For the first time in league history, the USFL went 17 weeks, and what a 17 th week it was. With 10 teams still fighting for only 4 playoff spots, with 2 division titles yet to be decided, and with Seattle hoping to lock up the 1 seed for the first time in team history, the additional week of USFL action, made necessary by the decision to add a bye week for each team, proved to be as exciting and as engaging as USFL executives could have hoped. We will break down all the results, their impact on the playoff picture, and a few farewells, some by choice, such as Tom Brady’s final USFL start, and some not chosen, such as the 4 Black Monday announcements that always signal the end of the regular season. All this and, of course, a look ahead to Wild Card weekend are on the way, starting with our run down of the playoff picture.   Playoffs Set After Wild Weekend. It was a schedule designer’s dream, a final week of the USFL season with a schedule that ensured that the final playoff picture would be painted starting at noon on Saturday and not concluding until nearly midnight on Sunday night. Every timeslot built on the story, nearly every game having impact, but by the end of the Seattle-Oakland game on Sunday night we had our playoff roster. Here is how it developed over the weekend.   Let’s start with what was known. Tampa Bay and Birmingham had locked up the 1-2 slots in the East, so they would rest several starters and stay healthy for their playoff run to start 2 weeks later. Seattle had the 1 seed for now, but could not afford a loss or risk Denver snatching it away. New Jersey and Chicago would claim their division titles with a win, but both had contenders only 1 game back. Houston, Ohio, Philadelphia, and Arizona were one win away form securing a playoff berth, while Baltimore, Atlanta, Oakland, Dallas, Pittsburgh, and LA all had a chance to work their way into the postseason if they could get some help. So many permutations, so many combinations, but one way or the other the weekend would sort it out and we would have 12 teams headed on to the postseason.   Noon on Saturday, Baltimore got the win they needed to stay alive, holding off a very feisty St. Louis squad at M&T Bank Stadium to improve to 9-7. But they would now need to wait and see what happened in Philadelphia. A Stars’ win and Baltimore was out, a loss and they would be the 2 nd  NE Division team in the playoffs. Atlanta had failed to get the win they needed. Facing a Bandits team that rested 10 of 22 starters, including MVP quarterback Dak Prescott, as well as stars Dalvin Cook and Dak Prescott, Atlanta looked like a team already eliminated, falling 44-3 to the Bandit backups in a humiliating final act of futility this season.   We move to the 4 pm Saturday timeslot. Arizona would be in the playoff pool with a win at home over the Birmingham Stallions. The Stallions, already locked into the 2 nd  slot in the east at 11-4, had already decided to rest several stars, including WR Henry Ruggs and HB Najee Harris. The Wranglers took full advantage of Birmingham’s pseudo-bye, easily handling Birmingham 41-7 and locking up the 5 th  playoff spot in the West. At the same time Denver was hoping to set themselves up with a bye week as either the 2 seed, or with a Seattle loss on Sunday night, as the 1 seed with full home field advantage. They faced San Antonio at Empower Field, and they too took care of business, cruising to a 31-17 win thanks to 4 Josh Allen touchdowns. They were assured no worse than the 2-seed and a bye but would have to wait and see if they had earned even more.   Finally, we had the LA Express, a team that needed to defeat Portland but also get help from New Jersey, Seattle, Las Vegas, and Michigan to have a shot at a very tenuous Wild Card at 8-8. The problem was that Portland was in no mood to comply. The Stags put up a late field goal to send the game to overtime, with LA missing a kick at regulation that would have won it for them. In the added time, both teams failed on field goal attempts, producing an 18-18 tie that might have made Portland fans chuckle, but absolutely ended any slim hopes LA had for a return to the playoffs.   Saturday night would lock up one more spot, with Houston defeating Oklahoma to claim their Wild Card golden ticket. Their win, along with Arizona’s earlier in the day, mean that there were only 2 Wild Card spots left to claim. Sunday would determine the rest. The noon slot would have 3 games, all vital to setting the playoff picture. Ohio could clinch a spot with a win, the last Western Conference Wild Card. New Jersey, if they beat Ohio, would wrap up the hunt for a NE Division Champion. Meanwhile, Chicago was in Philadelphia. A win by the Machine gave them the Central Division title and pushed Baltimore into the playoffs ahead of the Stars, but a win by the homestanding Stars and Philadelphia would be in, perhaps even as division champs, while Michigan would have a window to knock Chicago from the top of the Central and into a Wild Card slot. Michigan would be in Pittsburgh at the same time, hoping to snatch away the Central Crown while also crushing Pittsburgh’s hopes for a Wild Card.   With all three games broadcast simultaneously, we saw a lot of scoreboard watching. It became apparent pretty early that Pittsburgh was looking good in an upset bid over Michigan. They would eventually win by 17 points, keeping them alive as long as Ohio (and 2 others) lost. But Ohio was putting up a good fight at New Jersey, while Chicago and Philadelphia were close throughout. The Machine-Stars game ended first, with Philadelphia capturing a 20-14 win. With Michigan also losing, the Machine would back into the Central Division title, with Michigan now a Wild Card. In New Jersey, the Generals needed a 2-minute drive to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, but a controversial play on 4 th down gave Ohio the win, as we will report just below, and that sent ripple effects through the rest of the weekend. The Ohio win meant that Pittsburgh upset of Michigan was for naught. Ohio would grab the final Western Conference playoff spot, meaning that Pittsburgh was out, as were Dallas and Oakland, who were yet to play. It also meant that Philadelphia, not New Jesey, would be the NE Division Champions, a fact not lost to the Stars players watching the final seconds of the Ohio-New Jersey game in the locker room monitors and popping champagne as Justin Fields took the victory formation for Ohio.   So, headed into the later Sunday games, what was still on the line? All 8 playoff spots were claimed. The Memphis-New Orleans and Charlotte-San Diego games had no bearing, and now, with Ohio’s win, neither did the Las Vegas-Dallas game. Yes, it was nice to see Charlotte earn their first win of the season, though many in San Diego felt the day was better spent elsewhere (a season low attendance for that game was predictable), but it would not be until the 8pm game on ESPN that the final piece of the puzzle would be settled. Seattle was in Oakland and a win by the Dragons gave them the 1-seed in the West, with an Oakland upset very much on the minds of the Denver Gold and their fans, as Denver would snatch up the 1-seed if Oakland could prevail.   The Dragons dispatched the Invaders somewhat easily, 28-9, much to the Chagrin of the Gold. Seattle would have the 1-seed and the playoff matchups would be set for next week. We will have two divisional matchups, with New Jersey forced to travel down I-95 to Philadelphia and Ohio headed to Chicago. We would also have Houston playing in Orlando after the Renegades won their finale to make it a 6-game season-ending win streak. Finally, we would have Michigan make the trip out to the desert to face the Wranglers. No luck for the other 6 contenders as all 4 of the teams who were in playoff position after Week 16 won, meaning there would be no Final Week reprieve for the teams on the wrong side of the playoff picture after their first 15 games. The field was now set, and on to the postseason.   OHIO GLORY 25  NEW JERSEY GENERALS 20 For the visiting Ohio Glory, a win meant that they would earn a Wild Card spot, their first playoff trip in 3 years, and a major turnaround for Coach Jay Gruden in his first year, following a combined 7 wins in the past 2 years. A loss would mean an 8-8 finish and almost certain elimination from playoff contention. For New Jersey, already guaranteed no less than a Wild Card berth in the Eastern Conference, a win would snap a troubling 3-game losing streak and would give New Jersey the NE Division title, their 3 rd  in the past 5 years, but an important milestone for their new head coach Robert Saleh. The stakes were clear for both teams, the tension high for two 1 st year coaches, and the pressure certainly there for the 106 players suited up on Sunday, so how could this not be one of the most watched, and most intense matchups of the weekend?   More than 52,000 were on hand at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, hoping their New Jersey Generals could end a 3-game skid that had put the division title in jeopardy. Tied with Philadelphia atop the division at 9-6, the Generals could not afford another loss, not without risking their shot at a division title. After 9 consecutive wins rocketed them to the top of the division, they needed one more to lock up a title that a month ago felt very much like theirs for the taking. The Generals came onto the field, hopeful, but perhaps not fully confident the job could get done. As for Ohio, Theirs had been an up-and-down season all year, with no win-streak or losing streak of more than 2 games. They had recently dropped two important games within the division, falling to both Michigan and Chicago in back-to-back weeks, but rebounded with a win over New England in Week 16. That win, paired with a loss by the Oakland Invaders had placed the Glory into 6 th  position in the conference, meaning that they controlled their destiny on the final weekend of the season, a win ensuring a trip to the playoffs.   Ohio started the game somewhat conservatively, an Isaiah Pead run on the first play, followed by a called QB run by their star rookie, Justin Fields. The two plays produced a total of 4 yards, and when a 3 rd  and 6 throw was off target, they quickly punted. But while New Jersey got the ball back quickly, Ohio’s coaches were immediately assessing how the Generals had defended their opening jabs. The Generals got a first down on their first possession but then were forced to punt after a holding call turned a 3 rd  and 6 into a 3 rd and 16 that QB Nick Foles was not able to convert. When Ohio’s offense took the field again, they showed New Jersey a very different strategy.   The Glory’s 2 nd  possession started with a bang, QB Justin Fields faking the ball to Pead and finding Curtis Samuel on a 17-yard deep out. Five plays later he would find Samuel again, this time for a 33-yard touchdown. The drive consisted of 6 plays, all passes. In fact, for the entire game, Ohio would only attempt 17 runs, and 12 of those would be their quarterback, not former 1,000-yard back Isaiah Pead or rookie HB Trey Sermon. Coach Gruden came into the game feeling that the Generals would be more vulnerable through the air, and he abandoned the idea of balancing his offense after only 2-3 plays on the opening drive. Justin Fields would attempt 46 passes in the game, and would prove Gruden correct.   The game went into the 2 nd  quarter with Ohio up 7-0, but New Jersey finding some success on their second possession. The Generals would try to balance the offense, keeping pressure off their QB, Nick Foles, by pushing a 2-back run scheme. The issue they would face is that Ohio was expecting just that. The combination of Delone Carter and Tony Pollard, who, as a duo would finish the year with a combined 1,584 yards, would have 24 carries on the day, but would produce only 29 yards of offense. That was to be a huge issue, but on this drive, the Generals were effective in using play action and got a little help from the refs as Ohio got called on a roughing the passer call that put the ball in the red zone. It would take New Jersey 7 plays to get from the 18 into the endzone, but eventually Delone Carter was able to plunge in from the 1 to level the score at 7 apiece.   Ohio’s 3 rd  possession gave them the lead once again as Justin Fields would complete 5 of 6 on the drive and rush once again, picking up a penalty for defensive holding along the way. He hit on his second TD toss of the day from the 9, finding TE Richard Rodgers on a quick hitter at the 4, with Rodgers plowing his way into the endzone from there. But, following a quick 3-and-out from the New Jersey offense, Ohio would make a key blunder and help the Generals stay very much engaged in a game both teams needed badly.   The Ohio mistake was actually twofold. First, on the opening play of their next possession, Justin Fields took a shotgun snap and was under immediate pressure. He tried to scramble out of it, but instead rolled right into the blitzing safety, Shamarko Thomas. The attempted escape cost him 4 more yards, and he was sacked for a loss of 13, back to the 7 yard line. That was bad enough, but on 2 nd down, it got worse. A QB bootleg run was called by Coach Gruden, but Fields took an early hit from DE Yetur Gross-Matos, the ball dislodged and was scooped by Generals’ MLB Matt Milano, who snatched it from the turf and sprinted to the endzone for a New Jersey touchdown. It would be the only turnover for either team on the day, but it was a big one, leveling the score a 2 nd time, now at 14-14, and riling up the General fans as the two teams headed to the half.   The General faithful would stay riled up into the 3 rd  quarter, with both defenses finding ways to slow down offensive progress and force punts, 4 in all in the drive. The only drive that did not end in a punt ended badly for New Jersey as a nice coffin corner punt put the ball at their own 3, and a poor blitz coverage caused guard Danny Isadora to wrestle Ohio LB Ryan Shazier to the ground, a clear holding violation, and one called in the endzone for an Ohio safety and a 2-point lead for the visitors.   The safety would be the only points of the quarter as both teams dealt with their opponent’s halftime adjustments and both defenses proved effective. As the game moved into the 4 th  quarter, tensions were high and the New Jersey fans started to feel some anxiety. Ohio opened the quarter with a pair of completions from Fields to get the ball into field goal range, and when they failed to convert a 3 rd  and 5, a field goal is exactly what they got, building up a tentative 19-14 lead with 13:30 left to play. New Jersey, which had not scored an offensive point since the first minute of the 2 nd quarter, needed a drive. What they got was a huge play from TE Jonnu Smith on his first catch of the day. The play came on a 2 nd  and 2, with Ohio overplaying the inside run fake. There was confusion in coverage with both safeties headed wide to take on Beckham and Sanu, and that left Smith all alone with LB Malik Harrison, a speed mismatch. Foles saw the blown coverage immediately, hit Smith and it was off to the races. Safety Tyran Matthieu would finally run down the big tight end, but not until he was at the Ohio 4. Two Delone Carter inside plunges later and the Generals had taken their first lead of the game, 20-19. They would try for 2, to make it a 3-point game, but Ohio’s Chimdi Chekwa broke up the fade route to OBJ, and the Generals had to settle for a modest 1-point lead with 7:02 to play.   When Ohio failed to make a first down on the ensuing possession, General fans in the stadium started to feel things moving their way. 5:02 left to play and they just needed to kill clock and get out of the stadium with a win and a division title. But the Generals’ offense struggled when they were needed most. Two runs on 1 st  and 2 nd  down produced a combined 3 yards, and on 3 rd and 7 the Generals opted to run a 3 rd  time, with Tony Pollard gaining only 4. With a 4 th  and 3 on their own 32, New Jersey was forced to punt the ball back, giving Ohio nearly 4 full minutes to find a field goal.   Ohio would do more than that. Now completely abandoning the run, other than one Justin Fields scramble, they would move the ball down the field, past the fifty, past the 30, into the red zone, and inside the 10. When the 2-minute warning came, the Glory were already at the New Jersey 9 and it was the Generals who had to start calling timeouts, fearing that they would not have time for a late equalizer if Ohio scored. That score came with 1:47 on the clock, as Justin Fields hit HB Trey Sermon on a short pass from the 5 and the big back plowed into the endzone to put the Glory up by 5. They too, like New Jersey, would go for 2, hoping to build a 7-point advantage, but their attempt also failed.   Ohio was up 25-20 with 1:47 to play and a Wild Card in their hands but not secured. The Generals would have one drive to try to pull out the game and the division title. The fans rallied nervously as the offense took the field on their own 31, following a nice return by Rashard Robinson. A field goal did them no good, they would need to reach the endzone on this drive. On 2 nd  and 10 from the 31, Foles hit Kenny Stills for 14 and as the receiver stepped out to stop the clock, the General fans erupted. The drive was on. But their enthusiasm was short-lived. A first down pass to TE Virgil Green produced only 4 yards and forced them to use their 2 nd  time out. A second down throw towards OBJ did not find its target, Foles forced to throw early by Ohio pressure. Third and 6 from the 35. Foles lined up in the shotgun but was immediately pressured by a blitzing Ryan Shazier. He rolled to his right but was forced to throw the ball out of bounds to avoid the sack.   Fourth down, 6 yards needed to keep the drive, and the Generals’ hopes for a division title alive. Fans in MetLife Stadium could see that the Chicago-Philadelphia game had reached its conclusion, with the Stars getting the win, 20-14. Unless the Generals’ offense could pick up this first down and get the ball into the endzone in the next 1:37, hated rival Philadelphia would claim the NE Division crown and the Generals would slide to the 6 seed, very likely forced to travel to Philadelphia to face the Stars the next week.   Foles again headed into the shotgun. Ohio again sent pressure. The ball was out of Foles’s hands quickly, headed towards Odell Beckham Jr. about 8 yards downfield. Cornerback Donte Jackson, who had largely covered Sanu and not OBJ all game, was there, reaching around the New Jersey receiver and forcing his hand between Beckham’s, disrupting the pass as the two fell to the ground. The ball hit the turf and the crowd erupted in protest. There was no flag for pass interference. Beckham looked around for one and began to point to the side judge, but no flag came. As the celebratory Ohio defenders started to come off the field, Coach Saleh also pled his case to the officiating crew, but no flag was going to come now. Had Jackson gotten to Beckham too soon? Had he simply timed his over-the-back move well? The announcers showed the play multiple times but even they could not say for sure. Justin Fields and the Ohio offense came back on the field, reluctantly joined by the New Jersey defense, and as fans started to stream out of the stadium, Justin Fields took a knee, then another, and a third and final one.   Ohio would be headed to the postseason. New Jersey would as well, but with a very different emotional tone. Whereas celebration was the mood in the Ohio locker room, the Generals, having just lost at home, missing out on a possible division title and looking a trip to Philadelphia square in the face, were anything but pleased. There were post-game digs at the officials, there was anger at having seen the game end on a controversial call, and there was concern that a 4 th  straight loss did not bode well for the Generals’ playoff chances. New Jersey and Ohio were both headed into the postseason but the way in which each would make that entry was very different and could well impact the way both approached the Wild Card round. ST. LOUIS 14   BALTIMORE 16 The Blitz needed to win for any shot at a Wild Card slot, but St. Louis did not make it easy. If not for a strong game from Josh Jacobs (109 yards) and a pair of late field goals, the Blitz could have lost their shot. They still needed the Stars to lose at home to Chicago, but they did their part. Oh, and Calais Campbell again proved why he is a legend, with a 4-sack game that ensured he would at least be tied atop the leaderboard at season’s end. POTG:  Blitz DE Calais Campbell: 9 Tck, 4 Sck, 1 FF   ATLANTA 3   TAMPA BAY 44 For anyone who thought that Tampa Bay resting multiple starters on both sides of the line meant that they would give Atlanta an easy path to a Wild Card, well, the score tells you how wrong you were. The Bandit backups showed no mercy and no quarter. Matt Breida ran for 2 TDs, and the defense returned two horrible Pat White passes for scores, both in the 1 st  quarter. It was ugly early and it stayed that way as Atlanta fully earned their drop out of playoff contention. POTG:  Bandit LB Devon Kennard: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD, 1 FF   WASHINGTON 23   NEW ENGLAND 26 John Fox told his players that how they play when there is nothing on the line shows who they really are. His team took it to heart, earning their 6 th win to equal last year’s record. With Jameis Winston dinged up, Ryan Tannehill got one more shot to show he has a future in Foxboro. He made good use of it, going 25 of 39 for 230 yards and 2 scores, including a late TD toss to Zay Jones that proved to be the game winner. POTG:  New England CB Jalen Mills: 7 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR   BIRMINGHAM 7   ARIZONA 41 Unlike the Atlanta Fire, the Wranglers were more than ready to take on the 2 nd string starters for Birmingham. Without many of their offensive starters, Birmingham just did not have much to offer, leading to Tim Tebow being the lead rusher for Birmingham. Meanwhile, Arizona, intent on locking up a Wild Card, put up the first 31 points on the day, with David Carr throwing for 2 scores and both Carey and Crowell scoring on the ground. POTG:  Wrangler QB David Carr: 16/22, 286 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   PORTLAND 18  LOS ANGELES 18 OVERTIME When they took the field, the Express were still very much alive in the Wild Card hunt, yes, with long odds since they needed 5 other teams to lose, but they at least had a shot. By game’s end, their shot was over. The Stags played like they were the ones hoping for a longshot playoff berth, with Marcus Mariota going 24 of 39 for 224 and Brandin Cooks catching 9 for 118. When the Stags put up a field goal with 1:01 to play to tie the game, LA still had a shot, but Dan Bailey missed on a 52-yarder on the final play of regulation and then, amazingly, whiffed on a 37-yarder in overtime, a devastating blow for the Express. Portland had a shot at the win, but their kicker, Cody Parkey, also missed his OT kick and that is how we got the season’s only tie on the final weekend. POTG:  Stag DE Bruce Irvin: 7 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 Sfty   SAN ANTONIO 17   DENVER 31 The Gold wrap up the 2 seed in the West in front of an enthusiastic 50,101 at Empower Field. They will now get a bye before hosting a divisional game. Josh Allen looked playoff ready, throwing for 339 yards and 4 scores against the Gunslingers. Darnell Mooney caught 2 of those 4 TDs and Golden Tate added 96 more yards to his career best season total. Kudos to Gunslinger WR Brandon LaFell, who topped 100 receptions this season, adding 7 in this game. POTG:  Denver QB Josh Allen: 18/30, 339 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   OKLAHOMA 23  HOUSTON 31 The Outlaws were game, even with Jalen Hurts sitting out the finale, but Houston built up a 31-16 advantage and coasted their way to a playoff spot. Colt McCoy struggled with picks, throwing 3 in the game, but also threw 3 TDs as the Gamblers kept from getting trapped in this game. They finish 10-6 and will be the 5 seed in the East. As for Oklahoma, they love their 2 nd  year QB and now need to build around him. POTG:  Oklahoma TE Mark Andrews: 5 Rec, 49 Yds, puts him over 1,000 on the season.   ORLANDO 23   JACKSONVILLE 7 The Renegades win their 6 th  in a row, locking up the 4 seed in the East and ensuring one more game at Camping World Stadium as they shut down the Bulls and rookie Trevor Lawrence. Early TD tosses from Wilson to both Hunte Renfrew and David Njoku helped Orlando get a solid lead, and then relied on Chris Carson and Boston Scott to shorten the game. The win gives Orlando an 11-5 final record, their best since winning the league title in 2001. POTG:  Orlando QB Russell Wilson: 23/34, 224 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int   CHICAGO 14  PHILADELPHIA 20 The Stars, spent a lot of time scoreboard watching to see if they still had a shot at the division title. They also spent a lot of time frustrating the Machine offense. Chicago outgained Philly 511-260, but they just could not get in the endzone one more time to get the W they needed. The Stars were hardly a clearly better team, but they did the small things to keep the game in hand and turned a 14-10 deficit into a 20-10 victory in the 4 th . That, plus New Jersey’s loss, means Philly goes from 2-14 last year to the NE Division champs this season. Not too bad for first year head coach Dan Quinn, a definite COTY candidate. POTG : Star HB Derek Henry: 23 Att, 128 Yds, 2 TD   MICHIGAN 3   PITTSBURGH 20 With a slim chance at playoff football, Coach Holtz told his Mauler players that the day was for them, not about a Wild Card but about proving something to themselves. The Maulers took that to heart and showed up against a heavily favored Michigan squad. The defense held Michigan out of the endzone and produced 3 takeaways, including 2 picks of QB Kirk Cousins. The offense, led by Andy Dalton’s 20/30 performance, helped Pittsburgh slowly build up a lead, from 3-3 to 20-3 by game’s end. It may be a bad omen for the Panthers as they head to the postseason, but certainly a positive note for the Maulers as their season ends. POTG:  Mauler CB Rasul Douglas: 5 Tck, 2 Int, 1 Def TD   MEMPHIS 20   NEW ORLEANS 31 In a game that was for nothing more than pride, the New Orleans Breakers got their 6 th  win to create a 3-way tie in the Southern Division. While tiebreakers have them 4 th , they can at least say they were tied for 3 rd . Jordy Nelson had a good final game of the year, catching 4 passes for 108 yards and a TD, while LB Kwon Alexander added a pick, a sack, and 9 tackles to his yearly totals. For Memphis, the issue now is at QB, having pushed Paxton Lynch out the door and with Blake Bortles again looking underwhelming, we are not sure if their Week1 starter in 2022 is on the roster today. POTG:  Breaker LB Kwon Alexander: 9 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int   CHARLOTTE 25  SAN DIEGO 17 It was a game that meant nothing to the Thunder, but a heck of a lot to the Monarchs. In their last chance to avoid a winless season, Charlotte came to play. Kyle Boller threw for 2 scores, the defense added a safety, and Stephen Earl connected on 3 field goals as the Monarchs got their first win and finished San Diego Coach Dick LeBeau’s tenure with the club with their 9 th consecutive loss. Both teams will have new head coaches in 2022, and both certainly hope for better results as well, but at least Charlotte avoided the dreaded 0-17 donut. POTG:  Charlotte DE Anthony Zettel: 6 Tck, 1 Sfty, 1 FF, 1 FR   LAS VEGAS 41 DALLAS 35  OVERTIME Ohio’s win earlier in the day meant that Dallas’s hopes for a Wild Card were already removed when they took the field, but neither they nor the Las Vegas Vipers played like teams running out a lost season. Both clubs played with tenacity in what was a meaningless, but highly entertaining game. Kareem Hunt’s 72 yards pushed him over 1,000 for the season, while Aaron Dobson won the league receptions title with 5 more in his final game of the year. For Dallas, Duke Johnson rushed for 73 yards on only 9 carries, while Justin Herbert found both Courtland Sutton and Pharaoh Brown for scores before exiting the game. Coach Kingsbury let P. J. Daniels finish out the year, and it ended up being a longer than anticipated assignment as the game went to overtime. The game winner from Las Vegas was a short Minshew to Dwayne Allen TD pass to end both teams’ seasons, Las Vegas at 6-10 and Dallas at 8-8. POTG:  Las Vegas TE Dwayne Allen: 8 Rec, 53 Yds, 3 TD   SEATTLE 28  OAKLAND 9 The final playoff impactful game of the weekend only had meaning for Seattle when the game started, Oakland having also been eliminated by Ohio’s victory over New Jersey. Seattle played conservatively throughout, building up a 28-6 lead over 3 quarters. Amari Cooper was the offensive star, putting up 116 yards and a TD. Davante Adams caught 10 balls in his quest for 100 but with 2 picks Davis Mills had a rough game against a very solid Seattle defense. The Dragon win assured them the 1 seed and home field in the Western Conference playoffs. POTG:  Dragon WR Amari Cooper: 5 Rec, 116 Yds, 1 TD   Stars, Glory, Wranglers, and Gamblers Win to Earn Playoff Berths As we have seen several times in recent years, and as has been something of a trend since at least the mid-1990’s teams that are in position for a playoff spot with 1 game left to go very often do what is needed to lock in that playoff spot, in other words, they win. There are exceptions, of course, teams that lose their final matchup and with it their playoff hopes, but this year, as with many others, we saw teams retain their positions and secure their postseason opportunity.   All 4 teams which entered the weekend in playoff position, Arizona and Ohio in the West, Philadelphia and Houston in the East, needed to simply win their matchups this week to lock in their playoff spot, and all 4 did just that. Ohio did it with an upset win over the New Jersey Generals. Philadelphia benefitted from that, after defeating the Chicago Machine, because that loss helped them leapfrog New Jersey, earning not the 5 th  or 6 th  seed, but moving up to the 3 rd  as the NE Division Champions. Arizona handily defeated a Birmingham squad that rested several key players, earning themselves the Western Conference’s 4 seed, and the Houston Gamblers defeated Oklahoma in NRG Stadium to lock in their playoff spot in the East. Victories by these 4 teams meant that several others were removed from consideration. Baltimore, Atlanta, Oakland, Dallas, Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles all fell short of a playoff spot in part due to the results from the 4 latest additions to the field.   And so, we will now see all 4 of these teams in the Wild Card round this week. Philadelphia and Arizona will be at home, while Houston and Ohio must hit the road in the first round of playoffs, but, at the very least all 4 can say they made it, and largely due to their ability to get the job done when it had to be done.   Machine, Generals, and Panthers Back Into Postseason It was not the way any of these clubs wanted to enter the postseason, taking a loss in Week 17 and ending the regular season on a sour note. Chicago came into the week with a 4-game winning streak, only to fall to Philadelphia in a must-win game for the Stars. Michigan, winners of 5 in a row to lock in a playoff spot, also fell in their finale, a 20-3 no-show against the Pittsburgh Maulers, who were also battling to make the playoffs. Meanwhile, New Jersey, already having suffered losses in their prior 3 games, saw that streak extend to 4 as they were upset at home by the Ohio Glory. In all three cases the teams were already playoff bound, and in all three they faced a club that had a must-win in order to have a shot at the postseason. The message, of course, is that motivation matters in pro football. Yes, all three teams had something to gain with a win, potential division titles and higher seeds, but there is nothing like the hunger a team feels when they know that a loss removes any chance of a playoff berth, and that hunger fueled Philly, Pittsburgh, and Ohio as they outbattled and outscored their more secure, perhaps somewhat undermotivated opponents.   Bandit Backups Humiliate Atlanta One team that had nothing to gain this week still came out like a ferocious lion looking for a meal. The Tampa Bay Bandits, with the 1-seed and home field locked up at 13-2, opted to rest most of their best-known player, and yet, they still took it to the Atlanta Fire as if the Fire had just killed the Bandits’ family dog, John Wick style. The list of Bandits not on the field this weekend was a long one, including QB Dak Prescott, HB Dalvin Cook, WR Dez Bryant, OT Levi Brown, DT Marcell Dareus, CB Jalen Ramsey and SS Derwin James, but the players who took their spots certainly showed they were not nameless and talentless fill-ins.   QB B. J. Daniels, as he has done on multiple occasions this year, stepped in for Dak Prescott and had himself a very solid game, going 15 of 20 for 231 yards. HB Matt Breida averaged 5.5 YPC on his way to a 61-yard, 2 TD game. Ryan Grant stepped into Dez Bryant’s role and came down with 6 receptions for 116 yards and a score while Deebo Samuel got a chance to play outside in addition to his normal slot role, finishing the game with 4 catches for 75 yards.   On defense, CB Noah Igbinoghene moved into the 2 slot while Asante Samuel stepped into the lead role. Igbinoghene was tested, but finished the game with good numbers, 10 tackles and 2 passes defended. At safety, Daimion Stafford finished with 2 tackles and a pass defense while subbing for Derwin James. And as a team, well, the result was quite stunning, a 44-3 drubbing of an Atlanta team that still had playoff aspirations. It was both an ugly day for the Fire, and a sign that Tampa Bay is very deep, well-coached, and ready for the postseason.   Charlotte Surprises San Diego, Avoids Winless Season It took the entire season, 17 weeks, but the Charlotte Monarchs finally have themselves a win. After 15 defeats in 16 weeks, the Monarchs found the formula they needed to fly across country and get a win at the hands of the league’s 2 nd worst club, San Diego. Neither team’s standing is impacted by the result, with Charlotte already locked into the 1 st  overall draft pick at 0-15 and San Diego secure in the 2 nd  pick at 3-12, but the win means that Charlotte does not join the infamous list of teams to go without a victory in a pro season.   The got the win by doing three things they had been unable to do all season long. They won the time of possession battle, controlling the ball for 32:42; they won the turnover battle 2-1, and they outgained their opponent 312-294, all three for the first time all season. San Diego had their moments, and HB Charles Sims reached the 1,000-yard mark with 102 on the day, but Charlotte did not fold as they had in so many games this year. Kyle Boller, who was given the starting job at QB after a pretty miserable opening 12 games from Oakland import Jimmy Garoppolo, got his first win in 4 tries, going 24 of 40 for 222 yards and 2 touchdowns. Nyheim Hines contributed 75 on the ground, and the Charlotte defense played its best game of the year, limiting San Diego to only 4 successful 3 rd  down conversions in 14 attempts.   While a 1-15 season is certainly not a reason for celebration, and with both the GM and the Head Coach already released from their duties, Charlotte will now begin a long rebuild process (as will San Diego), but on this day they can hold their heads up, earning a win and finishing the year with a small statement of pride.   Fields Makes ROTY Statement with Huge Game in Finale As if Justin Fields needed more ammunition in his battle to earn Rookie of the Year, a season-finale that saw him throw for 336 yards and 3 touchdowns certainly put the cherry on top. All kudos to the strong seasons put up by Washington HB Travis Etienne, Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence, and Denver DE Odafe Oweh, the ROTY has to go to Fields as he not only put up huge games in Columbus, but also led Ohio to a 9-7 record and a Wild Card berth.   Fields was dynamic all season, and will be a real test for the Chicago Machine this week, though they, more than any other team has seemed well-suited to defending the young QB’s dual threat nature. Fields finishes the season with a QB Rating of 67.5, which is hardly eye-popping, and his 2,962 yards and 15:14 TD:INT ratio look very much like numbers that a rookie QB would have when needing more game experience to pick up the speed of pro football, and that certainly seemed true at times this year. But what is missing in those numbers is the impact the Ohio State product had with his legs. In addition to the 2,962 yards and 15 TDs passing, we have to add in 728 yards rushing, with 11 rushing touchdowns. Those are some impressive numbers and create a very different picture of the rookie QB. With 26 total TDs, and more than double the rushing yards of the Glory’s lead back, Isaiah Pead, Fields was the Ohio offense this year, a lot to ask of a rookie. He not only made the plays necessary to get Ohio back to the postseason, but with a style that was a regular on ESPN’s Plays of the Day.   Campbell Gets Share of Sack Title with 4 Final Week Takedowns I think we have all learned by now never to count out DE Calais Campbell. He has done this before. Constancy was the name of the game all year for Campbell in his new role on the Baltimore Blitz. Just look at these numbers across the first 10 games of the year, total sacks each week of: 2, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 1, 1, and 2. Every week he showed up, and after 15 games he had an impressive 23 sacks, impressive for anyone not named Calais Campbell. But those 23 sacks meant he was 3 behind the league leader, his replacement in Orlando, Montez Sweat. Sweat went into the final week with that 3 sack advantage. So, what is Campbell to do? After all, this is a player who has won 12 consecutive sack titles, an incredible and, very likely, unmatchable record.   Well, the only thing to do is to record 4 sacks in the season finale. Campbell’s line against the St. Louis Skyhawks this week included 9 tackles and a forced fumble, but it was the 4 sacks that had everyone once again praising Campbell. The amazing output in the season’s final week not only gave Campbell a 1-sack lead in the season-long marathon, but was vital to Baltimore’s hard-fought 17-10 victory, a victory that gave them a chance at a Wild Card. They would lose out on that chance with Philadelphia’s win over Chicago, but certainly Campbell did all anyone could ask of him in helping the Blitz in Week 17. Later in the Weekend, Montez Sweat would equalize Campbell’s total, with 1 sack in Orlando’s Week 17 win. It means Campbell would now share the sack title for the first time in his career, but after 12 seasons all alone at the top, the fact that he was able to make up a 3-sack deficit to share the title with Sweat is just one more amazing story in a career of impressive moments.   The week’s results give us our 12 playoff teams, with Seattle and Tampa Bay earning home field with the 1 seed, Denver and Birmingham getting a bye as the 2 seeds, and 8 teams ready to face each other this week in the Wild Card round. Philadelphia’s win over Chicago gave the Stars the NE Division crown only 1 year after going 2-14, a title lost by New Jersey when they were defeated by Ohio. Chicago claimed the final division title, doing so not with a victory but with a pair of losses, their own offset by Michigan’s surprising loss in Pittsburgh. The final playoff slots were all claimed by teams in position after Week 16 as Houston, Philadelphia, Ohio, and Arizona all won this week to lock up the final positions, sending Baltimore, Atlanta, Oakland, Dallas, Pittsburgh, and Los Angeles home empty.   So, in our Wild Card round it will be the 6 seeds, New Jersey and Ohio headed to the 3 seeds, Philadelphia and Chicago, setting up two divisional matchups, including a classic rivalry. The 4 seeds, Orlando and Arizona will also host the 5 seeds, with Houston heading to central Florida while Michigan must now travel to the desert.   Four playoff games this week, each with its own injury situation. Fortunately, there were few significant injuries in Week 17, but that does not mean that teams will not be impacted by the absence of some key players this weekend. Here is the breakdown of each game from an injury perspective:   NJ:  T D. Stephenson (IR), QB T. Bridgewater (IR), DE K. Ealy (D), G J. Garnett (P) PHI:  DE D. Hunter (P), DT J. Babineaux (P) Ordinarily, we would say that New Jersey will have issues with Donald Stephenson out of commission, but if both Hunter and Babineaux are also out, the Star pass rush is also hurting. New Jersey’s biggest issue may actually be the loss of their own pass rush specialist, Kony Ealy, in this game.   MGN:  SS M. Johnson (Out), LB D. Bush (D), CB D. Kirkpatrick (Q) ARZ:  OT M. Van Dyck (IR), CB J. Harris (IR), G C. Whitehair (D), LB A. J. Klien (D) The Panthers’ D could be significantly hampered if both Devon Bush and Dre Kirkpatrick are out of commission, though both could still make an appearance. For Arizona, it is unlikely that A. J. Klien will be able to go, though he has not fully been ruled out.   