Hello USFL fans, a quick housekeeping message: I will be both traveling a little and celebrating the holidays in November, and this will require that I delay the start of the 2021 season on this site. My goal is to have all the offseason reports and season preview posts completed on the usual every-3rd-day schedule, which would take us to November. 28. However, after that date, I will have to postpone the first 2021 article/post until Friday, December 5 to give me time to simulate Week 1 and produce the recap. So, a short 7-day gap, but I promise the 2021 season is coming and I should be back on schedule for each week after that brief delay for 2021 Week 1. December 7, 2020 Welcome back, USFL fans. The truncated offseason is at its halfway point, with the USFL Draft just barely over a month away and camps to open up in 2 months. We have so much news to catch you up on, as well as a draft to preview, and news about the season ahead. But we will kick it off with one of the stories of the offseason as a killer deal lures Calais Campbell away from the Arizona Wranglers for what might be his final season. We start there and then we’ll update you on the coaching news, free agency, all the USFL trades, including several QBs headed to new teams, and then prep for the 2021 Territorial & Open Drafts. It is going to be an action-packed episode, so let’s get right to it.   A Deal He Could Not Turn Down Jaw-dropping, wide-eyed, stunned faces, that is what you saw all around Phoenix as Wrangler Nation heard the news. Calais Campbell not only was not announcing his retirement, he was announcing that he had accepted a 1-year deal to play for the Baltimore Blitz. The immediate uproar was loud and angry. Arizona had screwed up, letting Campbell’s contract lapse. They had failed to secure the greatest defensive player of this generation (greatest USFL defender ever in many eyes) because they were overconfident that if he opted to play one more year, he would do so in the desert.   But Baltimore made him an offer he could not refuse, a one-year deal that makes him not only the highest paid defender in pro football history, but actually puts him in the range of the best QBs in the game, a deal that recognizes his immense contribution to the game as a 12-time sack leader, and his potential to do so a 13 th time. Campbell’s deal is a once-in-a-lifetime deal, certainly enough to put off retirement one more year, and with a chance to not only record 20 sacks for a 13 th  consecutive year, or to win the sack title a 13 th consecutive time, but to play for a team that seems to be ascending just as Arizona may be watching its title window close, Campbell has a chance to add another trophy to his collection of honors.   Campbell becomes the richest defender in pro football history. For Wrangler fans, the news has to be devastating. Campbell came to the desert after 10 amazing seasons in Orlando and the Wranglers hoped they could get 12-15 sacks per year from the 33-year old DE. He outperformed every expectation, racking up 23 sacks in 2019 and 26 (in only 14 games) in 2020. If he was going to go for a 13 th  record year, certainly he would do it with Coach Tomsula and the Wranglers? Well, nothing speaks louder than cold, hard cash, and Baltimore pulled the Jerry Maguire, it showed him the money. And so, Calais Campbell, the greatest sack artist in pro football history, heads back east, giving it one more year, and one more chance to add to his record sack total for a team that is pulling out all the stops to win a title. Just what this means for Arizona is yet to be see, after all, they have a pretty talented protégé in Bud DuPree, but there is no way that the loss of an iconic figure like Campbell does not hurt, just as his arrival in Baltimore is sure to not only sell more season tickets, but be prepared to see a sea of blue and silver number 93 jerseys all throughout the inner harbor, the city, and the state of Maryland this year. Landry Lands in Las Vegas The Las Vegas Vipers became the first to fill their vacancy at head coach, landing former Texas & Oklahoma Outlaw head coach Greg Landry to be the new leader for the silver and blue. Landry, who was let go by the Outlaws after the 2018 season despite a record of 84-61-1 record over 9 seasons, including a run of 5 straight playoff appearances (2011-2015) and a trip to the Summer Bowl in 2014, returns to coaching after spending two seasons in the studios of ESPN as part of their USFL coverage. Landry, a former USFL and NFL QB, comes to a Las Vegas club that has appeared in the playoffs only once since 2012 (a period spanning several years in Nashville before relocating). His task, get them back to winning ways they have not seen in a decade, and to take advantage of what many see as shifting sands in the SW Division, where Arizona has held the controls for the better part of the decade, but may now be fading.   Gruden Glory Bound The Ohio Glory solved their Head Coach vacancy issue only 4 days after Las Vegas, making official what many had suspected for weeks, that former Atlanta Fire and NFL Redskins coach Jay Gruden would be named the new leader in Columbus. Gruden, who survived only 3 seasons with the expansion Atlanta Fire in 2006, but who found success with the NFL Redskins, taking them to the playoffs three times in a 6-year span, is expected to bring a very different energy to the Glory after 5 seasons under the iron hand of disciplinarian Tom Coughlin. Gruden is known as a player’s coach, an offensive innovator, and a pretty solid motivator.   Like Greg Landry in Las Vegas, Gruden is also a former quarterback, though his pro career was limited to a short stint with the NFL Dolphins as a backup and a pair of seasons in Canada. He turned to coaching as a grad assistant at the U. of Louisville in 1989, had some stints in the NFL (Tampa Bay), CFL (Winnipeg Blue Bombers) and the short-lived Arena Football League. He made his name with the NFL Bucs’, moving to his first head coaching position with the Atlanta Fire due to his success as an OC in the NFL. In 3 years with the expansion Fire, he had a record of 21-26-0, pulling off a surprising 7-7 season in the franchise’s first season of existence, but slipped to 5-11 by year 3. Gruden called that period of his career humbling and a cause for growth. After 6 years with the Redskins he now gets a 2 nd  shot to lead a USFL club, and in Ohio he will certainly get a club in transition as the Glory are fully expected to go after Ohio State QB Justin Fields, which could mean a rookie QB for Gruden to mold.   Stars Choose Dan Quinn Philadelphia found their guy in early November, having interviewed several USFL coordinators and even former Federals’ coach Sean Payton. Their choice? Former Atlanta Falcons’ head coach Dan Quinn. Quinn came up as a defensive coach, entirely in the NFL, with stints in San Francisco, Miami, New York (Jets), and Seattle before a short stint at the University of Florida and eventually the job with the Falcons.   Quinn’s defenses have typically been solid, even helping Atlanta reach the playoffs in 2016 and 2017, but he never recovered from a total collapse against Dallas in the 2016 NFC Championship. Holding a 28-9 lead into the 4 th  quarter, the Cowboys, led by Tom Brady, scored 19 to tie the game in regulation and then won it 34-28 in overtime, sending Brady back to the Super Bowl for a 3 rd  NFL title while Atlanta took the record for perhaps the worst choke in NFL history. Quinn took responsibility for that collapse, brought Atlanta back to the playoffs in 2017, but was let go after two 7-9 seasons. He is expected to bring to Philadelphia a defensive-minded scheme and an offense that will focus on Derrick Henry as the centerpiece of the attack. With Matt Gutierrez recently traded (see below), the QB situation is very much up in the air for the Stars, but Quinn is expected to have a voice in the process, whether that means using the 1 st  overall Open Draft pick on a QB or signing a veteran during the NFL-USFL transfer window (several former NFL starters are looking good to be in the pool), getting a QB he can work with is likely his first order of business.   Gilbride Returns to USFL with Federals Taking on the head coaching position with the Washington Federals will not be Kevin Gilbride’s first stint in the USFL, but he does not want to talk about his first trip through the league. The OC for the New York Giants from 2007-2013 and Buffalo Bills (2014-2019), has not been back to the USFL since the 1996 season, when, as a young coordinator, in his first pro position, he was cold-cocked by legendary hothead Buddy Ryan. That famous punch on the sideline of the Memphis Showboats would cost Ryan his job, but it would also send Gilbride to the NFL, where he had a short head-coaching stint with San Diego before returning to the familiar role as an OC for several teams.   Gilbride found success in both New York and Buffalo, but lost his position when a pretty putrid defense for the Bills caused a head coaching change that also washed out both coordinators, despite Gilbride producing a Top 5 offense for Buffalo in 2019. Gilbride, known for a pass-heavy and quarterback-friendly system, found success with Derek Carr in Buffalo, brother of Arizona’s David Carr. The two helped Buffalo become one of the best passing offenses in the league, but the team still only won 6 games in 2019 due to their defense, and Gilbride became available.   Gilbride joins a Feds team that ranked 27 th  of the USFL’s 30 teams in yardage last season, averaging only 62.3 yards rushing and only 225.5 yards passing. He has issues on defense as well, particularly with the loss of LB Alec Ogletree to free agency, but the clear mission for Kilbride is two-part, to find a running back who can return Washington to a more balanced offense, and then turn what should be a training camp battle at QB (see trade info below) into a solid QB situation. The Feds have a talented WR group in Keenan Allen, Tyreek Hill, and Jarvis Landry, but the lack of run game and Nassib’s inconsistency have stunted their production. Expect Gilbride to get right on that offense as his cornerstone for improvement from a 6-9-1 record for the Feds in 2019.   Skyhawks & Generals Have Eyes on NFL We see this every year, with some teams scrambling to get a coach in the corner office as early in preseason as possible while others line up their GMs to handle the offseason, wait out the NFL season and go after a hot coaching candidate from the fall league. This year is no different, with 4 of 6 teams finding their coaches, but the New Jersey Generals and St. Louis Skyhawks playing the waiting game. But while both teams are holding their cards pretty close to the chest right now, we have a pretty good sense what each is hoping to find come January. New Jersey is pretty clearly going to focus on defense, hoping to improve on their bottom 3 rd numbers from 2020. They have talent on that side of the ball, particularly in the LB group with MLB Matt Milano, veteran Rey Maualaga and Aldon Smith, backed by Akeem Ayers and Doug Hogue. And while improvement on D has to be a priority, the other obvious need is for a new bell cow back after Maurice Jones-Drew retired. If they can also find competition for Nick Foles, there are certainly fans that would love that, but defense and the run game have to be a focal point for New Jersey, so expect them to keep an eye trained on some of the better DCs across the NFL.   For St. Louis, the situation is far more complex. On the one hand, they need a coach who is going to get the most out of QB Lamar Jackson, a QB with a unique skill set that simply does not fit well with a lot of offensive schemes. However, the Skyhawk defense has been a complete disaster for the better part of 5-6 years, consistently burnt by big plays and almost allergic to tackling. There will be a huge turnover of the roster, to be sure, as we have already seen an exodus of some of the Skyhawks’ top players, so ownership will need time to rebuild, and while they were quick to land former Arizona Wrangler GM Terry McDonough as their new General Manager and VP for Player Personnel, they are being patient in the coaching search. We think they will be going for someone with head coaching experience, which makes sense, but it may all depend on just who is let go this offseason (among head coaches) or which coordinators are ready to take on a very significant challenge with this St. Louis team.   Our Top 20 And Where They are Headed As expected the 2020-2021 offseason has been unpredictable and unique, much like the season that preceded it. While we have had some big signings so far this fall, there is definitely a wait-and-see attitude among a lot of players, some very possibly holding on to their free market status until the NFL-USFL transfer window opens in early February. Here is our list of the 20 top free agents, including those still out on the market, and those who have found their perfect match and signed on with a USFL club for next season and beyond.   20- DE Olivier Vernon (Unsigned) The first of 5 edge rushers on our list, Vernon spent the past 5 seasons in Balitimore, but with the Blitz’s huge signing of Calais Campbell, we think the odds that Vernon returns are slim. Still, even at 32, there will be no shortage of teams willing to add a DE who has over 30 sacks the past 3 seasons. The only question is if that suitor will be a USFL team or an NFL squad.   19- OT Russell Okong (CHA to HOU) Perhaps the best tackle in free agency, and looking specifically for a multi-year deal and a chance to stay at LT, Okong got exactly what he sought from Houston as the Gamblers give him not only a chance to play on an elite offense, but potentially to get a shot at a title.   18- LB Donte Hightower (TBY to OKL) We always see an exodus of talent after a team wins a title, as on-field success gives players a chance to cash in> Hightower takes his talents from the Bandits to the Outlaws, trading in a pseudo Wild West character for a real one in the heart of the plains. Expect him to play the strong side, or even possibly to shift to MLB with Oklahoma.   17- K Caleb Sturgis (NOR to SD) Sturgis has been a mainstay of the Breakers for 8 years, but it seems he priced his way out of town by demanding some pretty solid compensation for his right foot. The Breakers would not meet his demands, but San Diego opted to give him what he asked so they could have a consistent presence in their kicking game.   16- HB Kerwynn Williams (Unsigned) After a very strong season with the Steamrollers, Williams was expected to draw quite a market, but the demand simply has not materialized. Perhaps demanding to be a clear lead back, and not play in a halfback-by-committee has backfired for the 30-year-old back, or perhaps that despite solid YPC averages, he has never crossed 1,000 yards in a USFL season.   15- OG Brandon Brooks (Unsigned) A very solid guard, who can help with the run game as well as protect the QB, but in a year with several quality guards in free agency and a strong draft pool as well, perhaps his timing was not ideal. Expect him to hold out until the NFL enters the picture, because then demand certainly will outweigh supply.   14- FS Micah Hyde (CHI to BAL) Baltimore continues to add pieces to their defense, landing one of the best safeties in the game. Hyde will almost certainly be the starter on opening day, and we expect that having him in the same defensive backfield with Josh Norman will make quarterbacks very nervous about trying to go deep against Chicago.   13- DT Sheldon Richardson (STL to OHI) There is something fun about a player going to a new team in the same division. You know he will get 2 chances every year to remind his old team what they have lost. Expect the Glory to ask Richardson to demonstrate his value every week, not just when they go up against the Skyhawks.   12- CB Brandon Carr (Unsigned) The best of the remaining corners still out there, Carr is a good candidate for a 1-2 year deal at age 35. Last season he had 73 tackles, 13 passes defended, but his interceptions dropped to only 1 after averaging over 3 each of the past 3 years.   11- WR Stevie Johnson (Unsigned) Now 33 years old and coming off his lowest productivity in over a decade, it was a bad time for Johnson to hit the market. But with Ohio very much in transition and likely to start a rookie at QB, Johnson could end up with a better situation even if it takes him the entire offseason to find a taker.   10- LB Patrick Willis (Unsigned) Patrick being unsigned right now truly surprises us. Yes, he is 35, but he looked good last year with the Fire, racking up 94 tackles, including 22 TFL and 2 sacks. Maybe his agent is hoping for an NFL transfer, or maybe he is just asking for too much, but we are somewhat surprised to see him still here as December opens.   9- DT Ndamukong Suh (Unsigned) Another solid defender who might have been snapped up quickly in a regular offseason, but who is lingering in the pool because the pressure to sign players before the NFL enters the picture is much less this year than in a year with a September-October transfer window. Suh is 35, so it may only be a 1-year deal, but we expect someone to pull the trigger on a deal.   8- DE Vic Beasley (NJ to PIT) Beasley’s production has slid a bit over the past 2 years, but there are many who believe a change of venue could be just the thing to get him back in range for 15-20 sacks per season. Certainly Pittsburgh is hoping that.   7- HB Ryan Williams (Unsigned) Yes, with Williams turning 32 this offseason, there is a risk here, but we are talking about a back who has topped 1,000 yards 7 times in the past 8 years. He wants a 3-year deal, which feels unrealistic, but if someone could get him to look at a front-loaded 2-year deal, something likely could get done.   6- FS Xavier Woods (TBY to CHI) With Micah Hyde off to Baltimore, Chicago prioritized the free safety position and may have gotten as close to an equal in the position as possible. Woods is more physical than Hyde, but perhaps a bit less reliable in man coverage. He certainly fits in with Chicago’s desire to be a team that is not afraid to lay down the lumber on defense.  5- DE Dante Fowler (HOU to BIR) This is what we call a double whammy, not only does Fowler leave the Gamblers very shallow on the D-line, but the edge rusher goes to a division rival, bringing with him 5 consecutive years of double-digit sacks and a lot of knowledge of Coach Phillips’s defensive schemes to the Stallions.   4- CB Eric Wright (OAK to HOU) Houston finds a great complement to Leodis McKelvin in Wright, one of the savviest corners in the game. Wright does not have the speed to stick with a team’s deep threat, but can be incredibly effective in underneath coverage or against anyone’s possession receiver.   3- DE Justin Tuck (Unsigned) Rumors have the 34-year-old Tuck possibly considering retirement, which would be surprising after one of his best career years (19 sacks in 2020). He is certainly capable of playing at least another year, but if his heart is not into it, then it is the time to step away. Of course, all the talk of possible retirement means fewer teams come calling to try to sign him.   2- HB Eddie Lacy (STL to NE) The Steamrollers beat out New Jersey, Orlando, San Diego, and Washington to land the bruising back. Coming off an injury, Lacy is motivated to get back to being among the league’s elite rushers. The 5-time 1,000-yard rusher has set his goal on 1,500 yards, and no one would be happier to help him get there than Head Coach John Fox.   1—DE Calais Campbell (ARZ to BAL) We won’t belabor the point, since we already talked this out in our Big Story, but Wrangler fans, already uncertain about David Carr, concerned about Victor Cruz, and wondering if the team is falling out of its window as a dynasty, have to be completely verklempt about Campbell jumping ship.   Three Free Agency Winners & Two Losers While the league’s revenue sharing and salary cap systems, innovations that the fall league has since taken on, have certainly helped create a sense of parity among USFL franchiese, they do not remove the inequities entirely, though most of those inequities are due primarily to the decisions of each franchise’s player personnel offices. Cap space issues, paired with the scouting and signing philosophy of each team can greatly affect how a team enters free agency and how well they fare. And while being a free agency “loser” does not doom a team (perhaps they are very draft-savvy or have a solid core already), being a free agency “winner” can certainly help a team get over the hump, stay on top, or change their fortunes. We looked over the free agency signings of the past 2 months and picked 3 teams that seem dialed in, along with 2 others that have had more talent leaving than coming in. Here is who we see as the mid-offseason winners and losers in the free agent market.   WINNER: Houston Gamblers Departing: DE Dante Fowler Arriving: OT Russell Okong, CB Eric Wright, TE Tony Moeaki (Re-signed) TBD: LB Pat Angerer, OT Sebastian Vollmer, CB Janoris Jenkins   Losing Fowler is no small loss, and Houston will need to find some help on the edge to be sure, but they landed two All-USFL players in Okung and Wright. The secondary looks as deep as anyone’s with McKelvin, Wright and Siran Neal at corner, with the dynamic safety duo of Kenny Vaccaro and Budda Baker making it as formidable a group as anyone can boast. Adding Okung at LT allows Ereck Flowers to shift to the right, his natural position, and putting Okung next to All-USFL guard Jon Asamoah and All-USFL center Shaq Mason gives Houston the best left-side of any team in the league. Expect Carlos Hyde to love this line and Colt McCoy to rebound after a bit of a rough year.   LOSER: St. Louis Skyhawks Departing: HB Bobby Rainey, TE James Casey, SS Chuck Clark, DT Sheldon Richardson,            HB Eddie Lacy Arriving: DT Geno Atkins, WR Jakobi Meyers TBD: WR Stevie Johnson   A bad team with an uncertain future and no head coach on board is going to produce a bit of an exodus of talent, but the hits the Skyhawks took this year are almost certain to make life really difficult for whoever signs on as the new head coach. They lose a 1,000-yard rusher, two of their best defensive players, and could also lose their lead receiver. Atkins is a solid DT, but he is no Sheldon Richardson, and the Skyhawks now have even more holes to fill in the draft and late in free agency if they want to put together a competitive roster.   WINNER: Baltimore Blitz Departing: None Arriving: DT Quinton Jefferson, OG Dan Feeney, FS Micah Hyde, DE Calais Campbell, CB Ken Webster TBD: TE Andrew Quarless, FS James Sample, C Sam Mustipher, TE Dion Simms,      OG Andy Alleman, DT Grady Jarrett, DE Olivier Vernon   Hard to believe, but none of the 2020-21 free agents from the Blitz have actually signed with another team yet, so every one of them could come back. We don’t think they will, not all of them, and it certainly seems Baltimore has upgraded already, particularly on defense where Campbell replaces Vernon, Hyde replaces Sample, and Jefferson replaces Jarrett. Those are all significant upgrades on a defense that was not too shabby last year. Expect the Blitz to be better than before, in a division that may well be worse.   LOSER: Washington Federals Departing: QB Tajh Boyd, FB Greg Jones, LB Alec Ogletree, HB Jahvid Best Arriving: None TBD: LB Danny Trevathan   The Federals have lost a few solid contributors, including Ogletree and Best, but have signed no one as of yet. Yes, they may have improved at the key position of QB thanks to a trade (see below), and they have the draft ahead of them, but they will need to spend something in free agency and as of yet they have not been able to pull the trigger on a deal. Losing out on Eddie Lacy very likely means that they either settle for HB by committee or they need to catch a break in the draft to land a top prospect there.   WINNER: New England Steamrollers Departing: DT Quinton Jefferson Arriving: OG Jon Feliciano, HB Robert Foster, OG Long Howell, HB Eddie Lacy TBD: LB Travis Goethel, WR DeVante Parker, CB Sam Shields, OG Brandon Brooks, HB Kerwynn Williams It is normal to see a significant turnover in the roster of an expansion club as they head into season 2, and yet, to date, only Jefferson is gone. The Skyhawks are hoping to bring back Shields and Goethel, but not only planned for the departure of Kerwynn Williams, but have introduced a better inside run game option with both Eddie Lacy and Robert Foster, two backs who can pound the rock down a team’s throught. In other words, this club is beginning to take on the look of some of John Fox’s former playoff teams. Now, if Tannehill can play like Bledsoe did with the Boston Cannons, the Steamrollers will be on the right track.   Quarterbacks on the Move With several teams unhappy about either the present or the future of their QB situation, and with only so many potential franchise QBs available in the draft (each of them a crapshoot not only to sign after competing with the NFL, but to develop afterwards), it is no surprise that one of the stories of this offseason was the movement of quarterbacks across the league. In some cases it was about moving on, removing a pricy QB contract from the salary cap formula, for others it was about creating competition, thinking about the future, or landing a backup that will be able to help when called on, but not distract or diminish the starter. Three big trades involving QBs produced three very different situations, but will the “buyers” get what they hoped for? That is always the risk.   Brissett Joins Federals to Challenge Nassib We went into the offseason somewhat confident that the Federals were going to do something to either motivate Ryan Nassib towards improvement or to find another option if he could not step up. Meanwhile, Seattle had, for the 2 nd  time in 3 years, spent the entire season with a backup impressing fans and owners alike while their supposed starter recovered from an injury. In 2018, that backup was Matt McGloin, playing in a contract year, and he solved the QB issue for Seattle by moving on. This year it was Brett Hundley who impressed everyone in the Emerald City, but with him now asking for a new deal, and Week 1 starter Jacoby Brissett still under contract and sitting on a significant cash deal, something had to give.   Seattle opted this time to make the switch. Having seen Brissett miss the better part of two complete seasons due to injury, they opted to go with Hundley as their guy. That meant finding a trading partner for Jacoby Brissett, and in the Washington Federals, they found an eager one. Washington agreed to take on Brissett’s deal, which extends through 2023. They bring in the talented, but somewhat fragile, QB, as direct competition for Ryan Nassib. In return, they send to Seattle a 3 rd  round draft pick and backup center Luke Bowanko, a solid player who may get a chance to start for the Dragons. Seattle now has their starter settled with Hundley, while Washington sets itself up for a very interesting camp battle for new head coach Kevin Gilbride.   Invaders & Monarchs Swap QB Questions This was an interesting one. In both Oakland and Charlotte we had a former starter who had fallen out of favor, and a team hoping to find a ticket out of town for him so that they could move on. Oakland moved on after 2019 by signing 43-year-old Tom Brady for one last turn in the USFL. Brady is expected to return for the 2021 season after a somewhat shaky return to the league that made him a star. But they had no interest in retaining Jimmy Garoppolo as the protégé. That ship had sailed.   Meanwhile, in Charlotte, things had gotten so bad that the Monarchs had benched Mitch Trubisky mid-season, going with veteran backup Kyle Boller, himself acquired via trade, as the starter for the final 7 games. Boller played well enough to get a new deal with the Monarchs, but they are still hoping to have a QB competition this year, but not with Trubisky. So, what you had here were two teams hoping to move a player on and go a different direction. The two found each other and a deal was cut.   Jimmy Garoppolo, who started in Oakland for two seasons, but averaged only a 70.7 QB Rating over that time, heads to Charlotte, while Mitch Trubisky, who spent 3.5 seasons as the starter in Charlotte before being pulled this year, now heads out to the Bay Area. The deal makes sense. Both QBs had lost the faith of their coaches and their teams, both needed a change of location to start fresh, and both now have very interesting situations in front of them. Trubisky will almost certainly spend 2021 as the understudy to Tom Brady, learning from one of pro football’s best and perhaps preparing to step in for the 2022 season as a wiser, better, and more focused passer. Garoppolo gets what he wants, which is a chance to compete for the starting job. Boller, at 33, is not a long term solution for the Monarchs, but either he or Garoppolo could be in place until the Monarchs can land a franchise guy. We all know that Carolina had eyes on Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, but with his rights owned by Jacksonville, that was never going to happen, not within the division, to be sure. So, the Boller-Garoppolo swap helps both teams get what they want, a solid backup who could be mentored by Brady for Oakland and a QB competition in 2021 for Charlotte as they look at the rookie class of 2022 for an option.   Stars Find Taker for Matt Gutierrez Much like what we saw with the Invaders, Monarchs, and Dragons, Philadelphia had already made a decision that veteran Matt Gutierrez was not the future for their team. The former All-USFL QB (2012, 2017) was a shadow of his former self, apparently having fallen off the production cliff after the 2018 season. Ten games into the 2020 campaign the Stars switched to Ryan Lindley, and now they were looking for someone eager to get a veteran backup. They fished Gutierrez to several teams, including Seattle and Charlotte, but found a taker in the LA Express.   Philadelphia made a deal that sent Gutierrez and the next 2 years of his contract, to the Express, along with a 2 nd  round pick they had acquired from Dallas, to the Express. In return they get a solid option at safety, with LA parting with disgruntled FS Jalen Mills, and they get back a pick in the 5 th from the Express. So, we get why Philly did this. But why did LA take on Gutierrez?   The answer is in the issues they have seen with their starter, Kyler Murray. Murray has flashed some real talent, made some very exciting plays, but his consistency has been pretty poor, with more bad days than good days. The hope is that Murray will be the starter and that Gutierrez will step in as a veteran of more than 10 seasons, a player with less natural ability but a real eye for the game, to help Murray grow into the position. We honestly would not be shocked if the Express promoted Cole McDonald, the 2020 rookie, to the 2 spot, leaving Gutierrez as the emergency 3 rd  QB but as a primary mentor and pseudo-coach for Murray.   Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Stars remain in the hunt for their answer at QB. Ryan Lindley is not the answer, evident in his 4 starts for Philly in 2020. He is a solid backup, and we think Philadelphia will retain him in that role, but they are absolutely in the hunt for a starter. Since they have the 1 st  pick on the Open Draft, that starter could be unprotected rookie Trey Lance of NDSU, the only top tier QB prospect likely to escape the USFL’s Territorial Draft. Of course, if they truly like another prospect, they could use that 1 st overall Open Draft pick to woo another team for their T-Draft selection. We could see Las Vegas being willing to let Philly select BYU’s Zach Wilson, and even Trevor Lawrence could be on the table if Philadelphia is willing to sweeten the pot a bit. But, what we know for now is that Gutierrez’s tenure as the QB in the City of Brotherly Love is over.   Other Early Trades While certainly QB deals were the biggest stories of the early Free Agency tradewire, they were not the only deals cut as teams with depth use that to swing moves for positions of need, unhappy vets are given a new home, and picks start to move around ahead of the 2021 draft. Let’s start with the trades where current USFL players were at the center, and then we can look at the early draft maneuvers.   Memphis and Pittsburgh opted to strengthen areas of concern by trading away some depth. The Maulers sent DT Kendall Reyes off to Memphis as a tradeoff to acquire some quality at the lead position of the line, center. Memphis gave up starter T. J. Johnson to the Maulers because they simply needed help at DT behind Dan Williams. Coach Ryan loves a 46 defense, and you just need a strong 2 nd and 3 rd  DT to make that system work. For all the success of his defense this year, the lack of a solid 2 nd  option at DT was noticeable. So, we get a need-for-need swap from these two up & coming teams.   Another DT deal was cut by the Wranglers, as they sent a 6 th  round pick and DT Ryan Carrethers to Portland for cornerback A. J. Bouye . Arizona felt confident that they could lose Carrethers after seeing the development of NFL import Snacks Harrison over the 2020 season. Not only did Harrison bring a great name to the game, he also brought some solid play as a swing tackle and now will get the chance to see far more snaps in Coach Tomsula’s 3-4 scheme. For Portland, A. J. Bouye, who was pretty vocal about his role in the secondary, was expendable thanks to strong seasons from Taron Johnson and Dale Luong. With Ndamukong Suh a free agent and Raekwon Davis their only other proven commodity at DT, the trade for Carrethers, a 6-year veteran with a strong track splitting snaps with Jason Hargrave, was a pretty solid option.   Those two moves are the only ones we can point to which are more about moving veterans than changing draft position. While some veteran players were included in these next offseason deals, it seems pretty clear that the focus, at least for 1 of the 2 trading partners, was on the draft board and not the depth chart.   St. Louis, in the midst of a major overhaul and a mass exodus of players, opted to part ways with another starter as they sent DE Adrian Clayborne to the Jacksonville Bulls for two draft picks. Initial reports that the Bulls had traded away their 1 st T-Draft pick, widely recognized as the “Trevor Lawrence” pick, proved to be premature. The deal actually sent St. Louis the 2 nd  pick in Jacksonville’s T-Draft as well as a 5 th  rounder in the Open Draft that Jacksonville had acquired from the Vipers.   So, what is this about? St. Louis has been pretty mum about it, but most rumors circle around one of three players that are part of a deep T-Draft pool for the Bulls. The first is Clemson HB Travis Etienne, who would make sense after we saw Skyhawk HB Eddie Lacy fly the coop. The second is University of Florida WR Kadarius Toney, though many believe that if Jacksonville is sitting put with Teddy Bridgewater as their QB, it may be Toney who they target in the T-Draft, and the third is another gator, TE Kyle Pitts, a rare talent at TE who could be more of a wideout in TE clothing. St. Louis certainly could use an upgrade at any of these offensive positions, so it is just a matter of which player they like most. As for Jacksonville, they get themselves a DE who nabbed 12 sacks in 2020, his 3 rd  10+ sack season in the past 5 years. Expect him to shift to RE opposite Bull DE Barkevious Mingo on the left side. Jacksonville still owns that all-important 1 st  T-Draft pick, and that means they control the destiny of Trevor Lawrence. They can keep him for themselves, or they can rake a lucrative deal with one of several QB-hungry teams if they decide to let him go.   Philadelphia, only 4 days after landing Dan Quinn as their new head coach, made themselves a deal to acquire some talent in the T-Draft, sending OT Donavan Smith to Birmingham for the Stallions’ 3 rd  of 3 T-Draft choices. What makes this interesting is that we have often seen teams make a deal for the 1 st overall T-Draft pick, which always points to a specific target (often a QB or other skill player), but to trade for the 3 rd  pick means you have options, not one player who is the must-have. That is certainly true for a Stallion pool that includes anywhere between 8-11 potential “1 st Round” talents. Even with 2 picks ahead of them for the Stallions, there will be at least 5 more blue chip options.   