris swooped in to recover the ball. That miscue led to a Gunslinger field goal with only seconds left before the half, giving the Alamodome crowd of nearly 59,000 plenty of reason to cheer as their team went into the locker room up 20-14. Orlando would get the 2nd half kickoff, but as they reached midfield, the turnover bug struck again. David Njoku caught a ball over the middle, turned to head upfield, and took a huge hit from Harris. The ball fell to the ground, and Harris, ever alert, fell on it for his 2nd recovery of the day. San Antonio could only advance the ball to the Orlando 29, but that was close enough for Evan McPherson to add a 2nd field goal, giving the home team 13 points off turnovers and a 23-14 lead. The Gunslingers would add a non-turnover-aided touchdown 5 minutes later when Raheem Mostert took the ball off the left side for a 6-yard TD to conclude a 10-play San Antonio drive. Orlando, with 5 minutes left in the 3rd, was now down 16. But again, the Renegades were resilient. They moved the ball crisply and added a TD toss from Wilson to Njoku with 1:49 left in the 3rd, followed by a perfect RPO play on the 2-point conversion, with Wilson diving over the line to add 2 more points and shave San Antonio’s advantage to 8, 30-22. Orlando felt that momentum had fully swung their way 2 possessions later, when, on a 3rd and 9 throw, Joe Flacco was picked off by Michael Jackson at midfield. Orlando, down only 8, had finally obtained a takeaway and was poised to get even in the game, only 49 yards from paydirt. But once a team starts a game sloppily, it is hard to put that toothpaste back into the tube. Five plays after the turnover, Wilson again failed to see free safety Michael Carter’s position, this time on slot receiver N’Keal Harry. Carter again undercut the route, ending the Orlando drive and giving San Antonio the ball and the momentum. San Antonio would drive 73 yards, eat up nearly 8 minutes, and go backup by double digits when Raheem Mostert scored his 2nd TD of the day, a goalline plunge behind the right guard. Orlando was back down by 15, needing 2 touchdowns and at least one 2-point PAT to stand a chance of tying the score. Wilson would shrug off his 2nd pick of the day, lead Orlando down the field, and put another TD on the board, his 4th of the day, when he hit Hunter Renfrew on a 6-yard in-cutting route. But, with only 3:28 left on the clock, the Renegades would need a quick stop. San Antonio was in no mood to grant the Renegades a shot at another score. With the full volume of the Alamodome crowd behind them, they secured a first down on a 3rd and 2 plunge by HB Melvin Gordon. Then another when Flacco pushed the ball the final foot on 3rd and inches. Those two first downs not only used up all 3 Orlando timeouts, but they took the clock down to 1:11. From there, it was three kneel-downs and a victory party for the 3rd year franchise. San Antonio would be moving on, and the Renegades would have a long flight home to Florida to wonder what could have been different had they not lost the takeaway battle 4-1. ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 23 ARIZONA WRANGLERS 43 It took St. Louis only 6 seconds of game clock to take the lead in Arizona, with Lamar Jackson finding Deionte Johnson with a crowd-silencing 62-yard TD pass on the first play from scrimmage. It would be the last moment of joy in the game for the Skyhawks and their small contingent of fans. The more than 56,000 Wrangler faithful who occupied most of the stadium, would be feeling most of the joy on the day after their initial shock. St. Louis’s quick strike touchdown would be followed by an Arizona fast break, going 73 yards in only 6 plays before Ryan Nassib found DeMarcus Robinson, cleared to play just moments before the opening kickoff, to equalize the score. Only 3 plays later, Wrangler LB Malik Jefferson would force a holding call in the endzone to produce a safety, giving the Wranglers the lead and the ball. Arizona would add another touchdown 4 minutes later and St. Louis would never sniff the lead again. A 2nd quarter field goal by Skyhawk kicker Zane Gonzalez was followed by one form Elliott Parson, which was itself followed by a Ka’Deem Carey TD run to create the 29-10 halftime lead for the Wranglers. St. Louis fans might have still felt their club had a shot to come back, but anyone who has watched the Wranglers engage in playoff football over the past decade knew that this club, and Coach Tomsula, would not allow for any such comeback to materialize. The third quarter saw Ryan Nassib hit Robert Tonyan with an 8-yard touchdown strike at the end of a 15-play, 8-minute drive that ate up more than half of the quarter. That was followed 7 minutes later by a TD toss to Tyler Lockett, and the route was in full effect. Up 43-10, there was no looking back for the Wranglers. St. Louis would get a pair of touchdowns, helped by a successful onside kick, but the final result was never in question. Arizona had scored on 7 of 8 drives between the first St. Louis touchdown and their 2nd one. And while the Wrangler defense allowed some late yardage and a few late points for the Skyhawks, they were never in any risk of letting the game get out of hand. When all was said and done, It was a 20-point victory for the Southwest Division Champions. Ryan Nassib had thrown for 345 yards, with both Robinson and Aiyuk going over 100 on the day. Lamar Jackson had added a lot of late yards in the air to reach 344, but with only 17 yards rushing, his dual threat skills proved no advantage. Arizona did what we have seen them do so often, they got the advantage, went for the jugular and locked up the win. Now they would prep for their next home game, the Western Conference Championship. SEATTLE DRAGONS 20 CHICAGO MACHINE 3 Arizona’s opponent would not be decided until the next day, when 52,307 sky-blue clad fans filled Soldier Field to root on their Machine squad. The visiting Seattle Dragons were not impressed. They had been here before, not Soldier Field per se, but set up as a visiting team in a huge playoff setting. They knew what they needed to do to emerge victorious. Seattle’s plan was a basic one, on offense, use the run to set up the pass. On defense, don’t allow Chicago to do the same. Double-cover Beckham but otherwise use as many players as possible to limit any attempt at a Machine run game. Chicago knew this would be the plan, just as Coach Riley knew that Chicago would try to use play action to force the Dragon safeties deeper. The one flaw in Chicago’s plan was the kind of thing you just cannot plan on, the superior effort by a superior player. On defense, that player was Khalil Mack, who complicated Chicago’s blocking schemes with constant movement, and disrupted the run schemes with his vision. On offense, the even larger mismatch proved to be the front 7 of the Chicago Machine against league rushing leader Knowshon Moreno. We don’t know what Moreno usually eats for breakfast, but on this day, it was Chicago defenders. Moreno ran through, over, and around the Machine defenders all game, averaging 7.2 yards per carry and breaking off 4 different runs over 20 yards, including a 53-yard thing of beauty that took the ball all the way to the 1-yard line early in the 3rd with Seattle clinging to a 10-3 lead. It was almost a shame that the weaving, juking, sprinting run by Moreno required that he come out for a play, because we know that all Dragon fans wanted him to be rewarded with the TD. It would be Wendell Smallwood coming in to relieve the huffing and puffing Moreno who would score on the next play, but everyone in the stadium knew at that moment that it was Moreno who had put Seattle up by 2 touchdowns and likely had won the visitors the game. Chicago had struggled to move the ball all game, with Khalil Mack disrupting the Chicago line and the outstanding CB group of Richard Sherman, Chidobe Awuzie, and Desmond Truffant breaking up Bradford passes time and time again. Chicago would finish the game 3 of 13 on third down and you can point to either Mack or those corners for 9 of those 10 failed conversions. Following Moreno’s run and the Smallwood touchdown, Chicago would press, forcing more plays, missing on too many, and giving Seattle too many opportunities to kill clock and shorten the game. The Dragons used short passing and Moreno’s runs to eat up 36:30 of the 60 minutes, including nearly 20 minutes of the 2nd half, and a Seattle field goal would be the only score of the 4th quarter. Chicago would finish the game with only a single field goal on the board. For Seattle it was their 8th consecutive win, making them one of the hottest teams left in action. For Chicago, their 4th consecutive loss, losing their final 3 regular season games and now coming away both barehanded and crestfallen in their home playoff debut. Seattle was on to Arizona for the Western Final, a matchup of two very capable, very determined, and very seasoned teams. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 18 TAMPA BAY BANDITS 26 Jordy Nelson returned to action for the New Orleans Breakers after missing the Wild Card victory over New Jersey, but even the return of Drew Brees, Marcus Dupree and Junior Ah-You might not have been enough for the Breakers to upend the Bandits, not in Tampa, and not with a third trip to the Summer Bowl so close. The Bandits overwhelmed the Breakers from the opening kickoff, a reality not evident in the final score, but evident in the film and to the 60,202 on hand at Raymond James Stadium. The first half of the divisional matchup between the Bandits and the Breakers was pure, unadulterated domination. New Orleans gained a total of 82 yards in the half, Tampa Bay 208. The Breakers did not put up a single point; the Bandits had 3 Prescott TD passes and a safety. By halftime, Deebo Samuel already had 2 scores, Dez Bryant a third, and the Bandits went to the half with a 23-0 lead that felt like it was too low. The game plan would change in the second half, with the Bandits happy to run Dalvin Cook at New Orleans’s spent defense. Cook would finish with 101 yards and Prescott would throw only 5 passes in the 2nd half. New Orleans would finally get on the board in the 3rd quarter, a 44-yard field goal feeling somewhat useless, particularly after Tampa Bay added 3 of their own on the very next drive. And while Geno Smith would add a bit of late excitement, hitting DeMarco Murray with a 42-yard touchdown with 3:59 left in the game, and then succeeding with an onside kick and adding 8 more with a TD to Jordy Nelson in the game’s final minutes. But at no point did anyone see worry on the faces of the Bandits. They recovered the 2nd attempt at an onside kick and backup Matt Coral ate up the final 52 seconds of the game to give the Bandits another playoff win (their 7th in a row) and an appointment with San Antonio the next week, right back at Raymond James. It was a classic game where the box score does not tell the story. Tampa Bay only outgained New Orleans 338-324. They held the ball for only 30:16 to the Breakers’ 29:44. They had a turnover, New Orleans had 2. They were only 2 of 8 on third downs (though the lack of 3rd downs tells you how good they were on 1st and 2nd down), while New Orleans went 5 of 11. And yet, for those who watched the game, it was over early and controlled entirely by the 2-time Defending Champions, once again looking like a team on a mission and a team that may well be head and shoulders better than their competition, a sobering realization we hope Joe Flacco and the Gunslingers don’t buy into this week. Nassib Blames Himself, not Federals for 2-year Flub It is a sports fact that has Washington Federal fans ripping their hair out, that a system can change everything for a quarterback. How else do you explain that QB Ryan Nassib can put up 3,943 yards, 32 touchdowns and a 117.9 QBR in Arizona, move to D.C. and drop to an 84.8 QBR, then 77.5, and finally 77.0 before getting benched in his 3rd year. Sure, it was only 1 good year (subbing for an injured David Carr) that got Nassib the gig, so maybe he was never as good as his 2018 numbers seemed to indicate. But now, Nassib returns to the Wranglers and is right back where he started, throwing in 2022 for 4,237 yards, 29 TDs, and a 104.8 QBR. In other words, he was sub par in D.C. but bounced right back to being elite in Arizona. Blame the humidity? Blame the Federals’ coaches? Blame anything you want, but it seems clear that the Ryan Nassib we are seeing once again in the desert is not the player who struggled through 3 seasons in Washington. And what does the man himself have to say about this? Ryan Nassib has time and again refused to lay the blame on the Federals’ organization, his coaches in Washington, or his teammates. He just shrugs and says that there is something special about how Coach Tomsula prepares him for games, how he gameplans around Nassib’s strengths, and around how the entire team rallies to each other’s cause when it is needed. That is great to hear from a player but likely does not make any Federal fans feel any better about what they are witnessing. Rumors of Enmity in Gunslinger Backfield Don’t Affect Production It is no secret that from the moment the Gunslingers signed NFL speedster Raheem Mostert, there has been a pretty visible animosity between him and another NFL transfer, Melvin Gordon. Gordon, from day one, saw the Mostert signing as both a slight and a handcuff, keeping him from reaching the kind of lead back status that he came to the USFL to re-establish. And yet, while Gordon’s total touches did decrease from 209 in 2021 to 190 this year, he has been a better player with Mostert splitting carries. His YPC average jumped from 3.8 to 4.2, and he finished 2022 with more yards than he had as the lone back in 2021. Sure, he did not reach 1,000 yards, with he and Mostert both ending up in the 800’s (Mostert rushed the ball 10 times more than Mostert and managed 875 yards to Gordon’s 803.) So, we have a case where the two ballcarriers in the San Antonio backfield are far from buds, in fact they both seem to feed off rivalry and enmity. And yet, that seems to be working for Coach Long and the Gunslingers. The two backs combined for over 1,600 yards and 11 touchdowns this year, and in this week’s victory over Orlando they split 26 carries (Mostert 14, Gordon 12) and combined for 99 yards and 2 scores (both Mostert, the preferred red zone back.) That split may not be turning Melvin Gordon into a Mostert fan, but it is certainly helping the Gunslingers make waves and win games. Bryant Not 100% But Won’t Take a Seat It seems clear that 2021 OPOTY and potential 2022 OPOTY Dez Bryant is not playing at 100%. He appeared in only 23 snaps for the Bandits against New Orleans, and brought in only 3 of 8 targets. He does not appear to be able to access his top speed, and on several occasions he called over to the sideline for a breather. And yet, despite the clear issues, Bryant is not going to stay on the bench and hope his team can get another win to reach the Summer Bowl. Bryant may have caught only 3 passes in the victory over the Breakers, but that included 2 first downs and a touchdown. He remains listed as “Probable” for this week’s game, which simply means he will dress for the game, not necessarily that we will see him on the field more than we did against New Orleans. But, as we saw this week, even a Dez Bryant at 75 or 80% is a weapon for the Bandits, and one who can make big plays when needed. Older, Wiser, and Tougher Moreno Ready to Go You all know the cliché, that a HB at age 30 hits a wall, dropping off from superstar to hanger-on. We have certainly seen enough star backs buck that trend to say that the cliché is dead, but if you want one more example, there is none better than what we have seen from Seattle’s Knowshon Moreno since he blew out the 30 candles on his birthday cake back in 2018. Consider this, in the 4 years prior to turning 30 (3 of them in Orlando), Moreno had 1117 yards, 771, 760, and 931. And what has he done since he hit the big 3-0? How about 1,188, 1,240, 1,389, and 1,283. Oh, and his TDs went from 16 over 4 years (2015-2018) to 40 over 4 years from age 30-33 (2019-2022). If you want even more evidence that 30 is not a tollng bell for Moreno, just look at what he did this week, his 18th game of his 14th season, 21 carries, 151 yards. That is 7.2 yards per carry, and not against a poor defense, against the top-rated defense in the entire league, Chicago. Yup, 30 is the new 22, at least in Seattle. Is Jim Mora Jr. Ready to Return? The son of legendary USFL head coach Jim Mora Sr, and a pretty good coach on his own, Jim Mora Jr. may be ready to return to the sideline after spending the past 3 seasons on the set of ESPN’s USFL studio show. Mora Jr., who got his first head coaching job in 2000, with the Philadelphia Stars, his father’s old team, could be getting a 3rd shot at the big chair after being released by the Charlotte Monarchs after the 2019 season. Rumors have the Oklahoma Outlaws in serious talks with the former Stars and Monarchs head man, hoping to bring some USFL experience (and prior success) to a team that never got over the hump with legendary OU coach Bob Stoops at the helm. A gig in Oklahoma would be Mora’s 3rd shot at the USFL. He had limited success in Philadelphia, but gained respect when he took the expansion Charlotte Monarchs to 5 consecutive postseason appearances in the early 2010’s. In all he would lead Charlotte to the playoffs in 7 of 8 years, but with a 4-7 playoff record, including 4 one-and done seasons later in the 2010’s, Mora fell out of favor in Charlotte. Since his release from the club, he has spent his time on the ESPN set, commenting on the USFL and proving to be a shrewd evaluator of talent. That last skill could be exactly why the Outlaws are interested. Their 2022 campaign was the story of 1 man, QB Jalen Hurts, taking on 22 each week. The Outlaws desperately need a coach who can find diamonds in the rough, get the most out of his roster, and turn good talent into great gameplay. In Jim Mora Jr. they may well feel they have found someone who can do just that. A tale of two very different games, with the Gunslingers and Bandits looking at some significant injury concerns ahead of the Eastern Conference Finals, while the Seattle-Arizona game has two teams who appear to be much healthier. Of course, we are seeing a lot of (P) for Probable, and that could mean that teams are hiding the fact that their players are ready to go at 100%, of course if one team is bluffing and their foe is not, well, that could lead to some serious lopsided play. I guess we will have to wait until Sunday to see if we see players like Garrett Wilson, Dez Bryant, and Devin Funchess playing at full strength or tending to some ongoing medical issues. SAN: WR Isaiah McKenzie (D), LB Ulysses Gilbert (P), WR Garrett Wilson (P) TBY: OG Travis Bond (D), C Frank Ragnow (D), TE Jeff Huerman (P), WR Dez Bryant (P) SEA: CB Richard Sherman (OUT), WR Devin Funchess (P) ARZ: OT Mitchell Van Dyck (OUT) End of an Era: Gambler Nation Stunned by Player Announcements It was a rough year for Gambler fans and it got a lot tougher this week. The 2022 season began with a seemingly odd tendency for QB Colt McCoy to be pulled from games late. It was later revealed that the 2021 MVP had been diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), and that Coach Cotrell was trying to find ways to keep McCoy on the field without producing major health issues for his starter. Then, in Week 6 Carlos Hyde went out with a fracture in his arm, an injury that would keep him out for 6 games, far more than the medical team had initially anticipated. During that 6-week absence the Gamblers went from 4-2 to 5-6. In Week 12, just as Hyde was able to return, the Gamblers lost McCoy for the rest of the year to a broken leg. His backup, Landry Jones would be lost for the season the very next week, suffering a torn quad muscle. The Gamblers would end up using 5 different quarterbacks for the year and drop from 10-6 in 2021 and a playoff favorite in the 2022 preseason to a final 2022 record of 7-9. 2022 would be the first year without Houston in the postseason since the 2013 campaign, 10 years ago. Well, Gambler Nation, if you thought that with the season’s end the team’s luck would have to change, well we have some bad news for you. This week saw three announcements that no Gambler fan wanted to see. The first came on Monday, when the 2022 season starter and 2021 MVP Colt McCoy announced to press at NRG Stadium that he was filing to retire from the USFL for health reasons. The combination of his leg fracture and his battle with chronic fatigue led to the decision. He will focus on his health and his family, and will retire from pro football at the age of 33, an age when many signal callers are in their prime productive years. McCoy leaves the game after only 9 seasons, but 9 seasons of outstanding leadership and elite play. McCoy led the Gamblers to the playoffs every season of his career, stepping in with Matt Hasselbeck’s retirement in 2014. He took Houston 3 Summer Bowls and helped win them a title in 2018. He was the league MVP last season and fans in Houston were looking forward to at least another 3-5 years of certainty at the QB position. That now turns into a huge question mark. Tuesday’s announcement was not quite as big a surprise. Carlos Hyde, at the age of 30, announced he too would be stepping away from the game after 9 seasons, 7 of which saw him named All-USFL. He leaves the Gamblers with 10,233 yards as a rusher and another 3,531 as a receiver. A likely 1st ballot Hall of Famer, Hyde’s retirement leaves yet another huge hole in the Houston offense, a hole we all witnessed when the Gamblers tried to play without him during a 6-week absence this season. Yesterday did not let up on the bad news for Gambler nation, as it seems a full roster rebuild may now be needed. Star wideout Mike Evans announced that he and the team had not come to an agreement on a new contract, and that he would not continue negotiations ahead of Free Agency, seeking to enter the free agent market and find the best deal for him. Evans could still find that the best option is to stay in Houston, but with McCoy and Hyde stepping away from football, there is a sense that Evans is seeing the writing on the wall and is hoping to find a spot that not only makes him one of the league’s highest paid receivers, but puts him on a team with a solid QB situation and a real shot at a title. Three days, three huge announcements, and one USFL dynasty that is suddenly thrust into a rebuilding phase that few of us foresaw. The Gamblers will open 2023 with a new starter at both QB and HB, and very possibly a new number one receiver as well. Not what Coach Cotrell wanted, to be sure, not what Gambler Nation hoped for, and not what the player personnel team were equipped to handle this offseason. Do They Even Have Boats in Nashville? That was the sentiment expressed by the Mayor of Memphis, Jim Strickland, as he spoke to reporters about the rumored relocation of the Showboats from one Tennessee city to another. Nashville, and the Nissan Stadium Management Group in particular, have been lobbying hard for the state’s lone USFL franchise to shift eastward from Memphis to Nashville. The Showboats, who have been lobbying the city and county to build a new facility to replace Liberty Bowl Stadium, have used the push to gain some leverage, but now seem more open than ever to relocate within the state. There are hurdles, of course, one being the team’s contract with the Liberty Bowl, which extends until 2028. The other being the deal made when the latest round of renovations to the stadium were approved, a deal that included no-exit clauses required by both the city and the state to ensure that their portion of the renovation costs were not a waste of government funds. Finally, there is the issue of the new Nissan Stadium, a proposal that very much depends on state approval. So, this is not a done deal, but it is one that is getting a lot of attention across the state and the region. The logo of the Knights (2002-15) Nashville, which had a USFL franchise, the Knights, from 2002, when the club relocated from St. Louis, through 2015, when the club won the “Vegas Lottery” and became the designated relocation that would fill Wynn Arena as the Las Vegas Vipers. The city, which since 2000 has become a hot destination and a regional center, wants to add a USFL club to their current NFL franchise, the Tennessee Copperheads so that they can join the list of dual-team cities that boast year round football. Their greatest advantage is economic. Nashville has a thriving economy, diversified among healthcare, entertainment, tourism and technology, with a GDP nearly double Memphis’s. Memphis clings to more traditional manufacturing and to FedEx as its Fortune 500 base. That disparity, between growth and relative prosperity vs. stagnation and economic concern is a huge factor for both the team and the league. The question now is whether a deal can be struck, and whether the state government is willing to remove a major economic driver for Memphis, the Showboats themselves, to consolidate even more economic power into the state capital. Express Ownership Looking to Sell, but not to Move News out of Los Angeles as Express ownership have filed with the league an intent to sell the franchise. Rather than seeking a new investor for the Express Football Group, the five primary owners of the franchise, led by Real Estate moguls Edward Roski Jr. and Donald Sterling, have opted for a clean sale to a new entity or single owner, should one arise. Roski and Sterling joined the EFG only 7 years ago, but apparently the financial realities of running a club in one of the most expensive cities in the nation, and a club with little on-field success to bolster its fanbase, has apparently led them to lead the ownership group towards a sale. The letter of intent sent to the USFL league offices in New York makes clear that the group will not sell the team to any ownership group who will seek to relocate the franchise, and with a lease at Farmers Insurance Field that runs through 2030, a relocation would certainly add considerable cost to any purchase, so for now it would appear that the LA Express are not headed out of town, but with a sale comes uncertainty, something no team wants as they enter the offseason, and something that could lead to radical changes from top to bottom. We will, of course monitor the sale process and its impact on the Express as they hope to build on a 2022 playoff season. 3-SEATTLE DRAGONS (12-4) @ 1-ARIZONA WRANGLERS (13-3) Sunday, July 24 @ 4pm ET State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ Wranglers -4.5 This is a rematch we are all itching to watch. Back in Week 8 the undefeated Arizona Wranglers headed into Lumen Field looking like world beaters. The Dragons at the time were 4-3, a solid record but certainly nothing to get excited about. Seattle dominated the game, winning 27-14 and showing that they had more than they had shown us in earlier weeks. Fast forward 11 weeks and we get the rematch, this time in the desert and this time with a trip to Summer Bowl 2022 on the line. The Dragons come in on an 8-game win streak that includes a Wild Card win over Oakland and a road Divisional win in Chicago. Arizona has won 5 in a row, looking absolutely dominant in their Divisional Win over St. Louis and ready to return to the Summer Bowl for the first time since their 2019 title team. So, what do we make of this game? What we make of it is that this could go either way. Sure, Arizona has home field, and State Farm Stadium will be loud. But Seattle seems unflappable, getting a huge win in a hostile environment this past weekend in Chicago. Knowshon Moreno and Khalil Mack are at the top of their games, but so too are the Wranglers, particularly that defense, which features depth and quality at every level, from Bud Dupree up front, to the LB group of Klien, Wright, and Jefferson, and perhaps the only secondary that compares with Seattle’s, featuring All-USFL corner Joe Haden, SS Budda Baker and undervalued corner A. J. Bouye. This game will likely be determined by sheer grit and whichever team can avoid making even the smallest mistakes, the poorly timed penalty, the mental error, a mis-used replay call or timeout. It could be that narrow. So, who do we pick. We polled 17 of our staff, and we ended up with a 9-8 vote in favor of the Wranglers, so we are going to go with Arizona, by that narrow a margin. Wranglers 19-18. 2-SAN ANTONIO GUNSLINGERS (11-5) @ 1-TAMPA BAY BANDITS (13-3) Sunday, July 24 @ 8pm ET Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL Bandits -8.5 You have to wonder what is going through Chuck Long’s mind this week. He is trying to prep a San Antonio team that has never been to the postseason as a franchise for a game against the 2-time Defending Champions, a club that utterly dismantled the New Orleans Breakers last week. Mind you, this is a Breakers team that recently beat the Gunslingers (Week 15), so the comparison is not one you want to make. Long has a team that is just finding its core identity. They went from 6-10 last season to 11-5 this year, an impressive 5-game boost. They have veteran leadership in Joe Flacco, but outside of his experience, there is not a lot of playoff savvy to go around. So, what do you do if you are the Gunslingers? Best case scenario is that they can establish the run, protect the ball, and take the game into the 2nd half with no more than a 1-score deficit. Joe Flacco knows how to play small ball, and that seems like a good plan. It means only occasionally trying to unleash Garrett Wilson deep, but if you can hit him when the Bandits are looking somewhere else, you can make a play or too to keep Tampa Bay from getting this game out of range. That is our best advice. Do we think it will work? Not really. It is what San Antonio needs to do, but we still don’t see them getting on top in this one. We think the Bandits are the team to beat, and we don’t think San Antonio is the team to beat them. Our pick is Tampa Bay, 28-20.