HOU:  DE T. Crowder (Out), LB R. Wilson (P) ORL:  DT E. Ferguson (IR), G A. Silatulo (Out), CB M. Jackson (D) The good news for Houston is that they expect Ramik Wilson to be active for the game. The bad news is that Orlando still has a pretty solid O-line, even with Silatulo out for the playoffs.   OHI:  CB K. Seymour (Q), DE D. Jones (Q) CHI:  DE J. Pierre-Paul (Q), G N. Allegretti (Q), CB J. Verritt (P), SS J. Poyer (P) The Machine are hoping that they can get all 4 of their injured players ready to go by Saturday. If they cannot, the absence of Pierre-Paul and Poyer in particular could make life quite a bit easier for Ohio and QB Justin Fields.   Black Monday Comes for Joseph, Moss, LaFleur & LeBeau With another season coming to an end the dreaded “Black Monday”, when teams announce the release of coaches from their duties, comes with it. While we would hardly say that any of the four announcements we received this Monday were surprises, it is still somewhat amazing to see a highly respected football mind like that of Dick LeBeau out on the street looking for work. San Diego’s Dick LeBeau, after 8 seasons with the Thunder, was unable to survive a second consecutive 3-win season in southern California, released after his Thunder became the first and only team this year to fall to defeat to the Charlotte Monarchs. He joins Portland’s Matt LaFleur, Jacksonville’s Winston Moss, and Charlotte’s Vance Joseph on the unemployment line, though we doubt any of the four will remain there for long.   LeBeau started strong after his move from Michigan to Las Vegas and then San Diego. In his first year he topped .500, with the Thunder (then in Las Vegas) at 9-7. By 2016 he had the Thunder in the playoffs, where they would stay for 4 consecutive years, winning 10 games in 2016, 2017, and 2018 before winning the division title in 2019 at 12-4. But each year early playoff exits showed the club that despite consistent winning records, they were not at the level of Western Conference powers like Arizona and Michigan. What happened after the 2019 Division Crown was unforeseen and initially viewed as a fluke, a 3-13 collapse that saw all of the successes of the prior year turned on their head. LeBeau survived the collapse, with many predicting a quick turnaround, but with another 3-win season this year, the club felt a change was needed. LeBeau, considered a defensive mastermind, will almost certainly catch on as a DC if he wishes, but after nearly 20 years as head coach of the Panthers and Thunder, he may well opt to step away rather than move back to a coordinator role.  In Portland, Matt LaFleur had his moments. Twice in his 6-year tenure he had the club above .500 and looking like a potential Pacific Division challenger, but with only 1 playoff appearance in 6 years, and with QB Marcus Mariota seeming to regress after a solid 2019 campaign, the shiny image of LaFleur as a QB whisperer started to varnish. Portland had its second 9-7 season in 2020, but failed to make the postseason. This year’s drop to 5-10-1 was one too many disappointments for ownership in Portland, and with fans decrying the “wasting” of Mariota’s prime years, the Stags made the decision to move on and seek a different focus. They will almost certainly focus on an offensive-minded coach, as it once again was the offense that failed the Stags, averaging only 18.8 points per game, an 8-point per game drop from 2020.  There was hope in Jacksonville, and that hope may have been the cause for the club to move on from Head Coach Winston Moss after only 2 seasons. The hope came in two waves, first the 7-9 season in 2020 which showed improvement on both sides of the ball, led by resurgent QB Teddy Bridgewater, and then in 2021 a new hope as the Bulls invested in Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence had his moments this season, but too few and with too many other issues on the squad, the Bulls slipped from 7-9 to 5-11 after many viewed them as a possible riser, even with a rookie QB. For 2022 a new coach will get the opportunity to build an offense around Lawrence and wideout Tee Higgins. Of course, with a defense that gave up nearly 26 points per game, that side of the ball should also not be ignored as the Bulls seek a leader with a record of success as a team builder.  And finally, there is Vance Joseph, whose departure from the club has been well known for the past month. It is still odd to think that the Monarchs essentially fired their coach four weeks ago, but chose to have him run out the string. It is even stranger to realize that the club still fought to win games after the decision was made, earning their first and only win of the year in the season finale. But, after 2 seasons that saw Charlotte dip from 6-10 to 1-15, and with issues ranging from defensive continuity to offensive ineptitude, the need to clean house seemed obvious. Fans, still upset that Jim Mora Jr. was let go despite taking Charlotte to the playoffs in 7 of the prior 8 seasons, never warmed to Joseph, and the team’s performance certainly did not win him any fans within the ownership box either.   And so for these 4 teams the offseason starts in earnest, with a new coaching hire primary among their interests and efforts. Along with Houston, whose longstanding future Hall of Fame coach Wade Phillips is preparing to retire, the Monarchs, Bulls, Stags, and Thunder will begin interviewing candidates this week, taking advantage of the bye weeks for the league’s 4 best clubs to meet with coordinators on the more successful clubs, though we also expect that some big names not currently under contract, names like Coughlin and Harbaugh, will also be getting inquiries as well. The 2022 season starts now for these clubs as they try to rebuild and reset expectations for a brighter future.   Brady gets Ovation and Ceremonial Start in Oakland Finale The season finale did not go the way the Oakland Invaders would have hoped, with Seattle easily controlling the game at Levi’s Stadium, but that did not stop the club from taking a moment to celebrate a future USFL and NFL Hall of Famer as his career came to an end. QB Tom Brady, who won two USFL titles with the New Jersey Generals, then moved on to the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL, where he helped “America’s Team” win 3 titles in 7 years, returned to the USFL in 2020 with the Invaders, looking to add a final chapter to his career back in the region where he was born and raised.   Invader fans had hoped for a deep playoff run with Brady at the helm, but with Oakland finishing 8-8 in both seasons, unable to turn a solid defense, a decent roster, and Brady’s leadership into a winning season, the dream of a 6 th title for the former late round draft pick from Michigan never materialized. The lack of success in Oakland did not keep the Invaders from giving Brady a proper sendoff. After having benched the 2-time USFL Champion QB with a month to play in the season, a move designed to help develop rookie Davis Mills, Oakland gave “Old Man Tom” the start this weekend. Brady came out for the first play of the game against Seattle, handed the ball off to Christian McCaffrey, then received a standing ovation as he left the field, the stadium PA announcer encouraging the crowd to celebrate the veteran QB. Action was paused for several minutes as players from both teams congratulated Brady on a career of successes and the Invaders handed him the game ball to add to his many accolades and awards.   Brady has already set up the next phase of his career, signing a deal to become the highest paid color commentator on the Fox network. Brady, having played in both the spring and fall leagues will join Fox’s teams for both their NFL and USFL coverage, beginning with a pair of guest appearances on Fox’s pregame show during the USFL playoffs before taking over as an in-stadium commentator when the 2021 NFL season kicks off in September. With his official retirement from the game this year, Brady will be eligible for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026, and could be another example of a player entering the Hall as a joint nominee of both pro leagues, following in the footsteps of another dual league superstar, Kurt Warner.   First 18 of Draft Order now Known Twelve teams enter the playoffs, which now means that 18 teams are done for the year and as players clean out their lockers and head for home, the GM’s, scouts, and cap specialists get cranking. It also means that we now know the first 18 picks in the 2022 USFL Open Draft. We have known for a while that Chalotte would be leading off the Draft with the first pick, and that San Diego would follow, but now we can look at all 18 non-playoff teams, their needs, and their spot in the upcoming draft.   1-Charlotte The Monarchs’ biggest need is certainly at QB after a failed experiment with former NFL and Oakland signal caller Jimmy Garoppolo. But, in a weaker QB class, will there be an option here, or will Free Agency be their path forward?   2-San Diego The Thunder finished 2021 dead last in passing at only 185.4 YPG. But, is the issue the competition between the Christians (Ponder & Hackenberg) or is it their offensive line and sub-par receivers. We think they go WR early, especially because Ohio is unlikely to claim both Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave in the T-Draft, two Buckeye fliers.   3-Jacksonville The Bulls feel they got their QB in the 2020 Draft, and Trevor Lawrence’s rookie numbers (3,627 yards, 21 TDs) seem to back that up. So, do they address the league’s 26 th -ranked run game or do they look at the 29 th  ranked defense? If they get a shot at either Georgia’s Travon Walker or Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson at DE, we think they go for defense first.   4-St. Louis The Skyhawks have needs all across their 26 th ranked defense. The secondary would be a good place to start, and there could well be some real talent at the top of the Open Draft at cornerback, including LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr., Cincinnati’s Sauce Gardner, and Washington’s Trent McDuffie.   5-Portland Does the new coach stick with Mariota? Will he really have an option? Not likely in the QB class, so the Stags might need to look at another position of need, like RT, where Trey Pipkens struggled in both the run game and as a pass protector.   6-Oklahoma They love Jalen Hurts, got a great deal on Eddie Lacy in trade, so now the Outlaws need to focus on a line that simply could not create a strong pocket for their QB or clear the way for Lacy. Pick a position, tackle, guard or center and there will be option for them with this pick.   7-Washington The Feds love their new offense, with Travis Etienne making it easier for Jacoby Brissett to use play action, so it is now time to address the league’s worst run defense. They could put someone opposite Bradley Chubb if a DE is here, or they could beef up the DT position with one of Georgia’s big hosses, because Atlanta will not protect both Devonte Wyatt and Jordan Davis.   8-Las Vegas The Viper’s biggest issue was the play of their safeties, so expect that to be a position of attention in both free agency and the draft. We love both Wolverine Daxton hill and Golden Domer Kyle Hamilton as possible options in the 1 st  round.   9-San Antonio The Gunslingers improved over their 1 st season, but the defense is still weak against the run and could use a real thumper in the LB group. Ulysses Gilbert is better as a strong side backer, not the MLB in their 4-3. Unfortunately, no MLB candidates currently hold first round grades, so the Gunslingers need to hope they see something in this fall's season.   10-New Orleans Even with the injury to Geno Smith that cost him over a month, New Orleans was still Top 10 in both passing and scoring. They could go corner, to put someone opposite Tra’Davious White, defensive tackle, or they could look at a somewhat inconsistent situation at right tackle. It is good to have options at pick 10.   11-New England With no QB help expected here, the Steamrollers either have to decide between Tannehill or Winston or go for what is behind Door 3 in free agency. In the draft we think they try to add more weapons, perhaps a more consistent back, someone like Iowa State’s Breece Hall or Michigan State’s Kenneth Walker.   12-Memphis Another team that likely will have QB on the mind, but who are unlikely to find the answer in the draft. Expect Memphis to focus on their 22 nd  rated run defense. The front line is solid enough, but they need more speed at LB, and if veteran NaVorro Bowman retires, well, that blows a huge hole in the middle of Rex Ryan’s defensive scheme.   13-Los Angeles They have a core group of speedy receivers, a solid back in Perkins, and a pretty solid line, so why is the LA offense so bad? It may be time to admit that Kyler Murray is not the guy. But, as we keep saying, that is a free agency issue. In the draft we think they go for an upgrade at tight end, or possibly a 2 nd  back to create a HB duo.   14-Oakland Davis Mills played well enough in the season’s final month of the season that we think Oakland will stand pat there. They have far more questions in the secondary, at both corner and safety, so we think they look for pass defenders in the early rounds.   15-Atlanta The Atlanta defense that was so effective in 2020 just fell apart in 2021. Ranking 24 th  against the pass and not much better against the run. They need help at DT and MLB (behind Kuechley) and another corner could not hurt.   16-Dallas We all may have expected too much from Justin Herbert this year. After all he cannot play defense, and the Dallas D definitely let them down, allowing 366.2 yards per game, including nearly 282 per game through the air. The big issue is at the nickel corner, so expect an early pick on a rookie DB.   17-Pittsburgh The Maulers have to put more around Andy Dalton. He is not getting any younger and between a shaky line and the worst rushing attack in the league, he is not going to be able to sustain offense without help. The Maulers need to be bigger and meaner all across the line and they need to reconsider if Sony Michel truly is a lead back.   18-Baltimore No one threw more passes this year than Jake Locker, and yet the Blitz were only 14 th  in passing yardage. They missed out on the playoffs despite having the best pass defense in the league and one of the best overall defenses, so they are going to need to concentrate on the offense this year. It could start on the interior of the line (guard or center) or it could be adding more speed at wideout, someone to help Michael Pittman avoid double coverage.   Four Wild Card games on tap this week. Four games that are Win or Go Home, and four games with storylines to follow, from division rivalries, longstanding powers trying for one more shot at glory, and up and comers hoping to do more than just make an appearance. Here is our quick look at all 4 games on tap, as well as our picks for who comes out on top, surviving and advancing.   6- New Jersey Generals (9-7) @ 3- Philadelphia Stars (10-6) Saturday, July 24 @ 3pm ET Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA Stars -5 The Stars get two bumps from the Vegas bookmakers, the usual 3-point home field bump, and a bump for going 2-2 over the past 4 weeks instead of 0-4 as New Jersey did. The key for the Stars is getting Derek Henry involved early and often, even if it does not produce big gains, because that keeps the defense off Carson Wentz, and when he has a clean pocket, he can be effective. For the reeling Generals, they need to figure out what has gone wrong this month and fix it quickly. That may mean doing something uncharacteristic, like asking Nick Foles to throw 40 passes, not 19. Or it may mean sending Aldon Smith and Matt Milano on more blitzes, even if that leaves the corners in man coverage.   OUR PICK:  We think Philly, despite losing to New Jersey twice this year, has the upper hand, and is playing better ball right now. We take the Stars to win 24-17.   5- Michigan Panthers (10-6) @ 4- Arizona Wranglers (10-6) Saturday, July 24 @ 7pm ET State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ Wranglers -4   Arizona is a moderate favorite, largely off their huge 41-7 win this week and the fact that they are at home. But they know not to take Michigan lightly. These two faced off in the Western Conference Title Game last year and Michigan knocked them out with a 24-21 win. They could very well have their number again. The key for Michigan is obvious; LeVeon Bell has to be a threat. The better his first quarter is, the better the protection and options will be for Kirk Cousins. For Arizona, it is about unleashing Bud DuPree to go after Cousins on defense, and unleashing Victor Cruz and DeMarcus Robinson for big plays on offense.   OUR PICK:  This one could easily go either way. But we think the Wranglers have been on an upward trajectory the past 6 weeks, and their offense just has more ways to beat you than Michigan’s, so we are going to again pick the home favorite. Wranglers 27-24.   5- Houston Gamblers (10-6) @ 4- Orlando Renegades (11-5) Sunday, July 25 @ 2pm ET Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL Gamblers -3   A rarity in the gambling world, a playoff game with a road favorite. The betting public just has more faith in Colt McCoy, a probable MVP candidate, vs. Russell Wilson, who led the league with 25 interceptions. Now, Montez Sweat could have a lot to say about that, but Houston is a very potent offense and one good enough to work around a problem matchup like those Sweat creates. Orlando will need to ask a lot from Wilson, and from NFL import back Chris Carson, if they want to stay on pace with the Gamblers. OUR PICK:  Maybe the Vegas books, the gambling public, and our bullpen are still underestimating the Renegades. After all they have won 6 in a row to end the season. But we just cannot see them as the favorites, even at home. We are going with the more proven commodity and picking the Gamblers. Our pick is Houston 28-20.   6- Ohio Glory (9-7) @ 3- Chicago Machine (11-5) Sunday, July 25 @ 6pm ET Soldier Field, Chicago, IL Machine -9   So, do we expect to see the Ohio team that shocked Chicago 23-16 in Week 11 or the team that folded, losing 34-0 in Week 14? Honestly, it all comes down to how Chicago handles rookie QB Justin Fields, and when we look at the two games combined, Fields rushed for a grand total of -11 yards. Yup, Chicago knows how to keep him from winning with his legs. So that means he has to have a game like the one this week, where he threw the ball 40 times and had 3 TD passes. If he could get some help from Isaiah Pead, the Glory could surprise us, but he has just not been the same this year.   OUR PICK:  We have to go with the heavily favored Machine. Chicago is better on paper in so many ways, and Ohio could be a classic “Happy to have made it here” story. Chicago is not. They want a title, and they have played very well down the stretch, including that demolition of the Glory only 4 weeks ago. We choose Chicago, 19-10.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: A really tough choice this week, but, as much as we respect Tony Pollard's 135 yards or even Patrick Peterson's two pick-sixes this week, we have to give it to Geno Smith, returning from injury and returning in style with 401 yards and 4 TDs as the Breakers gave Houston a huge scare. Smith, in 2 games back from injury has put up 636 yards and 7 touchdowns, sending a message that the Breakers will be back in form in 2022. PLAYOFF PICTURE: We are down to only 4 playoff spots left, with New Jersey and Orlando locking up berths this week (New Jersey backing in with a 3rd straight loss, but still getting in on tiebreakers). That leaves only a few playoff positions left to decide. We also have 4 of 6 Divisions wrapped up with 1 week left in the season. Denver and Birmingham locked up the Southwest and the South, respectively, while Chicago and New Jersey need more to get the crown. So, with 4 spots left to decide, how many teams are still in the battle? There are 4 teams battling for 2 spots in the East, with Houston and Philadelphia controlling their own destiny while Baltimore and Atlanta will need some help. In the West, tiebreaker chaos could be the theme as we have 6 teams all with a mathematical chance at a playoff berth, with the Wranglers and Glory now in position to control their destiny, while Oakland, Dallas, and even 7-8 Pittsburgh and LA still have life.

We are down to 4 playoff spots left and 2 division titles yet to decide as the USFL heads into Week 17. Orlando and New Jersey got their golden tickets this week, though the Generals hardly feel like celebrating as they dropped their 3 rd game in a row, a tough loss to the Michigan Panthers. Orlando is feeling a lot better, having just won their 5 th  in a row and now in position to claim the 4 th  seed and a home playoff game. In the West, Michigan has now won 5 in a row and is still only 1 game behind Chicago for the Central crown. Denver locked up the SW Division with a win and a Wrangler loss, and Ohio steps back into the 6-slot after a win and some help. We will, of course, recap all of this week’s action, and, most importantly, break down the Week 17 scenarios as it looks like only 2 teams, Tampa Bay and Birmingham, are in a position to rest starters. Prepare for some mayhem this week, and for playoff football a week early all across the USFL. All that, plus our big story as a former “future face of the franchise” quarterback says that he is ready to move on. We start with that story as a frustrated Paxton Lynch is ready to part ways with Coach Ryan and the Showboats.   Lynch Won’t Return to Showboats After "Disrespect" from Ryan After a 2020 season that saw Paxton Lynch throw for 3,500 yards, 27 touchdowns and a division title, you can understand how the Memphis QB thought his spot atop the depth chart was secured. Paxton was, after all, the “Future of the Showboats” back in 2016, when Memphis used the T-Draft to select the local star from the University of Memphis. Lynch would become the full time starter a year later, and has missed only 2 games since then, throwing for over 15,000 yards and 92 touchdowns as the Showboat starter, not to mention two playoff seasons and a division title at 13-3 last season. And yet, 3 weeks ago, with Memphis still marginally in the playoff hunt at 6-6, Coach Rex Ryan announced that he was changing things up and starting NFL import Blake Bortles over Lynch.   The thing is, Lynch is hardly the reason that Memphis was only sitting at .500 after 12 games. His 2,422 yards and 13:9 TD:INT ratio were not as strong as 2020, but they were hardly troubling numbers. He was completing 67% of his throws and had made some big plays in the Showboats’ 6 wins. Meanwhile, the run game, which was touted as the core of the Showboat offense, had proven far less effective in 2021 than the season before, with Todd Gurley’s per carry average dropping from 4.5 YPC in 2020 to 3.8, and the defense, well, there is a story there. Memphis had one of the league’s most aggressive defenses in 2020 and that aggression led to takeaways, sacks, and a lot of 3-and-outs. Turn to 2021, and even with the successful integration of NFL superstar DE J. J. Watt, the defense is just not the same. Memphis is allowing nearly 25 points per game, ranking 20 th  in the league and a solid 8 points below their 2020 pae. They are also 22 nd  against the run.  Lynch came out of Memphis, to Memphis, but now moves on. None of this is Paxton Lynch’s fault, and yet, when it got to be desperation time for the Showboats, Coach Ryan put the blame on his quarterback, calling him out and benching him. So, what is Lynch to do. Coming up on the conclusion of his extended deal, Lynch had a choice to make, and that choice involved returning to more negativity from Coach Ryan or moving into the free agent market and taking his chances that he could find a better situation with a coach who saw Lynch’s 2020 season and could imagine better years to come. And so, Lynch made it very clear to the Memphis brass, and to the media this week that he would not be resigning with the club, and that he and his agent would be headed into free agency in hope of finding a better fit.   Coach Ryan had few words about the Lynch situation this week, preferring instead to focus on the issues that had produced 3 consecutive losses (all with Bortles at the helm) and saying that he was hoping to use the season’s final game, at New Orleans, to evaluate talent as he and the Showboats head into the offseason. As for Lynch, he will likely be near the top of a small QB group in free agency. There are some rumors that New England will be letting either Ryan Tannehill or Jameis Winston go after Week 17, and many anticipate that Jimmy Garoppolo will be let go after a very rough year in Charlotte, so Lynch may well garner a good bit of attention from teams this September. Whoever signs him may well get a very motivated QB with a pretty big Rex-Ryan-shaped chip on his shoulder.   ARIZONA WRANGLERS 17   SEATTLE DRAGONS 18 It was billed as a showdown between the perennial power and the new challenger, but what it really was could best be described as a battle of two of the better teams in the West, both trying very hard to ensure that they would not show too much ahead of the playoffs. Of course, Arizona is still not assured a spot in the postseason while Seattle is sitting pretty atop the conference, guaranteed a spot but still potentially vulnerable to losing their 1 seed and home field advantage.   The Dragons had the home field edge on Saturday night, as they hosted the Wranglers. Lumen Field was rockin’, with more than 48,600 in attendance, and the fans were there to see their club defeat the dominant team of the past 6-8 years in the USFL’s Western Conference. Arizona was there to try to get another win, a 4 th  in a row, and hopefully challenge Denver for the Southwestern title. Both were ready to prove that they had what it took for a deep playoff run this year, and what both proved is that their defenses are very capable of stepping up when needed.   After defeating Las Vegas 37-29 last week, the Wranglers were feeling like their offensive attack was hitting on all cylinders, while Seattle, themselves 30-17 victors over Jacksonville in Week 15, had felt good about their attack, especially the run game led by league leader Knowshon Moreno, for several weeks. But, in this matchup, points would be hard to come by and defenses would find ways to stifle drives before they hit paydirt. That reality emerged pretty early, with both defenses starting the game very aggressively, and both offenses struggling to get things going. The first 13 minutes of the game saw only 1 first down between the to clubs and 4 punts, but when Seattle got the ball for a 3 rd  time ,they finally found a big play and some points. The play was a first down play action, with Arizona left in man coverage as they overreacted to the fake to Moreno. Brett Hundley found Amari Cooper down the right sideline and 45 yards later, they were solidly in Arizona territory. But the Wrangler D recovered, stopping Moreno on a 3 rd  and 3 run and forcing Seattle to settle for a Jeffery Harris field goal.   The second quarter would see 3 similar drives and 3 more field goals, two from the Dragons and one from the Wranglers. Seattle took a 9-3 lead into the half, but the two teams had combined for less than 250 total yards in the half, and it looked like this could be a game settled by the kickers. That was certainly the sense of things after Jeffrey Harris connected on a 49-yarder early in the 3 rd quarter, his fourth kick of the day. Now down 12-3, Arizona could not afford to continue to falter on key plays or to even settle for 3-point kicks. They would need a touchdown.   Following the Seattle kick, the Wranglers came out with purpose, intent on finally reaching the endzone and getting back in the game. They started the drive with a 14-yard connection between David Carr and TE Robert Tunyan. The early success helped open up running lanes for Crowell and Carey, as the two managed 23 yards on 5 carries on the drive, including Isaiah Crowell’s 1-yard plunge for the game’s first touchdown. But before that score was perhaps David Carr’s best throw of the game, a laser between the corner and the safety that found Victor Cruz and got the ball to the 1. With one solid drive the Wranglers were right back in the game at 12-10.   That is how the third quarter ended, with Seattle holding a narrow lead, but Arizona having found some offensive success. The two teams traded short drives and on Seattle’s 2 nd  possession of the final quarter, a sack by Bud Dupree, his second on the day, forced a punt after only 4 plays, and Arizona got the ball back with 4:11 left in the game, trailing by 2. They would need only 37 seconds to flip the game’s script and take the lead. It was a 3-play drive that covered 71 yards. Play one was a swing pass to Ka’Deem Carey that would go for 21, a simple play but a missed tackle gave Arizona a nice starter to the drive. The Wranglers then hit on a deep ball, with Victor Cruz gaining 25, to the Dragon 25, on another nice throw from Carr. Finally, from the 25, a sweep by Carey proved the perfect call as Seattle failed to set the edge and LB Khalil Mack was blocked off his pursuit by the TE Tonyan, allowing Carey to dart down the field, along the sideline and in for a go-ahead score. With 3:43 left on the clock, Arizona had gone up 5 for their first lead of the game, 17-12.   But, as we all know, 3:43 is plenty of time for an offense to put together a drive, and a 5-point lead is a very precarious situation. Arizona was aware of both realities but still found themselves somewhat impotent against a Seattle attack that came on the field with fierce purpose. The Dragons maintained balance, using Moreno even as the clock ran down, confident that with all 3 timeouts in their possession, they would have the time they needed. Moreno would have one of his best drives of the day, adding 31 yards to his total, for a final tally of 93 on 14 touches. The drive included a pair of 11-yard runs, both producing first downs, a 7-yarder on 1 st  and 10, and a key 3 rd  down 3-yard run when 2 were needed. Those runs were intermixed with short passes from Brett Hundley to Kyle Rudolph, Greg Jones, and Marshall Newhouse before the dagger in Arizona’s heart. With a first and 10 at the 5, and just over 48 seconds to play, Seattle lined up in a standard I-formation, with Cooper and Newhouse wide. Hundley handed off to FB Greg Jones, who took the ball to the 3, but it was a set up.   Seattle quickly came to the line, with Hundley barking out “Tuesday, Tuesday”, a line call that most recognized as a repeat of the prior play. Arizona certainly read it that way and shifted their line tight, pulling the linebackers and safeties in, preparing to stuff Jones on a 2 nd  attempt. But the ball did not go to Jones. Instead, Hundley pulled the ball out of Jones’s gut and quickly threw a pass out to the flat, where Amari Cooper was racing. Cooper snatched the ball inside the 1 and fell into the endzone for the score with 39 seconds on the clock. The dummy call at the line had worked to perfection as Arizona had only the corner defending Cooper and the flat route pulled the ball away from coverage and into a spot where only the receiver could bring it in.   Seattle would go for 2, trying to lock in a 3-point advantage, but Arizona was able to chase Hundley towards the sideline and force a wild throw that was uncatchable. Down 1 point with 39 seconds on the clock, the Wranglers would need some big plays to reach field goal range for Elliot Parson. What they got instead was a 1 st  down turnover, with David Carr’s pass finding CB Chidobe Awuzie instead of receiver DeMarcus Robinson. Awuzie played inside coverage but was fast enough to undercut Robinson when the Wrangler receiver made his outward cut. With the pick the game was all but over. The Seattle crowd celebrated as Hundley took a knee. Seattle was now 12-3, still atop the conference, while Arizona dropped to 9-6 and very much would need to play a good game in Week 17 to ensure a Wild Card berth.   TAMPA BAY 41  BALTIMORE 21 The Bandits continue to roll, this time getting touchdowns from 5 different players as they roll past the Blitz, putting up 31 unanswered points to turn a 7-7 game into a 38-7 advantage and an eventual 20-point win. Dalvin Cook rushed for 114 and a TD, while Dak Prescott also connected with Dez Bryant and TE Jordan Cameron before Coach Trestman took him out up 31. B. J. Daniels finished the game off with a TD to B. J. Daniels as the Bandits cruised to their 13 th win of the year. POTG:  Bandit HB Dalvin Cook: 15 Att, 114 Yds, 7.6 YPC, 1 TD   NEW JERSEY 31   MICHIGAN 36 The Panthers needed 16 points in the 4 th  quarter to overcome a 31-20 deficit, but they get the win and sent New Jersey to a 3 rd consecutive loss. The defense sacked Nick Foles for a safety, but it was two late Kirk Cousins TD passes that truly got the Panthers the win, hitting Cody Latimer for a 75-yard momentum shifter before finding TE Martellus Bennett with the game winner in the final minute of action. Cousins was picked 3 times by the Generals but came out on top in the game’s final minutes. POTG:  Michigan QB Kirk Cousins: 28/36, 357 Yds, 3 TD, 3 Int   DALLAS 34  MEMPHIS 14 A big win for the Roughnecks as they stay in the hunt at 8-7. A 21-point 2 nd quarter helped them take control of the game, with Memphis not scoring until the 4 th . Touchdowns by Samaje Perine and Tim Wright were followed by a Patrick Peterson 53-yard pick-six to wrap up the 2 nd  quarter. Peterson then added another long pick-six in the 4 th  to put the game away. With the offense struggling in the 2 nd  half, Peterson’s 2 nd return of the day closed the door on any hope Memphis had for a comeback. POTG:  Dallas CB Patrick Peterson: 6 Tck, 2 Int, 2 Def TD   PITTSBURGH 10   ST. LOUIS 17 The Maulers playoff hopes may be alive, but they are fading fast after yet another defeat, this time in St. Louis, where the Skyhawks got another big game from Tyrod Taylor, throwing for 347 yards and 2 TDs. The Skyhawk defense also came up big, holding Pittsburgh to 53 yards rushing and only 2 of 11 on third down in a very disappointing day for Mauler Nation. At 7-8, there is still a mathematical chance, but they will need a ton of help to get to the postseason at 8-8. POTG:  St. Louis QB Tyrod Taylor: 18/28, 347 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   SAN DIEGO 22   PORTLAND 29 It was a beautiful summer day in Portland, and it appears that most folks opted to spend it somewhere other than Columbia Sportswear Stadium, with only 19,272 showing up to watch the Stags face the Thunder. Those who attended saw Portland put up a pair of TDs, including a Dale Luong pick-six, to take the win over the Thunder. Both Josh Gordon and Brandin Cooks also scored for the Stags, while San Diego starter Christian Hackenberg went 7 for 23 with 3 picks before being pulled, not for Christian Ponder, but a rare Case Keenum sighting. POTG:  Portland CB Dale Luong: 2 Tck, 2 Int, 1 Def TD   DENVER 26  LAS VEGAS 7 The Gold wrap up an unanticipated Southwest Division title, the first not won by the Wranglers since 2014. They did it with a stifling defense that sacked Gardner Minshew 4 times and held Kareem Hunt to only 35 yards rushing. The Denver offense was not explosive, with Josh Allen going only 19 of 31 for 272, but it was balanced, with Patrick Lindsay and Golden Tate both scoring for the Gold in their 19-point division-clinching victory. POTG:  Denver WR Golden Tate: 7 Rec, 114 Yds, 1 TD   ATLANTA 14  ORLANDO 29 The Fire get doused as the Renegades surge to 10-5, locking up a Wild Card berth in the process. Chris Carson ran for 88 yards and Russell Wilson found TE Crockett Gilmore for his lone TD on the day, but it was enough as Pat White struggled with 2 picks and even Nick Chubb was contained, gaining only 50 yards on 13 carries. Atlanta is still alive at 8-7, but they need help, while Orlando now eyes the possible 4 seed and a home playoff game. POTG:  Orlando safety D. J. Swearinger: 6 Tck, 2 PDef, 2 Int   NEW ENGLAND 14   OHIO 17 The Steamrollers could well have won this game, but Jameis Winston flashed some of his 2020 style, throwing 4 picks in a game that got away from him. Justin Fields capitalized with 2 touchdowns off the turnovers, finding both Curtis Samuel and Terry McLaurin for scores. New England’s D should get some credit in defeat as they did what few have this year, held Fields to negative yardage rushing, but all to no avail. POTG:  Glory CB Chimdi Chekwa, 12 Tck, 1 Int, 1 FF   CHARLOTTE 16   SAN ANTONIO 37 The Gunslingers got their biggest victory of the year against the winless Monarchs as 3 different Gunslinger backs found paydirt. Melvin Gordon led all rushers with 110 yards, but C. J. Prosise and FB Rod Benjamin also scored for San Antonio. Charlotte got 105 rushing from Nyheim Hines but 3 Kyle Boller picks helped San Antonio pull away. POTG:  Gunslinger HB Melvin Gordon: 21 Att, 110 Yds, 1 TD   PHILADELPHIA 17   BIRMINGHAM 20 The Stallions lock up the 2-seed after edging the Stars at Protective Stadium. The game came down to a 55-yard field goal attempt by Eddie Pineiro in the final seconds, but the kick hooked wide and the Stallions celebrated, knowing a bye was headed their way. Tim Tebow was only 9 of 20, but still produced 2 scores for the Stallions, who now will likely rest several starters next week as they await the playoff return of Cam Newton. The Stars still have a shot at the NE Division but need a win next week and another New Jersey loss. POTG:  Stallion WR Henry Ruggs: 3 Rec, 120 Yds, 1 TD   HOUSTON 34  NEW ORLEANS 31 Geno Smith almost pulled it off, throwing for 401 yards and 4 TDs, but in the end, the Gamblers found a way to win and kept themselves in control of their playoff destiny at 9-6. Colt McCoy also threw for 4 scores, including a 43-yarder to Mike Evans and a 56-yard seam route to TE Gerald Everett. DeMarco Murray did a bit of everything for the Breakers, leading the team with 12 rushes for 47 yards but also catching 5 Smith passes for 137 yards and a score. In the end, however, the Breakers drop to 5-10, and the Gamblers stay playoff focused. POTG:  Houston WR Mike Evans: 6 Rec, 149 Yds, 1 TD   JACKSONVILLE 16  LOS ANGELES 10 A devastating home loss for the Express as they let Jacksonville stay close and it bit them in the end. With Kyler Murray dinged up it was Matt Gutierrez at the helm for LA, and the former Philly Star looked very rusty, completing only 12 of 31 passes and throwing 2 picks, one of which set up the lone Jacksonville TD, a Devin Singletary 1-yard plunge. LA is still mathematically alive, but with less than a 1% chance of making the postseason after losing this must-win game. POTG:  Bulls CB A. J. Terrell: 5 Tck, 5 PDef, 2 Int, 1 FF   OAKLAND 17   OKLAHOMA 24 A bad day in California as all three Golden State teams fall. Oakland fell behind 24-7 before a late rally, but it was too late as Oklahoma picked off rookie QB Davis Mills twice. Jalen Hurts threw for 2 scores, both to Nick Toon, and Eddie Lacy added a third as the Outlaws improve to 6-9, while Oakland drops to 8-7 and out of playoff position. They still can get there but will need help as Ohio now holds the tiebreaker. POTG:  Oklahoma LB Dont’a Hightower: 7 Tck, 3 Sck   WASHINGTON 12   CHICAGO 30 The Machine took care of business at home, improving to 11-4 and staying in the hunt for the 2 seed in the West. They need a Denver loss in Week 17, but they did their part, outpacing the Federals thanks to a combined 142 yards rushing from Jeremy Hill, Marion Mack, and Tony Jones Jr.. They also got help from the defense as a Jason Pierre-Paul sack of Jacoby Brissett took the Federals’ QB out of the game and put back a rusty Ryan Nassib. POTG:  Chicago safety Jordan Poyer: 6 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 PDef     Living Large vs. Life Support Week 16 results have several clubs feeling pretty spry, while others are clinging to life, at least postseason life. It’s hot vs. cold as we head into the first ever 17 th  week of the USFL season. So, who is feeling on top of the world and who has their fans nervous? Here is our breakdown:   LIVING LARGE   Birmingham has won 5 in a row, with Tim Tebow coming to the rescue after Cam Newton’s injury. The Stallions have wrapped up the 2 seed in the East, meaning that next week’s game is a chance to rest some starters and give Cam Newton an extra week to mend and prepare for his return.   Orlando’s winning streak also hits 5 games as they rocket past the Fire and claim a Wild Card berth at 10-5. Statistically, the Renegades excel in only 1 area, pressuring the QB with Montez Sweat, but they are pulling out games and making the right calls when it matters. They cannot catch Tampa Bay, but if they claim the 4   seed, they will get a home playoff game for their efforts.   Denver has won 5 of their last 6 and this week claimed their first Division Title since 2009. One more win and they too will have a bye week, joining Seattle for a respite before the Divisional Round. They are doing it despite the league’s 2 nd  worst rushing attack, mixing a dynamic passing game with a pretty solid defense, allowing only 63.3 yards per game on the ground.   Chicago won their 4 th  in a row this week but still have Michigan on their heels. They can lock up the division title next week with a win in Philadelphia, where the Stars will be playing for their playoff lives. A win and a Denver loss and it is Chicago enjoying a bye week.   