But who does Philadelphia covet? Could it be QB Mac Jones? Seems unlikely as Jones almost certainly would survive until the Open Draft. More likely it is a wideout, either Jaylen Waddle or DeVonte Smith. Fully expecting that Birmingham will protect HB Najee Harris with one of their 2 earlier picks, at least 1 of the 2 wideouts would be left available no matter what the Stallions’ other pick would be. Receiver is a pretty obvious area of need for Philadelphia, and while OT Alex Leatherwood or CB Patrick Surtain could also be targets, we think the Stars are trying to find some weapons for their as-yet unknown QB.   Finally, the Stags and Monarchs made what we are calling a “need-for-need” swap. Neither team has a particularly deep pool of talent in this year’s T-Draft, so when the two swapped their 1 st  overall T-Draft picks in a one-for-one deal, the choices seemed pretty obvious. Charlotte needs help on the line, to protect either Kyle Boller or Jimmy Garoppolo, and to help their 2-headed run game prove even more dangerous. They absolutely have their eye on Oregon’s Outland Trophy winner at LT, Penei Sewell. As for Portland, they are looking at their lead back, Doug Martin, turning 32 in the offseason and, 3 seasons away from his last 1,000-yard effort, quite frankly not having the same push as before, and they need a back to take up the slack. Enter UNC halfback Javonte Williams, a slashing back who put up 933 yards on only 166 carries for the Tarheels last year and seems to be on pace to top 1,000 in 2020. Williams averaged 5.3 yards per carry behind a shaky UNC line last year and Portland sees him as a potential 1,400-yard back in the pros. So, a deal with absolutely no mystery to it.   That leaves one big mystery yet to solve. What will be the fate of Trevor Lawrence. Will the Bulls wave off all suitors for their pick and draft the highly touted Clemson QB? And if they do, what does that mean for 2020 starter Teddy Bridgewater? And what if they don’t go that route? The offers are certainly coming. We feel quite certain that they won’t make a deal with Charlotte (which explains the Garoppolo deal) as a division foe, but the list of potential teams is pretty long, including Oakland, Arizona, Ohio, Philadelphia, San Antonio, New England, and quite possibly Washington, Baltimore, New Jersey, Las Vegas, Chicago, Pittsburgh, San Diego, and maybe even a surprising option like Michigan or Portland.   The Bulls have choices to make. They need to decide if they believe they can compete with whoever holds the 1 st  pick in the NFL draft, right now looking like either the NY Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, or their fall stepbrothers, the Jacksonville Jaguars. If they think that Lawrence would prefer to be a Bull than a Jet, Eagle, or Jaguar, they may well hold the pick, select the QB and build for the future around him. But if they get a really strong offer, or if they hear the NFL rumors from the Lawrence camp, well, they could let the pick go, stick with a pretty solid option in Bridgewater, and reap the rewards of the haul that Lawrence certainly will garner from a QB hungry USFL team. We have had no indications yet of which way Coach Moss or the Bulls’ front office wants to go, and that mystery, along with the constant online chatter, is just killing us. We love the buildup, but we hate the suspense.     PHILADELPHIA STARS NEED POSITIONS: QB, LB, TE, DE T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Three players really stand out, all Penn Staters, as players that the Stars should be targeting: LB Micah Parsons, DE Odafe Oweh, and TE Pat Freiermuth. All three are in positions of need and all three could Top 50 talents. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: The Stars have the 1 st  overall pick, so a lot of their strategy will be tied to how that pick sets them up to get a QB. Do they go for North Dakota State’s Trey Lance? Do they trade the pick to get a line on Trevor Lawrence or Zach Wilson? They have options, but for certain they need to choose a top tier QB in the draft because there is no guarantee that anyone available in the NFL-USFL Transfer Window will be a real option for them.   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS NEED POSITIONS: HB, SS, LB, C T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: We think St. Louis will look at Mizzou safety Joshua Bledsoe, but he is not a 1 st selection guy. No one in St. Louis’s pool really is, so we could see them try to trade for another team’s 1 st  T-Draft pick, likely to find a HB. Beyond that, we could see them take a runner at either Mizzou HB Larry Rountree or Iowa LB Nick Niemann, both low risk pick sin positions of need. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: With the 2 nd  pick in the draft, St. Louis should be able to find either a halfback or a 5-star linebacker, both truly positions of immediate need. Their other option is to trade down some slots if there is a QB-hungry team trying to snag Trey Lance if Philly (or whoever holds Philly’s pick) does not go for him.   SAN ANTONIO GUNSLINGERS NEED POSITIONS: FS, HB, WR, K T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: The only potential Top 50 pick in San Antonio’s pool is TCU safety Trevon Moehrig, which does fit nicely with their need at free safety. We think they also take a look at Texas Tech CB Zach McPhearson and possibly double down at safety with Moehrig’s teammate, Ar’Darius Washington, a more raw prospect at the position. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Without a top HB prospect in the T-Draft, we think San Antonio, like St. Louis is in the Open Draft halfback market. If St. Louis takes a deal to move down, then San Antonio could have their choice, if not, they get the 2 nd  best option at the position. But, just which backs slip through the T-Draft unchosen?   OHIO GLORY NEED POSITIONS: QB, LB, HB, WR T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: No doubt at all who the Glory are picking first, it is Justin Fields for certain. Beyond that they have a lot of need areas and Ohio State can help in many of them. How about LB Jarmin Davis? CB Kelvin Joseph, heck, even HB Trey Sermon makes sense for a team trying to find a counter to Isaiah Pead. Lots of Buckeye options, as usual. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: With the 4 th  pick in the draft, we think Ohio will go for the one need position not available from the Buckeyes this year, wideout. Expect the Glory to try to land the best wide receiver on the Open Draft board.   SAN DIEGO THUNDER NEED POSITIONS: WR, DE, DT, HB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: No help at wideout from UCLA, San Diego State, or Duke, the three teams the Thunder have rights to, but they could get some help at other positions. How about DT Osa Odighizuwa from the Bruins? Maybe SDSU corner Darren Hall, or double down at DE and pick Duke’s Chris Rumph II? BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Depending on what the WR group looks like in the Open Draft, we could see San Diego be the team to trade up with St. Louis to get the best option, or, if it is a deep group, maybe they stand pat or even trade down.   BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS NEED POSITIONS: HB, CB, DT, WR T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: No team benefits more from the USFL’s territorial draft than Birmingham, and this year is no exception. Need a back? How about Najee Harris? Want a corner? Here’s Patrick Surtain II. Wideout a concern? Take your pick from Jaylan Waddle and DeVonta Smith. Seriously, how is Birmingham not a perennial contender with the players they can access from Alabama and Auburn? BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: The Stallions will likely once again prioritize signing their T-Draft picks. The one position where they might need to focus in the Open Draft is at Defensive Tackle, so we think they go DT with their first round pick unless their initial contact with one of their territorial draftees goes very badly.   LAS VEGAS VIPERS NEED POSITIONS: WR, OT, TE, DE T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: If Birmingham loves the T-Draft, Las Vegas must hate it. BYU, Utah, and UNLV produce the occasional blue chipper, but nowhere near the level of annual talent that Birmingham enjoys. This year their only true Blue Chipper is QB Zach Wilson, so we think they trade their first pick to a team with no answer at QB. They can then get another Open Draft pick, maybe even another 1 st rounder. Later on in the T-Draft we think they look at BYU tackle Brady Christensen and maybe some secondary help from the Cougars’ defensive backfield. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Wideout is again a top area of need, though there are some good options in the free agency pool as well (Stevie Johnson?). But if they need a wideout in the Open Draft, they had best use an early pick on one. We think they won’t last long.   CHARLOTTE MONARCHS NEED POSITIONS: WR, OT, DT, LB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Is it me or does everyone need or want a quality wide receiver? None available in the T-Draft pool, so we like what Charlotte did in trading their top pick to Portland for Portland’s top pick. We know who that pick will be, OT Penei Sewell is clearly the player to select. Then with their 2 final picks, they can look at D-Line help in the form of Wake Forest’s Boogie Basham or NC State’s Alim McNeil. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Another likely WR pick, but if not, then we think they look at a big defensive lineman, someone who can eat up space and force runners outside. They might get lucky and find either Alabama’s Christian Barmore or Washington’s Levi Onwuzurike available.  DENVER GOLD NEED POSITIONS: DE, FS, WR, SS T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Denver, like Las Vegas, suffers because the Mountain Time Zone is not exactly football central. The Buffs, Cornhuskers, and Rams just don’t give them the kind of skill player talent that they need. They can get linemen though, and that is likely where they go, with OT Brenden Jaimes and G Matt Farniok, both of Nebraska, as pretty good mid-round talent they can likely lock up in the T-Draft. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Denver is still trying to replace Von Miller, and while we don’t think they are likely to find a one-for-one swap for that kind of talent, we do think they will look at the pool of edge rushers that make it to the Open Draft to find one. If he is not picked by Orlando, Hurricane DE Jaelen Phillips seems the top choice, but there is a pretty good cluster of 1 st  round talent at the position. Someone should be available when Denver picks.   NEW ENGLAND STEAMROLLERS NEED POSITIONS: LB, CB, HB, G T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: While WR is not a position of immediate need for the expansion Steamrollers, they would be fools to pass up both Rashod Bateman and Purdue’s Rondale Moore. We know, neither school is in New England, but with BC and UConn as their two local schools, the Steamrollers got Purdue as their 3 rd  and, this year, petitioned for a 4 th  and were awarded the Golden Gophers. So two Big 10 schools. Not bad. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: The Steamrollers want more speed at linebacker, so we think they go for that position early in the draft. If Philadelphia trades away their top T-Draft pick, they could actually have a shot at Micah Parsons, but that feels like a stretch. More likely is a player like Kentucky’s Jamin Davis, or Missouri’s Nick Bolton.   WASHINGTON FEDERALS NEED POSITIONS: HB, LB, DE, SS T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: No halfbacks to choose from in the Federals’ pool (Virginia, Va Tech, and Northwestern), so we think Washington focuses their attention on the best linebacker in this pool, which his Va Tech’s Divine Deablo. They could also seek some depth at OT with Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater or Hokie Christian Darrisaw. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Has to be halfback. Just has to be. Washington may have to either trade to get a T-Draft pick or move up in the first round if they want a true blue chipper like Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, or Javonte Williams. Problem is all three are likely locked into selections by the teams that own their rights, so can they chip one away from their T-Draft squad?  JACKSONVILLE BULLS NEED POSITIONS: HB, DT, LB, QB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: No surprise that we are all talking about Trevor Lawrence, and we all expect that he goes with the Bulls’ first pick, either to Jacksonville or to a team that offers them a king’s ransom for the pick. So, what do they do after that? Well, the pool is pretty darn good for the Bulls this year. We have HB Travis Etienne, TE Kyle Pitts, WR Kadarius Toney, OT Jackson Carmen, even QB Kyle Trask is an option (and a much cheaper one than Lawrence will be.) So many choices. Must be nice. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: With no clear T-Draft options at defensive tackle, this is where we think Jacksonville goes in the Open Draft. Depending on if they take a deal for the Lawrence pick, they either pick here at 12 th  or they are much higher up.   NEW JERSEY GENERALS NEED POSITIONS: LB, C, CB, SS T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: There was not enough talent coming out of Syracuse, Rutgers, and Wisconsin, the Generals’ 3 designated schools, so the league agreed on giving them a 4 th and they chose Vanderbilt. Why Vandy? Likely to get a shot at DE Dayo Odeyinbo. But, DE is not nearly as big a need as safety, where Syracuse does offer an option in Andre Cisco, or at CB, where the Orange’s Ifeatu Melifonwu may be hard to pronounce, but has some game. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: New Jersey could go center, and likely get a very good prosepect, or they could join the list of teams looking for linebacker help. We don’t see center being a protected position in most T-Drafts, so if the Generals really want a quality option here, they could well be able to pick between Albama’s Landon Dickerson or Ohio State’s Josh Myers.   OAKLAND INVADERS NEED POSITIONS: FS, LB, C, OT T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Two solid choices emerge for the Invaders in a pretty shallow pool. The first is Stanford OT Walker Little, and the second, and more intriguing option, is QB Davis Mills. The Cardinal QB could be a nice mid-cost player to sign, and then you put him behind Brady and Trubisky this year, and hope that either Mills or Trubisky gets some Brady to rub off on them. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: The Invaders could fare pretty well if they prioritize safety with their first choice. If it is linebacker, that could be tougher, though there certainly is some talent in the draft pool. We think the best natural fit for Oakland, if he is available, would be Oregon’s Javon Holland. Portland may disagree.   OKLAHOMA OUTLAWS NEED POSITIONS: DT, CB, DE, LB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: OU and OK State don’t offer any 1 st  round graded players, but a bevvy of 2 nd -4 th  round talent to choose from. Based on need, we think DE Ronnie Perkins (OU) makes sense, as does OT Teven Jenkins (OK State) and maybe one of the corners from the two schools. But don’t be surprised if they don’t get trade offers from a team hoping to nab HB Rhamondre Stevenson, not the 1 st  pick, but a number two, we could see that. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: We think that Oklahoma looks at their 4 positions of need and goes for Best Player Available from that pool. We don’t see them trading up because they cannot afford to give away too many later picks, and we don’t see them trading down, because they need at least 1 legitimate 1 st  round talent.   ORLANDO RENEGADES NEED POSITIONS: OT, SS, DT, G T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Honestly, if we were the GM’s of Orlando and Oakland, we would try to pull a trade like Charlotte and Portland did. Orlando needs a bookend OT and Oklahoma has one. Oklahoma needs DE help and Orland has both Jaelen Phillips and Greg Roussea. Seems a natural swap to us. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: If the ‘Gades cannot get a tackle in the T-Draft, they have to prioritize the position here. Of course, a halfback is also needed, even though we did not list it above. We think tackle is easier to get.   PORTLAND STAGS NEED POSITIONS: G, DT, HB, OT T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: The trade with Charlotte all but assures that Portland will be wooing Javonte Williams, the UNC back. Beyond that, we think they stand pat with their pool of players, and likely target a corner, either OSU’s Nahshon Wright or Oregon’s Deommondore Lenoire. Woof, that name will be fun for USFL announcers. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Guard should be a good option this late in the first round, more so than DT or OT. If LA jumps on Alijah Vera-Tucker, as we think they will, look for either Notre Dame’s Aaron Banks or Ohio State’s Wyatt Davis with this pick.   PITTSBURGH MAULERS NEED POSITIONS: DE, OT, SS, FS T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: No Top 50 talent in the pool, but for depth the Maulers could go for a DE like Pitt’s Rashad Weaver or Patrick Jones II. Heck, pick both, you never know who will jump to the NFL instead. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: We think they go for safety here, since they need help at both positions, but if a top tier DE slips, they just have to go for that position of need. We think it is unlikely that they get a true Top 5 DE with pick 18, but stranger things have happened.   BALTIMORE BLITZ NEED POSITIONS: DT, WR, G, TE T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Can the Blitz win free agency and also have a top notch draft? Well, they have WR as a priority and they are staring at 2 potential Louisville prospects in Tutu Atwell and Dez Fitzpatrick. We think they pick one or both in their T-Draft. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Defensive Tackle, Guard, and Tight End are all positions that should have some talent left at pick 19. Things really seem to be falling into place for the Blitz this offseason. Just lining up right as they need it.   DALLAS ROUGHNECKS NEED POSITIONS: DE, G, LB, HB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Longhorn DE Joseph Assai seems a no-brainer, but we know that Coach Kingsbury is prone to the offense, so do they try to find an offensive player in their pool? We really don’t see anyone we would take, so maybe the staff convinces Kingsbury to go for the D here and focus on the offense in the Open Draft. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: While Samaje Perine’s 843 yards in 2020 was a career best, Kingsbury and the Roughnecks are still very much in the market for a lead back, someone who is just harder to bring down on those short yardage plays and can still bust a 20-yarder. We think they may be prone to move up if there is a back on the board in picks 11-18.   LOS ANGELES EXPRESS NEED POSITIONS: TE, CB, DT, G T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: As much as Express fans complain about losing UCLA to the Thunder when they relocated, LA is still doing fine with USC in their pool. Just look at some of the options the Express have this year: G Alijah Vera-Tucker, DT Jay Tufele,DT Marion Tuipulotu, and that is just in positions of need. How about WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, or Safety Talanoa Hufanga. Not a bad pool from just 1 of their 3 schools. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: LA is in prime territory to get one of the better tight ends in the draft. That could be Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth, BC’s Hunter Long, or if things go really wonky, even Florida’s Kyle Pitts. It is a pretty deep pool at the position, so we could also see Coach Lewis focus on his beloved defense in the first round and then go TE later on.   NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS NEED POSITIONS: CB, OT, WR, K T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: After hitting on Justin Jefferson, does New Orleans jump their priority ranking and add Ja’Marr Chase as well? There is only 1 football to throw around, so that may not be what they need to do. Where they likely should go is either LB Jabril Cox or DT Tyler Shelvin, but the lure of Chase may be too much. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Cornerback is a high priority for Coach Lathon, and we think they can find one late in the 1 st  round. Our favorite, based on the Breaker’s style of play is Georgia’s Eric Stokes, but his teammate Tyson Campbell also makes for a good fit.   SEATTLE DRAGONS NEED POSITIONS: OT, C, TE, DE T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: The Dragons had a weak pool this year, but with 6 Top 150 prospects they were not eligible to add a 4 th  school. Too bad for them. The only true Top 50 candidate is Washington DE Joe Tyron-Shoyinka, and DE is a priority, so we think that is the easy choice. What happens with picks 2 or 3 is anyone’s guess. Could be TE John Bates of Boise State, CB Elijah Molden of Washington, or even DT Levi Onwuzurika from the Huskies, thought that is not a position of need right now. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: The Dragons could be a “move up” team or a “move down” team, it all depends on the offensive tackle position and who is left on the board by the time the draft heads into the 2020 playoff team pool. We think moving up is the better option, especially if you want a tackle who can start in year one.   CHICAGO MACHINE NEED POSITIONS: LB, C, OT, QB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: The Machine’s love of linebackers and their affiliation with Notre Dame is usually a match mde in heaven. This year not quite as much, but we still like the option of picking Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah out of South Bend. Chicago could also help themselves at OT with another golden domer, Liam Eichenberg. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: We are going to throw a hail mary here and say that Chicago starts shopping for a protégé for Sam Bradford. We love either Zach Wilson (if Chicago is willing to trade with Las Vegas for their T-Draft pick) or, at a significantly lower cost, either Alabama’s Mac Jones or Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond, both of whom feel like good Sam Bradford stand ins.   ATLANTA FIRE NEED POSITIONS: DT, DE, TE, CB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Georgia has been a very good pipeline for the Fire, and this year there are no fewer than 10 legitimate Bulldog players to choose from. We think the Fire focus on the defense, so perhaps CB Erik Stokes, DE Azeez Ojulari, LB Monty Rice, or safety Richard LeCounte. They can only pick 3, so who will it be? BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: If the Fire go 3-for-3 on defense in the T-Draft, then tight end is the pick here. They need someone to be Aaron Murray’s safety valve. There are a few really good options who could slip this far, and a few 2 nd  rounders if Atlanta moves down.   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS NEED POSITIONS: LB, DT, OT, DE T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: The two best prospects for the Showboats are not in positions of need, but Memphis could still be enamored of WR Josh Palmer and HB Kenneth Gainwell. Of course, knowing Rex Ryan, we think they look to the D first, and that means scouting out DT Jonathan Marshall of Arkansas, the only Top 100 player available. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: With few options in the T-Draft for defense, we think Memphis goes early and often on that side of the ball in the Open Draft. Linebacker, defensive tackle, and defensive end are all positions of need. Can the Showboats find all three with late picks in each round? That will be a challenge.   HOUSTON GAMBLERS NEED POSITIONS: LB, DE, G, OT T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: DE Peyton Turner is practically being served up on a plate for the Gamblers. The Houston product would not even need to change apartments, though he certainly will have the scratch to get a bigger place if he signs with the Gamblers. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: We think LB is a priority here, and we think Houston is particularly looking for a guy who can get across the line and stuff the run. In that vein we really like Missouri’s Nick Bolton or UNC’s Chazz Surratt, both of whom could fill that role and both could be available at pick 27.   ARIZONA WRANGLERS NEED POSITIONS: SS, FS, LB, QB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: The only obvious choice here is Tulsa LB Zaven Collins, a nice addition from a school that the Wranglers rarely use in their T-Draft pool. Beyond Collins, they could lookto DT Roy Lopez of Arizona or maybe a WR like Frank Darby, also of the Wildcats, but both are more mid-round talent than immediate playmakers. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Is Arizona in the QB hunt? David Carr says he is going to return, but for how long? After seeing how rough things got without him, you would think they need to do something to bring in a viable 2 nd  option. It likely won’t be Lawrence, Wilson, or even Trey Lance, so how deep into the QB pool might they wait? We really like either Mond or Florida’s Kyle Trask as a backup to Carr for a year or two (hopefully for the Wranglers) and then maybe they get a shot to start.  MICHIGAN PANTHERS NEED POSITIONS: DT, DE, FB, G T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: Another shallow pool out of East Lansing and Ann Arbor, which makes life tougher for the Panthers, but one position of need that might have an answer is DE, where Wolverine Kwity Paye could be solid option for the Panthers. We also think Michigan goes for Wolverine FB Ben Mason later in the T-Draft because they have need at the position and Mason has a good skill set. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: With pick 29, Michigan is primed to move down and snag either a DT or a guard in the early 2 nd  round. If there is a wideout, halfback, or edge rusher here that someone really likes, we see a deal being cut.  NEED POSITIONS: FS, CB, C, LB T-DRAFT PROSPECTS: The Bandits don’t have a lot of needs, but corner is one and we love the idea of FSU’s Asante Samuel Jr. staying in the Sunshine State with the Bandits. And, for Samuel, what could be better than joining one of the most explosive high-octane teams in all of football? Should be a match that works for both team and player. BLUE CHIP PRIORITY: Safety is an area that Tampa Bay will prioritize after losing Xavier Woods to free agency (Chicago). Finding a free safety late in the first round could very well be possible, especially if Orlando passes on Richie Grant in the T-Draft or if Portland does the same with Javon Holland. So, there you go, two months of offseason news wrapped up in a nice tidy package. And thanks to the shortened offseason we will be back in early February to do it again, giving you all the free agent news, trade updates, our recap of the 2021 Territorial and Open Drafts, and preview the NFL-USFL Transfer Window, one that has all the makings of a two-directional whirlwind of interleague movement. We are only 4 months from kickoff, so things are getting intense. Enjoy the holidays, Happy New Year, and we will be back on February 1 st  with our second offseason update.

What started as a very strong outing for the Michigan Panther defense transformed into a 20-point win for the Tampa Bay Bandits and their high-octane Bandit Ball offense. Michigan built up a 10-0 advantage in the first quarter only to watch Tampa Bay go on a 33-3 run of scoring to catch and then race past the Panthers in the second half of Summer Bowl 2020. Both teams would finish the game with strong offensive numbers, Michigan gaining 435 yards, including 141 on the ground for the 2020 Offensive Player of the Year, LeVeon Bell, while Tampa Bay would again put up impressive numbers, with 571 total yards of offense, including 361 passing yards for Dak Prescott and an unanticipated 20-carry, 181-yard performance from Dalvin Cook. The balance of Tampa Bay’s attack, combined with big plays in the second half helped Tampa Bay turn a 10-9 halftime deficit into a 33-13 victory.   In a game that saw both lead backs average 9 yards per carry, it was the ability to turn yardage into scoring opportunities that gave Tampa Bay a huge advantage after a slow start. Despite a strong outing from Kirk Cousins (26 of 40 for 294) and the big numbers from LeVeon Bell, Michigan simply did not build on their early 10-0 lead, watching as the Bandits chipped away in the 2 nd  quarter and then burst out in front in the 2 nd  half thanks to Dak Prescott’s 15.7 yards per attempt and three separate Bandit receivers averaging over 30 yards per reception.  McDermott's D held the upper hand in the first half. The game began very much in Michigan’s favor. The Panthers won the toss and chose to take the ball first, hoping to limit Bandit possessions throughout. After a pair of first downs, the Panthers got bogged down outside of field goal range and kicked the ball back to Tampa Bay. But the Panther D held on their first encounter with the Bandits’ offense, forcing a 3-and-out after Dre Kirpatrick forced Dez Bryant to land out of bounds as he brought in the 3 rd  down pass. Kirkpatrick would, overall, have a strong day against Bryant, with the Bandit receiver only hauling in 4 of the 11 targets that went his way, but those 4 receptions went for 137 yards and would include a momentum-shifting 78-yard touchdown early in the 3 rd .   After getting the ball back from Tampa Bay, the Panthers had their first successful drive, with 3 solid rushes from Bell, followed by a beautiful seam route run by TE Martellus Bennett, producing the game’s first score, a 39-yard completion and score for the big man. The Panthers split the two outstanding Bandit safeties, Xavier Woods and Derwin James and Bennett hauled in a perfectly lofted pass to give the Panthers the game’s first points. Following another good series for the Panther D, this time with linebacker Odell Thurman sticking HB Matt Breida for no gain on a 3 rd  and 2 run, the Bandits again were forced to punt. As Michigan moved the ball into field goal range and took a 10-point lead with the Chase McLaughlin kick, Bandit coaches and QB Dak Prescott tried to motivate the offense. It would be a slow burn in the first half, but the Bandits slowly started to find success.   Butker's foot provided all of Tampa's 1st Half points. On their third drive, Tampa Bay changed their strategy, relying more on Dalvin Cook, and setting up play action. The plan worked, with Michigan moving their safeties in tighter, allowing Prescott, on a 1 st  and 10 to find TE Jordan Cameron on a deep throw, getting the ball all the way to the Michigan 11. The Offense tried to punch it in from there, but a 3 rd  and 5 throw from the 6 was broken up by Kirkpatrick and out came Harrison Butker for what would be the first of three consecutive field goals, this one only from 23 yards out.   The entire 2 nd  quarter was a series of frustrating drives for Michigan paired with field goals put up by Butker. The Panthers struggled on back-to-back third downs, failing on a 3 rd and 11 on their next possession, and then on a 3 rd  and 16 following a holding call. The result was that Michigan simply did not get in range to add to what had been a 10-0 advantage, and then fell to 10-3, 10-6, and, with one last Butker kick in the final minute, down to a 10-9 advantage as the two teams went to the half.   As the 18,502 fans in the stadium enjoyed a toned-down halftime show led by local-boy turned American Idol star, Daughtry, the Bandits were recalibrating their attack and focusing on defensive stops for the second half. Michigan likewise was hoping to find the right adjustments to keep Tampa Bay contained, after all, allowing only 3 field goals in the first half was a definite win for the Panthers, but also trying to establish a better plan of attack to build on their slim 1-point advantage.  Bandit QB Dak Prescott led Tampa Bay on a 24-3 2nd half surge. When the 2 nd  half started with Michigan receiving the kickoff, the Panthers came out with the intention to throw a bit of Tampa Bay’s own potency right back at them. They lined up on their first drive with 3 receivers and TE Martellus Bennett shifting to create triplet groups. The surprise tactic hit right away, with rookie Donavan Peoples-Jones getting open on a 2 nd  and 2 for a big 30-yard gainer against a botched coverage from the Bandits. But, despite their initial success, the Panthers could not deliver a touchdown. With the drive bogged down outside the red zone, Michigan settled for a 49-yard kick from McLaughlin to make the score 13-9.   There was no way that the Panthers could have known that those 13 points would be all they would tally on the day. They had seen Bell make some great runs, had success distributing the ball. Their thought was certainly to keep the Bandits contained and slowly trade touchdowns for field goals to maintain their advantage. That plan blew up in a New York minute, or perhaps a Tampa Bay minute. Dez Bryant was all smiles, celebrating his 78-yard TD. Only 44 seconds after the McLaughlin kick, the Bandits finally broke through. It was a 2 nd  and 3 after a nice 1 st down run from Cook. The Bandits showed a very similar look, Prescott faked the ball to Cook, drawing in the safeties, and Dez Bryant turned his slant into a corner route, with Kirkpatrick now out of position. One throw and 78 yards later the Bandits had announced to the Panthers, the fans in the stands, and all of America watching on TV, that they were done scoring field goals and slowly trying to creep back in the game. It was a watershed moment for both teams, with the Bandit players suddenly filled with bravado and the Panthers very much looking like they knew the real Bandits had entered the building.   Now down 16-13 after just one big play, the Panthers could not mount an offense on their next two drives, both ending short of the 50. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay took over and started to add to their advantage in a way the Panthers had failed to do earlier in the game. A 12-play drive, one that included a 36-yard pass to Dalvin Cook, finished with his backup, Matt Breida dashing into the endzone from 5 yards out to build the Bandit lead up to 10 points. The table had now officially turned, with Michigan’s early 10-point lead now turned against them.   As the 4 th  quarter began, you could sense the tension from the Panther fans in the stands in Charlotte, and from the players on the bench. The feeling was one of a game slipping away. When the Bandits again raced down field, this time in only 7 plays, and Dalvin Cook added yet another rushing touchdown to the Bandits’ advantage, the Panthers were now down 17 and that very much felt like a deficit that would not be easily closed. The Panthers would have 2 more drives, one ending with a failed attempt at a 48-yard field goal, and the final drive ending when Jalen Ramsey picked off Kirk Cousins on a desperation throw to Latimer. Tampa Bay would add another field goal late to give us the final score of 33-13, but the game truly ended when the Bandits took the lead and then built it up to 10 points in the 3 rd quarter.   Grey Cup winner Mark Trestman now has a Bassett Trophy as well. While Dak Prescott had been honored as the seasons’ MVP, he would gladly hand the Summer Bowl MVP award to his teammate Dalvin Cook. Cook finished the game with 266 yards from scrimmage, including 181 on the ground and 85 through the air. Prescott certainly showed well also, with his 361 yards on only 11 completions. And, of course, 2019 USFL Coach of the Year Mark Trestman was more than happy to hold high the John Bassett trophy, the symbol of excellence in the USFL, named for the founder of the Bandits and first held up by Tampa Bay in the league’s inaugural season, 38 years before. The title would belong to Tampa Bay once again, their 4 th  USFL title, evening their record with Michigan’s all time. Both clubs now sit at 4-1 in the league title game. For the Bandits it was their 2 nd  title in the decade, 9 years after their 2011 trophy. For Michigan their first ever loss in the league’s title game. And so ends perhaps the oddest USFL season ever, at least outside of the gridiron lines on the field, but a very successful one for the league, playing through the pandemic, and for the Bandits, proving once again that there is a special kind of magic in Bandit Ball. Somewhere John Bassett is smiling down on the team and the league he helped to create.