We will break down all 4 games, look at how the Breakers, Renegades, Dragons, and Skyhawks got it done, preview this weekend’s Divisional Playoffs, and run through all the early offseason news as well, including our preview of free agency and one of the biggest retirement announcements in recent years as our self-proclaimed Greatest USFL Player of All Time, defensive end Calais Campbell, calls it a career after 15 seasons of absolute record book shredding, quarterback terrorizing, and legend making football. We start with that story, the end of an era in the USFL, our Big Story of the week. Make those 2027 Canton Plans Now We know it is 5 years away, but you might need to book your hotel for USFL Induction Weekend now. Canton will be booked solid in October of 2027 as legendary DE Calais Campbell will be the easiest vote and the most certain lock as a first ballot Hall of Famer the Pro Football Hall of Fame has ever seen. It will take 5 years for Campbell to be on the ballot, but with his retirement this week, the Baltimore Blitz DE locked us all in for a trip to Canton in 2027. Campbell at Summer Bowl '19 with Arizona. There are not enough adjectives in the English language to define the impact Calais Campbell has had on the USFL. He broke records no one thought could ever fall. He set marks that no one may ever meet. He was the best player in the USFL for over a decade and one of its greatest ambassadors as well. You will never meet a better man off the field than Calais Campbell, and never a more intimidating and dominant player on the field. Let’s face it, if you are a USFL left tackle, not to mention a USFL quarterback, you have spent the last 15 years having nightmares about Calais Campbell. His announcement from Baltimore this past Friday was emotional, heartfelt, and inspiring. He spoke about what an honor it was to be able to play the game he loved for so long, to be recognized for his talents, and for his effort, and to play with great teammates, mentioning over 20 players from his years in Orlando, Arizona, and Baltimore. He spoke about the great joy of being a pro ball player, of winning a title (2019 with Arizona) and of being voted to 13 All-USFL teams. He basically gave to the game and the league all the accolades that it and we have been giving to him since he rose to the loftiest of heights in his 2nd season in the league. We want to finish our quick recognition of Calais Campbell’s retirement and an all-too-short recognition of his amazing career not with our words, but with the most evident and undeniable statement we could make, showing you his career stats in their pure, simple, and astounding essentials. 2008 ORL 12 Sacks 47 Tackles 1 FF 2009 ORL 34 Sacks* 71 Tackles 3 FF 2010 ORL 22 Sacks* 69 Tackles 2 FF 2011 ORL 34 Sacks* 84 Tackles 4 FF 2012 ORL 25 Sacks* 80 Tackles 0 FF 2013 ORL 26 Sacks* 89 Tackles 4 FF 2014 ORL 33 Sacks* 87 Tackles 2 FF 2015 ORL 27 Sacks* 100 Tackles 5 FF 2016 ORL 32 Sacks* 97 Tackles 4 FF 2017 ORL 29 Sacks* 93 Tackles 3 FF 2018 ORL 30 Sacks* 101 Tackles 2 FF 2019 ARZ 23 Sacks* 58 Tackles 4 FF 2020 ARZ 26 Sacks* 59 Tackles 1 FF 2021 BAL 27 Sacks* 77 Tackles 5 FF 2022 BAL 22 Sacks 46 Tackles 3 FF TOTALS 402 Sacks 1,158 Tackles 43 FF (*) Denotes League Leader in the category Season Records: Sacks in a Season* (34): 2009, 2011 Tackles (DE Position* (101): 2018 *Until 2022 (Burns/Sweat), Campbell was the only player ever to cross 30 sacks in a season, doing so 5 times. He is also the only DE in USFL history to record 100 or more tackles in a season, doing so 2 times. Career Records: Career Sacks: 402 Tackles (Record for DE): 1,158 Consecutive Seasons with 20+ Sacks: 14 Consecutive Seasons as League Stat Leader (Sacks): 13 Consecutive All-USFL Seasons: 13 (14 with 2022?) Years named DPOTY: 6 Named MVP as Defensive Player: 1 (Tied with Reggie White) Do we need to say more? NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 27 NEW JERSEY GENERALS 15 Both the Breakers and the Generals came into this one on significant win streaks, New Jersey taking their last 3 games to win the NE Division, while the Breakers rattled off 4 in a row to secure the last Wild Card spot. But while the early results seemed to lean to New Jersey, including a score on their opening drive as Tony Pollard rumbled into the endzone only 1 minute into the game, New Orleans would put together a dominant run of 24 unanswered points to put New Jersey in the uncomfortable position of playing catchup in their own stadium. Down 10-0 after a Ka’imi Fairbairn field goal gave New Jersey a 2-score lead, the Breakers hit the on-switch in a big way, with one play helping to jump-start their offense and a crucial momentum shift. Geno Smith, on a 3rd and 11 not only found Olamide Zacheaeous beyond the line to gain, but the young receiver, still subbing for the injured Jordy Nelson, took the ball, bounced off the initial hit, and turned on the burners, racing 66-yards for a score that seemed to suck the air right out of the Generals. The first quarter would end with the Generals up 10-7, but something had shifted. The second quarter would be entirely New Orleans’s. The Breakers scored again on a DeMarco Murray run on their first drive of the quarter, then were gifted a short field when Teddy Bridgewater misjudged Clyde Adams’s recovery speed, throwing a touch pass to Muhamed Sanu that was easy prey for Adams. The pick gave New Orleans the ball on the New Jersey 22, and only 4 plays later Geno Smith made New Jersey pay, finding Russell Gage for a 3rd Breaker TD and a 21-10 lead. New Orleans would add a late Randy Bullock field goal to head into the half with a 14-point lead and all the energy in the game. The third quarter would see no scoring, with both QBs throwing costly picks in the period but neither offense able to pounce. When the 4th quarter began, New Jersey was driving, but a timely 3rd and 5 sack from Ezekial Ansah forced the Generals to settle for 3, remaining 2 scores down at 24-13. New Orleans would add another field goal to return to a 14-point advantage, but New Jersey would never threaten again. Their only additional points would come on a strategic call from Coach Lathon with just 55 seconds on the clock, having Geno Smith step out of the endzone on a 3rd and 10 from their own 2. Rather than risk a punt-block TD, Lathon’s call gave up 2 points but allowed the Breakers to use a free kick to send New Jersey deep into their own territory. And so, the Breakers, who 5 weeks ago were all but given up for dead at 5-7 and in last place in the South, not only joined the playoff party, but pulled off the road upset to move on to the Divisional Round and a matchup with the 2-time defending champion Bandits. ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 30 LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 14 Even a good defense can struggle with a player who has unique talents, and that is exactly what happened to the Los Angeles Express as they became the second home favorite to fall in as many games. Lamar Jackson took what the Express would give him, which mean running when they dropped 7 back in coverage, and throwing the ball effectively when they moved 7, 8, or 9 into the box. The St. Louis QB showed great poise, absorbing 4 sacks but avoiding any turnovers. He would throw the ball away when needed, scramble when possible, and extend plays to help his receivers find space in the secondary. The result of all this was 359 yards passing, with TD tosses to both Deionte Johnson and Jakobi Meyers, and 10 carries for 27 yards, including a 12-yard scramble that opened scoring in the first quarter. Jackson followed that TD drive with two field goal producing drives to help St. Louis take an early 13-0 lead on the offensively out-of-synch Express. That lead increased to 16-0 on Zane Gonzalez’s 3rd field goal early in the 2nd before LA finally put points on the board. The Express got a Kenyan Drake TD run in the final 2 minutes of the half, but still trailed by 9 as the two teams went to the locker room. That deficit only grew in the 2nd half, with Jackson hitting Jakobi Meyers on a beautiful 29-yard scoring strike, helped by his escapability in the pocket, eluding Nick Bosa and finding his receiver behind the defense. Late in the 3rd and into the 4th, the Skyhawks shut the door on any LA comeback hopes, with Jackson leading a 14-play drive that ate up nearly 7 minutes and concluded with Jackson flipping the ball, almost shuffle-pass style to Deionte Johnson. With the score 30-7, the game was effectively over. Andy Dalton would add a late TD for the Express, but the Skyhawks were in control down the stretch and finished the game with the ball in their hands and the victory formation bringing on a merciful end for the Express. St. Louis dominated on both sides of the ball, with Charles Harris recording 3 of the 6 sacks of Andy Dalton in the game, while the Skyhawk offense put up 415 yards of offense against an LA defense that had averaged only 288 all season long. With the win, the Skyhawks advance, awaiting the result of the Oakland-Seattle game to determine if they would head to Arizona or Chicago for their Divisional game. OAKLAND INVADERS 20 SEATTLE DRAGONS 26 OVERTIME The only Wild Card game between two divisional foes also proved to be the only game to provide significant 4th quarter suspense. Not only was their suspense in the final minutes, but a last-minute score sent the game to overtime, where the eventual winner would emerge. It was a game that saw both teams top 400 total yards (Oakland 403, Seattle 408) and in which neither team could get beyond a 10-point lead at any time. Seattle started the scoring late in the 1st, with a nice 11-play drive that finished with Brett Hundley connecting with his favorite target, Amari Cooper for a short goal-to-go touchdown. That drive inspired Oakland to pick up their pace, as they marched down the field in the final minutes of the quarter to score the equalizer on a 15-yard strike from Davis Mills to Davante Adams. Midway through the 2nd quarter Oakland took what would be their only lead of the game when a Seattle defensive stand forced the Invaders to send out Roberto Aguayo, who put the ball through the uprights form only 30 yards out. Seattle, again took the slow road in response, and again strung together multiple first downs, 4 in just this one drive, before Hundley again found a target in the endzone, this time TE Kyle Rudolph. Seattle would take that 14-10 lead into the half, and expand it to 20-10 with two third quarter field goals, but they just could not break the Invaders, despite two Oakland turnovers in the 3rd. Oakland showed their spirit, rallying in the 4th, first with a 9-play drive that included a 21-yard run from Bryce Love and a 3-yard TD from Oakland’s receiving TE, Zach Ertz. Down only 3, Oakland battled Seattle over the next 3 drives, but with time running out, they caught a break when little used Javon Wyms found space in the Seattle zone and turned a 5-yard throw into a 24-yard catch and run. That play helped set up Aguayo with less than 30 seconds on the clock as the Oakland kicker leveled the score with a short field goal to send the game to overtime. The Invaders had held their own, come back from 10-down, but had been unable to end the game in regulation. Seattle took advantage of the energy Oakland had expended in tying the score, as they went with pace on the opening possession of overtime. It would take the Dragons only 2:22 seconds to move from their own 20 to the Seattle goal line. From their Wendell Smallwood put the homestanding Dragons up 6. They went for 2, but failed to secure the PAT, giving Oakland some hope, but that hope ended quickly when a short pass to TE Austin Hooper ended in disaster as Seattle safety Taylor Rapp punched the ball out of Hooper’s hands and then fell on the fumble to end the game. Seattle had survived a tough challenge from a familiar opponent. They would advance, and now prepare to take on Chicago in the next round, sending St. Louis out west to face the Wranglers in Phoenix. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 13 ORLANDO RENEGADES 34 It is an unwelcome reality for the Stallion fans, but the Cam Newton who came out of his Week 14 injury has just not been the Cam Newton who was considered an MVP candidate earlier in the year. That was evident in this game as Newton was chased by Montez Sweat, forced to throw the ball away or to slide to protect himself. He would finish only 14 of 28 for 250 yards, with no passing TDs. He would run the ball 10 times for only 23 yards. Those are not the numbers that Birmingham was putting up early in the season, but are indicative of how the team struggled down the stretch. For Orlando, the gameplan changed midway through the first quarter when starting tailback Chris Carson twisted his ankle awkwardly trying to make a cut. He would not return to the game, an unexpected turn which would put more pressure on the Renegade passing game to perform. That passing game responded, with Russell Wilson stepping up to have one of his best games of the year, completing 23 of 32 passes (71.9%) and throwing 3 touchdowns. Also stepping up was mid-season arrival Josh Gordon. The speedy receiver who began the season in Portland finished the game with 4 catches for 57 yards and 2 scores. Gordon also produced the biggest play of the game, a 34-yard strike early in the 4th that turned a 14 point lead into an insurmountable 21-point lead for the Renegades. Orlando, down initially 3-0, put up the next 24 points before Birmingham could respond. A lone 2nd quarter TD plunge from Cohen was followed by two third quarter Wilson TD passes, finding Josh Gordon first and then following on the next drive with a red zone TD to TE David Njoku. Birmingham finally answered, with Cam Newton getting his lone TD on the day on a scramble in the final seconds of the 3rd. But that 14-point deficit at the half (24-10) turned to 31-10 when Josh Gordon opened up the 4th with his deep strike. That was the end of any real comeback thoughts from the Stallions, with the two teams trading field goals to produce the final score. Orlando moves on, with a question mark around HB Chris Carson, but with a solid playoff win under their belts, ready to head to San Antonio to face the Gunslingers and QB Joe Flacco. Learn his Name, Olamide Zacheaeous “Zah-kay-us”. That is how it is pronounced, and it is a name we should all get used to hearing. With All-USFL receiver Jordy Nelson still dealing with a concussion that also produced a pretty swollen left eye, it was Zacheaeous who was asked to step up and step into the starting lineup for the Breakers. The former LA Express draft pick out of Virginia came to the Breakers this past offseason after seeing action in only 5 games in his 3-year career with LA. He also played somewhat sparingly with the Breakers, with only 23 receptions and 367 yards this year. But, on Saturday, he announced himself to the world. He was targeted only 4 times, brought in only 3 receptions, but those were a 66-yard touchdown in which he showed break away speed, a 42-yard catch and run that began in traffic and nearly went for another 7, and a 5-yard slant that turned into a 21-yard play before “Zach”, as teammates call him, went down. In just those three plays, the backup receiver showed break away speed, solid hands, and the ability to shake off tackles. He also showed that the Breaker offense was not limited to Justin Jefferson and Coby Fleener, both of whom also had strong games against the Generals. With Jordy Nelson expected to return next week vs. Tampa, we don’t think Zacheaeous will see as many snaps as this week’s 42, but we do think Coach Lathon will find a way to use the skills he showed this week against the Bandits. Jackson Loving Schottenheimer Schemes With career bests in passing yards (3,405), touchdowns (23), and QB Rating (107.6, his first 100 rating), not to mention rushing yards (680) and rushing touchdowns (8), Lamar Jackson is loving life with 2nd year coach Brian Schottenheimer. The Skyhawks coach is the first in Jackson’s 5-year career to figure out a way to fully utilize his unique skill set, setting up an offense that sees Jackson as both a confident ballcarrier and a competent passer. Lamar Jackson finished 2022 as the league’s 3rd rated passer, behind only Dak Prescott and Josh Allen, a far cry from earlier seasons where the Louisville product struggled to get his QBR over 80. He is not only winning games, but is seen smiling on the sideline, taking on more of a leadership role, and feeling like he has a coach who understands him. Under Frank Reich, who was viewed as a friendly QB coach (having been a QB himself), Jackson was forced into a more traditional role, staying in the pocket, making his progression reads, and while Jackson often credits Reich with helping him improve his vision and patience in the pocket, what Coach Schottenheimer has done is allow Jackson to play with more of a natural flow, maximizing his instincts and his physical gifts. That awakening to what Jackson could be helped push St. Louis from a 10-loss team to a team that now enters the Divisional Round of the playoffs with a real chance to make waves. Khalil Mack is A Handful We are not the first to say it, because there are many offensive coordinators and head coaches across the USFL who already know this, but Khalil Mack is a handful. What does that mean? It means you better have a scheme to address his talents and his role in the Seattle defense or your team is going to suffer. The 2021 Defensive Player of the Year is hardly an unknown quantity. After a 109-tackle, 6-sack, season that saw more than 1 in 5 tackles occur behind the line of scrimmage, Oakland head coach Gary Kubiak knew all about Mack, but that did not mean he knew how to stop him. Mack played 3 games against the Invaders this year. In Week 1’s season opening Invader win, Mack had 10 tackles, 3 for a loss, a sack and a forced fumble, but some late heroics helped Oakland overcome his big day. Eleven weeks later in their Week 12 rematch, Mack had only 4 tackles, but 3 were again for a loss, and the Dragon LB limited Zach Ertz to only 14 yards receiving in an unusual strategy to have him in coverage instead of blitzing. The result was a 13-6 defensive gem form the Dragons. Now, in the USFL playoffs, Coach Riley gameplanned for Mack to be pretty much everywhere, and the All-USFL linebacker was a general menace all game long. Mack finished the game with 12 tackles, 4 behind the line, and another sack of Davis Mills. Time and again he forced plays back inside, forced backs to cut back into traffic, and helped limit Christian McCaffrey to only 3.5 YPC. In the passing game he was both an effective blitzer and solid in coverage, again focused on removing the threat of the inside TE gainers. He was, as he so often is, a disruption, a threat, and an intimidator. When he was on the field, he was arguably the best player on that field. This week, he will face a less familiar foe in Chicago. If Coach Lovie Smith and the Machine offense is wise, they will have a gameplan specific to Mack, because if they do not, he can be a huge problem, the kind of problem that a road team needs to get the upper hand. Gordon Happy to Be in Orlando Two years after coming over to the USFL to join the Portland Stags, WR Josh Gordon got the chance for a change of scenery, offered the option to accept the trade terms that would send him to Orlando at the Week 10 deadline. Gordon, who had become a solid contributor in his 2nd season in Portland had a lot to consider. His no-trade clause gave him the ability to nix the deal if he felt better about his role in Portland. After all, Orlando was hoping to land him as a replacement for injured starter Brashad Perriman. Would Gordon have a long-term role with the Renegades? On the other hand, Orlando was at least in the mix after 9 weeks, sitting at .500 and possibly vying for a Wild Card. Gordon, who had improved from improved on an 11-catch, 309-yard 2020 season by snagging 63 passes for 854 yards in his second year in Portland, decided that Orlando just had more to offer. He agreed to the deal and by Week 10’s action he was on the sideline and on the field for the Renegades. So, what was the result? In 8 games in Orlando, Gordon brought in 34 passes for 449 yards, helping him clear 1,000 for the year for the first time since coming over from the NFL. Week 17 saw him score his first Orlando TD and land his first 100-yard game, and this week, in the Wild Card playoff, he added 2 more scores and was targeted 7 times, a primary weapon for QB Russell Wilson. Now, rather than playing golf, as his former Portland teammates are doing, Gordon is headed to San Antonio to play in the USFL divisional playoffs and is being seen as a primary weapon for a team hoping to continue even deeper into the postseason. Coordinators Take Interviews during Bye Weeks Wild Card weekend is always a busy week across the league, not just for the 8 teams that are participating in the playoff games of the week, but for the 4 top seeds who are enjoying a bye week to rest, recover, and prepare for their first playoff action, and for the non-playoff teams that have open coaching vacancies. Why? Because during the bye week, those leaderless teams—Oklahoma, Baltimore, and Dallas this year—can meet with coaching candidates from the 4 best teams in the league. It is an early window on some quality coaches who may be off limits for at least another 3 weeks, and all three of this year’s teams with positions to fill did just that. All three also seemed to be following a similar script, looking very specifically at defensive-minded coaches. That is no surprise for both Dallas and Oklahoma, whose defenses were less than stellar all season long, but a bit of an interesting turn for the Baltimore Blitz, who boasted top 10 numbers on defense, particularly against the pass. But, when the time came to set up both on-site and virtual interviews, it was the defensive coordinators who got all the attention. Most popular among the coaches of the 4 bye-holding teams (Tampa Bay, San Antonio, Arizona, and Chicago), was Defensive Coordinator Renaldo Hill of Chicago. Hill had either video conference interviews, or an in-person visit with all three teams this week, with the Outlaws sending a team to Chicago to meet with Hill while both Baltimore and Dallas held initial interviews via online connection. But Renaldo Hill was not the only DC to get some attention. Baltimore staff took a trip of their own down to Tampa Bay to meet with Bandits’ DC Paul Pasqualoni, who also had a video conference with Dallas staff, while Arizona’s Greg Manusky met with both Oklahoma and Dallas officials via Zoom. It is certainly early in the process for all three teams to find their Head Coach for 2023, but two things seem clear, all three clubs are looking at the success of the Wrangler, Bandit, and Machine defenses and believe that the answer for the future is on that side of the ball, and that if any of the three Defensive Coordinators made a good first impression, we won’t know it for at least another week, possibly three, as all interested parties are now banned from contact with the coaches ahead of their playoff games. The window is closed, the focus now turned to the upcoming games, and any club looking for a 2nd interview or a team visit is going to have to wait until one or more of these top tier playoff teams is removed from postseason play, which could well be a while. Four new teams enter the playoffs, and 4 others have some added bruises from tough Wild Card games. And while many of the injuries impacting the games this week are not new, there are some which could be significant, including the uncertain status of Orlando HB Chris Carson. Carson is listed as probable, but has been limited in the early week practices. In the same game, the status of San Antonio’s star rookie wideout, Garrett Wilson, remains a mystery as Wilson was a surprising addition to the injury list, cited as having a knee issue (but in very vague terms) in Wednesday’s report. Arizona could be without their top receiver and their breakout rookie as well, with both DeMarcus Robinson and Tyler Allgeier listed as probable, but still listed as impacted by nagging injuries. Both are likely to be a game-time decision. That is the case as well for both WR Deionte Johnson and SS Terrell Edmunds of the Skyhawks, Arizona’s divisional round foe. In New Orleans, another star receiver, Jordy Nelson has been upgraded to probable, but still remains on day-to-day evaluation. And it seems no team has escaped the WR question marks as Tampa Bay has listed Dez Bryant on their injury report, also cited as probable. A little more concern in Seattle for Devin Funchess, who is listed as questionable, while Chicago is now officially the only playoff team in the mix who does not have a wide receiver with questionable availability. Their lone injury listing is MLB Kevin Minter, who would be a big loss for the Machine, but is also considered a game-time decision on day-to-day monitoring. ORL: WR Brashad Perriman (OUT), C Ethan Pocic (OUT), HB Chris Carson (P) SAN: WR Isaiah McKenzie (D), LB Ulysses Gilbert (Q), WR Garrett Wilson (P) STL: SS Roderick teamer (OUT), OG Keleche Osamele (P), WR Deionte Johnson (P), SS Terrell Edmunds (P) ARZ: OT Mitchell Van Dyck (OUT), WR DeMarcus Robinson (P), HB Tyler Allgeier (P) NOR: FB Curtis Nelson (OUT), WR Jordy Nelson (P), OG Michael Dunn (P) TBY: C Frank Ragnow (OUT), TE Jeff Huerman (P), WR Dez Bryant (P) SEA: WR Devin Funchess (Q), LB Kamal Martin (P) CHI: LB Kevin Minter (P) Early Retirement Announcements Impact Offseason Plans We have already highlighted the huge retirement news surrounding our GUPOAT (Greatest USFL Player of All Time), Calais Campbell. And, while GUPOAT does not flow off the tongue like GOAT, we think it deserves some play. Campbell’s departure will be huge for both the Baltimore Blitz and for the league as a whole, but it is hardly the only announcement over the past 10 days that merits our attention. Across the league, veteran players have made their decisions to step off the field and into post-football lives, or, at least post-playing days lives. This year’s list of early announcers is a who’s who of big name