Michigan is still very much in the mix. After a rough midseason that saw them lose 5 of 6, the Panthers have rebounded with 5 consecutive wins and now find themselves 1 game behind Chicago and assured of no worse than a Wild Card. A win in the finale at Pittsburgh and a loss by the Machine and Michigan will return to the top of the Central once again.   LIVING ON LIFE SUPPORT   Pittsburgh has now lost 4 in a row, with this week’s loss to lowly St. Louis perhaps the low point of their season. They sit at 7-8 and need multiple games to go their way next week to sneak their way into the playoffs. Their offense has dropped down the rankings, now 27 th  in scoring, while their 7 th  rated defense is being asked to do far too much.   Los Angeles is another team that just cannot score points to save their lives, which is what they need to do right now, sitting at 7-8 and needing even more support than the Maulers. LA may not have the long losing streak of some other fading teams, but their average of 16 points per game is not encouraging as they head to Portland to face the Stags in the season finale.   Baltimore was the preseason favorite to win the NE Division but now needs help to eke out a 6 th  seed wildcard. They face the Skyhawks in the finale, a team that seems eager to spoil things for others. They will need more out of their 18 th  ranked offense and give some help to the league’s best defense for yards allowed. Too many short and pointless drives on offense give opponents too many short fields.   Atlanta was a darling to challenge Tampa Bay in the Southeast but now sit at 8-7 and need to get some support to make the playoffs. They likely won’t see most of the Bandits’ star players in the finale, since the Bandits don’t want to risk injury, but they cannot take this game lightly. A loss and they have no shot at a Wild Card.   New Jersey had one of the most impressive winning streaks in the league, a 9-game beauty, but they have just lost their 3 rd in a row. A 4 th  and they could easily lose the division crown to Philadelphia. It will not help at all that they face the Ohio Glory, a team that earns a playoff berth with a win. Expect this one to be a tough one as both teams can ill afford to go out with a loss in Week 17.   Patrick Peterson Has Monster Game to Keep Dallas Alive The Roughnecks suffered a bad loss to the Breakers in Week 15 and could not afford another Southern Slipup as they faced Memphis in Memphis. To stay alive for the postseason chase, they needed to go 2-0 down the stretch, but their offense was struggling and their defense had not exactly been dominant in weeks. Enter cornerback Patrick Peterson, who already had 2 pick-sixes on the season, one against Joe Flacco and the Gunslingers in Week 7 and another against Jalen Hurts and the Outlaws in Week 9. Well, against Blake Bortles, he stepped it up another notch, recording not one, but two pick-sixes against the former NFL quarterback. The Roughnecks may have eked out a win against a sloppy Memphis club, but with Peterson providing 14 key points and helping to ramp up the Roughneck bench, the veteran corner did more than enough to ensure that Dallas’s playoff hopes would live one more week.   Newton Unlikely to See Action in Finale For Stallion fans who are eager to see Cam Newton back on the field, you likely will need to wait close to a month to get your wish. While Newton was cleared this week to practice with the team, the Stallions, winners of 5 in a row, and 4 with Tim Tebow under center, simply won’t risk their former MVP candidate in what is now a meaningless Week 17 game in Arizona. No need to risk Newton against Bud DuPree and the Wranglers since the Stallions wrapped up the 2 seed and will have a guaranteed bye in the first round of the playoffs. Expect to see Tim Tebow under center, and a lot of backups on the field. We do not anticipate seeing several Stallion stars, including rookie HB Najee Harris, WR Henry Ruggs or TE Hunter Henry. We may also see Coach Haley hold out DE Dante Fowler, and CB Pacman Jones ahead of the playoff bye. That is great news for the Wranglers, who will wrap up a Wild Card spot with a win in their home finale. It is also great news for Newton, who can practice fully with the team for 3 weeks before returning to action, at home, in the Divisional Round.   Brady & Phillips Make it Official Two big retirement announcements confirmed this week as both Oakland QB Tom Brady and longstanding Houston Head Coach Wade Phillips announce that they will be retiring from football at the conclusion of the 2021 season. Brady, who turned 45 this year, is already the oldest QB in the league, and after being sent to the sideline in favor of rookie Davis Mills, announced this week that he hopes to play in the postseason with Oakland, who need a win and help this week to qualify, but that either way he will step away from the game and take the offer from Fox Sports to join their NFL and USFL broadcast teams.   Wade Phillips is likely not done after next week’s regular season finale. Houston is in position to control their own destiny and can return to the playoffs for 8 th consecutive year with a win against Oklahoma this week. However, despite a strong likelihood of another playoff run, Wade Phillips did make it official this week, telling local radio station KFNC that he would retire after the 2021 season, following a run of 21 seasons that began in 2001 and which has seen Phillips claim 2 league titles in 15 playoff seasons. A sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer from the USFL, Phillips has helped Houston become the only team in the league with 5 John Bassett Trophies, and one of the most consistent winners in the league. Phillips turns 74 this year, well beyond the age when we see many coaches leave the game, but he still has one more game, and possibly one more playoff run to make with the Gamblers before he rides off into the sunset.   With 8 of 12 spots now claimed, Orlando and New Jersey joining Michigan, Chicago, Denver, Birmingham, Seattle, and Tampa Bay as 2021 playoff squads, there are 4 spots left, and with one week of action yet to play we have 10 teams still in the hunt, though some are closing in on their prey while others are lost In the woods and will need help sniffing their target. Here is our breakdown of the entire field as we head into Week 17 action and the final positioning for the 2021 playoffs.   Tampa Bay (13-2):  Assured the 1 seed, home field and a bye. They will almost certainly rest their starters in their somewhat anticlimactic home finale against Atlanta.   Birmingham (11-4):  This week’s win over Philly not only won the Stallions their first Southern Division Title of the new century (yup, since 1999), but also locked in the 2-seed, meaning Birmingham’s bye week is assured and they too are likely to rest several starters as they prepare for the playoffs and the likely return of Cam Newton under center.   New Jersey (9-6):  Losing their last 3 games is not how New Jersey, or any team wants to clinch a playoff spot, but, with only 1 week left to go, their midseason 9-game win streak did enough to lock up at least a Wild Card. But, they could still win the NE Division, all they need is a Week 17 win. The problem is that they are facing an 8-7 Ohio team that can only get into the postseason with a win, no gimme for sure.   Philadelphia (9-6):  Tied with the Generals, but missing out on the tiebreaker after a Generals’ sweep of their series, the Stars are in with a win this week over Chicago, but, if they can get the W and the Ohio Glory take down New Jersey, Philadelphia will return to the top of the NE Division only 1 year after a 2-14 season had them picking first in the draft.   Orlando (10-5):  The Renegades cannot catch Tampa Bay, but a win over Jacksonville and they are the 4 seed with a home Wild Card Game. That alone is a pretty nice feather in the cap of Coach Rivera, who was on the hot seat for sure before they put together what is now a 7 of 8 streak.   Houston (9-6):  The Gamblers cannot capture the Southern title, but with a win over Oklahoma, they are playoff bound once again, their 8 th consecutive appearance and a very appropriate swan song for Coach Phillips.   Baltimore (8-7):  The Blitz are currently on the outside, looking in, but a win over St. Louis paired with a loss by Philadelphia and they claim the final Wild Card over the Stars.   Atlanta (8-7):  The up-and-down Fire are still alive, but they need everything to break their way. They need a win over Tampa Bay and losses by both Philadelphia and Baltimore to qualify as the 6 seed. Not impossible, but even with a playoff spot they would be favored to be one-and-done in the tourney.     Seattle (12-3):  They have the best record in the West, have claimed the Pacific Division crown, but have not yet locked up the coveted 1-seed. A win over Oakland guarantees them home field throughout as well as the bye, but a loss and either Chicago or Denver could overtake them.   Denver (11-4):  While Gold fans are overjoyed to see the Gold win the SW Division, they want more, and there is more to be had. A win over San Antonio means no lower than the 2 seed and a Wild Card bye, but if Seattle loses, then we may need a coin flip for who is the 1 vs. 2 as the tiebreakers are looking very even.   Chicago (11-4):  Still hoping to clinch the division but with Michigan hot on their heels, a win over Philadelphia gives them what they want, and if Denver loses to San Antonio, they will snatch away the 2 seed. A loss and the Panthers could steal away the division title too, so a lot to play for.   Michigan (10-5): A 5-2 division record, compared with Chicago’s 4-4 mark means that a win over Pittsburgh and a loss by the Machine and Michigan reclaims the Central Division. Regardless of the Chicago score, Michigan is in, but they would love a shot at that division crown.   Arizona (9-6): The loss to Seattle means the division is not going to be theirs, but they are still in good position for a Wild Card. A win over Birmingham (who likely rest several starters) gives them a chance in the playoffs, and no one wants to face the veteran Wranglers with advancement on the line. A win plus a loss from the Panthers and Arizona even gets a home Wild Card game as the 4 seed.   Ohio (8-7):  The only 8-win team that controls their own destiny, it is very basic for the Glory: a win over New Jersey and they are the 6 seed. Of course, New Jersey needs the W as well, which is why this is a game to tune in for this week.   Oakland (8-7): They had destiny in their own hands, but the loss to Oklahoma blew it. Now, to claim the 6 seed, they need a win over Seattle and a loss by Ohio. Certainly feasible, but with Seattle needing a win to lock up the 1-seed, there will be no backups in the starting lineup for the Dragons. Oakland will need to beat the Dragons on the up and up.   Dallas (8-7):  With most of the league asking, “Are they still in it?”, the Roughnecks must defeat Las Vegas and hope for two positive results, that Seattle beats Oakland and that New Jersey beats Ohio,m for them to leapfrog both the Glory and the Invaders to claim the 6-seed.   Pittsburgh (7-8):  Now we are getting into some murky waters. The Maulers must first beat Michigan to reach 8-8 and then hope for losses by Ohio, Oakland, and Dallas. If that happens and we have a 4-way tie at 8-8, well, then the tiebreakers get really complicated, but the Maulers are at least in the mix with a 7-5 conference record.   Los Angeles (7-8): To quote “Dumb & Dumber”… “So you are saying there’s a chance?” Yes. LA can potentially win the 6 seed with a victory over Portland and losses by pretty much everyone we have named (Ohio, Oakland, Dallas, and Pittsburgh). But, even then we start getting into some complex tiebreakers, and it may come down to point differential, where LA’s offensive mediocrity (we are being kind) means they may need to run up the score on the Stags to have any shot. Honestly, that feels really unlikely, especially if Kyler Murray is still sidelined.   With so many teams still in the playoff hunt, we are going to do the injury list a bit differently this week. We are focusing on teams in the hunt, and we will list any new injuries as well as any players with injuries that could impact both this week and the first 2 rounds of the playoffs. That way you can see where the issues may be for each playoff team and the contenders for the final spots. Keep an eye on the Kyler Murray situation as that certainly will impact LA’s chances. Also worth noting is the loss of Stephenson in New Jersey, Silatulo in Orlando and Klien in Arizona. The Bandits and Stallions will play lots of backups, so they have time (3 weeks) to rest their injured players, including Cam Newton, who is expected to reclaim the starting job over Tim Tebow in 3 weeks, despite Tebow’s obvious success in the final month of the season.   OUT WR         John Brown                  SEA        Groin                        IR DT          Ego Ferguson                ORL       Groin                       IR OT          Mitchell Van Dyck          ARZ       MCL                        IR DT          Kawann Short                TBY        Wrist                        IR OT          Donald Stephenson      NJ           Fractured Arm      2-4 Weeks LB           Preston Brown              TBY        Hernia                     1-2 Weeks DT          Marcell Dareus              TBY        Toe                            1-2 Weeks G            Amini Silatulo            ORL       Ankle                       1-2 Weeks T              Greg Robinson            BIR         Back                       1-2 Weeks LB           A. J. Klien                     ARZ       Hamstring               1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL WR         Kelvin Benjamin              ATL         Abdominal T              Rashawn Slater               PIT         Hernia LB           Devin Bush               MGN     Concussion CB          Michael Jackson             ORL       Neck WR         Chad Williams                 DAL       Broken Arm G             Nick Allegretti              CHI        Leg   QUESTIONABLE CB          Kevon Seymour         OHI       Leg QB         Cam Newton                    BIR         Hip LB           Clay Matthews                DAL       Arm CB          Dre Kirkpatrick                MGN     Shoulder T              George Fant                  NJ           Concussion DE          Taylor Hart                    DAL       Knee DE          Datone Jones                 OHI       Neck DE          Danielle Hunter              PHI        Hip QB         Kyler Murray                   LA          Concussion   Milestones to Watch for in Week 17 For many teams across the USFL, and for many fans as well, Week 17 Is all about playoff positioning, locking in berths or improving the team’s seeding, but for many players it is also about reaching milestones. With only 2 teams expected to be in a position to rest their starters, there are a lot of players who will be striving to meet season totals that trigger bonus payments, others trying to attain personal bests, and some trying for some landmark numbers. We are going to focus on that last group, players close enough to major statistical markers to potentially be a factor in how they play this week and how coaches utilize them. Here are several such players, all within range to hit some impressive totals.   QB Colt McCoy from Houston is certainly focused on getting the Gamblers into the playoffs, but at the same time he is closing in on a 5,000-yard passing season. He is already at a personal best of 4,891 yards, but with only 110 yards in Week 17 he will have his first 5,000-yard season, a number only reached by 8 other players in USFL history. He is not going to reach Troy Aikman’s 1998 record of 5,675, but he could find himself in the Top 10 all time if he can surpass Heath Shuler’s 2001 career best of 5,040. A 300-yard game, certainly not unusual for McCoy, would put him at 7 th  all time, ahead of Shuer, Brett Favre’s 1998 season and Andy Dalton’s 2015 total of 5,169.   We have several running backs who are looking at a pretty standard incentive bonus for reaching 1,000 yards rushing, including Oakland’s Christian McCaffrey (22 yards away), San Diego’s Charles Sims (36), Memphis’s Todd Gurley (66), Orlando’s Chris Carson (91), and Las Vegas’s Kareem Hunt (93). Players hoping a solid day will put them over 1,200 yards include Paul Perkins (at 1,162) and Michigan’s LeVeon Bell (1,113). Some Bandit fans want Dalvin Cook to play in hopes he can gain the 96 yards he needs to reach 1,200, but Coach Trestman and the Bandits have loftier goals for the year, and having Cook rest this week is part of their master plan for a repeat championship.   Another huge milestone is the 100-reception mark for receivers . While once again Aaron Dobson has already eclipsed that total with 114 receptions, joined by Portland’s Brandin Cooks, there are several others within range, including Atlanta’s A. J. Green (at 99), San Antonio’s Brandon LaFell (99), Oakland’s Davante Adams (95), and New Jersey’s Odell Beckham Jr. (94). For yardage, we have a huge group already over 1,000 yards, but Mike Evans is hoping to join Dez Bryant and Golden Tate in the rare air of 1,500-yard seasons. He needs only 9 yards to get there and is the only other player with a realistic shot (unless someone tops 150 or even 200.)   One more receiving milestone is exclusively for the Tight Ends . We already have 2 who have reached the elusive 1,000-yard mark, Oklahoma’s Mark Andrews (1087) and Atlanta’s O. J. Howard (1005). Seattle TE Kyle Rudolph would love to join them and is only 12 yards away, while Oakland’s Zach Ertz would need 57 yards and Breakers’ TE Coby Fleener needs 77 to have his second 1,000-yard season.   Among defenders there are not quite as many milestone targets, though we expect that Ohio LB Ryan Shazier will be gunning for 1 more tackle to reach 100, though he would likely forego that if he could be sure the Glory could win and find themselves in the playoffs. The same is probably true for Pittsburgh’s Brian Orakpo (at 98), or Oakland’s Bobby Wagner (93). Among edge rushers, we already have 5 players over the 20-sack mark, with Calais Campbell currently trailing Montez Sweat, 23-26. If Sweat can hold on, he will be the first player other than Campbell to win the sack title in 12 years. Truly stunning. Others over 20 include Memphis’s NFL import J. J. Watt (22), Arizona’s Bud Dupree (22), and Denver’s Defensive Rookie of the Year favorite, Odafe Oweh (21). Close enough to have a shot at 20 we have Dallas’s Connor Barwin (18), and with a very good day, Atlanta’s Mario Edwards (17). Finally, we should mention that Joe Haden, with 8 picks, is only 2 away from tying the league record, but is also only 1 pick ahead of Michigan’s Dre Kirkpatrick, Chicago’s Josh Norman, and Dallas’s Patrick Peterson, who each have 7 on the year.   Nike Back on Board as USFL Provider With the Under Armour contract coming to a close, and with some teams less than happy with the quality of their uniforms, particularly the light pant sets which are just a bit too thin and a bit too “see through” for the tastes of many fans, the USFL was open to a bidding process, and that bidding process now has a winner. For the first time since the early 1990’s Nike will return as the uniform and team gear provider for the USFL. Back in the early days of leaguewide contracts, Nike had the inside track and won the first leaguewide contract thanks very much to Phil Knight being the majority owner of the then Portland Thunder. This time it was purely a financial advantage that gave Nike the deal once again.   So, while we saw the release of the 30 th  team design by Under Armour this week (see below), we now know that Nike will be producing the look of each USFL club from 2023 through 2030 in a new 8-year deal. They will need to work with Riddell and Schutt on any helmet redesigns, of course, but as for everything from fan gear to on-field looks for each USFL club, the instantly recognized Nike Swoosh will once again be a part of the league and every team will have a chance in the next few years to develop yet another updated look, including, we anticipate, some throwbacks and an alternate look. If Nike’s work with NCAA and NFL teams is any indication, we could see some very different alternates compared to Under Armour’s attempts to have the alts parallel the primaries instead of being completely different takes. Should be interesting.     Oklahoma Outlaws the Final USFL Squad to get Under Armour Redesign Under Armour’s five-year design deal ends with the Oklahoma Outlaws, the 30 th team to get their look reevaluated, revised, and reimagined. So, what did UA do on behalf of the Outlaws? While the primary and secondary logos are not impacted, the rest of the look does get a new twist. The Outlaws, always focused on balancing the use of OU crimson and OSU orange, worked at including both in largely equal parts. The new jersey and pant designs incorporate both through the use of a diamond pattern that is meant to evoke the textile crafts of the Apache and Comanche peoples. The pattern uses both colors along with either black or white as both part of the pant stripe and the side panel of the jersey. Each stripe ends with a beveled edge, followed by 3 diamonds in 3 colors.   The Outlaws also updated their number font, using an angular font that includes a center piping line instead of the more traditional external piping. On the black jersey we see white numbers with a crimson piping while the white jerseys have black numbers with orange piping. Finally, both jerseys now have an enlarged team name across the top of the numbers, with “OKLAHOMA” spelled out on both sets. The primary logo remains the only adornment on the glossy black helmets.   Moving on to the alternate look, here is where UA decided to get a bit wilder. We start with the helmet, where the shell shifts from black to an ombre effect that starts as crimson at the base and transitions to orange by the crown. The effect, called “Sundown” by UA and the Outlaws, does evoke a plains sunset. Both the primary logo and the black facemask remain from the team’s primary looks. The jersey is crimson with black numbers and white internal piping, with orange in far less use. The side stripes now only show the 3 diamonds in black, white, and orange, while the pants have another use of the ombre effect, with a crimson stripe at the hip transitioning to orange before the 3 diamond pattern in orange, crimson and black. And, as expected, the Throwback look goes back to the 1987 Oklahoma Outlaws, in black and red, rather than the more recent Texas Outlaws’ looks in Kelly and Royal. Here we go, the season finale for all 30 clubs, with 8 already booked for the postseason and 10 more fighting for only 4 more spots. We will run down each game’s playoff implications as we review the league’s special Week 17 schedule. With so many Wild Card contenders and two division titles still in the mix, the league was unable to schedule every possible game so that there would be scoreboard watching, but we do see several simultaneous games where the fate of one team will depend on the score of ongoing games, something sure to create some sideline cheers and boos even when the game on the field is between plays.   SAT @ 12 pm                     St. Louis (5-10) @ Baltimore (8-7) Baltimore needs a win + Philadelphia Loss for a Wild Card Spot, so they have to win here and then wait.   SAT @ 12 pm                     Atlanta (8-7) @ Tampa Bay (13-2) Tampa Bay has the 1 Seed. Atlanta needs a win plus losses by both Baltimore and Philadelphia to earn a berth. They can watch the score in Baltimore if they are winning, but they too need to wait to see the Philadelphia outcome.   SAT @ 12 pm                     Washington (6-9) @ New England (5-10) No playoff implications.   SAT @ 4 pm                       Birmingham (11-4) @ Arizona (9-6) Birmingham has locked up the 2 seed in the East. Arizona is in with a win and could be the 4 seed if Michigan loses.   SAT @ 4 pm                       Portland (5-10) @ Los Angeles (7-8) LA is a longshot, needing a win and losses by 4 other teams to even get into the tiebreaker mix. Even 1 win from the other 8-7 or 7-8 teams and their season is over.   SAT @ 4 pm                       San Antonio (6-9) @ Denver (11-4) Denver gets the 2 seed with a win. If Seattle loses on Sunday, they could be in the mix for the 1 seed depending on tie-breakers.   SAT @ 8 pm                       Oklahoma (6-9) @ Houston (9-6) Houston is in as a Wild Card with a win, no need to watch other scores unless they lose.   SAT @ 8 pm                       Orlando (10-50 @ Jacksonville (5-10) The Renegades lock up the 4 seed and a home game with a win. They too do not need to watch other scores because their playoff berth is secured.   SUN @ 12 pm                   Ohio (8-7) @ New Jersey (9-6) New Jersey wins the NE Division with a win. Ohio is in as a Wild Card with a win (or losses by multiple teams). Both teams control their own destiny.   SUN @ 12 pm                   Chicago (11-4) @ Philadelphia (9-6) Chicago wins the Central with a victory. They can also gain the 2 seed and a bye if Denver loses. Philadelphia will likely be watching the Generals-Glory game carefully, because if the Glory get the W and the Stars can defeat Chicago, it is Philadelphia claiming the NE Division and a home game next week.   SUN @ 12 pm                   Michigan (10-5) @ Pittsburgh (7-8) Michigan garners a home game with a win. If Chicago loses as well, they capture the Central crown. Pittsburgh needs to win and have all the Western 8-7 teams lose to have a chance at a Wild Card. So, expect both teams to be watching to see what happens with Ohio and what happens with Chicago.   SUN @ 4 pm                     Memphis (6-9) @ New Orleans (5-10) This game has no playoff implications.   SUN @ 4 pm                     Charlotte (0-15) @ San Diego (3-12) This game has no playoff implications.   SUN @ 4 pm                     Las Vegas (5-10) @ Dallas (8-7) Dallas is a Wild Card team with a win and a loss by both Ohio and Oakland. The will know if they have a chance before the game, if Ohio loses, but will need to watch the Seattle-Oakland score as well.   SUN @ 8 pm                      Seattle (12-3) @ Oakland (8-7) The Dragons earn the 1 seed with a win. Oakland needs to win and have Ohio lose to earn a Wild Card. They will know if they are in or out before they kick off, which certainly could determine how they play and if Brady gets to step on the field for a curtain call.

Things got very interesting this week, races tightened, and two more teams joined the 2021 postseason as Denver and Chicago posted big wins. The Machine made life interesting for the Generals, shutting them down and giving Philadelphia a legitimate shot at reclaiming the NE Division. Tampa Bay won a thrilling shootout with the Houston Gamblers to lock up the 1-seed in the East, while Michigan made it 4 in a row, severely wounding Ohio’s playoff chances while giving themselves real hope that the Central Division is not a done deal for Chicago. It was a week of big QB games, including a Geno Smith sighting for the Breakers, and a week of heartbreak as 2 more teams had their last hopes of a Wild Card removed. We will, of course, give you all the details, taking a look at all of the big results from the week, and we will also update you on the big news out of New York, as the USFL looks at revamping its draft system. All this, plus a look at 3 coaches hoping to get another shot as the hiring season approaches. All right here on This Week in the USFL. Mills Now 2-0 and Oakland Controls Their Destiny It was certainly questioned in the moment, Oakland Coach Gary Kubiak’s decision to shutter 5-time champion Tom Brady and give untested rookie Davis Mills the final 4 starts of the season, but after 2 wins and Oakland now very much in control of their own playoff path, Kubiak is looking like a man with a plan. After helping the Invaders defeat Las Vegas last week, Mills stepped up again as Oakland came back from a 21-10 deficit to beat their division and in-state rivals 22-20. This time, with an 11-point deficit in the 4 th quarter, the game was certainly much more in Mills’s hands, and with two late touchdown tosses, Mills proved he could lead Oakland to success.   Now, we don’t want to overreact. After all, neither Las Vegas nor San Diego are among the league’s best squads, and in those two career-starting games, we saw two pretty mediocre defenses, which may well be part of the reason Kubiak made the switch after Week 13, with Oakland at 7-7, and did not wait until the tougher games in Weeks 16 (@ Oklahoma) and 17 (Seattle). Clearly the season finale will be the biggest challenge for Mills and for the Invaders as they try to lock up a Wild Card. But, now up 2 more games, sitting at 8-6 and in the 6 th playoff slot, the choice to start Mills seems to be paying dividends and producing results. A win this week over Oklahoma, with the right combination of other results, could actually clinch a playoff spot for the Invaders, something that felt like it was slipping away prior to the switch. So, how is Mills comparing to his veteran mentor? Well, in what is admittedly only a 2 game sample, Mills has a higher QB Rating (112.5 to 91.6), is completing more passes (71.4% to 69.7%) and is averaging 235 yards per game, to Tom Brady’s 220. Those are all very good numbers for any quarterback, much less a mid-round rookie (according to the draft “experts”) in his first two appearances. Oakland wanted to see if Mills could be the future, with Brady ready to retire, and these early samples of what he can do seem to point to a very positive upside for the former Stanford QB. It is still early, but with a 2-0 record under his belt, and some pretty nice stats to back it up, along with his first 4 th  quarter comeback secured, the future for Oakland and Davis Mills seems bright.   HOUSTON GAMBLERS 27   TAMPA BAY BANDITS 34 When we saw this one on the schedule, we all hoped it could live up to the hype. Two of the league’s most prolific offenses, two quarterbacks at the top of their game, two wide receiver groups that can put fear into any DC, and two backs who can run through, around, and past defenders. This had all the hallmarks of a classic Sunday night shootout. So, did it live up to our lofty expectations?   With a combined 627 yards passing, seven passing touchdowns, and 3 second half lead changes, including two big shifts in the 4 th  quarter, the answer is a resounding yes. ESPN’s Sunday night broadcast saw Colt McCoy throw for 361 yards and 3 scores, while Dak Prescott, with lower yardage, only 266 yards, managed to throw 4 touchdown passes. Even more amazing, he racked up those 266 yards and 4 touchdowns on only 10 completions, going 10 of 16 on the day.   It was a game of big plays, not long methodical drives, as both teams tested the limits of the opposing defenses, using their vertical passing game to great effect as they ran up and down the field. Just look at this ridiculous stat: Tampa Bay scored 34 points with only 5 first downs in the game and only 2 of 10 third down conversions. They bombed Houston from range, rather than marching down the field with precision. Houston fared better in the mid- and short-range passing, so they certainly looked like the statistical winner, with 105 more yards, 11 more first downs, and a far better 6 of 15 on third down, but in the end, it was the big play Bandits who pulled out the one-score win.   The Bandits started their aerial assault in the first quarter, when, on their second possession, Dak Prescott found TE Jordan Cameron covered by a linebacker. Cameron easily outpaced the coverage, and by the time the safeties reacted, it was too late. Cameron covered 54 yards and put Tampa Bay up 7-0. Early in the 2 nd  quarter they would add 3 more after a long completion to Dez Bryant, was followed by struggles in the red zone. Harrison Butker added the field goal and the Bandits had a 10-0 lead with 12:58 left in the half.   Houston would respond, moving the ball efficiently from their own 20 deep into Bandit territory. McCoy was happy to take what the Bandit D would give him, connecting with 3 different receivers on the drive before finding a 4 th  with Denzel Mims’s 1 st  catch of the game and 4 th  touchdown of the season. Houston was back within 3, and even a late Butker field goal would not make it a 2-score game at the half.   Coming out of the break, Houston got the ball first, and would get their first lead of the day as they marched the ball 68 yards on only 6 plays, with Mike Evans bringing in a 46-yard TD on a beautiful slant-go route that had the Bandit secondary pointing fingers after the blown coverage. Up 14-13, Houston contained the Bandits on their next possession, forcing a punt after a failed 3 rd and 8 play. They would again drive deep into Bandit territory, stalling out at the Bandit 16 before Younghoe Koo connected on his first field goal of the day. Houston now held a 4-point lead, 17-13, but pretty much everyone at Raymond James Stadium as well as the 4.7 million TV viewers knew that this game was far from over.   With 2:54 left in the 3 rd , Tampa got the ball back on a touchback, and by 1:04 they would have the lead back. Dak Prescott found 3 rd  year receiver Deebo Samuel for a 44-yards strike on 2 nd  and 8, then connected with Ryan Grant 2 plays later to retake the lead 20-17. It was a drive that took less than 2 minutes, a foreshadowing of what was to come later in the game. Houston took over late in the 3 rd  and began a drive of their own that would extend well into the final period. After a debatable offensive pass-interference call stymied their progress, Houston settled for a 45-yard Koo field goal, and we were back to a tie game.   The Bandits had no desire to slow things down, an din only 1:57 seconds again put a touchdown on the board. Prescott found Dez Bryant for a 48-yard strike, and then went right back to him 2 plays later for a 29-yard TD that put the Bandits up 7. Houston then had their turn, eating up over 5 minutes on their way to the endzone, with McCoy finding Gerald Everett with 1:53 left on the clock to tie the score at 27 and once again throw the gauntlet down, with the Bandits given a shot, with altogether too much time left, to avoid overtime.   The Bandits did not need the full 1:53 of game time. They had struck quickly all game, and they were about to do it again. In 4 plays and only 1:19 seconds they had taken the lead and returned the pressure back to Houston. Once again it was Dez Bryant, this time from 33 yards out and despite double coverage from Houston CB Leodis McKelvin and safety Budda Baker. Prescott’s throw perfectly split the two defenders and Bryant timed his jump perfectly to bring the ball down and crash into the endzone with both defenders falling over him. Bryant immediately popped back up, showing the crowd the ball before slamming it to the turf as his teammates swarmed him.   Houston was now against the wall, down 7 with only 34 seconds to play, they would need to drive 78 yards after the fair catch, and that did not look promising. But, with Colt McCoy under center, the game certainly was not over. On 1 st and 10 he found JuJu Smith-Schuster for 15 yards. Two plays later it was Mike Evans for 11, but then things got uglier for the visitors. On 1 st and10 from their own 46, McCoy wanted to try a deep shot, but Bandit DE Pernell McPhee got to him before he could set up the throw, producing the 4 th sack of McCoy in the game. Now 2 nd  and 16, McCoy found Tony Moeaki along the sideline for a quick 6 yards and a step out of bounds to save time. Third and 10 brought more pressure from Tampa Bay and McCoy was forced to swing the ball out to Josh Reynolds for a gain of only 6. Reynolds did manage to get out of bounds with 15 seconds left to play, but it was 4 th  and 4 for the Gamblers.   Coach Trestman decided against playing a shallow zone, opting instead to trust his DBs and send pressure with man coverage behind it. There was a moment when it looked like this would backfire as Denzel Mims appeared to be open over the middle, but McCoy missed him, looking towards Mike Evans as Mims found himself with the advantage. By the time McCoy shifted his focus, DT Marcell Dareus has busted through the middle of the line, throwing his weight against McCoy and forcing the Houston QB to essentially eat the ball, unable to even get a flailing throw off. The Bandits took over on downs, and after one kneel, they celebrated a hard-earned win, and their destiny as the Eastern Conference’s 1 seed. Houston would return home now 2 games behind division-leading Birmingham, with only 2 left to play.   BALTIMORE 20  PITTSBURGH 6 The Blitz handed Pittsburgh a 3 rd  consecutive loss, keeping their own playoff hopes alive at 8-6 while sending the Maulers back to .500 at 7-7. Baltimore held the Maulers to only 24 yards rushing and allowed only 3 third down conversions all game, dominating action with a solid run game and a short passing attack from Jake Locker. Locker hit both Brian Hartline and C. J. Uzomah for scores as they pulled away from the slumping Maulers, their defense led by veteran end Calais Campbell, whose 2 sacks put him second only to Montez Sweat in the USFL rankings. POTG:  Baltimore DE Calais Campbell: 8 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF   LOS ANGELES 13   ATLANTA 15 A week after their big home win against the Dragons, LA proved too distracted and too depleted as they fell to the Fire. In a pretty slow-paced affair, the two battled to an 8-6 Atlanta advantage after 3 quarters, the only difference in the score a 1 st  quarter safety. But, when Pat White found Vance McDonald for a TD early in the 4 th , it put the offensively challenged Express down by 9, and that was too much for them to overcome. POTG:  Fire DE Mario Edwards, 6 Tck, 3 Sck   MICHIGAN 30  OHIO 14 The Panthers stay hot, winning their 4 th  in a row in impressive style by holding OHIO QB Justin Fields to only 3 yards rushing while picking him off twice as a passer. LeVeon Bell returned to full strength, evident in his 113 yards and 5.1 YPC average. Kirk Cousins hit 10 different receivers, but still managed to get the ball to Cody Latimer 6 times for 112 yards and a score. The Panthers led 20-0 at the half and coasted home with a 16-point victory over the Glory. POTG:  Panther HB LeVeon Bell: 22 Att, 113 Yds, 1 TD   MEMPHIS 9   PHILADELPHIA 13 A defensive slugfest in Memphis as the Stars and Showboats struggled to put points on the board all game. The Stars actually started fast, with Carson Wentz hitting Quincy Enunwa for the game’s only TD on the opening drive of the day, but after that neither team would find success on offense, with the rest of the game limited to field goals. Surprisingly, despite the defensive domination, the game saw no turnovers, just a lot of 3-and-outs and 13 combined punts. POTG:  Philadelphia LB John Bostic: 7 Tck, 1 TFL, 2 PDef   OKLAHOMA 28  ST. LOUIS 7 The Outlaws snap a 4-game losing streak by balancing their offense. Yes, Nick Toon had 155 yards and a TD through the air, but Oklahoma also ran the ball well, with a combined 130 yards rushing from Lacy, Dallas, Burkhead and QB Jalen Hurts. Tyrod Taylor struggled in this one, completing only 11 of 27 for 165 yards. The win causes Oklahoma to leap over St. Louis in the overall standings, which could well cost them a draft position or two. POTG:  Outlaw WR Nick Toon: 7 Rec, 155 Yds, 1 TD   JACKSONVILLE 17   SEATTLE 30 Seattle rebounds from their first loss in 11 weeks by throttling the Bulls, limiting Jacksonville to only 4 first downs, though Trevor Lawrence did manage two big-play touchdown tosses. Seattle was slow and steady, getting an early TD off a Josh Allen fumble return TD, then adding scores from Amari Cooper and Greg Jones as they pulled away in the 2 nd  half. POTG:  Seattle LB Josh Allen: 11 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 Def TD   CHICAGO 23  NEW JERSEY 9 New Jersey drops a 2 nd  game in a row, leaving them locked up with Philadelphia atop the NE Division, while Chicago stays 1 game up on surging Michigan with the win. The Machine dominated on defense, limiting New Jersey to only 42 yards rushing. Daniel Carlson put up 3field goals, and Chicago got a Bradford to Snead TD and a rare carry from FB Jakob Johnson for a goal line score as they lock up a playoff berth with the road win. POTG:  Chicago CB Josh Norman: 9 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR   ORLANDO 24  CHARLOTTE 22 The winless Monarchs put a serious scare into the Renegades but could not finish it out. Down 24-16 late, the Monarchs put together a scoring drive in the final two minutes, with Kyle Boller hitting Brandon Pettigrew with a potential game-tying score. But Charlotte needed the 2-point try, and they could not get it as Kyle Boller was sacked on the attempt by league sack leader Montez Sweat.  