It will be a battle of one seeds once again as the Tampa Bay Bandits and the Michigan Panthers prove they are the class of each conference and snag their golden ticket to Summer Bowl 2020. It will be quite a clash of styles as Coach McDermott’s defensive-minded squad, and the LeVeon Bell run game of the Panthers matches up against the high-flying offense of Dak Prescott and the Bandits. We will give you the 411 on how each team cleared the last hurdle to the league title game and earned their way back to the big game. We will also finish our list of the biggest USFL offseason questions, update you on some coaching searches, and reveal the big winners from this year’s somewhat bizarre Virtual Gala. It was not the star-studded event we are all used to, at least not in Charlotte, but a series of pre-taped vignettes with live commentary from ESPN hosts, but at the end of the day we had all five major USFL awards presented as well as the 2020 All-USFL team. But we kick it all off with our run down of the 5 biggest questions facing the league this offseason.   The Ten Biggest USFL Offseason Questions (Part 2) We have run down questions 10-6, starting with Birmingham’s strategy for the T-Draft, talking through the best defenders available in free agency, the question of first-year coaches, and the quarterbacks most likely to find a new home. So, what are the 5 burning questions that topped those issues? Well, here they are, the five biggest offseason questions to be answered this winter.   5- Is Calais Campbell Ready to Ride into the Sunset? Campbell’s deal with Arizona is wrapping up, with him officially becoming a free agent as of Sunday’s loss to the Panthers. The Wranglers seem very nonchalant about his lack of a deal, so does that mean they know something we don’t? Do they feel confident that he will re-sign with them, or do they know he is about to announce his retirement? After leading the league in sacks both years in Arizona, it seems unlikely they are just cool with him going on the market, so either he has told them that his playing days are through, or they feel very good about a deal that just has not been inked yet.   4- Who Will Land Former Skyhawk HB Eddie Lacy in Free Agency? He is without a doubt the best back in free agency, all apologies to New England’s Kerwynn Williams, and he may be the top prospect overall. Lacy is only 27, and while an injury cost him nearly 10 starts this year, he still had over 500 yards, averaging nearly 100 per game. If his abdominal tear is fully healed, as it appeared to be late in the season, we cannot imagine that he won’t get a 3–4-year deal to become someone’s new lead back. So, just who is in the running for the big bruising back? Here are 5 teams we think will be in the market in a big way.   JACKSONVILLE The Bulls traded away Matt Jones, and we don’t see Devin Singletary as a 3-down back, so there is certainly interest in a back like Lacy who can move the chains and help Jacksonville grind out wins in all those close games they always seem to be caught up in.   DALLAS Yes, Samaje Perine had some good games this year, but he only crossed 100 yards once and 80 yards twice more. Imagine how much easier Justin Herbert’s life would be if he could get 1,200 yards out of his back. The addition of Lacy could move Dallas into a real battle for the SW Division title and could make them a very tough team to match up against.   ORLANDO Ty Montgomery and Knile Davis combined for 1,200 yards, and both averaged over 4.3 YPG, so why are we pitching them as an option? Well, because neither Montgomery nor Davis is a solid inside runner. Orlando turned to FB Jay Ballard and even Russell Wilson far too often on 3 rd and short. They need a pounder to get those key yards. Maybe they go that route in the draft, but if they want a proven option, Lacy makes sense.   NEW ENGLAND We know the Steamrollers are hoping to re-sign Kerwynn Williams, who had 934 yards for them this year, averaging 4.1 per carry. And, with Matt Forte apparently poised to announce a retirement, maybe they are happy if they can retain Williams, but we think that there is a good chance they cannot convince the back to return to Boston, in which case, adding Lacy would be a very positive step for a team that did quite well in their first year at 6-10.   NEW JERSEY The moment Maurice Jones-Drew, the league runner up in yardage the past 3 years, and the centerpiece of the Generals’ offense, announced his retirement, New Jersey shot to the top of the Eddie Lacy fan club. Expect New Jersey to go hard after Lacy. They need a back who can force teams to stack the box, otherwise their passing game is toast. Lacy is a great fit, not as good in the passing game as MJD, but few are. What he could provide is a run game that opposing defenses have to respect with 8- or 9-man boxes, and that will make Nick Foles and OBJ very happy.   3- What Will February’s NFL-USFL Transfer Window Look Like? There are rumors that both the NFL and USFL are interested in moving up the window to January, even before the Super Bowl is played, but that feels very unlikely. More probable is that there will be new rules put in place to allow teams to negotiate ahead of the window, with deals only becoming official once it opens. The NFL is worried that by February there will be almost no USFL free agents left to choose from, while the USFL is hoping to have rosters pretty solidly in place before camps open in February, something that could be a real issue if USFL free agents hold out to give the NFL time to counter offer what other USFL teams have proposed. What we could see is a wild scramble for talent in both directions, and neither league is happy about that prospect.   2- How Will Jacksonville Handle the Trevor Lawrence Derby? This was a huge subject of debate within our bullpen. Just what should the Bulls do at QB? They have Teddy Bridgewater under contract through 2024, and he did just put up a 3,000-yard season with a very solid 87.4 QB Rating. But on the other hand, many are calling Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence a generational QB and the best prospect since Andrew Luck. So, does Jacksonville make a deal, what could be a very lucrative deal, to sell the rights to their first T-Draft selection, possibly gaining multiple 1 st  round picks in the Open Draft, but also possibly alienating fans who want to see Lawrence in Garnet and Orange? Or, alternatively, do they select Lawrence for themselves and then find a new home for Bridgewater?   Going the rookie QB route means giving up on a player who has outperformed all expectations. It means giving up the sure thing for a potential superstar who could also be a potential bust. There would be no shortage of takers for Bridgewater, but even with his credentials, Jacksonville might get more in trade if they deal away the rights to Lawrence. There is certainly an upside either way. We know what most fans want, they want a shot to see Lawrence as a Bull, but what if that also requires another 2–3-year development curve. Will fans and ownership be patient with head coach Winston Moss, or would he be placed on the hot seat as soon as he drafts the Clemson QB. The conservative play would be to stick with Bridgewater and get as much value as they can for their T-Draft pick. But conservative may not be what the Bulls need, especially after being declared the most “futile” franchise in the league right here on This is the USFL.   1- Will We Be Back to Normal by March? You knew this had to be the big question. We have played an entire USFL season without fans in the stands, and while that is very unlikely for 2021, could we still see hub structures in place in March? What about capacity caps? There is hope that a vaccine is on the way, but will it arrive in time for the league to feel comfortable playing games and having full travel plans to 30 cities across the nation. Will all 30 locations allow full attendance? Would a vaccine require proof of vaccination? What if players refuse? What if fans refuse? How would the league even begin to regulate who is approved to enter the stadium and who is not?   So many questions, and so much of it is in the air until we know what the medical and social realities are in Spring 2021. The hope, of course, is that Covid-19 will be out of our lives, but that feels very unrealistic. More likely is a winter relapse of higher infection rates and potentially a second major wave of hospitalizations that even a new vaccine would not remove. We all have to wait and see. We know the league can play a season under tough circumstances, they have just done that, but we also know that fans want their teams in their home cities, and they want to be in the stadium, so, just how does that happen?   ARIZONA WRANGLERS 21   MICHIGAN PANTHERS 24 Both Arizona and Michigan came into this game with a mindset of shortening the game, minimizing their opponent’s possessions and controlling the tempo. So it is not surprising that we ended up with a game where neither team earned more than 31 minutes of possession and where the stats lined up pretty evenly. Both teams were able to rely on their run games, with Arizona’s combo of Ka’Deem Carey and Isaiah Crowell racking up 106 yards on 26 carries while LeVeon Bell had 83 on 24 carries, with a nice change of pace with Alexander Mattison gaining 65 yards on only 7 carries (40 on one play.). But, while Kirk Cousins was an efficient 14 of 23 for 141 yards and a touchdown, Arizona’s Tom Savage struggled, completing only 9 of 34 attempts, with 2 TDs and 2 picks. Savage connected with only 3 receivers on the day, DeMarcus Robinson (4 for 125 and 1 score), Brandon Aiyuk (3 for 123) and Carlos Rogers (2 for 13 with a TD). Not a single completion to a back or a tight end. Meanwhile the lead receiver for Michigan was not Cody Latimer, who was held without a catch on the day, but LeVeon Bell, with 4 receptions. Arizona blanketed Latimer all day, challenging Cousins to look elsewhere, and he did, with 6 other receivers catching passes, including a TD to little used TE Ladarius Green.   The slow-paced game took quite a bit of time to get going, with only a lone Michigan field goal on the board after 1 quarter and a modest 7-6 Arizona lead at the half. The Wranglers got on the board thanks to a 44-yard Savage to Robinson pass as the Wrangler QB escaped a pretty nasty pass rush, allowing Robinson to shed his coverage and make the play.   The scoring picked up in the 3 rd  quarter, spurred by a 12-play drive on Michigan’s opening possession, a drive ignited by a 19-yard completion to Kevin Kraft on a 3 rd  and 9 and finished with LeVeon Bell’s 6-yard TD scamper. The Panthers went for 2, got it, and led 14-7. But, Arizona proved resilient and evened the score on the next possession, with Isaiah Crowell carrying the ball 3 times for 18 yards and Ka’Deem Carey getting 22 yards on 4 carries, including the 5-yard TD run that knotted the game up at 14 apiece. Michigan would get back on the board in the final minute of the 3 rd quarter, with Cousins first hitting Martellus Bennett over the middle for what could have been a 9-yard gain, but turned into a 37-yard romp after the big tight end stiff armed FS Nate Allen. 3 plays later it was Cousins to Green for the score and Michigan took a 21-14 lead into the final quarter.   The Panthers got two back to back plays midway through the final period to build a 10-point lead. The first was a pick of Tom Savage, with DT Caruan Reed tipping the Arizona QB’s pass and MLB Odell Thurman coming away with the ball. On the very next play, backup HB Alexander Mattison broke through the Arizona defense and rumbled 40 yards to the Arizona 24 before finally getting tackled. Michigan could not punch the ball in, but a 36-yard kick from Chase McLaughlin gave them a 2-score lead with only 5:25 left to play.   Arizona would mount a good drive to get the score back down the 3 points, picking up 3 first downs thanks to a combination of the run game and an encroachment call on 3 rd  and 3. Savage added his second TD pass of the game, a short 2-yard slant to Rogers, and with 2:23 left to play, the Wranglers opted to kick the ball deep and depend on their defense. But, while the defense had played well against Kirk Cousins and the passing game, they had struggled to contain the running backs, and what we saw on the final possession was Michigan’s ability to grind out first downs (3 of them) to end the game with the ball in their hands. The Panthers held the ball, wound down the clock, and took the W and the pass to Charlotte to appear in the Summer Bowl, returning after a 2-year absence and hoping to nab a 5 th  title to tie Houston as the all-time USFL Championship leader. HOUSTON GAMBLERS 31   TAMPA BAY BANDITS 58 If the Western Final was about ball control and clock management, the Eastern Championship was all about quick strikes and offensive fireworks. Tampa Bay was so dominant in the first half that the national TV numbers took a nosedive at the half, with only about 40% of the viewers who started the game sticking around. They missed some good second half play from Houston, but far too little to overcome the hole they found themselves in after Tampa Bay put up 37 points before Houston finally got on the board with 9 seconds left in the first half.   The first half looked like a one-team show, with Tampa Bay scoring on 6 of their 7 possessions. Drive after drive the Bandits made big plays and simply ripped through the Houston defense. First it was a 25-yard TD toss from Prescott to Grant to open the scoring, then a 27-yarder to Bryant to produce a 13-0 lead after 1 quarter. The second quarter saw the passing game get the ball down field for back-to-back red zone touchdown runs, first a 4-yarder from Matt Breida and then another 4-yarder from Dalvin Cook. When Dez Bryant caught his second TD of the day, this time from 30 yards out, the game was well out of hand. A Butker field goal in the final minute of the half gave Tampa Bay a 37-0 lead, and even huge 75-yard McCoy to Reynolds bomb in the final minute could not help Michigan feel that they were in the game. In just the first half alone, Dak Prescott threw for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns. Dalvin Cook had 77 of his eventual 154 yards, and Dez Bryant had 3 catches for 102 yards. He would end the game with 4 for 122, Grant would have 3 for 112, and 8 different receivers would see the ball over the course of the game. The final stats were astounding, 623 total yards, including 422 through the air (even backup B. J. Daniels went 3 for 3 for 51 yards and a touchdown.) Michigan would battle back in the second half, with Colt McCoy connecting with Denzel Mims, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, and Josh Reynolds again, but it was just not enough.   The game went from 37-7 at the half to 44-21 after 3 quarters and 58-31 by the game’s conclusion. The Bandits never giving Michigan a chance to get within 20 until the final minute of play. Despite taking their foot off the pedal, Tampa Bay still added 21 points in the 2 nd  half, with Dalvin Cook, Matt Breida and Darnell Mooney each scoring. Houston never stopped trying, but while their offense found some success against a relaxed Bandit D, the defense never found answers to Tampa Bay’s assault.   The Bandits claimed victory, celebrating their first trip back to the Summer Bowl since their 2011 league title. Houston, who entered the playoffs as a 6 seed, left wondering if they were witnessing the end of an era, an era that saw them appear in the last 3 Summer Bowls, winning a title in 2018. They still have a solid core, but it does feel that this game was an indicator that they are no longer a dominant force in the East.   Bandit Offensive Stars Shine Bright in Title Game There is no way to deny it, the Bandits’ offense was absolutely dominant in the Eastern Finals. And it was the big stars who came up big. That included Dak Prescott, who finished the game with 371 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. It also included Dalvin Cook’s 2-touchdown, 154-yard outing, as well as 100-yard games from both Bryant and Grant out wide. Even TE Ryan Izzo had himself a game, catching 5 balls for 93 yards, including a nice 38-yard catch and run that included just a bit of bowling-ball action as he ran through defenders.   The way Tampa Bay carved up a pretty solid Houston defense has to make Michigan worry about their matchup in Summer Bowl 2020. The Bandits have just so many weapons that it is hard to see how even the Panthers’ D can contain them for 60 minutes. If Cook can get rolling, then the defenders cant overload against the pass, which means Bryant or Cook can find coverages to beat and get deep balls to flip the field. It will be a huge challenge, and if the Bandits can also rely on others to play a part, whether it is HB Matt Breida, slot receiver Deebo Samuel, or tight ends Jordan Cameron and Ryan Izzo, well we may end up seeing another blowout victory for the 15-1 Champions of the East.   Savage Struggles but Campbell & Klien Keep Arizona Close When your QB goes 9 of 34 and throws 2 picks, you are going to need some help on defense to keep the game close, and that is what Arizona got from its best defensive players. Calais Campbell, the 2020 DPOTY and league sack champion for the 12 th straight season, had a typical Campbell game, disrupting the Michigan line and recording 6 tackles and 2 sacks. Linebacker A. J. Klien also played well, with 2 sacks of his own, along with 7 tackles and a forced fumble. But perhaps the biggest game of all was from unheralded linebacker Mykal Walker, who finished the game with 11 tackles, 4 for loss, and a sack. It was a solid outing for the Wrangler defense, with all the pressure on, but with the offense unable to hold up its end, Arizona just could not hold off the Panthers forever, and despite their solid play, they left the stadium without a game left to play.   Latimer a Non-Factor in Title Game One of the more shocking stats from this weekend’s Arizona-Michigan conference title game was the stat line for Cody Latimer, the lead receiver for the Panthers. Latimer had one target, no catches, and was only on the field for 22 snaps. On Monday we learned why. Latimer suffered a calf strain on the very first play of the game, attempting to block for LeVeon Bell. He had his ankle retaped, played most of the game, with limited snaps, but was largely a decoy because he simply could not reach a top speed with his calf as it was.   It turned out that Michigan did not need him in order to get the W, but they certainly will this week. Latimer is listed as “probable” for the game, but there is concern that he may not be at full potential, or, even worse, that the calf injury could be worsened if he pushes himself in the Summer Bowl, leading to further injury and the loss of one of Kirk Cousins’ primary weapons in the most important matchup of the year. If Latimer is 100%, then he almost certainly will be a focal point in Michigan’s attack, but if he is unable to go at full speed, that could be a very tough blow to the Panthers’ chances against an explosive Bandit squad.   The Latimer injury is the one being watched closely, but we should also be looking at the injury to Tampa Bay CB Ken Webster. Without him in the game, the Panthers could have success getting secondary receivers like Donavan Peoples-Jones or Kevin Kraft mixed into their gameplan.   MGN:   WR C. Ridley (Out), OT D. Dotson (P), WR C. Latimer (P) TBY:    CB R. Cockrell (Out), LB P. Brown (D), CB K. Webster (P)     Ohio Closing in on Gruden It is looking a lot like a full 180 from the Ohio Glory as they seem more and more focused on former Atlanta Fire and Washington Redskin head coach Jay Gruden as their man for the open position. It would be hard to name a coach less like former Glory head man Tom Coughlin than Gruden. The affable, jovial, and light-hearted “players’ coach”, Gruden, is a very different take on the position than the often gruff, always dour, and usually tight-lipped Coughlin. And the differences don’t end at personality. Coughlin was a defensive-minded, grind the ball out, old school coach who would love to win games 13-10 and who believed that discipline was the key to victory. Gruden is an offensive innovator, a coach who believes in passing to open up the run, not the other way around, and who wants his players to feel relaxed and enjoy the game as a motivator to want to win games.  Former Fire & Redskin HC Jay Gruden Nothing is official yet, but Ohio seems very close to both signing and announcing Gruden as their guy. What does that mean for the Glory team we will see take the field in 2021? Well, for one thing, expect far fewer 2-TE or 2-back formations on offense. Instead we could see a lot of 3- and 4-receiver sets and an offense where both the halfback and quarterback are running with only 5 linemen in front of them. Why did we say the QB would be running? Well, pretty much everyone and their cousin knows that the Glory are pushing hard to ensure that Ohio State star QB Justin Fields is ready to sign on the dotted line as soon as the Glory pick him with their 1 st  territorial pick. The pocket presence of Christian Hackenberg is out (he is already being shipped around as trade fodder) and the Glory are ready to embrace Fields as the next big thing both coming out of and staying in Columbus. Hiring an offensive-minded coach like Gruden, especially one who has worked with mobile QBs in the past, seems a clear indicator that the Glory are ready to move on from smashmouth to spread and from conservative to experimental as they try to regain their status within the league and return to being a playoff team.   Vipers Visit with Greg Landry Another team that might be closing in on their next head coach is Las Vegas. Only 3 weeks after letting former USFL quarterback Rick Neuheisel go, it appears the Vipers are ready to try their luck with another former USFL quarterback in Greg Landry. Landry, the veteran NFL QB who started with the Chicago Blitz and finished his career with Arizona, has visited the Vipers’ facilities in Henderson, Nevada twice in the past 3 weeks and appears to be the frontrunner to take on the Vipers’ head coaching position.  Former Outlaw HC Greg Landry Of course, no one is hiring Landry based on his 4-year USFL career under center. He was head coach of the Texas Outlaws from 2010 through 2018, released from duties 1 year into their new life in Oklahoma. During that 9-season stint, Landry had the Outlaws in the USFL playoffs five times, including three division titles (2011, 2012, and 2014) and a trip to the Summer Bowl, the only one in Outlaw history, in 2014. Many believe that he was forced out by the new Oklahoma Outlaw ownership less because of his record with the team than because they saw an opportunity to bring in OU coaching legend Bob Stoops. Known for a balanced pro-style attack that featured Joe Flacco and Marshawn Lynch in Texas, paired with a 4-3 defense that depended on strong front line pressure, the Outlaws were a solid club for much of Landry’s tenure. In Las Vegas he would have some of the pieces he would need to replicate that style, including a pretty solid pocket passing QB in Matt McGloin and a defense led by DE Matthew Judon, LBs Nick Perry and Nate Irving, and SS Eric Berry. The biggest need for the Vipers continues to be at HB, where a trade for Matt Jones did not improve what was one of the league’s worst rushing attacks. A speed receiver to pair with Aaron Dobson, offensive line upgrades, and more bulk on the D-line are also priorities.   2020 USFL Award Winners & All-USFL Team Named No gala this year, thanks to Covid-19, but we did have a virtual “celebration” of the USFL 2020 season this week, with appearances by legendary players and coaches, as well as several celebrity fans, all via video and presented on the ESPN Football Network and streaming on ESPN.com . But, despite the odd feel of a fully virtual presentation ceremony, the awards for 2020’s best and brightest were announced, and the winners recognized. Here are your 2020 USFL Award Winners and the 2020 All-USFL team as we prepare for Summer Bowl 2020.   MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Tampa Bay Bandit QB Dak Prescott Prescott wins back to back MVP awards thanks to a stellar 15-1 season for the Bandits and some outstanding numbers. The Bandit QB finished the regular season with 4,237 yards, 37 touchdowns and only 7 picks. Of course, he is adding to those totals with a strong playoff performance, guiding the Bandits back to the Summer Bowl for the first time since 2011. He beat out New Orleans’s Geno Smith, garnering over 75% of the ballots for the award.  OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Michigan HB LeVeon Bell For the third year in a row, and the 4 th  in the past 5 years, the USFL has honored LeVeon Bell with the OPOTY. That is an amazing run, one which parallels his run of league rushing titles. His 1,529 yards this season marks his third consecutive year above the 1,500-yard threshold, and, like Prescott, he has continued to shine in the postseason, setting up a battle in Summer Bowl 2020 between the MVP and the OPOTY.  DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Arizona DE Calais Campbell It almost feels unnecessary to try to picture anyone else winning this award each year. Campbell is the dominant player of this generation, having won the league’s sack title now 12 years in a row. Hard to believe that he actually started the year slowly, missing 2 games and falling 5 sacks behind Orlando’s Montez Sweat. But that was the reality 5 weeks into the season, but in the end he not only caught, but surpassed Sweat, finishing 2020 with 26 sacks, 4 more than his replacement in Orlando.   ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: Dallas QB Justin Herbert The former Oregon Duck watched and learned over the season’s first six weeks, but once he was called upon to start in Week 7, Herbert switched from student to master, putting up amazing numbers over the season’s final 10 weeks and helping the Roughnecks finally cross .500 as a team and make their first playoff appearance since the club moved from Boston. Herbert finished the year with 21 touchdowns (again, in only 10 games) and 2,716 games, and with him at QB the Roughnecks developed into one of the league’s best passing attacks. A lot of folks in Big D are eager to see what he can do in a full sophomore season.  COACH OF THE YEAR: Atlanta’s Jaime Elizondo Turn a team from 4-11-1 to to 13-3 in one season and you fully deserve this award. Elizondo, who spent only 1 year as the OC for the Bandits before being taken on by Atlanta, proved once again just what he is able to do with an offense. After helping turn Tampa Bay into an offensive Juggernaut by importing schemes from his days in the CFL, Elizondo was given the reins of an underperforming Atlanta Fire squad and immediately got results, producing an offense that averaged over 30 points per game and turning the combination of Aaron Murray, Nick Chubb, and A. J. Green into one of the best “triplet” groups in the league.   ALL-USFL TEAM The All-USFL Team features the 44 players who stood out in 2020 and were voted by a panel of writers, coaches, and team captains across the USFL to be honored. But, since there are always a few names that seem deserving and don’t get their spot, we are going to add five more names as our unofficial “Also damned good” members of the roster. QB:  Dak Prescott (TBY), Geno Smith (NOR), Cam Newton (BIR Two obvious choices and a player who was individually a rock star despite playing on a 3-13 Stallion Squad. Despite being somehow (amazingly) unable to turn his individual quality into team wins, Newton had a phenomenal year, passing for 4,250 yards and 31 touchdowns while also running for 562 yards and 6 more scores. Coach Haley had better figure out a way to build around him, because the Stallions are absolutely wasting his amazing talents.   HB:  LeVeon Bell (MGN), Maurice Jones-Drew (NJ), Knowshon Moreno (SEA) MJD gets his 5 th  All-USFL nod in his final season, putting up 1,349 to finish second behind Bell. Moreno helped guide the Dragons to a playoff berth and had his best season as a Dragon with 1,240 yards and 12 TDs in 2020.   FB:  Khari Blasingame (CHA) If you don’t know his name, we are not stunned, but ask Latavius Murray and Nyheim Hines what they think about their fullback and they will praise him all day long. He helped them combine for over 1,700 yards rushing. As a rusher he had only 6 carries all season (1TD) but as a receiver, with 42 receptions, he proved he could do more than clear a path for the Monarch tailbacks. Keep an eye on him as part of the passing game in 2021.   TE:  Jordan Cameron (TBY), Coby Fleener (NOR) No shocker that the two MVP candidate quarterbacks both had All-USFL tight ends. Both Cameron and Fleener are outstanding receivers, too big for a safety to cover, too fast for a linebacker. Between the two of them they had 1,900 yards receiving and 11 touchdowns.   WR:  Jordy Nelson (NOR), Sammy Watkins (DAL), Devin Funchess (MEM), Dez Bryant (DAL), Brandin Cooks (POR) Two new faces in the WR group recognize two breakout stars as Memphis’s Devin Funchess had a huge second season with 102 catches, 1,547 yards and 10 TDs as half of an absolutely devastating 1-2 punch with Robert Woods (Woods had 113 catches, 1,324 yards and 15 touchdowns, the league’s first two-100-catch-receiver combo ever). Meanwhile, with the immediate impact of Justin Herbert, former Buffalo Bill Sammy Watkins had a revival with 96 catches for 1,644 yards and 11 touchdowns. Expect more from him as Herbert continues to develop into an elite USFL QB.   OT:  Willie Colon (NOR), Brandon Scherff (ARZ), Tytus Howard (DAL) The ageless wonder, Willie Colon, gets his 3 rd All-USFL honor at 36, and seems ready for more. Scherff is a beast and certainly the best friend of David Carr and the Wrangler HBS, while Tytus Howard came on this year, with an amazing 117 pancakes and only 1 sack allowed in 992 snaps. Think about that, that is an 11.7 % pancake rate and only a 0.1% sack rate, just amazing numbers for the 2 nd  year LT.   OG:  Jon Asamoah (HOU), Dru Samia (ARZ), Cole Madison (POR) Asamoah earns All-USFL honors for the 4 th consecutive year (5 th  in 6 years) as the recognized paragon of the position. He is joined by two first timers, Arizona’s Dru Samia (2 nd year player) and 3 rd  year RG Cole Madison of Portland.   C:  Frank Ragnow (TBY), Shaq Mason (HOU) Two veteran pivots who know how to run their lines and protect their QBs. For Ragnow, this is his 2 nd  All-USFL honor, for Mason his 6 th .   DE:  Calais Campbell (ARZ), Montez Sweat (ORL), Shaquile Riddick (PIT) Can we just take a moment here to recognize the amazing tradition of edge rushers the Orlando Renegades have. First it was Chris Doleman, who terrorized offensive coordinators and quarterbacks for 14 years to the tune of 198 career sacks. Doleman retires and they get Campbell, recognized as the greatest sack artist in USFL history, still playing at 35, with a ludicrous 353 career sacks, and when he goes to Arizona they draft Montez Sweat, who in his first two years has 39 sacks and 2 All-USFL seasons. That is a crazy legacy of greatness for one team.   DT:  Aaron Donald (NE), Chris Jones (LA), Dan Williams (MEM) In one group we have the total package in Donald, a penetration and sack-securing DT in Jones, and a true space-eater in Williams, three very different styles, but three dominant D-linemen by any measure.   LB:  Sean Lee (JAX), Aldon Smith (NJ), Keith Rivers (LA), Uchena Nwosu (LA), Luke Kuechley (ATL), and Khalil Mack (SEA) If you want to know the secret to LA’s shut down defense, look no further than the cobo of Rivers and Nwosu. Now put those two behind Chris Jones and in front of Stephon Gilmore and there is no secret why the Express are so tough to score on. And lets give a special shout out to Sean Lee, who recorded his 6 th  consecutive 100-tackle seasons, with many of those outstanding years on some pretty horrible Jacksonville Bulls teams. Let’s hope he gets a chance to play some playoff football at some point in his stellar career.   CB:  Jalen Ramsey (TBY), Rasul Douglas (PIT), Josh Norman (CHI), Tye Smith (SD Tampa Bay has 6 th  All-USFL nominees, the best of any team in the league (New Orleans has 4, then Arizona, LA, Memphis and Portland with 3 each). Ramsey is the classic shut-down corner, and he is not shy about telling you how good he is. Douglas came on strong this year for a much-improved Mauler D, and Josh Norman continues to be a team leader on a very solid Machine D. And while a lot went wrong in San Diego this year, Tye Smith continued to be a shining star even in a dark night of a season.   S: Marqueston Huff (OAK), Derwin James (TBY), Earl Thomas (ATL), Rudy Ford (POR) Three very familiar names, including Tampa Bay’s centerfielder and Atlanta’s “Hammer” on defense, but Rudy Ford is a player too few around the country know, but trust us, offensive coordinators know about the 4 th  year safety who had 70 tackles and 6 picks for the Stags.   ST:  Kicker Lewis Ward (MEM) and Punter Jesse Slade Ward not only led the league with 147 points this year, but also kicked a league-best 62-yarder. Slade, who had more punt attempts than any other punter in the league (sorry San Diego), not only racked up yards, but also put 37 punts inside the 20, which is about the only thing that went right for the Thunder defense all year long.   OUR 5 “SHOULDA BEEN” All-USFL Nominees   WR Aaron Dobson (LV):  We get it, being a possession receiver is not glamorous, and being one on a team that won only 3 games makes it even harder to be recognized, but when you have 138 receptions, you deserve a nod. The undisputed master of the mid-range route, and one of the toughest players to cover, Dobson may not be reeling in 60-yard bombs, but he is exactly what every team craves on 3 rd  and 8.   TE Kyle Rudolph (SEA):  With the rise of the TE as a receiving option in the USFL, it seems a shame that there are only 2 All-USFL spots. And while we certainly see Cameron and Fleener as deserving of honors, Rudolph also deserves some kudos. He tied with two others to lead all TE’s with 75 receptions, and his 7 touchdowns were a big reason Brett Hundley had the kind of year he did.   OT Taylor Lewan (JAX):  Hard to get an All-USFL nod at Right Tackle on a team with a losing record, but if you want to road grate someone, just piledrive a defender into the ground, you cannot go much better than Lewan, who had a league-best 129 pancakes and dominated as a pulling tackle in the Bulls’ run game (despite their lack of a true bell cow back.)   LB Gabe Miller (SAN):  The Gunslinger D had 2 linebackers with more than 100 tackles this year, which is a sign of a D that needs a better D-line, but takes nothing away from the outstanding skills of Miller, who was consistently solid with Jacksonville and Charlotte before getting the chance to be “the man” for the expansion Gunslingers. He racked up his first 100 tackle season (25 behind the line of scrimmage) but also added 5 sacks.   K Younghoe Koo (HOU): We absolutely acknowledge that Lewis Ward should be the All-USFL kicker as the league leader in points, but we have to recognize what Koo did this year. He never missed. Not once. He went 32 of 32 on field goals, and 41 of 42 on PATs. But, you ask, doesn’t that mean he missed a PAT? No, he didn’t. The holder fumbled the snap, pulled the ball away and tried to run, but since Koo went through the motion, they are somehow calling that a missed PAT instead of a failed 2-point try. Blame the stats guy, but in our book, he went a perfect 73 for 73 when his foot contacted the ball. That is quite a season!   SUMMER BOWL PREVIEW   Ten Players Who Could Determine the USFL Title As much as any league title depends on a mix of preparation, talent, scheme, and motivation, it relies very much on the players themselves. Big name players making big plays in big moments. Lesser-known players stepping up to make a name for themselves. There is certainly no lack of talent on the two teams set to battle on Saturday, but who will come up big? Who will step up to the moment? We picked 5 players from each team who we think are the keys to their team coming out on top. Do you agree? Did we miss an obvious one? Did we gauge these two teams correctly or did something get by us.   Michigan HB LeVeon Bell Let’s start with the obvious. If Bell can find early success, if he can rack up yards and force Tampa Bay to commit to stopping the run, well, that just helps Michigan in so many ways. Success for Bell means fewer snaps for Dak Prescott, more time with the ball for Michigan, and possibly more big drives that lead to 7 points, something the Panthers certainly expect to need. If we see Bell over 100 yards before the 4 th quarter starts, that could tell us that the Panthers have Tampa Bay where they want and then expect a lot of touches in the 4 th  to end the game in short order.   Tampa Bay WR Dez Bryant Michigan has outstanding corners in Dre Kirkpatrick and KeiVarae Russell. We expect Kirkpatrick to be the primary in defending Dez Bryant, but if Bryant proves he can get free of Kirkpatrick, it could be a long and tough night for the Panther defense. Bryant excels at the big play, whether a deep ball brought down in stride or an inside route that turns upfield quickly. If you see Bryant getting the ball early, it could mean that the Bandits get the game to be a shootout, exactly what Michigan wants to avoid.   Michigan QB Kirk Cousins The rap on Cousins is that he folds in big games. Seems an odd thing to say for a QB who has taken his team to a league title, but that loss last year in the Divisionals, when Michigan was 14-2 and bowed out right away, still has Panther fans antsy about their QB when the pressure is on. What Michigan needs to see from Cousins is not just his usual high completion rate (often over 70%) but a more aggressive attack on the Bandit secondary. Settling for dump down passes may keep the completion rate high, but it won’t keep drives going.   Tampa Bay HB Davlin Cook We saw what happened when Cook got rolling in this year’s playoff run. The Bandit back had 154 yards and 2 scores against Houston this week and that balance, with Cook slashing through the Gambler defense, made Tampa Bay nearly impossible to defend. Michigan wants to remove as many weapons from Tampa Bay’s arsenal as they can, but while they focus on the receivers, can Cook make them pay on the ground?   MICHIGAN TE Martellus Bennett Our first “less obvious” pick, Bennett is absolutely essential to the Panther offense, in no small part because Tampa Bay will try to remove Cody Latimer from the equation. If Latimer is covered, the next best option is often Bennett, ahead of any of the other wideouts on the Panther roster. He is Kirk Cousins’ security blanket and a dangerous man with the ball in his hands.   