players, All-USFL stars, and veteran leaders across the USFL. As we go team-by-team regarding the announcements, we will look at the impact of each departure. FS Earl Thomas (ATL) A 9-year starter since coming over from Dallas in 2014, Thomas has been a defensive team captain for the past 6 seasons. His leadership and steady presence will be missed almost as much as his 60+ tackles per year and the 30 interceptions he had generated in Atlanta. C Matt Tenant (BAL) Baltimore loses not only a defensive superstar, but the centerpiece of their offensive line. A 4-year team captain, Tenant retires from the game after 12 seasons as a USFL starter (the past 5 with the Blitz). WR Golden Tate (DEN) A 3-time All-USFL selection, the club’s leading receiver for the past 7 years and Josh Allen’s favorite target will be sorely missed in the Mile High City. With more than 13,000 receiving yards, 91 touchdowns, and 928 career catches, we should expect to see Tate’s name on the slate along with Campbell when the 2027 Hall of Fame candidate list comes out. QB Bob Volek (DEN) A 14-year veteran and a player generally recognized as a calming influence on quarterbacks from Oakland to Memphis to LA and then Denver, Bob Volek only started 15 games in his 14-year USFL career, but he will almost certainly be sought out as a QB guru and we could see him as a USFL coach for years to come. OT Gabe Carimi (LV) The Las Vegas left tackle missed only 2 games this year due to injury, his first since coming over from an 11-year career in Michigan, but the accumulated wear and tear on his body was apparently enough that he has decided to step away. Carimi had 3 more years on his deal in Las Vegas, but his body sent the message that it was time. OT Demar Dotson (MGN) Another mainstay of the Panther offensive line, right tackle Demar Dotson is going to hang it up at the age of 35, having played 13 seasons in Detroit, anchoring the right side of the line for LeVeon Bell and Kirk Cousins, and winning a title in 2017 with Michigan. TE Rob Gronkowski (PIT) After 13 seasons in split between Arizona (5), St. Louis (5) and Pittsburgh (3), “Gronk” is hanging up his cleats. He retires with 543 receptions for 6,773 yards and 46 career touchdowns. OT Michael Oher (POR) Drafted out of Ole Miss and nationally known thanks to the film “The Blind Side”, Michael Oher spent 14 years in Portland, where he started 212 games. He recorded 1,025 official “pancake” blocks and gave up only 34 career sacks. He will certainly be missed not only on the field but in the locker room and on the sideline in Portland. HB Doug Martin (POR) The Stags lose another franchise figurehead as HB Doug Martin calls 2022 his final year. Martin played 5 seasons in Chicago, topping 1,400 yards in 2013 and 1,200 in 2014 before injuries led the Machine to trade the diminutive back to Portland. Martin would play 6 more seasons in Portland, never reaching the 1,000-yard mark, but always seen as a solid contributor and positive influence in the locker room. His 2022 numbers: 108 attempts, 457 yards, 3 touchdowns. K Adam Vinatieri (WSH) Vinatieri came to the USFL as an NFL transfer in 2014 and for the past 9 seasons has been a steady hand (foot?) on a very volatile Federals roster. His USFL stats include 302 career field goals (an 83.4 coversion rate) and 285 converted PATs, with a conversion rate of 98.6. TE Kellen Winslow JR (WSH) The son of one of the most influential tight ends in history, Winslow could never match the hype his name produced. He retires after a career split between Jacksonville and Washington with 248 career catches, 2,084 yards, and 9 career touchdowns. Our Picks for the Top 20 Free Agents of 2023 With the USFL playoffs in full swing, we are only weeks away from the official opening of Free Agency, and then two weeks later, the NFL-USFL Transfer Window. As we look across the league at players whose contracts either expired following Week 17 or are soon to expire upon playoff elimination, there is plenty of talent out there, talent who will soon be testing the market to see what is possible. Some will resign with their curren teams, but many will find a new home, either across the country with another USFL team or across the year, moving to the NFL’s fall season. We looked over all 30 rosters, selecting the players we felt would get the most interest in Free Agency and came up with this list of 20 prospects who could be in demand, listed by position. QUARTERBACK Two names stand out among the unsigned quarterbacks in the league, Michigan starter Kirk Cousins and the former starter in Las Vegas, Matt McGloin. The fact that Cousins has not resigned with Michigan could be an indication that the Panthers are looking at other options after a very disappointing 2022 campaign. Cousins could well be the top target for several teams whose QB situation is dicey right now. As for McGloin, Las Vegas ownership says they want to resign the veteran, but the emergence of Gardner Minshew means that the Vipers will likely be targeting McGloin as a backup, whereas another club may well give him the chance to compete for a starting job. RUNNING BACK While there are approximately 30 backs across the league who are either without a contract or about to see their contracts conclude, there is really only one who could be called a bona fide lead back, Arizona’s Ka’Deem Carey. Carey split touches this year with rookie Tyler Allgeier, and the Wranglers would love to lock up their veteran back to keep the combo intact for 2023, but with several other high-value players due for a new deal, it may be a matter of priorities, which means Arizona may have to turn to Allgeier as their main back and allow Carey to test the waters. TIGHT END There is a small pool of starting talent at the TE position, but the only name that rises to our Top 20 list is a good one, Philadelphia’s Travis Kelce. The Stars are still hopeful they can resign the 10-year vet who produced 54 receptions, 576 yards, and 2 scores for them this year. Kelce, however, may want to look for options with a team that simply has more upside on offense, having seen his production in Philadelphia plateau. WIDE RECEIVER Without a doubt the deepest pool in this year’s Free Agency class. We cannot expect that all of the receivers we see as elite options will truly hit the free market in 3 weeks, but stranger things have happened. So, who are we including in our receiver group? How about some All-USFL talent, names like Houston’s Mike Evans, Tampa Bay’s Ryan Grant, Washington’s Keenan Allen, and Pittsburgh’s Adam Thielen. Of the 4, we think Thielen is almost certainly looking for a better landing spot, as there are a lot of questions about the direction the Maulers are headed. With the emergence of Tyreek Hill in Washington and the dominance of Dez Bryant in Tampa Bay, we could also envision a scenario where Keenan Allen and Ryan Grant get the opportunity to be the true primary option by moving to a new team. No such move needed for Mike Evans, only a question of compensation as the Gamblers almost certainly want to retain his services. OFFENSIVE LINE This is a much tougher pool if teams are looking for front line talent. We see no tackles in the current pool who we would list as impact players, and only 2 linemen in total, Express center Max Tuerk and Birmingham guard Alex Cappa. As offensive linemen, especially interior linemen, are rarely a GM’s top priority, we could see both clearing the next few weeks and going into the open market, where either could find themselves a deal better than the one their cash-strapped current teams could offer. DEFENSIVE LINE If your favorite club is looking for interior muscle, you may well have a couple of options to consider, with All-USFL talents Bennie Logan (NOR) and Star Lotulelei (DAL) both unsigned as of today and quite possibly seeking a paycheck after strong 2022 campaigns. If your need is edge rush, however, there is far less to be excited about. We are including New England edge rusher Mario Addison in our list, but we think most teams will look for a 10-year solution, not a 1–2-year option at this most vital and most youth-focused position. LINEBACKER Our pick for the most coveted, most impactful player in the 2022 Free Agent pool goes to the linebacker group, and Atlanta playmaker Luke Kuechley. Kuechley is a plug-and-play star who can immediately upgrade almost any defense. He will almost certainly garner what could be a record salary for a middle linebacker as there will be no shortage of teams vying for his talents. The next two linebackers could come a bit cheaper, at least until Kuechley is signed. Aldon Smith is a solid pass-rushing outside linebacker who also holds up well against the run. He is likely going to price out of resigning with New Jersey, but there will be teams with cap space to sign him. New England’s Junior Galette may not be a well-known name to the general public, but we think that GM’s around the league will see him as an undervalued contributor who could help on the strong side or even as a MLB in a 3-4 scheme SECONDARY We found 4 players, two corners and two safeties, who, if they become available could well push for a high-end deal and could make an immediate impact for a new team. Dre Kirkpatrick is a perennial All-USFL selection at corner, and if Michigan bobbles the last-minute negotiations, he could well opt to walk and find a new home. Seattle’s Desmond Truffant is not quite at Kirkpatrick’s level, but certainly can be a more-than-useful addition as a nickel back or as the 2nd option in the backfield. Both Terrell Edmunds (STL) and Tyran Mathieu (OHI) are superior talents at the strong safety position. Both can play centerfield or creep up into the box to defend the run. Mathieu, the “Honey Badger” is the more physical of the two, but either player can provide All-USFL level support to a team’s defense, if the price is right, of course. The Divisional Round, when the teams with the best records in the league get into the mix. The question every year is if we will see all four 1 and 2 seeds advance or witness a Wild Card team pull the upset. This year we have some Wild Card clubs, including those 3rd division winners, whose records are almost as strong as the top seeds, so the odds of all 4 homestanding division winners moving on may not be as high as in the past. That said, all 4 top seeds are very strong clubs with very strong resumes. So, who is to say that we won’t see classic 1 v. 2 battles in next week’s Conference Title Games? 4-Orlando Renegades (10-6) @ 2-San Antonio Gunslingers (11-5) Saturday, July 16 @ 4pm ET The New Alamodome, San Antonio, TX Gunslingers -4.5 A lot will ride on which players from the injury list can go in this one. If Chris Carson is out, then the Orlando offense gets far more one-sided, forcing Russell Wilson to make plays. If rookie Garrett Wilson cannot go for San Antonio, then the Gunslingers are down a major weapon and their run game will need to step up to take pressure off QB Joe Flacco. Our hope, of course, is that both players can suit up and we will see both of these clubs at full strength. This will be the first playoff appearance for the Gunslingers in their short 3-year history, but certainly not the first for QB Joe Flacco, who has more than a fair amount of playoff exposure in his career. Our best bet is that his veteran leadership will help San Antonio weather the storms that Orlando can create. Our pick is San Antonio 27-24. 5-St. Louis Skyhawks (11-5) @ 1-Arizona Wranglers (13-3) Saturday, July 16 @ 8pm ET State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ Wranglers -8 We love what Brian Schottenheimer has done to turn Lamar Jackson into a true weapon, but it is so hard to go against Arizona, at home, in the playoffs. This is a team that has appeared in 5 Summer Bowls in the past 10 seasons, has veterans up and down the roster, and just does not beat themselves. Their defense shut out back-to-back foes in Weeks 15-16. Their offense put up 30 or more points in 3 of their past 40 games, and their coach was just voted the Greatest USFL Coach of All Time by our panel. We like the direction the Skyhawks are headed, but we don’t think they get there this year. We pick the Wranglers to win this one, 24-20. 3-Seattle Dragons (12-4) @ 2-Chicago Machine (12-4) Sunday, July 17 @ 4pm ET Soldier Field, Chicago, IL Machine -2.5 Seattle has won 6 in a row and has the same 12-win record as Chicago. The Machine have lost their last 3, including a game 2 weeks ago, to Charlotte, at home, in a game that could have won them home field advantage. If there is a game where the road team might actually have the upper hand, it is this one. The Machine need production from rookie Rachaad White to keep Khalil Mack off Sam Bradford’s back. Seattle needs to take what the Chicago defense will give them, whether that means slow drives powered by Knowshon Moreno or single coverage strikes to Amari Cooper. For our part, we are going to go with the hot team, and the team that is feeling no pressure. We pick Seattle, 20-17. 6-New Orleans Breakers (9-7) @ 1-Tampa Bay Bandits (13-3) Saturday, July 17 @ 8pm ET Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL Bandits -9 A one-seed vs. a six-seed is generally not a place where you see an upset. It is really hard to imagine that this 1 v. 6 matchup will be the place to rewrite the script. The Bandits have looked absolutely dominant down the stretch (we are forgiving them the meaningless Week 17 game when they rested everyone they could). The Breakers needed a 4-game win streak to finish the season to qualify for the postseason, got a nice win over a flawed New Jersey team, but we think that the Bandits at full strength should do more than enough to get a home win and move on. We are picking Tampa Bay to win, 31-21.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Geno Smith turned it up down the stretch, leading the Breakers on a 4-game win streak to jump from 5-7 to 9-7 and qualify as the East's final Wild Card. In Week 17 he had his best game of the year, throwing for 408 yards and 3 TDs to guide New Orleans to the postseason. PLAYOFF PICTURE: With Week 17's results, we have our final playoff picture, with Birmingham and New Orleans earning the final two spots and Seattle, San Antonio, and Chicago wrapping up their divisions. The seedings for the 2022 USFL Playoffs are as follows: EAST: 1-TBY 2-SAN 3-NJ 4-ORL 5-BIR 6-NOR WEST: 1-ARZ 2-CHI 3-SEA 4-LA 5-STL 6-OAK

While there was certainly some excitement this weekend, particularly for the New Orleans Breakers, who defied the odds, won their final 4 games, and got the help they needed to wrap up the final USFL playoff spot, overall this was not a high point of pro football in the USFL. Far too many teams benched their stars and went with less-than-optimal lineups. That produced some pretty blah viewing, some low-effort games, and in several locations, a sheer lack of interest producing some of the lowest attendance of the season. It is to be expected when nearly all the playoff scenarios have been set and only a few teams have real reasons to put in the effort, but it is still not what you want. So, as we break down the 2022 season’s final week, we will focus on the future, the 12 teams that are headed to the postseason. We will also break down the draft order for the 18 teams that did not make the cut, discuss the results of Black Monday, with two coaches let go, and prepare you for the Wild Card games. So, stick around and get yourself ready for playoff football in the USFL’s 40th spring season. Showboats & Steamrollers Stumble, Breakers Bounce into Post-Season Three games to decide who would earn the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Going into the weekend, the Memphis Showboats controlled their own destiny. A win in San Antonio and the Showboats would claim the final spot, but that Gunslinger team was not going to roll over, fighting for their own playoff position and a chance at a Wild Card bye. Before that game, New England and New Orleans could put pressure on the Showboats. New Orleans would host the Oakland Invaders on Saturday; New England would be in Baltimore to face the Blitz at the same time as Memphis’s game. If either won and the Showboats lost, then Memphis would be out. If the Breakers won on Saturday, then New England’s chance to squeeze into the postseason would be lost as well. So, what happened? New Orleans, winners of 3 in a row, got some help from an Oakland squad that had nothing left to play for and which wanted to rest some starters ahead of the Wild Card round, but they also did their part, with Geno Smith throwing for 408 yards. The Breakers, who had fallen behind by 17 points at the half, owned the 2nd half, putting up 24 unanswered points, with Geno Smith throwing for 3 scores. The fierce comeback gave New Orleans a 30-20 victory, a win which both eliminated the New England Steamrollers from any playoff hope and put intense pressure on the Showboats. On Sunday, New England, fully knowing their chance to earn the franchise’s first playoff spot in their short 3-year history, showed up flat-footed and were knocked down and out by the Baltimore Blitz. That meant that 3 teams from the South would get into the postseason, but would it be the Showboats or the Breakers making the cut? New Orleans got in if Memphis lost, but the Showboats controlled their own fate. Unfortunately, the ‘Boats, unlike the Breakers, had a foe who had something to play for. San Antonio knew that a win locked up the 2-seed and would give everyone a bye. That was motivation enough for them to do their best to knock Memphis down and knock them out of the postseason. San Antonio, like New Orleans, turned up the heat late, turning a 17-14 deficit into a 28-17 victory with 2 unanswered scores in the fourth quarter. That surge at the end meant that the Gunslingers would fully earn their week off while the Showboats would drop out of the postseason picture, falling to 8-8 and failing to live up to expectations. New Orleans, with a surprising 4-0 surge in the final month of games, had locked up the final playoff spot and would be in New Jersey to take on the Generals in the Wild Card round. OAKLAND INVADERS 20 NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 30 Over the years, you have probably noted that most weeks we choose the game with the most dramatic finish, perhaps a big comeback, or a back-and-forth shootout. That is true, we tend to focus on the action on the field rather than the records of the teams or the game’s impact on the standings. But there are times, and certainly Week 17 of the season is one of them, when you cannot ignore the importance of the game, its stakes. So, yes, there were some games that had closer final scores or more tension, including an overtime game between San Diego and Portland, but most did not have an impact on the playoff picture, and in the season’s final week, we need to recognize a game that had a significant playoff impact. The interconference finale between Oakland and Seattle was such a game. For the Invaders, who had already locked up the 6th seed in the West, the focus was on building momentum, providing confidence to a team that had been up and down all year, but which had 4 in a row to lock up a hard-earned playoff spot. For New Orleans the race towards the playoffs was hardly over. The Breakers, once 5-7, had won 3 in a row to stand at 8-7 and could, with the right results, leapfrog over a division rival and steal away the final Eastern Conference playoff spot. A win by the Breakers, one which would be their 4th in a row, would leave them at 9-7, and with Memphis traveling to San Antonio the next day to face a Gunslinger team that had its own motivations, the Breakers could find themselves in the postseason. They would need for the division champion Gunslingers to defeat Memphis, but first the Breakers would need to use their home field crowd and their grit to defeat Oakland and put themselves in position for what a month ago seemed a very unlikely Wild Card slot. In the first half of this season finale for both teams, the Invaders seemed to have the upper hand. Their offense found success against the Breaker front-seven. With Bryce Love taking the majority of the snaps as Christian McCaffrey saw only spot action (3 carries and 2 receptions on the day), Oakland was able to move the ball effectively. Love would finish the first half with 77 yards rushing, including a 38-yarder that helped set up the game’s 2nd touchdown. The first had been a 3rd and 8 draw that went horribly wrong for the Breakers. Christian McCaffrey had shifted out of the backfield, only to pull back in, take the handoff from Davis Mills and exploit a huge hole on the right side of the line. Forty-one yards later the speed back crossed the goalline and gave Oakland an early 7-3 lead. With Bryce Love’s run early in the 2nd, Oakland was poised to add more to what was a 10-3 lead. Love’s 38-yard juking, spinning run got the ball to the Breaker 12, and 2 plays later Mills found Austin Hooper in the endzone to expand the Oakland lead to 14 points. A field goal on the next drive would make it 20-3, a lead only marginally impacted by a nice Geno Smith 2-minute drill that allowed Randy Bullock to put up a second field goal on the last play of the half. Down 14 (20-6) as the third quarter began, Coach Lathon needed a play to bring the crowd back. With more than 55,000 in the Super Dome, the Breaker faithful had started the game loudly but had been largely silenced by the lack of production in the opening half. During the break, Lathon made two adjustments, the first was to shift away from man coverage to zones. That shift would keep more eyes in the backfield, a move that allowed fewer of the run plays to reach the 2nd line of defense before a swarm of defenders could arrive. But, for as effective as the defensive strategy shift was, it was Lathon and OC Byron Leftwich looking at video of the first half defense of the Invaders who opted to make a shift that would impact the second half in a big way. Leftwich, the long-time Seattle Dragons QB had come to New Orleans only 3 years after his retirement in 2016, joining the Breakers as the Passing Game Specialist. This offseason he took over as the OC, using his years of experience as a mobile, but not dual threat QB, to work with Geno Smith and the talented Breaker receiver group to develop a more effective outside-inside strategy for the passing game. Against Oakland, that strategy was proving difficult to execute. Oakland had been positioning the safeties outside the hashmarks, wider than one usually sees, which allowed DeMarco Murray some room inside, when he could get around or past Bobby Wagner, which was not easy. But what the wider positioning allowed was for Marquestan Huff and Jevon Holland to be in position to assist the corners with both Justin Jefferson and Olamide Zaccheaous, in the game for the injured Jordy Nelson. Neither receiver had more than a 7-yard reception in the first half because both were facing underneath coverage with immediate help over the top. Even Coby Fleener was having trouble getting free, with both Wagner and Baylon Specter focused on his position. The halftime adjustment was to shift the receivers closer to the line, forcing the safeties to return to more standard positions. That single adjustment, paired with some quick slant routes and even the occasional shift of Fleener to the outside, allowed Geno Smith to find his receivers both on in-cutting and out-cutting routes before the safety could support the corner. What did that do? Well, on the opening drive of the second half, it allowed Justin Jefferson to catch an inside hook route, spin past Huff and race for 22 yards into Oakland territory. Five plays later, a slant route created a rub that left Fleener uncovered on an out route. The big tight end brought in a perfect ball from Smith and rumbled 31 yards to the endzone for New Orleans’s first touchdown. That drive did two things, it got the crowd back into the game, and they would stay there, vocal when Oakland had the ball, cheering when New Orleans made a play, and high energy during breaks. The second was that it forced Oakland to play more soft zones, which, in turn, allowed DeMarco Murray a bit more space, especially as a receiver out of the backfield. Murray would catch 4 passes in the 2nd half, averaging over 20 yards per catch and forcing Oakland’s linebackers into uncomfortable responsibilities. One strategic shift led to a countermove, but one which ended up benefiting New Orleans even more. The Breakers would cash in later in the 3rd, when the soft zone forced Jaylan Watkins to try to keep pace with Justin Jefferson. That was a lost cause from the start and when Smith hit Jefferson with a deep pass along the sideline, the race was on and it was handily in Jefferson’s favor, to the tune of a 56-yard game-tying score. For their part, Oakland’s offense continued to rely on play action passing and their run game. They would produce good yardage, with Love finishing the game with 107 yards on 19 carries, but a missed field goal attempt in the 3rd would be their only scoring attempt of the half. Meanwhile, feeling the shift, New Orleans knew that the W they needed to potentially reach the postseason was in range, they took their first lead since early in the first quarter when Randy Bullock connected on a 43-yard field goal. Up 23-20, they needed a play to put the nail in the Oakland coffin and set themselves up. They got that play with 5:45 left to play, when once again Geno Smith recognized that the Oakland zone would leave them exposed to a double move by Jefferson. Smith adjusted the call, following the advice of Coach Leftwich if he saw 2-deep zone. Fleener would occupy the safety, Jefferson needed to make the corner step inside, and then the sideline would be free. The play worked to perfection and Jefferson brought in the ball at the 3, took a single step before diving to the ground inside the endzone. Up 30-20, the Breakers felt in control, the Invaders, who had nothing to gain by pushing to win their finale, went through the motions, but lacked the emotional drive needed to challenge in the final minutes, and when the final whistle blew, the Breakers were 9-7 and in position to finish off a 