That play was the highlight, but statistically it was Russell Wilson’s day, throwing for 3 scores and completing nearly 2/3 of his passes. POTG:  Orlando DE Montez Sweat: 8 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF   SAN ANTONIO 28  BIRMINGHAM 35 Tim Tebow wins a 3 rd  start in 3 tries as he holds off a very game Gunslinger squad. Tebow went 18 of 34 for 297 yards and 4 touchdowns as he held off Joe Flacco and San Antonio. He got help from the run game in the form of 72 yards from rookie Najee Harris, but also rushed for 40 yards himself as Birmingham moves to 10-4 on the season. POTG:  Stallion rookie WR Devonta Smith: 5 Rec, 139 Yds, 2 TD   NEW ORLEANS 45  DALLAS 13 The Breakers got Geno Smith back from injury and the veteran QB played angry, throwing for 236 yards and 3 scores as the Breakers stun the Dallas Roughnecks at the Cotton Bowl. Justin Herbert was picked off 3 times by a vastly more engaged Breaker D than we have seen all season. Add in 154 yards from the combo of Myles Gaskin and DeMarco Murray and a 4-0 turnover margin for New Orleans and you end up with a blowout. POTG:  Breaker QB Geno Smith: 11/17, 236 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   DENVER 31  PORTLAND 16 Denver’s passing game and QB Josh Allen got healthy against an overmatched Portland secondary, with Allen throwing for 344 yards and 4 touchdowns in the Gold’s romp over the Stags. Golden Tate finished with 129 yards and a score, while Darnell Mooney brought in two scores for the Gold. Throw in a solid run game from Lindsay and Wilson (96 yards combined) and the Gold pull away for the win and a playoff berth. POTG:  Gold QB Josh Allen: 17/22, 344 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int   OAKLAND 22  SAN DIEGO 21 It certainly was not easy, but rookie Davis Mills moves to 2-0 with the 1-point victory in San Diego. Mills had a strong outing, going 20 for 27 for 191 yards and all 3 Oakland TDs, but the defense seemed mystified by unheralded Thunder back Demetric Felton. The rookie back rushed 17 times for 115 yards and a score, almost singlehandedly keeping the 3-win Thunder in this game. Oakland needed 2 fourth quarter TDs to get the win, but Mills found both Austin Hooper and Christian McCaffrey when it mattered most and got the W to stay very much alive in the playoff picture, now fully controlling their own destiny. POTG:  Invader QB Davis Mills: 20/27, 191 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   Prescott & McCoy Put on a Show of Star Power We have already walked through the recap of the brilliant Bandits-Gamblers game, but we thought one more point needed to be highlighted, that we witnessed two quarterbacks at the pinnacle of their abilities. Colt McCoy’s 361-yard, 3-TD, 0-Int performance moved him into the top 5 in our QB rankings, which feels surprising considering the Gambler QB has over 4,500 yards and 31 touchdowns. We may need to look at the QBR system to try to figure out why his numbers don’t put him higher than a 100.7 rating. Meanwhile, Dak Prescott put up some ridiculous numbers in Tampa Bay’s vertical attack, throwing for an average of 16.6 yards per attempt, not per completion, per attempt. He completed only 10 of 16 passes, which means that every completed pass averaged 26.6 yards, an absolutely insane number, oh and 4 of his 10 completions were touchdowns, let that sink in.   Prescott threw touchdowns of 56 yards (Cameron, 1 st  Q), 7 yards (Grant, 3 rd Q), 29 yards (Bryant, 4 th  Q) and the game winner, a 33-yard TD to Bryant with only 34 seconds left to play. He also had a 48-yarder to Bryant that was not a score and a 44-yarder to Deebo Samuel, also not a score. In 10 completions he hit 7 different receivers. Crazy numbers for a QB who is not going to win MVP and very likely won’t be eligible to be listed on the QB Rankings. That fact, that because of games missed to injuries, Prescott does not currently qualify for the official QB Rankings due to insufficient pass attempts on the season (a shifting total required based on the current number of games played). Here is the thing, if Prescott were eligible (he fell 13 attempts short), Dak Prescott, with 3,331 yards, a 30:9 TD:INT ratio and a 63% completion rate, would be at the top of the board, pulling down a 131 QBR, miles ahead of Josh Allen’s 112.3. He has 2 games to get within the minimum, but will need to put up a lot more attempts than his 17 in this week’s game to do so. Every week the minimum requirement increases by 20 attempts, so Dak will need to average 27 or more attempts over the next two weeks to reach the minimum needed, and when we look at his average each week, it has reached 24 attempts only 5 times all season. Not that he cannot do it, but with the Bandits in all likelihood resting him in Week 17, we think he will miss the total needed and miss what would be a passing stat title. But while that is a blemish on the USFL for their evaluation system, the reality is that Dak Prescott is one QB that no one wants to have to gameplan to stop this postseason, a lesson evident in his outdueling of Colt McCoy in this week’s Game of the Week.   Allen Wills Gold to Playoff Spot with 4-TD Day Portland just did not have an answer. That was the takeaway from Josh Allen’s 344-yard, 4-TD day in the Rose City this week. Allen was on his game, completing 77.3% of his attempts (17 of 22), despite taking some shots from the Portland front 7 (5 sacks). His success, paired with a solid defensive gameplan from Coach Hufnagel, has done what few foresaw this season, placed the Gold in the 2021 postseason. The Gold locked up no worse than a Wild Card with 2 games left, and while they are being pursued by a rising Arizona Wrangler squad, the success that Coach Hufnagel, his QB, and his team have had this year is already creating believers in the physically gifted Wyoming product.   It may not be easy, but we have to recall what was said about Allen when he came out of Wyoming, a player who was too raw, had too many accuracy issues, and barely found his way into Division 1 football at all after getting no offers out of high school. Allen, who famously sent tapes to programs across the country while playing at the Juco level, was seen as a major risk by both NFL and USFL stats. The story they told was that accuracy was the 6’5” QB’s weakness, and that accuracy was the one skillset that rarely improved even with pro coaching and focus. Well, let’s see here. After spending his entire rookie year on the bench, but also working with QB specialist Jordan Palmer, Allen started his career with a 63.4% completion rate, a solid 10 points higher than his best year at Wyoming. He finished that year with a 103.1 QBR and 29 touchdowns. The next year his % increased to 66%. This year, his third as the starter, he has dipped to 60.5% but that is largely due to his increase in the use of the deep ball and his willingness to play “hero ball” when needed. He currently sits on his highest QB Rating ever, 112.3, leading the league among eligible passers (see our comments on Dak Prescott above), he has 32 touchdowns with 2 games left to play, and he has the Gold in the postseason for the second time in 3 years. Not too bad for a small town kid with a wildly inaccurate arm and no discipline.   Winston Gets the Win, with Help from His Friends Jameis Winston keeps the streak of QB changes alive, following Davis Mills, Tim Tebow, and Tyrod Taylor in the recent run of backup QBs stepping in and getting a win in their first outing as the starter. Winston was named the starter for the final 3 games of the season after the Steamrollers were eliminated from playoff contention, part of a plan to look at the 2022 QB race ahead of schedule and possibly simplify the decision process for Coach Fox in time to make a contract decision on 13-game starter Ryan Tannehill. So, what did we learn about Winston in his first USFL start?   To start, we learned that he still has some issues with decision making. While his 26 of 39 outing, a 66.7% completion rate, was solid, as was his 7.5 yard per attempt average, the two picks thrown in the game still have to worry John Fox. Both were forced balls, both on 3 rd  down, and both led to Washington scores. For a QB essentially drummed out of the NFL after a 30-interception season, throwing those two avoidable picks in his first game in New England has to be a red flag. But, that said, Winston did bounce back, going 6 for 7 in the 4 th  quarter and putting up the game-winning score on a nice throw to DeVante Parker. The other factor that was obvious was that Winston’s teammates, particularly his offensive team, supported him and trusted him. That was obvious in how they rallied with him after each pick, but also in how they showed up for him on the field. T. J. Yeldon in particular had a huge game, rushing for 151 yards against a front 7 that had to respect Winston’s arm. His receivers almost routinely made outstanding catches, including a jump Ball by Will Fuller that ended up as the ESPN play of the day for its sheer athleticism.   So, it was not a perfect performance, and Coach Fox is going to want to dissuade Winston from forcing balls to covered receivers, but overall, Jameis Winston did what he was asked. He kept the ball moving down the field (26 first downs for the Steamrollers, a team record) and pulled out a game that many thought was easily going to go Washington’s way. He will have 2 more starts to make his case in what is clearly a 3-game audition.   Breakers Get Geno Back, Play Spoilers Against Dallas We don’t think it was so much that New Orleans got Geno Smith back against the Roughnecks, but that they seemed to get back the 2020 version of Geno Smith, the Geno Smith that threw for 37 TDs and only 7 picks, finishing 2020 with a 126.9 QB Rating. That is a Geno Smith they have not seen much of this season. Smith has not had a good year under center, not only missing 5 games due to injury, but looking flat in the 8 starts he did have. Well, he did not look flat in this start, throwing for 236 yards and 3 scores as the Breakers absolutely dismantled the Dallas defense. He was certainly helped by an unexpectedly capable run game, but the fact of the matter was that Smith was in the zone, making plays with his feet and with his arm, reading the field well, and avoiding miscues. The result? A dominant 32-point win over a team that still had playoff aspirations. The Breakers’ season may be a major disappointment for the fans in the Crescent City, but Smith’s return, and return in force, may be a good sign that 2021 could be a “blip season” and not a sign of long term issues.   Start the Clock, Charlotte Locks Up 1st Draft Pick Send out the scouts, bring in the data, start building the board, the Charlotte Monarchs are guaranteed the first pick in the USFL Draft, and they certainly need to get it right. With their hard-fought, but still futile, effort against Orlando, Charlotte dropped to 0-14 and appear ripe for a winless season. That 14 th  loss made it official; the Monarchs would be drafting first come January. It is not an honor any team wants, but it is a reality that having the first pick can produce some real improvement, just look at what Philadelphia has done this year.   Of course, the difference between a team that uses a horrible season as a springboard for future success and one that simply wallows in the basement is how the team responds to their predicament. Charlotte will have the first pick, but is also almost certain to have both a new GM and a new head coach when that pick arrives. We already know that Vance Joseph is running out the string and will be let go on Black Monday (he technically has already been let go, just not on immediate terms), and we fully anticipate a much broader house-cleaning is on the way as soon as the Monarchs wrap up this truly miserable season.   And here is the other thing. Having the first pick in the Open Draft is not a cure-all. It has not been in the history of the USFL. First of all you will have a ton of talent taken off the board in the Territorial Draft, and then, even if your ideal candidate is available, and even if you select him, you still have to outduel the NFL to get the player signed. Many a USFL 1 st pick has played in the fall instead of going to the worst team in the spring, a reality that Charlotte will have to be prepared to face. They need to bring in a team that can not only evaluate talent, but persuade talent that Charlotte is where they want to be. So, yes, the Monarchs are on the clock, and will have their pick of the players who escape the T-Draft, but they are in no way ensured of making that pick work for them.   We add two more teams, both in the West, to our playoff pool, which now sits at 4 teams. Denver and Chicago, both with statement wins this week, join the Bandits and Dragons as 2021 playoff teams. Both hold a 1-game lead over rivals Arizona and Michigan for the division, and both are sitting at 10-4 with visions of a bye week in their minds. Currently, Denver holds the tiebreaker if they finish tied with Chicago at the end of the season, but with 2 weeks left, the 2-seed on the line and division rivals nipping at their heels, both likely will have to win out to have a shot at that 2-seed and the bye they both covet.   New Jersey’s loss this week made the NE Division a tighter race, with the Generals now tied with Philadelphia at 9-5, and also dropped New Jersey to the 3 rd position, with Birmingham now able to control their destiny and take a shot at the coveted bye week. If the Stallions can extend their win streak from 4 games to 6, they would wrap up the 2-spot and the week of rest. Finally, we also saw the list of eliminated teams grow to 10, which means we have 20 teams fighting for 12 spots, or, more accurately, 16 teams fighting for 8 spots, since 4 are already claimed. Right now, 8-6 is the minimum record for a playoff spot, but does not guarantee one, as Atlanta and Baltimore are on the outside looking in despite an 8-6 mark. With 4 teams in the West at 7-7, all of them need help to get into the mix, while Oakland now controls their own destiny after 2 Davis Mills wins out of the gate have the Invaders at 8-6 and sitting in the 6-spot.   With many teams eliminated from contention, we are seeing even short-term injuries now putting players on IR, as is the case with Oklahoma’s Ben Richards or Washington’s Cedric Ogbuehi. Among playoff teams, losses like WR John Brown for Seattle are far more impactful. And, even more intriguing are the players who will be game-time decisions, with none more interesting than Coach Marvin Lewis’s situation with QB Kyler Murray. The 7-7 Express are still alive in the Wild Card hunt, one game behind 6 th  seed Oakland, but Murray’s health is an issue, with the QB having suffered a concussion in this week’s loss in Atlanta. Will Coach Lewis protect Murray by going with Matt Gutierrez in his first start for the Express, or will he hope to see good progress and a clear bill of health on Sunday, when the Express face 4-10 Jacksonville?   OUT DT          Ego Ferguson            ORL       Groin                   IR WR         John Brown                    SEA        Hamstring                IR CB          Benjamin Richards        OKL       Shoulder                 IR WR         Brian Quick                   PIT         MCL                        IR LB           Preston Brown              TBY        Hernia                      1-2 Weeks WR         K. J. Hill                      CHA      Toe                         1-2 Weeks WR         Laviska Shenault            SD          Foot                          1-2 Weeks OT          Rashawn Slater               PIT         Covid Protocol         1 Week   DOUBTFUL G            Nick Easton                 NE          Concussion OT          Justin Pugh                MEM     Concussion CB          Dre Kirkpatrick                MGN     Elbow   QUESTIONABLE QB         Kyler Murray                LA          Concussion LB           Kwon Alexander          NOR      Eye infection LB           Jamie Collins             NE          Toe DE          Jerry Hughes                ARZ       Hand   USFL Competition Committee Mulls Changes to Draft for 2023 It appears that the T-Draft critics may well be getting their way, at least in part, as the USFL announced this week that they were giving serious consideration to a proposal to merge the T-Draft and Open Draft into a single event, similar to the NFL Draft. Currently, USFL teams each have 3, and occasionally more, protected schools, from whom they can get exclusive draft rights to 3 players. This system has helped teams bring in local talent for nearly 40 years (with a short period of suspension of the system before it was later restored). The list of USFL stars who came out of the T-Draft is quite extensive, from Arizona State QB Jake Plummer heading to the Wranglers, Memphis landing Tennessee DE Reggie White, and Birmingham constantly stocking their roster with Alabama backs, to 2021 rookies like Cal & Oakland QB Davis Mills, Clemson and Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence, and Penn State and Philadelphia LB Micah Hyde.   But for every team that lives through the Territorial Draft, there is another who feels they get the short end of the deal, teams like Portland, San Diego, Las Vegas, Denver, New Jersey, and Boston who simply don’t have consistent powerhouse programs in their region. The league tried to assist with this by allowing teams 1 non-regional college and by implementing the option to add a 4 th school if there were fewer than 6 players with at least a 6 th  round draft grade in their standard 3-school allotment, but that too has not been enough to prevent criticism of the system.   So, what is the USFL proposing in its stead? Essentially an embedding of the T-Draft within the Open Draft. The proposal under consideration would remove the separate T-Draft process, while also removing the protection of players by teams. In its place there would be an expansion of the Open Draft to 8 rounds with a minimum requirement that 2 of the players chosen by any team would have to originate from a protected school. The proposal would also limit teams to 2 FBS schools, with only 1 required to be within 250 miles of the team’s home city. Essentially, this would mean that a team like New Jersey might have to choose between Syracuse and Rutgers, but could then have Kansas State, Wisconsin, or Ole Miss as its 2 nd  team, while another, like LA, would likely jump on USC as its first school, but would not be limited to California for its second.   For purists and fans of the T-Draft, this feels very unwelcome. Not only does it reduce the potential for their favorite USFL team to have a strong presence of local talent, but it also forces those teams to risk losing out on top tier local talent in the Open Draft and being forced to use mid-round picks to meet the requirement for 2 players to originate from protected schools. For opponents of the current system, it is about leveling the playing field. No longer would the top talent from Alabama, Georgia, Florida State, Michigan, or Ohio State be under the exclusive control of 1 USFL team. It would certainly increase the value of the Open Draft, and of early 1 st  round picks, as teams could snap up the star QB or pro-ready DE from Clemson well before Jacksonville got a shot. There is something to be said about that level of parity, but for many the T-Draft has been a boon, not only for their teams, but for the local identities of most USFL clubs.   The proposal will go to the league’s Competition Committee for review, and would not be implemented for 2022, but a positive report out of that committee could mean that the 2023 draft would look very different for the USFL’s 30 franchises.   Harbaugh, Turner, & Coughlin Hoping for a Return With several USFL coaching positions expected to open up in the next 2 weeks, there is no shortage of coaching talent hoping they will get a call. And while we often talk about the up-and-coming coordinator, or the NFL coach cut loose this fall who gets a gig in January to join spring football, the truth is that there are some pretty talented coaches either sitting a year out or having taken a temporary position after losing their positions. This year, perhaps more than in recent memory, there are more formerly successful USFL coaches available for the team that is looking for someone with a serious USFL pedigree.   John Harbaugh led the Philadelphia Stars for 16 years (2005-2020), racking up 148 wins, 11 playoff appearances and 2 trips to the Summer Bowl in his long tenure. We were honestly surprised that he was not snatched up after he parted ways with the Stars midway through their 2020 campaign. He has not taken on another job since then, though he did have some conversations with NFL teams this Spring. Don’t be surprised if someone jumps at the chance to land a coach with his resume.   Norv Turner ’s tenure in New Jersey was neither as long or as successful as Harbaugh’s in Philly, but the offensive minded coach is still considered a strong option and a very viable candidate. Turner spent 7 seasons with the Generals, producing 4 playoff teams and 2 Division Winners in that time. He was a huge factor in the late career domination of HB Maurice Jones-Drew and also proved to be a bit of a QB development guru, two example of his offensive bona fides that may well attract interest this offseason.   Finally, Tom Coughlin was known as the ultimate disciplinarian. His famous rules about arriving ahead of meeting times, about locker room order, and on-field precision were both respected and reviled by players. In 9 seasons with Baltimore and 5 more with Ohio, Coughlin was known for tenacious defenses and smashmouth offenses, though he certainly was not against some gunslinging by his QBs. Coughlin’s style will not be for everyone, and he has yet to produce a league champion, so there is some doubt about whether or not the rigidity and high expectations he brings to his locker room actually produce players motivated to win, but for those who respect the kind of teams he has put together, having Coughlin as an option could be very attractive.   Ohio Glory Reveal 2022 Designs Our penultimate Under Armour design made its way from the cutting floor to the team showcase this week, with the Ohio Glory revealing their look for 2022 and beyond. As we have come to expect from Ohio, the new look is not a large deviation from past years, with only a few new wrinkles to it. Ohio did not alter their primary logo, though they did tweak their bold-font wordmark, retaining the central image of the star and circle. They did, however, approve a few new features, including the first helmet stripe (of sorts) in team history.   After 25 years of a blue shell with white facemask, Ohio added a string of 5-pointed stars along the center strip of the helmet. There are 17 stars in total, a pretty obvious reference to Ohio as the 17 th  state to join the union. Beyond that detail, the helmet is very much the same as in recent years, as is the rest of their primary uniform. The Glory retain a predominantly flag blue uniform, with curved block letters with red trim and a shoulder yoke intersected by red and white stripes. On the home uniform the yoke is only noticeable due to thin white piping that extends from the collar to the cuff, while on the white uniform, the retention of the blue yoke is far more obvious.   The pant sets follow a recent trend of angled horizontal stripes on the sides, rather than the traditional waist-to-knee vertical striping. In Ohio’s case a red-white-red stripe pattern is linked to a blue color block above them, with another 5-pointed star within the blue field. All in all, a very traditional look for a very traditional team, complete with all the patriotic trimmings.   So, did you expect the alternate look for the Glory would deviate from that theme? While the alternate look is certainly a divergence from the Glory’s traditionally blue-dominant design, it is not hard to see that the spirit of the team was retained. The “4 th  of July” Alternate features an all-white look, with a lot of red and only a few flashes of blue. The white helmet uses the team’s secondary logo, the “Banner” design that features the state outline of Ohio with a patriotic banner draped across it. It also features the same line of stars, now in blue, and a new feature, red and white striping across the bottom third of the helmet shell, curved to resemble a waving American flag.   The jersey and pants are also white, retaining the same basic features as the primary looks, but with far more red and blue limited to only the number piping, a thin piping line at the base of the yoke, and a pair of stars over each sleeve’s red stripes. White socks with two red stripes complete the look, one that is clearly tied to Ohio’s strong patriotic symbolism, while deviating quite a bit from their primaries. And yes, there is also a throwback look, with Ohio bringing back not only the more traditional jerseys and pants, but the original eagle logo on the team’s blue helmet. With only 2 weeks left and 8 playoff spots (along with 4 division titles) up for grabs, there are few games this week that don’t hold some form of playoff impact. Both interdivisional games on Friday night will have an impact on the playoff picture, with 12-2 Tampa Bay standing in the way of 8-6 Baltimore’s hopes to rise back into the mix. The Blitz cannot afford a loss, while Tampa Bay has already locked up the 1-seed and could be a bit less motivated than usual in the final 2 games of the season. The ESPN game features two teams at 9-5, both needing a win if they want to land a division title. New Jersey comes off a bad loss to Chicago, the same Chicago club that Michigan is chasing, one game back but holding the tiebreaker (division record) if they can even their record with the Machine’s. This is, for all intents and purposes, a playoff game already.   Saturday features four division games and two interdivision games, with some real impact within them. The best of the Saturday games includes Dallas @ Memphis at noon, with both teams on the verge of elimination if they cannot get the W this week. NBC’s 8pm start has Atlanta @ Orlando in a Southeastern battle for 2 nd place in the division and a Wild Card berth. The ESPN game, also at 8, features a Western Conference showdown as the Seattle Dragons, sitting pretty in the 1-seed, but still not guaranteed home field, need a win, but so too do the Arizona Wranglers, sitting at 9-5 and trailing rival Denver by only one game. Expect this one to have some intensity to it.   Sunday is a bit more low key, but still some games that will impact the playoff scene. Can Ohio knock off Jameis Winston and New England to stay alive? A drop to 7-8 would make a playoff appearance nearly impossible. Fox will broadcast the Philadelphia-Birmingham game, a possible battle of division winners, with the Stars needing a win to pass by the Generals if New Jersey falls to Michigan. Houston has to be worried about their game in New Orleans after the version of Geno Smith who played this week, and Chicago cannot take Washington lightly, even with their mediocre performance this week. A stumble by the Machine and Michigan could leapfrog them for the division title after being all the way down to 4 th  place a month ago. Some important games, some very hard-fought battles, that is what awaits us in Week 16.   FRI @ 8pm ET          Tampa Bay (12-2) @ Baltimore (8-6)                        NBC FRI @ 8pm ET         New Jersey (9-5) @ Michigan (9-5)                         ESPN/EFN   SAT @ 12pm ET      Dallas (7-7) @ Memphis (6-8)                                   ABC SAT @ 12pm ET      Pittsburgh (7-7) @ St. Louis (4-10)                        FOX SAT @ 4pm ET        San Diego (3-11) @ Portland (4-10)                      ABC SAT @ 4pm ET        Denver (10-4) @ Las Vegas (5-9)                            FOX SAT @ 8pm ET        Atlanta (8-6) @ Orlando (9-5)                                 NBC SAT @ 8pm ET        Arizona (9-5) @ Seattle (11-3)                                  ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET    New England (5-9) @ Ohio (7-7)                              ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET     Charlotte (0-14) @ San Antonio (5-9)                    ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET      Philadelphia (9-5) @ Birmingham (10-4)             FOX SUN @ 4pm ET      Houston (8-6) @ New Orleans (5-9)                     ABC   SUN @ 4pm ET      Jacksonville (4-10) @ Los Angeles (7-7)               FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET       Oakland (8-6) @ Oklahoma (5-9)                            FOX Regional SUN @ 8pm ET        Washington (6-8) @ Chicago (10-4)                       ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Arizona LB Malik Jefferson did a bit of everything, and the Wranglers needed every bit of what he did to knock off the Las Vegas Vipers at Wynn Arena. The largely unheralded Wrangler linebacker had 6 tackles, including a forced fumble against Kareem Hunt, he picked up a sack, then picked off Gardner Minshew, and returned the ball for 7. That is a pretty full day for any linebacker, and our POTW game. PLAYOFF PICTURE: Two more teams joined the Bandits and Dragons in the 2021 postseason as the 10-4 Denver Gold and the 10-4 Chicago Machine are now guaranteed a postseason bid. Both are not done yet as Chicago holds a slim 1-game lead over Michigan for the Central Division crown, while Denver is only 1 game up on Arizona in a very contentious SW Division. Over in the East, Birmingham also reached 10-4, but they are not yet locked in, with too many 8-win teams behind them but still in range, including the Houston Gamblers. The list of eliminated teams grew also, with the USFL now with 10 teams out of range for the playoffs: Charlotte, Jacksonville, San Diego, Portland, St. Louis, Oklahoma, Las Vegas, New England, New Orleans and San Antonio.

Seattle and Tampa Bay both wrap up division titles, the Dragons doing so despite a tough loss in LA. Meanwhile, Tim Tebow helps Birmingham’s win streak hit 3 games in a row, while the Generals are stunned by a very feisty Washington Federals’ squad. And, don’t look know, but with a 3-game winning streak, the Panthers are back in 2 nd  place in the Central, only 1 game behind Chicago. We will run down all the action, including Davis Mills’ debut for the Invaders. We will also take a look at the award races, which are all looking very tight right now, and the distinct possibility that 3 longstanding coaches could be in trouble as Black Monday approaches. But we begin with Washington’s unexpected showing against a Generals team that had won 9 in a row.   Federals Stun Generals as New Storyline Emerges The Washington 2 months ago the Washington Federals were on the fast track to an early draft pick, sitting at 1-6 and making a midseason change at QB. But with 3 weeks left in the USFL season the Feds may be on the fringe of the playoff race, but they have not given up. Since making their swap at QB, promoting former Seattle Dragon Jacoby Brissett over high-priced free agent acquisition Ryan Nassib, the Federals have gone 5-2, including a 3-week win streak that included victories over Philadelphia and Ohio, and just this week they avenged their lone loss during the past 2 months, a 28-21 loss in New Jersey, by knocking off the Generals 31-24. Washington may only be 6-7 overall, but they are one of the hottest teams in the league and a team no one wants to see on their schedule the next three weeks.   Brissett’s numbers may not be huge (1,672 yards and a 53.4% Completion Rate) but he has produced 11 touchdowns in 7 games, with only 5 picks, and he has helped Washington turn the season on its head and make June games relevant. But the truth is that he has not done it on his own. Brissett has benefited from the rapid development and undeniable skills of rookie HB Travis Etienne. The Clemson star is closing in on 1,000 yards after a 119-yard outing against the Generals, the self-same Generals team that held him to only 28 yards 2 weeks ago. Throw in a 99-yard game against Charlotte, a 91-yarder vs. Atlanta, and his 130-yard break out game against New Orleans and you have a back who will garner a lot of votes for Rookie of the Year.   Etienne has become a focal point of the Washington offense, allowing Brissett to use play action and helping the Federals move up the offensive statistical tables to a point where they now rank 10 th  in scoring and 12 th in rushing. Even with the 28 th  ranked defense (yards allowed) they are still winning games. They will host the New England Steamrollers this week, and again in the finale, and simply winning those two games will get them to .500, but if we were the Chicago Machine, the Feds’ Week 16 opponent, we would not be happy to see this team getting hot right now.   The odds for Washington to make the postseason are slim, even with a 3-0 finish (which would actually be a 5-0 finish). Their top potential record is 9-7, which is unlikely to be a Top 6 finish in the East, but they certainly can send a message about the future, putting the rest of the NE Division on notice and setting up for a big 2022. It all starts with offense right now, but give Coach Kevin Gilbride another offseason and we could see some improvement on defense as well. All this from a team that seemed to be giving up at midseason, trading away Chris Long to Seattle in what looked like a cap-dumping move. But now, with a nucleus to build around, that move may well be the basis for upgrades on defense that could help the Federals take another step. They are essentially set at QB (Brissett), HB (Etienne), WR (Tyreek Hill, Keenan Allen, and Jarvis Landry) and at TE (Housler and Winslow). So, that means they can dedicate the offseason to improving Brissett’s protection and bringing in some help for DE Bradley Chubb, and CB Prince Amukamara. With Tremaine Edwards, Patrick Queen, and Anthony Walker looking solid in the LB slots, we think DE, CB, and the O-line will be the focus, and that is a pretty manageable wish list for a team that has over $8M in cap space before we see any free agent departures or retirements (not that we expect many).   The win this week over New Jersey was a stunner, not because the Feds got the win, but because it indicated that this team was not happy playing out the string, they wanted to send a message that Washington is on the way back after 7 consecutive non-playoff years. 2021 may be the 8 th , but with what we are seeing from this group, that streak is not likely to hit 9 seasons. SEATTLE DRAGONS 21   LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 28 Sometimes you just know that a game is going to be a good one, and with the LA Express teetering on the verge of playoff oblivion, we all had a sense that they would make a stand, playing at home, and visited by the 10-2 Seattle Dragons, winners of 10 in a row. We were right as Saturday’s Prime Time game on ESPN gave us everything we could have wanted out of a Pacific Division showdown.   The game featured one of the league’s best defenses in the Express going up against it’s leading rusher in Knowshon Moreno. It featured one of the most criticized and analyzed passing games going up against perhaps the league’s best secondary in Seattle’s combo of corners Richard Sherman, Chidobe Awuzie, and Jaire Alexander and safeties Taylor Rapp and Terrell Edmunds. It also featured two coaches with contrasting styles, the aggressive offensive mind of Mike Riley against the stodgy and defense-first philosophy of Marvin Lewis. In other words, this one had “classic” written all over it.   We often expect these kinds of divisional slugfests to start slowly, with both teams sizing each other up, but that is not what we got. We got points out of the gate, with Seattle opening the game with an 11-play drive and a Hundley to Amari Cooper TD that silenced the LA crowd. But that crowd was not silent for long when, on Seattle’s 2 nd  drive, backed up at the 10, Hundley made a fatal mistake, trying to force the ball inside to TE Kyle Rudolph. Express LB Keith Rivers jumped the route, snapped up the ball, and rumbled his way to the endzone to even the score with a defensive TD, an Express specialty.   Seattle was upset, but angry after the botched pass, and Hundley bounced back in a big way, connecting with slot receiver John Brown for 30 yards on a 3 rd  and 7 throw. That was followed by a 12-yard run from Moreno, his longest of the day, and then a quick strike to Cooper, and finished off with Moreno going the final 6 yards to once again build up a 7-point Dragon lead. All of this in about 7 minutes of game time, and while the score would hold through the end of the 1 st  quarter, it was clear that both teams were ready for the intensity of this game.   Midway through the 2 nd  quarter, Seattle expanded their advantage with Moreno earning his 2 nd  TD of the game, a goal-line plunge after a defensive PI against Richard Sherman (who guarded Cooper all night) put the ball on the 1. Moreno’s score with 6:14 left in the half, gave Seattle a 21-7 lead, but the Express were not impressed. They got in range as the half wound down, but a poor snap cost them a field goal and they went into the locker room a frustrated but motivated team, trailing by 14, but feeling the game was far from over.   LA came out in the 2 nd  half with no interest at all in respecting Seattle’s game. They manhandled the Dragons on 3 consecutive 3-and-out possessions by the Dragon offense. Their own offense found some rhythm as well, turning their 2 nd  possession of the half into 7 points thanks to a 15-play, 7-minute drive that concluded with Paul Perkins crashing into the endzone from the 3. The Express had dominated the quarter and now went into the final period down only 7.   The 4 th  quarter would belong to two players, LA DE Nick Bosa, who recorded 2 sacks, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in the span of 12 minutes, and WR Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, who would find the endzone twice in the final 6 minutes of action. The first came on a 1-yard crossing pattern after the Bosa fumble gave LA the ball at the Seattle 22. The Express pounded the ball towards the endzone, with Perkins and Ty Montgomery both effective against the Dragon run defense. Once they got inside the 5, they faked the run and Murray found Brown for the equalizer.   Only 3 minutes later, after yet another 3-and-out from the LA defense, helped by a Jamar Taylor sack on a corner blitz, the 6 th  sack of Hundley on the night, LA was back in action and moving the ball well. Murray, who finished the game only 10 of 21, got 2 of his 10 completions on the drive, including the go-ahead score, a 29-yard out & up that fooled the Seattle secondary and left Brown open for the score. LA was up 7 after trailing by 14, had held Seattle without any points in the second half, and was only 2:54 away from a very needed division win. But 2:54 is an eternity in football, so this game still had some drama left to play out.   Seattle took the ensuing kickoff to the 27 on their return, and took the field hoping to muster one last drive to send the game to overtime. They would abandon the run on the drive, having seen Knowshon Moreno, despite his 2 short TD runs, limited to only 33 yards on 16 carries, a paltry 2.1 YPC average. Hundley would have to carry the team if they were going to even the score in the final minutes. At first he seemed very much up to the task, finding Newhouse for an 11-yard strike on the first play of the drive, then finding TE Kyle Rudolph for 23 only 2 plays later. They were in LA territory, but they needed 7, not 3, and they needed to keep moving closer to get that done.   Hundley took a huge hit on the next play, a blow just as he threw the ball as Bosa again hit home, but as the pass fluttered out of bounds, it did nothing but move the down to 2 nd  and 10. On the 2 nd  down play, Hundley found TE John Bates, but the play gained only 2 yards, creating a 3 rd  and 8. Hundley went to the shotgun, looked first at Newhouse, then back across to John Brown over the middle, but there was nothing there.  He took off running but was brought down after gaining only 2 yards, creating a game-defining 4 th  and 6. Again in the shotgun, Murray thought he had the clean route he needed, throwing a laser towards Amari Cooper, but Richard Sherman recovered quickly, gaining ground on the receiver, and disrupting the catch with his left arm thrust between Coopers. The ball fell to the ground and the possession switched over to the Express.   LA would need a first down to end the game, and they got it in only 2 plays, the first a 5-yards counter by Perkins, the second another 5-yard gainer, this time from Murray on the scramble, and that was all she wrote. The Express, up 28-21, could take a knee, leave the field at 7-7 and remain very much alive in the playoff hunt. The Dragons, winners of 10 in a row, now had their third defeat, and yet, for the disappointment of the day, there would be good news as other results came in over the weekend, locking in the Dragons not only as a playoff team, but as the Pacific Division Champions. A strange way to get there, but they got there nonetheless. NEW JERSEY 24   WASHINGTON 31 As we covered in our Big Story this week, Washington stunned the Generals, with Travis Etienne not only rushing for 119 yards, averaging 6 yards per carry, but he also contributed a key TD through the air. Jacoby Brissett also found Tyreek Hill for a score in the 4 th  quarter, giving Washington a 31-17 lead before a late General TD made the game look closer than it was. POTG:  Federal HB Travis Etienne: 20 Att, 116 Yds, 3 Rec, 23 Yds, 1 TD   OHIO 0   CHICAGO 34 A disastrous performance for Ohio in a game they hoped would propel them to the playoffs. The Glory rushed for a total of negative 2 yards in this game. Yes, even with a dual threat QB and a pretty solid veteran HB in Isaiah Pead, they managed negative rush yardage. Add to that a grand total of only 3 first downs in the entire game, and a defense that allowed Chicago to walk all over them and this was a very bad showing for a team that had playoff aspirations. POTG:  Chicago kicker Daniel Carlson: 6 for 6 on FG.   