TAMPA BAY RT Brennan Williams The Bandits will almost certainly shift their line coverage on pass plays to help Levi Brown deal with Justin Tuck on the left side, so that means Williams could be on an island against Dee Ford. And while Tuck is viewed as the better edge rusher, with 19 sacks this year, Ford is a very tough second option, recording 13 of his own this year. If Williams can handle the assignment, Prescott will have time and that is bad for Michigan. But if Williams struggles, then the Bandits have to keep receivers or backs in to help out, which reduces their ability to go deep.   MICHIGAN LB Devin Bush We know that Odell Thurman and Sean Porter will be in position and that their role will be containment, but Bush is the wild card, the fastest of the three and the linebacker most often asked to take on the tough assignment of covering either a slot receiver or a back out of the backfield. With Dalvin Cook, Deebo Samuel, Jordan Cameron, and the underrated Ryan Izzo all options for Prescott, that will put a lot of pressure on Bush to read plays quickly and make the right adjustments.   TAMPA BAY SS Derwin James When you are facing LeVeon Bell, the key is to not only contain the outside run, but to fill gaps in the line against the inside run. The player most likely to be hovering in the box, ready to do either, is James. He is a big hitter, and he is very good against the run, but he will be tested by a Panther team that has more run variations than anyone. If he gets caught inside at the wrong time Bell could take off. Go outside too quickly and a cutback puts him out of position. It will be James shadowing Bell all game, and if he can succeed, he can truly impact Michigan’s ability to keep the ball in their hands.   MICHIGAN WR Donavan Peoples-Jones We are adding DPJ to this list for two reasons. First, we expect to see a lot of him on punt and kick returns, and if he can help Michigan get short field possessions, that could go a long way to them keeping pace with the Bandits. But, perhaps more importantly, Cousins will need another option if the Bandits succeed in limiting Cody Latimer. Peoples-Jones is the next best option outside, and he could see a lot of man coverage. Even if only on a pair of plays, if he can get deep and force the Bandits to respect that, then the rest of the field could be in play in ways it is not when Latimer is the only option.   TAMPA BAY CB Jalen Ramsey We know Cousins is going to test Ramsey, despite the corner’s 7 picks this year. He has to, because he has to keep Cody Latimer in the game. If Ramsey can ballhawk, disrupt Latimer’s game, and maybe even snag a pick, that could be huge in a game where every possession comes with pressure to score. We don’t expect a defensive battle, but there will be moments where one defense or the other makes a play that turns the tide, and Ramsey has that potential on any ball thrown his way.   Picks From Across the League We all have our theories about this game, but we also have not played against either of these teams, so why not ask those who have. We spoke with 4 USFL stars who have faced off against one of the two Summer Bowl squads, and we got more or less what we expected, a heavy dose of “the guys we played were tough”.   Chicago Head Coach Lovie Smith Chicago played the Panthers three times this year, losing the final two meetings, including the Divisional playoff 2 weeks ago. So, what does Coach Smith think about the Panthers? “They can be a nightmare on both sides of the ball.” Said the Chicago coach. “You have to respect LeVeon Bell, but not so much that Cousins’s life is easy in the pocket.” Started Smith, adding “And when you are on offense, you have to take what they give you. Don’t force it because they will be there to make you pay.”.   For a final score, what did Lovie think we would see? “I know Tampa Bay is a good team, but I have to go with Michigan in a higher scoring game than they are used to, but less than Tampa expects. 27-24 Michigan.”   Atlanta QB Aaron Murray The Fire also faced their divisional opponent three times, losing for the 2 nd  time in the Divisional Round as well. So, we asked QB Aaron Murray to sum up what makes Tampa Bay so tough. His response: “Everyone thinks it is all about their offense, which, no doubt, is scary, but their defense does not get enough credit.” He added: “They have a 3-man rotation at DE where each of the three are as nasty as the other two, and they don’t get tired.” And about their offense, Murray said “This is not a team that needs 10 plays and a red zone trip to get points, they can burn you from anywhere on the field and on any down.” His pick for the game is pretty clear. He chose Tampa Bay to score 30 or more and win by 10 or more.   Arizona DE Calais Campbell The 12-time sack leader of the USFL faced off against Michigan this week, and while he had 6 tackles and 2 sacks, he still felt that Michigan did about as good a job against him as any team has in recent years. “It is frustrating” he said, “because you look at Cousins and he is not a mobile guy, but when you get to him the ball is usually not there anymore.” What does he think about the matchup? He said, “I have lots of friends on Orlando still and they all say that Tampa Bay is for real, and with 15 wins they have to be.” But finally decides “I know they can put points up, but Michigan can too, especially if Bell busts out. I am picking the Panthers to surprise everyone by holding the Bandits down and putting up more points than they did against us.”   Houston HB Carlos Hyde Hyde averaged 5 yards per carry against Tampa Bay but watched helplessly as the Bandits put up 58 points, scoring 37 before Houston ever got on the board. “They are scary good on offense” he said, adding “It’s the speed, from Cook, Breida, Grant, and Bryant.” He commented that he does not remember ever seeing a team with so much speed on offense, even his own team, which is no slouch. When asked about the final score, he did not hesitate, “They could score 50 again, no question. I respect Michigan, but this Bandit team is just so dangerous.”   Our Analysis & Prediction   Look, you already know we are horrible at this. We overthink things, tinker with minutiae on the stat board, undervalue emotion and overvalue past results. But, even with all that, we think we have the right answer this time. We are looking at a Michigan team that wants to shorten the game, allow fewer Tampa Bay possessions, and run right up the middle with Bell. We have a Bandits team that wants to look deep first, then drop down if needed. They too can run the ball, though they tend to spread the field more to give Cook room to slash into the secondary. So, where is the advantage?   This is the USFL. If it were the NFL we would say the advantage goes to the team that runs the ball and plays good defense. But we have learned over 38 years that in the USFL the team that can air it out, that has too many targets to cover, and that can use the run to force edge rushers to keep containment lanes instead of beelining to the QB is the team that likely wins.   That team, and also a 1-loss team, is the Tampa Bay Bandits. We think Dre Kirkpatrick will have his hands full with Dez Bryant, but that means TE Cameron Jordan, speedster Ryan Grant, rookie slot receiver Deebo Samuel, and HB Dalvin Cook, a very dangerous dual threat back, will likely have 1 man to beat. We love the Panther D, but this feels like a bridge too far. Their best chance is if Dee Ford and Justin Tuck can get to Prescott without any blitzing linebackers, but Tampa Bay has defended against some pretty good edge rushers and Prescott put up huge numbers. So, we don’t see it happening.   We also want to remind everyone that the Bandits allowed only 15 points per game, 2 nd  best in the entire league. This is not a team that can only win shootouts. They held 11 of their 16 regular season opponents under 20 points, with 5 teams held below 10. That is a solid defense, so this is a team that can win a 45-42 game, or a 15-13 game, but more often than not wins a 35-13 game.   So, yes, we are going with the Bandits. We think Michigan holds them in check (by their standards) but that Tampa Bay just keeps edging up the scoreboard until they get the win and the trophy. Our prediction on a final score: Bandits 31 Panthers 20

The Wild Card weekend gave us four 1-score games, slim margins and some back-and-forth scores. Could the Divisionals provide the same, or would the 4 top seeds in the league roll through their Wild Card opponents? Well, we got a bit of everything in this year’s Divisional Round. Michigan built up a 13-0 first half lead and went on to win by that same margin. Atlanta and Tampa Bay gave us a shootout that was not decided until the 4 th  quarter. Houston gave us an upset, knocking off Memphis by 5 points, and the Arizona Wranglers gave us a surprising result, scoring on both defense and special teams to help their limping offense get the win over a very game Seattle club. As we look back on the week that was, we will break down each game, look ahead to two very intriguing Conference Finals, and try to answer the biggest questions looming for the offseason, our Big Story for this week. All this, plus we highlight some coaches getting attention as 6 teams seek new leaders, NFL players who may be headed for an inter-league jump, and some of the breakout stars of 2020 who deserve to get paid ahead of 2021.   Ten Biggest USFL Offseason Questions (Part 1) We pulled together our bullpen once again and asked what are the biggest questions around the league as we look at a shortened USFL offseason. The team came up with 10 burning questions. Each deserves some exploration, so we are going to provide numbers 10-6 this week and finish with the top 5 next week in our Conference Title Game recap edition. Ten big questions that will define the offseason, and could very well be profoundly impactful on the 2021 season to come. Here we go, with number 10-6. Let’s get to it.   10) Which Alabama Stars Will Birmingham Pounce On? While the USFL’s Territorial Draft has helped each club bring in local talent, connect fans of college football with the league, and create a pipeline of talent from the NCAA to the USFL, the balance of benefit has never been particularly fair. While teams like the Denver Gold and New Jersey Generals only rarely find top tier prospects emerging from their protected schools, others, like the LA Express, Tampa Bay Bandits, and Ohio Glory regularly see Top 10 prospects within their sphere of protection. No team, however, has had a more regular pipeline of blue chip talent headed their way year in and year out than the Birmingham Stallions. Between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers, the pool of potential draft picks seems endless. And, once again in 2021 Birmingham has tough decisions to make, since they are only able to protect 3 players and the pool is once again a deep one.   The Stallions are looking at a crop of talent out of Alabama that would make any GM giddy. The problem is that they can only protect 3 of these prospects, and that is if they don’t accept any trade offers for those picks, offers that almost always emerge when other teams see the talent the Stallions have in front of them. Looking at the 2021 crop of Crimson Tide talent, the quality is obvious. Here are just our Top 6 players from that pool:   WR Jaylen Waddle: A speedburner who could be better than Ruggs or Jeudy from last year’s crop.   CB Patrick Surtain II: A “legacy” player who is viewed as the top corner in the draft.   WR DeVonta Smith: Wide Receiver U. just keeps producing studs at the position.   QB Mac Jones: Seen as a potential 1 st rounder, despite some limitations.   OT Alex Leatherwood: Can start at RT for most USFL teams right away.   HB Najee Harris: Strong, shifty, and with great breakaway speed.   DT Christian Barmore: An earthmover who can eat up blocks.   So, what does Birmingham do? Well, we know they are hoping to get a true bell cow back since their run game is just not working with a rotating backfield, so we think Najee Harris is their first pick. But do they add more receivers? Or do they go defense with Surtain? And if they are not going with a wideout, will they trade away their 3 rd  pick to a team that is in need? If they do, likely only to a Western Conference team. But they could also go for either Leatherwood or possibly center Landon Dickerson, another potential stud on the line.   9) Which Defenders Will Be Free Agent Targets? As we look at the players either currently out of contract, or about to be so as their playoff team is eliminated, we see plenty of talent, particularly on defense. So, who are the biggest targets for USFL clubs? Who likely gets multiple offers and a chance to enter a new tax bracket? We have picked out 10 defensive gems who are likely to be available in just over 2 weeks, when the USFL free agent period begins. Will your team nab one of these top talents?   CB Brandon Carr (DAL): At 34, Carr is likely looking for a 1-2 year deal. A quality defender in both zone and man, but coming off a somewhat disappointing year with only 1 pick.   CB Eric Wright (OAK): Another player in his mid-30’s who still has the wheels to play this game, Wright has had 13 picks in the past 3 years, the best 3-year stint of his career.   DE Justin Tuck (MGN): The Panthers hope to resign Tuck, who at 33 still seems more than game to keep playing. If he gets into the pool, he may be the top DE available.   LB Nathan Triplett (MEM): Our parade of players in their mid-30’s continues with 34-year old Triplett, who had 62 tackles this year, down from the mid-80s the past 2 seasons.   FS Xavier Woods (TBY): At 24 and already recognized as one of the best at his position, we think Woods will test the waters, hoping for a big payday. He should almost certainly get one, but it may mean giving up his spot on a Summer Bowl contender to go to a team with less talent around him.   DE Dante Fowner (HOU): A very solid pass rusher, who sometimes struggles to be a factor against the run. Fowler would be best suited to move to a team that uses a 4-3 alignment, where he can play the edge and get LB support behind him against outside runs.   DE Vic Beasley (NJ): After recording 16, 15, and 19 sacks his first three years, Beasley has not hit those heights the last 3 (8, 13, 12). That said, any player with 10 or more sacks the past 2 years is going to get some offers. His goal should be to find a team with a strong interior line, helping to free him up against single blocks.   LB Patrick Willis (ATL): Not the sideline-to-sideline force he used to be, the 34-year-old linebacker can still be a force on the strongside. He has the skills to get past initial blocks and disrupt the run game and he still holds his own in coverage as well.   CB Dwayne Gratz (BIR): An undervalued corner who can shut down pretty much anyone but the most elite receivers. Gratz had 4 picks this year, but also secured 90 tackles, an insane number for a corner, but one that shows that he will play the run.   DT Sheldon Richardson (STL): Mired on a pretty bad defense, Richardson still impresses with his ability to shed blockers and penetrate the line. He could be a monster on a solid 3-4 line that has at least one reputable pass rusher.   Honorable Mention: CB Syd’Quan Thompson (OHIO), DE Jerry Hughes (SEA), FS Micah Hyde (CHI), DT Dan Williams (MEM), and LB Dont’a Hightower (TBY).   8) Will Free Agents Delay Signing to Get NFL Offers? This is the question bothering all USFL GM’s. Will their targeted players hold out until February, when USFL camps are already in action and the NFL-USFL Transfer Window opens up. Some teams are already asking the League Office to negotiate an earlier window this year, and the NFL might go for that, since they did not get a September Window as they usually do. If the window stays where it is, that is a risky call for players, who would miss minicamps and even some of each team’s training camp, but the payoff could be huge as NFL teams line up to join the free agent market. Of course, NFL talent will also be there, so we end up with a very insecure situation and a very tricky one for all involved.   7) Which USFL Club Will Find a Difference Making Head Coach? We have six openings in the USFL and every team, every fan base, in that group is hoping for the same thing. They are hoping for what Tampa Bay got in 2019 and what we saw with Atlanta this year, a sudden rise from the bottom of the standings up and into the playoffs. It may seem unrealistic, but both recent history and the USFL past all the way back to the 80’s shows that adding the right coach can take a 10-loss team and flip the script to join the playoff picture in their first year. We have seen it time and again. And, sure, there are some teams that have talent and seem ready to rebound if they can get the right coach, while others seem to be longer term projects. But the big question is really who, not if. Who has the stuff to turn potential into output? Later on in this week’s report, we look at 5 coaches getting a lot of attention, but are any of them the right one for the job? After all, for every Mark Trestman or Jaime Elizondo, there is a June Jones, Doug Williams, or Romeo Crennel, a coach that comes in and actually seems to make things worse, leading to a 2-year or even 1-year tenure that ends with the team needing to start over from scratch.   6) Which 2020 Starting QBs Will Play Elsewhere in 2021? This is a fun one, because it is pure speculation. There are no 2020 USFL starters at the position in this year’s free agent pool, as is the norm, but there are some who started the season under center and ended on the bench (either from demotion or injury) and there are other teams who may well just be looking to go a new direction. So, do we have any 2020 starters that are potentially going to be suited up in different colors in 2021? We think the answer is yes, and here are the 5 players we are watching this offseason, possible offseason cuts, or potential trade fodder if a team can get the answer at QB they want.   Matt Gutierrez (PHI):  It seems clear that the Stars are not going to ride or die with Gutierrez, despite his early career success. The former All-USFL QB has just not been the same player since 2017. His QB Rating has dropped every year since, and he was benched this year for a journeyman backup in Ryan Lindley. That tells us that Philadelphia is going to look for a solution at QB this offseason, and once they think they have it (or maybe even before) they will try to find a new home for Gutierrez, who still has 2 more seasons on his contract.   Jacoby Brissett (SEA): The success of Brett Hundley this year, and the almost certain pay raise he will get with a new deal, means that Seattle has to consider moving Brissett. When healthy, Brissett is a very solid QB, One who looked very good in his last full season (2017) and had strong numbers in 2019 as well. The problem is he has lost 2 of the past 3 seasons to early season injuries. That makes him a risky prospect, but there almost certainly will be a team out there willing to take that risk if it means an upgrade at the position.   Mason Rudolph (OKL): We are not sure if the Outlaws want to move Rudolph, but we know there are teams interested. Both Rudolph and Jalen Hurts are on rookie deals, so neither needs to be moved for salary cap support, but Coach Stoops may want to avoid any perceived QB controversy and give Hurts the full confidence of the team as a starter. That, combined with the very likely calls coming in from teams looking for a quality option at QB might be enough to get Stoops to move Rudolph off the roster, especially if the deal is a good one.   Ryan Nassib (WSH): The Nassib experiment has not gone well in Washington. The former Wrangler has simply not been able to replicate his 2018 success with Arizona. His numbers this year (2909 Yds, 15 TDs, 11 Int, 77.5 QBR) are not going to draw a lot of interest, but one team that may be interested is Arizona, especially if David Carr’s rehab does not go as planned. We know Nassib and Coach Tomsula worked well together, so there is a chance for a homecoming if Arizona thinks one is needed.   Christian Hackenberg (OHIO): Is there anyone out there who does not think the Glory will woo Ohio State’s Justin Fields like he is Cinderella at the ball? The writing is on the wall, but the Glory cannot move Hackenberg until Field is signed, sealed and delivered. But if he does sign on, which all of Columbus seems to want, then we think a late offseason move, perhaps to another USFL club that failed to sign their rookie QB prospect, is more than a 50/50 prospect.   A few other names were mentioned in our bullpen, but seem less likely to go anywhere unless the perfect scenario plays out. They include Nick Foles in New Jersey, Josh Freeman in Dallas, and Teddy Bridgewater in Jacksonville. Teddy B only moves if the Bulls decide to go all in on Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, and even then, only if they feel good about having a veteran backup if they do land the likely Heisman winner. Freeman is willing to be a veteran backup and mentor for Justin Herbert, but if the right deal is there, we could see Dallas trade him. As for Foles, he only leaves New Jersey if the offer is perfect for them, and only if they have another option at QB, which right now they do not.   There you go, five of the top 10 burning questions of the USFL offseason. Next week we get to even hotter topics, including a 12-time All-USFL defender who is still unsigned, but does not seem ready to retire, and the big question for 2021, the state of the world and the reality of returning to “normal” as the Covid-19 virus continues unabated across the nation and the world.   CHICAGO MACHINE 14   MICHIGAN PANTHERS 27 The Panthers dominate their division rivals as the defense steps up and shuts down Chicago in a game that was not as close as the final score would have you believe. Michigan built up a 27-7 lead by dominating the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball and getting big stops on the Machine offense all game long. Chicago finished the game with only 11 first downs, limited to 3 of 11 on third and fourth downs, and held to only 54 yards rushing as the Panthers take the win and move on to the Conference Championship.   While Chicago did a good job against LeVeon Bell, holding him to only 3.3 yards per carry on the way to 73 yards on the game, Michigan’s balance helped them put points on the board, starting with a 14-play drive in the first quarter that included a big 3 rd  and 11 conversion as Kirk Cousins got good protection and found Kevin Kraft for a 16-yard completion. Later in the drive, LeVeon Bell would convert a 3 rd  and 3 with a good second effort. He would be rewarded with the call from the 2-yard line, punching the ball in for the game’s first score.   Chicago’s first drive ended with a turnover on downs after Coach Smith decided to go for it on 4 th  and 1 from his own 44. Michigan penetrated the line and shut down Marion Mack before he could get back to the line of scrimmage, giving the Panthers a short field which quicky turned into another 3 points as Chase McLaughlin made it a 2-score game midway through the first quarter. For the rest of the game, Smith would be a lot more cautious, and for the rest of the half, both offenses would struggle, with Michigan crossing the 50 only once, producing another field goal, while Chicago’s lone foray into Michigan territory ended outside of field goal range and produced a punt.   Leading 13-0 at the half, Michigan prepared to shorten the game with their rushing offense, avoiding risky plays and trying to avoid third and long as much as possible. Chicago, on the other hand, had to take more chances and seek a big play to get back in it. On their second possession of the 3 rd quarter, they finally hit on one as Sam Bradford found WR Michael Floyd for a 32-yard gain on a nice play action call. That finally put the ball deep in Michigan territory, and 4 plays later, Bradford found Chase Claypool for a 5-yard TD toss on a quick inside slant. Chicago was in business at 13-7.   Chicago’s momentum would be eaten away over the next 5 minutes as Michigan marched down field, requiring only 1 third down conversion to keep their drive alive. Helped by a pair of offsides calls against the aggressive Chicago line, Michigan marched into Machine territory, got a nice 10-yard run from Alexander Mattison to get inside the Chicago 10, and then put 7 more on the board with Cousins finding rookie Donavan Peoples-Jones to make the score 20-7 and rebuild the 13-point lead.   When Mattison had another strong run early in the 4 th , this time a touchdown run to give Michigan a 27-7 lead with only 6 minutes to play, Chicago was cooked. They needed 3 scores in less than 6 minutes, and it just was not going to happen against the Panther defense. The would get one of the three they needed, a late TD pass from Bradford to HB Jeremy Hill, but it was far too little and the Panthers comfortably took the 13-point victory and the ticket to next week’s Western Conference Championship. The Player of the Game was chosen, CB Dre Kirkpatrick, whose pick of Bradford was the lone turnover in the game, but the true POTG was the defensive scheme itself, one which reduced Chicago to a one-dimensional attack and came up big on multiple 3 rd  down attempts.   ATLANTA FIRE 28  TAMPA BAY BANDITS 35 We thought we might get more offensive fireworks this week than we saw in Week 15 when these two Southeastern rivals met, and we did, with the two teams combining for 9 touchdowns and over 800 combined yards. Atlanta was the more balanced team, with Aaron Murray throwing for 293 while the combination of Chubb and Drake added 145 on the ground, but while Tampa Bay only rushed for 88 yards, it was enough to keep Atlanta’s defense honest and allow Dak Prescott to complete 20 of 33 for 300 yards and 3 scores.   In a game that saw Atlanta take out a 14 point lead at the half, Tampa Bay turned on the afterburners in the second half to outpace the Fire 28-7 and take the 7-point victory. It was exactly the kind of offensive display that fans love, well, all but fans of the Fire, who came up short after holding a nice halftime lead. The Fire built that lead an some nice early playcalls against Tampa’s defense. The Fire got Nick Chubb started early, carrying the ball 7 times on the first 2 drives, and producing 54 of his 100 yards in the first quarter. His early success made it possible for Aaron Murray to get time to throw the ball, and to connect on two first quarter touchdowns, one to TE O. J. Howard, and the second a beautiful deep ball to Kelvin Benjamin to build up a 14-0 lead at the end of the first.   Tampa’s offense, largely held in check in the first quarter, finally found its stride in the 2 nd , putting together a quick-strike 6-play, 58-yard drive that included a 33-yard catch & run from TE Jordan Cameron. The drive concluded with 7 points as Dalvin Cook took the ball off tackle to the left to put the Bandits on the board. Back within 7, their hope was to get the ball back quickly and even things up on their next possession, but, while they did get the ball back with 7:02 left in the half, a missed throw from Prescott on a 3 rd  and 7 created a 3-and-out and possession went back to the Fire.   Atlanta drove the ball down the field as the clock ticked by, eating up nearly 5 minutes on their next possession, thanks again to the ground game, and it would be the ground game that would rebuild their 14-point advantage as Nick Chubb scored Atlanta’s third TD of the game, giving them a 21-7 with 43 seconds left in the 2 nd  quarter. Tampa Bay scrambled to get into field goal range to cut the lead down, but the ask of Harrison Butker, forced to attempt a 57-yarder, was too much and the Fire maintained their 14-point advantage as the two teams headed to the locker rooms.   We don’t know what the magic words from Coach Trestman were at the half, but they certainly inspired a sense of urgency among the Bandits coming out of the break. Tampa Bay took the opening kickoff, moved to a hurry-up, no huddle offense, and put 7 on the board in only 6 plays and 2:28 off the clock. In a drive that saw Prescott hit Dez Bryant for a 46-yarder, backup HB Matt Breida put points on the board with a 22-yard run around the right side and down the sideline. The score halved Atlanta’s advantage, but perhaps more importantly, it built up confidence among the Bandits.   That confidence would be on display on both sides of the ball, as Tampa Bay held Atlanta to only 42 yards in the 3 rd  quarter, causing them to fail on all 3 third downs they were forced to convert. Meanwhile the offense kept moving quickly. They moved a bit too quickly on their 2 nd  possession of the half, stymied by a 3 rd  down penalty, but on their 3 rd and final possession of the quarter, they again moved the ball crisply down the field before Prescott found his favorite target, Dez Bryant, for the equalizer, a 13-yard fade route that tied the game at 21.   The Bandit momentum carried into the final period. After yet another short drive by Atlanta producing only a punt, Tampa Bay moved the ball again, ready to take their first lead of the day. They got it on a short toss from Prescott to Ryan Grant at the end of a 10-play drive. Now up 28-21, the feeling of the game had shifted and it was the Bandits who seemed to hold all the cards.   But Atlanta was not ready to give up the ghost on this day. They knew a drive was needed and they finally found a way to put one together. Moving away from a run game that had failed them in the second half, they relied on Aaron Murray, and their QB delivered. Murray completed 4 of 6 passing, including a 29-yard completion to A. J. Green to get the ball into Tampa Bay territory. Murray then found O. J. Howard on a nicely-run seam route, hooking up for a 17-yard touchdown to tie the game at 28. But, with 9 minutes of action left to go, there was more than enough time for either team to get the advantage, and the team that found a way to do so is Tampa Bay.   The Bandits moved the ball quite a bit more tentatively, or perhaps more deliberately is the way to express it. Their next drive took over 6 minutes and 14 plays before Deebo Samuel would put them up 7 with a 6-yard reception. For the first time all game, Tampa Bay seemed confident in their ability to slow the game down and still move the chains. They got 4 of their 14 first downs in the game on this one drive, taking what Atlanta gave them, with no play longer than 11 yards. In the end, the result is what they needed, a fifth touchdown and a 35-28 lead with 2:34 left to play.   But, 2:34 is a lot of time in USFL football. Atlanta would have time, and with 2 timeouts left, they had 3 chances to stop the clock if they could keep the ball and move the chains. They did so on their first set of downs, getting the ball from the 25 to the 36 in only 2 plays. They did so again, moving the ball to the 46 in 3 plays, but time was ticking down and the Fire needed a touchdown. They continued to move the ball, but every first down they made took precious time off the clock. By the time they got to the Tampa Bay 24, needing a touchdown to tie the game, they had only 17 seconds left. An incompletion on 1 st  and 10 from the 22 left them with 12 seconds. But they still had 3 downs to either score or get the ball closer. Time, and not yardage, became the enemy, but there is one thing that cannot happen in this situation and it is exactly what happened. Atlanta came out in a 3-receiver set, with Murray in the shotgun. But when O. J. Howard went out into a pass route, it left the right tackle all alone against Bandit DE Brian Burns. Burns beat his man, pursued Murray, who turned back, trying to get Burns to overshoot him, but the Bandit DT did not, he instead caught the calf of Murray, sending him sprawling to the ground.   The Fire needed to get back to the line to spike the ball on 3 rd  down just to give themselves 1 more play. But it was too hectic on the field, too many receivers trying to get back onsides, and as the Fire scrambled, the clock ticked down to 2, then 1, then 0. The game ended just as the Fire tried to get the snap off. Coach Elizondo tried to plead that there was a second left, but the officials would not hear it. Tampa Bay was the winner, they would advance, and the Fire would go into the offseason thinking they had gotten close, but not close enough. SEATTLE DRAGONS 17   ARIZONA WRANGLERS 30 The question on everyone’s mind heading into Sunday’s game was which Arizona Wrangler squad would take the field against Seattle? Would it be the team that started the year 12-0 and seemingly unstoppable? Or would it be the team that finished 0-4 after losing QB David Carr? In the final month of the season it seemed more was wrong with Arizona than just a shaky QB situation. The defense was being asked to do too much, the offense was capable of too little, and when Coach Tomsula announced that it would be his 3 rd  stringer, Tom Savage, getting the playoff start as his first ever pro start, well, it is easy to see why confidence was not high for Wrangler Nation.   But Arizona did what all good teams do when the chips are down. They came out and played complementary football in all 3 phases, using every possible advantage against the 10-6 Dragons. They set a tone early and stayed consistent throughout, even as Seattle clawed back into contention on multiple occasions. QB Tom Savage struggled, as most thought he would, completing only 10 of 31 passes for 126 yards, but others stepped up, and when Seattle suffered their own QB injury, with Brett Hundley going down late in the first half with an injury to his throwing arm, the tone of the game changed.   Arizona came out in this game with every intention to battle from the opening kickoff, and that spirit became evident early when an errant pass from Hundley on the Dragons’ opening drive turned into a disaster, with CB Jeremy Lane taking the ball away from Amari Cooper and racing it to the endzone for a defensive touchdown. The situation became even worse for Seattle, when two possessions later they punted the ball away to N’Keal Harry and the elusive Arizona return man took it back 61 yards for a second Wrangler score.   Seattle, despite holding Arizona to two early 3-and-outs on offense, was down 14-0 at the end of the first quarter. It would get even more dire in the 2 nd , as Arizona finally found some success on offense, adding a field goal to the scoreboard to take a 17-0 advantage. Then, on their next possession, Seattle QB Brett Hundley was crushed by Arizona DE Bud DuPree, causing a fluttering ball that was picked off by Wrangler CB Joe Haden, but also producing a game-ending injury to Hundley. That meant that Bruce Gradkowski would have to go the rest of the way at QB for the Dragons, coming into the game down 17.   Gradkowski would start strong for Seattle, helping them put 14 points on the board in the 2 nd  quarter. Helped by a defensive pass interference call on their next possession, Seattle got the ball deep into Arizona territory and HB Gus Edwards put the Dragons’ first points on the board. Just 2 minutes later, after another Arizona 3-and-out, Seattle was back in possession of the ball again, and this time Gradkowski hit on a big play, faking the ball to Knowshon Moreno before releasing a rainbow down the sideline to Marshall Newhouse. The Dragon receiver brought the ball in, avoided stepping out along the sideline and pulled Seattle back to within 3 with a 43-yard touchdown.   That score would hold into the half, with Seattle now feeling like the game could still be theirs, even without Hundley under center. The third quarter proved that taking over the lead from Arizona would not be an easy task. Seattle struggled to get anywhere in the third quarter, amassing only 2 first downs and 27 yards in the period. Arizona, meanwhile, began to show signs of life on offense. They had one drive which ended with a missed field goal, but which showed they could move the ball against the Dragon D. On the next drive they proved it, going 71 yards in 12 plays before Tom Savage completed his first career touchdown pass, a modest 7-yard completion to DeMarcus Robinson, but a huge play for the Wrangler offense.   Seattle entered the final quarter down 10 and needing some big plays. Those plays just did not come as Arizona locked down the Dragon receivers, pressured Gradkowski, and forced 3 failed third down conversions. In the meantime, the Wrangler offense gained enough of a field position foothold to allow Elliott Parson to kick two more field goals. Even with a Seattle field goal added into the mix, it was not nearly enough for the Dragons. Arizona held them in check for the final 10 minutes of action and walked away with a playoff victory. Their offense had only mustered 209 total yards, and Savage had completed only 32.3% of his passes, but with the assistance of the defense and a brilliant special teams play from N’Keal Harry, it was enough for the 3-time USFL champion to reach the Conference Final.   HOUSTON GAMBLERS 24  MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 19 The final game of the weekend was a classic divisional showdown between the Showboats, winners of the division for the first time in over a decade, and the Gamblers, frequent Southern champions and Summer Bowl participant. Houston, as the 6 seed, had upended NE Division Champion Baltimore to get here, but now faced a team that knew them about as well as any team could. Memphis, having rested players during the Wild Card weekend, came in confident and eager to prove they were a deserving division champion.   The game that ensued was one defined by missed opportunities. Memphis moved the ball into the red zone on 5 separate occasions but came away with only 1 touchdown as the Houston defense turned them away, producing 2 Showboat field goals of 30 yards or less and 2 turnovers. Houston, for their part, only reached the red zone twice, but both trips produced 7 points apiece. That, combined with a stunning, almost miraculous 90-yard TD pass in the waning seconds of the first half, allowed the 6 seed to come away with another upset victory and for Houston to once again make it back to a conference title game.   The opening quarter of this game saw Houston take an early lead as their scripted first drive produced their first red zone trip, an 8-play drive that concluded with Colt McCoy finding JuJu Smith-Schuster for a 13-yard touchdown. But the rest of the first half seemed a struggle for Houston. What started as a 7-0 lead on a solid first drive, turned into a series of frustrating drives that included a failed 4 th  down attempt in Memphis territory and an interception by McCoy. Memphis, in the meantime, had found their offense, using all three backs, Gurley, Hester, and David Williams, to force Houston’s safeties towards the line, and allowing Paxton Lynch to make some plays outside. Memphis opened their scoring with a short field goal after a failed 3 rd and goal throw, but responded on the next possession with a TD pass from Lynch to Robert Woods to take the lead. When a 2 nd  Lewis Ward field goal gave them a 13-7 lead with only 11 seconds left in the 2 nd  quarter, it seemed the Showboats were looking very good in this rivalry game.   