4-game streak that changed their season’s entire feel. They would need to wait until Sunday afternoon to learn if their late season surge would pay off. The team gathered at Breaker facilities in Metairie the next day to Memphis take on San Antonio, hooting and hollering every time the homestanding Gunslingers made a play. They would get the result they needed, a 28-17 Gunslinger victory, a win that not only gave San Antonio their coveted bye week as the Eastern Conference’s 2-seed, but which launched the Breakers into the 6-seed. They had done it, gone from 5-7 to 9-7 and in the process found themselves as a team. Now they would face another gritty team in New Jersey, happy to make the trip up north to face the Generals in the Wild Card playoffs. ST. LOUIS 7 PITTSBURGH 12 Lamar Jackson played only the 1st half, and St. Louis did not show much as they cycled in backups throughout the game, giving the Maulers the chance to earn a rare 2022 win. Pittsburgh got the W without scoring a TD as Brandon Aubrey’s 4 field goals proved to be enough in a game that had only 19,242 spectators on hand. POTG: Mauler WR Adam Thielen: 6 Rec, 101 Yds HOUSTON 29 WASHINGTON 24 The Gamblers avoided a 10-loss season, with Kellen Clemons throwing for 232 and the defense sacking Jacoby Brissett 5 times in another sparsely attended game, with only 20,014 in attendance at Audie Field. Brissett did throw TDs to all 3 of his starting receivers (Hill, Allen, Landry) but a Clemons to Keke Coutee TD in the 4th helped Houston come back for the W to finish 7-9 POTG: Houston HB Clyde Edwards-Helaire: 17 Att, 52 Yds, 1 TD, 4 Rec, 56 Yds ORLANDO 20 JACKSONVILLE 27 Another game with plenty of backups and young players involved as Russell Wilson played only the first half. Jameis Winston came in for Orlando, throwing for 2 scores, but it was the combination of Ben Dinucci and Cardale Jones for Jacksonville, each throwing for a score, who got the W for the Bulls as a surprising 30,000 showed up for the in-state rivalry game. POTG: Orlando DE Montez Sweat: 6 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF SAN DIEGO 33 PORTLAND 27 OVERTIME Only 20,442 showed up to watch the Stags fall in overtime as Mason Rudolph connected with Ronald Johnson in the extra period to help San Diego finish a respectable 8-8 for the year. Doug Martin, in what is expected to be his final game rushed for 95 yards and a TD, while Chris Givens and Ronald Johnson combined for 296 yards receiving for the Thunder. POTG: San Diego QB Mason Rudolph: 27/41, 423 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int ATLANTA 27 TAMPA BAY 24 The Bandits rested most of their starters in this one, giving Atlanta a chance to earn a 4th win on the year. A. J. Green caught 4 for 146 and the combination of Chubb and Burkhead rushed for 107 yards against the Bandit backups. Dak Prescott played a pair of series, long enough to connect with Deebo Samuel for a score and to lock up his status as the league’s highest rated passer. POTG: Atlanta CB Darius Slay: 6 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD, 1 FF, 1 FR BIRMINGHAM 13 SEATTLE 24 The Stallions lose their 4th in a row, backing into the playoffs at 9-7, while Seattle surges to 12-4 thanks to 91 yards and a TD from Knowshon Moreno. Cam Newton does not look like he is anywhere near his pre-injury status, throwing 2 picks, sacked 5 times, and rushing 5 times for -4 yards. Seattle, on the other hand, looks very ready to host a Wild Card playoff game as they cruise to the win in front of a rowdy 51,303 at Lumen Field. POTG: Seattle FS Quandre Diggs: 3 Tck, 3 PDef, 2 Int LOS ANGELES 36 OHIO 5 The Express dominated as they finished 11-5 with a mix of outstanding defense and opportunistic offense. E. J. Manuel played most of the game at QB for the Glory, looking very rusty as he went 6 of 26, was sacked 6 times and picked off once. No rust on the Express as Andy Dalton throws for 2 scores and Paul Perkins adds 2 on the ground as LA prepares to host a Wild Card game at Farmers Insurance Field this week. POTG: Express HB Paul Perkins: 23 Att, 74 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Rec, 52 Yds PHILADELPHIA 6 NEW JERSEY 10 A lackluster Turnpike Tussle as the Generals rest many of their starters, with Teddy Bridgewater getting only 7 attempts before hitting the showers. Ryan Lindley got the start for the Stars and neither offense did much in this snoozer. New Jersey got the win on a Connor Shaw TD to Pharaoh Cooper as New Jersey rested most of their stars ahead of their Wild Card game this week. POTG: Philadelphia DE Danielle Hunter: 5 Tck, 2 Sck NEW ENGLAND 10 BALTIMORE 23 The Steamrollers needed a win and some help to snag a playoff spot. They got neither as it seemed Baltimore, not New England, was primed to capture a Wild Card spot. Nate Sudfeld took advantage of his first start all season to throw for 2 scores while Josh Jacobs slashed the Steamroller D for 119 yards and a TD. The Steamrollers drop to 8-8, matching the Blitz’s record and failing to live up to their early season success, dropping their final 2 games to fall out of playoff contention. POTG: Blitz HB Josh Jacobs: 29 Att, 119 Yds, 1 TD MEMPHIS 17 SAN ANTONIO 28 The Gunslingers prove they are the better of the two 2020 expansion clubs, clinching not only their first playoff season but the Southern Division title in their 3rd season. San Antonio’s solid win over Memphis gives them the 2-seed and a well-earned bye week. Joe Flacco threw for 315 yards and 3 TDs, Raheem Mostert added 78 yards and a TD on the ground, and rookie Garrett Wilson made one more push for ROTY with 129 yards on 9 receptions as San Antonio removed Memphis from the Wild Card race with an 11-point victory. POTG: Gunslinger QB Joe Flacco: 27/33, 315 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int DALLAS 19 DENVER 17 In a battle of backups, veteran Josh Freeman edges Mitch Trubisky as Dallas gets a 4th quarter field goal to knock off Denver and finish at 8-8 for the year. Trubisky outgained Freeman 284-145, but threw 2 picks, including a pick-six throw to Roughneck FS Jamal Adams, helping Dallas reach .500. Despite the bad game, Denver’s Golden Tate still shone, with 152 yards receiving in what most believe will be his final USFL game. POTG: Denver WR Golden Tate: 5 Rec, 152 Yds, 1 TD OKLAHOMA 17 LAS VEGAS 31 The Vipers also finish 8-8, thanks to 188 yards rushing from the combo of Matt Jones (99 yards, 1 TD) and Kareem Hunt (89 yards, 1 TD). Matt McGloin returned under center and threw for a Td, while the defense picked off Jalen Hurts 3 times and held the uninspired Oklahoma offense to only 41 yards rushing. POTG: Viper HB Matt Jones: 21 Att, 99 Yds, 1 TD CHARLOTTE 14 CHICAGO 10 In a troubling sign, Chicago played their starters for most of the game but could not defeat the Monarchs, producing a 3rd straight loss to end the season. The home loss cost them the 1-seed. They will still have a bye in the Wild Card round but could find themselves traveling to Phoenix if they reach the Conference Title Game. Charlotte improved from 3-13 in 2021 to 7-9 this year with the Week 17 win, with midseason acquisition Phillip Lindsay completing the year with 84 yards to reach 1,000-yards for the first time in his career. POTG: Charlotte SS Vonn Bell: 3 Tck, 1 PDef, 1 Int,1 Def TD MICHIGAN 24 ARIZONA 31 The Panthers played with pride in the finale, but Arizona, seeing a chance to lock up the 1-seed and home field advantage, roared back from a 24-3 deficit in the 2nd half to take the win on a Nassib to Maxx Williams TD in the 4th quarter. Nassib threw 3 second half touchdowns, finishing with 330 yards after a lackluster first half. Brandon Aiyuk (121) and Tyler Lockett (105) both went over 100-yards on the day, and Aikuk, Williams and Robert Tonyan all scored to help Arizona get the W and earn home field. POTG: Arizona QB Ryan Nassib: 24/39, 330 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int Are Birmingham, Chicago, and St. Louis At Risk After Backing into Playoffs? It is one thing to clinch the playoffs and then take your foot off the gas. That is somewhat risky but also understandable as teams need rest and late season injuries can cause playoff heartbreaks. But we are not believing that is what is happening in Birmingham, Chicago, or St. Louis. All three teams had stakes on the table. Birmingham had a shot at a division title and a possible by when Cam Newton was hurt in Week 14. That they lost that game in New England and the follow up to Houston without Newton was not a surprise, but with Newton returning for Weeks 16 and 17, the division was still an option. But Newton returned but was clearly not at full strength. In season-ending losses to San Diego and Seattle, the Stallion QB was inefficient, ineffective, and more immobile than anyone expected. The result? Birmingham nearly saw themselves bounced out of playoff position altogether. Only losses by the Steamrollers and Showboats in the final month allowed them to back into the playoffs at 9-7. Similarly, St. Louis headed into Week 16 with a real shot at the Central Division title and even potentially a 1-seed. They had just defeated Chicago in a huge home victory that had the entire Gateway City excited about the possibilities. But St. Louis left it all on the field against Chicago, and in a Week 16 matchup against Orlando, they had to fight into extra time, eventually losing to the Renegades, 30-27 in overtime. Those two games, one a huge victory, the other a crushing and exhausting defeat, left St. Louis vulnerable this week. Pittsburgh took advantage of that vulnerability, and the fact that the hopes for the division had already been lost. St. Louis came out flat, lacking energy, and generally unsettled. The result? A surprising Mauler victory over the Skyhawks, one that cost St. Louis the 4-seed and now has them traveling to LA for the Wild Card round. Finally, the Chicago Machine, losers against St. Louis, but still atop the Central. Despite a very solid 12-4 record, Chicago is not looking ready for prime time. They followed up the defeat in St. Louis with a loss against a Tampa Bay team that rested their three biggest offensive weapons, falling 31-16 to a Bandits team led by rookie Matt Carol and without Dez Bryant or Dalvin Cook on the field. That loss stung. It hurt Chicago’s swagger, their sense of belonging as a frontrunner for the Summer Bowl, and it clearly impacted the decisions made on how to approach the season finale against Charlotte. Chicago, like the Skyhawks, came into the finale flat and lacking purpose. They sleepwalked through the game, eventually falling for a 3rd straight week as Monarchs players celebrated a 14-10 victory in Chicago. Can any of these three teams turn it around and make a push in the postseason? Certainly they all have the talent needed to make it happen, but momentum, confidence, and drive are not exactly feelings that can be turned on with the flip of a switch. Birmingham will need to find its early season form quickly as they head to Orlando, because the Renegades are very much feeling like they are on the right course and are peaking just when the need to. St. Louis now heads into LA, where the Express went 7-1 this year. They will face one of the league’s elite defenses and if their heads are not right, they could easily be one and done. As for Chicago, they get the bye as the 2-seed out west, but that means that in the 2nd round they will face a team already in full playoff mode. Could they be a potential upset victim? Or will they rediscover the focus that won them 12 of 14 over the seasons first 3 months? How each of these teams got to the playoffs now matters less than how they will show up, but fans of each club have to be worried that once momentum moves away from a team, it can be hard to recapture. USFL Never More Pass Happy Than 2022 The USFL has always been considered a pass-happy league. Its rules, its coaches, its focus on the QB position have made the spring league one known for the vertical passing game, the play action pass, and the deep ball. That has never been more true than in 2022, when the passing game took off once again and the steady gains of a run game were never less evident. It does not take much time to see just how enamored the USFL and its coaches are with the quick strike, the chunk plays, and the dramatic deep ball. Just take a look at the stats from across the league and you can clearly see how the USFL has embraced the passing game in 2022. The league had 26 quarterbacks out of 30 teams who finished the season with 300 or more pass attempts, including a whopping 14 who attempted more than 500 passes this season. There were 6 different quarterbacks who threw for over 4,000 yards, led by Geno Smith’s 4,620, and another 17 who crossed the 3,000 yard mark. While there were only 2 backs who hit 1,200 yards, with none topping 1,300 on the season, there was a grand total of 14 wideouts who topped 1,200 yards, including 5 who went over 1,400 yards. In total there were 28 different receivers who had over 1,000 yards. In total, 4 teams had two 1,000-yard receivers: Arizona (Robinson/Aiyuk), Denver (Tate/Mooney), New Orleans (Nelson/Jefferson), and San Antonio (Wilson/LaFell). If you add in teams with a 1,000-yarder and a 900-yarder, that number surges to 10 teams. 2022 also saw 4 players with more than 100 receptions, led by Portland’s Brandin Cooks with 116. That should be no surprise since 46 different receivers had more than 100 targets, again led by Cooks with 195 on the year. 12 receivers (with 30 or more receptions) averaged over 20 yards per reception, with Tyler Lockett of Arizona leading the league with an average of 25.2 yards per carry, followed closely by Dez Bryant’s 23.7 average and Christian Kirk of Arizona, who averaged 23.3 yards per catch. That is a lot of passing, a lot of big plays, and a lot of what has made the USFL so popular over the past 40 spring seasons. Your USFL Award Favorites as Regular Season Concludes The season is over, the stats are finalized, and we think we have a good sense of how the voters might break for this year’s USFL Awards. Here is our pick and the top contender for each of the league’s 5 major awards. MVP: Geno Smith, QB-NOR Not only did Smith nearly pull off the trifecta, finishing strong to end the year as the USFL leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and 4th in QB rating, but his late surge helped the Breakers rocket into a playoff spot. However, if the Breakers stumble in the Wild Card, we could easily see the voters, who are not supposed to look at the postseason, but who often do, lean towards Dak Prescott instead. OPOTY: Henry Ruggs, WR-BIR Yes, the Stallions (and Cam Newton) struggled down the stretch, but Ruggs’s numbers are just too good to overlook. He led the league with 1,592 yards and 15 touchdowns, and the voters love to reward up and comers who break out. With Knowshon Moreno winning the rushing title with a very low total of 1,283 yards, we think a receiver has to get the OPOTY this year, and that receiver should be Ruggs. DPOTY: Brian Burns, DE-TBY An absolute shocker as Burns had that one enormous 7-sack game, setting a new league record, but did more than enough to reach 30 sacks on the year (31 actually), becoming only the 2nd player to reach the 30 threshold after Calais Campbell. He edges out Montez Sweat (30 sacks) for the sack title and for DPOTY. ROTY: Garrett Wilson, WR-SAN An absolute revelation for the Gunslingers and a big reason why they are sitting pretty with the 2 seed and a bye this week. Wilson’s 1,384 yards, 102 receptions, and 8 TDs make him the run away winner of the ROTY this year. COTY: Chuck Long, SAN Kudos to Coach Long, who took San Antonio from expansion to division champion in only 3 seasons. Sure, he had some help thanks to the deal made when Oklahoma relocated the Texas Outlaws, so getting players like QB Joe Flacco helped, but even so, the job Long has done building up the Gunslingers is worthy of our recognition and respect. Draft Order: Picks 1-18 Set With the conclusion of the regular season, we have our initial 18 spots in the USFL Draft set, though more than a few tiebreakers had to be used to decide the order, particularly in that large cluster of 8-8 squads near the middle of the draft. Here is the order for the first USFL draft to not include separate Territorial selections in nearly 2 decades. 18-Dallas (8-8) The Roughnecks will almost certainly be looking for help for their 30th ranked run D. 17-Baltimore (8-8) Will Baltimore look for a QB to challenge Jake Locker or a TE to help bail him out? 16-Memphis (8-8) Blake Bortles is not the answer. Is a rookie QB? And will that require moving up? 15-Las Vegas (8-8) The league’s leading run game (122.5 YPG) may well mean a WR is the target. 14-New England (8-8) Tannehill faded down the stretch, so a QB pick could be on the way. 13-San Diego (8-8) San Diego needs to add muscle in the O-line to protect Rudolph & open lanes for Sims. 12-Charlotte (7-9) Protecting Paxton Lynch seems a priority and RT is the position of most need. 11-Houston (7-9) Is Houston going to look for a QB? Or can Colt come back strong in 2023? 10-Oklahoma (6-9-1) Jalen Hurts was a 1-man show. Oklahoma needs more playmakers on the O. 9-Ohio (6-10) The Ohio O-line was a shambles this year, so expect both OT and OG to be targets. 8-Washington (5-10-1) The Feds need to find a way to pressure opposing QBs. Could be an OLB or DE. 7-Pittsburgh (5-11) The 30th ranked run game demands an answer and that could be Texas HB Bijan Robinson. 6-Philadelphia 5-11) Rumors have Philly heavily scouting both Bryce Young and C. J. Stroud. 5-Jacksonville (5-11) The defense was putrid, so as many defensive playmakers as they can find, they need to sign a lot of talent on that side of the ball. 4-Denver (5-11) If Golden Tate retires, we think Denver looks hard at the WR position in the draft. 3-Atlanta (4-12) The secondary is in need of both ball hawks and big hitters. 2-Portland (3-13) If the rumors of Mariota’s departure are true, then QB is the move for the Stags. 1-Michigan (3-13) They got Hutchinson in 2022, do they now add Wolverine teammate Mazi Smith? They could drop down a few spots, dealing with a QB-hungry team and still get Smith plus some picks. Seems a good idea to us. The final two playoff spots were secured in two very different ways. Birmingham backed into the 5-seed in the East, thanks largely to losses by the Steamrollers and Showboats. Despite losing their last 3 games, the Stallions get in at 9-7. New Orleans, once 5-7, did the opposite, getting hot late, winning their last 4 games and earning the 6-seed in the East, assuring that the Southern Division would have 3 teams in the mix. Meanwhile, seeding out West flipped as Chicago lost their 3rd in a row, creating room for Arizona to jump up and capture the 1-seed, which is exactly what they did. So, after 17 weeks, we will have Arizona and Chicago, Tampa Bay and San Antonio taking a well-earned breather, while the remaining 8 teams battle it out in the Wild Card round. In this week’s games it will be New Jersey hosting New Orleans, Orlando hosting Birmingham, St. Louis visiting LA, and the Oakland Invaders headed to Seattle to face the Dragons. Due to concerns about the heat in Orlando, the USFL opted to flip the Eastern and Western Wild Card games on Sunday, with Seattle getting a rare 1pm start (Pacific, 4pm Eastern) while Orlando will host their game at 8pm ET. As we look ahead to the Wild Card round, there is a mix of health concerns across the 8 contenders, with New Jersey looking like the healthiest team in the field, while both Birmingham and Orlando could be shorthanded in their matchups. Keep an eye as well on New Orleans wideout Jordy Nelson, if he cannot go, which seems to be the case, that could negatively impact the Breakers’ ability to exploit New Jersey’s secondary. St. Louis has to be looking at the absence of Stephon Gilmore in LA as an opportunity as well, one talented receiver Deionte Jackson could take advantage of. Finally, Seattle will likely be without WR Devin Funchess, so look for Amari Cooper to be the primary target for QB Brett Hundley as the Dragons host the Oakland Invaders for a 3rd matchup of these division foes. NOR: FB Curtis Nelson (OUT), WR Jordy Nelson (D), OG Michael Dunn (Q) NJ: OT George Fant (P) STL: SS Terrell Edmunds (D), LB Christian Sam (P), TE Kyle Pitts (P) LA: CB Stephon Gilmore (D), LB Aaron Wallace (P) BIR: LB Raekwon McMilian (OUT), OT Greg Robinson (OUT), WR John Metchie (D) ORL: WR Brashad Perriman (OUT), C Ethan Pocic (OUT), FS D. J. Swearinger (Q) OAK: OG Joshua Garnett (OUT), LB Shaq Barrett (OUT) SEA: WR Devin Funchess (D) Black Monday Claims Two Of all the traditions of pro football in both the fall and the spring, none is more dreaded than Black Monday, the annual culling of coaches who just did not meet expectations. Leading up to the dreaded day, the first day after the conclusion of the regular season, owners meet with team presidents, pros and cons are discussed, contracts are reviewed, and decisions are made. Has change come quickly enough? Does the team support their coach? Have we seen improvement? Has the team stagnated? Or, even worse, is the team headed the wrong way? You never know if any given Black Monday will be a major purge or a minor ripple across the league. Well, this year, with only two coaches let go, it is a surprisingly low-impact event. Of course, don’t tell that to the two coaches who were let go, Jim Caldwell from Baltimore and Kliff Kingsbury from the Dallas Roughnecks. Both clubs finished 8-8 this year, which actually places them in the upper half of the league, but the record alone does not tell the full story. Take Caldwell in Baltimore, for example. In Jim Caldwell you have a coach whose first season in the Charm City set a very high bar. Working largely with a roster built by his predecessor, Tom Coughlin, Caldwell did more than Coughlin ever managed, leading the Blitz to a 12-4 record and their first league title. The next year he returned with a 13-3 club but fell in their opening playoff game, upset by the Pittsburgh Maulers. Since those two heady years, the Blitz have been a solid team but not one which has found postseason success. Four playoff appearances between 2016-2020, all with 9-7 teams, led to 4 one-and-done departures. Las season the Blitz were again 9-7, but failed to qualify for the postseason. The pressure was on Caldwell to show he could get Baltimore over the hump, and early this year things looked good. The Blitz were 5-3 at the midway point of the year, but a 3-5 finish, including a 4-game losing streak between weeks 13-16, disqualified the Blitz from the post-season. That was not what was expected, the challenge of upping Baltimore’s win total and getting them past their first playoff game was not met, and so the Blitz have moved on. In Dallas, expectations for improvement were also the challenge set for head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Kingsbury came to the Bid D after back to back 6-10 seasons forced out Mike Sherman. The team struggled in Kingsbury’s first year, finishing 3-13, but saw improvement in 2019, doubling their win total to finish 6-10. Then, in the 2019-2020 offseason, the Roughnecks made a move that they hoped would help Kingsbury get the team out of the Southwestern Division basement and into regular playoff contention. The Roughnecks swung a deal with Portland to draft QB Justin Herbert. Dallas signed the former Oregon Duck, and saw immediate results, finishing 10-6 and making their first playoff appearance since moving from Boston. But the success proved short-lived. The club dropped back to 8-8 in 2021, and the pressure was on for Kingsbury to show that he could build around Herbert and get Dallas back to postseason football. A second 8-8 season this year was not what was expected and proved to be enough for Roughneck leadership to let Kingsbury go. Two coaches, two teams at 8-8 but not meeting expectations, and that is all it took. But what about the coaches whose teams sunk well below .500. How are they still standing? Well, to start, you have to assume that first year coaches will get at least 2 seasons to show improvement, which explains why Jacksonville’s Mike Vrabel, Portland’s Jim Harbaugh, and even Houston’s Ted Cotrell were not on the hot seat. You also have teams who had success in 2021, and for whom a collapse in 2022 could well be an anomaly, wth the team still believing that their head coach can get the job done. This is likely very much the case with Dan Quinn (PHI), Jay Gruden (OHI), Sean McDermott (MGN), and John Hufnagel (DEN). So, after only a few days of offseason we know of 3 coaching vacancies, the spot in Oklahoma vacated by Bob Stoops, and the newly-opened positions in Baltimore and Dallas. Now the hunt for a replacement begins in earnest. Las Vegas Loves the Bandits to Threepeat The die was cast last week, when the Tampa Bay Bandits handily defeated the Chicago Machine without even putting Prescott, Bryant, and Cook on the field. That set the stage for what we see this week, as the books in Las Vegas set up Tampa Bay as a prohibitive favorite to complete their season with a threepeat, a feat unseen in either the 40 seasons of the USFL or in the 100+ years of the NFL. According to the three biggest legal books in Vegas, Caesar’s, Westgate, and Circa, the Bandits sit at 5-2 to once again raise the John Bassett Trophy. Compare that very low line with even the 2nd place Arizona Wranglers, coming in at 10-1, and you see just how much the money is slanting towards the Bandits to win it all once again. The influence of the Bandits’ dynasty is so strong that when we look at the odds, it is not until 5th place in the odds that we find another Eastern Division team. With Tampa Bay at 5-2, Arizona at 10-1, Seattle now at 12-1, Chicago at 15-1 and St. Louis at 18-1, we don’t hit the next team, San Antonio, until we look at 25-1. They are then followed by both LA and Orlando, both at 28-1. The Tampa Bay effect even creeps to the bottom of the rankings, with Oakland (30-1) getting better odds than either Birmingham or New Orleans (both 35-1). In other words, tell us you think the Bandits are head and shoulders above every other team without telling us that they are. We get the picture. The 10 Greatest Teams in USFL History We have run through the 40 Greatest Players in USFL history, from punter John Carlton all the way to the GOAT, DE Calais Campbell. We ranked the 10 Greatest Head Coaches in USFL history, a group topped by the coach of the 2022 Western Conference One Seed Wranglers, Jim Tomsula, but what about the greatest teams? We all think you will already know who we are putting at the top of our list, but that is no reason not to count them down. So, here, with several caveats, is our Top 10 Greatest Teams of all time. Bur first, the caveats. We are ranking teams by a single season, so while there certainly have been dominant teams, dynasties with multiple titles in the same decade, we are not ranking teams based on multiple years, since every team has different rosters and different trajectories each year. This is single season only, and that will mean, in many cases, that teams with multiple titles close to each other will be competing with themselves as well as with others for their rankings. Before we hit our Top 10, here is a quick list of some of the teams that did not make the final cut, some very good teams that just were not dominant enough to make our Top 10: The 2016 and 2019 Arizona Wranglers: A combined 32-6 between them, but not the best of the Wrangler dynasty of the 2010’s. The 1988, 1992, 2010, and 2018 Houston Gamblers. Each had 4 or more losses, so while the Gamblers franchise leads the league in titles, only the best of those many very good Gambler squads makes our list. The 2021 Tampa Bay Bandits. A 17-2 team, which one would think would make the list, and this one could be the team most say is getting an unfair snub, but we went with another recent Bandit team, and that bumped the 2021 squad down just far enough to drop out of the Top 10. Several One-Hit Wonders did not make our list, not because they did not lead to dynasties, but because they were and still are viewed as flukes, as teams that outperformed their talent for one glorious moment, not indicative of a truly great team, but a team that got hot at the right time. In that cluster are the 2012 St. Louis Skyhawks, the 1999 Memphis Showboats, the 2000 Denver Gold and the 2014 Baltimore Blitz. So, who are the teams we deemed worthy of being among the 10 greatest of all time? Wait no longer, here is our list. 10—The 1996 Houston Gamblers (14-4-1) The only 4-loss team to make our list, but in our view the absolute best Houston Gambler squad of all time. These Gamblers won Houston and QB Jim Kelly their third league title. It was Kelly’s finest season in the league, throwing for over 5,400 yards and 47 touchdowns. It was also a team that could win with offense or defense, holding a 161 point margin between points scored and points given up. These Gamblers won the Central Division over a very tough St. Louis Knights squad, and then knocked off Michigan 31-28 and the Knights by a dominant 55-3 to reach Summer Bowl ’96, where they held off the Troy Aikman-led Bandits 38-35 in a thriller of a Summer Bowl. 9—The 1987 Philadelphia Stars (16-3) One of the most dominant and balanced teams in USFL history, the Stars scored 427 points and allowed only 281 in a 13-3 regular season. They would go on to knock off Tampa Bay and Birmingham in the postseason before winning their 2nd title in 3 years by knocking off Jim Kelly and the Gamblers 39-31 in the only Summer Bowl in the USFL’s first 25 years to be decided by a single point. Led by the inimitable Jim Mora Sr., these Stars featured a cavalcade of future Philadelphia Ring of Honor inductees, including QB Chuck Fusina, HB Kelvin Bryant, LB Sam Mills, and kicker David Trout. 