MICHIGAN 28  PHILADELPHIA 17 LeVeon Bell had only 1 carry before a shoulder injury took him out, but Alexander Mattison and Karlos Williams stepped in and combined for 161 yards and 2 TDs as the Panthers won their 3 rd  in a row to get right back into playoff position at 8-5. The Panthers picked off Carson Wentz twice, including a Dre Kirkpatrick pick-six, and limited Derrick Henry to only 39 yards in a game that was never really close after a 14-0 first quarter from the Panthers. POTG:  Michigan CB Dre Kirkpatrick: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD.   ORLANDO 27   NEW ORLEANS 17 The ‘Gades took care of business, improving to 8-5 despite 3 Russell Wilson picks and a defense that gave up 126 yards and 2 scores to Breaker WR Justin Jefferson. They were helped by a 100-yard game from NFL import Chris Carson, and by a defense that sacked Tajh Boyd 4 times, 3 coming from league sack leader Montez Sweat. The Renegades took a 10-3 lead in the 2 nd quarter and never trailed after that as New Orleans was eliminated from playoff consideration at 4-9. POTG:  Orlando DE Montez Sweat: 5 Tck, 3 Sck, 1 FF   PITTSBURGH 21 DALLAS 33 Dallas won their 3 rd  in a row to move above .500 and they did it in style, with Perine and Johnson combining for 124 yards and 2 TDs on the ground and the defense returning a Dalton pick 29 yards for a score. All you need to know about how this game went for Pittsburgh is that Andy Dalton led all backs with 8 rushing attempts. Pressure was on him all game and the results were not pretty for the Maulers. POTG:  Dallas HB Samaje Perine: 22 Att, 81 Yds, 2 TD   BIRMINGHAM 26  OKLAHOMA 20 Tim Tebow has 2 wins in 2 starts, and this one came with some pretty nice numbers as well, with Tebow going 14 of 25 for 312 yards, 2 TDs and no picks. That is quite a bit better than Jalen Hurts’s 186 yards, though Hurts also added 2 TDs. Oklahoma held a surprising 20-16 lead after 3 quarters, but a Tebow to HB Ben Tate TD throw and a field goal from Chris Boswell helped the Stallions build up a 6-point lead and they blanked Oklahoma down the stretch to move to 9-5 on the season. POTG:  Stallion QB Tim Tebow: 14/25, 312 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   ST. LOUIS 14  DENVER 20 With Josh Allen knocked out of the game with a foot injury after only 1 attempt, it was Mitch Trubisky who rallied the Gold, with a lot of help from Golden Tate. Tate caught 6 of 9 targets from Trubisky, turning short throws into big gainers with YAC. That includes a 50-yard TD on a 7-yard throw, and another 27-yard TD catch and run. St. Louis played the Gold tough, but Tyrod Taylor was sacked 5 times, 3 in the 4 th  quarter and the Skyhawks just could not come back late. POTG:  Denver WR Golden Tate: 6 Rec, 173 Yds, 2 TD   BALTIMORE 24  NEW ENGLAND 7 The Blitz stay alive in the Wild Card race, with Jake Locker throwing for 3 scores and the defense limiting Ryan Tannehill to 185 yards passing. It was 24-0 after 3 quarters with a late garbage time score finally putting New England on the board. The poor offensive performance by the homestanding Steamrollers likely played a big part in the decision to finish the year with Jameis Winston under center (see story below). POTG:  Blitz QB Jake Locker: 15/25, 144 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int   SAN ANTONIO 10   ATLANTA 21 The Gunslingers were feeling good after building up a 10-0 lead at the half, but the Fire adjusted in the 2 nd  half, with Pat White throwing for 3 scores and the Gunslinger D giving up 168 yards to Fire backs. Kenyan Drake, who is rumored to be headed into free agency, rushed for 104 yards on only 6 carries, while Nick Chubb went 18 for 62 as Atlanta, got their first win with White under center. POTG:  Fire QB Pat White: 28/41, 273 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int   CHARLOTTE 13   JACKSONVILLE 17 In what might have been their best shot at a win this season, Charlotte held a 13-10 lead after 3 quarters but could not finish the game out. Jacksonville scored on a Lawrence to Mike Williams 22-yard toss with 5:16 left to play and the Monarchs just did not have a late answer. Kyle Boller threw for 307 yards against the Bulls’ defense but also threw 2 second half picks. The star for Jacksonville was Williams, who caught both Trevor Lawrence TDs on the day. POTG:  Jacksonville WR Mike Williams: 5 Rec, 105 Yds, 2 TD   PORTLAND 9   ARIZONA 35 No doubt about this one as the Wranglers put up 17 points in the 2 nd  quarter to take a dominant 23-2 lead. David Carr threw for 4 scores and both Victor Cruz and Demarcus Robinson both went over 100 as the Wrangler offense is rounding into playoff form down the stretch. DE Bud Dupree added 2 sacks, including a safety against Mariota as each team got one 2-pointer in the game. POTG:  Wrangler QB David Carr: 14/23, 283 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   TAMPA BAY 34  SAN DIEGO 19 The hardest part of this game for Tampa Bay was getting there, as their original coast-to-coast flight had to make an emergency landing in Mobile, Alabama due to mechanical issues. They found their way to San Diego in plenty of time and from there it was pretty simple. Dak Prescott went 14 of 22 for 311 yards and 2 scores, while Dalvin Cook added 87 more and three TDs in a Bandit win that locked up their repeat as SE Division Champs. POTG:  Bandit HB Dalvin Cook: 17 Att, 87 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Rec, 13 Yds, 1 TD   LAS VEGAS 17   OAKLAND 21 A solid debut for QB Davis Mills and a good win for the Invaders, who improved to 7-6. Mills went 23 of 34, throwing for 262with 2 TDs and 1 pick. He was pressured by the Vipers, who recorded 6 sacks, but he stayed on his game and helped Oakland get the win with a 4 th  quarter TD to Taylor Gabriel that proved to be the winning score. Christian McCaffrey also had a good day, rushing for 106 and a score. POTG:  Oakland LB Shaquile Barrett: 6 Tck, 3 TFL, 1 Sck   HOUSTON 44   MEMPHIS 17   The Showboats did not show for this one, as Houston ran up a 34-3 score by halftime. First half scores from Mike Evans, Josh Reynolds, Carlos Hyde and Gerald Everett proved how diverse and how difficult this Gambler offense can be. McCoy threw for 4 scores in the game, while Blake Bortles, getting the start for an injured Paxton Lynch (a Saturday incident at home with a knife, apparently), was sacked 6 times and picked off once in the Houston blowout. Lynch is expected to be back next week, but it may be too late for the 6-7 Showboats. POTG:  Houston QB Colt McCoy: 14/23, 238 Yds, 4 Td, 1 Int   Tebow 2-0 As Stallions Keep Stampeding While Stallion fans can certainly hope for Cam Newton to be back by season’s end, the absolutely cannot complain about the results the past three weeks, with Tim Tebow at the helm. Not only did the former Bulls’ starter and Gator legend help the Stallions pull out a key game against Memphis when Newton went down, but in two starts he has produced over 550 yards passing, 4 touchdowns, no picks, and, most importantly 2 wins. The initial panic and all the hand-wringing about the trade that sent Jameis Winston to New England seems to have been without merit. Tebow has not only played well, he now has Birmingham on the brink of playoff certainty for only the 3rd time this millennium. Birmingham holds a slim 1-game lead over Houston for the division title, but at 9-4, they are almost assured a place among the 12 playoff teams, and they have a real shot at winning their first division title since 1997. You read that right, the Brett Favre-led Stallion team of 1997 was the last division title for Birmingham, a drought that is now 23 seasons long and on the cusp of finally ending.   Tebow has not tried to play Superman, and his game is still a bit rusty, completing only 47.1% of his passes since taking over for Newton, but he is managing the game, spreading the ball around, finding plays at key times, and even using his legs to make plays. He sits with a 106.4 QB Rating after 2.5 games, far better than most starters across the league, and he has the Stallions believing they can finish the regular season atop the Southern Division and possibly even getting a nice bye week for their troubles. That bye could be pivotal, with Cam Newton expected to miss at least 2 more games, but very likely needing even more time. The best case scenario was for Newton to return for Week 17’s season finale at Arizona, but if Tebow continues to win games, Birmingham might be in a position to play some backups and let Tebow make a curtain call in the regular season, with Newton then getting an additional week of rest before coming back under center in the Divisional Playoffs 2 weeks later.   Tebow’s play, and the victories over New Orleans and Oklahoma, has flipped the narrative in Alabama from “Can we survive and make the playoffs with Tebow?” to “What if Tebow goes 5-0? Should we keep him in for the playoffs?”. That last thought was unthinkable only a few weeks ago, but with one SEC legend replacing another and doing it with very positive results, Birmingham is asking questions that are more a luxury than a necessity.   Mills gets Win in First USFL Start Birmingham is not the only team asking some tough QB questions after rookie Davis Mills got his first start and produced a nice win over Las Vegas. His numbers were not eye-popping, but they were certainly very solid for a rookie making his pro debut: 23 of 34 for 262 yards, 2 TDs and 1 pick. Mills looked comfortable under center and Oakland improved to 7-6 on the year, still very much in a crowded pack looking for a Wild Card spot.   The decision to bench Tom Brady was certainly a highly controversial one, but at 6-6 and feeling like the chance for a playoff spot had passed them by, it made some sense to give their rookie some 2021 playing time before possibly taking on the starter mantle full time in 2022. But, what happens if Mills keeps producing wins? Oakland is currently on the outside of the playoff picture looking in, one of 5 teams sitting at 7-6, with Ohio currently holding the tie-breaker advantage for the 6 th  playoff position, but a few more wins from the Invaders and they could easily leapfrog the Glory, Maulers, Express, and Roughnecks to claim the spot. What happens if they do?   Assuming Mills is able to maneuver the Invaders into the playoffs, do you stick with the hot hand, an untested rookie in his first USFL postseason, or do you return to the 5-Time Pro Football Champion and 2-time USFL Champion QB in his swan song season? There will be fans within the Invader Army who feel like Brady deserves the shot at one more playoff run. Others will look at what will have to be a very strong 4-game mini-season by Mills and insist that the rookie deserves the postseason starts. It is a tough situation for Coach Kubiak, but, as with Birmingham’s QB situation, it is one based on abundance, not scarcity, a playoff run facilitated by a new QB and a very solid veteran backup also available. There are plenty of teams that would be envious of those kinds of tough decisions instead of the ones they face as the season heads into its final weeks.   Bell Out vs. Stars But Panthers Prevail The Michigan Panthers have used a 3-game winning streak (and 4 of 5) to get back into the thick of the Central Division chase after falling all the way to 4 th place in the division. Their win this week over Philadelphia was an impressive one, if only for one reason, it was accomplished without 3-time OPOTY winner LeVeon Bell at halfback.   Bell came into the game looking like he was ready to rip through the Stars’ defense, but on only the 2 nd  play of the game, Bell’s first carry, he took the ball on a routine counter run, crashed through the line, gained 3 yards, and was driven to the ground by Philadelphia rookie LB Micah Parsons. Bell popped right back, headed to the huddle, rotating his arm, when he suddenly winced in pain, and called to be taken out. Michigan fans everywhere likely let out some salty language upon seeing Bell head to the medical team, and then the locker room. The good news is that while his shoulder was clearly bruised, he had not suffered a dislocation or a fracture. He would spend the rest of the game on the sideline in a t-shirt but without a sling.   The better news for the Panthers is that with their superstar out of action, they still dominated the Stars, outgaining Philadelphia 314-266 and converting on 8 of 12 third downs. Alexander Mattison got most of the carries in Bell’s stead, and the 3 rd  year back availed himself quite well, averaging 3.9 YPC on his way to 81 carries. Third stringer and occasional 3 rd  down back Karlos Williams also stepped up, rushing for another 80 yards on 12 carries, with a strong 6.1 YPC average. Both Williams and Mattison found paydirt, scoring once apiece, and the Panthers came away with an 11-point victory on the road against a very tough Philadelphia squad.  Bell is expected to suit up this week, when the Panthers match up in a key Central Division game against 7-5 Ohio, and while he may have his snap count limited, it is clear from this week’s Panther victory, that Michigan may well be able to carry on and challenge Chicago without him being at 100%, something the Panther faithful are very happy to see.   Roughnecks Back in Hunt with 3rd Straight Win Another team on a 3-game streak, the Dallas Roughnecks, are hoping they can stay hot and get themselves back in the playoff race. It won’t be easy as their 6-5 Conference record has them currently last among the 5-team cluster of Western Division teams with the same 7-6 record. Of all the 7-6 teams, Dallas is the one most likely to need to gain a game on the others to earn a Wild Card spot. Having already lost to Arizona, Ohio, and LA, the Vipers have some head-to-head issues, but also only have 1 more conference game left, a season finale against Las Vegas.   The Roughnecks, elevated by 3 good wins over that same Las Vegas team, as well as a big win in Denver and this week’s victory over Pittsburgh, may well need to win out, which will be a challenge, but not impossible as the three foes left on the Roughneck schedule (New Orleans, Memphis, and Las Vegas) all sit below .500 after 13 games. They have a chance, and they will likely need a good bit of help, but all you can ask at this point of the season is to be playing well and to have that retain meaning as the playoff races come down to the final weeks.   Steamrollers to Give Winston 3-Game Mini-Season Officially eliminated from playoff contention at 4-9, and coming off two deflating losses to Orlando and Baltimore, the New England Steamrollers have clearly moved into “future planning” mode. The biggest sign of that is the decision from Coach Fox, announced on Tuesday, that Jameis Winston, and not Ryan Tannehill, would be under center for their final three games (@ Washington, @ Ohio and home to the same Federals for the finale). Winston, acquired in a midseason three-team trade that saw the Steamrollers give up both HB Eddie Lacy and 1 st round rookie pick Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, will get his first USFL start against the Federals this week and is expected to have what is essentially a 3-game audition to be the named starter ahead of the 2022 season. The former NFL starter came to the USFL to serve as Cam Newton’s backup in Birmingham after some rough, up and down, seasons in the NFL, including a brutal 30-interception year in 2020. When Tampa Bay released Winston, he got moderate attention from other NFL teams but opted to restart his career in the USFL. Now, with the Steamrollers, he will have a chance to show that he should be reinstated as a starter.   And what of Ryan Tannehill? Himself an NFL import, Tannehill came to the Steamrollers after 1 season in Jacksonville, where he was in Winston’s shoes, trying to prove he could be a viable starter. He had 1 start late in the 2019 season for the Bulls, going 24 of 36 and doing enough to impress John Fox, who selected the former Miami Dolphin in the expansion draft. Tannehill started all 16 games for the Steamrollers in their inaugural season, throwing 15 TDs and 17 picks, and earning a sup-par rating of 68.7. This year has been a bit better, with Tannehill’s numbers improving to a 77.7 QBR, while throwing 9 touchdowns and 8 picks in 11 starts (missing 2 starts to injury early in the season and before Winston's arrival). Well, a lot of what happens to Tannehill depends on how Winston performs in the three final games for the Steamrollers. If he shows a lot of promise, we could see Tannehill free to go in free agency. If there is doubt, however, and Winston struggles, then New England may well scramble to provide Tannehill with an acceptable extension to his original contract.   For Tannehill, the situation must be very frustrating, with his future determined not by his own play, but by the play of a competitor. For Winston, this is the chance to rehabilitate his image, shaking off the “bust” tag that emerged in Tampa Bay, and once again claiming a starting job in the pros. And for New England, who are likely to also give more time to several additional younger players over the next 3 weeks, it is an audition to see if they have caught lightning in a bottle or if they need to reevaluate the most important position on the field.   Two teams are in, both now assured a division crown, as the 11-2 Tampa Bay Bandits, winners of the Southeast Division for a second year running, are joined by the Seattle Dragons, who may have lost to rival Los Angeles this week, but whose 10-3 record now puts them 3 games ahead of any division rival with only 3 to play. Yes, a collapse could allow either Oakland or LA to catch them in the standings, but the tiebreakers all go Seattle’s way, to such a degree that the title is now assured.   Behind the two frontrunners for 1-seeds is a cluster of teams all vying for position or to gain a berth in the next 3 weeks. Each conference has a pair of 9-4 teams, New Jersey and Birmingham in the East, Chicago and Denver in the West, followed by several 8-5 teams and several more at 7-6. With most divisions other than the Pacific and Southeast currently showing only a 1-game margin between first and second place, we may not see another “-y” next to a team any time soon, but we do expect to start seeing some “-x” designations as several teams have a chance to get at least a Wild Card sewn up before their divisions are settled.   The other big story this week on the playoff front is the elimination of 6 more teams, bringing the total to 8 of the 30 USFL franchises. Sitting at 4-9, now 4 games behind the 6 th  and final Wild Card in the East, New England and New Orleans now join the Bulls and winless Monarchs as teams out of the playoff hunt. In the West, 4 teams all joined that group this week, with 3-10 San Diego joined by a trio of 4-9 teams in St. Louis, Oklahoma, and Portland. A Wild Card is out of the question for all 4, though there is still a chance to play spoiler in their final 3 games.   With teams in vital playoff push games this week, even a 1-week injury could be huge. Atlanta knows that and will be hard-pressed to put points on the board with Aaron Murray and now WR Kelvin Benjamin both out in Week 15. Seattle will be without Deshon Hall, but they have perhaps the deepest CB group in the league to help them cope. Baltimore may struggle to pressure the QB with Da’Quan Bowers expected to miss the rest of the regular season, while Michigan is hoping that LeVeon Bell can go this week as they face Ohio.   OUT DE          Dion Jordan              POR      Fractured Arm            2-4 Weeks DE          Da’Quan Bowers            BAL        Abdominal Tear               2-4 Weeks CB          Michael Jackson             ORL       Neck                              2-4 Weeks DE          Deshon Hall                SEA        Collarbone                   2-4 Weeks WR         Kelvin Benjamin              ATL         Abdominal Strain           1-2 Weeks OT          Rashawn Slater               PIT         Hernia                             1-2 Weeks LB           Ramik Wilson                 HOU     Hamstring                    1-2 Weeks G            Nick Easton                  NE          Covid Protocol                 1 Week CB          Kevon Seymour             OHI       Covid Protocol                 1 Week   DOUBTFUL G            Nick Allegretti                  CHI        Foot DE          Jerry Hughes                  ARZ       Hand   QUESTIONABLE TE           Rob Gronkowski             PIT         Concussion OT          Jonah Williams              SD          Hand OT          Tyson Clabo                   LV           Eye HB         LeVeon Bell                  MGN     Shoulder   Are LeBeau, Lathon, and LaFleur Safe or Scared? Too many L’s, that is the problem for three “L” coaches, Dick LeBeau, Lamar Lathon, and Brian LaFleur. Each has at least 4 years with their club, with LeBeau in year 8 and Lathon the senior man with 10 seasons behind him. But with all three already removed from playoff contention and looking at a 10-loss season, what are the odds that these three coaches could become Black Monday sacrifices.   Brian LaFleur (POR) LaFleur’s position seems the most precarious. He is only in his 4 th  year and at 4-9 it looks like the Stags are all but assured a 10-loss season, his second in 4 years. And while the Stags have also had two 9-7 seasons in LaFleur’s tenure, a one-time trip as a Wild Card and a quick one-and-done departure are likely not enough to keep their coach for a fifth season. What is perhaps more damaging for LaFleur is that he came to Portland with an offensive pedigree, ostensibly signed to mentor QB Marcus Mariota and yet the Stag offense is stagnating, sitting at 25 th  in scoring and a nasty 27 th  in rushing. Yes, Mariota has improved, securing a 111.9 rating in 11 games last year, but a dip back into the high 80’s this year, and with 15 picks in 13 games, the results are just not there. VERDICT: Almost certainly receiving a pink slip on Black Monday.   Dick LeBeau (SD) LeBeau’s resume is certainly stronger than LaFleur’s. this is a coach who racked up 4 consecutive 10+ win seasons and 4 straight playoff appearances in San Diego (2016-2019), but after last year’s collapse at 3-13, the Thunder again are sitting on 3 wins this year. Do we think the Thunder will accept a 2 nd  straight 10-loss season and not want a change? LeBeau is known as a defensive guru, but the Thunder rank 27 th  in the league, giving up 25.2 points per game this year. We think that is going to be seen as a failing in the coach’s main area of expertise, and rightly so. VERDICT: We think San Diego will go another way, both at GM and in the Head Coach position.   Lamar Lathon (NOR) Over 9 seasons, Lathon has amassed a 95-48-1 record and has taken the Breakers to the postseason every single season, a remarkable feat. Add to that a league title, the first and only in the 39-season history of the Breakers, and you have a pretty strong case for a Mulligan. So, what do we make of their drop from 11-5 in 2020 to a current tally of 4 wins? Is one bad year enough to force a change in the Big Easy, or does Lathon, as a former star player for the club and a very successful coach, get the benefit of the doubt? We think he has to. The Breakers have the talent to rebound in 2022, and Lathon has proven to be a solid coach with a strong record of success. VERDICT: Lathon will get a shot to rebound in 2022.   Season Awards Could be Real Races With only 3 weeks left in a season, we usually have a really firm grasp of who is going to come away with the individual awards in the USFL. From MVP to Rookie of the Year, we would normally know who the voters will go with after 13 games, but this year is proving a challenge. In pretty much every one of the 5 major USFL honors, there is a debate, and a pretty balanced field of top contenders, so which way will the final weeks of the season break? And who will step up to claim their spot as the best of the 2021 Season? Here is our look at the 5 major USFL awards and where the race stands with each.   MVP: Josh Allen, Cam Newton, Jalen Hurts, or Colt McCoy? We know that the MVP will be a quarterback, it almost always is and without another position putting up a potential record-breaking season, we think the pattern will stick. But, after 13 games there are good arguments to be made for multiple players, and we are not at all sure who wins out. Of these four names, all of whom have their arguments, we think that two may be fading.   Cam Newton’s injury means he can do nothing for the next 3 weeks to rally his team or to bolster his numbers. He was likely the frontrunner after 10 weeks, but that injury, paired with Tim Tebow’s success in relief, makes his case a tough one. Jalen Hurts certainly has the numbers, with over 3,400 yards and 26 touchdowns, but the Outlaws have 4 wins and are eliminated from playoff position, so how can we say his contribution has been the most valuable of any player in the league? That leaves Josh Allen and Colt McCoy. McCoy will get some sentimental vote towards a “lifetime achievement award”, after all, 2021 is just the latest in a long run of strong statistical years. McCoy has not had a season with fewer than 3,000 passing yards, 24 TDs or a QB rating below 90 since 2016. This year’s numbers (4,165 yards, 28 TDs, 12 Ints, and a 98.6 QBR) are among the best of his career. Add to that Houston’s rating as the top passing team in the league and their strong playoff position, and we could see McCoy getting the nod. But don’t count Allen out either. Yes, his fast start has tapered off a bit, but his numbers remain impressive: 3,518 passing yards in 13 games, 28 TDs, 12 picks, and a 108.3 QBR. Allen’s Denver Gold are also one of the surprise teams of the season, sitting atop the SW Division at 9-4, and that is largely due to the success their QB has found in his 4 th  season. We think McCoy has the edge (in numbers and public awareness), but it would not surprise us if Allen got the award if Denver holds on to win the division.   OPOTY: Knowshon Moreno, Golden Tate, or the 2 nd Place MVP Votegetter at QB? The award for offensive player of the year is typically the award for the best offensive player who is not a QB. But we have seen years in which the 2 nd  place votegetter for the MVP award walks away with OPOTY as a consolation prize. So, it is perfectly viable that either McCoy or Allen could snatch this award away from the best back or receiver of the season. Or, how about this for a take, Allen misses out on MVP, but they give the OPOTY to his favorite target, veteran WR Golden Tate? Tate is having the best season of his illustrious career, with over 1,250 yards and 60 receptions in 13 games, not to mention a league best 13 receiving touchdowns. In a way, giving Tate the OPOTY is a way to recognize Allen while still giving McCoy his due as MVP.   But, before we get too focused on Denver, we have to acknowledge that in any other year the clear frontrunner would be Seattle tailback Knowshon Moreno. After 3 straight OPOTY victories by LeVeon Bell, and with the Michigan back dropping all the way to 10 th  in the latest rushing stats, Moreno has become the new face of the run game in the USFL. A back with 13 grueling seasons behind him, Moreno is on pace for a personal best in yardage, and could make a run at 1,400 yards. He has 10 TDs and could beat his personal best from last season (11) with a strong finish, and, perhaps most impressive for a back who turned 32 this year, he is doing it by averaging 4.7 yards per carry, the best among any back with more than 40 touches. We love the season Moreno has put together, and with Seattle as the top seed in the West, the Dragons and their star back deserve this one.   DPOTY: Defensive ends Montez Sweat, J. J. Watt, Calais Campbell, or LB Kahlil Mack Perhaps more than any award other than MVP, the DPOTY tends to be a mix of statistical excellence and team impact. How else could you explain the fact that Calais Campbell missed out on the title during years when the Renegades were not a playoff squad, despite his dominance as a pass rusher. We keep Campbell in the mix this year because he has worked his way into the Top 5 in sacks once again, but it does seem that he will not be able to catch Montez Sweat this year, making it the first in more than a decade where someone else’s name will top the leaderboard. That alone makes Sweat a major contender for the award. Add to that a nice run in the 2 nd  half of the season that has Orlando right in the playoff mix, and the Renegades’ newest edge rushing dynamo has to be considered a frontrunner for the award. In Memphis, J. J. Watt had a fast start, but the wear and tear of a USFL season hot on the heels of his last NFL season has started to take effect, with Watt clearly slowing down and dealing with some injury issues the past month. That leaves only one darkhorse, and again it is a case of a player who is certainly gifted, but who is also on a team that seems to be on a fast track to a Summer Bowl appearance, Seattle LB Khalil Mack.   Mack is not going to lead the league in tackles, a category often won by a player on a bad team that simply gives up more offensive plays, producing more tackles. He won’t lead the league in picks or sacks either, as LB’s never do, but when you put the three major defensive stats together, there is no one who is excelling as a tackler, pass rusher, and coverage linebacker quite like Khalil Mack. In his 8 th  season, Mack leads the Dragons with 3 interceptions, despite the quality of their secondary. He is 2 nd  on the team with 9 sacks, but Chris Long, who leads the Dragons, only came over a few weeks ago from Washington, so in actual sacks for the Dragons, Khalil is again first. Oh, and with 69 tackles, he is only 5 behind team leader Josh Allen. He has a real chance to finish the season atop the team leaderboard in all three categories, and his team is currently 10-3, a division winner, and a clear favorite for the 1-seed. We think that could make him a darling of voters.   ROTY: QBs Trevor Lawrence and Justin Fields, HB Travis Etienne, or DE Odafe Oweh? We all went into the season thinking that Lawrence was the odds-on favorite, and he certainly has had a good statistical year for a rookie QB, throwing for over 3,000 yards and on pace for well over 20 TDs, but, with the Bulls mired at 4-9 and their offense ranked only 17 th  in passing, the numbers are just not strong enough, not with the kind of games we have seen from Justin Fields in Ohio.   Fields not only has the Glory in the playoff mix at 7-6, but has had some games that were pure highlight reels. The only major knock is that Fields has been mediocre as a passer and only shows up as a dynamic leader when he uses his feet. The former Ohio State dual threat has only 2,337 passing yards after 13 starts, and his TD:INT is not good at 9:12. His rating is 64.4, which is a rating that often gets QBs benched. But, when we look at him as a rusher, the numbers pop: 130 attempts for 733 yards, an 5.6 YPC average and 10 rushing TDs. That is a strong resume for a rookie halfback, much less a starting QB. But, what if the passing numbers drag him down, who then?   Many will point to Washington HB Travis Etienne. That makes sense, as the former Clemson Tiger has 905 yards after 13 games, with a real chance to hit 1,200 as a rookie. He also has 10 total TDs (9 rushing) and is clearly a focal point of the Federal offense. But, we have someone else in mind, a bit of a dark horse, but clearly a player who has had a highly impactful first year. That 4 th  name is Denver Gold DE Odafe Oweh. The former Penn State LB/DE hybrid has been a revelation for the Gold, racking up 19 sacks in 13 games, good enough to be tied for 2 nd  in the league and only 4 behind league leader Montez Sweat. If wins and losses are part of the equation, and impact for a team is also counted, we think Oweh needs major consideration.   COTY: Robert Saleh, John Hufnagel, Todd Haley, Mike Riley, or Ron Rivera We always say that this award goes to the coach who gets more out of his roster than most predicted. Well, this year there are a lot of cases to be made with that criteria in mind. On the one hand, you have teams that have exceeded expectations even as teams some expected to compete for the playoffs, as is the situation with Mike Riley in Seattle or New Jersey’s Robert Saleh. But the other hand holds coaches leading teams that were not seen as contenders, but are now in the mix, such as Birmingham’s Todd Haley or Denver’s John Hufnagel. Our final pick is a coach who many thought might be on the verge of being let go, Orlando’s Ron Rivera. After a 4-4 start, many were critical of Rivera and the underachieving Renegades, but the 2 nd half of the season has seen Orlando get very much in the mix, going 4-1 and now very much a team to be reckoned with as the playoffs approach. Honestly, we think the voters will likely be looking at Hufnagel and Haley simply because their teams were not well-respected ahead of the season and both now have a chance to win their divisions.   Tampa Bay Bandits to Alter Look for 2022 With the Bandits locked in and ready for the 2021 playoffs, the club was ready to reveal their new Under Armour look, safe in the knowledge that they would be donning the gear a bit early. The USFL tradition of teams switching to their new gear in the playoffs prior to the official debut season is one well-established, and one the Bandits expect to uphold as they gear up for the 2021 playoffs.   At an event at the famous Don Cesar hotel in St. Petersburg, the Bandits and Under Armour unveiled the new look for the defending USFL champions. Not to worry, Bandit fans, it is a look that very much pays homage to the team’s 39 USFL seasons and their 4 league titles. The Bandits mixed innovation with trademarks from their past to design the new look. The helmet is one very familiar to Bandit fans, with the traditional silver-grey shell and grey facemask. The traditional striping and the masked rider will be very familiar. Where fans will see a difference is in the new striping on the jersey and pant sets as Under Armor took the traditional 5-stripe pattern (black-white-red-white-black) found on the helmet and gave it a new twist, with the familiar pattern now appearing as angled horizontal stripes on both the grey pant set and both the red and white jerseys, not as a sleeve stripe, but along the ribs. The sleeves of both jerseys will feature the familiar monogram logo with black hat and no striping. The numbers are either red or white with silver and black piping and a black shadow.   The look is one that is both new, in the way stripes are aligned, but also deeply tied to the look that Tampa Bay has worn since the league’s inaugural season. However, if there are Bandit fans that hanker for a more traditional look, they will certainly be happy with the club’s 1983 Throwback look. The original look of the Bandits, including their 1983 logo and the traditional sleeve and pant striping, will be a very welcome and familiar look for Bandit nation.   The final alternate look, known as the “Midnight Rider” will also be one from Tampa Bay’s past, modeled after a short-lived alternate look the Bandits experimented with in the early 1990’s. The all-black design features the team’s secondary Bandit logo on the black helmet, outlined in silver. The black jersey and pants replicate the new striping pattern on the team’s primaries, but with no use of white, using only red and silver striping. The numbers also avoid white, with silver numbers piped in black and red. It is a look we expect to see only when the Bandits play at night, considering that the all black look would hardly be a good idea in the hot summer sun of a June or July day game.   Expect the Bandits to debut the new red jersey primary look when they open the playoffs, almost certainly playing as a home team. If they are able to lock up the 1-seed, that game will be in the Divisional Round, which feels pretty much like a safe bet considering the 10-3 Bandits are 2 games up on both New Jersey and Birmingham for the 1-seed and have only 3 games left on the schedule.   A week for teams to either make a stand or fade away. It is not hard to see why as we have so many teams at either 7-6 or 6-7 and only a couple can have a real shot at a playoff berth. We kick off on Friday with 4 teams, all at 7-6, and all hoping they can make a late run to reach 10 wins. On NBC it will be the Blitz heading to Pittsburgh to take on the Maulers. This used to be a divisional game but is now an interconference matchup, but one that is vital to both teams. The ESPN/EFN game is also an interconference game, but with both LA and Atlanta at 7-6, this is a must-win for both teams.   The drama will continue on Saturday, where we start with the first of 6 divisional matchups. Michigan, sitting at 8-5 and winners of 3 in a row, head down to Ohio to face the 7-6 Glory. Yes, a great battle of rivals built off the enmity of the two states, but also a vital playoff-defining game for both clubs. A win by Michigan and they are all but assured a playoff spot and a shot at Chicago for 1 st  place. Ohio needs the win to stay in the mix in the Central. We will also have 6-7 Memphis hoping to upset 8-5 Philadelphia and return to .500. The NBC Saturday night game will also provide some playoff drama, with 9-4 Chicago facing 9-4 New Jersey in a clash of teams defined by their tenacious play.   Sunday features 4 divisional games, though none have two playoff seeking squads facing off. Washington is still alive at 6-7, as they host the 4-8 Steamrollers (with new QB Jameis Winston), while the 8-5 Renegades and 9-4 Stallions hope wins over Charlotte and San Antonio will boost their playoff positions. Finally, at 4pm, we have Oakland, sitting at 7-6, hoping a win in San Diego keeps them in the mix. But in what will likely be the most watched game this weekend, we have a nightcap on Sunday that could produce some real fireworks, as the Houston Gamblers head to Tampa Bay to face the Bandits. This game will have two of the most prolific offenses in the league going head-to-head, so we expect a lot of big plays and a real “shootout” atmosphere.   FRI @ 8pm ET         Baltimore (7-6) @ Pittsburgh (7-6)                     NBC FRI @ 8pm ET        Los Angeles (7-6) @ Atlanta (7-6)                     ESPN/EFN   SAT @ 12pm ET      Michigan (8-5) @ Ohio (7-6)                             ABC SAT @ 12pm ET      Memphis (6-7) @ Philadelphia (8-5)               FOX SAT @ 4pm ET        Oklahoma (4-9) @ St. Louis (4-9)                 ABC SAT @ 4pm ET     Jacksonville (4-9) @ Seattle (10-3)                 FOX SAT @ 8pm ET      Chicago (9-4) @ New Jersey (9-4)                     NBC SAT @ 8pm ET      Arizona (8-5) @ Las Vegas (5-8)                       ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET     New England (4-9) @ Washington (6-7)         ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET   Orlando (8-5) @ Charlotte (0-13)                   ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET     San Antonio (5-8) @ Birmingham (9-4)          FOX SUN @ 4pm ET        New Orleans (4-9) @ Dallas (7-6)                    ABC SUN @ 4pm ET       Denver (9-4) @ Portland (4-9)                       FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET        Oakland (7-6) @ San Diego (3-10)                   FOX Regional SUN @ 8pm ET        Houston (8-5) @ Tampa Bay (11-2)                  ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Denver found themselves in a tough spot, their potential MVP QB knocked out of the game, former INT champion Mitch Trubisky in at QB and fighting a very plucky Skyhawk team. They needed someone to step up, and that someone was veteran WR Golden Tate. Tate reeled in 5 of his 6 catches from Trubisky, turning in 173 yards and scoring twice, from 27 and 50 yards out as Denver held off St. Louis 20-14. PLAYOFF PICTURE: Seattle joined joined the Bandits in the playoff pool this week, locking up not only a playoff berth but the Pacific Division crown at 10-3. They and the Bandits are now both Division champs as each holds a 3-game advantage over their closest competition, and all the tiebreakers as well. The other big news this week was that we had several teams learn that their hunt for a postseason spot was over. St. Louis, Oklahoma, Portland, San Diego, New England and New Orleans joined the Bulls and Monarchs in the "not so fast" pool, a 6-team wave of eliminations.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Ohio's rookie QB Justin Fields was at it again this week, powering the Glory to a much-needed win over the visiting Oakland Invaders. The numbers were not as big as his record setting performance earlier this year, but they certainly were enough to get Ohio to 7-5 on the year, passing for 163 yards and a TD, while adding 143 more on the ground, along with 3 rushing TDs as Fields again proves that he is an extremely dangerous runner from the QB position. PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Bandits became the first team to lock up a playoff spot, emerging from Week 13 with a 10-2 record and a 3-game lead in their division. They are assured of no less than a Wild Card even if they go 0-4 in the season's final month. We also had a 2nd team join Charlotte in the pool of eliminated teams as Jacksonville's 3-9 record and lack of tiebreakers means that even if they win out and tie some of the current 7-win teams, they will not qualify for the postseason. San Diego, despite an equally troubling 3-9 record can still eke their way into the playoffs with a combination of a 4-0 finish and some truly bad finishes from current 7-win teams.