But what happened next was simply a back-breaking, or rather a spirit-breaking play. After fielding the kick on the 20, only to get a holding call that forced Houston to take possession on the 10, everyone and their uncle thought the half was over and Houston would call a run to end the half. Fans in the stadium headed to the concessions stands, fans at home almost certainly made a bee-line to the kitchen or the bathroom. But Houston did not settle for a 13-7 deficit going into the half. Colt McCoy faked the ball to Clyde Edwards-Helaire, bootlegged to the right and let loose a deep shot down the sideline. At the end of that deep shot was Smith-Schuster, having gained at least a 2-step lead over the corner and with the safety nowhere in sight. The speedy Gambler receiver took the ball in stride, raced down the sideline, eventually curving back to the hashmark and crossing the goalline with only 4 ticks on the clock. Houston had scored on a 90-yard bomb in the final seconds of the half. They would take the lead with the PAT, and they would go into the half a jubilant bunch, while Memphis went to the locker rooms shellshocked.   That disparity in energy carried over into the second half. Houston would get the only points of the 3 rd  quarter, a 33-yard Koo field goal, but, just 48 seconds into the 4 th  quarter, Colt McCoy hit Denzel Mims for a 10-yard TD and Memphis, seemingly sleepwalking through the second half, found themselves down 11, with Houston up 24-13. Memphis would need to score twice in the next 14:12 of game time, and while they added a field goal on their next possession, that only brought them within 8.   With Houston now playing keep away with their run game, Memphis got only 2 more possessions in the game. On their first, they were forced to punt. On their 2 nd they oddly settled for a field goal with 3:40 left to play, pulling them within 5, but still requiring a TD to get the win. The hope, it seemed, was that the defense could get the ball back quickly and give Memphis a 2-minute drill to get the win. The problem was this, the Showboats had to stop Houston immediately to get that shot. Houston, for their part, needed only a couple of first downs and the game would be out of reach for their division rivals.   Houston got the first of their needed first downs when Carlos Hyde, initially stopped behind the line, slid off the tackle attempt and pushed forward to convert a 3 rd and 2. The second would come from an overly aggressive Memphis front line. Needing a stop on 3 rd  and 3, Memphis overreacted to a hard count from McCoy and DT Dan Williams crossed into the neutral zone. The Showboats protested that there was a false start, but the officials clearly saw defensive line encroachment, called it, and thus gave the Gamblers a first down and a chance to end the game on offense.   Houston did just that, combining one Hyde inside run with two kneel downs. They celebrated on the field as the final 27 seconds ran off the clock, no punt needed on 4 th  down. The Gamblers had pulled off a second upset victory and were now headed to face the 15-1 Bandits in a true test of experience vs. talent, tenacity vs. bravado in the Eastern Conference Finals. Seattle Now Turns Their Attention to Their QB Situation The Seattle Dragons had a solid season, especially when you consider that their Week 1 starting QB went down to a season-ending injury in the opener. For the second time in 3 years Jacoby Brissett was lost to injury and the Dragons had to scramble and scrap for nearly the entire season. But, while Seattle fans were not sure what the season would bring, Mike Riley proved once again that he has an eye for QB talent. After finding success with Matt McGloin in 2018, success that landed McGloin a multi-year deal to lead the Las Vegas Vipers, he found another gem in free agency, landing former New Jersey Generals’ castoff Brett Hundley.   Hundley got the call to be the Seattle starter after not taking a start since 2017 in New Jersey. He immediately proved that the Generals had made a mistake. In 15 games, Hundley threw for 3,818 yards and 27 touchdowns. He finished the year as the 6 th  rated QB in the league, ahead of such prominent QBs as Atlanta’s Aaron Murray, Chicago’s Sam Bradford, and even Houston’s Colt McCoy. It was a coming out party for the former General, and it now creates a real question for Riley.   After the 2018 season, Riley did not have a lot of options. Matt McGloin was a free agent, and after his own strong season in Seattle, his agent and he were all about testing the market. They got a great deal and a chance to be the unquestioned starter in Las Vegas. This time around Seattle has Hundley under contract through next year, and while he likely will want to negotiate a bigger and better deal as an extension, they also have Jacoby Brissett under contract for 2 more seasons. So, do they hold onto both? Does Riley allow for a true QB competition? Or does he trade one of the two to acquire more cap space and maybe some immediate help at other positions?   It is certainly not the worst situation for a coach, a GM, and a team to be in, to have two solid QBs. But it is a situation that will lead to second guessing no matter what decision is made. There are going to be Brissett fans upset if he is shipped off, Hundley fans who will not want him to return to the bench, and plenty of folks bringing up the well-worn platitude about having 2 quarterbacks as not really having one at all. We expect that Riley and the Dragons will get inquiries about both Brissett and Hundley. After all, there are plenty of teams in the USFL who could use an upgrade at the most important position on the field. But the decision will be the Dragons’ to make. Keep two quality QBs on the roster and let them fight it out for the starts, or make a deal and declare one of the two your franchise guy. This is a situation we all will be keeping our eye on this winter.   Lovie Smith Brushes Off 4th Down Call Criticism It is never easy to be a head football coach, especially when your team loses a playoff game to a fierce rival. There is always criticism, always questions about your decisions, and when your decisions include a very early attempt on 4 th down, one that failed and led to your opponent building up a 2-score lead, well, you have to expect some criticism. Lovie Smith is hearing that in spades this week after a failed attempt to go for a 4 th  and 2 on their opening drive of the game. Already down 7, the turnover on downs gave Michigan a short field, leading to a 33-yard Chase McLaughlin field goal and putting Chicago in a 10-0 hole that they never really recovered from. Michigan would go on to take a 13-0 lead into the half, and while Chicago played better in the 2 nd half, they never truly cut into that lead, losing by 13.   Many in the Chicago press, and certainly on sports radio call-in shows, are pointing to that early game decision as a key turning point in the game. Punt, they say, and the Panthers perhaps don’t add a 2 nd  score so early, and maybe Chicago gets good field position and can put some points on the board. It is a bit of an overstatement to say that a 1 st  quarter decision turned the game, but that is the critique. Smith, of course, has defended the decision, in the post-game press conference, and in interviews on Monday, taking responsibility for several key decisions in the game, but he is also quick to highlight that Chicago did come back on Michigan in the 2 nd  half, and that it was not the first half that defined the game. But, as is so often the case, the media and the fans want a scapegoat. They want to be able to blame the loss on one moment, one poor decision, but the reality is that Michigan simply outplayed the Machine, on that play to be sure, but at so many other points in the game, that one early turnover on downs hardly made the game break one way. The game as a whole was Michigan’s before and after that call.   Ryan Rages against Refs, Better Prepare to Pay some Fines Another coach who is under some heat, and perhaps not taking it very well, is Memphis’s Rex Ryan. The Showboats were favored over Wild Card Houston, and they had their moments in the game, but in the end, they fell 24-19. Our analysis was that the Showboats struggled in the red zone and failed to turn good opportunities into touchdowns, settling for far too many field goals in the game. Ryan’s analysis has been quite different, pointing to the officiating and insisting that his team was given a raw deal. Yes, there were some controversial calls or no-calls in the game, including one pass play that could have been defensive pass interference on Michigan’s Dre Kirkpatrick but was not called. There were other times when Ryan protested on the sideline but did not sway the referees, including a video challenge that did not go his way and cost him a time out late in the 4 th .   Yes, as with most games, there were calls that could have been made, calls that could have gone the other way, and decisions by the refs that could be called 50/50 shots. But, if you ask Ryan, the balance was not there. The calls slanted the game to the Panthers and he is not afraid to call that out. Of course, the game result is set, so calling the refs out is not going to get Memphis a shot at the Conference Title game. What it is going to do is produce some USFL fines against Ryan for his vocal outbursts and his public calling out of USFL officiating. Would we really expect anything else from the son of famous hothead Buddy Ryan? After all, it was Rex’s dad who got thrown out of a game (and subsequently fired) for punching one of his own coordinators on the sideline. While Rex has not gotten physical yet, his mouth has gotten him into trouble more than a few times and we expect this week’s outbursts about the officiating to get added to his reputation as a “composure-challenged” head coach.   One Seed Weak Spots This week we saw both one seeds find playoff success, with the Panthers winning by 13 and Tampa Bay surviving a challenge from the Atlanta Fire thanks to a 28-point second half. So, just how do you knock off the 1-seed? While this year does not provide the kind of home field advantage most one seeds enjoy in the postseason, the truth is that the Panthers and Bandits are the top seeded teams for a reason. They have combined for 31 wins and only 3 losses this season, and they are stacked up and down the roster. But do they have weaknesses? And are those weaknesses that the Gamblers and Wranglers can exploit? Well, let’s see what we see.  MICHIGAN The Panthers live and die with the run game. LeVeon Bell can ruin a defensive game plan, but even when he is held in check, it forces teams to commit to stop the run and that leaves them susceptible to play action vertical passing. So, how do you beat that.   The key is to take the lead early and force Michigan away from the run game in the 2 nd  half. That is not easy to do, not against the Panther defense, but if the Wranglers can play aggressively on offense, particularly early, and get a 10 or 14 point advantage, they can force Michigan to rely more on the passing game, removing at least some of their offensive balance and the threat of Bell carrying the ball 25-30 times. The problem, of course, is that the Arizona offense has hardly been a high-flying aerial assault since David Carr went down. They may simply not have it in them to rack up early points, which means they are likely going to see a lot of Bell and the Panther offense this week.   TAMPA BAY The Bandits are an even tougher nut to crack. They can beat you by balancing Dalvin Cook runs with the passing game, or they can go full spread and just keep the ball in the air. And if you do manage to keep the Bandit offense contained, you still have to deal with the league’s 2 nd best scoring defense. So, where is the weakness?   It’s the run defense. Tampa Bay is ranked 23 rd in the league against the run, but the problem there is that they often can get teams out of a patient run game by putting points on the board early (essentially they are the perfect foil for Michigan, as we outlined above). So, what does Houston need to do?   They need to feed the ball to Carlos Hyde, even if they are down more than 1 score. If they can get Hyde rolling early, they can then use their strong outside passing game to better effect. They want to get Xavier Woods and Derwin James in the box, trying to control Hyde, so that Evans and Smith-Schuster can get beyond the coverage. That is the best option the Gamblers have. They do match up well, particularly because Hyde is such a weapon, but the key is to keep Tampa Bay from doing the same to them. They need to keep the game in the 20’s, not try to get in a score-for-score battle. Houston has a lot of experience in elimination games, and Coach Phillips always comes up with some defensive wrinkles, but the pressure will be there. Keep pace with the Bandits early, avoid getting behind, avoid the big play, and force Tampa Bay to be methodical. If you can keep them from hitting on the quick scoring plays, and you can use Hyde to force the Tampa safeties up, well, the 6-seed Gamblers would then have their best chance to pull yet another upset.   No major adjustments this week, with each of the 4 teams dealing with a few bruises and late-season wear and tear, but we will not see any high-impact injuries beyond those the teams have already been dealing with this postseason.   ARZ:       WR V. Cruz (Out), QB D. Carr (Out), G C. Levin (Q), FS N. Allen (P) MGN:    WR C. Ridley (Out), OT D. Dotson (Q), WR C. Latimer (P), DT R. Lawrence (P)   HOU:     QB L. Jones (Out), DT N. Fairley (Out), G J. Asamoah (D), SS K. Vaccaro (Q) TBY:        LB T. Smith (P)   Five Coaches Being Given a Long Look this Offseason With six coaching positions sitting empty across the USFL there will be a lot of competition for top candidates and a lot of impetus on trying to find the right fit as quickly as possible. So, who is in the mix for a position? There will almost certainly be a mix of former USFL and NFL head coaches in the mix, some coordinators will absolutely be given a long look, and we may even see a team or two try to follow the path of the Bandits and bring in a CFL coach. When we look at who is available now, or will be in the next few weeks, some names popped up as early potential candidates. Here are five we think are going to get some calls, some interviews, and maybe a shot at a job this winter.   Greg Landry (EFN Commentator, Former Outlaws HC) The former USFL quarterback spent 9 years as the head coach for the Texas Outlaws (well, 8, and 1 in Oklahoma) and while Texas did not win a title in that span, they did spend 7 years at or above .500, make 5 consecutive playoff appearances, win their division twice and make a Summer Bowl appearance. Landry is not the guy you want if you are hoping to have a truly innovative offense. He is more of a traditional pro-style, vertical game guy, but that can be very effective and he has proven he can get wins in this league, which for some teams may well be enough to sign him on.   Jay Gruden (Former Fire & NFL Redskins HC) The brother of NFL stalwart Jon Gruden, Jay has bounced around a bit. He had a short 3-year stint with the expansion Atlanta Fire from 2006-2008, where, as you might guess, he struggled a bit. Since then he has been rediscovered, first as an OC and then as the head coach of the NFL Redskins, where he won two division titles. Gruden is another offensive-minded coach, though his style is more inventive than Landry’s, often focused on spread formations and quick passes, not unlike the old Run & Shoot, but with more use of a tight end. Seen as a player’s coach, he is unlikely to tighten up a team’s sloppy play, but he can get good growth from younger players.   Tom Coughlin (Former Ohio Glory HC) Now, if discipline is what you want, there is no one more focused on keeping a tight ship than Tom Coughlin. Both in Baltimore and Ohio he was known for a well-structured defense, a conservative offense that focused on ball control and play action, and a team where players knew what their roles were. If you have a club that has gotten sloppy and unfocused, but has talent, particularly on the two lines, well Coughlin may well be a good match.   Brian Schottenheimer (Memphis OC) The son of former USFL and NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer, Brian has made a name for himself as the king of the balanced attack. Memphis’s rise to prominence in the South over the past 2 years is as good a testament to that as anything. Schottenheimer believes in the run game, evident in Memphis’s ranking as the top rushing team in the league this year. We are not sure what kind of defense he would implement, but on offense it will be one that emphasizes run-pass balance. Sam Mills III (Michigan DC) Son of legendary USFL linebacker Sam Mills, the Michigan DC has risen quickly up the ranks as a coach after a short playing career in the NFL. He returned to the USFL with the Panthers and we have seen the result as Michigan has not only become one of the best defensive teams in the league, but also one of the hardest hitting. Mills will not reinvent defensive schemes, but what he does extremely well is create a simple scheme that is very effective because players know their roles and because they are motivated to make plays and play as a team. Swarming to the ball and using pressure effectively in key moments are Mills’s calling cards on defense. What he would look for in an OC and an offensive philosophy would likely rely on the same concepts, a simpler plan well-orchestrated and with players who know their roles well.   Five NFL Players Who May Be Hoping to Jump to Spring in 2021 Our second list for this week focuses on current NFL players who may be primed to switch leagues come February. These are all players who are either on one-year “prove yourself” deals, or who are primed for a move, either due to conflicts with current coaching, a break-out year that will demand a big pay raise, or simply an awkward fit with their current team. Now, of course, the odds are that many players who enter free agency with the NFL will stay in the fall, but with the USFL-NFL Transfer Window opening almost immediately after the NFL postseason, the USFL will be in position to snag a few talented players, as they often do in February. So, here are five players we know USFL GM’s are talking about.   QB Jameis Winston (Saints) Winston showed two things in his time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that he can sling the ball, putting up big yardage, but also that he has a bit of a tendency to be too careless with the ball, producing too many interceptions. If you are a coach who believes that with maturity and good coaching you can maximize the positive and minimize the bad decisions, then the arm talent is there and could be a big add for a team needing a QB. His 1-year deal with New Orleans is something of a wait-and-see situation, but by February we will know if Winston has found success and will be pushing for a multi-year deal.   QB Gardner Minshew (Jaguars) If ever there was an NFL quarterback who showed immediate USFL potential, it is Minshew. Not much was expected from the 6 th round pick of the NFL Jaguars, but when forced into action in 2019, what we got was a gunslinger who played with passion and showed he could make plays. His persona (complete with flowing mullet) and style of play feel much more at home in the USFL than in the more rigid and conservative NFL, and with the Jaguars still seeing him as a backup and not a regular starter, despite his success, we think he makes the jump if given a chance this February.   HB Chris Carson (Seahawks) The Oklahoma State product started slowly after joining the NFL Seahawks, but came on in his 2 nd  year, putting up 1,151 yards in 2018 and over 1,200 last season. He will be in a contract year after this season, and if he can again have a strong season, we think Carson will go into the market looking for a strong 2 nd  contract. With several USFL teams trying to upgrade their run game, we think Carson would be a target for a league swap and a nice setup in the spring.   OT Trent Williams (Redskins) Williams is an interesting case. He has spent his entire career with the NFL Redskins, but now seems ready to move on as the club shifts coaches again. A consensus All-American back in 2009 and a 3-time Pro-Bowler in the NFL, Williams is in a contract year and almost certainly is open to any deal that gives him a chance to finish his career on a potential contender, with a nice pay bump included, of course.   DE J. J. Watt (Texans) Injuries in recent years will likely diminish Watt’s negotiating power as his contract with the Texans expires this year. They will also be a concern for any USFL team hoping to make a move to land the once-dominant D-lineman. After racking up nearly 70 sacks in his first 5 seasons, Watt has missed a lot of games in the latter half of his current career, playing in only 3 games in 2015, 5 in 2017, and 8 last year, but, sandwiched in there was a 2018 season that saw him healthy for all 16 weeks and in which he racked up 14 sacks, so the talent is still very much still evident. And landing a talented edge rusher, even one who may miss a lot of games, is still a pretty tempting opportunity.   Five Breakout Stars from 2020 Who Deserve a Pay Day The 2020 USFL season saw more than its share of strong performances, including several players who stepped up their game and became stories this year. These breakout players are poised to move into a new tax bracket, demanding a new deal or an extension that recognizes their 2020 success and the potential for continued quality in the future.   QB Brett Hundley (SEA) Hundley signed with Seattle in 2019 after a pair of rough seasons in New Jersey that saw him dip from 15 starts to 8 in 2017 and being relegated to a backup role in 2018. What he showed this year is that he has the talent to start and to be a winner in the USFL, and that will demand a contract that befits a starter who took his team to the playoffs. A lot will depend on what Seattle decides to do with Jacoby Brissett. If they keep the oft-injured Brissett, then the money will be tighter, but if they find a taker for the QB, then Hundley likely gets himself a nice deal for 2021 and beyond.   HB Kerwyn Williams (NE) Williams had only 1 year left on his contract with Baltimore when the Steamrollers tabbed him in the expansion draft. He used his final year and his shift to New England about as well as a player could, jumping from 310 yards in 2018 to 934 with the expansion Steamrollers. While not a true bell-cow back (he does best when he is limited to 15-20 carries per game), Williams is still a very capable back, one who has never averaged fewer than 4 yards per carry. Expect him to seek a deal that recognizes his potential to be the primary back in a 2-back system, rather than a backup.   WR Devin Funchess (MEM) No player had a better 2020 than Devin Funchess. In Brian Schottenheimer’s offense, and with Paxton Lynch playing the best ball of his career, Funchess emerged from behind Robert Woods to become the preferred target for Lynch and a dangerous weapon for the Showboats. In his 2 nd  year he jumped from a solid 635-yard, 4-TD season as a rookie to a spectacular 1,547-yard, 10-TD season as a sophomore. He still has 2 more years on his rookie deal, but we think his agent will be making calls to the Showboat front office to make sure he gets his deal restructured well before the 2023 offseason.   DE Connor Barwin (DAL) After coming over from Chicago in a deal back in 2017, Barwin has been very solid for the Roughnecks, racking up 12, 8, and 10 sacks his first 3 years in Big D. This year, however, he bumped up his game, as did the Roughnecks as a team, landing 18 sacks to place himself among the league leaders. Now, part of that may be the newfound success of the Roughneck offense, forcing more teams to go to the pass early as they played catchup, but regardless of the reasons, any player who is closing in on 20 sacks per year is going to be looking for a deal that recognizes his game.   LB Uchena Nwosu (LA) The breakout star of LA’s dominant defense this year. Nwosu had himself a stellar 3 rd  year in the league. While he started 10 games last season, this year he became a true leader on the Express, racking up 85 tackles, 9 sacks, and a lot of big plays, the kind of plays that define a player as a “key” to a team’s success. With that status we expect him to get a payday, especially if the Express value defensive playmaking. Nwosu is likely to be voted a team captain in 2021, and with the Express still leaning so heavily on their defense, that will produce some pressure to pay him or risk losing him when his contract expires at the end of the 2021 season.   Conference Championship Weekend gives us two very different games. In the East we have a 6-seed that has perhaps more experience than any club in the conference winning big games going into a matchup with a 1-seed who have looked as dominant as anyone this season. The Bandits are an offensive juggernaut, but Houston has shown over several years that they can also put up points in a hurry, so this one could devolve into a shootout where the final possession is likely the key one.   In the West, it is a very different story. Michigan lives to play tough defense and run the ball. Arizona, once a high-flying offense with David Carr at the helm, is now forced to shorten games, use their own run game to grind out drives, and lean a lot more on their defense. Of course, the Wranglers have the game’s premier defensive player on their side in Calais Campbell, but he is going to be under a lot of pressure to shut down Michigan when they are in passing situations. Michigan hopes to use the run game to avoid those one-dimensional plays, and they have the player to do it in 4-time league rushing champion LeVeon Bell. Expect this one to be a lot lower scoring than in the East, and while it may also come down to the 4 th  quarter, we think it will be more about who can create takeaways and maximize opportunities to play on a short field.   2- Arizona Wranglers (12-4) @ 1- Michigan Panthers (14-2) Sunday, Sept. 27 @ 3pm ET NRG Stadium, Houston, TX Michigan -8   6- Houston Gamblers (10-6) @ 1- Tampa Bay Bandits (15-1) Sunday, Sept. 27 @ 8pm ET Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL Tampa Bay -7

What a week of football! We had fans in the stands, max capacity in all 4 games despite the USFL playoffs matching up with the NFL opening weekend. We also had 4 games each decided by 6 points or less, including two lower seeds getting the “road” win against the higher seeded club. We had 300-yard passers, 100-yard rushers, big defensive stops, and one final drive to victory. It was pretty much what every football fan wants, real playoff football. Sure, it would have been nice to see 60,000 at each game instead of 15,000-19,000, but it still was great to see fans in the stands and hear the cheers as teams made plays.   Of course, it was also the first week of the offseason for 18 of the league’s 30 clubs, and we have news there, with a wave of free agents now in that odd limbo when their prior contracts are completed but they are not yet allowed to negotiate with anyone but their “current” club. We also have the first offseason retirement announcements, including some big names. We will start there, with the players waving goodbye to the game, then on to the week’s playoff action, and we will look at the best of the free agent pool before we preview the 4 games that will make up the Divisional Round in just 4 days.   Two Bell Cow Backs and a Bevvy of Defenders Say Goodbye to Pro Football It has become almost a tradition of the game, just one we have not come up with a name for. The week between the final regular season games and the Wild Card playoffs is known for Black Monday, but perhaps we need a name for the whole week as a time when so many USFL stars announce their departure from the game, a week of retirements. Should we call it “Walk Away Week”? Gold Watch Week? (That’s a tradition many Millennials and younger do not know about) or just “The Big Goodbye”.   Regardless of what we call it, the wave of retirement announcements, some in front of the press, some simply announced by the club online or even just to league sources, is a bittersweet period where many fans see their favorite players step away from the game. In 2020, just this past week, that tough moment came for two of the league’s biggest personalities and two of its best tailbacks. New Jersey’s Maurice Jones-Drew, off yet another season over 1,200 yards but once again just shy of LeVeon Bell’s lead, announced that he would not return for the 2021 season. He was joined a day later by San Antonio Gunslinger back Marshawn Lynch, stepping away at the very ripe age of 36.  Maurice Jones-Drew , often called either MJD or, somewhat comically, “Pocket Hercules”, leaves the game very much at full strength. His 1,349 yards this season marks his second highest season total of a long and illustrious career, topped only by 1,408 in 2018. At age 34, MJD has demonstrated incredible longevity and consistency. An almost certain first ballot Hall of Famer, Jones-Drew retires after 15 years of tough inside runs. He amassed nearly 16,000 yards (15,490) on the ground, and another 3,949 in the air, with a career total of 116 touchdowns. A 5-time All-USFL nominee, it is clear that MJD could play longer, but his body has certainly earned a rest, and his place in both league and club history are certainly secured.  Marshawn Lynch , known as “Beast Mode” for his punishing style and the ability to rampage over and through defenders, leaves the game after 14 USFL seasons, split between the Thunder (2007-2014) and the Outlaws (2015-2019), with one final year returning to San Antonio as part of the Outlaw-Gunslinger roster agreement. He finished his career with only three 1,000-yard seasons, but with a career total of 13,618 yards, scoring 93 touchdowns along the way. Known as much for his unique personality and hilarious turns of phrase, Lynch was almost more well known for his commercials and endorsement deals as for his play on the field, but any defender who ever tried to tackle Beast Mode will tell you that when it came to the on-the-field credentials, no one was a tougher tackle than Marshawn Lynch.   The two backs, while perhaps the best known to casual fans, were not the only big names among USFL players to announce that 2020 was their last season stepping onto the gridiron for battle. Other notable departures include a serious lineup of defenders, including Ohio LB Daniel Ellerbe , New Jersey LB Rey Maualaga , Oklahoma’s venerable DT Luis Castillo , Philadelphia edge rusher Anthony Hargrove , Pittsburgh DE Dwight Freeney , and San Diego MLB A. J. Hawk . That is a pretty good group of defenders that will no longer be concerns for USFL offensive coordinators.   Fans of the Arizona Wranglers also got a huge announcement this week, but not one noting a retirement, quite the opposite. Wrangler QB David Carr appeared at practice this week, watching from the sideline, and then spoke with the press, saying exactly what all of Wrangler Nation wanted to hear, that he is working on rehab and that his goal is to be the starting QB of the Arizona Wranglers when the 2021 season kicks off in March. That possibility was very much in doubt after Carr suffered a season-ending injury in Week 13’s matchup with Oakland. His arm was still in a soft sling, but Carr made it clear that he had every intention of being ready for voluntary camp in January and the full training camp in February. The Wranglers may still be in the market for a young QB to become Carr’s protégé, but the news this week means that they are not looking for someone to come in and start the 2021 Season, at least not if David Carr has a say in it.   DALLAS ROUGHNECKS 20  CHICAGO MACHINE 24 If you love a good back-and-forth game between two evenly matched teams, well, we hope you caught this one, because it was a classic tug-of-war game from the opening kickoff until the final whistle. Chicago, led by QB Sam Bradford and one of the league’s stingiest defenses, faced off against the likely Rookie of the Year, QB Justin Herbert, and a dynamic Dallas passing game that saw former NFL “wash out” Sammy Watkins become the league’s 2 nd  leading receiver in 2020.   The game saw 7 lead changes, beginning with Chicago’s first quarter field goal and ending with the game winning touchdown with only 62 ticks of the clock left. In between the two, we saw both quarterbacks make big plays as the defenses made the run game a true slog inside the dome at NRG Stadium. Justin Herbert would survive 7 sacks to throw for 293 yards and 2 scores while Sam Bradford went 24 of 35 to throw for 259 and 3 scores. With scoring in every quarter and a constant back-and-forth on the scoreboard, this was an edge-of-your-seat game throughout.   Chicago had the only points of the first quarter as both clubs, having played in 2 different hubs all season, probed and tested each other’s defenses in a slow-paced opening period. The Machine got a 39-yard field goal from Daniel Carlson, but after 1 it was very much still a very tenuous and cautious attack for both teams. That would change in the 2 nd quarter, with Dallas taking the first big shot, a nicely executed flea-flicker that found Chicago overly committed to stopping the run, leaving Pharoh Brown open for a 43-yard completion down to the Machine 12-yard line. Two plays later, Herbert escaped immediate pressure, found Courtland Sutton coming across the formation and hit the young receiver for the first TD of the game, flipping the leaderboard to show Dallas up 7-3.   Chicago responded with a 4-minute, 9-play drive that saw HB Jeremy Hill touch the ball only 2 times, while Sam Bradford went 5 of 6 throwing, with his final pass of the drive a 3-yard TD toss to veteran Michael Floyd. Again the scoreboard flipped, Chicago up 10-7 with 6:33 left in the quarter. That was more than enough time for the Roughnecks to flip the leaders once again, this time with Herbert finding his favorite target on a beautiful deep ball. After suffering a sack on 2 nd  and 8, the Roughnecks faced a 3 rd  and 13. Chicago again brought pressure, but a nice chip block by HB DeVonte Freeman allowed Herbert the time he needed to find Sammy Watkins outside the hashmarks. Watkins caught the ball in stride and cornerback Jordan Poyer simply could not catch up. Micah Hyde took too shallow an angle, and Watkins coasted to the endzone for the 69-yard scoring play. Flip again, Dallas up 14-10, a score that would last into the half.   The third quarter continued the back-and-forth pacing. Chicago put together a long drive that ended with Bradford finding TE Troy Niklas on a nice play-fake toss for the 1-yard score. Chicago with the 17-14 lead. Dallas came back later in the quarter, nearly taking the lead again on a 24-yard TD pass, but the play was called back by a holding call, forcing Dallas to settle for a Catanzaro field goal to even the score at 17 apiece.   In the 4 th , Dallas added a second Catanzaro field goal, this time from 35-yards out, to retake the lead 20-17. They kicked the ball back to Chicago with just over 5 minutes of game clock left, knowing that it was more than enough time for the Machine to pose a threat to their slim lead. Chicago took over possession with two intentions, score on the drive, and use as much time as they could. They succeeded on both counts. Marion Mack was used to piledrive the ball on first down, and while his game average of 2.8 yards was not exactly record-breaking, on the final Machine drive he had 5 runs for 21 yards, a nice 4 yard average. That freed up 2 nd and 3 rd  downs, a mix of runs from Jeremy Hill and short passes from Bradford. With 1:44 left on the clock, the Machine had worked their way into the red zone and were knocking on the door. At the 1:02 mark, they hit paydirt with a quick screen to Jeremy Hill. With blockers in front, Hill wound his way the final 10 yards to the endzone and put Chicago up once again, 24-20 with only 62 seconds left to play.   The 4-point margin was huge, as it meant Dallas would need a touchdown, and with barely one minute of clock left and only 1 timeout left, it was a tall order against a Chicago defense very adept at avoiding big plays. Chicago used a shell zone, primarily in nickel coverage and rushing only 3. It was effective against Herbert, who simply could not find open receivers beyond the first 5 yards. He settled for a couple of drop downs, then took a bad sack on 3 rd  and 3, forcing a 4 th  down. Dallas converted, but in order to do so they had to throw to the middle of the field, and that cost them 12 seconds as they set up for a spike. The Roughnecks simply ran out of time trying to get into scoring range. A final play, an attempt at a hook & ladder, failed when the initial pitch from receiver Tim Wright did not find a Roughneck, but a Machine defender. Chicago claimed the ball and the win, ready to move on and face a familiar foe, the Michigan Panthers, in the Divisional Round.   HOUSTON GAMBLERS 30  BALTIMORE BLITZ 27 While technically an upset, since Houston was the 6 seed and Baltimore the 3, many saw Houston as the better team in this matchup, not just because their 10-6 record was a game better than Baltimore’s 9-7 mark, but also because Houston had a rich playoff pedigree from the past few years of deep runs and Summer Bowl appearances. Las Vegas had the game as even, but much of the money on this game still went to the Gamblers, and in the end they proved those bets to be good ones.   Unlike the Dallas-Chicago game, the showdown between the Gamblers and Blitz was not a back and forth affair. Baltimore put up the first 7 points on a locker to Pittman TD on their opening drive, but it was quickly equaled when Colt McCoy hit Mike Evans for a score on Houston’s first possession. When Baltimore punted on their next possession, Houston used a short field to take their first lead of the game, a lead they would never relinquish. McCoy hit HB Carlos Hyde on a nice swing route and Hyde did the rest, rambling for a 31-yard TD that gave Houston a 14-7 advantage as the first quarter wound down.   