8-The 1998 Tampa Bay Bandits (16-3) Perhaps the greatest offensive football club in USFL history, the 1998 Bandits put up 566 points, over 35 per game, on their way to a 13-3 regular season. They won their division by 6 games and they raced through the playoffs, putting up 34 against the Blitz, 48 in the Conference Title Game against Washington, and won Summer Bowl ’98 45-30 over a Jim Johnson defense and the St. Louis Knights. This was the team that saw Troy Aikman set league records with 5,675 yards and 54 touchdowns. This was prime Randy Moss, with Ben Coates gaining 1,453 yards. But with 3 regular season losses and a defense that made more than a few games nail biters, the high-flying ’98 Bandits can rank only 8th on our list. 7-The 2003 Ohio Glory (14-3) The first ever repeat champions, the 2003 edition of the Glory used the same formula as the year before to return to the title game. They played solid defense, controlled the ball, and relied on their Big 3: Kerry Collins, Eddie George, and Joey Galloway. This Glory team stumbled a few times during the regular season, but came on strong at the end of the year, winning the Central before knocking off Jacksonville and Washington on their way to the Summer Bowl. They had a challenge in the 2003 Breakers, but came out on top to cement their place in history as the first USFL team to repeat as champions. 6-The 1984 Michigan Panthers (14-2) It was hard to pick just one Panther squad from the many league champions, but the 14-2 team that won the league’s 2nd title was special. A dominant team on both sides of the ball, this squad, led on offense by Bobby Hebert and on defense by John Corker, was a force to be reckoned with. They had a 1,000-yard rusher in John Williams, two 1,500-yard receivers (Amazing!!) in Dereck Holloway and Anthony Carter, and one of the most intimidating defenses in the decade of the 80’s. Defeating Rollie Dotsch and the Stallions in the 2nd USFL Title Game, these Panthers are still remembered as one of the greats of all time and one of the earliest dynasties in the USFL. 5-The 1983 Tampa Bay Bandits (16-2) We cannot have the ’85 Panthers and not include the league’s first champions, the 1983 Bandits. Another 2-loss team, the ’83 Bandits helped put the USFL on the map, with Bandit Ball exciting fans across the country with their high-flying antics. This team, led by QB John Reaves, dual-threat back Gary Anderson, and the greatest receiver in USFL history, Eric Truvillion, ran roughshod through the league, winning the Central Division over the talented Panther squad before knocking off Philadelphia in the 4-team playoff and defeating Denver in a 37-33 thriller in the first league title game. 4-The 1993 Birmingham Stallions (17-2) Another deadly offensive squad, the 1993 Stallions were all about Brett Favre and the dual threat of Ernest Givens and Lawrence Dawsey. Sure, they had talent on the defense, with Chris Dishman bringing in a league best 8 picks, and Anthony Blaylock racking up 104 tackles, but the lone title winner in Stallion history is remembered for the big offensive plays, the wild gunslinging style of Favre, and their absolute dominance in the Southern Division. They won the division by 5 games, then escaped a shootout against Jacksonville 45-42 and a tough defensive matchup with the Federals, 27-21 before outlasting a talented Houston squad in Summer Bowl ’93, giving Birmingham their first (and so far, only) USFL title. 3-The 2013 Arizona Wranglers (18-1) The Wranglers have won 3 titles since 2013, and are looking really good for a run in 2022 as well, but when we look at all the great Arizona teams of the past decade, this 1-loss team is still the one that produces the most affection. This was not a traditionally dominant team. They scored only 367 points on the season, and while they did win the Southwest Division by 5 games, theirs was a season of close calls and skin-of-their teeth victories. That tenacity was the key to their success as they battled their way through the playoffs, beating Texas 20-15, then dominating the Invaders 20-6 before battling a very tough Philadelphia squad to a 29-26 victory to earn the first title in Arizona history in the club’s 31st season. Led by HB Frank Gore, QB David Carr, and a defense that gave up a league best 200 points this Wrangler squad was the team that started a decade of amazing seasons and title runs that already includes 5 trips to the Summer Bowl and 3 league titles. 2-The 2020 Tampa Bay Bandits (18-1) The only franchise to get 3 seasons on our list, we could not deny the 18-1 Bandits, the team that put Tampa Bay back on top and made Dak Prescott a national superstar. Prescott, along with WR Dez Bryant, led a dominant offense that brought Bandit Ball back into fashion. The Bandits dominated the opposition over 16 weeks, then cruised past Atlanta and Houston to reach Summer Bowl ’13, where they not only defeated, but dismantled a very talented Michigan Panther team, forcing turnovers and putting up big plays on their way to a dominant 33-13 victory. This Bandit squad came as close as any to perfection without making it through the year unblemished. 1—The 2002 Ohio Glory (17-0) Was there ever any doubt? The only unbeaten season in USFL history, a truly stunning achievement by a team that was only 7 years old and which had never won anything in the past. The Glory set the standard for league dominance, and got us all familiar with the idea of a truly deadly set of Triplets as teams simply could not contain the combination of Kerry Collins, Eddie George, and Joey Galloway. All three would have bigger statistical years than 2002, but as a team no squad ever did it better than this club. After their 14-0 regular season gave them the Central Division with 6 games to spare, the Glory almost stumbled in a 30-28 showdown with the Chicago Machine, before upending New Jersey 28-17 and dominating in Summer Bowl ’02 to defeat Memphis 38-14, a 24-point margin of victory that ensure them a perfect season, a place in football lore forever, and the top spot in our list of the greatest USFL teams of all time. Here is your preview of the first round of USFL playoffs, four games that should be highly competitive, with all the intensity and drama that Week 17’s backup-filled slate of games did not produce. 6-New Orleans Breakers (9-7) @ 3-New Jersey Generals (10-6) Saturday, July 9 @ 4pm ET Met Life Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ Generals -4 The Generals may be favored, but they need to be careful here. New Orleans has won 4 in a row, Geno Smith is on fire, and even without Jordy Nelson, the Breakers have the depth and talent in the receiver group to make the Generals’ secondary look bad. For New Orleans, the key is to put pressure on Teddy Bridgewater. When flushed out of the pocket he is far less effective than when he has time to look over the field. Looking at both teams, we tend to like what we see in the Breakers, who just feel like a team that is putting the pieces together at the right time. We go for the road dog here, Breakers 22-17. 5-St. Louis Skyhawks (11-5) @ 4-Los Angeles Express (11-5) Saturday, July 9 @ 8pm ET Farmers Insurance Field, Carson, CA Express -1 This one is tough, with the Vegas books liking the Skyhawks enough to nearly wipe out the usual 3-point home advantage LA should hold. Lamar Jackson will be a challenge for the LA defense. If they put inside pressure on Jackson, he could use his legs to make them pay. If they hold back too much, then he will have time to find his receivers. As for the Express offense, the key is getting Paul Perkins some good runs early. That will slow down A. J. Epenesa and the Skyhawk pass rush. If given time, Andy Dalton can be effective. We think defense has an edge here, especially a defense as good as the Express, so we are going to say it is very close, but that LA finds the right mix of pressure and coverage to slow down Jackson and the Skyhawks. Los Angeles 21-20. 6-Oakland Invaders (9-7) @ 3-Seattle Dragons (12-4) Sunday, July 10 @ 4pm ET Lumen Field, Seattle, WA Dragons -6 Seattle is the biggest favorite of the weekend, and at 12-4 that should be no surprise. After losing to Oakland in the season opener, they defeated the Invaders in the rematch, winning 13-6 in Oakland. Seattle has now won 6 in a row and has looked good doing it. Oakland had won 5 of 6 before resting some starters against New Orleans this week. This has all the potential to be the best game of the week, but with Knowshon Moreno in good form and Amari Cooper able to take the roof off the defense, we just think Seattle will have too much for Oakland. Our pick is Seattle 27-21. 5-Birmingham Stallions (9-7) @ 4-Orlando Renegades (10-6) Sunday, July 10 @ 8pm ET Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL Renegades -5 Unless everything clicks for Cam Newton, who has looked anything like the early season MVP candidate, we don’t think Birmingham can stick with the Renegades. Throw in a very annoyed Montez Sweat, who missed out on the Sack title by 1 sack, and you could have a very long day for the Stallions. The key for Birmingham, other than finding Newton’s mojo again, is Najee Harris. He leads the league with a 5.2 YPC average, so why is he not getting 20 touches a game? Orlando could be susceptible to the run if Coach Haley would just commit to it. But he has not shown any commitment to his tailback all season, so why start now. We think Orlando gets it done at home against a slumping Stallion team. Renegades 24-18.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: The LA Express were worried what the loss of Stephon Gilmore would be in their final regular season games. Apparently that worry was not needed as Jamar Taylor stepped into Gilmore's role perfectly, not only returning an interception for a touchdown but also forcing two fumbles and recovering both for a 1-man, 3-turnover, 7-point day all on his own. That is a very good indicator that LA is ready for the postseason. PLAYOFF PICTURE: Ten of twelve playoff spots are now claimed. This week saw Oakland lock up the last spot in the West, while San Antonio, New Jersey and Orlando all punched their tickets. The Generals locked up the NE Division title, while San Antonio and Birmingham will still battle for the Southern title. In the West, Seattle and LA have one more game to decide the Pacific title. Memphis, Birmingham, New Orleans, and New England are all alive for the final 2 Wild Card spots in the East, with Birmingham still in the running for the Division as they swept the Gunslingers in their two games this season.

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

A huge week for the Western Conference as 5 of the 6 playoff spots are now claimed and only 2 teams remain in competition for the final spot. And, as fate would have it, those two teams, Oakland and Las Vegas, face off this week. In the East, not nearly as much was resolved as the Bandits remain the only team with a guaranteed postseason spot. In both the Northeast and the South we have teams tied atop the division, both looking good for a playoff spot, but none of the 4 locked in yet. We will break down all the playoff ramifications of Week 15 in our Big Story for the week, review all the games, look ahead to what could be a pivotal Week 16, and reveal the final two players on our 40 Greatest list. All this, plus a spectacular Game of the Week between the Machine and the Skyhawks in a Central Division classic.   Week 15 Puts Playoff Picture into Focus Let’s start off our report on Week 15 by saying what has been decided this week. We now know that the Arizona Wranglers have captured the Southwestern Division title, sitting at 11-3 with the 2 nd  place Vipers all the way back at 7-7. We also know that in the East, the 2-time defending league champion Bandits have wrapped up the 1 seed, holding a 3-game lead over the Renegades in their own division as well as the leaders of the South, with 4 games up on the Northeast co-leaders. We also now know five of the six Western Conference playoff teams, with Seattle, St. Louis, and LA all locking up playoff spots with 2 games left on the schedule. So, what is unknown. Well, let’s break it down.     The final spot will either be the Oakland Invaders (currently 8-6) or the Las Vegas Vipers (7-7). The two face off this week at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and the winner will assume the 6 th  playoff position with 1 week left to play. If that winner is Oakland, they lock up the spot and Las Vegas is done. If the Vipers win, then it will come down to Week 17, and the Vipers would need to avoid a loss at home to the Outlaws to be able to claim a surprising Wild Card spot.   The other unanswered questions in the West are all tied to division titles. Arizona has theirs wrapped up, but neither Chicago nor Seattle can say the same. This week’s huge game between the Machine and the Skyhawks means that Chicago needs one more win to lock up the division. That win would guarantee no worst than to tie the Skyhawks atop the Central and Chicago would hold the advantage thanks to their division record. St. Louis needs the Machine to lose their last two and for their club to win out to steal away the division from the Machine.   In the Pacific, Seattle has won 4 in a row, they hold a 1-game advantage over LA, but their 5-3 division record does not guarantee them a tiebreaker. If LA can beat Portland this week, they would have a 6-2 division record, which means Seattle cannot win the division if the Express can get even with them in overall record. Seattle’s best path forward is to win out, with games at Houston and home to Birmingham to finish out the year. For LA it is also about winning out, but hoping that Seattle stumbles, producing the tie atop the division, a tie LA can win.   The last thing we know for sure is that Chicago, Arizona, and St. Louis are all guaranteed at least one home game in the postseason. All three, along with Seattle, are in the mix for the byes given to the 1 and 2 seeds, but those three can finish no worse than 4 th  in the seeding, which means all three will face their playoff foe at home, we just don’t know if it will be in the Wild Card Round or the Divisionals.    Aside from Tampa Bay locking up the Southeast Division and the 1 seed, there is not a lot settled here. If we start with the Northeast, we have New Jersey and New England tied atop the division at 8-6. The two play this week and the winner will have control over their own destiny with 1 game to play, as well as the upper hand on a division title. If the winner is New Jersey, they lock up the division because they would have a 6-1 division record while New England’s would drop to 3-4. If New England can get the win at home this week, they would only need to beat Baltimore in Week 17 to lock up the division. And, since they are still in the mix as well, the Baltimore Blitz do still have a path to the division title, but it is a tough one. They need to beat Dallas this week, hope New England defeats the Generals, then defeat New England in Week 17 and have New Jersey lose at home to Philadelphia. Not exactly an easy path to a title by any measure.   In the Southeast, Birmingham is currently in position to win the division, but it is precarious. If they drop one of their last two games, either this week in San Diego or in a Week 17 clash with Seattle, the Gunslingers could get a game ahead, the only scenario where the Gunslingers get the division due to Birmingham’s sweep of San Antonio this year. But San Antonio is not the only issue. If Memphis goes 2-0 (both division games) and the Stallions drop a game, then Memphis can claim the title. The Showboats swept the Stallions and a win over San Antonio in Week 17 would mean they split the series with the Gunslingers, so if Memphis ends up tied atop the division with either or both clubs, they win the tiebreaker with a 6-2 division record.   Basically, whether we are talking about division titles or even Orlando’s shot at a Wild Card at 9-5 or New Orleans’s chances at 7-7. The answer is any team that can go 2-0 over the next two weeks is in the playoffs. Any team that goes 0-2 is almost certainly out, and 1-1 is not a guarantee of anything. It is a bit more complicated for the Breakers since they need others to lose for a possible 9-7 record to get them in, but for nearly everyone else, a playoff spot comes with 2 wins and disappears with 2 losses.   So, yes, it’s a bit of a cluster, and we may not know 2 of the 3 division titles until Week 17 is concluded, but that just means that more teams are in the mix, more are playing meaningful football right now, and more games will have meaning. That is good for us and good for the USFL.   CHICAGO MACHINE 28   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 33 We have had this one circled on our calendars for weeks. Chicago, atop the Central Division for the entire season, starting the year with 9 wins and holding the best record in the league at 12-1. St. Louis, the upstart, coming on strong with 5 consecutive wins and only 2 games back at 10-3. The league’s best defense against one of its best offenses. Lamar Jackson offering a dual threat against a front seven designed to remove options. Throw in the traditional rivalry between the two Midwestern cities, and you have all the makings of a classic, and that is exactly what we got.   The game could also be seen as a clash of styles, the traditional structure of Chicago’s attack, a pure pocket passer in Sam Bradford, a run game designed to create short 3 rd  downs to gain, and receivers who can take the ball deep or find holes in the underneath zone, facing the new spread offense, RPO, big play style with a mobile quarterback, multiple receiver packages and a run game designed as a complement, not a focal point. Would it be old school or new trend? This game would give us a look at a clash of philosophies, not just a clash of two contenders.   That clash of styles became apparent from the opening minutes as St. Louis wasted no time showing just what the spread offense and RPO could do. After a short 3-and-out from Chicago on the opening possession, St. Louis put 7 on the board in only 4 plays, and with a classic RPO play getting the job done. After a nice throw from Lamar Jackson to Deionte Johnson put the ball on the Chicago 47, Lamar Jackson called his own number on a run-pass option, and it proved the absolute correct call. With LB Manti Te’o taking the bite and crashing inside, Jackson was free to scamper to the outside, a clear lane into the secondary. A move placed on the corner and pure speed was enough to break him out and into the endzone for the 47-yard TD run that opened scoring and got the partisan crowd of 55,606 at The Dome on their feet.   It would be the start of a 21-point first quarter for the Skyhawks. As Chicago struggled to get their more traditional offense going against an underrated Skyhawk defense, St. Louis kept making plays. On their 2 nd  possession it was HB James Conner again benefiting from the RPO as he rushed off tackle and broke into the secondary for a 16-yard score. Only 2 minutes later, after a Bradford pick that would be the lone turnover of the game, Jackson found Deionte Johnson for the Skyhawks’ third TD in the quarter and the fans were in full voice, loving every moment of their quick start. Chicago needed to react, and quickly, or this game could get out of hand and out of reach.   The Machine took over with 4:12 left in the first and put together a 7-minute drive that lulled the crowd back down and built back up the division leader’s confidence. It was a methodical 15-play drive that saw 3 different backs carry the ball for the Machine and saw Sam Bradford finally start to connect with his talented receivers. A connection with Odell Beckham Jr. converted a key 3 rd down at midfield, and then, after a false start turned a 3 rd  and goal from the 6 to 3 rd  and goal from the 11, Bradford stood strong in the pocket, taking the hit after he released the ball, finding Chase Claypool in the endzone for the score.   That drive seemed to awaken Chicago’s pride. They would give up a St. Louis field goal on the Skyhawks’ next possession, but it would be the only score St. Louis would have until the 4 th  quarter. The defense would stiffen, giving up a couple of nice plays, but not a full drive. The shut down would give the offense a chance to get Chicago back in the game. The Machine offense would do just that, thanks in large part to the connection between Bradford and All-USFL receiver Odell Beckham Jr. The two would connect for a 15-yard touchdown just before the half to pull Chicago back within 10 at 24-14, and then again midway through the 3 rd  to pull the Machine within 3. The change of momentum and the sense that Chicago was very much in the game would quiet the St. Louis crowd, stunned at the change of fortune after what was a dominant first quarter.   As the 4 th  quarter began, St. Louis was again forced to punt after a failed 3 rd  down conversion, but the ensuing punt would turn out to be a godsend for the struggling Skyhawks. Punter Robbie Capps hit a perfect coffin corner kick, traveling 51 yards and bouncing at the 2 before a sideways spin out of bounds. Chicago would be backed up to their own goalline, giving St. Louis’s aggressive front seven a chance to make a play and change momentum once again. That energy-shifting play would come on Chicago’s first offensive play on the possession. With the offensive line concerned about A. J. Epenesa, the line shifted their blocks to the left side, hoping HB Marion Mack could help out the right tackle while the left guard and tackle took on Epenesa. The strategy failed as LB Micah McFadden took on the tackle with his blitz and end Charles Harris blew past Mack to lay out Sam Bradford on the ill-timed pass attempt. The safety not only gave St. Louis their first points since their 2 nd quarter field goal but shifted the energy in the dome.   Receiving the free kick after the safety, St. Louis was re-energized. It would take St. Louis only 5 plays to put the ball in the endzone for a 4 th  time, the first touchdown since their dynamic first quarter run. On the short 58-yard drive, Lamar Jackson connected twice with TE Will Dissley, escaped the Chicago rush to scramble for 11 on a key 3 rd  and 7, and then found WR David Nelson for a 16-yard TD on a perfect fade route. The pair of scores boosted St. Louis’s lead from 3 to 12 points, forcing Chicago to score twice to capture its first lead of the game.   