A good week for the two hottest teams in the league as New Jersey improved their winning streak to 9 games while Seattle’s bumped up to 10. It was also a good week for several teams trying to get their head well above the .500 watermark, with Orlando, Ohio, Arizona, Michigan, and Houston all avoiding a 6-6 mark and improving to 7-5 on the season. Not a good week for the Fire, who dropped to .500 after a strong start to the year, or for the Invaders, who lost their 3 rd in a row and now share a 6-6 mark with the LA Express. The change of fate for the Invaders led to a surprising decision from Coach Kubiak, one that we kick our coverage off with, the benching of legendary QB Tom Brady in favor of rookie Davis Mills.   Coach Kubiak to Bench Tom Brady as Oakland Drops 3rd in a Row Yes, the Oakland coaching staff, led by HC Gary Kubiak, talked about the change at QB as a strategy to spark the offense, many in the Bay Area, including some players, seem to be reading the surprising move as something very different. Following a third consecutive loss with Oakland dropping their game in Ohio by a score of 34-19, Coach Kubiak made the announcement on Monday, that the Week 14 starter would not be former NJ General and Dallas Cowboy Tom Brady, but rookie Davis Mills.   It was a move that very few saw coming, and to hear from local reporters, it is a move most thought would come if and when the Invaders were truly out of the playoff race, a handing over of the reins to the rookie when the season was truly done, not when the Invaders were at .500 with 4 weeks to play and every possibility of a late run.   Brady, who turned 45 this year, had started the season strong, helping Oakland gather 5 consecutive wins in the early season and helping the offense average over 30 points per game. But that early season success did not hold. Oakland is currently ranked 25 th  in scoring with an average of only 18.6 points per game. Brady’s offense had failed to score more than 20 points in 6 of 7 games since their 4-1 start, losing 5 of those 7 outings. After managing only 3 points in a tough loss in Seattle, and only 13 against Pittsburgh at home last week, this week’s loss in Ohio proved to be a turning point for the organization.  Can the Stanford rookie make the transition quickly with 4 weeks left for the 2021 season? Kubiak cited a desire to mix things up, to possibly provide a spark to the offense by starting talented rookie Davis Mills, a local product from nearby Stanford signed through the Territorial Draft. But those close to the organization say the inescapable truth is that Oakland, despite sitting at 6-6, was already looking to 2022. The expectation all along was that Mills would sit this year and with Brady expected to retire in the offseason, he would get those months off to prepare for his first real action in 2022. But, with the team losing 4 of their last 6 and struggling to put points on the board, it seems the decision was made to use the final 4 games of the year not as a playoff push but as a testing ground for their young quarterback.   If Mills finds success, then Oakland will go into the offseason with QB not among their roster priorities, if he struggles, he may well have competition in the QB room next year, and not just from fellow 2021 draft pick Sam Ehlinger, but from a likely veteran signing as well. Does the shift mean that Oakland is officially out of the playoff race in the West? No, a solid 4-game span from the rookie could actually keep them in the mix, but it seems clear that the Invaders are less concerned about immediate results than they are the future of the team at the QB position.   PHILADELPHIA STARS 20  PITTSBURGH MAULERS 19 While the Stars and Maulers no longer battle it out in the same division each year, with Pittsburgh now in the Central Division rather than the Northeast, the rivalry still remains, and this encounter between the two Keystone State rivals certainly did nothing to dampen the enmity between the two clubs. A controversial call helps the Stars pull out a last minute victory over their rivals, one that has Mauler fans steaming as Philadelphia moves to 8-4, while Pittsburgh drops to 7-5. But, before we get to the controversial play, we should set the scene by outlining what happened in the first 59 minutes of action.   The Friday night game kicked off with a lot of fanfare as 46,792 fans cheered on their squads, with a pronounced Mauler advantage as Heinz Field was predominantly purple and orange clad. The two teams were cautious in the opening quarter, both trying to establish their run game and protect their somewhat immobile QBs. Derrick Henry would certainly have the best day of the backs in this game, outrushing Pittsburgh’s lead rusher, Cam Akers, by a 103-28 mark. But it was Pittsburgh who put the first points on the board, following a Carson Wentz interception with a short drive and an Andrew Franks field goal to wrap up the 1 st  quarter up 3-0.   But as the half progressed, Philadelphia’s stronger offensive performance started to pay dividends. Following a 35-yard scamper from change-of-pace back and former Mauler Marcus Lattimore, Wentz found TE Travis Kelce for the red zone touchdown to take their first lead of the game. They would follow that drive with another scoring drive, with Eddie Pineiro making it a 10-3 lead for the Stars at the half.   Philadelphia would have the better offensive performance all game, outpacing the Maulers 368-271 and outgaining them on the ground to the tune of 153-43, but the Stars suffered 4 turnovers, including 3 picks of Carson Wentz, and that carelessness with the ball helped the Maulers stay in this game. Pittsburgh used Wentz’s second interception as the energizer to get their first touchdown of the day. Taking the ball over on their own 44 after LB Vince Biegel snagged what would be the first of two picks on the day, Pittsburgh quickly added 7 to the board, with Adam Thielen advancing the ball 30 yards on their first offensive play, and the Maulers finding paydirt 3 plays later, with Dalton connecting with rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown for the young receiver’s 2 nd  score of the season.   The even score would be short-lived as Philadelphia put 7 more on the board only 4 minutes later, this time Wentz hitting Randall Cobb for the Stars’ second lead of the game. With the PAT, the Stars now lead 17-10 as the third quarter wound down. Pittsburgh would tighten the game with an Andrew Franks field goal early in the 4 th . Up only 4, The Stars pressed on their next drive and once again Carson Wentz made a poor decision, trying to squeeze the ball into Kelce’s hands, he again was picked off by Biegel, this time in the red zone. Pittsburgh would get the ball off the turnover with 6:05 to play.   In no hurry to score, the Maulers, slowly dinked and dunked their way down the field, all the while milking the clock. With a first and 10 on the 5, and the clock ticking, Pittsburgh back Sony Michel pushed the ball to the 3 with a solid inside run. On 2 nd  and goal from the 2, the threat of the run was enough to freeze the linebackers, allowing Dalton to find a wide open Anthony Hill for the score. The PAT would put them up 3, but only if Franks connected. He did not, doinking the ball off the left upright and leaving Pittsburgh with a precarious 2-point lead with 1;45 left to play.   The Stars received the kickoff with receiver K. J. Hamler returning the ball to the 23 and leaving the offense 1:39 to get into field goal range. Pittsburgh needed a stop, and they thought they got one, with Wentz missing on a throw to Cobb on first down, connecting with Kelce for a gain of 7 on 2 nd  down, but losing 5 of those yards on third down, when Wentz was dragged down by Shaquile Riddick on 3 rd  and 3. The sack brought up a game-defining 4 th and 8 play on the Philadelphia 25. Pittsburgh opted to send LB Brian Cushing on the blitz, dropping 5 back in coverage to prevent the first down.   At first it appeared that they had, with Carson Wentz pushed out of the pocket and forced to throw on the run. He released the ball just as DE Vic Beasley tried to bring him down. The ball bounced in front of E. J. Moore, and the fans prepared to celebrate the turnover on downs. But out of the pocket of the side judge came a flag. The crew gathered to discuss the infraction and the Head Umpire announced the call, Roughing the Passer on Beasley for his hit on Dalton. The call drew immediate boos from the Mauler fans, but it also produced a first down and a 15-yard move up the field. Replay, debated by the NBC announcers, showed neither a blow to the head or the use of Beasley’s body weight on Dalton. Both the NBC crew and the Mauler radio team were puzzled as to what the line judge saw, but the call was made and video replay did not alter the decision.   Philadelphia, now playing with a chorus of something that rhymes with “Full ship” raining down on them, completed 2 more passes, a 17 yarder to Cobb and a final throw to TE Pat Freiermouth that put them in range for a Pineiro kick. It would be a 44-yard attempt, well within Pineiro’s range. Pittsburgh tried to ice him with a timeout, but when it was time for him to have his shot, Pineiro easily parted the uprights with a kick that would have been good form 55 yards out.   The crowd booed the two teams (and the refs, the target of their ire) off the field, but the game was settled. Philadelphia would stay on pace to challenge New Jersey for the Northeast Crown, while the Maulers would drop a game behind Chicago in the Central. It is a call that mystified the studio crew that night and was a major topic of conversation on every network over the weekend, but in the end, the result is what it is, a Stars victory.   DALLAS 31  DENVER 10 A big win for the Roughnecks, bringing them back to .500 with 4 games left, while for Denver a harsh defeat that has their fans questioning Coach Hufnagel. Dallas may have given up 301 yards passing to Josh Allen, but they held him to only 1 TD and they sacked him 6 times, 4 of those drive enders. The Roughnecks also took advantage of Denver’s defense for 141 yards rushing (Perine with 73, Johnson with 68).All this, plus Herbert TDs to Watkins, Sutton, and Tim Wright simply left a sour taste in the mouths of Gold fans. POTG:  Dallas DE Taylor Hart: 3 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   ATLANTA 23   NEW JERSEY 26 The Fire and QB Pat White looked good, but a late Ka’imi Fairbairn kick did them in as they could not hold at the end. White put up big numbers against a Generals’ D that was focused on containing HB Nick Chubb. White finished the day with 343 yards on 27 of 35 passing. A. J. Green brought in 7 of 10 targets for 105 yards and a TD, but in the end, New Jersey found a way. They got 85 yards and a TD from Delone Carter, a Jonnu Smith TD catch, and 4 Fairbairn field goals, with the final one coming with 17 seconds to play to provide New Jersey with their 9 th  straight win. POTG:  Generals’ CB Rashard Robinson: 4 Tck, 2 FF, 1 FR   LOS ANGELES 21  CHARLOTTE 17 Charlotte took a 17-14 lead into the half, but were shut down in the 2 nd  half, limited to only 3 first downs after the halftime break. Los Angeles struggled on offense as well, but only needed one drive, a 4 th  quarter TD from Murray to TE Jacob Hollister, to put themselves on top and stay there. Both teams got their backs involved early, with Nyheim Hines rushing for 109 while Paul Perkins had 130 yards on 18 carries. POTG:  LA end Nick Bosa: 4 Tck, 2 Sck   OAKLAND 19   OHIO 34 Ohio pulled 2 games over .500 thanks once again to a dual threat attack from rookie QB Justin Fields. In another POTW performance, Fields rushed for 143 yards on 12 carries, with 3 TDs mixed in, including a 76-yarder. He also threw for 163 and a 4 th  TD as Ohio went through, over, and around the Invader defense. Tom Brady was forced to put the ball up 54 times as his Invaders tried to come back from a 17-7 halftime deficit that grew to 31-9 in the 2 nd  half. POTG:  Glory QB Justin Fields: 16/22, 163 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int, 12 Att, 143 Yds, 3 TD   NEW ORLEANS 13   BIRMINGHAM 26 The Breakers’ 2021 collapse continued as the Stallions doubled them up thanks to 2 Tim Tebow TD throws and 133 yards from Henry Ruggs. Tebow had an up-and-down game, completing only 12 of 28 attempts, but managed to put points on the board, with TD tosses to Devonta Smith and TE Ricky Seals-Jones. New Orleans, again with Tajh Boyd at QB struggled to do the same, managing a lone TD by Coby Fleener in the game. POTG:  Birmingham WR Henry Ruggs: 3 Rec, 133 Yds   WASHINGTON 23  BALTIMORE 20 The Federals stay alive and deliver a blow to rival Baltimore, as they build a 23-6 lead early in the 4 th  before two late Jake Locker TDs. The Federal D was impressive, as was Baltimore’s Calais Campbell, who added 3 sacks to his total for the year, pulling into a tie for 2 nd  in the league. But, Campbell’s efforts were not enough to stop Washington as they got scores from TE Rob Housler, a Travis Etienne TD run and a pick-six from FS Rafael Bush. POTG:  Federals’ safety Kenny Vaccaro: 9 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 PDef, 1 FF   ST. LOUIS 17   MICHIGAN 20 The Panthers win their 3 rd straight division game, improving to 7-5 on the year, but it was not easy. St. Louis got 2 Taylor to Deionte Johnson TDs to pull the game to a 17-17 tie at the start of the 4 th , but Michigan got the final points, adding a field goal with only 12 seconds to play to snatch the win and keep their playoff hopes very much alive. Taylor threw for 364 and 2 TDs in a losing cause, while Michigan got 2 scores from WR Cody Latimer on their way to win number 7. POTG:  Michigan DE Dee Ford: 6 Tck, 3 Sck   NEW ENGLAND 18  ORLANDO 21 Orlando was their own worst enemy in this game, building up a 21-3 lead, but then suffering 2 pick-sixes as Russell Wilson got careless with the ball in the 2 nd  half. New England never scored an offensive TD, but were in striking range in the 4 th . They just could not get the ball into the endzone to steal the win, helping Orlando improve to 7-5 on the season. POTG:  Orlando HB Chris Carson: 21 Att, 118 Yds   MEMPHIS 28   JACKSONVILLE 26 Another razor’s edge loss for Jacksonville as Memphis wins their 3 rd  game in the past 4, moving to .500 with 4 weeks left to play. The Bulls held a 20-14 lead at the half, with TDs from HB Chubba Hubbard, who had a banner game with 142 yards on only 16 carries, and Montario Hardesty. Memphis rebounded in the 2 nd  half, with a Todd Gurley TD giving them a 1-point lead before Robert Woods’s TD catch from Lynch made it 28-20. Jacksonville would score a late TD but failed to connect on the 2-point conversion, preserving the win for the Showboats. POTG:  Memphis CB Rashaan Golden: 9 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR   PORTLAND 17   TAMPA BAY 37 No concerns in Tampa Bay as the Bandits dominated early, building a 24-0 lead and coasting their way to victory number 10. Dak Prescott threw for 255 and 4 TDs. Ryan Grant went over 100 yards, while he and 3 other receivers all found the endzone. Portland did nab a pick-six, the one big mistake from Prescott on the day, but the offense did not muster a touchdown until garbage time as Tampa Bay allowed several backups to get some playing time late. POTG:  Bandit QB Dak Prescott: 12/24, 255 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int   CHICAGO 26  OKLAHOMA 16 The Machine defense forced 3 second half turnovers as they expanded a 13-6 halftime lead into a comfortable win in Oklahoma City. Sam Bradford threw for 258 and 2 scores, while Jalen Hurts was picked twice and fumbled once. The win pushed Chicago to 8-4, atop the Central, while Oklahoma drops to 4-8. POTG:  Chicago CB Josh Norman: 5 Tck, 4 PDef, 2 Int   SAN DIEGO 3   SEATTLE 31 Seattle wins their 10 th  in a row by demolishing the visiting Thunder. Moreno rushed for 92, Amari Cooper caught 5 for 80 yards and 2 scores, and TE Kyle Rudolph brought in 6 passes for 66 yards and a score in the Dragons’ dominant performance. Richard Sherman had himself a game as well, batting away 5 Ponder throws and forcing a fumble on a rare completion on his side of the field. POTG:  Seattle CB Richard Sherman: 5 Tck, 5 PDef, 1 FF   ARIZONA 55  SAN ANTONIO 3 The Wranglers played their most complete game of the season, dominating on both sides of the ball to move to 7-5. Isaiah Crowell scored 3 times in the 2 nd  quarter alone, finishing the game with 82 yards on 15 touches. David Carr went out at the half with a nagging calf injury, but Brock Osweiler did not show any rust, going 6 of 13 for 100 yards and finding both Victor Cruz and TE Maxx Williams for 4 th quarter scores as Arizona simply overwhelmed the Gunslingers. POTG:  Arizona CB A. J. Bouye: 4 Tck, 6 PDef, 1 Int, 1 DefTD   LAS VEGAS 20   HOUSTON 34 Houston also joined the 7-5 club with a solid win against the Vipers. It was tight into the 4 th , with the Vipers pulling to within 4 on a Matt Gay field goal early in the final period, but from that moment it was all Houston, with Mike Evans catching a McCoy toss to put them up 10. McCoy finished with 329 yards and 3 TDs. Houston struggled against the run, with Kareem Hunting breaking free several times on his way to a 13-carry, 103-yard day, but in the end it was not enough as Houston held off the Vipers and stayed 1 game behind Birmingham in the South. POTG:  Houston QB Colt McCoy: 15/33, 329 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int   Tebow Rusty But Rewarded Against Breakers Completing 12 of 28 passes is hardly the stuff of legends, but leading his team to a solid 13-point victory over a division rival to move them to 8-4 is certainly all that Stallion fans could have hoped for in Tim Tebow’s first start under center since last year and his first truly meaningful start since 2018. Tebow was rusty, missing several open receivers with balls that sailed on him, but he kept his cool, connecting for 2 scores and avoiding costly turnovers to the New Orleans defense. It was by no means a dominant win over the spiraling Breakers, but in outscoring New Orleans 17-3 in the second half, Birmingham was able to pull away and, more importantly, retain their 1-game lead over the Houston Gamblers. The Stallions have only 1 more division game left to play, hosting San Antonio in 2 weeks, and they have a tough final 2 weeks, with the Stars and Wranglers on the schedule, but winning the games they are favored to win, like this week’s game against the Breakers, is the first step for both Tebow and the Stallions if they hope to reach the playoffs and the return of Cam Newton later this summer.   Taylor Puts Scare into Panthers While many Michigan fans expected a blowout win by their home town Panthers this week, St. Louis QB Tyrod Taylor not only kept that from happening but put a real scare into the Panthers before Michigan finally went on top with 12 seconds left to play. Taylor, subbing for the injured Lamar Jackson, completed 18 of 30 passes, amassing 364 yards against a normally-solid Michigan defense, and added 2 touchdowns to keep St. Louis in the game and keep Michigan fans on edge. When Taylor hit Deionte Johnson for the wideout’s 2 nd  TD of the game, knotting up the score in the 4 th  quarter, you could cut the tension in Ford Field with a knife. Would Michigan fall to the lowly St. Louis Skyhawks? Would their hopes to catch Chicago and regain the division be dashed? They would not, as Kirk Cousins got the Panthers in position for Chase McLaughlin’s game winner in the final seconds, but Taylor’s performance, even with St. Louis again falling short, was enough to impress Skyhawk fans and cause a good bit of anxiety for the Panther faithful.   Blitz’s Late Rally Falls Short Against Federals Down 23-6 at home to the rival Washington Federals, the Blitz certainly did not look like the preseason favorites to claim the NE Division title. And at 6-5 they were already 2 games back of the New Jersey Generals in the division. For more than 3 quarters Blitz fans at M&T Stadium had watched as Travis Etienne, Jacoby Brissett, and a shaky Washington defense had managed to dominate the game against the favored Blitz. Many of them had already started heading for the exits before Baltimore started their comeback attempt in the final period, but in the end, perhaps they were right to do so.   Down 17 with 7 minutes to play, Baltimore did produce some drama, first scoring on a Brian Hartline TD to pull to 10 points down, and then, only 1:23 later, getting another score on a screen to Josh Jacobs to make it a 3-point game. An onside kick and a field goal would send this game to overtime, something absolutely unimaginable only 6 minutes earlier. But, as so often happens in both the USFL and the NFL, the onside kick was recovered by the opposition and Baltimore simply did not have enough time outs left to force a punt. They dropped to 6-6 and are now 3 games back of white-hot New Jersey, but they at least showed some spirit in the final minutes, something Coach Caldwell hopes will be seen early on as they face the Steamrollers this week.   Allen Ineffective Amid Roughneck Blitzes There are a lot of reasons the Dallas Roughnecks were able to head into Empower Field and crush the Gold 31-10, but the one that truly stands out is their ability to get to Josh Allen. Allen, an MVP candidate for most of the season, was under constant pressure from a team not known for huge sack numbers. They managed to get to the Denver QB six times, force him to scramble on 4 occasions, and got in several hurries and big hits as well.   The lack of a run game from the Gold (only 27 yards total in the game) meant that Dallas’s edge rushers could focus on pressuring Allen, with both Connor Barwin and Taylor Hart getting to the Gold QB, along with 2 sacks from blitzing safety Dezmen Southward and 2 more from the linebackers. Allen would finish the game 14 of 28, and while he did connect with T. J. Hockenson for one big play (a 75-yard throw, catch, and run) it would be his lone highlight in a long and tough game for Denver’s young QB.   Monarchs Confirm Coaching Change at Season’s End It is not happening immediately, but Charlotte Monarch Head Coach Vance Joseph now knows that he is, without any doubt, in the job market as of mid-July. The Monarchs announced this week that while Joseph will finish the year, he will be released following the conclusion of the season. It is something of an unorthodox move to notify a coach that he has 4 games left and no chance of saving his job, but apparently the Monarchs felt it was important to indicate that a change was coming, while also keeping the current leadership intact over the next month.   Joseph, who has yet to manage a win in his first season as the Monarch head coach, now has 4 week to try to salvage something from a lost season. The Monarchs face Jacksonville, the only other team already eliminated from the playoffs, this week, and have another potential win opportunity in Week 17, as they visit the 3-9 San Diego Thunder. Of course, neither of those teams wants to be the one to fall to a team that has not produced a win in 12 outings and there is pretty good money saying that Charlotte very easily could finish the year without tasting victory once. But, with 4 games to go, and his fate with the team already established, Vance Joseph can still try to avoid the fate of coaching one season and failing to obtain a single victory.   We have our first playoff spot claimed as the Tampa Bay Bandits, sitting at 10-2 have locked up at least a Wild Card. Of course, with a 3-game lead over Orlando, odds are that they will lock up the division title within the next 2 weeks. San Diego, also sitting at 10-2, have not yet locked things up as there are more 7-win clubs in the West, so they need to keep that winning streak going to lock up a title. They are 4 games up on LA, but with the tiebreaker in place they need either 1 more win or an LA loss this week to lock up the division title. The other divisions are certainly closer, with Chicago only 1 game up on Pittsburgh, Michigan, and Ohio, all sitting at 7-5. In the Southwest, Denver’s lead over Arizona is down to 1 game as well. In the East, New Jersey has a 1-game lead over Philadelphia, 2 games over Baltimore. In the South, Birmingham is at 8-4, with Houston also 1 game back at 7-5, and Memphis coming on strong, now 6-6. We did have a 2 nd  team officially eliminated this week, with Jacksonville joining Charlotte with that undesirable distinction. San Diego, also 3-9 like Jacksonville, still has a mathematical chance thanks to some tiebreakers, but one more loss is likely going to add them to the list as well.   No new IR additions, which is always good to see, but several players who may well be missing through the remainder of the regular season. The Maulers, Dragons, Renegades, and Wranglers are all hoping to make the postseason, so even if their injured players are not able to play in the next month, don't expect them to be added to IR as they can come back in time for a playoff run.   OUT OT      Rashan Slater         PIT         Hernia                           2-4 Weeks DE          Deshon Hall           SEA        Broken Collarbone         2-4 Weeks G            Amini Silatulo          ORL       Sprained Ankle                2-4 Weeks WR         Brandon Aiyuk        ARZ       Back                                  2-4 Weeks HB         Devin Singletary      JAX         Knee                              1-2 Weeks CB          Scott Whitmore       DAL       Groin                           1-2 Weeks CB          Kevon Seymour       OHI       Quad                                 1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL OT          Riley Reiff                         BAL        Ribs                                       FB          Anthony Sherman                          HOU     Foot WR         Kenny Golloday                                LV           Knee CB          Dominique Rogers-Cromartie        LA          Thigh   QUESTIONABLE WR         Gabe Davis               ATL         Pinched Nerve DT          Joe Demarco          NOR      Thigh CB          Eric Murray             BAL        Knee WR         Dontrelle Inman     OHI       Hip FS           Robert Sands          PIT         Concussion   HALL OF FAME TO WELCOME 6 MORE USFL LEGENDS The Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio will see five very impactful players and a coach undervalued for too long join the ranks of the enshrined legends of the USFL this October. The Hall of Fame and the USFL announced this week the Class of 2021, and it is one for the ages. Five players from the 10-player short list of semifinalists made the list, along with a choice from the Legacy Committee, this year choosing to honor a coach who helped bring a title to the South.   The Legacy Committee named former Birmingham Stallion head coach Ron Ehrhardt as the newest Legacy addition to the Hall. Ehrhardt, an offensive coordinator before getting the job in Birmingham, would lead the Stallions from 1992 through the 2000 season, when he retired from coaching. That may only be 9 seasons, but they certainly were impactful ones. Ehrhardt’s tenure in Birmingham aligned with some of the biggest high points in Stallion history, with the club making the playoffs 6 times in that 9-year span, including 4 Division Titles and the 1993 League Championship, Birmingham’s sole USFL title in 39 seasons. He retired after 3 decades as an offensive coach and a 9-season head coaching record of 78-60 and a USFL playoff record of 7-4. Ehrhardt's 1993 Stallions were one of the best teams in league history, amassing a 14-2 record before a 3-game playoff run that saw them knock off Jacksonville 45-42 in one of the league’s greatest playoff shootouts, defeat the Washington Federals 27-21 and then take out the Jim Kelly-led Houston Gamblers 38-36 in one of the best Summer Bowls ever played. His teams in the 1990’s certainly did not lack for stars, starting with QB Brett Favre, but also featuring TE Shannon Sharpe, WRs Ernest Givens and Lawrence Dawsey, kicker Scott Norwood, CBs Chris Dishman and Anthony Blaylock, LB Kevin Greene, and FS Blaine Bishop. Known for an aggressive pass-first mentality and a defense that prioritized QB pressure, Ron Ehrhardt joins the Hall of Fame, where his bust can stand aside some of his best players: Favre, Sharpe, Givens, Dawsey, and tackles Emory Yates and Richmond Webb.   Joining Coach Ehrhardt in the Class of 2021 are Two quarterbacks, a dynamic halfback, an impactful wideout and one of the best middle linebackers in USFL history, with 4 of the 5 making the hall in their first year of eligibility. The unquestioned leader of the Houston Gamblers from 1999 through 2016, QB Matt Hasselbeck threw for over 54,000 yards and 394 touchdowns, garnering both the League and Playoff MVP awards in 2010 as he led the Gamblers to a league title. QB Byron Leftwich also wears a championship ring, leading the plucky Seattle Dragons to the title in 2005, a feat that also garnered him a playoff MVP title. A six-time All-USFL nominee in his 13-year career as the leader of the Dragon offense, Leftwich joins Hasselbeck in a 2-QB Hall of Fame Class.  The Hall voters certainly did not want to say "No" to Urlacher. To no one’s surprise, former Washington Federal Deuce McCallister made the class in his first year of eligibility. With over 19,000 yards rushing, a truly eye-popping number, as well as 138 total touchdowns and a decade and a half of unbelievable games, we all knew that the Deuce would be among this year’s class. So too did we assume that MLB Brian Urlacher would make the cut this year. A 10-time All-USFL selection and 3-time Defensive Player of the Year, Urlacher was a tackling machine and a force to be reckoned with in his 17 seasons in Chicago. He joins other Chicago MLB legends, players like Dick Butkis and Mike Singletary in the Hall of Fame.   The final nominee was the only returning candidate. Wide Receiver Steve Smith , in his second year of eligibility, joins the Hall after 16 USFL seasons. Smith spent the early part of his career in Philadelphia before moving to Ohio in 2011. He won a title with the Stars in 2008, was nominated All-USFL five times and retired with more than 15,000 receiving yards and 94 career touchdowns. Never one to shy away from the camera, Smith’s acceptance speech is sure to be one of the highlights of this October’s enshrinement ceremony.   Third-Quarter Power Rankings With all teams now having completed 12 games, we can provide our 3 rd Quarter rankings, and we have a change at the top. Seattle, having just knocked off Tampa Bay in a head-to-head classic at Lumen Field jumps up to the top spot. New Jersey, riding a 9-game winning streak sits now in the 2-spot, while the 10-2 Bandits drop from first to third, a move that may well provide them with some motivation as the season heads quickly towards its conclusion and the postseason to follow. Here are the full rankings, from 1 to 30 (with no surprise at the bottom either). With huge clusters of teams at 8-4, 7-5, and 6-6, there is going to be plenty of room for debate in our rankings, so enjoy the back-and-forth.   1—Seattle Dragons (10-2) You win 10 in a row and knock off the defending champs; you get to be at the top of our power rankings.   2—New Jersey Generals (9-3) New Jersey has one fewer win than Tampa Bay, but their 9-game win streak is also impressing us, so they leapfrog the Bandits.   3—Tampa Bay Bandits (10-2) Sometimes when you lose a game matters. After going 7-0, Tampa Bay is 3-2 in their last 5, and with two teams on major win streaks, we had to drop the Bandits to 3 rd .   4—Chicago Machine (8-4) Despite a 3-game losing streak, Chicago still gets a lot of respect for how they play the game, and that puts them at the top of a small cluster of 8-win teams.   5—Denver Gold (8-4) Denver might have been ahead of Chicago before this weekend, but their bad loss at home to Dallas has left us a bit unsettled about the Gold.   6—Birmingham Stallions (8-4) The Stallions have won 4 of 5, and probably deserve more respect, but their pass defense is still ranked 30 th  in the league and that worries everyone, including Coach Haley.   7—Philadelphia Stars (8-4) The Stars have lost 3 of 5 since their bye, and their 2 wins were over Charlotte and a 1-point squeaker this week in Pittsburgh. Lots of folks are wondering if reality has caught up to them.   8—Orlando Renegades (7-5) The Renegades, despite some consistency issues, have won 4 of their last 5, including a nice win over LA and a whooping of Atlanta. That has folks giving them some respect.   9—Houston Gamblers (7-5) The Gamblers snapped a 3-game losing streak with their win over Las Vegas. Maybe we are too optimistic, but with McCoy putting up big numbers, Houston is still very dangerous.   10—Arizona Wranglers (7-5) This week’s 55-3 annihilation of San Antonio was clearly a message game for the Wranglers. They don’t feel like their championship window is closing, and this last game may prove it is not.   11—Ohio Glory (7-5) A nice win over Oakland, and a win over Chicago 2 weeks ago have Ohio fans feeling good. They face the Machine again this week and a win to sweep the series will pull them into a tie for first place.   12—Pittsburgh Maulers (7-5) The Maulers are something of an under-the-radar team, which is surprising after a 3-game streak that had them beating the Machine, Express, and Glory back-to-back-to-back.   13—Michigan Panthers (7-5) Don’t look now, but the Panthers have won 3 of 4, including a nice win over Chicago and another against the Glory. They have only 2 division games left, but with both of their foes (Ohio and Pittsburgh) currently tied at 7-5 with the Panthers, both could be huge.   14—Los Angeles Express (6-6) 3 wins in their last 4 keep the Express in the playoff hunt, and a win over Seattle this week would be huge. They need it for morale, but also to pull into the cluster of 7-win teams, because a 6-7 record is not going to help them moving forward.   15—Memphis Showboats (6-6) The Showboats have also been hot lately, winning 3 of 4, but that one loss, a 31-24 loss in Birmingham, could haunt them as they try to get into the divisional mix. They have Houston this week in what is likely a must-win game for the Showboats.   16—Baltimore Blitz (6-6) The Blitz are the epitome of inconsistency, up and down with almost no pattern. They need to fix that right away and may need to go 4-0 in the season’s final month to have any chance of a playoff spot.   17—Dallas Roughnecks (6-6) Dallas followed a nice win in Las Vegas with an even nicer one in Denver, dominating the division-leading Gold. They need to go 3-1 down the stretch, maybe even 4-0 to have a shot, because being a game over .500 at season’s end may not be enough.   18—Atlanta Fire (6-6) The Fire have gone cold, losing 5 of 6 after a 5-1 start. It is not all about the injury to Aaron Murray, but that certainly has not helped. No easy games moving forward in what could be a lost season for a team many had high hopes for.   19—Oakland Invaders (6-6) We understand why a 6-6 Invader team would want to give Davis Mills some starts in his rookie year, but the idea of benching Tom Brady feels wrong. It seems to signal that Oakland is not even trying any more in 2021.   20—Las Vegas Vipers (5-7) The Vipers were hot early but have lost 5 of 6 down the stretch. With Oakland, Arizona, Denver, and Dallas on the horizon, they may struggle to avoid another 10-loss season.   21—Washington Federals (5-7) The Feds, once 1-6, have been a lot tougher to knock off lately, winning 4 of 5. Their lone loss in this streak was at New Jersey, who they now face at home in Week 14. They would love to level that score and stay alive another week.   22—San Antonio Gunslingers (5-7) It feels like all the positive vibes the Gunslingers had built up recently went out the window in that loss to Arizona, but losing by 52 points will do that to you. They have a chance to rebound with winnable games against Atlanta and Charlotte coming up.   23—St. Louis Skyhawks (4-8) The Skyhawks have won 3 of 5 of late, and that puts them at the top of our 4-win teams, but they still have a rough road ahead if they want to go 3-1 and avoid a 10-loss season.   24—Portland Stags (4-8) Portland has struggled for consistent offense all season, and with upcoming games against 3 solid defenses in Arizona, Denver and LA, it likely won’t start looking better by season’s end.   25—New Orleans Breakers (4-8) The Breaker collapse has been one of the season’s biggest surprises. We are still not entirely sure why, but nothing that worked in 2020 is working this year.   26—New England Steamrollers (4-8) A pair of nice wins this month, knocking off both Philly and Houston, but it is clearly too little, too late for the Steamrollers, who will be lucky to equal last year’s 6-win total. 27—Oklahoma Outlaws (4-8) Three straight losses, in games where they put up only 7, 16 and 16 points, has to be a huge disappointment for Outlaw nation. The development of Jalen Hurts seems to have plateaued, which Coach Stoops needs to address this offseason.   28—Jacksonville Bulls (3-9) With just a handful of better bounces, this Bulls team could be in the thick of the playoff hunt, but here they sit, 3-9 and officially eliminated.   29—San Diego Thunder (3-9) Coach LeBeau has to be expecting the axe after another 10-loss season. He just does not have the horses to compete, which in our minds points to the GM more than the coach.   30—Charlotte Monarchs (0-12) Can Charlotte finish 0-16? Well, they face Jacksonville, San Antonio, and San Diego in the final 4 weeks. Those are three games where they are not obviously outmanned, but can they muster a win in any of them?   Six divisional games are peppered throughout Week 14, but so too are several inter-divisional games with playoff implications. We start on Friday night with two simultaneous divisional games. NBC will have New Jersey vs. Washington on their Friday Night Lights broadcast, while ESPN and EFN will head to the Midwest where Chicago hopes to put some space between themselves and the three 7-5 teams, facing Ohio at Soldier Field.   Saturday kicks off with an interesting inter-conference game as 7-5 Michigan heads to Philadelphia to face the 8-4 Stars. Also at noon, Orlando hopes to get solidly in the Wild Card race as they head to New Orleans to face the Breakers. At 4pm, an interesting game between two playoff hopefuls as 7-5 Pittsburgh visits 6-6 Dallas. In the two nightcaps we have St. Louis visiting Denver on NBC while Seattle can lock up the Pacific with a road win in Los Angeles against the Express. A win here and the division is theirs.   Sunday’s noon action includes a national game with Baltimore at New England, and two regional games, including San Antonio at Atlanta in a battle of teams right on the cusp of the Wild Card. At 4pm the national game on Fox is Las Vegas vs. Oakland, featuring the first start for rookie Davis Mills of the Invaders. We also have regional games on ABC with Portland in Arizona and the Tampa Bay Bandits on the West Coast to face the San Diego Thunder. The weekend wraps up with a big Southern Division clash as Houston travels to Memphis. The Gamblers have a game up on the Showboats, but Memphis is hoping to take this win and pull themselves right into the division race once again.   FRI @ 8pm ET         New Jersey (9-3) @ Washington (5-7)                  NBC FRI @ 8pm ET         Ohio (7-5) @ Chicago (8-4)                                       ESPN/EFN   SAT @ 12pm ET      Michigan (7-5) @ Philadelphia (8-4)                       ABC SAT @ 12pm ET       Orlando (7-5) @ New Orleans (4-8)                        FOX SAT @ 4pm ET      Pittsburgh (7-5) @ Dallas (6-6)                                 ABC SAT @ 4pm ET       Birmingham (8-4) @ Oklahoma (4-8)                     FOX SAT @ 8pm ET        St. Louis (4-8) @ Denver (8-4)                                   NBC SAT @ 8pm ET         Seattle (10-2) @ Los Angeles (6-6)                       ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET     Baltimore (6-6) @ New England (4-8)                 ABC SUN @ 12pm ET     San Antonio (5-7) @ Atlanta (6-6)                            FOX Regional SUN @ 12pm ET     Charlotte (0-11) @ Jacksonville (3-9)                 FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET        Portland (4-8) @ Arizona (7-5)                                   ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET      Tampa Bay (10-2) @ San Diego (3-9)                      ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET        Las Vegas (5-7) @ Oakland (6-6)                              FOX SUN @ 8pm ET       Houston (7-5) @ Memphis (6-6)                             ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: St. Louis lost QB Lamar Jackson to a torn bicep last week, but don't mourn the Skyhawks. Backup Tyrod Taylor proved he can fling it, dissecting one of the league's best defenses for 394 yards and 4 touchdowns. Chicago proved completely unprepared for the St. Louis QB as Taylor completed 22 of 30 throws and pulled off the 31-30 upset by connecting with 7 different receivers and using his legs to keep plays alive. It was an impressive showing for the career backup. PLAYOFF PICTURE: Tampa Bay's loss in Seattle means that no one is guaranteed a slot in the 2021 postseason, but we do have our first official elimination as the 0-11 Charlotte Monarchs are now officially removed from playoff contention, to no one's surprise.