Baltimore kept the game close throughout, but with Houston always staying a step ahead. From 14-7 to 17-7, then a Josh Jacobs TD run to narrow the lead to 17-14, only for Houston to score again, with Hyde running over FS Antoine Brooks to score from 16 yards out to make it 24-14, the score we would have at the half. In the second half, Baltimore fought back, scoring the only points of the 3 rd  quarter, but both scoring drives ended up as field goals, which meant that the Blitz could only narrow the lead to 24-20. Houston responded in the 4 th  with two field goal drives of their own, pushing the lead back up to 10 at 30-20. With only 4:37 left to play, Baltimore would need two quick scores to tie or to take the win.   The Blitz were efficient in their final drive, but also too slow to make a 2 nd  scoring drive possible. They got the touchdown they needed, but Houston’s defense had managed to force them to use nearly all of the 4 minutes they had before Brian Hartline scored the final points of the game. A failed onside kick followed and Houston was able to end the game and the Blitz threat with a pair of kneel downs. Despite a solid 106 yards from Josh Jacobs, Baltimore’s plan to shorten the game and provide Houston with fewer possessions had failed. Colt McCoy had found holes in the Blitz secondary, completing 15 of 25 passes for 329 yards, including some deep connections to JuJu Smith-Schuster (43 yards), Mike Evans (also 43 yards) and Josh Reynolds (23 yards), while Carlos Hyde had 3 receptions for 92 yards and scored by land and through the air. The Gamblers were calm, committed, and confident the entire game, something that speaks to their history of playoff football and their experience in tough knockout games. When Saturday night’s game wrapped up, the Gamblers were moving on, set to face a Memphis in what would be the 2 nd intra-divisional matchup of the 2020 Playoffs’ second round.   SEATTLE DRAGONS 23  LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 20 We had a divisional matchup in the Wild Card round as well. The only matchup where neither team had to leave their familiar hub as the Express hosted the Dragons in Las Vegas’s Wynn Arena. The crowd, reduced as it was, still looked very much like an Express home game, with many Los Angelinos making the drive to Sin City to see their club in person. But it was the small but vocal Dragon Clan contingent that came away the big winners in Las Vegas as Seattle would pull off the upset and move on to face Arizona in next week’s Divisional Game.   The Dragons did it in dramatic fashion, coming back from a 20-13 fourth quarter deficit in the game’s final 5 minutes. All game they had used a balanced attack to keep the Express defense from overcommitting to the pass rush. Knowshon Moreno, the league’s 4 th leading rusher, with 1,240 yards on the season, did not find a lot of room against the Express’s top rated run defense, but the regular use of the run game kept LA from loading up on QB Brett Hundley. The elusive Hundley would go through the entire game without a sack recorded against him, though certainly there were some tough hits taken. And while the 27 run plays by Seattle only garnered 95 yards, Hundley’s 56 pass attempts produced 35 completions and 353 yards, including TD tosses to Marshall Newhouse and TE Kyle Rudolph.   For their part, the LA offense played well, particularly in the first half. Kyler Murray went 12 of 15 in the first half, completing TD tosses to Eric Weems (10 yards in the 1 st  quarter) and Jason Whitten (a nice 40-yard catch and run in the 2 nd ). At the half, those scores gave LA a 17-10 lead over the Dragons, despite the Hundley connection with Rudolph right before the half.   In the second half, LA struggled against the adjusted Seattle defense. Murray would only complete 5 more passes (5 of 15) as Seattle switched to more shallow zones and tight man coverages, rushing 4, and sometimes only 3 for most of the half. While this gave Reggie Bush a bit more room, with 68 of his 82 total yards coming in the 2 nd  half, it did not add much to the scoreboard, with LA managing only a lone field goal in the 2 nd  half. That field goal gave them a tight 7-point lead, 20-13, with 12:37 left to play. But it would prove not enough against a persistent Dragon squad.   Seattle pulled the game within 4 with a Jeffrey Harris field goal at the 3:58 mark, but that would still require a touchdown to win. Both the defense and the Dragon offense would need to succeed in the game’s final minutes if Seattle was going to pull this one out. The defense was up first, and they did what was asked of them, holding LA to a 3-and-out after CB Richard Sherman delivered a perfectly timed hit on “Hollywood” Brown just as the ball reached his hands. The failed 3 rd  down throw forced LA to punt. Seattle got the ball back on offense with 2:27 left to play, 72 yards to go, two time outs and the 2-minute warning.   The Dragons were focused and fully expecting pressure from the Express. Coach Riley left in either HB Gus Edwards or TE Kyle Rudolph on every pass play of the drive, effectively slowing the blitzing Express linebackers and giving Hundley time to find Amari Cooper, Marshall Newhouse, and Dante Pettis on consecutive 3 rd  down throws to bring the ball into LA territory. After a draw to Wendell Smallwood brought the ball to the LA 23, the Express set up to cover against a shallow throw to the outside, but that is not what they got. Instead, Marshall Newhouse used an out & up, with a nice shoulder fake by Hundley, to cause CB Jamar Taylor to fall 2 steps behind the speedy receiver. By the time safety Rahim Moore got over to Newhouse, he had the ball, the momentum, and the ability to lean into the tackle, staying in bounds as he dove over the goalline and in for 6.   Seattle had taken the lead with 46 seconds to spare, but that meant that LA had time to get into field goal range if they could. Receiving the ball on the 25 after a touchback, LA’s first play from scrimmage seemed promising. Kyler Murray found Eric Weems for 13 yards and a first down as the LA drive opened, but the next play would prove LA’s undoing. Murray was pressured in the pocket, tried to slip a pass to Jason Whitten, but DE Deshon Hall got his big lineman paws up in the air, tipped the ball almost straight up, and, alert to the play from his zone coverage, CB Chidobe Awuzie executed the tip drill perfectly, coming down with the ball and the Dragon win. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 28  ATLANTA FIRE 34 The final game of the weekend was perhaps the most anticipated, with 11-5 New Orleans and their league-leading passing game going up against Atlanta and their league-best 30.2 points per game. It was expected to be a shootout, with a lot of attention paid to the passing game of both teams, and pretty much that is what it turned out to be.   Geno Smith would win the duel of quarterbacks, accounting for all 4 New Orleans touchdowns and outgaining Aaron Murray 301-175 through the air, but while New Orleans won the air war, it was Atlanta that dominated on the ground, and taking advantage early to build a 14-0 lead that New Orleans would tie at 21, but would never surpass. The Fire ground out 215 yards on the ground, with Nick Chubb going for 109 on 22 carries (a 5.0 YPC average) while Kenyan Drake made big play after big play, racking up 90 yards on only 9 carries (yup, that is 10 yards per carry). That ground dominance allowed Atlanta to limit opportunities for New Orleans and stay ahead for nearly the entire game.   The Fire strategy became apparent on the opening drive of the second quarter. After an opening period that saw both clubs feeling each other out, Atlanta put together a drive that saw them call 8 run plays to only 2 passes, though one of those passes was the scoring play, with Murray finding TE Vance McDonald out of a goalline formation on the 1. After a quick drive by New Orleans ended after only 5 plays, Atlanta again took to the ground, this time with a more even mix of rushes and play action passes, and this drive also ended with a red zone score as Nick Chubb pounded the ball in from the 4 to give the Fire a 14-0 lead with only 8 minutes of gametime elapsed.   But, to their credit, New Orleans did not panic. On their 2 nd  possession of the quarter they took the ball 68 yards in 9 plays, halving the Atlanta advantage when Geno Smith found Curtis Nelson from the slot, the receiver slicing inside of his defender to score from 6 yards out. Now down only 1 score, the Breakers appeared ready to get right back into the game, but that would require they find a way to stop the Fire ground game.   For most of Atlanta’s next drive, the Breakers were able to hold Nick Chubb and Kenyan Drake in check, but on a 3 rd and 2, Drake found a gap, burst through the line and raced for 27 yards. That was a backbreaker. Two plays later, Atlanta caught New Orleans napping, with Murray handing the ball to fullback Reggie Gilliam. The rookie fullback had a clear path in front of him as the linebacker overreacted to the fake to Chubb and rumbled 12 yards to paydirt to put Atlanta back up by 14. With 28 points scored in the first half, we all knew this game was far from over.   The second half opened with New Orleans in possession, and they did what they so often do, start with a bang. The first play of the half was a fake to Myles Gaskin, a rollout to the right, and a beautiful throw from Smith to Justin Jefferson for 19 yards. It would be his only catch of the game in a surprising strategy that saw Smith throw 10 passes to his tight ends, 6 to his slot receivers, 5 to halfback DeMarco Murray, and only twice in Jefferson’s direction. But, after his lone catch, Jefferson played decoy as Smith looked off the safety and then found Jordy Nelson for a touchdown to bring New Orleans back to within 7 at 21-14. They would then get their chance to wipe out the deficit altogether.   In what was truly his only bad throw of the game, Aaron Murray misread the coverage on the next Atlanta possession, thinking the linebacker had followed TE O. J. Howard, he did not see him drifting towards WR Kelvin Benjamin. Murray’s throw to Benjamin found LB Deion Jones dropped into coverage instead. The OLB tipped the ball with one hand, followed it with his eyes, and snagged the pass before Benjamin could react, giving New Orleans the perfect opportunity to even the score as they took over on the Atlanta 48.   It would take New Orleans only 2 plays to make Atlanta pay for Murray’s mistake. After a short run by Murray, Smith returned to Murray on a screen, and Atlanta was simply out of position. With blockers out in front, including a devastating block by WR Jordy Nelson, Murray rumbled his way to paydirt with the equalizing score. 21-21 with 10:31 left in the quarter.   To their credit, Atlanta did not panic. After a pair of short drives by both teams led to nothing, the Fire felt back in control, put together a nice 10-play drive, and added a short field goal from John Bounds to put them back on top 24-21. It was clearly not enough, but it was again a lead, and the Fire could feel their legs back under themselves. That feeling grew into full-blown confidence after New Orleans got backed up by a holding call and failed on a 3 rd  and 17 play. With the ball back, they returned to their early strategy, mixing play action with slashing runs to move the ball down the field against the Breaker defense. Their drive carried into the 4 th  quarter, and with 11:50 left on the clock, they expanded their lead to 10 points when Murray found his tight end for a second time. It seems New Orleans was ready to deal with O. J. Howard, but had no plan to account for Vance McDonald, which is odd, considering McDonald had 45 receptions in the regular season, only 24 behind Howard.   Down 10 with just over 11 minutes to play, New Orleans had time and opportunity to come back. They would show a bit of urgency on their first drive, and again would be hurt by a penalty, an illegal motion call cancelling out a 30-yard pitch and catch to Nelson. Forced to punt, they would not get the ball back until the 4-minute mark of the game. Needing 2 scores, the Breakers moved fast, marching 71 yards in only 7 plays, thanks in large part to a 25-yard pitch and catch between Smith and Tyler Lockett. Two plays later, it was Smith to TE Coby Fleener and the Breakers were within 3 with only 1:56 left to play. Hold Atlanta, get the ball back, and they could tie or win this one.   But there is the rub, you have to get the ball back. Atlanta essentially played keep away. An outside run here, a dive over the guard there, a short toss to Howard for a first down. The Fire were killing clock, forcing New Orleans to use their time outs, and when LB Kwon Alexander got called for a late hit out of bounds on Kenyan Drake, it put Atlanta into field goal range. 4 plays later, they would put up 3 more on a John Bounds kick, creating a 6-point deficit with only 39 seconds left, forcing New Orleans to go for a touchdown.   The final 39 seconds were tense, but in the end, Atlanta held, forcing Smith to go for a Hail Mary from his own 45. The ball reached the Atlanta 15, but was swatted down, ending the game and sending the Fire on to the Divisional Round, ready to face the team they had battled for first place in the Southeast all season, the 15-1 Tampa Bay Bandits.   Divisional Rivals to Clash in Divisional Round What more could we ask for? Three of the four Divisional Round games will feature teams facing divisional rivals. We get Houston and Memphis from the Southern Division, where the two split the series in the regular season. We have Chicago battling Michigan for a 3 rd time after splitting their series. And we have Atlanta facing Tampa Bay, who swept the season series, including a decisive Week 15 victory that gave Tampa Bay the division title. The fourth game will feature upstart Seattle going up against a clearly weakened Arizona squad that backed into the playoffs, losing their final 4 games after David Carr was lost to injury.   The matchups also mean that all 4 games feature teams playing within their hubs, no cross-hub travel needed, so Seattle and Arizona can hunker down in Phoenix. Atlanta and Tampa Bay are back to their season-long hotels in Central Florida, and Michigan, Chicago, Houston, and Memphis are all back in Houston, Texas preparing for their games. Expect a lot of ticket scalping for that Houston/Memphis game with the Gamblers playing in their home city. Arizona and Seattle will take place in Las Vegas, so not quite the same advantage for the Wranglers, while Tampa Bay should get a good crowd, but with a good Atlanta contingent as well making the trip to Orlando.   Wranglers Feeling Disrespected by Vegas The Wranglers may be preparing to face the Seattle Dragons in Las Vegas this week, but they are not at all happy with the city and its famous sports books. It really is about the books, not the city itself. It appears that with a lot of fans, particularly fans with a gambling interest, the 0-4 finish to Arizona’s season has shattered all confidence in the Wranglers. Each of the 4 major sports books in Las Vegas have the matchup as either an even bet or with Seattle getting a slight advantage. Our official line, provided by Wynn Sports Book, has Seattle as a one point favorite, despite being the 6 seed facing the 2 nd  seeded Wranglers.   Maybe it is bulletin board inspiration, maybe a motivator for the Wranglers, but the reality is that it is also a sign that the Wranglers are just not the same team without David Carr. Prior to his injury, Arizona was 12-0, after it, 0-4. Not exactly tough tea leaves to read. The Wrangler offense managed only 44 points in the three games started by Brandon Allen, and the word out of Wrangler camp is that they are going to start Tom Savage, not Allen against Seattle. Not sure who Tom Savage is. We get that. He is a 6-year USFL veteran who has thrown a grand total of 65 passes in that 6 year span. He has never started a game in the league, with his last start being a Little Caesar’s Bowl win for Pitt over Bowling Green. Yup, Pitt v. Bowling Green, and the Wranglers wonder why the betting world does not feel the love.   Five Players to Watch in the Divisional Round Sure, there are plenty of stars on the 8 teams who will face off this week, but sometimes it is not the biggest names on the team that have the biggest impact. Of course we expect Dak Prescott, LeVeon Bell, Calais Campbell, and Devin Funchess to have some big plays and possible a big impact this weekend, but it is often the unheralded players who turn the tide of the game. We polled our USFL bullpen and came up with 5 lesser-known players who could have a big impact in the Divisionals. Here are our picks for players to watch.   TE Vance McDonald (ATL) We already saw the impact McDonald can have when a defense overloads against O. J. Howard. Two touchdowns for Atlanta in their win over the Breakers, and we think Tampa Bay could be vulnerable in the middle, so could McDonald be a major target for Aaron Murray again?   HB Marion Mack (CHI) We all know that LeVeon Bell is the back to watch in the Chicago-Michigan game, and even on the Machine it is Jeremy Hill who gets most of the carries and tends to be the chain-mover, but Mack is a big back with good power, just the kind of back you need to earn those tough 3 rd  and 2 conversions and keep the ball out of Bell’s hands. If Chicago wants to win this game, they will need to control the clock, keep the chains moving, and earn those third down conversions, so keep an eye on Mack as a bulldozer on short yardage.   WR Donavan Peoples-Jones (MGN) After the injury to Calvin Ridley, we kept waiting for someone to step up and become the clear number two option behind Cody Latimer. We saw a lot of passes headed to TE Martellus Bennett and to Bell at haldback, but between Kevin Kraft, K. J. Hill and Donavan Peoples-Jones, no one really stood out. Now is as good a time as any for one of them to become a star, and we think that if any one has the ability to jump into the limelight it is DPJ.   DE Bud DuPree (ARZ) Whoever is the RE opposite Calais Campbell is always going to be a bit undervalued, just ask Arthur Moats in Orlando. That guy in Arizona is Bud DuPree. And while Campbell racked up his 12 th  straight sack title this year, DuPree was no slouch, adding 16 sacks of his own, good enough for 12 th  in the league. If the Dragons overload Campbell, then DuPree may get a chance to shine, especially with Hundley’s tendency to roll to his right, directly into DuPree’s path.   SS Jordan Richards (MEM) Safeties rarely get the kudos they deserve, especially if they are not big hitters like Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu. Jordan Richards is a very talented safety, racking up 54 tackles this year, but few outside of Memphis likely know his name. Against Houston his job will be to ensure that neither Mike Evans nor JuJu Smith-Schuster get over the top or behind the coverage. If he is successful, you will almost certainly hear his name, and, sadly, if he is unsuccessful, you might hear it more.   A couple of injuries of note, particularly on defense as we prepare for this week’s games. Chicago will be a man short on the D-line with Eddie Goldman listed as doubtful. Not what you want when facing LeVeon Bell. In the Fire-Bandits game, we have our only Covid-based absence as CB Ken Webster of the Bandits is unable to suit up after testing positive. If A. J. Green is able to play (he is probable), then Tampa Bay may have a coverage concern. Safety Kenny Vaccaro is still not ready to return to action for Houston, which could be a boon for Robert Woods and Devin Funchess as Memphis will test his replacement to be sure. Finally, while there are no new injuries in the Seattle-Arizona game, the one injury on everyone’s mind is David Carr’s, because this game seems to entirely hinge on whether or not the Wranglers found a way to get production from 3 rd  stringer Tom Savage during their bye week.   CHI:       G V. Ducasse (Out), DT E. Goldman (D), CB J. Poyer (P) MGN:    WR C. Ridley (Out), OT D. Dotson (D), DT R. Lawrence (P)   ATL:        CB S. Griffin (P), WR A. J. Green (P) TBY:        CB K. Webster (Covid), DT B. Cowart (P)   HOU:     QB L. Jones (Out), DT N. Fairley (Out), G. J. Asamoah (D), SS K. Vaccaro (D) MEM:     C P. Blake (Covid), TE L. Ritter (Covid), CB M. Williams (D)   SEA:       CB D. Truffant (Out), OT E. Fisher (Out), QB J. Brissett (Out) ARZ:       WR V. Cruz (Out), QB D. Carr (Out), G. C. Levin (Out)     Eight Players to Pine For in the Early Free Agent Pool With 18 of 30 teams officially done for the season last week, more than 100 contracts are now completed and that means free agents aplenty enter the pool. Now, we all know that teams do have the next 3 weeks to attempt to resign their unsigned players, but very often the reason a player has reached the end of their deal without either an extension or a new deal is because one of the two parties is convinced that it is time for the player to move on. In some cases it is the team hoping to upgrade or just move in a different direction, in others it is the player (and their agent) trying to get a big payday or find a better situation. Whatever the cause, this time of year is when fans get a look at who may well be available and can start debating which free agents could have a positive impact on their team. We went through the initial list of players out of contract status, and we think we have found 8 players who should be the belles of the ball, very popular, very in demand, and very much wooed when the official free agent period begins after Summer Bowl 2020. Here is our list of 8 players you should hope your team is pining for.   HB Eddie Lacey (STL) At only 27 years old, Lacey already has five 1,000-yard seasons under his belt. Yes, he is coming off a season-ending injury, but his recovery is proceeding well and we think there are more than a handful of teams that will be chomping at the bit to get a reliable producer into their backfield.   OT Russell Okong (CHA) As rare as a 1,000-yard rusher is in free agency, a true starting left tackle may be even harder to find. Okong has been talking with the Monarchs for the better part of a year and they don’t seem any closer to a deal, so we may well have a legit bookend tackle available for teams to woo.   HB Kerwynn Williams (NE) After several 600-yard seasons in Baltimore, the Blitz let Williams go in the Expansion Draft and New England jumped at the chance. They gave Williams more touches and he produced for them, providing 934 yards and a 4.1 YPC average. For a back who has never averaged fewer than 4 yards per carry in any season, Williams came cheaply to New England, but is now looking for a payday after a career best season. He will turn 30 this offseason, which may deter some, but with more and more backs having success in their early 30’s, we think there will be a market.   DE Vic Beasley (NJ) Another rarity in free agency is the edge rusher who averages over 10 sacks per year. Beasley has dipped a bit since his 2017 high of 19 sacks, but 13 last year and 12 this season is still pretty solid. As long as he is not delusional, demanding Calais Campbell money, he should find a pretty good deal, something in the range of a 3-year deal for $10-12M.   WR Marques Colston (SD) The disappointing 2020 campaign for the Thunder was also individually disappointing for Colston, who recorded his first sub-1,000-yard season since 2010. That was a 9-season run of production that simply fell off a cliff this year. Not only that, but his yards per catch dipped from 19.2 in 2019 to only 11.7 this year. So, what scouts and GMs want to know is if this is just a failure of the system in San Diego, or has Colston lost enough speed at age 35 that he is no longer an effective target?   CB Eric Wright (OAK) With 13 picks over the past 3 seasons, Wright is still one of the most reliable corners in the game. He may not be a true shutdown corner at this point in his career, but he can still be effective in both man and zone coverages. We expect that teams will pitch a lot of 1 year deals to him, and we think he will stick it out hoping for a multi-year deal with some guaranteed money.   WR Stevie Johnson (STL) Another member of the Skyhawks ready to move on after yet another bad year. Unlike Lacey, Stevie Johnson was on the field most of the season, but with a per-catch average of only 10.1 yards and a season total of only 654 yards, the flamboyant receiver certainly wants to find himself in a more dynamic system, one that can get him back into the ranks of the 1,000-yard club.   LB Alec Ogletree (WSH) At only 31, and with only 7 years in the league, Ogletree should be in a good position to land a 3-4 year deal. He can play outside in a 4-3, or inside in a 3-4, so he has some flexibility as to where he looks and what kind of system he joins. He is not a big ego guy, and while he is not the fastest linebacker in the league, nor the biggest hitter, he has a solid track record of making plays and knowing his role, and that is what coaches like to see.   Without an NFL-USFL Transfer Window until January, Will Agents Hold Off on Making Deals? That is the question of the offseason. Players that want to max out their earning potential would be wise to wait as long as they can, get the NFL into the mix, and use the two leagues to raise their value. Of course, that is easier said than done and many players cannot live with several months of uncertainty. Surely there will be some who see a good deal early and sign before we reach the holidays, but with the only NFL-USFL window this year coming in January, those who can hold on and wait out the offers could benefit from their patience.   Of course, we should also expect the teams and their player personnel teams to try to counter that impulse. Will that mean some big offers will be made early to try to avoid the competition? Very possibly. We could also see some counter-messaging, reminding players that once NFL talent hits the pool of available free agents, the chance that a team fills a key position by poaching someone from the NFL rather than acquiescing to a high salary demand from a USFL player is pretty significant. So, it is essentially a game of chicken between USFL management and the players trying to find the best deal possible. But is it ever really anything different?   Three Trades We Want to See, Even if The GMs Don’t It may be a bit early to start talking about trades, but we could not help ourselves. Once the regular season ends, some of our team just switches fully to offseason mode and that means imagining possibilities. So hard to predict, but fun to imagine, trade scenarios are a big talking point in the offseason, so we thought we would get a head start on it by providing you with 3 trades we think would make a lot of sense, even if the teams involved don’t agree.   QB Jacoby Brissett (Seattle to Philadelphia) for C Corey Linsley The Dragons are clearly going to stick with Brett Hundley after the season he has had, and he very likely will be asking for a new deal, a much more expensive deal. We know that very few teams can afford to hold onto two QBs with starter salaries, and if Seattle wants to avoid anything looking like a QB competition, then the best option is to find a taker for Jacoby Brissett.   Even with his recent injury issues, Brissett is a solid starter and has put up some very good games. He should be in a position to start with a new team, and the team that makes sense is Philadelphia. They clearly want to move on after a couple of rough years with Matt Gutierrez, and we don’t think anyone in the Stars’ organization is going to be pushing hard for Ryan Lindley to get the starting gig. With no QB prospect in the T-Draft for the Stars, and with a trade to get a high-profile rookie likely an expensive proposition, we think the Stars are the ideal candidate to take on Brissett, even if only as a bridge until they can find a young talent. He would provide them solid performance at the position and the ability to spend money elsewhere to improve the D and the receiver group. In return, Philadelphia’s depth on the O-line provides a nice opportunity for Seattle to put more protection in front of Hundley and to give Knowshon Moreno another quality blocker. It’s a win-win.   HB Ryan Williams (San Diego to Jacksonville) for TE Taysom Hill & Some Picks The Thunder need a reboot, plain and simple, and while Ryan Williams scrapped together enough solid games this year to reach 1,000 yards (1,014 to be exact), he is not happy, the team is not feeling the love either, and the best option is to use Williams to get more draft capital and perhaps a playmaker at a lower cost position. Tight End is that position, and we think Taysom Hill is the logical choice. The Bulls want a bell cow back, they have good depth at TE, and they are going to retain Gavin Escobar as the starter, so for a few mid-round picks and their 2 nd  TE they can bring in a solid 1,000-yard rusher. Yes, that seems a shrewd deal and it helps quiet the locker room grumblings in San Diego.   Charlotte & Las Vegas Swapping T-Draft Picks We have only seen this happen a couple of times, but it just makes sense. You have one team (Charlotte) that needs a QB but does not have one coming out this year from one of their territorial schools. You have another team that has a QB they like (Las Vegas and Matt McGloin) but has lots of other needs, one of which is a tailback who can carry 300 times in a season. So, why not swap picks. Charlotte could use Las Vegas’s rights to BYU to select Zach Wilson, a QB in the mold of Trubisky and Boller, but perhaps without the turnover issues, and Las Vegas can nab UNC halfback Javonte Williams, helping them finally build a respectable run game. Another solid trade where both teams get what they want and need, without giving up a whole lot.   Divisional Weekend is only a few days away. Here are the games on tap Saturday and Sunday, and we can only hope that all 4 are as tight and as exciting as our 4 Wild Card games were.   4- Chicago Machine (11-5) @ 1- Michigan Panthers (14-2) Saturday, Sept. 19 @ 3pm ET NRG Stadium, Houston, TX Michigan -8   These two know each other about as well as any 2 clubs in the league, battling twice a year ever since 1987. Michigan has the advantage with LeVeon Bell, but Chicago’s defense has been coming on in the season’s 2 nd  half. The two met in the season finale, but neither team was giving it their all, since both were pretty well locked into their playoff positions. We think we will see a much more intense game this time around.   4- Atlanta Fire (13-3) @ 1- Tampa Bay Bandits (15-1) Saturday, Sept. 19 @ 8pm ET Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL Tampa Bay -4   The Week 15 matchup of these two was a classic, with both clubs trading huge blows back and forth. We expected a shootout but got a much closer and much lower-scoring battle with the defenses proving better than expected. Could that change this time around? These are two teams with a lot of weapons and we just cannot help but think that the dam could give and the flood water of points could come rolling down.   6- Seattle Dragons (10-6) @ 2- Arizona Wranglers (12-4) Sunday, Sept. 20 @ 3pm ET Wynn Arena, Las Vegas, NV Seattle -1   The first quarter of this game is going to give us the picture. Either Arizona has figured out a way to rebuild an offense around Carey and Crowell, or they are going to prove incapable of moving the ball. Either way, we know what we will get from Seattle. They will try to run the ball early, set up play action for Hundley and hope to catch Arizona creeping towards the line. We all know Arizona has a solid defense, but it cannot win this game alone. A lot will come down to just how effective Tom Savage can be in his first USFL start.   6- Houston Gamblers (10-6) @ 2- Memphis Showboats (13-3) Sunday, Sept. 20 @ 8pm ET Rice Stadium, Houston, TX Memphis -3   Another divisional rivalry game between teams that know each other well. Despite being the road team, Houston has a slight home field advantage as we expect a pretty solid home crowd at Rice Stadium. Memphis knows how dangerous Carlos Hyde, Mike Evans, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Colt McCoy can be. Their task is to slow down, frustrate, and bog down the Gamblers. Their other job is to get Todd Gurley rolling early, providing a balance that benefits Paxton Lynch as he tries to find Robert Woods and Devin Funchess outside. On paper, Memphis seems the better team, but Houston’s playoff experience was evident in the Wild Card round and could be a factor here as well.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: With so many backups playing this week, we thought it made sense to honor one of the replacements who stepped up, and that is LA Express cornerback Isaiah Oliver, who got the start with Stephon Gilmore resting for the playoffs. Oliver, who moved from the nickel to starting outside corner, proved he was up to the task, making 10 tackles, and snagging a pick-six in the Express win over Las Vegas. PLAYOFF PICTURE: Everyone held serve this week, which essentially means that the teams in position to either earn a Wild Card or claim a division title all won, so no one who was outside of the top 6 in the West got a shot to jump up. Both Dallas and Seattle earned their playoff berths at 10-6. In the South, Memphis held off New Orleans to claim their first division title since 2008. Here are, then, your 12 playoff teams and their seeding as we prepare for Wild Card Weekend. EAST: 1-TBY 2-MEM 3-BAL 4-ATL 5-NOR 6-HOU WEST: 1-MGN 2-ARZ 3-LA 4-CHI 5-DAL 6-SEA