The Machine would have to switch to a hurry up offense with 6 minutes to play. It was an unfamiliar position for Chicago, used to playing with a lead and using their defense to close out games. The offense shifted to a no-huddle style, and found success, but primarily through short passes and draws up the middle. The Machine drive would produce 7, but it would take over 4 minutes and 12 plays to do so, leaving them with only 1:33 on the clock after Marion Mack plunged into the endzone to reduce the St. Louis lead to 5.   Chicago would need an onside kick recovery and a much quicker 2 nd  drive to capture the lead and the game. Daniel Carlson gave them the first requirement, clipping the ball perfectly off the tee and sending it careening towards the left sideline, with that classic 3 rd  bounce going high in the air. That bounce allowed WR Willie Snead IV the time needed to race into the ball’s path and bat it backwards, where TE Tyler Eifert was ready to snatch it and fall to the ground. The volleyball-like “set” was beautifully executed, giving the small Chicago contingent in the SW corner of the dome a reason to jump to their feet and giving the ball to the Machine offense on their own 48, only 52 yards away from a come-from-behind victory and the division title. The Machine had 1:23 to work with, but only 1 timeout. A field goal would do them no good, and St. Louis knew it. They would stay in the no-huddle, relying on Bradford’s experience to call audibles at the line. They came to the field in an 11 formation, so called for its use of one back (rookie Rachaad White), one tight end (Eifert), and 3 outside receivers (OBJ, Claypool, and Snead. The opening play was a quick hitter to Snead on an inside slant. The play produced an immediate first down on the St. Louis 40 and a quick spike to stop the clock. The 2 nd  play was a miss on an out route to Beckham, but Bradford went right back to his favorite target on 2 nd  and 10 and found Beckham this time for a gain of 12 and another first down. The Machine still had over a minute of clock left and now had the ball on the St. Louis 28.   But St. Louis had gotten close to Bradford on the last 2 throws, pressuring him into the initial incompletion and closing in on the 2 nd  down throw. On 1 st  and 10 from the 28 they would finally get home. It would not be Epenesa, but backup safety and dime coverage specialist Roderick Teamer, blitzing out of his position opposite Snead and finding Bradford before the QB could release the ball. The sack produced a 2 nd  and 16 on the 34, but it also burnt off nearly 20 seconds before Bradford could snap the ball again.   Bradford found Claypool for 8 yards on the play, but that left 3 rd  and 8 and the clock still ticking. He would need not only a play to reach the first down but one that would get the ball out of play to stop the clock. But Bradford was a veteran who had seen more than his share of pressure moments. He called the right play against the shallow zones St. Louis set up, a clearing route that sent Beckham and Snead to the inside, creating space for Eifert underneath. His tight end brought in the pass and headed for the sideline, crossing out of bounds just past the first down marker before getting hit by LB Trey Hendrickson. The late hit would draw a penalty, moving the ball half the distance to the endzone and giving Chicago a first and 10 at the 8 with 27 second and a time out still in play for Chicago.   St. Louis was facing a 1 st  and goal with enough time for Chicago to run all 4 downs if they needed them. The tension in the stadium was palpable. The Sunday night EFN crew of former USFL QB Steve Young and play-by-play specialist Dave Fleming were building up the energy for the TV audience as everyone in the stadium recognized that regardless of the result of the next 27 seconds, this game was going to have one hell of an ending.   First and goal from the 8, Bradford looks for OBJ, but his favorite target is blanketed. He dumps the ball off to White, but he rookie does not get his head turned around in time and cannot bring in the ball.   Second and goal from the 8. Expecting a shallow zone, Bradford goes for the fade route to Claypool. The receiver stretches for the ball, brings it down, but his first foot down touches the line and as he crashes to the turf, the ball comes out, incomplete.   Third and goal from the 8. Bradford is flushed from the pocket by Epenesa, but just as the breakout defensives star gets to the knees of Bradford, he releases the ball and finds WR Jameson Williams along the sideline. Williamson gets a foot down, before stepping out, the ball now on the 2 with 1 play left and 7 seconds to decide the game.   Fourth and goal from the 2. As the announcers comment that Chicago essentially is set up exactly where they would be for a 2-point PAT, with Steve Young highlighting that the entire PAT playbook, typically 10-12 different plays, is now available, including draws, misdirection runs, and a wide range of short passing concepts. Chicago lines up initially with Beckham and Snead to the left, Claypool and Eifert to the right and White next to Bradford in the shotgun. Before the snap, Claypool shifts left to form a classic bunch formation, almost certainly setting up a rub route to free Beckham underneath the two interior receivers. St. Louis adjusts their coverage, the defenders calling out to switch coverage rather than cross each other in the inevitable cluster. When the ball is snapped, the play develops as expected, with Beckham crossing underneath Snead and Claypool, while Eifert crosses from the other side. White stays in to help block Epenesa, giving Bradford time, but the St. Louis defenders are ready, they don’t crash into each other or the various receivers, they trade off coverage, ensuring that Beckham’s crossing route is covered. Bradford looks OBJ’s direction, then quickly redirects towards Eifert. The tight end has a step on LB Micah McFadden, but pressure is closing in on Bradford. The Chicago QB lets the ball go towards Eifert, but just as he is finishing his release, DT Geno Atkins clips his arm, causing the ball to skew to the left and lower than Bradford wanted. Eifert is unable to reach the low throw before it hits the turf. Play over, drive over, game over.   St. Louis thought they had the game in hand early, watched as their lead slipped away, took advantage of a key defensive play and composed themselves, and then, when it came down to the wire, the Skyhawk defense, which for so many years had been not only sub-par, not only bad, but comically bad, came up huge, holding Chicago out of the endzone and winning the game. St. Louis not only knocked off the Machine, but did so with a balance of offensive fireworks and defensive grit. This was not the Skyhawk team that fans had started to give up on over the past decade. This was a new, gutsy, and very talented Skyhawk team, a message they sent loud and clear to the nation on the Sunday night broadcast, and, perhaps more importantly, a message they sent to the Chicago Machine. Chicago would head home still 1 game up on the division, but very much aware that neither the division nor a trip to the Summer Bowl would come easy.   SAN ANTONIO 24   NEW ORLEANS 28 The Breakers were on the brink of playoff elimination, down 10 to the Gunslingers as they entered the 4 th  quarter, but Geno Smith pulled them away from the edge with touchdown tosses to Dawson Knox and DeMarco Murray in a 14-point 4 th , to get the win and keep their chances for a Wild Card alive. San Antonio takes the L despite 122 yards from Brandon LaFell and a combined 127 yards from Mostert and Gordon. POTG:  Breaker QB Geno Smith: 17/33, 265 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   SEATTLE 40  DALLAS 18 Dallas is out after a bad home loss to a Dragon team peaking at the right time. It was 19-0 at the half with Seattle scoring on all 5 first half possessions (a Cooper TD and 4 Harris field goals). It did not get much better for Dallas in the 2 nd half, with Seattle adding 3 TDs in the 4 th  to put this one well out of range for a comeback. All 3 Dragon backs scored on the day as Seattle moves to 10-4 and locks up a playoff spot. POTG:  Seattle WR Amari Cooper: 6 Rec, 124 Yds, 1 TD   OHIO 20   ORLANDO 36 Ohio’s losing streak hits 4 games and this one also knocks them out of any playoff possibility as Orlando delivers the death blow. Russell Wilson threw for 2 scores, Tarik Cohen rushed for another 2 and the defense shut down Justin Fields, holding the Ohio QB to 190 yards passing and -6 on the ground. Throw in a pair of Montez Sweat sacks, one for a safety, and it was all Orlando. POTG:  Orlando DE Montez Sweat: 9 Tck, 4 TFL, 2 Sck, 1 Sfty   JACKSONVILLE 14   TAMPA BAY 33 Brian Burns is going to haunt Trevor Lawrence’s dreams after sacking the Jacksonville QB 7, yes, 7 times. Only a portion of 11 sacks given up by a clearly overwhelmed line. Lawrence also threw 3 picks in one of the ugliest outings of his career. For the Bandit offense, Ryan Grant had 2 scores, and both Cook and Breida rushed for a TD in this lopsided affair. POTG:  Bandit DE Brian Burns: 8 Tck, 7 Sck   LOS ANGELES 30   SAN DIEGO 20 The Express continue to show better offensive capability with Andy Dalton at the helm, but also got a pick-six from the D, part of a 17-0 run in the 4 th quarter to turn a potential upset into a victory. The loss eliminated San Diego from the postseason while locking in a spot for the Express. In the win, Dalton threw for 208 yards while the combo of Perkins and Montgomery added 122 on the ground. POTG:  Express CB Jamar Taylor: 5 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int   PHILADELPHIA 16   DENVER 23 The Gold put up 23 unanswered to race ahead of the Stars and secure another home win. Josh Allen threw for 332 and 2 scores, the defense held Derrick Henry to 68 yards and limited Carson Wentz to 192 yards passing as the two eliminated clubs battled for pride at Empower Field. POTG:  Denver QB Josh Allen: 15/25, 332 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   BALTIMORE13   MEMPHIS 17 A good win for the Showboats, a bad loss for the Blitz as Memphis improves to 8-6 while Baltimore drops to 7-7 and a game behind the leaders in the NE Division. Baltimore had a 13-3 halftime lead, but it was all Memphis in the 2 nd half, with touchdowns from Luke Stocker and David Williams proving to be the difference. Baltimore had a shot late, but Jake Locker missed on a crucial 4 th and 8 throw and the Showboats held on to get the win and move into the 6 th playoff spot. POTG:  Memphis QB Blake Bortles: 17/31, 184 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int   HOUSTON 28  BIRMINGHAM 12 Tim Tebow looked rusty, completing only 18 of 44 passing as Houston got back on their feet thanks to Carlos Hyde’s 3-TD day. Hyde returned to action, rushed for 82 and the three scores and took pressure off Kellen Clemons, who would go 9 of 16 for 200 yards and a score on the day. The loss was not a death blow for the Stallions’ division title hopes as San Antonio also lost, but now Memphis is back in the mix at 8-6 as well. POTG:  Houston HB Carlos Hyde: 27 Att, 82 Yds, 3 TD   WASHINGTON 7   NEW JERSEY 27 The Generals played like a team that knew how big this game was for them, outgaining Washington 411-282, and putting up 27 unanswered after Washington’s initial score. The Defense held Washington out of scoring range for more than 3 full quarters, while the offense got TDs from Jonnu Smith, Tony Pollard, and Kyren Williams to move New Jersey to 8-6 and keep hold of the division lead thanks to a tiebreaker over New England. POTG:  General HB Tony Pollard: 22 Att, 99 Yds, 1 TD   NEW ENGLAND 29  ATLANTA 9 The Steamrollers kept pace with New Jersey, winning their 3 rd  in a row to move to 8-6 by knocking off Atlanta at Mercedes Benz Stadium. Ryan Tannehill threw for 231 and 2 scores while the defense held Atlanta to 2 of 12 on third down and limited Kyler Murray to only 161 yards passing. It was tight at the half, 10-9 New England, but the Rollers started the 2 nd  half with a safety against Murray and never looked back. POTG:  SS Jaiquawn Jarrett: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty   PITTSBURGH 7   CHARLOTTE 14 The Monarchs double their 2021 win total with their 6 th  coming against the Maulers at Bank of America Stadium. The Monarch D sacked Kenny Pickett 7 times and held Pittsburgh to only 48 yards rushing on the day. Pittsburgh’s D was solid once again, but the offense just could not get anything going and that gave Charlotte all they needed to get win number six. POTG:  Charlotte HB Phillip Linday: 20 Att, 74 Yds, 1 TD   PORTLAND 14   OAKLAND 21 The Invaders let up on the gas a bit too soon, building a 21-0 lead after 3 quarters but then playing a bit too lax as Portland tried to roar back. Marcus Marriota had 2 touchdowns in the 4 th , but there was no success on an onside kick after the second, saving Oakland from a possible humiliating end. Christian McCaffrey was the star on offense for the Invaders, rushing for 107 yards and catching 5 Davis Mills passes for 44 more and a TD. POTG:  Oakland HB Christian McCaffrey: 19 Att, 107 Yds, 5 Rec, 44 Yds, 1 TD   LAS VEGAS 14  MICHIGAN 13 Don’t look now, but Las Vegas is in contention for a Wild Card, only 1 game behind the Invaders. The Vipers won their 3 rd  in a row thanks to touchdowns from Matt Jones and Ricky Seals-Jones and a defense that held Michigan to 192 yards passing and only a lone LeVeon Bell TD. Blake Martinez looks fully recovered from the injury that had him out for more than half the season, recording 8 tackles and a sack on the day. POTG:  Viper TE Ricky Seals-Jones: 3 Rec, 63 Yds, 1 TD   OKLAHOMA 0   ARIZONA 42 No team is in better postseason form than the Wranglers, which they proved with an utter dismantling of the Oklahoma Outlaws. Ryan Nassib threw for 326, including a pair of touchdowns to slot receiver Tyler Lockett, the run game produced 116 yards to Oklahoma’s 6, yes, 6 total yards rushing. And, as if we had to say it, the defense was stifling, absolutely deleting Oklahoma’s run game, holding Jalen Hurts to -2 yards on the ground, and recording 2 picks and 6 sacks. Looks like the Wranglers are ready for some playoff football. POTG:  Wrangler QB Ryan Nassib: 14/18, 326 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int   Brian Burns Balls Out The two-time defending USFL champs are known for one thing, their big play “Bandit Ball” offense, but DE Brian Burns reminded us all this week that the Bandits are also a Top 5 defense, capable of shutting down opponents just as readily as they can roll the scoreboard. He did so not only by dominating an overmatched and clearly unprepared Jacksonville offensive line, but by setting a new USFL record in the process. The Bandits punished Bulls’ QB Trevor Lawrence, with 9 hurries, 12 hits, and 11, yes, 11 sacks. But what was more impressive than those horrific numbers was the league record set by Tampa’s lead edge rusher, Brian Burns. Burns recorded 7 of those 11 sacks of Lawrence, snapping the prior record held by none other than league legend and the man at the top of our 40 Greatest Players list, Calais Campbell (Set against Tampa Bay back in 2014).  Burns did it with speed, with power, and with a truly devastating swim move that had Bulls’ LT Taylor Lewan looking like an undrafted rookie instead of a 1 st round pick and 8-year veteran. Even with help from TE Eric Ebron, FB Zach Line, or HB Chubba Hubbard, the left side of the Jacksonville line was simply unable to address the pressure from Burns. The Bandits had 4 sacks in the first quarter, 2 in the 2 nd , 3 in the third, and finished with 2 more in the final minutes of the game, with Burns recording 4 of his 7 sacks in the second half, with Tampa Bay protecting a ludicrous 30-0 lead. It was a dominant performance from the Bandits on both sides of the ball, but nowhere more than on the left side of the line, where Brian Burns not only dominated the Bulls but lept over J. J. Watt, A. J. Epenesa and Montez Sweat, three far-more celebrated edge rushers, taking a dominant 3-sack lead over the field for the 2022 sack title, and almost guaranteeing himself a return to All-USFL status (2020 was his first).   Smith Keeps Breakers on Playoff Life Support In week 14 New Orleans knocked off a weakened Houston Gambler squad to end a 4-game losing streak and climb back to 6-7. This week they faced potential elimination as they traveled to San Antonio to take on the 9-4 Gunslingers. A loss and they would drop to 6-8 and be out of any Wild Card hopes. Coach Lathon made that reality clear in the pre-game preparations, and Geno Smith gave us a classic Lee Corso “Not So Fast, My Friend” performance to stave off elimination and pull the Breakers up to .500, still very much alive in the USFL Eastern Division playoff hunt.   With New Orleans trailing the homestanding Gunslingers 24-14 as the game entered the 4 th  quarter, Smith could be seen bucking up the offense, exhorting them to give it their all, and rallying the troops. When he was on the field, he was impeccable, going 7 of 8 in his final 2 drives, the first producing a 7-yard TD toss to Dawson Knox, the second, in the game’s final minutes, producing the game winning score, a perfectly executed screen to DeMarco Murray which was apparently an audible called by Smith after assessing the defense. Coach Lathon gave Smith full credit in the post-game interview. Stating that the original call was for a pair of out routes to try to get inside the 10. Smith recognized the outside leverage being taken by the corners and the safeties leaning for a drop back, and he made the switch, shifting TE Dawson Knox to the wide side to help block for Murray, and setting up the screen play that would win the game.   Now, at 7-7, New Orleans has 2 games to make a run, both played in the very friendly atmosphere of the Super Dome. They will likely need help to get there, but if they can knock off Charlotte this week, they could face a “Win & In” situation with the Memphis Showboats in Week 17. If they do find themselves there, they can point to this week’s game and Geno Smith’s leadership as the reason they have a shot at all.   Ohio Losing Streak Turns to Elimination The other side of the Week 16 emotional roller coaster has to be the feeling the Ohio Glory are living right now. They went into their road trip to Orlando knowing that a loss would push them to 6-8, two games under .500 and almost certain playoff elimination. After being 6-4, it would mean losing their 4 th consecutive game and turning a feel-good season into a major disappointment. Their season and their playoff hopes rode on this one game. And yet, by all accounts they came out flat, giving up an early touchdown, a safety, and slowly falling into a 12-3 hole, a hole that grew to 29-6 at its worst point. The Glory defense gave up too many 3 rd  down conversions, too many yards, and too many 2 nd  chances. The offense failed to produce, with Justin Fields losing 6 yards on his combined 11 runs and throwing for only 190 yards. It was a poor showing in every phase of the game, a clearly dominant performance by the 9-5 Renegades, and a sour end to what began as a season of hope for the Glory.   Ohio will go into the offseason with a lot of questions. They clearly have a playmaker at QB, but rookie Kenneth Walker Jr. looked tired all season, unable to reach the potential he showed at Michigan State, but perhaps capable of more when he has a full offseason to recover instead of the shortened hiatus between his NCAA career and his USFL debut. The Glory clearly need to find more weapons for Fields, with Terry McLaurin constantly struggling through double coverage. They also need to improve on a defense that faded down the stretch. But, with 2 games left, the Glory can still try to leverage some good feelings. Even though they are out of the post-season picture, snapping the losing streak and reaching .500 at 8-8 have to be the new goals for the club.   Oakland & Las Vegas Make it 3 in a Row The USFL has set us up with an unlikely but very exciting Week 16 situation: two teams on winning streaks, very much alive as they seek a single playoff spot left available, and playing head-to-head in what very much feels like an early playoff game. Oakland comes into the game having earned three much-needed wins against Memphis, LA, and Portland. They now sit at 8-6, occupying the final Wild Card spot and in full control of their own destiny, something very much in doubt back in Week 12, when a loss to the Dragons at home had them at 5-6. Their opponent, the Las Vegas Vipers were written off far earlier. They started the season 0-4 and were 1-5 after 5 weeks when Head Coach Greg Landry made the tough call. He benched 2021 and week 1 starter Matt McGloin and went with the more dynamic but riskier option in QB Gardner Minshew. That move paid off, with Las Vegas winning 6 of their next 8 games, including their current 3-game win streak, including a huge home upset over the Arizona Wranglers. They sit at 7-7, only 1 game behind Oakland.   The two teams, both on 3-game win streaks, will face off at Levi’s Stadium this Sunday, with the winner either clinching that last Western Conference playoff spot (Oakland), or in position to lock it up in Week 17 (Las Vegas). Amazing what a few wins strung back-to-back can do for a team. Both of these teams are feeling good, and focused on a game that could mean everything to them and their fans.   Allgeier’s Hamstring a Concern for Arizona The Wranglers were more than impressive this week, absolutely demolishing the Oklahoma Outlaws 42-0, but it was not all good news for the Southwestern Division Champions. Their star rookie, halfback Tyler Allgeier had just scored his 9 th touchdown of the season, took the ball on a routine pitch out on a 1 st and 10, but immediately fell to the ground, clutching his thigh. He would not return to the game, out with a possible partial tear of his hamstring. Allgeier, who had not only become a key feature of the Wranglers’ 2-headed rushing attack, adding 572 yards and 9 touchdowns to Ka’Deem Carey’s 868 yards and 7 scores, but was the preferred short-yardage option for the Wranglers. Peyton Barber, who had only 19 touches all season, would come in and perform well, but with the Wranglers looking ahead to a playoff run and still in the hunt for the 1 seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, could be without a key weapon.   Monday’s series of imaging showed no tears, a sigh of relief for the Wranglers, but a severe strain that needed rest. So, with 2 games left that could determine just what the post-season would look like for the Wranglers, Coach Tomsula announced yesterday that Allgeier’s regular season would be shuttered for the final two weeks. The hope being that with a potential bye week in hand, the rest would give Allgeier 3 full weeks to recover and get his hammie back to form for a divisional playoff game. The Wranglers face Ohio this week and finish with Michigan, two inter-divisional games where the Wranglers should be heavy favorites, and two games that could lock in that much-wanted bye. Arizona will go into both games as heavy favorites, which may just allow them to lose the talents of their star rookie and still come out on top when the regular season wraps up.     Having run through the scenarios for all the teams heading into Week 16 in our Big Story this week, we thought we would just use this space to offer our condolences to the 13 teams who are absolutely and mathematically eliminated from the 2022 playoffs. new to that group this week are Charlotte, Houston, Washington, San Diego and Ohio. They join Oklahoma, Denver, Pittsburgh, Portland, Michigan, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Jacksonville in that sad club. So, what are these teams fighting for? Pride mostly, perhaps positioning, or just trying to avoid a 10-loss season. Too late on that front for the Stars, Fire, bulls, Maulers, Stags, and Panthers, but for the others, getting to 8-8 or 7-9 is still possible. And if we look at the USFL Draft, the Panthers are essentially 1 loss away from locking up the 1 st  overall pick, something no one expected. Portland, Atlanta, and Jacksonville would be looking at potential picks 2-4, assuming all three stay at 3 wins for the year. Right now it would be Jacksonville sitting in the 2-spot, followed by Portland and then Atlanta.   Some key players will be out of some very important games, especially in New Orleans, where the Breakers need to win out to have any shot at a Wild Card, but will do so without both WR Jordy Nelson and FB Curtis Nelson. Las Vegas will be without edge rusher Brooks Reed for their huge game against Oakland and, if they make the playoffs, possibly for their entire playoff run as well. Birmingham, in a very tight race for the Southern title, will be without Raekwon McMillian down the stretch, and LA could be more vulnerable in the secondary with Stephon Gilmore expected to miss the final 2 games of the regular season.   