A week that complicated a lot of team’s playoff hopes, from Birmingham losing their MVP Candidate QB for at least the next month to a number of playoff hopefuls suffering tough losses, including major upsets with St. Louis knocking off Chicago and New England stunning Houston. For others it was a week to reassert themselves, as Michigan did in a solid victory over Ohio or as New Jersey did with their win over Washington. It was also a week that saw some nice performances out of teams at the bottom of the standings, with both expansion clubs getting home wins while Jacksonville won their second in a row thanks to a nice game from QB Trevor Lawrence. We will break down all the scores, take a look at the cluster of teams hovering around .500, and discuss some early rumors about the upcoming offseason, but we begin with a huge story out of Birmingham, an injury that may just derail one of the feel-good stories of the season as Cam Newton could lose the remaining regular season to injury.   Newton Lost to Ankle, Tebow Asked to Be the Hero It was a routine play, a drop back pass that led to a scramble, and it was a non-contact injury, but as soon as it happened everyone in Birmingham’s Protective Stadium new it was bad. Leading Memphis 14-10 early in the 2 nd quarter, Birmingham faced a 3 rd  and 4 inside field goal range. The Showboats pressured Newton on his drop back and the dual threat QB had already decided to run for the first down. He started off to his left, cleared the line to gain but attempted to make a sharp cut to avoid a hit from NaVorro Bowman in pursuit. Newton put his full weight on his left foot, but the ankle immediately buckled, his foot bending under his calf. Birmingham’s star QB collapsed to the ground and had to be carried to the sideline, hopping on his one good foot.   Newton was immediately carted into the endzone. X-rays would reveal no break or fracture, but later imaging would show significant damage to both tendons and muscles around the outside of the ankle. The diagnosis was 2-3 weeks before Newton could put weight on the ankle and no less than 4 weeks, even in the best of circumstances for the MVP candidate to return to practice, much less game action. The verdict means that Newton, in all likelihood, will miss the entire remaining regular season, 5 games that will almost certainly determine whether the Stallions can hold their place atop the Southern Division or qualify for their first playoff appearance in 8 years.   Immediately after the injury, the ESPN commentators, Steve Levy and former USFL QB Brian Griese, started opining about the trade of Jameis Winston which Birmingham had executed only 3 weeks prior, leaving Tim Tebow as the primary option behind Newton. The assumption was that Stallion fans would now be furious with the team for letting their NFL import backup head to New England as part of a 3-team trade that brought two defenders to the Stallions for their playoff run. But, almost as soon as that debate got rolling, former University of Florida star and Bulls’ starting QB Tim Tebow started rewriting the game script.   After failing to gain another first down after the Newton injury, Birmingham settled for 3 to take a 17-10 lead. Memphis would match that score with a Dallas Goedert touchdown, but with Stallion fans still rallying behind their team, Tim Tebow came in for the next drive and helped calm the nerves at Protective Stadium by leading a successful 2-minute drill, scrambling twice for good yardage and connecting with Julian Edelman to put Birmingham up 24-17 at the half.   The second half was much more a defensive struggle as the Stallions had difficulty moving the ball for most of the half. Tebow would go only 2 of 6 in the 3 rd , as the club tried to use the run to take pressure off. Memphis would record a tying score once again in the waning moments of the half. But as the 4 th quarter began, Tim Tebow reawakened the Stallion fans with a play straight out of his SEC glory days at Florida. With the ball at the Memphis 46, Tebow called his own number, using the “alert” call at the line to shift from a drop back pass to an RPO option call. Tebow faked the ball to Ben Tate, bootlegged to the right, where he had TE Hunter Henry breaking open. But, instead of trying to hit his TE, Tebow pump faked, sending the pursuing linebacker into the air and then took off. He would pick up both Henry and WR Henry Ruggs as blockers as he made his way down the sideline for a 54-yard touchdown. It was pure Tebow, but it also reminded the crowd very much of Newton himself.   That play would end up being the winning score for the Stallions in their heated rivalry game with Memphis. It would also establish Tebow as a viable option with Newton down. The hope now in Birmingham is that the Tim Tebow who was an unstoppable dual threat in the SEC, and who threw for over 3,000 yards each year from 2011-2013 in Jacksonville, could revive his hero status and help Birmingham survive their final 5 games. The Stallions, currently sitting at 7-4 and holding a 1-game advantage over Houston in the Southern Division, likely only need to win 3 of 5 to be assured a playoff spot at 10-6, but obviously had hoped to do even better to win their first division title since Brett Favre was their QB back in 1999.   With Tebow at the helm, backed up by 2020 undrafted free agent Michael Cisneros, the Stallions will try to beat the odds and make that division run over the final 5 weeks. They have another division game this week, with 4-7 New Orleans coming to town, before traveling to Oklahoma, another home division game against San Antonio, and then two very tough games to end the season, with the Philadelphia Stars coming to Birmingham in Week 16 and a road trip to Arizona in the season finale. We expect the Stallions will look to find a 3 rd  QB in free agency this week, and the hope, of course, is that Newton is able to return to the team for the postseason, or even, with a strong recovery, by that season finale in Arizona. But, for now, it will be SEC superstar Tim Tebow with the playoff hopes of Stallion Nation on his shoulders.   CHICAGO MACHINE 30   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 31 This was not supposed to be a tough game for Chicago, not even a close one, with the 7-2 Machine traveling down I-55 to face a 3-win St. Louis Skyhawks team that did not even have their dynamic QB Lamar Jackson suited up. Las Vegas saw this as a potential blowout, favoring the visiting Machine by 12 points. But, apparently, no one told the Skyhawks, or veteran backup Tyrod Taylor, that it was a lost cause. The Skyhawks came out in force, despite the fact that The Dome at America’s Center was looking very Chicago friendly, with a good number of Illinoisans and Machine fans making their way to the game.   The game started very much as the Vegas books had predicted, with Chicago dominating and Taylor struggling to make plays against the league’s 3 rd rated defense. Chicago jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter, thanks to a Bradford to Floyd TD toss and a short TD run from Notre Dame product Tony Jones Jr.. Chicago outgained St. Louis 101-21 in the quarter with the Skyhawks failing to produce a first down to Chicago’s 7.  No one would have guessed at this point that St. louis would outgain Chicago 378-298 the rest of the way, or that they would consistently find the endzone against a defense that is one of the best in the league in minimizing big plays.   The first signs of life came when the Skyhawks forced a Chicago punt just as the 1 st was ending, producing a sack of Sam Bradford to end their 3 rd possession. The Skyhawks got the ball at their own 33, and on their very first play they surprised the Machine with a play action pass from Tyrod Taylor to Allen Robinson that went for 35 yards. The play got the moderate contingent of engaged Skyhawk fans into the game. The drive sputtered inside Chicago territory (as so many have this year) and St. Louis was forced to settle for a Zane Gonzalez field goal, but the big play was a sign of things to come.   After holding Chicago to a field goal on their next possession, St. Louis would have their first of 4 touchdown drives, and the first of 4 touchdown passes for their backup QB. Tyrod Taylor would go 4 of 5 on the drive, moving the ball crisply in 2-minute mode before finding Deionte Johnson uncovered in the endzone, the beneficiary of a nicely executed rub pattern. The St. Louis score meant that the underdog Skyhawks were down only 7 at the half, with Chicago taking a 17-10 lead into the break.   The Machine expanded on that lead with the opening possession of the 2 nd half, with Bradford finding his new favorite target, Chase Claypool for the receiver’s 7 th  touchdown of the season. Back up by 14, Chicago was feeling good and the Machine fans breathed a sigh of relief, feeling their team would again take over a dominant position. But St. Louis quickly showed the Machine that the game was far from over. In a drive that took only 5 plays to go 74 yards, Taylor first scrambled for 8 yards on the opening play, then found FB Jerome Felton on a beautifully disguised screen play. Felton would rumble for 44 yards before finally being shoved out of bounds. The play electrified the St. Louis bench, and gave Taylor the confidence to make more calls at the line. He would complete another nice pass to get the ball down to the 9-yard line, a beautifully timed out route to Jakobi Myers. On the very next play it was rookie Kyle Pitts for the young tight end’s 1 st  TD of the season, a laser throw from Taylor hitting the rookie in stride just as he passed by the linebacker in coverage.   Chicago would add a field goal to end the 3 rd  quarter, but there was a feeling that St. Louis was not fading. The team was electrified on the sideline by the Taylor-led drive, and as the 4 th  quarter began, you could feel the energy coming from Taylor and the Skyhawk offense. On the very next possession after Chicago’s field goal, Taylor again found his rookie tight end. This time it was a very different play, a seam route that saw the two outside receivers draw the safeties to the sideline with sharp out routes. That left Pitts in single coverage with Chicago safety Micah Hyde. Hyde has been playing well all season, but he was slow to pick up on the route on this play, falling a step behind Pitts as the athletic tight end raced down the center of the field. Taylor dropped in a perfect pass, and while Hyde got a hit in on Pitt’s hip, the bigger receiver was able to shrug off the body blow and continue downfield for a 50-yard score. The Chicago lead was down to 3, but the energy in the stadium made it feel like St. Louis had just taken the lead. This energy fed into a St. Louis defense that had struggled all year, rated 22 nd in the league in points allowed, and 26 th  in the USFL, allowing 374 yards per game. The Skyhawks bent, but did not break on Chicago’s next possession. With the Machine run game getting the offense to the 11 yard line of St. Louis, but the Skyhawk D standing up for a stop on 3 consecutive plays in the redzone. Sam Bradford tried to thread the needle with throws to the endzone on both 2 nd  and 3 rd  down, but both times the St. Louis secondary was able to disrupt the throws, forcing the Machine to go for the field goal on 4 th  and 10 from the 11.   Chicago had a 6-point lead after the chip shot kick from Daniel Carlson. And with 2:32 left to go, it meant that St. Louis would have an opportunity to drive the field and get the win, a win no one expected of them. The Skyhawks took the ball at their own 22, 78 yards to go, 2 timeouts, and a QB who was feeling it after going 17 of 24 with 3 TDs in the game. Taylor would go 5 of 6 in the two minute drill, throwing to 4 different receivers on the drive. It began with a comeback route to Robinson, the game’s leading receiver with 6 catches for 117 yards. He followed that with another swing pass to Felton, who gained 8 on the play, then a short run by HB John Conner for the first down. The Skyhawks called their first time out, the ball on their own 43.   The next play was perhaps the biggest, with Taylor scrambling away from pressure as his receivers tried to find secondary positions after the initial routes ended. Taylor located Jakobi Myers along the sideline, and hit the 3 rd  year receiver with a perfect strike, allowing Myers to spin away from the corner and gain another 8 yards before stepping out of bounds at the Chicago 30. Another Conner draw and a short completion to Deionte Johnson and the Skyhawks had the ball on the Chicago 8 yard line with 27 seconds to go and one time out.   Taylor took a shot at the endzone, trying to find Robinson, but the ball was too high for his receiver, setting up a 2 nd  and goal at the 8. On 2 nd and goal, Taylor was forced out of the pocket by Jason Pierre-Paul, but managed to pick up 3 yards before being dragged down from behind. 3 rd  and goal from the 5 with 11 seconds to play and their final timeout used to stop the clock. The Skyhawks lined up with Robinson and Johnson wide, Pitts and Will Disley inside along the line, showing a possible RPO with Conner or Taylor as runners. That would be a risky call as the Skyhawks would have no way to stop the clock after a run play. Chicago knew this and lined up ready for a passing play. It would be a shallow man coverage in a nickel, with 3 DBs hovering just inside the goalline.   St. Louis called a man-beater, a play that sent Disley in motion, lining up just outside Pitts on the right. When the snap came to Taylor, Pitts flew towards the endzone, with Dissley ducking in underneath him. The safety got caught in the shuffle, leaving Dissley open inside, and Taylor zipped the ball right to his chest. The bigger (and slower) of the two St. Louis tight ends, brought the ball in and fell backwards into the endzone before defensive help could get there. LB Manti Te’o hit Dissley as he fell, jarring the ball, but not dislodging it from the TE’s grip. He held tight to the ball as he fell on his back in the endzone. 6 seconds on the clock and the Skyhawks had tied the game at 30. All that was left was the PAT for the win. Zane Gonzalez connected on the kick and St. Louis went up with 6 ticks on the clock. A squib kick and it was all over. The St. Louis Skyhawks, and their undervalued backup QB, Tyrod Taylor, had knocked off rival Chicago, a result that few, if any, saw coming.   The loss certainly hurt Chicago, who were hoping to compete with Seattle for the top seed in the West, and now not only fell a game behind the Dragons for the chance at home field in the playoffs, but now found themselves only 1 game ahead of the feisty Pittsburgh Maulers, only 2 ahead of both Ohio and the reigning division champion Michigan Panthers. With upcoming games against some tough opponents (Ohio, New Jersey and Philadelphia among them), and having now lost 3 straight games, this loss had to rattle the Machine and threw their season into a very different light.   For St. Louis, this win would not put them in playoff contention, still only 4-7 on the season, but, after knocking off Pittsburgh the week before, it certainly was a moment of pride, and a possible sign of things to come. The Skyhawks would finish their 3-game divisional swing with a road game in Michigan in Week 13, and they too had a tough road ahead, but the confidence gained from this win would certainly help them as they tried to salvage the season and build towards a brighter future.   OHIO 10   MICHIGAN 37 A big win for the Michigan Panthers and a very much needed one as they get their last division win in 4 tries, and they did it without LeVeon Bell. Kirk Cousins had a stellar game, going 21 of 26 for 229 yards and 3 scores, all to newly arrived WR Justin Blackmon, making the GM look like a genius for the trade at the deadline. Blackman caught all 6 targets, scoring on 3 of them, all red zone tosses. The defense also came up huge, limiting the Ohio run game (including Fields) to only 55 total yards. The win moves Michigan into a tie with Ohio in 3 rd  place, a game behind the Maulers and Machine. POTG:  Panther QB Kirk Cousins: 21/26, 229 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   DENVER 28   ARIZONA 23 Denver wins the rivalry matchup in Arizona and puts some space between themselves and the rest of the division, all thanks to 4 first half TDs. Josh Allen threw for 3 scores and Bryce Hall picked off David Carr and returned it 36 yards for the game winning score as the Gold built up a 28-17 first half lead and held on for the 5-point victory. Despite being sacked 9 times, Carr threw for 412 yards in the comeback attempt, but it was not enough as Denver secured their 8 th win and built up a 2-game lead in the division. POTG:  Denver’s rookie DE Odafe Oweh: 4 Tck, 4 Sck, 1 FF   HOUSTON 13   NEW ENGLAND 24 The Gamblers underestimate their NE Division foe and fall to the Steamrollers, thanks in large part to New England’s balanced offense, which rushed for 112 yards and passed for another 328. Ryan Tannehill went 19 of 26, connecting with Devante Parker and Will Fuller for scores, while the combo of Yeldon and Hill rushed for 112 and a score in the Steamroller upset win. They pulled it off despite McCoy connecting with Evans 9 times for 180 yards, as the New England defense bent but did not break against the Gambler attack. POTG:  Steamroller WR Will Fuller: 5 Rec, 159 Yds, 1 TD   MEMPHIS 24   BIRMINGHAM 31 In a game that may cost Cam Newton the rest of his season to an ankle injury, Tim Tebow rallied the Stallions, breaking out a 54-yard TD run in the 4 th quarter to stun the Showboats. Birmingham gave up 130 yards rushing to the Showboats and Paxton Lynch threw for 2 scores, but with the game tied in the 3 rd , after Newton’s injury, Tebow kept the ball on a RPO call and rambled all the way to the endzone to put Birmingham on top. It was a costly win for the Stallions, but one that also secured first place in the division. POTG:  Stallion QB Tim Tebow: 6/15, 98 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int, 11 Att, 64 Yds, 1 TD   OKLAHOMA 16   SAN ANTONIO 22 Don’t look now but the Gunslingers are in the playoff mix at 5-6. They get a home victory over Oklahoma thanks to a solid defensive effort and a pair of 4 th quarter field goals. Rookie Rhamondre Stevenson scored on his only carry of the day (a goalline plunge) and Flacco hit Marquise Goodwin for a score, but it was the Gunslinger defense that won the day, holding Oklahoma out of the endzone until the final minutes of play. POTG:  San Antonio DE Gregory Rousseau: 4 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty   DALLAS 19   LAS VEGAS 17 Down 17-10 after 3 quarters, the Dallas Roughnecks rallied in the 4 th  and knocked off the Vipers at Wynn Arena. Justin Herbert hit Courtland Sutton for a 4 th  quarter Td, but with Catanzaro missing the game-tying PAT, the Roughnecks needed more. They got it with a Catanzaro field goal from 47 yards with only 19 seconds left in the game to secure the win and move to 5-6, staying alive in the Wild Card race. POTG:  Dallas QB Justin Herbert: 23/34, 260 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   PHILADELPHIA 16   BALTIMORE 21 The Blitz improve to 6-5, knocking off the slumping Stars as Josh Jacobs rushes for 80 yards and a score. The Blitz defense held Philadelphia to only 2 field goals until the 4 th  quarter, building up a 21-6 lead before a late rally by Philadelphia pulled them within 1 scores. A Wentz to Moore TD with 23 seconds left got Philadelphia within 5, but they could not secure the onside kick and Baltimore held on for the division win. POTG:  Blitz WR Michael Pittman Jr: 4 Rec, 112 Yds, 1 TD   WASHINGTON 21   NEW JERSEY 28 Washington played the Generals tough, pulling out to a 21-14 lead in the 3 rd , but New Jersey dominated the final 20 minutes of action, tying the score on a Foles to Pharaoh Cooper TD late in the 3 rd  and adding the game winner, a Delone Carter TD run, in the 4 th . Carter and Pollard combined for 95 yards rushing and Foles went 18 of 29 for 204 and 3 TDs in the victory for the Generals, who now sit at 8-3. POTG:  New Jersey CB Rashard Robinson: 9 Tck, 1 Int   SAN DIEGO 9   JACKSONVILLE 21 The Bulls win their 3 rd  game in the last 4 as the defense picks off Christian Ponder twice and holds Charles Sims to only 2.2 YPC with 41 yards on 19 carries. The Bull run game was far more effective, with Chubba Hubbard getting the start and combining with Devin Singletary to rush for 64 yards and 2 touchdowns on the day. POTG:  Bull LB Alex Anzelone: 10 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF   NEW ORLEANS 21  CHARLOTTE 3 Kyle Boller gets the start for the Monarchs, but struggles to mount any offense as New Orleans holds them to a single field goal. Tajh Boyd got the start for the injured Geno Smith and produced 3 touchdowns on a 15 of 26 outing. Jordy Nelson, Justin Jefferson, and DeMarco Murray all put points on the board as New Orleans snaps a 3-game losing streak by beating the winless Monarchs. POTG:  Breaker QB Tajh Boyd: 15/26, 305 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   ORLANDO 8  LOS ANGELES 3 In a game that set back offensive football at least 20 years, the Orlando Renegades get a safety and manage two field goals as they upend the LA Express. This was an ugly one, with 13 sacks between the two teams and almost no threat of a big play at all. Neither team can feel good coming off this game, but at least the W helps Orlando move above .500 and into competition with Atlanta for 2 nd  place in the Southeast. As for LA, the loss drops them below .500, now a full 3 games behind division-leading Seattle. POTG:  Orlando DE Montez Sweat; 3 Tck, 3 Sck, 1 FF   ATLANTA 17   PORTLAND 38 Atlanta hurt their playoff cause by laying an absolute egg in Portland against a 3-win Stags team. Despite 118 yards from Nick Chubb, the Fire fell behind early and could not recover. Portland put up 21 points on their first 3 possessions, with Brandin Cooks scoring twice and Dale Luong returning a Pat White pick 32 yards for a score. White struggled all game, picked off 4 times in his first start for the Fire. Marcus Mariota had no such difficulties, going 27 for 33 and throwing 3 touchdowns as Portland improves to 4-7. POTG:  Stag DB Dale Luong: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   PITTSBURGH 19  OAKLAND 13  OVERTIME Sony Michel busts off a 25-yard walk-off touchdown run in overtime as Pittsburgh gets the W on the road. The Maulers needed a final drive TD to send the game to overtime, and they got it when Andy Dalton found Adam Thielen on a fade route with 1:30 left on the clock. The Mauler D picked off Tom Brady twice and sacked him 4 times, including a big sack on the final possession which forced Oakland to play for overtime. Michel, who had only 11 yards in regulation, broke free on the Mauler’s first overtime possession and ended the game with the dynamic scoring run, giving Pittsburgh their 7 th  win on the season. POTG:  Mauler CB Tre Herndon: 6 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int   TAMPA BAY 17  SEATTLE 19 The battle of heavyweights lived up to the hype, with the Seattle D containing the Bandit Ball offense, despite giving up 408 yards passing to Dak Prescott. Dez Bryant had a huge game, catching 8 balls for 207 yards, but never found the endzone as Seattle tightened up their D each time the Bandits reached the red zone. Knowshon Moreno rushed for 97 yards and a score, but the big play for Seattle was a 4 th  quarter TD toss from Brett Hundley to Marshall Newhouse that gave them a 9-point lead with 6 minutes to play. Tampa added a late Dalvin Cook TD, but it was too little too late for the Bandits, who drop their 2 nd  game of the season. POTG:  Seattle LB Khalil Mack: 6 tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int, 2 FF, 1 FR   Khalil Mack helps Seattle Deliver a Statement Win Nine consecutive wins do not happen by accident, and they do not happen without a variety of players stepping up each and every week. Defeating the 9-1 Tampa Bay Bandits this week was not only a 9 th  win for the Dragons, but a statement win as they took down the best in the game, the defending champions and a team that had been an offensive juggernaut all season long. That Seattle not only held Tampa Bay to 17 points, but also found a way to win despite being outgained by over 100 yards (424-312) meant that the Dragons had found ways to bend but not break, to take advantage of Tampa mistakes, and to prove resilient. That mental toughness began with the defense, and in particular with linebacker Khalil Mack, who finished the game with a pretty impressive stat line, racking up 6 tackles (3 for a loss), a sack a pick, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.   Mack was a huge reason why the Bandit run game was held to only 16 total yards on the day, regularly blowing up plays and forcing Dalvin Cook to turn outside runs back inside, where others like LB Josh Allen, and DT Byron Mone trapped the elusive Bandit halfback. Mack was also a nightmare for QB Dak Prescott, creating pressures, hurries, and one of the Dragon’s 6 sacks on the day. Prescott still put up big numbers, throwing for 408 yards, but when the game was on the line, the Seattle defense found ways to end drives and get the Bandits off the field. They had held Tampa Bay to only 1 TD through 3 quarters, taking a 19-10 lead with 6 minutes left, and while the Bandits did succeed in their hurry up offense to put 7 more on the board, they did so with so little time left that only an onside kick could help them salvage the game. The Dragon special teams did their job and QB Brett Hundley took the knee to end the game, but it was clear that the Dragons had knocked off Tampa Bay and now, thanks to Chicago’s 3 game slide, held the future 1 seed in the palms of their hands, winners of 9 straight, and, on this day, home to one of the most devastating defensive players in the game in Khalil Mack.   Carr Outperforms Allen, but Gold Get the Win No one is going to knock David Carr for Arizona’s 28-23 loss to the Denver Gold. The Arizona QB had his best game of the year, averaging 11.1 yards per attempt as he threw for 412 yards and 3 touchdowns. In the showdown with Denver’s Josh Allen, Carr clearly came out on top, with Allen mustering only 187 yards to Carr’s 412. But, with both QBs each tossing 3 touchdowns, Carr’s big numbers were not enough. The difference? The one poor throw that Carr made all day and Denver’s ability to cash in on it. Late in the 2 nd  period, Carr tried to force a ball to Victor Cruz, only to have Denver CB Bryce Hall snatch the ball away and race 36 yards for a pick-six. Carr more than redeemed himself with over 200 yards and a TD to Brandon Aiyuk in the 2 nd  half, but it proved to be just a few yards and just a few points too few for the Wranglers to get the home win and pull closer to the Gold in the standings. The Denver win gives them a 2-game lead on Arizona and the field in the SW Division. With 5 games left to go, and now down 2 games to the Gold, the Wranglers may well be battling for a Wild Card, with only slim hopes to win their 7 th  consecutive division crown.   Expansion Clubs Starting To Take Shape with Big Week 11 Wins Building a competitive team takes time. The history of expansion in the USFL clearly proves this, with only the 1984 teams getting a quick jump because their competitors only had 1 year of experience ahead of them. For most others, in 1995, 2006, 2008, and now, 2020, the pace of growth is slow and erratic. But, despite the odds, both New England and San Antonio are showing that they are making improvements and finding some success in their sophomore campaigns. With both winning this week, we wanted to take a moment to recognize the gains made by both teams.  New England’s upset of Houston this week marks their 2 nd  consecutive upset win, having knocked off the slumping Stars last week in Philadelphia. Winning back-to-back road games for the first time as a franchise, and against two teams that appear to be playoff bound, is a very nice feather in the cap of Coach John Fox and the Steamrollers. New England now moves into 4 th place in the Northeast, a position they took last year by surpassing Philadelphia’s 2-win season with 6 wins of their own. Their target this year is to surpass those 6 inaugural season wins, which means they will need to win 3 more games in the final 5 weeks. That could be a tough task, considering they play 3 teams currently over .500 and hoping for a playoff berth. But, New England is building towards a goal. Yes, they are struggling on offense, with the league’s lowest scoring club at only 13.5 PPG, but the defense is in the Top 12, allowing only 21.1 points per game and limiting teams in both the pass and run game. They have 2 games left against Washington, who share a 4-7 record with them, and could well finish ahead of the Federals if they can sweep that series. That means that to reach 7 wins they need one upset, with Orlando, Baltimore, and Ohio their other two games. They won’t be favored in any of those games but they were not favored the past 2 weeks and that did not seem to hold them back. As for San Antonio, they are already ahead of last year’s pace, sitting at 5-6 on the year, already 2 games up on their 2020 record of 3-13. They too have won their last 2 games, both at home, and both division games, as they knocked off Houston in Week 10 then returned from their late bye week to defeat Oklahoma this week. With Joe Flacco at the helm, and with solid contributions from NFL import back Melvin Gordon, San Antonio is a solid offensive squad, sitting 9 th in yards and 14 th  in scoring, a middle of the pack ranking for the 2 nd year team. They still struggle a bit on defense, giving up just over 100 yards per game rushing and another 245 passing each week, but they have been in most of their games, giving up 22.5 points per week and scoring 22.4.   San Antonio has won 3 of their last 4, but their road to .500 will be a tough one, with huge games coming up against Arizona, Atlanta, Birmingham and Denver. That is not an easy road, especially with the Fire, Stallion, and Gold games on the road. At 5-6, they are currently in the cluster of teams well within the Wild Card race, and while most see them as a poser rather than a potential playoff team, the Gunslingers are still in the mix, which, for a 2 nd  year team, is an accomplishment already.   White Picked 4 Times as Stags Put out the Fire It is a nervous time to be a member of the Fire Brigade, as Atlanta’s official fan group is called. The Fire have dropped 4 of their last 5 after a 5-1 start, their starting QB, Aaron Murray, is lost for the season to a PCL injury, and they have slipped back into the pack, 3 games behind Tampa Bay in the division and not at all assured of a Wild Card spot. To make matters worse, their backup QB, now thrust into the starting role, Pat White, just had a nightmare game against a pretty mediocre defense, throwing 4 picks against Portland in a blowout loss to the Stags. A team that felt ready to compete with the defending champion Bandits is now looking to be on life support, needing to find a winning formula fast or face a possible slide down the division standings and out of playoff contention.   It will be no easy road for White and the Fire, with a trip to New Jersey this week, and some tough matchups, including a season ender at Tampa Bay, on the docket. In this week’s loss to Portland, the Stags focused their attention on White, allowing Nick Chubb to run rather effectively (13 carries for 118 yards and a TD), but with constant pressure on White, the QB proved prone to poor decision making, throwing into traffic and throwing late over the middle (always a no-no). Expect the Generals and future foes to try a similar strategy of shallow zones and front-line pressure. Chubb can help White with more touches and more short-yardage 3 rd  downs, but White is going to have to make smarter decisions under pressure if Atlanta is going to turn the season around and find their ways to the postseason.   Bandits Send Short to IR with Wrist Injury Bad news for the Tampa Bay Bandit defense as DT Kawaan Short is lost for the year after suffering a wrist injury that will require surgery this week. Short got caught up in a dogpile after a fumble by Seattle’s Gus Edwards in the Bandit’s road loss to the Dragons. His wrist caught awkwardly under a pile of bodies, he suffered both ligament and tendon damage. The 8-year veteran had been part of a 3-man rotation inside, rotating with Marcell Dareus and Bryan Cowart in Tampa’s 4-3 scheme. He will now be shuttered for the season, with Brent Urban now joining the rotation and 2 nd  year sub Kevin Givens moved from the practice squad to fill Short’s spot. In a game that also saw OT Levi Brown suffer an injury (expected back in Week 13), Short missed the final quarter and now will miss the final quarter of the season as he recovers and rehabs.   Tampa Bay’s loss in Seattle means that we are still without a single team guaranteed a spot in the 2020 USFL playoffs. Both Seattle and Tampa Bay sit at 9 wins, but with the 7 th  best team in each conference at 6-5, and 5 games yet to play, it seems we may be waiting before anyone can clinch on record alone. Both Seattle and Tampa Bay are still the most likely to lock up a spot first, as both hold 3 game leads in their division, meaning that a win this week, with losses to Orlando, Atlanta, or Oakland, could do the trick. We could see two division titles announced before anyone is eligible as a Wild Card, not surprising when we have such a cluster of teams either at 6-5 or 5-6. We did see, however, our first officially eliminated club. To no one’s surprise, that club is the 0-11 Charlotte Monarch team that has simply been abysmal this year. Charlotte has given up twice as many points as they have scored (168-321) and has lost 7 of 11 games by double digits. Expect Coach Joseph to be on Black Monday alert, assuming he lasts through the full season, which at this point has to be in doubt. At 0-11, Charlotte is now officially out of the running, and we should expect wholesale changes to the franchise.   Another rough week, well beyond the lead story about Cam Newton’s ankle. Two more IR placements, both starters, as well as a pretty long list of players who could be placed on IR as soon as their team is no longer a playoff hopeful. Baltimore, for example, hopes Eli Rogers can return in time for a Wild Card game if they qualify. As we get closer to the conclusion of the regular season, expect several players with longer recovery timelines to be shuttered for the season as teams look to 2022 and want to avoid any further complications this year.   OUT TE           Gavin Escobar           JAX         ACL Tear             IR DT          Kawann Short                   TBY        Wrist                     IR WR         Eli Rogers                       BAL        Broken Leg         6-8 Weeks CB          Prince Amukamara       WSH     PCL Tear             6-8 Weeks CB          Benjamin St. Juste         NE          Miniscus             6-8 Weeks QB         Cam Newton               BIR         Ankle                    4-6 Weeks G            Chris Lindstrom              NJ           Wrist                     1-2 Weeks OT          Riley Reiff                       BAL        Ribs                       1-2 Weeks FB          Anthony Sherman          HOU     Foot                      1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL CB          Mackensie Alexander  LV           Concussion WR         Kenny Golloday               LV           Knee   QUESTIONABLE OT          Taylor Lewan                JAX         Knee DE          J. J. Watt                       MEM     Concussion C             Robert Vega                  ARZ       Migraines DT          Dontari Poe                  MGN     Concussion     Making Sense of the 6-5 and 5-6 Cluster Five games to go and while there are certainly teams looking solidly like playoff hopefuls, and others, of course, who don’t appear to have what they need this year, but we are also looking at a huge cluster of teams who are on the bubble. With those 5 games left, we have 12 of the league’s 30 clubs sitting either at 6-5 (eight) or at 5-6 (four). These teams could well be battling over only 2-4 possble playoff spots, especially if those teams with 7 or more wins currently continue to have success. So, what do we make of these 12 clubs? Who is primed to make a run, who may need to get some help, and who might just be a pretender, likely to drop more games down the stretch than they win? Here is our quick rundown of all 12 “bubble” teams as they prepare for Week 13.   ARIZONA (6-5); The 6-time defending SW Division Champs are struggling for consistency this year, but they are still a very talented team and one certainly capable of going on a run late. They are relatively healthy, and their next 3 games (@ San Antonio, vs. Portland and @ Las Vegas) could tell the story. If they can win those 3, they are in good shape as they prepare for the final 2 weeks. The Division may not be possible, but we see Arizona as a likely Wild Card.   ATLANTA (6-5): Even before losing Aaron Murray to injury, the Fire were slumping, losing 3 in a row before a surprising win over Houston. Now, with Pat White at QB, it is hard to feel confident that Atlanta can get to 10 wins, perhaps not even to 9. They have some very tough games ahead, including New Jersey this week, and back-to-back division games @ Orlando and @ Tampa Bay to close out the season. That feels like a recipe for an 8-8 year at best.   BALTIMORE (6-5): Picked by most to win the division after a very aggressive offseason, Baltimore has largely disappointed, but at 6-5 and with some very winnable games on the horizon (vs. Washington, @ New England, and @ St. Louis in the finale) we think the Blitz have a chance to play their way into playoff position. The key may be the 2-game stretch when they travel to Pittsburgh and then host Tampa Bay. They likely need a win in one of those games.   DALLAS (5-6): Being under .500 this late in the year was not the plan for the Roughnecks. They have struggled on offense, but their win this week against Las Vegas certainly helps. A win in Denver next week will be vital to their playoff hopes. They do finish the year with 3 of their final 4 games at home, but they may need to run the table to feel safe for a playoff berth.   HOUSTON (6-5): When the Gamblers were 6-2, we had little doubt they would be in the field, but after losing 3 in a row, including bad losses to both expansion teams in the past 3 weeks, we cannot be so certain. They face Las Vegas this week in what may be a must-win game at NRG Stadium. With Memphis and Tampa Bay after that, the Gamblers have to find their mojo quickly if they hope to hit 10 wins.   LOS ANGELES (5-6): We were ready to write off the Express, but back-to-back wins over Las Vegas and Dallas had us feeling better. This week’s offensive nightmare against Orlando has us doubting again. They have a nice “bye week” against Charlotte this week, but then they need to treat their next home game vs. Seattle as a must-win, a playoff atmosphere, or the final weeks could be pointless.   MEMPHIS (5-6): The 2020 Southern Champs are not looking at all like the same team this year. Yes, J. J. Watt has been outstanding, but the offense has not found success in recent weeks. Their loss this week, with Tim Tebow finding a way to win, was a big blow. They head to Jacksonville next week in a game they should (and need to) win. That is followed by a huge home matchup against Houston that could determine how the final weeks of the season will be played.   MICHIGAN (6-5): The win this week over Ohio was enormous for the Panthers, not just because they played well on both sides of the ball, but because it helped them claw closer to relevance in the Central. They need to follow that up with a win over St. Louis this week, and with both Ohio and Pittsburgh coming up before the season is over, this is a team that can write their own destiny. They just need to rediscover the formula that has worked for them over the past 5 seasons.   OAKLAND (6-5): We know that Tom Brady wants one more shot at the postseason, but we are just not sure Oakland has the team to do it, not after being demolished by Seattle and losing to Pittsburgh at home this week. They have a road game in Ohio in Week 13, and two more division games on the schedule, but they feel very much like a team that is going to end up at 8-8 and on the outside looking in.   OHIO (6-5): This week’s loss to the Panthers was a momentum killer. After beating Chicago in what was a huge statement game, they could not repeat the intensity needed to knock off the Panthers, and that puts them in this group and in a tough situation. They will face both the Machine and the Panthers again, back to back again, with a trip to Chicago in Week 14 and then a home game against Michigan. Do they need to sweep those games? Quite possibly.   ORLANDO (6-5): Orlando may benefit from the collapse of the Atlanta Fire. They have already gained a foothold, moving into 2 nd place thanks to a tiebreaker over the Fire. Now they need to finish the job. That means no let down against New England, New Orleans, or Charlotte. Three wins in those 3 games and they well could be ready to punch their ticket to the postseason when they face the Fire in Week 16.   SAN ANTONIO (5-6): We have the sneaky feeling that the Gunslingers are just happy to be in this conversation. They have had two very nice outings, upsetting both Houston and Oklahoma to get here. Their final 5 games include 3 pretty tough outings, including this week’s game against Arizona, then a trip to Birmingham and a finale in Denver. That could be too much to ask for the 2 nd  year club, but even 2 wins in the next 5 puts them at a solid 7-9 record, which is certainly something to build on for Coach Long and a nice upgrade from last year’s 3-13 inaugural campaign.   Offseason Rumors Already Swirling We are still 5 weeks away from the conclusion of the regular season, but that certainly has not stopped the rumor mill from priming for a busy winter. Rumors are swirling around any number of franchises, coaching rumors, draft priorities, even QB change rumors. Of course, the majority of these conversations focus on teams that are longshots for a playoff push, but surprisingly not all of them. Here is our list of the rumors that seem to be both persistent and intriguing as we enter the home stretch of the USFL season. Will any of them pan out? We shall see.   Charlotte Will Clean House This Winter This one should shock no one. After all, the 0-11 Monarchs have been a disaster all year. We have already seen their starter benched as Jimmy Garoppolo has had a miserable 2021 campaign, throwing more than twice as many picks as touchdowns. Expect Charlotte to start at the top, relieving GM Roy Wentz of his duties along with Head Coach Vance Joseph. And while we think QB will certainly be a focal point this offseason, there are certainly plenty of holes to fill in this roster, including an ineffective run game, a porous O-line, and a secondary that lacks playmakers. Charlotte will likely rebuild around DE Chandler Jones, LB Rolando McClain, and DT Leki Fotu, but outside of those three, we could see a very different roster in 2022.   Maulers May Challenge Dalton with Rookie Andy Dalton, the “Red Rifle” has been something of an institution in Pittsburgh since being named the starter in 2013, but in 9 seasons he has produced only 1 playoff season (2015). The Maulers are looking like a possible playoff team this year, but most of the credit is going to their solid defense, as the passing game is ranked 25 th  in the league at only 230 yards per game. So, what is the plan? Well, Dalton is signed through next year, which in our minds makes 2022 a very good time for a transition of the Maulers want to go another direction. Rumors have the Maulers very interested in a local product, Pitt QB Kenny Pickett. A 4-year starter for the Panthers, Picket has had modest numbers but has shown flashes. He led Pitt to their first ACC title in 2018. He had a stellar game in the Quick Lane Bowl in 2019, throwing or 361 yards and 3 scores against Eastern Michigan, and this past year, in a Covid-shortened season, he threw for over 2,400 yards and 13 touchdowns, helping Pitt reach the Top 25 rankings. A strong 2021 campaign for the senior QB and we could be seeing the Maulers reach out for the local star in the 2022 Territorial Draft. With a year left in Dalton’s contract, that would set them up for a big decision a year from now.   OBJ Headed OTD?        Is Odell Beckham Jr. headed “out the door” in New Jersey. The All-USFL receiver made some noise about his role and his team earlier in the year but has been mostly silent as the Generals embarked on the 8-game winning streak that now has them atop the NE Division. OBJ is in a contract year, so the time is right if he does want a change of venue. There will almost certainly be no shortage of teams interested in a receiver about to finish his 6 th  consecutive 1,000-yard season. OBJ has elite hands, good speed and is considered the model for body control thanks to a series of acrobatic catches over his career in New Jersey. Winning may have cooled his interest in leaving the Generals, but he also has to know that if he does enter the market, there is every chance he will get a record-setting contract for a wideout. That could well push the General’s big playmaker into free agency and could open up a feeding frenzy as teams try to land the outgoing and very talented receiver.   Former Bull LB Mike Vrabel a Hot Coaching Candidate Current Seattle DC and former Jacksonville Bull legend Mike Vrabel is considered one of the hottest coaching prospects in the league. The 11-time All-USFL linebacker, who is second only to Brian Urlacher in career tackles, has become a rising star in the coaching world and could be a name on a lot of team’s short lists after the success of his Dragon defense in Seattle this year. Vrabel retired from the playing field after the 2014 season, joining the Bulls’ coaching staff as a strength and conditioning coach for 2015. By 2018 he was the LB position coach for the Bulls before taking the DC position with Coach Mike Riley and the Seattle Dragons in 2019. The Seattle defense struggled a bit in 2019 but showed marked improvement in last year’s 9-7 Wild Card campaign. This year, the squad has improved to Top 5 status, highlighted this week with a masterful game against the Tampa Bay Bandits.   That quick rise, as well as the respect shown by Seattle players towards their former-superstar-player-turned-coach has Vrabel on a lot of team’s short lists as they look for a new leader.  We would not be shocked at all to see Jacksonville try to bring Vrabel back if they decide to let Winston Moss go, but Vrabel could also be in consideration in Charlotte, Portland, San Diego, or Orlando, if those clubs decide to make a change. Heck, if Houston legend Wade Phillips steps down, as many now believe he will, we could even see Vrabel headed to the Gamblers. His dance card will be busy come the offseason, though teams may have to wait as Seattle looks poised for a deep playoff run.   Weak QB Class makes DE the Potential Heart of the 2022 Draft With the 2021 NCAA season still over 2 months away, there is a lot of room for growth, but at present, there is currently no QB with a 1 st  round draft grade in the 2022 Draft Pool. That will almost certainly change, but what we see right now is a top tier of seniors and anticipated junior departures that focuses on receivers, cornerbacks, linemen, and particularly edge rushers. From Georgia’s Trevon Walker to Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson, this is looking like a draft that could be heavy on pass rushers, defenders, and receivers, and not on passers themselves.   Currently, in their “way too early” draft rankings, both Mel Kiper and Mike McShay have 5 defensive ends listed with 1 st round grades, including the two named above. They also have 2 corners as potential Top 10 picks (LSU’s Derek Stingley Jr. and Cincinnati’s Sauce Gardner) as well as a handful of receivers with 1 st  or 2 nd round grades, led by USC’s Drake London and Ohio State’s duo of Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave. With no QBs listed in the Top 30 for either draft analyst, this very well could be a year where free agent QBs, possible trades, and possible NFL imports are the key to improving the QB position, while teams use the draft on players who can either catch those passes or stop the passing game.   Myles Jack & Clay Matthews Both Expected to Hit Free Agent Pool It is not unusual for veteran defenders to use free agency to both improve their financial situation and their chance at a title. This year looks to be no different as both Myles Jack of San Diego and Clay Matthews of Dallas have rejected early deals from their current teams and appear fully ready to hit the free agent marketplace. Jack, at only 26 and coming off a nice, but certainly not eye-popping rookie deal, is excepted to seek at least double his current compensation, with significant guaranteed money. After 5 years with the Thunder, in which he has proven to be one of the most disruptive players in the league, as well as an outstanding edge rusher, Jack is looking to cash in, and, almost certainly, hopes to find himself on a team that is ready to compete right away. Matthews, at 33, is likely headed into his final deal, and while he certainly could be leaving a good situation if he steps away from Dallas, there is no doubt that the veteran MLB, one who topped 100 tackles every year from 2010-2018, will get paid to be the veteran leader of a defense somewhere in the league. The question is both how many years he has left to take on that role, and what team gives him both a payday and a real chance at a title? Getting that combo could be tougher for Matthews than the younger and more explosive Jack.   Tannehill: Locked In or Trade Bait? Yes, over the past 2 weeks, with New England getting two surprise wins, Ryan Tannehill’s stock has gone up. And perhaps that was the reason why New England went out and dealt to bring in NFL import Jameis Winston from Birmingham. But the question is whether they have boosted Tannehill with the hope that he can be their long-term solution, or if his recent success will make him a more coveted commodity in a poor draft year for QBs. Rumors have New England possibly giving Winston some late season starts as a way of testing whether they need to sign Tannehill to a long-term deal, or to a very trade-friendly extension of his current deal. If Winston does see game action, and if he proves successful, there is every possibility that New England would shop Tannehill around in hopes of acquiring more draft capital. If Winston struggles, then the Steamrollers could offer Tannehill a more long-term deal and see what value Winston would have on the free agency market. What seems clear is that there is little chance we will see both in Foxboro next year.   Tom Brady “Goodbye Tour” Almost Certain At the age of 45, most QBs are already 10 years into their post-football careers, broadcasting, selling insurance, owning a car dealership, or just playing golf. Tom Brady is still getting under center in Oakland. But by every account, the 2021 season is the swan song for the 2-time USFL Champ and 3-Time Super Bowl Winner. Brady, after a combination of NFL and USFL seasons that spans 20 years, is expected to retire this year. That reality has been known in Oakland for some time and is one of the primary reasons that they wooed, selected, and signed Cal QB Davis Mills in the 2021 draft. Mills, who has appeared in only 1 game for mop up duty this year, is the anticipated heir apparent for Brady in Oakland. With Jimmy Garoppolo traded to Charlotte in the offseason, it was clear that Mills was going to be given every chance to take on the role. But, in an interesting twist, Oakland also signed U. of Texas QB Sam Ehlinger in the same draft. So now they have 2 QBs going into their 2 nd seasons and could well have a QB competition on their hands.   Ehlinger has spent most of the season on the Practice Squad, with veteran Kellen Moore as the 3 rd  QB for the Invaders, so the expectation is that Mills certainly has the upper hand. If Oakland, currently 6-5, were to slip out of playoff contention, we might see Mills get a start or two just to confirm that the Invaders are ready to go into 2022 with him at the helm, but as of right now, with the Invaders still very much in the mix, that seems unlikely, so we could see Oakland have to make a decision based purely on their backup QB’s practice habits and offseason training.   Week 13 offers only 5 divisional games, but a lot of games with playoff implications, starting on Friday, when a pair of 7-4 clubs very familiar with each other face off. Philadelphia heads across the state for a Keystone Clash against Pittsburgh, with both clubs hoping to fight their way into a playoff spot. The second Friday game is a divisional clash between 5-6 Dallas and division-leading Denver. A win here by the Gold and Dallas may well fall out of playoff contention.   Saturday starts with what may be a must-win game for the Atlanta Fire, and a tough one as they head up to New Jersey to battle the Generals. New Jersey has not lost a game since early April, having won 8 in a row to reach the top of the NE Division, so a very tough task for QB Pat White and the Fire. Saturday also has an interdivisional battle of 6-5 clubs as Oakland heads to Ohio, as well as divisional battles with New Orleans visiting Birmingham, Washington going up the Beltway to Baltimore, and St. Louis visiting Michigan.   Sunday features the two top teams in the league, with Tampa Bay hosting Portland and Seattle taking on the San Diego Thunder. We will also have a battle of playoff hopefuls when Arizona makes their first trip to San Antonio since the rebirth of the Gunslingers. The nightcap features another battle from that cluster of 6-5 and 5-6 teams as Las Vegas visits Houston to finish up the week.   FRI @ 8pm ET       Philadelphia (7-4) @ Pittsburgh (7-4)                      NBC FRI @ 8pm ET          Dallas (5-6) @ Denver (8-3)                                      ESPN/EFN   SAT @ 12pm ET      Atlanta (6-5) @ New Jersey (8-3)                             ABC SAT @ 12pm ET   Los Angeles (5-6) @ Charlotte (0-11)                     FOX SAT @ 4pm ET       Oakland (6-5) @ Ohio (6-5)                                        ABC SAT @ 4pm ET         New Orleans (4-7) @ Birmingham (7-4)             FOX SAT @ 8pm ET        Washington (4-7) @ Baltimore (6-5)                    NBC SAT @ 8pm ET        St. Louis (4-7) @ Michigan (6-5)                            ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET     New England (4-7) @ Orlando (6-5)                        ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET     Memphis (5-6) @ Jacksonville (3-8)                       ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET     Portland (4-7) @ Tampa Bay (9-2)                            FOX SUN @ 4pm ET       Chicago (7-4) @ Oklahoma (4-7)                             ABC SUN @ 4pm ET       San Diego (3-8) @ Seattle (9-2)                              FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET       Arizona (6-5) @ San Antonio (5-6)                           FOX Regional SUN @ 8pm ET        Las Vegas (5-6) @ Houston (6-5)                             ESPN/EFN