Put a pin in the 2020 USFL regular season, because it is done. The league wrapped up the most unique, offputting, and bizarre season in league history, completing 240 games in empty stadiums. But despite all the strangeness that accompanied the year, including all 30 teams living in hotels, all 240 games played in only 4 states with no team ever truly having a home game, regular testing and a special Covid-19 inactive list complicating roster management all season, the games were played and the season was completed without a single cancellation, forfeit, or rescheduling. Overall, we have to call it a success, even if it felt so odd to watch games on television with either piped-in crowd noise or silence between plays.   And now the USFL prepares for another season, the 2 nd  season, a playoff run that will bring fans back to the stands, though in limited numbers. The 12 remaining teams will stay in hotels for a while longer. The games will continue to be limited to Nevada, Arizona, Texas, and Florida, and we are now into September, a month that has never seen USFL football before. Next week, the Wild Card Weekend for the USFL, will be the opening week for the NFL. How will the two stand side-by-side. And while the USFL is holding to its hub system, the NFL will be back in all 32 franchise cities, taking advantage of limited capacity seating just as the spring league is doing. It will be different, that is sure, but it is still football, and for the USFL it is playoff football. So, let’s get to it.   Showboats, Roughnecks and Dragons Hold Serve in Season Finales Holding serve, an expression that comes out of tennis. It means winning when you have control of the circumstances (the serve) and it is exactly what the Memphis Showboats, Dallas Roughnecks, and Seattle Dragons did this week. Each was in position to get what they wanted. For Memphis that meant their first Southern Division title in over a decade. For Dallas it meant their first playoff appearance since relocating from Boston. And for Seattle, a chance to again join the playoff pool and finally dump the image of a team that starts horribly (0-5 or 0-6) and then scrambles late.  Seattle did not have the horrendous start we have seen in past years under Mike Riley. Sure, 3-5 at the midway point is not ideal, but it is hardly the hole the Dragons have dug for themselves in past years. Prior to this week’s game against Denver, they were already guaranteed a winning season at 9-6, and, more importantly, they were sitting in playoff position. A win over the Gold and they would hit 10 wins for the first time since 2008 and they would lock up a Wild Card for the third time in 4 years. Seattle got the job done, knocking off the Kyle-Orton-led Gold 31-17, punching their ticket to a Pacific Division matchup with the LA Express this weekend.  For Dallas it was also about getting a playoff berth, their first since relocating from Boston in 2015. The Roughnecks had suffered four straight 10+ loss seasons in Dallas since leaving New England, and had started 7 different quarterbacks, but in rookie Justin Herbert they think they may have just found a long term solution, and Herbert helped them flip the script this year, going from 6-10 in 2019 to 10-6 this year after defeating the San Diego Thunder by 14 this week. The victory assures the Roughnecks of the 5 seed and a Wild Card matchup against a very tough Chicago Machine club.  Finally, there was Memphis. The Showboats had not won the Southern Division since 2008. In the 11 seasons since, they had finished with 10 or more losses 8 times, and even when they went 12-4 in 2016, they were still a game behind the Houston Gamblers and had to settle for a Wild Card (which they did parlay into a Summer Bowl appearance). So, this year, with the division on the line, they had a head-to-head with New Orleans, winner take all, and the Showboats stepped up. Rex Ryan’s club stepped up, defeating the Breakers 37-24, with QB Paxton Lynch throwing for 320 and breakout star of 2020, WR Devin Funchess, going for 141 with a TD. The win locked up not only a division title, but a bye week as the 2 seed as well, meaning that Memphis would now sit and wait to see who came out of the LA-Seattle game in 2 weeks.   Holding serve, making full use of the advantage you have and using it to lock up victory, and, in the case of these three USFL teams, breaking long histories of frustration to step into the limelight and remain alive for the league’s first ever September playoff season. It is on to postseason football for all three clubs, and with fans now allowed in the stadiums in all 4 USFL venues, a chance for the diehard fanbases of each club to see their teams in action live, and to make some noise.   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 37  NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS 24 There was no way this would not be our game of the week. It was a classic Week 16 showdown. First place Memphis one game up on perennial Southern Division power New Orleans and facing their division rivals in the season finale. In a season that saw Houston slip a few steps down the ladder, it was a chance for the Showboats to do something they had not done in over a decade, win the 4-team Southern Division. It was also a battle of styles, the Breakers having put together a stunning season on offense, leading the league in both passing (332.9 YPG) and total offense (407.9 YPG) and the Memphis Showboats relying on the tried and true combination of running the ball well and stopping the opposition from doing the same. Memphis holds both the top rush offense in the league (121.5 YPG) and the best run defense under Rex Ryan (68.4 YPG). But how would they match up against a team that prefers to spread you out and send their receivers deep down the field?   Well, if the first quarter of this game was any indication, both defenses would be challenged on this day. Memphis did what Memphis loves to do with the opening possession, they ground out first downs, moved the ball crisply but certainly not quickly, and put 7 on the board with a 1-yard TD toss from Lynch to Crowder after 15 plays and nearly 7 minutes of possession. But, only 15 seconds later, New Orleans did what they love to do, with Geno Smith rolling out of the pocket and finding rookie Justin Jefferson for what would be a 60-yard TD pass. Ball control vs. big play. That was the opening salvo from each team and it would be the story of the first half, with a surprise twist worthy of M. Night Shyamalan after the halftime break.   The first quarter would see two more scoring drives, putting 28 total points on the board in one of the highest-scoring opening quarters of any game this year. Memphis responded to the Breaker quick strike with another time-consuming drive, this one nearly 5 minutes long before Jacob Hester ran the ball in from the 1, having vultured the points away from Todd Gurley, who earned most of the yards on the way to the endzone, part of his 97 yards on the day. New Orleans, not happy to be down again, did what they so often did and scored in only 1:10 on only 4 plays, capping off the drive with Geno Smith’s 2 nd  TD of the day, a 13-yarder to Curtis Nelson to once again level the score.   With 28 points scored in the first quarter, the game was off to a frightening start, with all 4 drives resulting in 7 points. That quick pace would continue into the 2 nd  quarter, this time with Memphis getting a quick score on the board. On a 1 st and 10 from their own 32, Paxton Lynch faked the ball to Gurley, and with so much success on earlier drives the Breaker D had to respect the run, which drew up the safeties. Lynch rolled to his right and found Devin Funchess in single coverage. Funchess hauled in the pass, took a step to his left as the cornerback went for the tackle, and had a clear path for a 68-yard touchdown, a taste of New Orleans’s usual medicine. The Breakers were unphased, responding again in short order, a 5-play drive that saw Geno Smith hit on a 3 rd  TD toss, this time to Coby Fleener and once again we were all even. Six possessions, six touchdowns. Surely this could not continue. It did not. While Memphis moved the ball well on their 4 th possession, they bogged down inside the 20, with New Orleans finally making a stop, a deflected pass on 3 rd  and 5. Coach Lathon begrudgingly sent out the field goal unit, uncertain if going for 3 would be a mistake or not. Lewis Ward put the ball through the uprights for a 5 th  score in 5 drives for the Showboats, who now took a 24-21 lead.   What came next was perhaps the most shocking moment in the game, a 3-and-out. After three straight TD drives, Geno Smith finally missed on a play, overshooting Jordy Nelson on 3 rd and 5 and forcing the punt team to come out on the field. Memphis seemed almost stunned to be getting the ball back, with HB Todd Gurley scrambling to find his helmet as he was called back to the field. Memphis took advantage of the rare New Orleans punt and once again moved the ball down the field, this time with the clock a factor, eventually putting up another 3 points on a Lewis Ward field goal as the clock wound down. The Showboats would go into the half up 27-21, but certainly not confident that the game would stay in the 20’s through another half.   But something happened at the half. Either Rex Ryan figured something out or the Breakers somehow lost confidence in themselves. They would play another 30 minutes of football, but in that second half, New Orleans would only put 3 more points on the board. They would gain good yardage, even during a short period when Geno Smith was forced to the sideline by a finger to the eye, but they simply did not connect on the big plays. After three touchdowns in their first three drives, the Breaker offense sputtered the rest of the way. Memphis also struggled more in the second half, going 0-for-3 on third downs in the 3 rd  quarter and coming out of the quarter with only a slim 27-24 lead. In the fourth they added another field goal early, pushing the lead back up to a precarious 6 points, but they too suffered from an offensive drought unforeseen by the first half’s furious pace. It was not until the 5-minute mark in the 4 th when the Showboats again crossed midfield. Realizing that another score could put the game out of reach for New Orleans (assuming that they did not reconnect with their big play success). Memphis was methodical, gaining 3, 5, 3, 7, etc. all the way down the field. When David Williams, again subbing for Gurley who did most of the work on the drive, dove in from the 2, there was only 1:38 left to play and the Breakers were now down 13 points.   New Orleans did not reconnect with their deep ball attack. Memphis used 3-deep, pressuring with only 4 linemen, and that proved effective, with the Breakers forced to go for a 4 th and 4 on their own side of the 50. They failed when Geno Smith threw to TE Dawson Knox, only to have LB Nathan Triplett of the Showboats shove his hand between Knox and the ball. The Showboats took over on downs, drove the clock down to double zeros and claimed not only the win, but the division and the 2 seed. Ryan was doused in Squelch (the USFL’s version of GatorAde) and the Showboats left the field knowing they would now get a well-earned week off before facing a Wild Card winner in the Divisionals. For New Orleans, the loss meant they would be the “road team” in a matchup with Atlanta, which did mean that they would have to leave their hotel in Houston and head to Florida for their first true road experience of this odd hub-based season.   NEW JERSEY 10   PHILADELPHIA 26 With the 1 st  pick in the draft assured, the Stars win their finale and get a spark of happiness in upending their rivals from up the turnpike. In what is likely his last start with the Stars, Matt Gutierrez threw for 258 and a TD to rookie K. J. Hamler. Derrick Henry stayed in the game, hoping to reach 1,200 yards but fell 9 short. New Jersey started 3 rd  stringer Brett Rypien, and, well, he played like a 3 rd  stringer, going 16 for 36 on the day. POTG:  Stars’ HB Derrick Henry: 24 Att, 91 Yds, 2 TD   PORTLAND 34  ARIZONA 14 Portland was the first of the West’s Wild Card contenders to take the field, and they did their part, cruising past a Wrangler squad that struggled to mount any offense at all with Brandon Allen at QB, sparking rumors that Coach Tomsula may switch to 3 rd stringer Tom Savage come the playoffs. Doug Martin rushed for 96 yards for the Stags and QB A. J. McCarron looked like he could well be a playoff QB, throwing for 367 yards and 4 TDs against a Wrangler D that did have several starters out by halftime. POTG:  Stags’ QB A. J. McCarron: 14/24, 367 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   BIRMINGHAM 9   HOUSTON 38 The Gamblers won this battle of backups quite handily, with Kellen Clemons throwing for 4 scores, including 2 to WR JuJu Smith-Schuster. Tim Tebow got the start for Birmingham and looked very rusty, going 11 of 30. What was perhaps more surprising is that the athletic QB was sacked 10 times as he simply seemed unwilling to let go of the ball. POTG:  Houston CB Janoris Jenkins: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   SAN ANTONIO 9   ST. LOUIS 3 We hope no one out there got stuck watching this game. It was a snoozefest from beginning to merciful end. Chad Kelly went 13 of 32 for the Gunslingers, Tyrod Taylor did little better for the Skyhawks, completing only 14 of 34. We got no touchdowns and barely any plays with any pop. One lone Marshawn Lynch run may have been it. A sad end to two tough seasons for these clubs. POTG:  Gunslinger HB Marshawn Lynch: 19 Att, 95 Yds   SEATTLE 31  DENVER 17 Win and you are in. That is the situation Seattle had at hand, and they played like it, dominating the Gold throughout. Brett Hundley threw 3 TD passes and Knowshon Moreno added 120 yards to his season total as the Dragons locked up a Wild Card with the win. Denver started Kyle Orton, with Josh Allen injured, but let Phillip Lindsay add 74 more yards and another TD to his 2020 totals. POTG:  Seattle HB Knowshon Moreno: 20 Att, 120 Yds, 1 TD   SAN DIEGO 24   DALLAS 38 The Dallas Roughnecks were also in a win-and-in situation and they killed all the drama for the teams hoping to get a shot to move into Wild Card position. They held serve, got the win, and locked in the 5 seed in the West at 10-6. San Diego kept it close for a half, but two 2 nd  half TDs gave Dallas a comfortable lead and they claimed the win and their first playoff berth since relocating from Boston. POTG:  Roughneck QB Justin Herbert: 16/25, 322 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   JACKSONVILLE 24   TAMPA BAY 31 It was B. J. Daniels, Matt Breida, and Deebo Samuel, not Prescott, Cook, and Bryant, but the Bandits still got the W and finish the year an impressive 15-1. Samuel was the star of the day with 2 touchdowns and 142 yards. Jacksonville saw Teddy Bridgewater return to action, but only for 1 quarter before they put in Cardale Jones. Little-used WR Equanimeous St. Brown got the start as the Bulls rested Tee Higgins, and the hard-to-pronounce wideout responded with 5 catches, 83 yards and a TD. POTG:  Tampa Bay DE Brian Burns: 5 Tck, 2 Sck   BALTIMORE 10   ATLANTA 21 Their playoff positions secured, the Fire and Blitz rested many of their stars and let the backups get some snaps in this one. So, it was Deshone Kizer vs. Nate Sudfeld, Kenyan Drake v. Troymaine Pope, and Dorial Green-Beckham vs. Dion Simms. Atlanta got the win thanks to 3 TDs from Kizer, including one to Dorial Green-Beckham. The two will both be in action next week as they head into the Wild Card round. POTG:  Atlanta DT Jarron Gilbert: 4 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   OHIO 3   PITTSBURGH 33 With the wins by Seattle and Dallas, the Maulers were already eliminated, but they played for pride and the ability to say they were a 10-win team. That was enough to thrash an Ohio Glory team that already knew their head coach was on the chopping block. Andy Dalton went 22 of 33 and threw 2 TDs for the Maulers in what had to be a sad feeling of having a really strong season but losing the chance to continue into the postseason. POTG:  Mauler QB Andy Dalton: 22/33, 221 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int   LOS ANGELES 23  LAS VEGAS 17 We had a Brock Osweiler sighting for the Express, but the player who made a statement was backup HB Paul Perkins. The UCLA grad may well be pushing for more snaps, and after a 25-carry, 107-yard game, he may get them. Las Vegas receiver Aaron Dobson consolidated his status as the league’s receptions leader with 9 more catches on 13 targets, giving him 138 catches on the season. POTG:  Express CB Isaiah Oliver: 10 Tck, 1 Int, 1 FF, 1 FR   OAKLAND 16   OKLAHOMA 20 The Outlaws wanted to reach 8-8 on the year, the Invaders, already out of Wild Card contention, did not feel equally motivated, and that was the difference as Oklahoma built up a 20-10 lead and then held the Oakland offense to two late field goals. Nick Toon was the star for the Outlaws with 138 yards receiving, most of it coming on a 98-yard TD pass thrown by Hurts from the shadow of his own goalline. POTG:  Outlaw WR Nick Toon: 3 Rec, 138 Yds, 1 TD   NEW ENGLAND 17 WASHINGTON 20  OVERTIME Neither coach really wanted to go to overtime in this one, but that is what we got when neither club could get in field goal range late. Washington got a TD from punt returner Kavontae Turpin in this battle of backups, and in overtime Adam Vinatieri gave the W to Washington, with both teams finishing the season with 6 wins apiece. POTG:  Washington HB Orleans Darkwa: 15 Att, 79 Yds, 1 TD   CHARLOTTE 5   ORLANDO 13 Another snoozer filled with backups and little imagination as both teams ran out the string on a disappointing season. Honestly, we have looked over the box score and have no idea what we should highlight. Nothing stands out. So, it happened, Orlando won. Season over for both teams. POTG:  Orlando OG Mike Iupati: 4 Pancakes, because, why not?   CHICAGO 16   MICHIGAN 35 Normally a heated rivalry game, but Chicago did not want to risk many of its stars, while Michigan knew the 1-seed was in hand thanks to Arizona’s loss, so they too did not do much. Cody Latimer impressed, catching 6 for 146 and 3 scores, and LeVeon Bell locked up another rushing title. We did get a Mike Kafka sighting and young WR Jevon Kearse showed he had some hops, catching 7 for 120, but in the end, it was the Panthers locking up the 1 seed in the West with the win. POTG:  Panther WR Cody Latimer: 6 Rec, 146 Yds, 3 TD   Black Monday Claims Four We had a feeling that this Monday would be a tough one for coaches around the league. And while not every coach we were concerned for ended up finding themselves emptying out their desks, we did see four coaches, in addition to Jim Harbaugh and Franck Reich, who only lasted until midseason, let go from their positions. With the Black Monday departures, we will now have 6 clubs with new men at the helm come 2021. Here is the breakdown of the four positions vacated this week as USFL clubs try to reimagine themselves during the shortened offseason this fall and winter.   Rick Neuheisel (Las Vegas) After three seasons hovering around .500 in Las Vegas, more was hoped for in the former USFL quarterback’s 4 th  year at the helm. Neuheisel came into the year with a 24-24 record, but left 27-37, which is not what you want. The collapse from 8-8 to 3-13 was exactly the kind of indicator that makes owners give up on a coach, and that is what happened to Neuheisel. Finishing the year with one of the league’s worst rushing attacks, and the oddity of having a Top 5 defense in yards allowed and yet a bottom 5 defense in points allowed, a truly bizarre stat, certainly did not help. Expect Las Vegas to look for an offensive-minded coach, along with improvements to the line and the running back room, this offseason.   Tom Coughlin (Ohio) This one is not a surprise to anyone. We had Coughlin on the hotseat before the season, listed him as a coach unlikely to make it 16 weeks, and now, he joins the 5 others as coaches let go this year. The reason is obvious, after a promising rise from 8-8 to 10-6 and a surprising division title in 2018, the Glory collapsed to 4-12 in 2019. Ownership believed Coughlin could turn things around, despite the fact that they did very little to improve the roster in the offseason, so a 3-13 finish this year was not the expectation. What is worse, it seemed clear that players were less and less open to Coughlin’s style of coaching. The disciplinary demands, the fines, the unique rules that no other team had in place, all of it led to greater dissent and greater acrimony. So, Coughlin lost the team, and now loses his position. Expect the players to tell ownership they want a coach who “gets them”, but also expect ownership to try to find an innovator and a coach who can do more with less.   Norv Turner (New Jersey) We had heard rumors, but our expectation was that Turner would escape Black Monday, but it seems that back-to-back losses to the expansion New England Steamrollers, and the 1-14 Philadelphia Stars pushed the needle towards “enough already”. Turner had a pretty solid run in New Jersey, going 57-43-2 over 7 seasons and winning 2 division titles along the way. But, after back to back 9-win seasons, a quick exit from the playoffs last year, and a losing record this year, including some pretty shaky outings against bad teams, it seems that ownership felt that Turner was not getting the job done. Call them unrealistic, and perhaps they are, but for a club that has not been a true contender since the 2004 and 2006 Tom Brady title years, we can understand why the Generals want to set their sights a little higher.   Gus Bradley (WSH) Bradley came over from rival Philadelphia with a reputation as a hard-nosed defensive coach, and he had some success in his first year, getting Washington to 9-7 and just barely missing out on a playoff spot. But since then two things have gone awry. First was the move to bring Ryan Nassib over from Arizona. After a stunning season replacing an injured David Carr for the Wranglers, there was a feeding frenzy for Nassib, and the Federals felt like they had hit the jackpot when he signed with them. That has not worked out as planned. Nassib has gone from a 117.9 QB Rating in that magical year in Arizona to 84.8 last year and 77.5 this year. The other big failing has been the defense, Bradley’s bread and butter. This year’s Federal D gave up nearly 23 points and 360 yards per game and were equally unreliable against both the pass and the run. They stayed in the mix in what was a pretty sub par NE Division for a good part of the year, but went on a 6 game stretch where they went 0-5-1 and that was enough. Bradley is out after 3 years.   So now the coaching hunt will begin. Expect several teams to want to meet with coordinators from the 4 top seeds who are each on bye week right now. Expect them to also pay close attention to the current NFL and NCAA seasons, and to look at coaches let go last year. With the USFL season moved later in the year, there may well be a greater chance that USFL teams will need to wait until January, after the NFL and NCAA seasons to find a coach, at least one coming from outside the USFL, but the search will start right now (and already has for the Stars and Skyhawks.)   League Leaders include 1 New League Record Every year we wonder if we will see any records broken, and while we tend to focus on the big ones—Herschel Walkers’s 1,767 rushing yards in 1983, Troy Aikman’s 1998 total of 54 Touchdowns and 5,675 yards passing, or Eric Truvillion’s 1,959 passing yards and 25 touchdowns—we know that those are going to be very tough records to break. So, when we look at the final stats from 2020, we should not be surprised that we did not see those numbers touched. But, for true stat-heads, we did get one new record this year, and it is an impressive one.   Before we reveal the new record holder, we should acknowledge some great numbers we saw this year, this very bizarre year, in the USFL. Kudos first to Geno Smith , who led the league with 4,944 yards passing and tied for the lead with 37 passing touchdowns. He tied with Dak Prescott , the 2019 MVP who well could win the title again this year as leader of the 15-1 Bandits. Prescott, in addition to finishing 2 nd in yards and tied for first in TDs, was this year’s top rated QB with a 131.3 score.   Once again it was LeVeon Bell leading all rushers, and once again he easily tops the 1,200-yard mark, racking up an impressive 1,529 yards, just slightly lower than his 2019 total of 1,552. Bell also led all rushers with 15 rushing touchdowns and had an impressive 4.5 YPC average.   And yet another tip of the hat to the Man, the Myth, the Legend, Arizona DE Calais Campbell , who, despite missing 2 games early in the season, rolled late to not only catch but surpass Montez Sweat to capture his 12 th  consecutive Sack title, finishing with 26 on the year, his 12 th  straight season with 20 or more sacks, a truly stunning run of excellence.   But, for league records, we have to shift our attention to the receivers, and to one in particular. Jordy Nelson , winner of the yardage title for the 3 rd  time in 4 years, with a total of 1,880 yards, good enough for 4 th  all time, behind three seasons from the inimitable Eric Truvillion, finally has a record of his own. With only 60 catches on the year, Nelson’s 1,880 yards translates into a truly mind-blowing 31.3 yards per catch, the highest YPC average in league history for a player with more than 20 catches (the requirement for consideration). In a league known for the vertical passing game and receivers with deep ball credentials, to average over 30 yards per catch is truly astounding. Could Jordan surpass Truvillion’s record for receiving yards in a season some day? Perhaps, he has tried before, and this year was his best season yet, but this record is one he can be proud of right now, a truly amazing number, and one he can pair with his 13 touchdowns and his title as the receiving yardage leader once again.   Final Game Frustration or Swan Song That is the question that came out of the post-game press conference statements from San Diego MLB A.J. Hawk. Hawk, who will turn 36 this offseason, played his 15 th  season with the Thunder this year, and while the 2-time All-USFL linebacker can certainly be frustrated with the club’s collapse from division champion to 3-13 also ran, there also appeared to be real frustration in Hawk’s comments about his own play.   Hawk, who made a career out of blowing up the run, struggled this year with missed tackles, poor angles, and out-of-position errors. It is clear he has lost a step in his speed, but these are also mental errors, something you would not expect from a 15-year veteran who has put up several 100-tackle seasons. Hawk could well be looking at his team, his own game, and the wear and tear on his body after 15 years at middle linebacker and be considering a departure from the game. While he did not directly state that he was done in the postgame that followed yet another Thunder loss this week, could we really blame him? It is one thing to return for one more year on a contender, especially for a player who has never gotten a ring, but to do so on a team that is likely in full rebuild mode, that is a lot to ask. We will keep an eye out over the next weeks and months, but after expressions of personal and team disappointment in the postgame media room this week, we will not be shocked if Hawk becomes one of this offseason’s departures from the league.   So, here we are, playoff season. As you saw in our Big Story, Memphis won the Southern Division with a season-ending victory over New Orleans, and both Dallas and Seattle held their Wild Card positions with wins this week, so the roster of 12 playoff teams is set. Tampa Bay, Memphis, Michigan, and Arizona will use this week to rest, recover, plan, and position themselves for the Divisional Round. Eight other teams will gear up and game plan for playoff football, all hoping to avoid the dreaded “one and done” scenario. So, what are the matchups in the 2020 Wild Card Round? Here is the schedule of all 4 games, each played in the hub city for the “home” team. Saturday’s Games   6-Seed Houston faces off against NE Division Champion and 3-seed Baltimore. This means the Gamblers actually have to leave Houston for the first time this season as they travel to Orlando to face the Blitz. This will actually be the late game on Saturday as the afternoon matchup will be played in the dome in Houston (without the Gamblers). As an inter-hub game, not only did these two not meet this year, they also have no common opponents in their 16 games.   The 5 seed in the West, the Dallas Roughnecks, relocate from Arizona to Texas to face the 4-seed Chicago Machine at NRG Stadium in Houston in the Saturday afternoon game. This is Dallas’s first playoff game since relocating from Boston, while for Chicago it is their first time “hosting” a playoff game since the 2014 season. Too bad it could not be in Chicago, but we expect some diehard fans to travel down to Houston from the Windy City for this one. Another inter-hub game which means absolutely no familiarity with each other and no common opponents on their record to judge the two against each other.   Sunday’s Games Again, we work opposite of geography with the domed stadiums hosting in the afternoon and the open-air Florida game at night. The Sunday early game is a Pacific Division battle as the 10-6 Seattle Dragons, the West’s 6 seed, battles the Division Champion and 4 seed LA Express. The game will be played at Wynn Arena in Las Vegas, and we expect nearly 19,000 fans, many from LA, to be there. As this is a divisional game, we can look back at the two meetings this year, which this year saw a split, with LA winning 27-16 in Week 7 but the Dragons getting the edge in a 27-17 victory only 3 weeks ago.   The final game of the weekend is in Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, where the Atlanta Fire, the 4 seed despite a 13-3 record, will play host to the New Orleans Breakers, who come in at 11-5 and as the 5 seed. This is the third inter-hub battle, with New Orleans coming over from Houston to face the Southeastern Division Fire. We expect a nice mix of fans from Georgia and Louisiana to make the trip (a very drivable trip) to Tampa for this one, so we may get some really nice atmosphere in the stadium, even if it is only at 25% capacity.   A range of issues across the 8 Wild Card teams, with Baltimore coming in clean, no one reported injured, while most teams have a combination of IR listings and players in various states of availability. The good news is that no players on any of the 8 teams tested positive for Covid-19 this week, so we are expecting that teams will be ready to roll come the weekend.   Among the injuries that could have the most impact are the injury to Kenny Vaccaro, who will miss this game but could be back if Houston advances, and the potential loss of a trio of wide receivers from the weekend’s action, with Atlanta’s A. J. Green listed as doubtful while Dallas’s Courtland Sutton is a 50/50 proposition and Houston is hopeful, but cautious about Mike Evans’s availability. DAL: LB M. Ingram (Q), WR C. Sutton (Q), SS Duke Williams (Q), FS J. Adams (P) CHI: OG V. Ducasse (Out), DT E. Goldman (Out), LB S. Leonard (P), TE T. Eifert (P) HOU: QB L. Jones (Out), DT N. Fairley (Out), SS K. Vaccaro (Out), WR M. Evans (P) BAL: No Injuries   SEA: CB D. Truffant (Out), OT E. Fisher (Out), QB J. Brissett (Out) LA: OG L. Stenberg (Out), WR M. Lee (Out), FS J. Mills (Out), OT r. Odhiambo (P)   NOR: CB D. Jackson (Out), LB T. Williams (D), C G. Mancz (P) ATL: OG J. Poutasi (Out), WR A. J. Green (D)   2021 Early Draft Order & Team Highlights for 2021 Pick 1: Philadelphia Stars Bright Spot for 2021: Even with absolutely no passing game to speak of, Derrick Henry still rumbled for nearly 1,200 yards. If the Stars can find a QB to balance the offense and force defenses to pull their safeties back, he could be unstoppable.   Pick 2: St. Louis Skyhawks Bright Spot for 2021: OLB Trey Hendrickson is developing into a nightmare for offenses, able to play coverage, stuff the run, and get to the QB. Expect St. Louis to even use him as a DE in some situations in 2021 (well, depending on who their new coach is and what kind of defense he sets up, but the potential is there.)   Pick 3: San Antonio Gunslingers Bright Spot for 2021: Expansion seasons are never easy, but what we saw in 2020 is that Joe Flacco can still sling it and Easton Stick has some potential for the future as well, putting up an 84.4 QBR in limited action this year.   Pick 4: Ohio Glory Bright Spot for 2021: Despite a pretty abysmal passing offense this year, WR Terry McLaurin looks like a legit primary receiver in this league. He had 83 receptions for 1,087 yards on a team that was 28 th  in passing yards per game.   Pick 5: San Diego Thunder Bright Spot for 2021: The Thunder, for all their issues, had a 16-sack DE (Jonathan Newsome), and a 6-pick CB (Tye Smith), and Myles Jack is still one of the best run-stuffing LBs in the league, so there are pieces to build on for the defense.   Pick 6: Birmingham Stallions Bright Spot for 2021: Sure, we could highlight Cam Newton again, but what is perhaps a bigger piece of the puzzle, rookie WR Henry Ruggs was on pace for ROTY recognition before his injury. If he can return in form next year, Newton will have a very good target to work with.   Pick 7: Las Vegas Vipers Bright Spot for 2021: For all their issues, you cannot forget that Aaron Dobson had 138 receptions (on a ridiculous 209 targets) and remains the best possession receiver in the game today.   Pick 8: Charlotte Monarchs Bright Spot for 2021: The Monarchs’ 3-game win streak late in the year, including the victory over Tampa Bay, shows that they have potential, though we all know they also have some big questions.   Pick 9: Denver Gold Bright Spot for 2021: HB Phillip Lindsay had 906 yards and 10 touchdowns this year and is also proving effective as a receiver. We think Denver will focus on balance on offense and use Lindsay to allow Josh Allen to go for more deep balls on play action, if they can just find a speedster in the offseason.   Pick 10: New England Steamrollers Bright Spot for 2021: John Fox has to be happy with a 6-10 season out of the gate. That is far better than most predicted, and along the way he learned that he has some real playmakers in HB Kerwynn Williams, LB Jamie Collins, and SS Jaiquawn Jarrett.   Pick 11: Washington Federals Bright Spot for 2021: Wide Receiver Tyreek Hill blossomed this year, catching 71 passes for 1,001 yards and 9 TDs. He is one of the fastest men in pro football and Washington certainly will have plans to use him even more in 2021.   Pick 12: Jacksonville Bulls Bright Spot for 2021: In his first year Coach Winston Moss got immediate results, with Jacksonville improving on defense by leaps and bounds. He also learned that he has a legitimate QB in Teddy Bridgewater, who threw for 3,083 yards with a 17:6 TD:INT ratio. Now he just needs to improve the line (and help the run game) and he could be on to something in 2021.   Pick 13: New Jersey Generals Bright Spot for 2021: MLB Matt Milano took on a leadership role this year and excelled. Not only did he finish the year with 106 tackles, but he was clearly the player others on the D turned to, which is good to see for a younger player in that position.   Pick 14: Oakland Invaders Bright Spot for 2021: With over 1,000 yards rushing and 44 receptions, Christian McCaffrey is the kind of player you can design an offense around. The invaders need to get more inventive on offense, but with McCaffrey, Davante Adams and an emerging Taylor Gabriel, they have some weapons to work with.   Pick 15: Oklahoma Outlaws Bright Spot for 2021: It seems clear that Oklahoma found their QB in Jalen Hurts. In limited action this year he finished with a 99.6 QB Rating and added a buzz of excitement to the Outlaw offense. We expect some changes in the receiver group, but the Outlaws have to be happy with what they saw from their rookie QB this year.   Pick 16: Orlando Renegades Bright Spot for 2021: Montez Sweat and Arthur Moats combined for 39 sacks, which means that the Renegades can build a defense based on a 4-man rush and make life tougher for opposing QBs in 2021. Expect them to look for a corner to put opposite Dee Milliner to make passing a lose-lose situation for opposing QBs.   Pick 17: Portland Stags Bright Spot for 2021: The Stags surprised us with an early season run, and while they faded a bit down the stretch, a 9-7 record and the 4 th  rated offense in the league is a solid base to build on. They just need to figure out how to keep Marcus Mariota upright for 16 games, and they might need to invest in a young study at HB because Doug Martin is getting quite long in the tooth.   Pick 18: Pittsburgh Maulers Bright Spot for 2021: The Maulers are disappointed that 10-6 did not come with a playoff berth, and that 2-week stint when Andy Dalton was a Covid inactive hurt them, but outside of those games, the Maulers were in the mix every week thanks to the combo of Shaquile Riddick and Dwight Freeney on the D-Line, producing 28 sacks, as well as Rasul Douglas developing into a shutdown corner outside.   Award Frontrunners With the regular season completed and the voters now casting their ballots for the USFL Awards, all of which revealed in 3 weeks ahead of Summer Bowl 2020, it seems as good a time as any to recognize the outstanding performances this year and the players likely to take home some hardware, even if this year the hardware will be mailed to them after a fully virtual gala.   MOST VALUABLE PLAYER Even money is that QB Dak Prescott will make it back-to-back MVP awards after he led the Bandits to a 15-1 record and the top seed in the East. Prescott’s numbers are impressive, finishing the year with 37 touchdowns, a QB rating of 131.3 and 4,250 yards, but it is the team success that we think will put him over the top and give us the first repeat winner since David Carr in 2016-17. Chasing him is the other obvious choice, New Orleans QB Geno Smith, the only player to throw for more yards than Dak, 4,944 to Dak’s 4,250. Smith also had 37 touchdowns on the season and trailed only Prescott with a QB rating of 126.9, but at 11-5 and without the division title in hand, we think Smith will finish a close second.   OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Another 2-man race as it comes down to the league’s lead rusher, Michigan’s LeVeon Bell, and its best receiver, New Orleans wideout Jordy Nelson. Both had incredible seasons, with Bell beating out 2 nd  place ballcarrier Maurice Jones-Drew by nearly 200 yards (1,529 to 1,349) and scoring 15 touchdowns to also lead the league. Nelson’s performance was equally meritorious, leading the league in receiving yards with 1,880 yards while also setting a new league record with a 31.3 YPC average. Nelson’s total was 236 yards higher than 2 nd  place Sammy Watkins, and his 13 touchdowns, were 3 rd  in the league behind only Dez Bryant (16) and Robert Woods (15). Both have won OPOTY before, with Bell taking the OPOTY the past three of the past 4 seasons (2016, 2018, and 2019) and Nelson winning it the one year Bell did not (2017). Seems like these two are destined to battle for the title each year.   DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR It couldn’t be Campbell again, could it? Well, he did win the sack title for the 12 th  consecutive year, this time coming back from a 5-sack deficit and winning by 4 in the final weeks. Winning this year would be his 6 th  DPOTY, and it is hard to argue against him, especially not with the way he pulled it off this year. Yes, we would love to recognize the amazing seasons put in by players like LA Express DE Nick Bosa, Jacksonville MLB Sean Lee, or Mauler CB Rasul Douglas, all of whom were outstanding and certainly will be named to the All-USFL team, but it has to be Campbell again.                   ROOKIE OF THE YEAR Early in the season it was all about the wideouts: Birmingham’s Henry Ruggs, Justin Jefferson in New Orleans, Tee Higgins in Jacksonville, no doubt. But, once the Dallas Roughnecks decided to make the switch and let former Oregon Duck Justin Herbert take command of the offense, there was a new sheriff in town. Herbert won his first 3 games, turning a 2-4 team into a 10-6 playoff club. His 8-2 record as a rookie is certainly impressive, his ability to guide the Roughnecks to the playoffs for the first time since they relocated is huge, but even with only 10 weeks as a starter, his stats are impressive as well. Herbert threw for 2,716 yards, yes, an average of 271 yards per game, and threw 21 touchdowns, with 4 games where he had 3 or more touchdowns, all while only throwing 6 picks. It is as impressive a rookie season as we have seen from a QB in a long time. And while Mitch Trubisky now somewhat dubiously won the ROTY in 2017 with far fewer statistical strengths, we think Herbert compares more to prior QB winners like Cam Newton (2011), Sam Bradford (2010) or Matt Leinart (2006) in that he seems destined for a long run of success in the league. COACH OF THE YEAR With Mark Trestman winning the COTY last year, we don’t think he repeats, even though he took Tampa Bay to another level with his 15-1 season. But, will the award still be an honor for Trestman? Yes, we think so, because it goes to his 2019 Offensive Coordinator and the first year coach of the Atlanta Fire, Jaime Elizondo. Elizondo got a lot of credit for Tampa Bay’s offensive success in 2019, and he proved he deserved it by turning Atlanta into one of the most potent attacks in the league this year. His first season in Atlanta saw the fire improve by 9 games over 2019, from 4-11-1 to 13-3, which is actually a bigger leap than Tampa Bay had last year. And along the way he made football exciting in Atlanta (even though the team never played there), which has not been something many Fire fans have said in a long time. While we love what we saw from Marvin Lewis’s Showboats this year, as well as the great story of Kliff Kingsbury and Justin Herbert in Dallas, we think this has to go to Elizondo, the secret weapon in Tampa last year and the key to football success in Atlanta this year.   Wild Card Weekend, and it is a wild one this year, as the USFL not only enters into September football for the first time ever, but also works around NFL and NCAA schedules to put teams in stadiums and put fans in seats. What we get this year is a unique schedule in which the teams in the East, playing in Orlando and Tampa, get the late games so they can be played at night, while games in Houston, Phoenix, or Las Vegas are scheduled during the day to take advantage of climate-controlled stadiums, because, as we all know, September is very much still summer in the South. So, with that weird schedule in front of us, here are the 4 games this weekend, complete with times, networks, and odds.   5- Dallas Rougnecks (10-6) @ 4- Chicago Machine (11-5) Saturday, Sept. 12 @ 3pm ET on NBC NRG Stadium, Houston, TX 18,050 Capacity Expected Chicago -5   6- Houston Gamblers (10-6) vs. 3- Baltimore Blitz (9-7) Saturday, Sept. 12 @ 8pm ET on FOX Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL 15,054 Capacity Expected Even   6- Seattle Dragons (10-6) @ 3- Los Angeles Express (11-5) Sunday, September 13 @ 3pm ET on ABC Wynn Arena, Las Vegas, NV 18,100 Capacity Expected Los Angeles -5   5- New Orleans Breakers (11-5) @ 4- Atlanta Fire (13-3) Sunday, Sept. 13 @ 8pm ET on ESPN and the ESPN Football Network Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL 19,010 Capacity Expected Atlanta -4

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jacksonville QB Cardale Jones got a shot to play with Teddy Bridgewater still out and Ben DiNucci struggling, and he took advantage of the opportunity. The former Ohio State star had a huge game as the Bulls knocked off the Monarchs 34-14. Jones's Day? How aobut 20 of 31 for 367 yards and 3 touchdowns. That is a nice start in anyone's book. PLAYOFF PICTURE: We are down to only 2 playoff spots available, both in the West as Houston locks up the last spot in the East while LA secures a playoff spot, but not yet the division title in the Pacific. There will be some position battles next week, but the only two playoff spots left are now in the hands of the Dallas Roughnecks and Seattle Dragons. If they win, they are in. If they lose, Pittsburgh, Portland and Oakland could still find their way into the post-season.