OUT DE          Brooks Reed             LV           Back           IR FB          Curtis Nelson           NOR      MCL         4-6 Weeks LB           Raekwon McMilian        BIR         Hernia         2-4 Weeks DT          DeVante Wyatt                 ATL         Ankle             2-4 Weeks OT          Greg Robinson                BIR         Neck             1-2 Weeks WR         Jordy Nelson                NOR      Wrist             1-2 Weeks CB          Stephon Gilmore            LA          Hip                  1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL FB          Rod Benjamin          SAN       Knee G            Michael Dunn               NOR      Concussion   QUESTIONABLE TE           Jeff Heuerman           TBY        Knee HB         Trey Sermon                OHI       Concussion SS           Nick Scott                 PHI        Neck DT          Beau Allen                    JAX         Back   Stoops Stepping Down after 4 Years in OKC We have our first coaching change of the season as Coach Bob Stoops announced on Tuesday that he will play out the season but will resign from the team after their Week 16 matchup in Las Vegas. Stoops, a legend at Oklahoma University, was a hugely popular choice to take over the Outlaws when they relocated from San Antonio to Oklahoma City, but since taking over the team, he has struggled to get them over the hump and into contention in the Southwest Division. His first season (2019) saw the Outlaws go 6-10. They faced a bit of a rebuild after the 2020 Expansion allowed the new San Antonio Gunslingers to claim several veteran players, including QB Joe Flacco, but Stoops was able to rebuild and improve the Outlaws to 8-8 in his second year. In 2021 rookie QB Jalen Hurts arrived and there was a lot of hype as to what the OU quarterback and the OU ball coach could do together. But, after a 6-10 campaign in 2021, the Outaws again struggled for consistency this year, sitting at 5-8-1 and out of playoff contention after 15 weeks. Stoops did not provide much to the gathered media, using the standard tropes of spending more time with his family, thanking the team for the opportunity, and acknowledging the effort and spirit of his players. His foray into pro football was, overall, a forgettable one. His arrival certainly brought energy to a new fanbase that was already feeling pretty good about getting a USFL team for the first time since their 1-year experiment in Tulsa in 1987, but the Outlaws simply could not make waves in a very competitive division. Stoops will almost certainly get a fair amount of applause in his final home game this week, a tough matchup against the Denver Gold, and he will be on the sideline in Week 17’s road trip to Las Vegas, but the Outlaws will now be entering the coaching search mode, hoping to find a new leader who can bring the club’s first playoff run to the city and the state.   McDermott Not Taking the Fall in Michigan More coaching news out of Michigan, and in a move that is a surprise to no one, Panther ownership stood firmly behind Head Coach Sean McDermott. While expressing deep disappointment for a season that has Michigan sitting at 2-11, far from the playoff aspirations that opened the season, team president Jim Popp stated that he felt the team was more talented than their record displayed, and was going to be able to bounce back in 2023. He expressed full confidence in Coach McDermott, who had overseen 8 consecutive playoff seasons, including a league title in 2017. “One bad year does not define a man or a team.” Said Popp as he stated that he fully expected McDermott to be a Panther through the end of his contract in 2025 if not longer.   Yes, we have all heard the “vote of confidence” speech before, but this time we are willing to believe that this is not the first step before a firing. McDermott has done amazing work in Michigan, with 2 Summer Bowl appearances, a league title, and an overall record of 111-79, nothing to sneeze at. The Panthers certainly have issues, and we expect some major movement on the roster, both sides of the ball, but, as their team president said, no one season defines a team or a man, so we believe the Panthers this time around. Expect McDermott to be at the helm in 2023, though you should also expect some new faces up and down the roster, and, very likely a new pair of coordinators up in the booth.   40 Greatest Players in 40 USFL Seasons: Our Top 2 Here we go, the top two players in USFL history. Did you guess them from the get go? Are you surprised?  We had some debates, some lobbying for one of the other Top 5 players, but in the end, the choices were unassailable, two of the absolute greatest players in USFL history, the pinnacle for their positions, both players with league records that may never be topped, two icons of the game, and two superstars of spring football. 2)  WR Eric Truvillion ( 1983-1995) Quite simply the greatest offensive weapon the USFL has ever seen. The 13-year veteran of the Tampa Bay Bandits, from their first game through the 1995 season, Truvillion is not only a 12-time All-USFL player, or the 1995 OPOTY. He is not only a major player in the 1983 league title that made the Bandits an immediate hit in the Sunshine State, he is a league record holder who has put up numbers no one may ever top.  Eric Truvillion’s 174 career touchdown receptions remains the gold standard more than 20 years after he retired from the game. Despite the great success of Joey Galloway, Chad Johnson, Lawrence Dawsey, and Randy Moss, no one has been able to surpass Truvillion. And that is only one stat. How about the season records? Truvillion’s 25 touchdown receptions in 1985 is still the league record, a number only 1 player has ever even approached (Ernest Givens with 23 in 1992). No receiver has even topped 20 in the past 30 years. And that one is not the most impressive. Take a look at the greatest receiving seasons in USFL history. You will see Truvillion not only atop the list, but occupying the 1, 2, and 3 slots. All three have him over 1,900 yards, tantalizingly close to that mythical 2,000-yard mark. His 1986 season with 1,959 yards is amazing enough, but when you add in 1,944 yards the year prior and 1,932 yards in 1992, you have perhaps the most stunning offensive statistic in the entire USFL recordbook. There have been lots of amazing receivers in the spring league, but no one comes close to what we saw from Eric Truvillion, a true GOAT in the USFL history books.   1)   DE Calais Campbell (2008-Present) You had to know, you just had to, that if Eric Truvillion was in the 2 nd  position, ahead of Kerry Collins and Herschel Walker, that there was only 1 name capable of being the USFL GOAT. The fact that you can still buy a ticket to a USFL game and watch Calais Campbell play is just an amazing bonus for today’s fans.  The Sack Sensation in Orlando. When the Orlando Renegades drafted and signed Campbell out of “The U” in 2008, the hope was that they could help to address the huge departure of legendary edge rusher Chris Doleman. What they got was so much more than that. In his first year he had a solid start, a 12-sack season for a rookie, but he became a star in his 2 nd  year. As a sophomore Campbell became the first player in USFL history to record 30 sacks, destroying Phil Hansen’s league record of 28 sacks by racking up 34 that year. He would go on to top 30 sacks 4 times in his career, taking over the top 4 spots on the all-time greatest seasons for a pass rusher. Of course, he now also owns the 6 th spot and the 8 th , allowing room for only 3 other names on the entire Top 10 of USFl pass rushing seasons.   That dominance is amazing to us, but it is not even his most astonishing accomplishment. There are two that we would rate higher. The first is his ability to not only dominate in the passing game but be perhaps one of the best tackling DE’s of all time as well. Calais Campbell not only has 14 seasons of 20 or more sacks (he just landed his 20 th  for 2022 this week), but he, not once, but twice, finished a season with 100 tackles. That is a linebacker number, not an edge rusher number. He did it first in 2015, then again in 2018. In all he has 8 seasons where he recorded 80 or more tackles. Let’s compare that to some other greats, shall we?   Phil Hansen, 2 nd  in career sacks, never topped 80 tackles in a season. Kavika Pittman (3 rd  in career sacks) none, and only 1 season over 70. Reggie White, the Minister of Defense? None. Chris Doleman, the man Orlando was hoping to replace with Campbell, not a single season with more than 62 tackles. And Campbell had 2 years over 100. Sheer insanity!!  Campbell as a Wrangler Last, but certainly not least, is the record for career sacks. Calais Campbell did not squeak by Phil Hansens’ league record of 289 sacks, itself an incredible number when you consider that the NFL record holder is Bruce Smith with only 200. Well, Campbell left both Smith and Hansen in the dust, recording 380 sacks over his career, a career that is not over yet. That means he has 91 more sacks than the prior record holder. The Renegades brought him in to try to fill the gap that Chris Doleman left, and he already has more than 100 more sacks than Doleman.   We don’t know if this season, Calais Campbell’s 15 th , will be his last or if he will give it another go in 2023, but what we do know is that we are witnessing a career that may never be equaled. With Orlando, then Arizona, and now the Baltimore Blitz, Calais Campbell has been the very best the USFL has to offer and one of the all-time greats. And for the USFL he is the greatest player of all time, the GOAT of spring football.   So many meaningful games this week, so many permutations and calculations of playoff impact, draft order, and the like. So, which games do you not want to miss? Here is our pick of the games that absolutely have to be caught this weekend.   We start off on Saturday with a Breakers-Showboats clash that will mean almost certain disaster for the loser. New Orleans’s only shot at the postseason is to go 2-0 and get some help, but they face a Memphis squad that still has a real shot not only at a Wild Card but at the division title if they can go 2-0 to end the year.   On Sunday, New Jersey faces New England in a game that very well could decide the Northeast Division. The winner is poised to claim the crown, the loser could fall not only to a Wild Card, but potentially out of the playoffs altogether. The other big Sunday game is in Las Vegas, where the Invaders can lock up a Wild Card with a win and the Vipers can stave off elimination and give themselves a real shot in Week 17 if they can hold court at home.   But you all know what the Game of the Week is primed to be. It’s 12-2 Tampa Bay visiting 12-2 Chicago in what looks very much like a Summer Bowl preview. It’s the two best teams in the league going head-to-head. The concern, of course, is that Tampa Bay is already locked into the 1 seed in the East, so do they play a vanilla game, not wanting to show their hand to the Machine? Or do they go for the win, perhaps to capture a mental edge over the likely Western Conference 1 seed? Chicago has no room for error, not with St. Louis hot on their heels, so we know we will get all they have, but the Bandits could go a lot of different ways in this one.   Fri. 7pm ET         Seattle (10-4) @ Houston (6-8)                          NBC Fri. 7pm ET       Washington (5-8-1) @ Philadelphia (4-10)       ESPN/EFN   Sat. 12pm ET     Baltimore (7-7) @ Dallas (6-8)                           ABC Sat. 12pm ET     Arizona (11-3) @ Ohio (6-8)                              FOX Sat. 4pm ET      Portland (3-11) @ Los Angeles (9-5)               ABC Sat. 4pm ET       Birmingham (9-5) @ San Diego (6-8)                FOX Sat. 8pm ET      New Orleans (7-7) @ Memphis (8-6)              NBC Sat. 8pm ET       Tampa Bay (12-2) @ Chicago (12-2)                 ESPN/EFN   Sun 12pm ET   Jacksonville (3-11) @ Atlanta (3-11)                ABC Regional Sun 12pm ET     Charlotte (6-8) @ San Antonio (9-5)                  ABC Regional Sun 12pm ET   New Jersey (8-6) @ New England (8-6)          FOX Sun 4pm ET       St. Louis (11-3) @ Orlando (9-5)                      ABC Sun 4pm ET      Denver (5-9) @ Oklahoma (5-8-1)                    FOX Regional Sun 4pm ET       Oakland (8-6) @ Las Vegas (7-7)                      FOX Regional Sun 8pm ET      Pittsburgh (4-10) @ Michigan (2-12)                  EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Can there be any doubt? Seven sacks in a single game? That is insane, and the fact that it thrust Brian Burns to the top of the season's stat leaderboard by 3 sacks over Montez Sweat makes it all that much more amazing. With only 2 games left, did this one incredible performance just give a very unexpected title to Burns? PLAYOFF PICTURE: A big week in the Western Conference as three more teams got themselves a golden ticket to the USFL postseason. St. Louis (11-3), Seattle (10-4), and Los Angeles (9-5) are all in, though the battles are not yet over as St. Louis still wants to catch Chicago for that Central Division title, while LA and Seattle have not yet settled the Pacific crown. It was also a big week for eliminations, with 5 more teams joining the "not quite, buddy" group. In the East, teams with 8 losses, including Houston, are out, while in the West, only Dallas remains alive, on life support thanks to some tiebreakers. Ohio, San Diego, Charlotte, Houston, and Washington are all officially out of the running with 2 weeks to go.

It was a Father's Day weekend to celebrate, and what better way than with some great USFL action. More divisional rivalry games, more close games, and a few upsets to throw into the mix in Week 14. We also saw the league's six teams with 6-6 records split their games this weekend, leaving three with a leg up at 7-6 and three in real danger that another loss could end their playoff dreams. That is our big story, reviewing the situation for every team that entered Week 14 at 6-6. We will start there, then run through all of the week's results, look at the potential impact of Cam Newton's potential absence in Week 15, after taking a tough loss in Week 14, and offer our thoughts on five teams that might want to shake things up this offseason. All this, and the 3rd and 4th Greatest Players in USFL history, at least from our estimation. It's all coming up right now.   The Fate of the 6-6 Clubs In Flux Some started the year strong, racing out to a solid record in the first weeks of the year, only to fade as the heat of summer began to take hold. Others have started to build up their resume over the past few weeks, building on early defeats and winning more games of late. This week we will look at 5 teams that came into the week at 6-6, and one who started at 5-7 but is now putting themselves in the mix. How did they fare and what could it mean for their final 3 games?   New England (7-6): Defeated Birmingham The injury to Cam Newton helped the Steamrollers put together back-to-back wins to improve from 5-6 to 7-6 and placed them in a 3-way tie atop the Northeast Division with the Blitz and Generals. If all three continue to mix wins with losses, the division winner could be the only club to qualify for the postseason, but if any can win their final 3, they pave their pathway to the playoffs. The good news for the Steamrollers is that of the three they are the club who can control their own destiny. After what should be a solid matchup against Atlanta this week, the Rollers face both New Jersey and Baltimore to finish out the year. They have the Generals at home, but even with a win there, it could come down to a Week 17 road trip to Baltimore to face the Blitz. The goal for New England now should be to win in Atlanta and home against New Jersey, pushing them to 9-6, which may make Week 17 a battle for the division, but not a battle to earn a playoff spot.   Ohio (6-7): Lost to Michigan Things are looking rough for the Glory, who have now lost 3 in a row and could potentially be eliminated from realistic (if not mathematical) post-season contention with just one more loss. That is not what you want to see when your next three games are against 8-5 Orlando, 10-3 Arizona, and 8-5 Los Angeles, all potential playoff teams who do not present easy matchups for the Glory. Ohio travels to Orlando this week in their last road game of the season. If they can get a win there, then they at least have hope with 2 home games, but a loss to the Renegades and what started out as a very hopeful season in Columbus could fade quickly into a mid-table finish and another year of “building for the future”.   Oakland (7-6): Defeated Los Angeles We don’t think it is possible to overstate how big the win in LA was for these Invaders. They are still trailing the Express and the Dragons in the division, but they are in range, and even if they cannot pull out a late surge for the division title, they are now solidly in the playoff picture, currently holding the tiebreakers over other 7-6 clubs to earn the final Wild Card spot. That means they control their own destiny moving forward. They finish up with 3 teams currently under .500 (v. Portland, @ Las Vegas, @ New Orleans), but cannot let up. Those two road games to end the year will not be cupcake games, but 9-7, and even 10-6 are not out of the question, and we think either gets the Invaders into the post-season.   Dallas (6-7): Lost to Chicago The Roughnecks had won 4 in a row, but Chicago is on another level right now. Dallas should shake off that road loss and refocus on their next 3 games. They are still alive, but need help from others as they are a game behind the current 6 th  seed (Oakland). The Roughnecks have two tough games coming up with Seattle and Baltimore both coming to town before finishing up with a road game in Denver. The goal has to be to win out, as that seems like their only shot at snagging a Wild Card berth. The problem is that none of those games will likely see Dallas favored, as Denver may be down this year but are always tough playing at Empower Field and will be looking to spoil things for Dallas if the Roughnecks are still in the picture by Week 17.   San Diego (6-7): Lost to Seattle The Thunder are still alive, which is more than we expected of this club, but they too need to win out and get some help to jump past Dallas and Oakland. That looks like a lot to ask for as they face LA and Birmingham in the next two weeks. Getting to 8-7 before their final week road trip to Portland would be a major coup. It is not impossible, as we have seen San Diego shock some teams, but both LA and Birmingham are in tough division races and are unlikely to dismiss San Diego as an easy win, so the Thunder will need to earn both wins.   Las Vegas (6-7): Defeated Denver We are adding the Vipers to the mix, though they were 5-7 going into Week 14, because their back-to-back division wins over Arizona and Denver puts them in the middle of the 6-7 cluster of teams only 1 game behind Oakland for that 6 th  playoff spot. What is more, in 2 weeks the Vipers will host the Invaders at Wynn Arena, a perfect chance to not only knock Oakland down a peg, but earn a tiebreaker over the Invaders. They have 2-win Michigan first, a must win game for them, but if they can get that win, they will be in position to help themselves immensely with a win over Oakland and then a home finale vs. Oklahoma. 9-7 is very much viable for the Vipers, a record which could get them a Wild Card, and something that should fire them up as they head to Detroit this weekend. For a team that started the year 0-4, and then 1-5, even finishing at 9-7 without a Wild Card would be a great comeback, but a Wild Card would be truly worth celebrating.   OAKLAND INVADERS 23  LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 21 The Oakland Invaders and some form of LA Express have been division rivals since the league first kicked off in 1983, and even though the original Express now live in Las Vegas and the current version has been in LA only since 1995, this is still a rivalry that is always worth the price of admission. The two have played 55 times (with Oakland leading the all-time series 32-23), and this time around it was a vital game for both clubs, with LA hoping to either stay even or move a game above Seattle in the division title race, while Oakland, 2 games back, wanted to get back in the picture and also get themselves into solid Wild Card position by moving over .500 once again.   So, what we had here was a classic rivalry, another great California Derby, between two foes who know each other well, two fanbases who love to hate each other, and two teams that need this win. That means intensity, big plays, and battles at every turn. We got that, plus a bit of West Coast chippiness, with a few skirmishes mixed into the official game action, and 5 lead changes, including 2 in the final 2 minutes of the game. That is just fun football, and when you add in a perfect 73 degree day with a colorful sunset, on Juneteenth and Father’s Day weekend, you get just about the perfect USFL experience.   While the season high LA crowd of 50,303 was loving the weather, the festive atmosphere, and the pre-game mini-concert by La’s own Snoop Dog (a huge USFL fan), the two teams were gearing up for a battle of wills. Once the game started, everything except the action on the field faded away and it was all about those 100 yards of muscle, sweat, and strategy. After a scoreless first quarter that saw both defenses dominate, Oakland took advantage of a nice punt return of 27 yards that put the ball at their own 44. The short field helped the Invaders put points on the board on the drive, moving the ball to the LA 29 before Roberto Aguayo put them up 3-0 to open the game.   The next two possessions, one for each team, produced little aside from a pair of punts, but on their 2 nd  possession of the quarter, LA, guided by their new QB, Andy Dalton, found their groove. They Expressed connected on a pair o big plays to get on the board, both involving HB Ty Montgomery. The first was a pitch out that led to a 21-yard run by the elusive back. The second a screen to Montgomery that got great up front blocking, leading to a 23-yard score to put the Express up 7-3 and got the crowd into full voice. Oakland would bounce back with another field goal as the quarter ended, with the scoreboard a 7-6 affair as the teams headed into the locker room.   The Invaders got two huge plays in the 3 rd  quarter, turning the tide of the game their way. The first was a sack of Andy Dalton, the first of 8 on the day. It came on a 3 rd  and 4. Dalton tried to set up a quick hitter to Jeremy Maclin, but his receiver was blanketed, forcing him to bring the ball back down, and giving Michael Bennett the time he needed to wrap up the Red Rifle and force a punt. That play led to a short field for the Invaders, who took advantage to add a 3 rd  field goal and take a narrow 9-7 lead. But the bigger play would come only 3 plays later. With a poor return putting the ball on the LA 11, the Express tried to run the ball out of the shadow of their endzone, but gained only 3 yards. After a false start turned 3 rd  and 7 into 3 rd  and 12, Dalton made a huge miscalculation, expecting LB Shaq Barrett to follow through on the blitz he was showing. Instead Barrett took a step forward only to back into coverage, just in time to fill the space where TE Jacob Hollister was headed, picking off the Dalton throw and cruising into the endzone for a huge defensive score for Oakland. That score, and the ensuing 2-point play from Mills to Hooper, put them up 17-7 as the 3 rd quarter wound down and the game headed to the 4 th .   Down 10 with only 15 minutes left to play, LA needed a momentum shift. After an early field goal (Aguayo’s 4 th  on the day) gave Oakland a 20-7 lead, some fans started heading out, but the diehards, who were more than enough to make some noise, stayed and watched as LA turned the tide. It began with a nice 8-play drive that ended with Paul Perkins plunging into the endzone to pull LA within 6 at 20-14. That score, coming with just over 5 minutes in the half, gave LA hope. A rare fumble by Christian McCaffrey on Oakland’s next possession, gave LA more than hope, it gave them purpose. MLB Keith Rivers had perfectly executed the punch-out of the ball on the play, falling on the ball for the FF/FR combo. That gave LA all they needed to get the crowd into the game. It would take LA 10 plays to move the 39 yards to the endzone, but when Hollywood Brown grabbed a laser throw from Dalton, the game was tied, with Dan Bailey sent out for the PAT that would give LA their first lead of the half.   With 1:47 on the clock, the Express held a narrow 21-20 lead as they kicked off to Oakland. A stand by their vaunted defense and they would move to 9-4 and be guaranteed at worst a share of first place. Oakland would fall to 6-7 and quite possibly be out of any serious playoff hunt. But Oakland was not ready to give up this game or their playoff hopes. They had 107 seconds, 2 timeouts and a pretty good kicker in Roberto Aguayo, who had already given them 12 of their 20 points on the day and who needed only 1 more shot to give them the win.   Oakland went to an interesting alignment, with two backs, Bryce Love and Christian McCaffrey, two receivers, Adams and Floyd, and TE Zach Ertz. It was not the normal hurry up formation, but with two backs and a TE who were outstanding receivers, it gave Oakland a multi-pronged attack through the air. They would run only once on the drive, a ball-positioning run just before their FG attempt. Davis Mills, who had gone 21 of 26 on the day, would go 5 of 6 on this drive. He would mostly hit short passes, good enough to move the ball across the 50 and close in on field goal range. But the play of the game would be a short pass that turned into something special.   It was a simple enough route, a slant from the outside, helped by Zach Ertz running a fly route to produce a natural rub or pick. Malcolm Floyd caught the ball 7 yards form the line of scrimmage, but spun just as the safety came up, and that spin gave him open field ahead. He would race 37 yards downfield before being tripped up by LA corner Jalen Ramsey. That put the ball on the LA 9. With 27 seconds left and LA without any timeouts, Oakland had Bryce Love run the ball to the middle of the field, gaining 5 yards on the effort and placing the ball at PAT range for kicker Roberto Aguayo. The 7-year veteran who had already hit 4 field goals on the day was looking at a 21-yard chip shot. The ball went through as the clock struck double zeroes and the small contingent of Invader fans in the stadium had their moment, while a disappointed Express crowd filed out.   The Express were still well in the playoff mix at 8-5, a game behind Seattle after the Dragon victory over San Diego this weekend, but not feeling good about their situation. Oakland, on the other hand, was now 7-6, 2 games behind Seattle, 1 behind LA, but in the mix for a Wild Card if nothing else. That, combined with an equalizer in their series with the rival Express, has them looking ahead to the next 3 weeks with a lot of optimism.     