A week to talk about quarterbacks, the good, the bad, and the ugly. The good was pretty obvious, with rookie sensation Trevor Lawrence having his best game as a pro, throwing for over 400 yards and securing a huge upset win for the Bulls. It was also NFL import Gardner Minshew proving to the Viper faithful that the injury to Matt McGloin would not derail their season. The bad was quite bad, with Chicago QB Sam Bradford looking absolutely horrendous in throwing 4 picks as the Machine dropped only their 2 nd  game of the year, taken down by the Ohio Glory thanks to Bradford’s issues. And then there is the ugly, ugly as in a torn PCL that will end Aaron Murray’s season for Atlanta and ugly as in a torn bicep that will send St. Louis starter Lamar Jackson to the IR. A week to discuss quarterbacks, their value, their upside, and the risks they face. We will break down all the week’s stories, and also update you on the playoff picture, along with a look at which teams are riding a tide of momentum (positive or negative) as we head down the home stretch. It’s all right here, so don’t go anywhere.   Jackson & Murray Lost for the Season Both Atlanta and St. Louis are dealing with a crisis situation this week after their star quarterbacks go down to season-ending injury. And while St. Louis’s season was not looking particularly promising anyway, Atlanta still had hopes of a strong finish and a playoff run. Both now will turn to the backups to guide them the rest of the way.   For Atlanta and QB Aaron Murray, the injury came early in the 3 rd quarter, with Murray flushed from the pocket and attempting a rare scramble in a 13-6 game against Houston. Caught from behind by Houston LB Ramik Wilson, Murray fell awkwardly, his knee rotated unnaturally by the tackle. He would limp off the field, then soon be seen heading to the locker room. It would not be until Monday that a diagnosis was released, a full tear of his PCL ligament, requiring surgery and a lengthy recovery. Murray’s season is over. Former Breaker Pat White stepped in at QB and helped guide the Fire to a 30-27 overtime victory, hitting A. J. Green for a touchdown in the 4 th  and then guiding the Fire offense to the game-winning field goal in overtime. White now steps in, with DeShone Kizer as his backup, set to lead the Fire through the final 6 games of the Fire season. White last started a game in 2019 in New Orleans and has not started multiple games since 2017 (2). The 34-year-old, 12-season veteran will now get a chance to shine with a team that has a very solid offensive roster around him, including Green, HB Nick Chubb and potential All-USFL tight end O. J. Howard.  St. Louis also turned to a veteran backup after their star QB went down, with Tyrod Taylor, and a surprising defensive performance, helping them to knock off the Pittsburgh Maulers in Pittsburgh. In that game, Lamar Jackson came out of the game midway through the 2 nd  quarter, holding his throwing arm at his side after an awkward throw under pressure. He too would head into the locker room, and later that day the report came out that imaging had proven that the mobile QB had suffered a tear of his bicep. He too would require reconstructive surgery and his season was over. Tyrod Taylor came in and finished the game, leading St. Louis on its lone TD drive of the day and adding a field goal late as the Skyhawks upended the Maulers. Taylor had been brought to St. Louis from Dallas in 2018, valued for his ability to run a similar offense to that of Lamar Jackson. He has started 1 game each of the past two seasons but now will start the next 6 for the Skyhawks, including next week’s home game against the division-leading Chicago Machine.   Both injuries were the result of pressure, with Murray injured during a scramble while Jackson’s muscle tear was the result of an awkward throwing motion made to avoid incoming blitzers. Both now leave their teams relying on career backups, though fortunately both teams have veteran backups who have proven capable in the past. For St. Louis, sitting at 3-7, the stakes may not be very high, as there is little expectation that the Skyhawks will compete for a playoff spot, but for Atlanta, sitting in 6-4, a game up on Orlando for 2 nd place in the Southeast, the pressure is on to continue to secure wins and hopefully a Wild Card berth. Sitting 3 games behind Tampa Bay, that seems to be the goal for the Fire, but one possibly in jeopardy now that their starting QB has been placed on IR.   ATLANTA FIRE 30  HOUSTON GAMBLERS 27  OVERTIME We had a doozy in Houston this weekend, with backup QB Pat White leading the Atlanta Fire to a big road win over a very good Houston squad. It was a game that saw some big numbers, with Colt McCoy throwing for 435 yards in defeat, and the combined Atlanta QB’s going 23 for 30 and sharing 294 passing yards and 2 TDs as the Fire pull off the surprising victory without their starter under center.   Houston came in 6-3, sharing the lead in the Southern Division with the Birmingham Stallions. Atlanta was 5-4, already 3 games behind Tampa Bay but still a game up on Orlando for 2 nd  in the Southeast. Both had been strong offensive squads all season with the Gamblers ranked 5 th  in scoring and 2 nd  in yards per game at over 410 per outing. Atlanta came in ranked 6 th  in scoring and 4 th  in yards at 386 per game. So we expected some fireworks and we got them.   The scoring started early, with Atlanta using an initial drive of scripted plays to march the ball 74 yards for an eventual Murray to Howard TD toss from the 3. The drive included 4 runs from Nick Chubb, who would finish the game with 20 carries for 77 yards. It also showed off Murray’s arm, with the QB going 3 for 3 and finding Kelvin Benjamin on a nice 3 rd  down conversion.   Down 7-0, Houston responded with a drive of their own, eating up nearly 7 minutes as they dinked and dunked the ball down the field, relying mostly on short underneath passes to Tony Moeaki, Gerald Everett and Denzel Mims. Everett would be Colt McCoy’s favorite target on the day, catching 6 of 8 targets for 145 yards. But, when a 3 rd  and 5 toss failed, the Gamblers had to settle for 3, and that is how the first quarter ended, with Atlanta up 7-3 and driving the ball again.   Atlanta’s 2 nd  possession would also provide points, as John Bounds connected on a 31-yard kick to boost the Fire advantage back up to 7. It was followed by another Houston field goal drive. Up 10-6, Atlanta attempted a deep ball on 3 rd and 3, but the play action pass failed, leading to a punt. Houston followed that with a short drive and a punt of their own, leading the game to go to the half at 10-6, a lower score than many expected, but one that would explode in the 2 nd  half.   After the break, Atlanta shut down Houston on their first possession of the game, ending the drive with a tip drill that saw safety Baccari Rambo tip the McCoy pass away from JuJu Smith-Schuster only to have CB Shaquille Griffin dive to the turf to scoop the ball up before it hit the ground. With a short field, Atlanta moved the ball into range for kicker John Bounds and added 3 points only 90 seconds into the half. Following the score, Houston tried to regain a foothold, but they came up short, sending Younghoe Koo out to attempt a 53-yard kick. The ball sailed right and Atlanta took over on their own 36.   The Fire looked to be in good position but suffered a shock as Aaron Murray was flushed out of the pocket on a 2 nd  and 8, was caught by the ankle and suffered a nasty knee injury when his leg was twisted unnaturally during the tackle. Without their starter, Pat White stepped in, threw an incompletion on 3 rd  down, forcing a punt on the short drive. Houston took over as Murray was helped to the endzone. Atlanta’s sideline deflated, their star QB clearly out of commission, the Gamblers hoped to take advantage.   But Houston’s hopes of an easy win, despite the 13-6 deficit, were short-lived. On the 2 nd  play of the drive, Colt McCoy and Denzel Mims were clearly not on the same page. Murray threw the ball anticipating an in-cutting route, Mims cut to the sideline, and the ball sailed directly into the arms of Atlanta CB Shaquille Griffin. The speedy corner raced down the sideline, pursued by Mims and McCoy, but neither was able to find the right angle, with Griffin high stepping into the endzone to increase the Atlanta lead to 2 scores. The Fire may have been without their starting QB, but they now had a 14-point lead with barely 18 minutes of game time left.   Houston needed a response, and they got one, with McCoy rebounding from the pick-six to complete 4 of 4 on their next drive, including a beautiful 42-yard completion to Mike Evans on a perfectly executed 1 st  down play action call. That play set up the Gamblers inside the Houston 10 and 2 plays later, Carlos Hyde would take the ball in for 6 and halve the Fire lead. With the 4 th quarter only seconds away, Atlanta was now up only 20-13.   Pat White led the Fire out for the next drive, looking calm despite the pressure of the situation. The former Bandit and Breaker QB, who last started a game in 2019 for the Breakers and had only seen limited mop up duty with Atlanta, was unphased by the situation. After a pair of Nick Chubb runs set up a 3 rd and 2, White hit O. J. Howard with an underneath route for the first down, a nice easy throw to set him up for future success. He followed that throw with a 14-yard completion on a screen to Chubb, another QB-friendly throw. With a 1 st and 10 on the Houston 45, Coach Elizondo showed faith in his QB, calling a play action throw that would have both Kelvin Benjamin and A. J. Green on fly patterns as they hoped the safeties would creep up for the fake to Chubb. The play worked as designed, with both Houston safeties concerned with Chubb’s interior run, by the time it was clear that White still had the ball, the mobile QB had rolled to his right and had set his eyes on A. J. Green, flying down the sideline. The ball was a bit short, but Green adjusted, shrugged off an arm tackle form the corner and raced to the endzone for 6. Once again, the Atlanta lead had ballooned to 14 points.   Houston would not have an immediate response, going 3-and-out on their first possession of the final period, but their defense held on Atlanta’s next possession, stuffing Kenyan Drake on a 3 rd  and 2 run to get the ball back for Colt McCoy and the offense. On their second possession of the period, McCoy was again deadly accurate, connecting on a pair of long completions to get the team deep into Atlanta territory. Three plays after Josh Reynolds’ 29-yard completion put the ball on the Atlanta 5, McCoy faked the ball to Hyde and hit a quick-developing slant to Mike Evans for the score. After the Koo kick it was Houston down 7 once again, 27-20, with 3:00 left on the clock.   Houston opted to kick away, hoping to pressure Atlanta into a quick 3-and-out. The Fire turned to Nick Chubb on all 3 downs, hoping to not only gain a first down but also kill as much clock as possible. But Houston’s defense held the Fire a yard short of the first down, and despite losing nearly 2 minutes of time, Houston got the ball back with 1:07 left on the clock, the ball at their own 36 after the Atlanta punt.   This would be a drive to tie the score, and it would be entirely on McCoy’s shoulders to get them there. The veteran Gambler QB would go 4 of 6 passing on the drive, including a beautiful deep seam route to Everett as they moved quickly and efficiently down the field, burning 2 of their 3 timeouts to keep the clock from running. With a first and goal at the 7, McCoy hit Everett again, but the big TE was ruled down at the 1. The Gamblers quickly ran to the line, not wanting to use their final timeout just yet. The play called at the line was for the two tight ends, Everett and Moeaki, to use shallow crosses in hopes that one of the two defenders would get caught in the wash and picked from the play. Just as planned, the safety struggled to stay with Tony Moeaki and Colt McCoy hit him crossing the endzone for the game tying score. With 29 seconds left on the clock, Houston had tied the score at 27.   Atlanta sent Chubb into the line on their first play, ending the half as the clock ran down, and ready to face overtime. The Fire won the toss, took the ball, and planned their strategy for a possible game-winning score. They would balance their attack, using play action on first down to start the drive, White hitting Vance McDonald for a short gain. Chubb gained a first down with his first run of the overtime period, and the Fire had the ball moving. They methodically marched into Houston territory, with short throws easing White into his role as the new starter. But, after a false start set up 3rd and 13, Atlanta used a short dump off to Chubb to improve their field position and sent out John Bounds for the kick. Bounds connected, but the score meant that Houston would have a chance to tie or take the win on the next possession.   The Gamblers were fully intent on taking the win with a touchdown on their possession. They opened their drive with a perfectly timed out route to Evans. After a 4-yard gain from Clyde Edwards-Helaire, McCoy again tried the deep route but failed to connect with Smith-Schuster, setting up 3rd and 6 form their own 41. McCoy connected with Everett again, but the tight end was brought down 2 yards shy of the first down. 4 th  and 2 and the Gamblers’ chances for a comeback victory rode on this one play. The call went to Hyde on power run to the right, but Atlanta was ready for it. LB Jelani Jenkins read the run and penetrated the backfield to disrupt Hyde’s path. The Houston back twisted back to the left, but there was no room there either. As Hyde tried to surge forward, he was caught by DT Ed Oliver and dragged down for no gain. Houston had given up the ball on downs and that meant Atlanta, despite losing their QB, had held on for the win, a dramatic win and one that would certainly help Pat White gain confidence as he looked at the next 6 weeks as the new starter for the Fire.   ORLANDO 13  TAMPA BAY 24 The Bandits hold serve thanks to a solid defensive performance and touchdowns from Dez Bryant and Jordan Cameron. Orlando was game, taking a 13-10 lead just as the 3 rd  quarter began, but the Bandits took over when Dak Prescott hit Jordan Cameron for the go-ahead score. They would add a defensive touchdown when Preston Brown returned a Dak Prescott fumble for a TD late in the 4 th . That put the game out of reach for the pesky Renegades, who dropped to 5-5 as Tampa Bay improved on the best record in the league with their 10 th win of the season. POTG:  Bandit LB Preston Brown: 9 Tck, 1 Def TD 1 FR   PHILADELPHIA 12   NEW ENGLAND 20 A troubling loss for the Stars as they struggle to turn yards into points against a very disciplined New England defense. The Rollers came back from a 10-0 2 nd  quarter deficit, with Ryan Tannehill hitting Tyler Johnson for a 30-yard score and T. J. Yeldon adding a 14-yard TD run to open the 3 rd . New England held Derrick Henroy to 76 yards and held the Stars to only a late safety as their lone score in the 2 nd  half. An impressive outing for Coach Fox’s D. POTG:  Steamroller FS Deion Bush: 7 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR, 3 PDef   JACKSONVILLE 26  BIRMINGHAM 20  OVERTIME The Bulls get their 2 nd  win of the season after an impressive outing from both their defense and rookie QB Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence put the ball up 53 times in the game, completing 37 for 417 yards and 2 scores. Another rookie, HB Chubba Hubbard led the team with 66 yards on 13 carries, and wideout Tee Higgins had a monster day with 9 receptions, 119 yards and a score as the Bulls got the equalizer with 6 minutes left in regulation and then followed it up with a TD drive for the win in overtime. POTG:  Bulls’ QB Trevor Lawrence: 37/53, 417 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   NEW ORLEANS 20   LAS VEGAS 27 Viper fans can breathe easier after QB Gardner Minshew’s debut in the USFL. The former NFL Jaguar looked polished, completing 22 of 36 passing for 264 yards, 3 touchdowns and no picks against the Breakers. Kareem Hunt was also a huge factor in the game, rushing for 117 against the Breakers. New Orleans’ back DeMarco Murray also had success, rushing for 168 yards, but it was not enough as the Vipers used a Tommy Tremble TD reception in the 3 rd  to take the lead and then added 2 Matt Gay field goals to hold on for the win over the slumping Breakers. POTG:  Viper QB Gardner Minshew: 22/36, 264 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   PORTLAND 22  SAN DIEGO 21 A battle at the bottom of the Pacific Division goes to Portland by the slimmest of margins. San Diego led 31-7 after 3, but the Stags dominated the final period, putting up 15 unanswered despite failing on two 2-point PATs in the final 5 minutes. San Diego HB Demetric Felton got the start for the injured Charles Sims, and looked like a Heisman back, rushing for 113 and 3 scores in the first half. Portland adjusted at the half and minimized the back’s impact in the 2 nd  half, while Marcus Mariota finally started finding his receivers, specifically Josh Gordon, who caught two 4 th  quarter TDs to help Portland secure the 1-point win and equal their record with San Diego’s both now 3-7. POTG:  Stag QB Marcus Mariota: 29/40, 306 Yds, 3 TD, 2 Int   OAKLAND 3   SEATTLE 24 No doubt who sits atop the Pacific after Seattle dominated the Invaders to take a 2-game lead in the division. Their win streak now at 8 games, the Dragons got TDs from HB Knowshon Moreno, WR Marshall Newhouse, and a pick-six from CB Richard Sherman, who returned a desperation pass from Brady 55 yards for the score. Brady threw 3 picks on the day, though 2 of the 3 were tipped balls. Brett Hundley had modest numbers, only 199 yards, but did complete 22 of 28 on the day as Seattle simply did not give Oakland a chance to catch their breath after falling behind. POTG:  Dragon CB Richard Sherman: 6 Tck, 1 Int, 1 DefTD   CHARLOTTE 17   WASHINGTON 22 The Monarchs surprised Washington by starting Kyle Boller on a gameday decision. It helped them at first, but after the half Washington adjusted and went on to outpace Charlotte 12-7 in the 2 nd  half to turn the game in their favor. Charlotte actually took the lead with 2:06 left to play when Boller hit K. J. Hill for a short TD, but the Charlotte defense could not hold, with Washington getting the game winner on a Brissett to Winslow TD toss with just under 45 seconds left to play. Brissett finished the day with 235 yards and 2 scores, while Travis Etienne missed 100 yards by a single yard, going 19 for 99. POTG:  Federal WR Tyreek Hill: 6 Rec, 100 Yds, 1 TD   ST. LOUIS 15 PITTSBURGH 7 The Maulers got caught in a trap game, clearly underestimating the Skyhawks’ chances with Lamar Jackson sidelined early injury (more on that below). Tyrod Taylor came in and helped the Skyhawks get the upset, but the true honors have to go to the oft-maligned Skyhawk defense. The Skyhawks held Andy Dalton to only 138 yards passing, allowed Sony Michel only 26 yards on the ground, and did not permit a 3 rd  down conversion the entire day (0 for 11). This has to be a warning to the Maulers, who did not look like a serious contender in this home loss. POTG:  St. Louis end A. J. Epenesa: 4 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 TFL   BALTIMORE 10   NEW JERSEY 13 A defensive shoving match between two teams that like to play smashmouth football. Baltimore kept 8 or 9 in the box on almost every play, limiting the Carter/Pollard duo to a season low 21 yards total. New Jersey gave up a bit more to Josh Jacobs, 71 yards on 22 carries and the lone offensive TD of the game. The biggest play of game was an Aqib Talib pick of Jake Locker. Talib pulled the ball away from Michael Pittman Jr. then raced 64 yards for the score. Tied 10-10 at the half, New Jersey got the lone score, and the game-winner, when Ka’imi Fairbairn connected from 37 yards out in the 3 rd . POTG:  New Jersey CB Aqib Talib: 8 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD, 1 FF   OKLAHOMA 7  DENVER 20 The Gold were ready for Oklahoma back Eddie Lacy, holding the recent trade acquisition to only 24 yards rushing. Oklahoma was ready for QB Josh Allen, sacking the Denver QB 7 times, but they still got hurt by the Denver offense, with Phillip Lindsay rushing for 81 yards and 2 scores. The game was a low scoring affair through 3, with a 3-0 Denver lead at the half and a 10-0 lead after 3. Following a Mark Andrews TD for Oklahoma, Denver added a field goal and a 2 nd  Lindsay TD run to pull ahead by 13, a lead that Oklahoma would not challenge. POTG:  Denver FS Camryn Bynum: 5 Tck, 3 Pdef, 1 Int   CHICAGO 16   OHIO 23 Concern for the Machine as they drop a second consecutive divisional road game. Happiness in Columbus as the Glory now stand 1 game behind Chicago for the division title. Kudos for QB Justin Fields, who had no room to run once again as Chicago spied him, but who stayed in the pocket, completed 27 of 41 passing, with 2 TDs on the day. The Ohio defense did the rest, absolutely tormenting Sam Bradford, who had 4 picks on the day, 2 to Ohio CB Chimdi Chekwa. It was a rough outing for the Chicago QB, and for the Machine, who are watching their division lead shrinking. POTG:  Ohio CB Chimdi Chekwa: 8 Tck, 3 Pdef, 2 Int   DALLAS 17   LOS ANGELES 20  OVERTIME The Express needed overtime to get the win, but they pull the game out thanks to a 41-yard Dan Bailey kick in extra time. LA used a Murray to Weems TD in the 3 rd to take the lead, but Dallas equalized with a late field goal, sending the game to extra time. In overtime, a Chris Jones sack of Hebert ended Dallas’s first drive, giving LA a chance to win the game with a field goal. They did just that after Murray found new receiver Jeremy Maclin for a 21-yard completion to get them in range. Bailey did the rest. POTG:  LA QB Kyler Murray: 20/34, 360 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int MICHIGAN 8   ARIZONA 26 An ugly loss for the Panthers after their big home win over Chicago. Arizona dominated from the opening kickoff, with Ka’Deem Carey rushing for 108 yards and David Carr finding TE Robert Tonyan for 2 scores. The Arizona defense kept Michigan off the scoreboard in the first half, as Arizona built up a 16-0 lead at home. The Panthers got a lone Cousins to Bennett TD with a 2-point PAT, but a second Tonyan score put the game well out of reach for the visitors. POTG:  Arizona QB David Carr: 17/24, 200 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int   Minshew Shines in First USFL Start You can understand why Viper fans were a bit distraught this week. Las Vegas, sitting at 4-5 and having lost their starting QB to a season-ending injury, was not looking like they could keep pace in a tough Southwest Division. But fears of losing out may have been wiped away, if only temporarily, by what Viper fans saw in Gardner Minshew this week. The NFL import and internet-famous meme machine had a very solid debut outing, completing 22 of 36 passing, and throwing for 3 scores. He was helped out by an effective run game, led by Kareem Hunt’s 117 yards, but Minshew had his moments as well, connecting with John Ross for an early TD and then finding both Rashod Bateman and TE Tommy Tremble for 3 rd  quarter scores that put the Vipers up 21-20 after 3 quarters. The D did the rest, shutting out New Orleans in the final period while Las Vegas added two Matt Gay field goals to claim a 27-20 victory. The result moved Las Vegas to 5-5, very much in the mix in the Southwest, where Denver leads the division at 7-3.   The Vipers are currently in sole possession of 3 rd  place, just a game behind Arizona, and while last week’s loss to LA broke their home winning streak, they still have 3 more home games ahead of them, all divisional matchups, including another divisional battle next week, when Dallas comes calling. Arizona and Denver will also be paying a visit, and the Vipers have a road trip to Dallas to finish out the season. That is 4 divisional games left, which means they can largely control their own destiny. If their new QB can continue to make plays, there is no reason they cannot still have a lot of say in how the division finishes.   Trevor Lawrence Leads Bulls to Road Upset Call it a trap game for the Stallions, or call it a sign of things to come, but what we saw from Trevor Lawrence this week is the kind of outing that has to put a smile on the faces of Bulls fans everywhere. Lawrence reinserted himself in the ROTY discussion with a 417-yard, 2-TD game in Birmingham, only Jacksonville’s 2 nd win of the year and one few saw coming. Birmingham tried pressuring Lawrence all game, and they did produce 4 sacks, but they also gave up some huge plays, plays like a 49-yard strike to slot receiver Tajae Sharpe, and a 3rd and 17 conversion that went for 21 to Tee Higgins, with Lawrence threading the needle between two defenders to reach his primary receiver. Lawrence completed passes to 9 different Bulls, with Higgens the favorite, catching 9 for 119 and a TD. It was a coming out party for the rookie QB, who has had some good games so far, but very few wins. This time his personal success translated into team success, something Bull fans hope is a sign of things to come for the former Clemson QB.   Talib & “General Mayhem” Defense Have New Jersey Rolling Few looked at the Generals’ defensive roster this year and expected them to finish in the upper half of the league, but Coach Saleh has turned a rag tag group into the top-rated scoring defense in the league after 11 weeks. The “General Mayhem” defense as the local NY Post has dubbed them, is allowing only 14.5 points per game, giving up only 68.8 yards per game on the ground, and has helped New Jersey put together an impressive 7-game winning streak that now has them tied atop the division with the once 5-0 Philadelphia Stars. New Jersey has already swept the series with the Stars, meaning that a tie atop the NE Division would make the Generals the Division Champs. They have only 2 more division games to play, both against Washington, and, if they can sweep that series, they would finish with an impressive 7-1 record in the division.   So, who has stepped up for the NJ defense? Pretty much everyone, individually and collectively, but the players getting the most recognition are no strangers to the limelight. CB Aqib Talib has long been considered one of the league’s best, and as evident by his pick-six game winner this week, he remains one of very few corners in the league who have the capacity to shut down a team’s best receiver. The LB group has also been impressive, led by MLB Matt Milano and edge threat Aldon Smith, the General linebackers have been a huge reason for their success, especially against the run. The Generals also feel they have the best 1-2 combo on the D-line of any team in the league, their 4-3 alignment focused on the interior, where DTs B. J. Raji and Grady Jarrett have largely bottled up the interior run, and allowed the linebackers to roam behind them.   It is a team defense that is aggressive without being frantic, ball-hawking without giving up big plays, and one that swarms to the tackle, exactly what their head coach, former NFL DC Robert Saleh wants to see. And, with 6 games left, they are in a position few thought they would achieve this year, a chance to be the top-rated defense in the league as well as a potential division champion and home playoff team.   Bradford “Nightmare Game” Tightens Central Division Race This was a week, and a game, that Chicago QB Sam Bradford would love to forget. Under constant pressure from the front 7 of the Ohio Glory, Bradford made a series of poor throws, producing 4 picks and ending 4 drives with frustrating turnovers, all in a game that could have gone either way had the picks not stunted Chicago’s attack. Ohio planned for the Machine very effectively, borrowing some of the tactics used successfully by Michigan the prior week. They sent blitzes to the interior of the Chicago line, producing immediate pressure and forcing Bradford out of his comfortable pocket. On the run, the Chicago QB is far less efficient, as was evident in this game.   Bradford has been forcing the ball of late, something that has to worry Head Coach Lovie Smith. With 9 of his 13 picks on the season coming in the last month, Bradford has seen his QB Rating drop almost 10 points, and now, with the division on the line and 2 more division games coming up in the next 3 weeks, Chicago cannot afford to have a QB who is both losing confidence in himself and who continues to make throws that are ill-advised and dangerous. Coach Smith has to figure out how to offset what is likely to be continued pressure up the middle, and Bradford has to be willing to either scramble or throw the ball out of bounds rather than trying to force plays. Chicago was 7-1 only 2 week ago but now sit at 7-3 and seem far more vulnerable as long as the issue of Bradford turnovers continues.   Felton Proves Thunder Have Deep RB Room with 3 TD Day While San Diego could not pull out the win this week, falling to Portland by a single point, they at least showed that they have more to offer than initially thought. With HB Charles Sims out to injury, there was a huge question mark in the San Diego backfield. The Thunder went into the game with Demetric Felton as the temporary starter and Morton Tunrer behind him. Not familiar with either back? We are not surprised. The combo had a combined 12 carries before this week’s game. Felton, a rookie out of UCLA and a 3 rd  round pick by the Thunder in the T-Draft, had never had more than 2 touches in any game this year, but now was the starter. So, what did he do in his debut? How about 25 carries for 113 yards and 3, yes 3, touchdowns. He did most of that damage in the first half, with 99 yards in the half and all 3 touchdowns. Portland focused on the unknown back in the 2 nd  half, but what we saw from Felton has to make Coach LeBeau happy. We would not be surprised at all to see Felton get more carries even with Sims returning to action this week. San Diego may have surprised themselves with his success, but we suspect they won’t keep their rookie back a secret from this point on. No clinching after 11 weeks and no eliminations either. Expect that to change in Week 12, when Tampa Bay could get it with a win and some key losses, while Charlotte will be out if they drop to 0-11. With 16 teams between 6-4 and 4-6 we could be waiting a while before the playoff picture comes into focus. As reported, it was a bad week for quarterbacks, with two quality starters now sent to IR. Geno Smith avoided that fate but did miss much of this week’s game after suffering a concussion. In addition to the QB injuries, we saw 2 other players added to the IR, including Pittsburgh’s veteran receiver Brian Quick and Baltimore DE Jonathon Massaquai. Quick will be replaced in Pittsburgh by rookie Amon-Ra St. Brown, who has flashed some very nice route-running skills this season. Massaquai was serving as a swing end behind Calais Campbell and Da’Quan Bowers. That role will now be taken by James Nannee.   OUT DE          Jonathon Massaquai    BAL        PCL Tear             IR QB         Aaron Murray                   ATL         PCL Tear             IR WR         Brian Quick                     PIT         MCLTear             IR QB         Lamar Jackson                STL         Bicep Tear          IR CB          Tra’Davious White         NOR      Back                     4-6 Weeks WR         Doug Baldwin                 NE          Quad                    1-2 Weeks SS           Budda Baker                 HOU     ACL                       1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL QB         Geno Smith                  NOR      Concussion DT          Leki Fotu                       CHA      Turf Toe LB           Anthony Barr                  ORL       Foot   QUESTIONABLE TE           Rob Housler                  WSH     Ribs CB          Darnay Holmes               SEA        Hand G            Taylor Moton                  SAN       Finger HB         LeVeon Bell                     MGN     Ankle     Surge or Slide: Momentum Impacting USFL Clubs Six weeks left, six games for teams to decide their postseason fate. A hot team can rise to the top of their division, a cold one can fall right out of contention. It does not matter how well you performed in the cold afternoons of March at this point, the heat is on, the summer sun reveals who is ready for the playoffs and who was offering fool’s gold in the season’s early weeks. So, just who has momentum on their side? Who is surging at the right time? And who is sliding, dropping games that they should have won, or revealing flaws that were hidden in the season’s opening months? Here is our list of 4 teams headed up the standings and 4 who appear to be sliding downwards.   SURGE: New Jersey Generals: 7-Game Win Streak No doubt about this one. Seven straight wins, including a sweep of the Philadelphia Stars, have the Generals poised to take the NE Division and a possible bye week as well. They face Washington twice in the next 3 weeks, their only remaining divisional games. A sweep there puts them at 7-1 in the division. But they also have 4 tough inter-divisional games (Atlanta, Chicago, @ Michigan, and Ohio) so they need to stay sharp to stay ahead of the pack.   SLIDE: Dallas Roughnecks: Lost 5 of Last 6 Dallas was a hot pick to usurp Arizona atop the Southwest Standings this year. They have a hot young QB and an innovative offensive coach, but the Roughnecks have had a rough 6 weeks, losing 5 of 6 since late April. That includes 3 divisional losses, including a sweep by the Wranglers. Now at 5-6 they are still alive, but they need to turn the ship around quickly. They have divisional road games at Las Vegas and at Denver on the docket. They may well need to win both to still be a contender in the division.   SURGE: Arizona Wranglers: Won 3 of Last 4 While Arizona has slid back to the pack in the Southwest, Jim Tomsula still knows how to get the best out of his squad when it matters most. He put together huge wins against Las Vegas and @ Dallas in the past 3 weeks. Their win over Michigan this week was also a very nice conference win. So, with Denver up next, they have a chance to gain a share of first place, and from there, who knows?   SLIDE: Michigan Panthers: Lost 5 of Last 6 The Panthers are looking very much like a tired franchise. After years of divisional dominance, the Panthers have now lost 5 of 6 this summer. They dropped games in the division to both the Maulers and Machine before earning a much needed win over Chicago in Week 10, but that win clearly wore them down, as is evident by their lackluster performance in Arizona this week. With Ohio up next, and 3 more divisional games after that, Michigan has a chance to rebound, but if they stumble, they could be out of the playoffs for the first time since 2013. Is this the end of an era?   SURGE: Los Angeles: Won 3 of Last 4 The Express have won 3 of the last 4, and even shown some rare offensive competence in a 30-17 victory over Las Vegas in Week 10. We like what we saw this week against Dallas as well, a mix of pressure and complex zones on defense, and some solid offensive production as well. With a huge matchup against Seattle in 3 weeks, LA cannot let themselves get complacent against Orlando and winless Charlotte in the meantime. They are still alive in the mix, but their margin for error is slim.   SLIDE: Philadelphia Stars: Lost 2 of Last 3 It is not easy turning a 2-14 team into an immediate contender. Coach Dan Quinn seemed to work miracles when Philly was 5-0, but since then reality has set in. Losing both games to New Jersey hurt, but falling this week to New England may be a sign that the Stars’ feel good story is about to come face to face with the realities of a long and tough season. They have Baltimore this week, in what could be a season-defining game, then atough 5-game stretch against 5 potential playoff teams in Pittsburgh, Michigan, Memphis and Birmingham.   SURGE: Memphis Showboats: Won 4 of last 6 There were a lot of folks counting Memphis as a flop this year when they were mired at 1-3, but they have found their sea legs and appear ready to compete in the South. After a health-restoring sweep of San Antonio, the Showboats came up big against New Orleans and got the win we expected against New England. They come off a bye this week with a huge game at Birmingham next up. A win there and they could be right in the thick of things. SLIDE: New Orleans: Lost 7 of Last 8 We are not sure what has happened to the Breakers, but clearly they are not right. Somehow they pulled off a 36-20 victory over Arizona in Week 8, but outside of that it has been loss piling up after loss. Their once feared offense is not getting the job done, averaging only 23.5 PPG, and their defense has proven vulnerable to the run. Coach Lathon has to be frustrated with a team that simply cannot seem to put the pieces together, despite a very talented roster.   League Office Announces 2023 & 2024 Summer Bowl Sites USFL Officials in New York announced this week that the sites for the 2023 and 2024 Summer Bowls had been selected. As we have seen in the past decade, the rotation of divisional hosts continues, with the Central Division targeted for 2023 and the Southern Division the hosts for the 2024 Summer Bowl. Following the 39 th  Summer Bowl in Santa Clara this year and the 40 th Season extravaganza ending with Summer Bowl 2022 in Washington D.C.’s Audi Field, the league title game will return to Chicago for 2023. The game, to be played at Soldier Field, will mark the first Summer Bowl in the Windy City since the 2001 title game that saw Orlando defeat Denver for the Renegades’ lone title. The 2024 USFL title game will return to San Antonio , with the newly rebuilt Alamodome as the venue for the league’s 42 nd  championship. San Antonio’s original Alamodome hosted the USFL title game back in 1997, when Washington defeated the then Portland Thunder 27-21 for their 2 nd title. That was, of course, a very different facility than the current Alamodome, completed in 2020 after tornadoes in 2015 revealed significant structural defects with the original structure.   The league has used a divisional rotation for its title games ever since moving to a 6-division format, so we can already predict that the 2025 and 2026 title games will be hosted by teams representing the Southwest and Southeastern Divisions, though the specific sites will not be revealed until 2023. For now, we have 4 Summer Bowls lined up, with Santa Clara’s Levi’s Stadium on the docket for this August.   Las Vegas Turns to the Dark Side for 2022 Look It will be a very different Las Vegas Vipers look taking the field in 2022, with the team leaning heavily into black as a primary color for the 2022 season. The new Under Armour designs were released at a press event at Wynn Arena this Tuesday and the look, while still using the three primary colors of the current Viper squad, will take on a very “dark side” look. The new look begins with a modified logo as the familiar serpent head logo now merges with a monogram “V” for “Vegas”. The V forms the lower jaw of the serpent, its two fangs prominently setting the internal border of the logo. The fang + V design is retained as well in the new secondary, which features only the letter and the two venom-delivering fangs. A tertiary logo featuring the silhouette of the state of Nevada with two fangs in open space was also presented. But, what is more dramatic in the new look is not the modified logo, but the significant shift in color balance. The Vipers unveiled a home look that is black from helmet to socks. The new black helmet features a satin finish, black facemask, and a pair of tapered stripes which come to fang-like points above the front bumper. Between the two fangs is a steady stripe of black “snakeskin” a pattern that uses a glossier black, a satin black, and a dark charcoal to insinuate the scaled skin of a snake, in a diamond pattern. This same feature, the snakeskin impression, returns in the uniform in various ways.   Along with the black helmet, the new primary jersey shifts from a pale blue to black, as does the home pant set. The jersey will retain some of the pale blue color in the sleeves, which now have their own snakeskin effect using different tones of blue. The sleeves are capped by black cuffs and a white “fang” stripe at the shoulder. The numbers are paleblue with snakeskin patterning, bordered in black and white. Paired with a black pant set and black socks, the look puts Las Vegas in black from head to toe, a look only possible in the desert location due to their use of a climate-controlled dome. Without that advantage, this look would be a horrible idea in the 100 degree heat of Las Vegas, but inside the dome, the all-black look will not produce any negative physical effects, though the Vipers seem to be hoping that it presents a more intimidating look for their opponents. So, what happens when Las Vegas plays on the road. Well, the black helmet stays, but the full-black look is replaced with a much cooler all-white look. While Las Vegas could opt to use their black pant set with the road jersey, the primary look will feature a white jersey and white pants. These road kits retain the blue snakeskin pattern sleeves, now with a black fang at the shoulder and a white cuff. They feature the snakeskin pattern numbers, now in black, with pale blue and black outlines, and they feature a white pant set that has the same blue snakeskin “fang” stripe, with a thin black top line that extends to the knee (on the black pant set this stripe is white).   Clearly missing from the look is silver, once a dominant color of the primary Las Vegas uniforms. But don’t worry “Silverado State” fans. There is plenty of silver in the team’s two alternate looks. The familiar silver helmet worn by the Vipers this season returns for the team’s “Snakeskin” alternate. The only difference between it and the current helmet being a black facemask replacing the current white mask. This look also features silver pants with a snakeskin blue fang and black top line. The jersey is snakeskin patterned both on the body and the sleeves, both in the team’s pale blue. It features a black collar, sleeve cuffs, and the fang-shaped shoulder stripe. The numbers are silver with white and black piping and no snakeskin pattern, which seems a good idea considering the tonal pattern is used for the entire jersey.   The 2 nd  alternate is a bit of a surprise. The Vipers have opted to go pretty far back in franchise history, but not to the very beginning. That makes sense, of course, since the team started out as the LA Express in 1983, and the new LA Express have long since made a deal with the league to retain the rights to the original’s logos and look. So, the Vipers go back as far as they can, to the 1992 relocation look when the Express became the St. Louis Knights. This allows them to use the same silver shell as the Viper alternate, working within the league’s 2-helmet shell limitation. The Vipers “St. Louis ‘92” retro uniforms bring back the chesspiece logo of the 1992 squad, the purple, silver, gold and black color palette, and the traditional striping for the home and road jerseys as well as the silver pant set. It is a very different look, and we are not sure how fans in Las Vegas will respond to their club coming out wearing a St. Louis identity, but for those of us who loved the Knight look when they first took the field in 1992, it will be a nice throwback moment. Let’s just hope they get a game against the Skyhawks in St. Louis to really rile things up next year.   Week 12 brings us back to a full slate of 15 games as the bye weeks of midseason have ended, and what a slate it is. We begin on Friday night with two hugely impactful divisional games. NBC’s Friday Night Lights will feature Ohio traveling up to Michigan, no sense of rivalry there. On ESPN and EFN it will be a Southwest showdown as the division-leading Denver Gold head to Arizona to face their archrivals in a game that features the two top teams in the division.   Saturday continues the divisional clashes with Chicago visiting St. Louis at noon. The Skyhawks will have Tyrod Taylor under center as they host the division leaders. Then at 4pm it is Dallas at Las Vegas in another key SW Division clash. We are back to 2 Saturday night games, and both are also divisional clashes, with Philadelphia making the short trip to Baltimore to face the Blitz in a battle of NE Division hopefuls, while ESPN and EFN will host the “World’s Best BBQ Tailgate” as the Showboats travel to Birmingham in a Southern Division clash. With a full day to tailgate ahead of the Saturday night showdown, this could be one heck of a USFL party on Saturday Night.   Sunday has only 1 divisional game, with Washington facing the white-hot NJ Generals at noon. The rest of the slate features interdivisional games, but there are a few good ones in there, like Orlando and LA battling at Farmers Insurance Field. Both are 5-5, which makes this game a battle for playoff relevance for both clubs. The other 4pm game with major playoff implications is in Oakland, where the 6-4 Invaders hope to stay on pace with Seattle as they face off against a Pittsburgh squad that was stunned this week by St. Louis. We finish the whole week off with a possible Summer Bowl preview, as the two teams with the best records in the league clash in Seattle. It will be the 8-2 Dragons hosting the 9-1 Bandits in a clash of conference leaders and a clash of styles, with Seattle’s ground & pound going against the high-flying style of Bandit Ball.   FRI @ 8pm ET          Ohio (6-4) @ Michigan (5-5)                                      NBC FRI @ 8pm ET         Denver (7-3) @ Arizona (6-4)                                   ESPN/EFN   SAT @ 12pm ET      Houston (6-4) @ New England (3-7)                      ABC SAT @ 12pm ET       Chicago (7-3) @ St. Louis (7-3)                               FOX SAT @ 4pm ET        Oklahoma (4-6) @ San Antonio (4-6)                     ABC SAT @ 4pm ET        Dallas (4-6) @ Las Vegas (5-5)                                FOX SAT @ 8pm ET        Philadelphia (7-3) @ Baltimore (5-5)                  NBC SAT @ 8pm ET        Memphis (5-5) @ Birmingham (6-4)                    ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET      Washington (4-6) @ New Jersey (7-3)                 ABC SUN @ 12pm ET      San Diego (3-7) @ Jacksonville (2-8)                      FOX Regional SUN @ 12pm ET     New Orleans (3-7) @ Charlotte (0-10)                   FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET      Orlando (5-5) @ Los Angeles (5-5)                          ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET        Atlanta (6-4) @ Portland (3-7)                                   ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET       Pittsburgh (6-4) @ Oakland (6-4)                             FOX SUN @ 8pm ET       Tampa Bay (9-1) @ Seattle (8-2)                              ESPN/EFN