TAMPA BAY 16  ATLANTA 13 The Fire shocked many, including Bandits coach Mark Trestman, by finding a way to slow down the Bandits offense, forcing two Dak Prescott picks and limiting Tampa Bay to only 2 of10 on third down, but it was all for naught as Atlanta’s offense was unable to take advantage, falling by 3 despite putting up 10 fourth quarter points. A lone Dez Bryant touchdown and 3 Harrison Butker field goals proved just enough for the Bandits to escape Atlanta with their 11 th win. POTG:  Bandit WR Dez Bryant: 6 Rec, 107 Yds,1 TD   OHIO 24   MICHIGAN 27 OVERTIME The Panthers finally showed some offensive coherence, with 103 yards from LeVeon Bell and 312 yards from Kirk Cousins as they upset the road favorite Glory at Ford Field. Cousins went to some unexpected targets, throwing TDs to Ryan Izzo and Khari Blasingame to help Michigan pull off the upset despite Justin Fields rushing for 109 and going 18 of 26 for 189 in the game. Down 10 in the 4 th , the Panthers not only evened the score late, but got the win in overtime on a 41-yard Chase McLaughlin field goal. POTG:  Michigan DE Aiden Hutchinson: 7 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 Sck, 1 FR   NEW JERSEY 23   JACKSONVILLE 27 Another upset as Trevor Lawrence survives 6 sacks (3 from General DE Yetur Gross-Matos) to throw for 344 yards and 3 scores as the Bulls knock off New Jersey. Tee Higgins returned to action and caught 3 for 79 and a score, while Mike Williams hauled in 5 for 102 and a TD of his own. Christian Kirk rounded out the TD trio and a late Blankenship field goal gave Jacksonville the 4-point upset victory in front of only 22,018. POTG:  Bulls’ QB Trevor Lawrence: 15/25, 344 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   ORLANDO 13  CHARLOTTE 12 The Monarchs came close, putting up the first 12 points of the game, but a brutal mistake early in the 4 th  quarter cost them the game. Up 12-6, Paxton Lynch forced a ball to Calvin Ridley only to have D. J. Swearinger pick it off and return it 42 yards for what would end up as the game winning score. The Monarchs had a shot late, but a sack of Lynch forced them out of late field goal range and they were forced to attempt a Hail Mary. The play failed and the Renegades hung on to improve to 8-5. POTG:  Orlando FS D. J. Swearinger: 3 Tck, 1 Int, 1 DefTD   WASHINGTON 20   ARIZONA 34 Ka’Deem Carey’s 104 yards helped offset Travis Etienne’s 116 and Ryan Nassib carved up the Federals’ secondary for 319 yards and 3 scores. The one-time “failed” Federal QB went 20 of 32 with both Brandon Aiyuk and DeMarcus Robinson going over 100 yards in a bit of a revenge game for the short-lived Washington starter as Washington rebounded from an upset loss last week and clinched the Southwest Division Title with the win. POTG:  Wrangler QB Ryan Nassib: 20/32, 319 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int   SAN DIEGO 10   SEATTLE 26 San Diego’s winning streak ends at 4 games as the Dragons used 4 Jeffery Harris field goals, a Knowshon Moreno TD run and a Siemian to Funchess TD toss to upend the Thunder. We credit the offense, but it was the defense’s ability to shut down Charles Sims (15 yards on 12 carries) that truly gave Seattle the edge. With Brett Hundley expected to return to action next week, the Dragons are right back in the hunt for the Pacific crown at 9-4. POTG:  Dragon HB Knowshon Moreno: 25 Att, 113 Yds, 1 TD   PHILADELPHIA 20  BALTIMORE 13 The Stars play spoiler with Ryan Lindley stepping in when Carson Wentz went down with a possible dislocated shoulder. Lindley threw for 201 and a TD, avoided turnovers, and found Randall Cobb for a 66-yard strike to shock the Blitz. The Stars’ defense also came up big, holding Josh Jacobs to only 41 yards rushing and keeping Jake Locker off balance all game as Philadelphia keeps Baltimore from taking advantage of the New Jersey loss, retaining a tie atop the division. POTG:  Stars’ QB Ryan Lindley: 13/19, 201 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int   BIRMINGHAM 0  NEW ENGLAND 13 Cam Newton crumbled to the ground on a scramble and that was all she wrote for the Stallions. Newton’s knee was the issue and while Tim Tebow went 10 of 13 in relief, the Stallions never challenged New England. Breece Hall rushed for 108 and Ryan Tannehill found Zay Jones for the only TD of the day as a scoreless first half turned into a Steamroller victory in the third quarter. Newton is doubtful for next week, while New England now joins a 3-way tie atop the NE Division. POTG:  Steamroller HB Breece Hall: 19 Att, 108 Yds   OKLAHOMA 27  PITTSBURGH 34 Where has this offensive production been all year? That is the question Mauler fans are asking after their club put up 34 points, including 3 TD passes from Pickett to Brian Quick. Even the run game was adequate, for perhaps the first time all season. For Oklahoma, a familiar story as Jalen Hurts tried to do it all, though he did get some help from Eddie Lacy’s 108 yards rushing. But, once again it was just not enough as Oklahoma fell behind 34-20 and ran out of time for a comeback. POTG : Mauler WR Brian Quick: 6 Rec, 120 Yds, 3 TD   SAN ANTONIO 29  MEMPHIS 28 Down 28-16 at the start of the 4 th  quarter, Joe Flacco rallied the Gunslingers to victory with a pair of late touchdowns, first finding Julius Thomas to pull within 5 and then hitting rookie Garrett Wilson with the game winner with 1:32 left to play. Up only 1, it was the Gunslinger defense that pulled out the win, forcing a 2 nd  Blake Bortles interception thanks to a well-timed blitz. The win moves San Antonio into a tie atop the South, while sending Memphis 2 games back and likely into Wild Card territory. POTG:  San Antonio QB Joe Flacco: 28/35, 275 Yds, 3 TD, 2 Int   DALLAS 14   CHICAGO 27 The Machine just keeps producing wins, the defense again the star as Chicago holds Dallas to 219 total yards and only 61 yards rushing. The Machine picked off Justin Herbert twice, including a pick-six from Jason Verritt as they overcome an early 14-0 deficit and score the game’s final 27 points to claim victory again. TDs from OBJ and rookie Rachaad White helped pave the way for the 12-1 Machine. POTG:  Chicago CB Jason Verritt: 5 Tck, 3 PDef, 1 Int, 1 DefTD   ST. LOUIS 30  PORTLAND 10 Portland proved no challenge for the Skyhawks, with QB Lamar Jackson throwing for 2 scores and running a third in. The Stags actually outgained St. Louis 369-314, but never led in the game, with 3 Mariota picks sealing the deal for the Skyhawks. The win is St. Louis’s 10 th  on the season and has them on the verge of clinching a playoff spot for the first time in nearly a decade. POTG:  St. Louis QB Lamar Jackson: 14/20, 204 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int, 9 Att, 16 Yds, 1 TD   NEW ORLEANS 16  HOUSTON 13 Believe it or not, Houston was down to their 4 th  QB in this game as Kellen Clemons went down late, sacked 6 times. Practice squad QB John Williamson came in, completed 2 passes but also threw 2 interceptions in the 4 th quarter to help New Orleans retain their lead and move out of the basement of the Southern Division. POTG:  Breaker QB Geno Smith: 18/35, 339 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int   DENVER 17   LAS VEGAS 27 Viper backs combined for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns, Gardner Minshew found TE Ricky Seal-Jones for another, and the Denver offense sputtered with Golden Tate sidelined. Josh Allen completed only 11 of 25 passing for 174 yards and the Gold simply could not keep pace with the Vipers, dropping Denver to 4-9 and near certain playoff elimination just one year after winning the division. POTG:  Viper LT Gabe Carimi: 12 Pancakes, 0 Sacks allowed   Newton Out, Birmingham Down It was not the diagnosis that everyone feared. No ACL tear, no MCL damage, just a dislocation of the patella without ligament or tendon damage, easily treated, but it was enough to knock Cam Newton out of the game and make his status for a Week 15 matchup against Houston very uncertain. And, what was worse, it was enough to completely shut down the Birmingham offense against a very solid New England Steamroller defense. Newton’s departure from the game in the 2 nd quarter, just 2:02 before halftime, not only shut down a promising Stallion drive, but meant that the Stallions would go into a 2 nd  half of a scoreless game without their playmaker.   Tim Tebow came into the game before the half but could not put points on the board. That would be the story for the rest of the game, with New England frustrating Tebow and the Stallions all game long. Birmingham would not cross the Steamroller 40, nor try even a field goal all game long. The Birmingham defense did their best to keep them in the game, but even a meager 13 points from the Steamrollers in the 2 nd  half proved sufficient to win the game and produce a rare shutout for a USFL team. And now, with a division rival coming to town in Week 15, the Stallions, who still sit atop the Southern Division, must hope they can get their backup ready to go because even a single loss down the stretch could be the difference between a bye week and home playoff game and a possible road trip in the Wild Card round.   Lawrence Leads Upset Minded Bulls To say 2022 has been a disappointing campaign for both QB Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Bulls as a whole would be an understatement. Losers of 5 straight and sitting at 2-10, the Bulls have been one of the most disappointing teams of the season. The blame is not Lawrence’s. In his 2 nd  season he has looked solid, throwing for over 2,900 yards, earning a 103 QB Rating, well above his 84.8 rookie campaign, and with 19 touchdowns, Lawrence had done what he could. But the league’s worst defense (30 th  in both points allowed and yards allowed) and a run game that never materialized (28 th  in the league) have made the 2022 campaign a big letdown form preseason hopes.   That frustration got a nice venting this week as Lawrence helped the Bulls pull off a major upset over New Jersey. With three TDs and 344 yards passing, it was one of the Bull QB’s best games of the year. He hit Mike Williams, Christian Kirk, and Tee Higgins for scores, showing that the Bulls do have weapons outside. He also got help from a defense that has done little all year, with a pair of drive-killing sacks against Teddy Bridgewater, a timely interception that avoided a New Jersey field goal in the 3 rd , and a nice stop in the final minute of action to preserve the win. The bulls have 3 games left in a pretty dismal 2022 campaign, but if they can muster a couple of wins in the season’s final weeks, perhaps Coach Vrabel and the club can go into the offseason with some hope and with a strong plan to improve the defense, get 2022 rookie James Cook more space in the run game, and maybe come out stronger in 2023.   Panthers Pounce on Stumbling Ohio If Jacksonville has been a disappointment, the 2022 Michigan Panthers have been more like an abject failure. This was a team that many picked to win the Central Division, but that team has just not shown up. Coming into the week at 1-11, with an ugly 11-game losing streak following their Week 1 victory over Charlotte, the Panthers have been brutal to watch. Their offense rarely topping 20 points, their defense unable to contain even modest rushing attacks, and the club shooting themselves in the foot time and time again.   That was the scene as the Panthers hosted rival Ohio at Ford Field. But Ohio, who came in on an 0-3 slump of their own, were perhaps the perfect foils for the desperate Panther squad. The rivalry status of the game helped boost Panther attendance back over 45,000 for the first time in 5 home games. The energy from the fans was there, and the Glory seemed to be as bumbling and unfortunate as the Panthers. The combination was just what Michigan needed.   LeVeon Bell put in 103 yards, Kirk Cousins made a few key plays, and the Panther defense, despite giving up 109 yards and a TD to Justin Fields’ feet, did not allow the Glory to get the early upper hand. They built a 14-0 lead in the first half, fell behind 24-14, in head-slapping manner, but then rallied, scoring the final 13 points of the game to pull out a 27-24 victory and end their horrific losing streak at 11 games. They still hold a 1-game lead over Portland, Jacksonville, and Atlanta for the 1 st  pick in this year’s draft, a huge prize due to the change in draft rules that remove the T-Draft as a separate entity and put more value on the early picks of the Open Draft. It is a small consolation for a lost season, but the feeling of beating a rival and still getting that first pick may be all Michigan has to hold onto right now.   A big week in the USFL playoff picture as 2 more teams punch their ticket for the postseason and 2 more are officially out of the running. Arizona locked up the Southwest Division at 10-3, 4 games up on their closest rival. Tampa Bay also locked up the Southeast Title and now have a 2-game lead over the Stallions for the 1 seed. Meanwhile, close races in the Southern and Northeastern Divisions, with Birmingham currently holding the tie-breaker over San Antonio, while New Jersey, Baltimore, and New England all sit at 7-6 in the Northeast. In the Pacific, Seattle holds a tenuous 1-game lead over the LA Express, while both Oakland and San Diego remain in the Wild Card mix. Denver and Portland join the Panthers, Bulls, Fire, and Stars as teams playing out the string, eliminated from playoff contention. Pittsburgh’s upset win this week keeps them alive for one more week, while Houston, Charlotte, and Oklahoma still hold hopes for a 3-game sweep and a shot at a Wild Card at 8-8 (8-7-1 in Oklahoma’s case.)   A very light week around the league with no new IR additions and the most serious issue being a quad injury to Brandon Pettigrew that could be 2-4 weeks. But, look deeper at the list and what you see are some injuries that are sure to impact the big Chicago-St. Louis showdown in the Central Division. The Skyhawks will be without WR Allen Robinson, and could also be missing LB Christian Sam, while Chicago knows that G Patrick Omameh is out, but are hoping they can get CB Josh Norman ready to go, because he would be a big absence in that Machine secondary, especially with the Skyhawks looking to exploit the passing game.   OUT TE     Brandon Pettigrew  CHA      Torn Quad        2-4 Weeks LB           Aaron Wallace         LA          Arm                      1-2 Weeks WR         Allen Robinson       STL         Abdomen                1-2 Weeks G            Patrick Omameh     CHI        Neck                       1-2 Weeks TE           Kyle Pitts              STL         Shoulder                  1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL LB           Christian Sam                  STL         Concussion C             Bradley Bozeman           MGN     Hernia CB          Ronald Darby               PIT         Turf Toe QB         Cam Newton                BIR         Knee CB          Josh Norman                CHI        Concussion   QUESTIONABLE DE          Adrian Clayborn         JAX         Concussion LB           Bobby Wagner              OAK      Knee HB         Chris Carson               ORL       Pinched Nerve     Five Teams that Need to Shake Things Up for 2023 Every offseason there are teams trying to build on what they have in place, others just beginning to put the pieces together, and others who need to blow it all up and consider starting from scratch. And, though you would expect that these are all teams at the bottom of the standings and on their way to an early draft pick, that is not always the case. Sometimes it is a team that has gotten as far as they can get with their current identity, roster, and style of play, even if that is a regular playoff spot. So, who do we think needs to give serious thought to a reboot? Here are 5 teams our crew agrees could use some shaking up, from the top down to the bottom.   Denver Gold (4-9) Yes, the Gold were 12-4 last year, but this season has shown just how fragile that success was. We love Josh Allen, but not the offense that Coach Hufnagel has him in. They already blew up their run game mid-season, but even so, they may want to do a lot of reworking, from the defense (at every level) the receiver group, the HB options, and, perhaps most importantly, at the OC position. We think Coach Hufnagel can get them back to a division title, but not with the conservative way they have been using Allen. They need to get him out of the pocket more, plan some runs, send somebody deep on occasion. With Golden Tate turning 37 this offseason, the time is now to reinvent the passing game, find the next Garrett Wilson or Christian Watson, add some dynamism and unpredictability to the offense, oh, and maybe consider getting a true playmaker at the tailback position, maybe a Bijan Robinson (Texas) or Jahmyr Gibbs (Alabama) in the draft.  Ohio Glory (6-7) The Glory are not a bad team, not a great team, they are just stuck in the middle. There are players we love, like QB Justin Fields, WR Terry McLaurin, and FS Mark Barron, but Ohio, like Denver is just too conservative on both sides of the ball. The fact that Fields is leading the team in rusining is an obvious sign that tailback needs some attention, but with a huge drop off after McLaurin, receiver is another area where more “pop” is needed. The Glory have a steady defense, (10 th  in the league in both scoring and yards allowed) but lack the big playmaker who can destroy an offensive gameplan. We would recommend perhaps looking for a more aggressive defensive coordinator, focusing free agency on an edge rusher or blitzing LB, and then maybe a HB in the draft. Or flip that if any true lead backs come out in free agency, and use what seems destined to be a mid-round draft pick to look at a defensive playmaker like Texas Tech’s Tyree Wilson or Georgia’s Nolan Smith. Oakland Invaders (7-6) Can Oakland actually finish with a record other than 8-8? The Invaders have been stuck in neutral for 3 years, all 8-8, and this year has great capacity to finish the same. Coach Kubiak could be gone if that happens, but more might be needed. We are OK with the year that Davis Mills has put together, and the combo of Bryce Love and Christian McCaffery looks solid, but what if the Invaders used the trading block to ship off McCaffrey, invest in Love, and get a ton of value for their star back? That might help them address needs at WR and across the line, and maybe get them a young DE who can rotate in for the aging Vinny Curry and Michael Bennett. Some speed at corner would also help the league’s 26 th  ranked defense. That and a new energy seem needed in Oakland, where mediocre has gotten too comfortable.  New Jersey Generals (7-6) Getting rid of Norv Turner 2 years ago to bring in Robert Saleh was supposed to add toughness, aggression, and energy to a Generals team that lacked all three. But 2 years into Saleh’s tenure in East Rutherford and what do we see? 7-6 this year, 9-7 last year. Not much different from 7-8-1 in 2020, 9-7 in 2019, 9-6-1 in 2018. The Generals are not a bad team, but they are a team that does not seem to improve year to year. We think Saleh is fine, but something else is needed. Maybe it is a new OC, someone who can maximize Teddy Bridgewater’s talents, or maybe the issue is that neither Bridgewater, nor his predecessor, Nick Foles, is the kind of playmaker that a team needs to be dynamic on offense. The Generals have needs on defense, but they also just need someone who gives the team energy. OBJ used to do that before he got disillusioned and eventually traded. They need someone to shake things up for sure.  Baltimore Blitz (7-6) Again, not a bad team, but the Blitz have finished 9-7 each of the past 3 years and, like Oakland, a 4-peat of the same record does not feel good. Pair that with going 1-and-done the past two years in the playoffs and you have to wonder what the Blitz can do to get out of their solid, but still unsatisfying rut. We might go big, and say that the time has come to put someone else at the helm. Jim Caldwell’s record in Baltimore is a solid 83-58), but he has not reached 10 wins since 2015 and the Blitz don’t look like they are a true contender this year either. We also think they have been “getting by” with Jake Locker at QB. We all know he is no Big Ben Roethlisberger, and he certainly has not been a disaster, but imagine what Baltimore could do with Josh Jacobs, Christian Watson, Michael Pittman Jr., C. J. Uzomah and a QB with the flair of a Lamar Jackson, Justin Fields, or even Josh Allen. Could Alabama’s Bryce Young be that guy? What about C. J. Stroud from Ohio State, or even Anthony Richards of Florida. Now may be the time to think bigger than 9-7.   40 Greatest in USFL’s 40 Seaons: 3-4 We are coming down to the wire, the best of the best, and this week that includes our top-ranked quarterback and halfback of all time. Yup, the top 2 positions will not be the 2 historical glamour positions of quarterback and tailback. Those spots are held at number 3 and number 4. We expect that if you have been following our ranking you have a very good idea who those two USFL icons are. And while you may not agree with our rankings, you at least recognize that these two players are iconic stars whose impact on the league was enormous, both on the field and well beyond. So, here they are, the greatest Quarterback and Halfback in 40 years of USFL football. 4) QB Kerry Collins (1998-2009) The top QB in our ranking comes in at number 4, with a league record career QB Rating of 113.6. Kerry Collins does not lead the league in career yardage (8 th ), or passing touchdowns (3 rd ), largely because he played only 12 seasons in Ohio, but no player has been more efficient or more productive. Look at season-by-season records and you find Collins’ name twice in the Top 5 for passing TDs in a season (52 in 2003, 51 in 2001), with the 3 rd  best yardage output ever (5,466 in 2001), and 4 of the top 10 QB Rating seasons of all time, including a massive 143.6 QBR in the 2003 season.   But, of course, what most people think of when they think of Collins and his Ohio Glory teams was the 2-year run in 2002-2003 in which Collins led the Glory to an unbeaten 14-0 season in 2002 with a clean run to a title and the USFL’s only perfect season, only to return the next year, going 11-3, but repeating as champions for the first time in league history. Yes, those Glory teams had talent across the roster, including the “Triple Threat” of HB Eddie George, WR Joey Galloway, and Collins, but it is the QB who tends to get the credit, and deservedly so with the offense that Ohio had in that run. You can debate a lot of things about the QB position, and you may prefer Brett Favre, Jim Kelly or Troy Aikman as the GOAT of USFL QB’s, but it is hard to argue with perfection, which is what Collins and the Glory showed in 2002.   3) HB Herschel Walker (1983-1995) Any player who can set a league record in 1983 and have it hold up 40 years later, well, that must be some special player. Herschel Walker is that and more for the USFL. For many he is the reason the league exists at all. It is impossible to oversell how important the signing of Walker was to the USFL in 1983. An absolute stud at Georgia, widely recognized as the best player in college football since his freshman year, Walker followed up a Heisman winning junior year by stepping out of the NCAA and into a New Jersey Generals uniform for the USFL, a league willing to sign the junior when the NFL would not. That move started a wave of signings, including 3 straight Heisman winners, that helped give the league legitimacy and star power.   But that signing would not have meant much had Walker not panned out as a pro, but did he ever. With Walker’s 1,767 yards in 1983 set a league record which has amazingly stood ever since, despite challenges from some of the best backs the league has ever produced. Walker followed up that record-setting rookie year with 10 more 1,000-yard seasons, nine All-USFL seasons, and a league title in 1989 that also saw Walker win the MVP and Playoff MVP for an impressive upgrade to his trophy room. Still one of the most popular and sought-after USFL faces of all time, Walker is about as big a star as the league has ever produced and remains an icon of the game and the league. So, who could possibly be ahead of him in our rankings?   Week 15 has 8 of 15 games with division foes going toe to to, starting Friday night when San Antonio heads to the Super Dome to face the New Orleans Breakers. The other Friday game could be a must-win for the homestanding Dallas Roughnecks, sitting at 6-7 and knowing that 8 losses could kill any Wild Card hopes.   Saturday has more divisional matchups like Houston at Birmingham, LA @ San Diego, and the Bulls in Tampa Bay to face the Bandits, but the game we are keeping an eye on is in Memphis, where the 7-6 Showboats host the 7-6 Baltimore Blitz. Neither club can afford a loss right now, so this could be a real slobberknocker of a game.   Sunday is a mix of divisional and interdivisional games, but only 1 game features two teams with winning records. That game, Sunday night’s EFN showdown between 12-1 Chicago and 10-3 St. Louis should be huge. The homestanding Skyhawks can pull within a game of the Central Division lead with a win, but the Machine are primed to capture that division crown, and a win against the ‘Hawks would get the job done and let them focus on securing the 1 seed and possibly resting some starters down the stretch.   Fri. 7pm ET       San Antonio (9-4) @ New Orleans (6-7)           NBC Fri. 7pm ET         Seattle (9-4) @ Dallas (6-7)                             ESPN/EFN   Sat. 12pm ET     Ohio (6-7) @ Orlando (8-5)                               ABC Sat. 12pm ET   Jacksonville (3-10) @ Tampa Bay (11-2)          FOX Sat. 4pm ET      Los Angeles (8-5) @ San Diego (6-7)              ABC Sat. 4pm ET       Philadelphia (4-9) @ Denver (4-9)                     FOX Sat. 8pm ET       Baltimore (7-6) @ Memphis (7-6)                  NBC Sat. 8pm ET      Houston (5-8) @ Birmingham (9-4)                  ESPN/EFN   Sun 12pm ET   Washington (5-7-1) @ New Jersey (7-6)        ABC Sun 12pm ET     New England (7-6) @ Atlanta (3-10)                FOX Regional Sun 12pm ET     Pittsburgh (4-9) @ Charlotte (5-8)                  FOX Regional Sun 4pm ET      Portland (3-10) @ Oakland (7-6)                     ABC Regional Sun 4pm ET       Las Vegas (6-7) @ Michigan (2-11)                 ABC Regional Sun 4pm ET      Oklahoma (5-7-1) @ Arizona (10-3)                 FOX Sun 8pm ET      Chicago (12-1) @ St. Louis (10-3)                    EFN