Tampa Bay locked up the SE Division crown and the 1-seed with a far more defensive-minded victory over Atlanta than most expected. The Houston Gamblers wrapped up the Eastern Conference playoff pool, locking in their spot with a big win over Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Blitz also secured the NE Division crown with their win over rival Washington, and now we are down to only 2 playoff spots left (with 5 Western Conference teams still in the mix) and one division title to be claimed, with the Showboats and Breakers in a quasi-playoff game in their finale. This week also saw Arizona go down to defeat for the third week in a row, raising real questions about their viability as a Summer Bowl contender with David Carr sidelined. We will break down all the Week 15 happenings, preview the big games of the season’s final week, look at which teams are likely to rest key players (for those of you headed to your USFL fantasy league championships this week) and take a look at 5 teams who need a major cultural overhaul as we break down the issues with the “Futile Five” franchises in the USFL . It's all coming up, and kicking off with our Big Story, the race for the final 2 playoff spots in the West.   Eastern Playoff Teams Set, West with 2 Spots Left to Decide Week 15 got us one step closer to knowing who the 12 USFL playoff teams will be. We saw the last of the Eastern spots claimed and we are down to only 2 Wild Card bids left in the West. So, what does the playoff situation look like with 1 game left? Who is in control of their own destiny? And who is still alive on the fringes?   Well, the easy thing to say is that we already know 10 of 12 teams that will be suiting up after Week 16: Tampa Bay, Michigan, Arizona, Memphis, Atlanta, Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Baltimore and Houston are all guaranteed a playoff spot, with Houston and LA locking up their spots this past weekend. We also know five of the six division winners, with only the Southern Division still in play this week. We have two teams that control their own destiny as they try to lock up one of the two remaining Wild Card spots out west, as Dallas and Seattle are both in with a win. Portland needs one of those two to lose and for them to get a win against an Arizona team that has lost 3 in a row since losing David Carr to injury. And then you have 8-7 Portland and 8-7 Oakland, both on life support, and both needing multiple losses by teams ahead of them to have any chance of sneaking in at 9-7.   In the East, all 6 spots are settled, but one big item is still on the table. Memphis leads New Orleans by 1 game, but with a perfect division record (7-0 right now), the Breakers could jump up, even their record with the Showboats, and claim the division, the 2 seed, and the bye that comes with it. And, wouldn’t you know, it is Memphis vs. New Orleans this week in what is an early playoff game, with the winner earning that bye and the loser likely in a tough Wild Card matchup with the 12-3 Atlanta Fire.   For teams already locked into position, it may well be time to rest their starters and prepare for the postseason. In the East, nothing that happens this week will remove Tampa Bay from the 1 seed or Baltimore from the 3. In the West, LA is locked into the 3-seed and Chicago into the 4. That means both will be hosting a Wild Card game, though they don’t yet know who their foe will be. Michigan can still potentially lose the 1-seed with a loss and a Wrangler win, and while Wrangler wins have been harder to come by, don’t expect the Panthers to assume they are safe this week. Houston is locked into the 6 seed, which means they likely will rest their starters and start game planning for a matchup against the Baltimore Blitz in 2 weeks.   Of course, all of this comes with two unique aspects to the season this year. First is the fact that home field means little since no team is playing in their home city or with their home fans dominating the stands. Even Tampa Bay and Arizona, for the sake of parity, will be forced to play games in Orlando, Las Vegas, or Houston to avoid an unfair advantage compared to other “home” teams who do not have the option to actually return to their cities. The second change will be that we will have fans in the stands as of the Wild Card games. Expect capacity to range between 17,000 and 19,000 fans per stadium, which won’t look like a full house, but will allow for more atmosphere and more passion than we have seen all season long.   One week left to go, 2 slots up for grabs, one division to be decided by a head-to-head battle, and 9 teams still playing for something this week. Time to put up or shut up across the USFL.   ATLANTA FIRE 14   TAMPA BAY BANDITS 24 This was it, the game of the week and the deciding game in the battle for the Southeast Division title and a bye week as the 1 seed in the East. Tampa Bay came in 13-1, a game up on Atlanta, but a win by the Fire would give them the advantage in the division race with 1 game left to play. It was also a matchup of two of the best offenses in the game this season. Tampa Bay came in 2 nd in yards per game and 3 rd  in scoring. Atlanta was 1 st  in scoring at 32 points per game and 5 th  in total yards. So we all expected a shootout. What we got showed just how dangerous Tampa Bay could be as they proved they had defensive mettle to go along with offensive firepower.   Both the Fire and the Bandits would put up some yardage, with Tampa Bay outgaining Atlanta 419 to 339, but the Bandits succeeded in two key areas, third down stops (forcing 4 th  down on 12 of 14 attempts) and tightening up the D before Atlanta could get in scoring range, allowing only 3 trips into the red zone all game. And that began with the opening drive, where Atlanta took the kickoff and got stymied at their own 48 when they failed on 3 rd  and 3, with the Bandit D sniffing out the inside run and stuffing Nick Chubb for no gain. Chubb would average only 3 yards per carry all game, a far cry from his season average.   Tampa also showed early that they were very much a threat on offense. They took the punt from Atlanta at the 20 and in 5 plays they were at their own 43 when Dak Prescott found the first of several big plays, a straight up fly route to Ryan Grant that would go 57 yards for the game’s first score. Atlanta had gotten caught with 1 safety deep and Baccari Rambo simply could not get over to the wide side fast enough to stop the blazing Grant after he made the catch.   Down 7-0 early in the first quarter, Atlanta needed a response and they got a pretty good one in the form of a 7-minute, 16-play drive that saw Aaron Murray complete 5 of 7 passing before hitting Kelvin Benjamin from 2 yards out to even the score. While Tampa Bay went big, Atlanta proved they could be patient and take what the Bandit defense gave them. The problem would be that as the game progressed the Bandit D would give them less and less.   Most of the second quarter was occupied by the two teams moving the ball well and then stumbling just outside of field goal range. We got 3 straight punts before the Bandits broke the stalemate and put together a nice drive, thanks in part to a 25-yard run from tailback Dalvin Cook that put the ball on the fringe of the red zone. From there Prescott went back to Grant, his star target on the day with Atlanta shifting coverage to Dez Bryant all game. Grant again came up with the big play, cutting inside just at the right moment to nab the ball from Prescott and then cruising in for his 2 nd  score of the day. Tampa Bay would take that 14-7 lead into the half.   The third quarter saw Atlanta even up the game, with the lone score of the quarter coming when Aaron Murray found Gabe Davis in the back of the endzone for 7. Other than that one drive, a 9-play possession, both teams again traded short drives and punts. Three quarters down and it was anyone’s game, knotted up at 14, but the 4 th  quarter would belong to the Bandits. In the final period, the Bandit defense allowed only 1 first down and caused Atlanta to go 0-for-4 on third down and 0-2 on fourth down. It was a solid performance that proved Tampa Bay was capable of more than simply outscoring opponents. Of course, they did that too, putting up 10 points in the final period. Dak Prescott hit Ryan Grant with a third TD toss 5 minutes into the final period, this time from only 6 yards out. Grant would finish the day with only 3 receptions, but every single one was a touchdown, quite an accomplishment. The fourth also saw Tampa Bay find success on the ground, with the combo of Cook and Breida gaining 61 of their 108 yards in the final 15 minutes. The Bandits controlled the ball, the clock, and the scoreboard down the stretch as Aaron Murray simply could not convert on third down, going 0 for 3 passing and sacked on a 4 th  drive.   The result of the combined Bandit scoring (10 points) and the defensive wall they put up was that the 13-1 Bandits surged to 14-1 and sent Atlanta 2 games back with 1 to play, meaning the division and the 1-seed was theirs. The Fire would have to settle for being a Wild Card teams with one of the most impressive win-loss records in Wild Card history, sitting at 12-3 after 14 weeks.   BALTIMORE 26   WASHINGTON 20 The Blitz lock up the NE Division by knocking off their archrival. With Nassib out, it was Tajh Boyd getting the start for the Feds. It did not look good for 3 quarters as the Blitz put up a 26-6 lead, but in garbage time Boyd got some points on the board for the Federals. Too little and too late to scare the Blitz, however. Brian Hartline had a nice game for Baltimore, with 113 yards and a TD. POTG:  Blitz QB Jake Locker: 25/41, 300 yards, 2 TD, 0 Int   PORTLAND 6   SEATTLE 17 The Dragons blitzed and stunted their way to victory, sacking A.J. McCarron 6 times. Both teams struggled on 3 rd  down, but Seattle just had better luck sustaining drives with Brett Hundley finding Marshall Newhouse for a score and then Gus Edwards plunging into the endzone in the 4 th  to put the game away. Khalil Mack was the POTG with his big defensive day against McCarron and the Stags. POTG:  Seattle LB Khalil Mack: 5 Tck, 3 Sck, 2 PDef, 1 Int   CHICAGO 20  NEW ORLEANS 10 Geno Smith had the Breakers up 7, but then was knocked out of the game, and that gave the edge to the Machine. Josh Norman picked off Pat White and returned it for a 48-yard TD and Bradford found Claypool for a score as the Machine get the W and move to 11-4. New Orleans expects Smith back next week, but may rest him in a game that has only minimal importance for them. POTG:  Machine CB Josh Norman: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   PITTSBURGH 13   HOUSTON 31 With Andy Dalton out once again due to Covid, the Maulers drop a third in a row, with Houston taking advantage of his absence and Colt McCoy looking good as he throws 4 TDs on the day. TE Gerald Everett has his best game in 2 months, catching 3 for 92 yards, including a 75-yard TD, his 2 nd  of the day. POTG:  Houston QB Colt McCoy: 12/21, 251 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int   DALLAS 34  LAS VEGAS 23 The Roughnecks move into Wild Card position with a nice win as Sammy Watkins catches 5 for 183. Justin Herbert throws for 324 and 4 TDs as he continues to impress. For Las Vegas, Kareem Hunt had his best game of the season, rushing for 144 yards, but it was not enough as Matt McGloin tossed three interceptions and the offense moved the ball but just did not turn yards into points. POTG:  Dallas WR Sammy Watkins: 5 Rec, 183 Yds, 1 TD   OAKLAND 6   SAN DIEGO 13 A very bad loss for the Invaders as they could not take advantage of one of the worst defenses in the league. Simply nothing worked for Oakland as Tom Brady threw for only 142 and the offense managed only 10 first downs all game, due largely to a 2 of 16 record on 3 rd  and 4 th  downs. The lone TD of the day came from Thunder FB Derrick Coleman on a 1-yard plunge. Oakland now needs a ton of help to sneak into the Wild Card. POTG:  San Diego DE Jonathan Newsome: 6 Tck, 1 Sck   CHARLOTTE 14   JACKSONVILLE 34 The Bulls went with 3 rd  stringer Cardale Jones after a couple of rough outings for Ben DiNucci. In doing so they may have found themselves a new number two. Jones had himself a game, throwing for 367 and 3 touchdowns and looking very much like he was still at Ohio State and facing Akron or Kent State. Kyle Boller fails to get his 4 th  straight win, but played solidly. But this game belonged to the Bulls’ offense, with both Tee Higgins and Mike Williams going over 100 yards and scoring on the day. POTG:  Bulls’ QB Cardale Jones: 20/31, 367 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   NEW JERSEY 16   NEW ENGLAND 22 The Steamrollers just wanted this one more, and they played like a team happy to be playing. The Steamroller D held New Jersey to 3 of 12 on third and fourth down. New Jersey was sleepwalking a bit, already eliminated from the playoffs by the Baltimore and Houston wins. We did see Maurice Jones-Drew trying hard as he rushed for 173, but it was not enough as the Generals fell flat. POTG:  New England SS Jaiquawn Jarrett: 6 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 PDef, 1 FR   MICHIGAN 23   SAN ANTONIO 6 The Panthers cruise to their 13 th  win of the year, with LeVeon Bell rushing for 81 yards and 2 scores and the defense holding San Antonio to only 210 total yards and only 94 through the air. Kirk Cousins went 19 of 27 for 222 but threw no touchdowns in a pretty quiet afternoon for the Panthers. POTG:  Panther HB LeVeon Bell: 27 Att, 81 Yds, 2 TD   OHIO 13   BIRMINGHAM 31 Cam Newton has himself a good Cam Newton Day, passing for 326 and 2 scores and running for 64 and another. Stallion fans have to wonder why they don’t see this every week, but part of the answer is that not every foe has a tired and outmatched defense as Ohio does. The Glory started Connor Shaw again, and while he did not turn the ball over, he also did not make many plays. POTG:  Stallion QB Cam Newton: 17/30, 326 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int, 7 Att, 64 Yds, 1 TD   DENVER 14   OKLAHOMA 31 Josh Allen suffered a scary injury, with his ankle folding under him, though it appears to be only a strain, but he left the game and that gave Oklahoma a big edge. Their other advantage is that rookie QB Jalen Hurts appears to be a keeper, throwing for 282 yards and 4 TDs in this SW Division clash. Dede Westbrook caught 4 for 122 and 2 scores and the combo of Dallas and Hill ran for 119 yards as the Outlaws are still fighting to get to .500. POTG:  Outlaw QB Jalen Hurts: 15/27, 282 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int   ARIZONA 20   LOS ANGELES 30 You have to be worried if you are a Wrangler fan. Three games without David Carr, three losses, and now the Wranglers are just hoping that the bye week will give them time to figure out how to get their offense back on track. LA sacked Brandon Allen 4 times before Coach Tomsula took him out and tested out Tom Savage. It did not get better with Savage under center. Meanwhile, Reggie Bush rushed for 76 and Kyler Murray threw 3 TDs against an overtaxed Wrangler defense. POTG : Express CB Jamar Taylor: 7 Tck, 1 PDef, 1 FF, 1 FR   PHILADELPHIA 14   ORLANDO 26 Matt Gutierrez was back under center for the Stars after the injury to Lindley, but he did not win back any fans with a 178-yard day. Russell Wilson had a better day, going 31 for 39 with 2 TDs and 290 yards passing. Orlando controlled the clock, holding possession for 38:31 of the 60 minutes. Expect both teams to rest some starters in their finales as there is just not a whole lot of benefit of risking them. POTG:  Orlando QB Russell Wilson: 31/39, 290 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   ST. LOUIS 9   MEMPHIS 19 The Showboats struggled on offense, but did enough to get the W as they move to 12-3 and retain the lead in the Southern Division. They still need to beat New Orleans next week, as the Breakers are unblemished in division games, which means a tie would go to New Orleans. As for St. Louis, they are clearly protecting Jackson with their play calls in a lost season. Expect big roster upheaval this offseason. POTG:  Memphis kicker Lewis Ward: 4 of 5 Field Goals.   Bandits win the SE Division with Defense It was the game of the week, a matchup to decide the Southeastern Division and a matchup of two of the most dynamic offenses in the league this year, so, of course, it came down to defense. While both teams moved the ball quite effectively, with each gaining over 100 yards on the ground and finding success in the air, what decided this game was defense, particularly Tampa Bay’s 3 rd down defense.   The Bandits kept Atlanta in 3 rd  and long consistently, which is a huge reason they went 2 of 14 on third down conversions, averaging nearly 8 yards per attempt. And while Aaron Murray went 25 of 35 on the day, his 3 rd down numbers were a more modest 4 of 8, with 2 other 3 rd  downs ended with a sack, as Tampa Bay recorded 5 on the day, with 2 of them drive enders. It is exactly what past Bandit teams have lacked, a defense that could step up if the offense was not firing on all cylinders. That is not the case this year, with Jalen Ramsey among the league leaders in picks, Burns and McPhee closing in on 30 sacks this year, and DeMeco Ryans doing what he always has done, stuffing the run and patrolling the middle of the field. It is a good sign for a 14-1 Bandits team that already knows that they are the top dog in the conference. QB Illness & Injury a Late Season Story When the story is written of the 2020 USFL season, Covid will, of course, be a major part of the narrative, but so will late season QB issues. Whether it is the Wranglers unbeaten with David Carr and winless without him, or Portland’s surprising season hitting a major rough patch after losing Marcus Mariota for the year, or even just Pittsburgh playing without Andy Dalton over a tough 3-game span late in the season, a span that may well cost them a playoff spot (they are still alive but now need help to get there.)   It is not a new story. We all know how valuable a franchise QB is for any football team, but what we have seen this year is how late-season injury (or illness) can turn promise into problems, or momentum into misfortune. Arizona will be in the postseason, but will they be anything like the juggernaut they appeared to be a month ago. Both Pittsburgh and Portland now have their playoff aspirations very much up in the air.                   Several Teams Announce Plans to Rest Key Starters in Week 16 With so many of the playoff spots already locked in, and with several teams playing out the string, it could be a “Celebration of the Depth Chart” this week. We know we will see the starters in games tied to the two remaining Wild Card matchups as well as in the pivotal Memphis-New Orleans game. We also have heard directly from Coach Jim Tomsula that he will play his starters, trying to get one more W before his playoff bye because going into the postseason with 4 consecutive losses would not be a confidence builder. So, as we look towards the final week of the season, and as some of you plan for your fantasy league championships in Week 16, here is who you may want to take a look at with each of the 30 USFL teams.   ARIZONA All starters will play, so maybe start that Wrangler DST group against Portland.   ATLANTA OUT: Aaron Murray, Nick Chubb, A. J. Green, Albert Haynesworth, Luke Kuechley IN: DeShone Kizer, Kenyan Drake, Dorial Green-Thompson, Walter McBee, Zavier Gooden.   BALTIMORE OUT: Jake Locker, Josh Jacobs, C. J. Uzomah, Olivier Vernon IN: Nate Sudfeld, Troymaine Pope, Dion Simms, Jonathan Massaquai   BIRMINGHAM OUT: Cam Newton, Hunter Henry IN: Tim Tebow, Eric Ebron   CHARLOTTE  OUT: Justin Blackmon, Chandler Jones, Rolando McClain IN: Tandon Doss, Isaac Rochell, Jaylon Smith   CHICAGO     OUT: Sam Bradford, Michael Floyd, Arik Armstead, Jason Pierre-Paul, Josh Norman IN: Mike Kafka, Jermaine Kearse, Eddie Goldman, Trevor Guyton, Robert Anderson   DALLAS           All starters expected to play   DENVER        OUT: Josh Allen (IR), Golden Tate IN: Kyle Orton, Michael Crabtree   HOUSTON    OUT: Colt McCoy, Carlos Hyde, Mike Evans, Dante Fowler, Leodis McKelvin IN: Kellen Clemons, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Josh Reynolds, Emmanuel Ogbah, Siran Neal   JACKSONVILLE     OUT: Tee Higgins, Barkevious Mingo, Dominique Rogers-Cromartie                                   IN: Equanimeous St. Brown, Deatrich Wise Jr., A. J. Terrell   LAS VEGAS: OUT: Kareem Hunt, Matthew Judon, Blake Martinez IN: Matt Jones, Malik Jackson, Nick Perry   LOS ANGELES:   OUT: Kyler Murray, Reggie Bush, Eric Weems, Jason Whitten, Stephon Gilmore IN: Brock Osweiler, Paul Perkins, Nelson Aholor, Jacob Hollister, Isaac Oliver   MEMPHIS:   All starters expected to play.   MICHIGAN:   All starters expected to play.   NEW ORLEANS:  All starters expected to play.   NEW ENGLAND:   All starters expected to play.   NEW JERSEY: OUT: Nick Foles, Odell Beckham Jr, Vic Beasley, Aldon Smith, Aqib Talib IN: Brett Rypien, Kenny Stills, Alton Robinson, Doug Hogue, Isaac Yiadom   OAKLAND:  All starters expected to play.   OHIO:     OUT: Robert Quinn, Ryan Shazier, Tyran Matthieu IN: Datone Jones, Steven Daniels, Ryan Neal   OKLAHOMA: OUT: Mark Andrews, Luis Castillo, Xavien Howard IN: Ben Braunecker, Re’Shede Heggeman, Bradley Fletcher   ORLANDO     OUT: Russell Wilson, Knile Davis, Brashad Perriman, Dee Milliner IN: Kyle Lauletta, Kerrith White, Hunter Renfrew, Kevin Johnson   PHILADELPHIA     OUT: Travis Kelce IN: Cameron Brate   PITTSBURGH  All starters expected to play.   PORTLAND  All starters expected to play.   SAN ANTONIO   OUT: Joe Flacco, Brandon LaFell, Jordan Pugh                                 IN: Chad Kelly, Marquise Goodwin, Duke Shelley   SAN DIEGO OUT: Christian Ponder, Ryan Williams                         IN: Case Keenum, Travis Homer   SEATTLE       All starters expected to play.   ST. LOUIS        OUT: Lamar Jackson, Eddie Lacy, Stevie Johnson, Sheldon Richardson IN: Tyrod Taylor, David Montgomery, David Nelson, Stephen Paea   TAMPA BAY   OUT: Dak Prescott, Dalvin Cook, Dez Bryant, Marcell Dareus, DeMeco Ryans IN: B. J. Daniels, Matt Breida, Deebo Samuel, Bryan Cowart, Devon Kennard   WASHINGTON   OUT: Jahvid Best, Keenan Allen, Chris Long                                 IN: Darrynton Evans, Jalen Saunders, Michael Johnson   One week left, two playoff spots still unclaimed, and not a lot else expected to change as we enter into the final week. Expect to see quite a few backups getting game action this week as there is not as much final week drama as we have seen in recent years. We have 10 playoff spots locked in and 5 teams still alive. Let’s break down where each conference stands, starting with the East, where there is very little left to be decided.     Tampa Bay Bandits (14-1): The Bandits have the 1 seed and a bye locked up. Expect them to rest their starters against Jacksonville this week.   Memphis Showboats (12-3): The Memphis Showboats have a meaningful game left to play. They face New Orleans this week in their finale. The winner of that game claims the Southern Division crown and the bye as the 2 seed. If Memphis wins, then they have a 2-game advantage over New Orleans, but if the Breakers win, they get the title thanks to a perfect 8-0 record against Southern Division foes.   Baltimore Blitz (9-6): The Blitz finish the year with a game against Atlanta, but they are already locked into the 3 seed and will likely rest some starters to prepare for the Wild Card round the next week.   Atlanta Fire (12-3): Atlanta needs to win to ensure that they, and not the 2 nd place team in the South, gets the 4 seed and a chance to “host” their Wild Card game. Honestly, that holds less weight than ever since the games will not be played in the host cities regardless of results, but there are still a few minor perks to being designated the home team, so we would not be shocked to see the Fire keep their staters in the game.   New Orleans Breakers (11-4): For New Orleans the stakes are high in the final week. A win over Memphis and they jump from the 5 seed all the way to the 2, which means they get a bye and at least one “home” game. Lose and they are likely stuck facing the Atlanta Fire in with Wild Card round, a very tough matchup.   Houston Gamblers (9-6): Locked into the 6 seed, Houston will almost certainly rest their stars as they prepare to face the Baltimore Blitz in a 3-6 matchup in 2 weeks.     Michigan Panthers (13-2): The Panthers are feeling very good in the 1 spot, thanks in part to a better conference record than Arizona. They are expected to start their regulars, but we may see only a few drives from Bell, Cousins, and Latimer before they are replaced.   Arizona Wranglers (12-3): Once securely in the top spot, Arizona has lost 3 in a row, and while the analytics say they should rest some starters, Coach Tomsula wants this club to get a W under their belt before they take the Wild Card week off. They need to prove to themselves that they can win games without Carr at QB, so we think they will keep everyone in against Portland.   Los Angeles Express (10-5): The Express lock up the Pacific with a win. A loss could cost them the division and the marginal advantage of being the home team in the Wild Card round. They face a Las Vegas team that has nothing to play for, so if they get a comfortable lead, they may pull some starters to rest them for the Wild Card round.   Chicago Machine (11-4): Locked into the Wild Card and the 4 slot, the Machine have little to play for this week and we expect to see a lot of roster changes as they rest starters and prepare to “host” their Wild Card matchup. They will also be doing a lot of scoreboard watching to see just who that matchup will be.   Dallas Roughnecks (9-6): A win and they are the 5 seed, but a loss could cost them a playoff spot. The face San Diego, who just dealt the Invaders a big blow, and we don’t think they will take them lightly. Expect to see a lot of Justin Herbert and Sammy Watkins in this one.   Seattle Dragons (9-6): Like Dallas, the Dragons control their own fate. A win against the 6-9 Denver Gold and Seattle locks up the last Wild Card spot. They too know that a loss could kill their playoff hopes, so expect them to come out with purpose and expect to see all the starters for 60 minutes.   Pittsburgh Maulers (9-6): Right now the Maulers are the 3 rd  team at 9-6, on the outside looking in. They need to defeat rival Ohio to have any shot and then hope that either the Dragons or Roughnecks stumble in their finales. Still, compared to the two 8-7 teams, they at least have a shot without resorting to tie breakers.   Portland Stags (8-7): The Stags cannot be happy that Arizona has something to play for. They not only need to figure out how to get past Arizona, but also need significant help, in the form of losses by 2 of the 3 teams at 9-6 right now. If that sounds like a lot to ask, well, it is.   Oakland Invaders (8-7): That loss this week to San Diego is a killer. It was the one thing the Invaders could not afford. Now, not only do they need to defeat a pretty feisty Oklahoma team, but they need pretty much everyone ahead of them to lose. That means Portland, Pittsburgh, Seattle, and Dallas. Long odds to be sure.   While many of the players who show up on our injured list likely would have sat out Week 16 regardless of health, you never want to see players go down with an injury at any point in the season. The good news is that even the players on IR this week are all looking at injuries that should be fully healed by the end of November, so no impact on their pre-2021 training. As for playoff teams, we see that New Orleans could be without CB Donte Jackson, LA is hoping to have WR Marqise Lee back in time for the Divisional Round if they can get past their Wild Card matchup, and Arizona expects to have Corey Levin back for their first playoff game as well.   OUT OT       Greg Robinson      BIR         Torn Quad          IR QB         Easton Stick             SAN         ACL                       IR DE          Tyrone Crawford     POR        Hamstring         IR QB         Josh Allen                DEN        Ankle                    IR WR         Marqise Lee           LA             Knee                     2-4 Weeks CB          Donte Jackson        NOR        Back                     2-4 Weeks OG         Corey Levin             ARZ         Foot                      1-2 Weeks DT          Eddie Goldman      CHI          Arm                       1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL OT          Demar Dotson       MGN      Wrist WR         A. J. Green             ATL        Shoulder   QUESTIONABLE SS           Duke Williams        DAL        Tendinitis WR         Mike Evans              HOU      Thigh Bruise SS           Kenny Vaccaro       HOU       Pinched Nerve    COVID-19 INACTIVES CHA      HB         Laverne Rollins               MEM     CB          Marcus Williams NOR      LB           Tim Williams OAK      DE          Michael Bennett OAK      OG         Quenton Nelson             SD          WR         Ronald Johnson               STL         CB          Vontae Davis STL         LB           Roquon Smith          2 nd  Week     The Futile Five: Teams Who Need to Change their Culture We talk a lot about dynasties in the world of sports, focusing on the teams that always seem to be on top, always in play for a championship. The 5-10 year runs that define a decade and the teams that just never seem to go too long without finding a way to the top. But what about the opposite situation? What about the teams that just can never seem to put it all together. For every NY Yankees team there is a Chicago Cubs, the Lakers are countered by the Clippers, the Cowboys, Steelers, and 49ers by the Lions, Browns, and Bengals. The USFL is no different. We often discuss the dynasties of the 1990’s Gamblers, or the early 2000’s Glory, the Stars and Bandits, and lately the Panthers and Wranglers, who are in the mix every year, at least for a span of several years, and who seem to find a way to stay on top for longer than the finances of the USFL seem to allow. But who are the sad sacks of the USFL? Who are the teams that never seem to get the breaks, find the franchise QB, or turn good into great? We have picked 5 teams who might fit that bill. Five clubs with varying levels of past success but all with major issues. Sure, some have made it to the Summer Bowl, maybe even won a title, but that is an aberration, and exception to the rule. For these clubs, suffering, disappointment and let-downs are the norm. This is our Futile Five.  Jacksonville Bulls List of Failings: No titles in 37 seasons. 10 losses or more in the past 9 seasons. No playoff appearance since 2007.   Little argument that the Bulls have been a snakebitten team for nearly their entire existence. As they close in on 40 seasons, they still have yet to appear in a Summer Bowl, and for many fans, they have never even been close. The Bulls have not made the playoffs in over a decade, have had 10 or more losses more often than they have reached .500, and every year it seems a different team leaps over them, from basement to penthouse, as Tampa Bay did last year (on their way to this year’s dominance) and as Atlanta has this year.   Their greatest stars have rarely even met the standards for the Hall of Fame. Are you enthused by Chris Chandler as your All-Time QB? Antowain Smith or George Adams as your HB? And while both Brian Blades and Gary Clark were good players, no one mistakes them for the best of all time. So, the Bulls sit atop our list for all the reasons you would think a club would. Sorry Duval County, you deserve better.   San Diego Thunder List of Failings: No titles in 34 seasons. 1 appearance in Conference Title Game since 1997. Third different city since 2000.   We list the Thunder as our 2 nd  most futile team in the USFL. This is a club that has been in the league since the late 1980’s and, like the Bulls, have yet to win a title. They have at least appeared in a Summer Bowl, losing to the Federals back in 1997, which ,by the way, was two cities ago, back when the team was in Portland. The Thunder are perhaps more famous for financial malfeasance than on-field performance. They struggled in Portland, unable to turn a profit despite a pretty rabid fanbase. They relocated to Las Vegas, playing in a barely passable outdoor stadium, often in ludicrous heat, and then were forced to be sold when their ownership was found responsible for major financial malpractice. So now they are in San Diego, where they seemed to have turned things around, making the playoffs for 4-straight years, but in classic futile franchise style, their hopes were dashed this year as the floor fell out beneath them, plunging them back to playoff irrelevance.   Dallas Roughnecks List of Failings: No playoff appearance since 2009 League Title in Boston. 8 seasons with 10 or more losses in last decade, Relocated twice since 2000.   Fans are excited about the Roughnecks this year, and they can lock in their first playoff since moving from Boston with a win next week. But we would warn Roughneck fans not to get too excited. The once Atlanta Fire, then Boston Cannons, and now Dallas Roughnecks, have had a few moments, including a league title 12 seasons ago, but consistent quality has not been the name of the game for this franchise. After struggling both on the field and at the box office in Atlanta, the team relocated to Boston, spending several years in constant frustrating impasse with Boston College, never able to get the stadium improvements needed to truly be a financially viable franchise. And so they moved again, a 2 nd  relocation in less than 2 decades. Now, in Dallas, they have built a fanbase, but little on-field success. That seems to be changing with their exciting rookie QB, Justin Herbert, but as we have seen so many times, a good season does not always foretell a solid run of good years. Be cautious in your enthusiasm Roughneck Nation.   Birmingham Stallions List of Failings: One playoff appearance since 2003. No playoff wins since 1999. 13 losing seasons since 2000.   What was once a proud franchise, led by superstars like Joe Cribbs, Cliff Stoudt, Brett Favre, and Ernest Givens is now a shadow of its own past. The Stallions of the 80’s and 90’s were solid. Sure, they only won a single title, their 1993 title with Favre at the helm, but they were always in the mix, building up a great rivalry with Memphis and a diehard fan base. But the new millennium has not been kind to the Stallions. As we cited above, they have only had one playoff appearance and no wins since 2003. They have one of the most talented and athletic QBs in the game today but still seem to always find a way to stumble to 10 or more losses, as they have this year. They have gone after HB after HB and yet somehow seem to miss all the obviously talented ones out of their own T-Draft school, Alabama. Stallion fans still show up in droves, at least when fans are allowed to show up, but there is a tone of resigned pessimism instead of expectations of greatness.   St.Louis Skyhawks List of Failings: 2 winning seasons in 16 year existence, 10 losses or more in 6 of last 7 years.   Some may be surprised that we have put St. Louis on this list, but that may be the lingering memory of one amazing season. 2012 saw the Skyhawks truly fly. Their QB, Josh Freeman, won the MVP, their veteran HB, Antowain Smith, won the rushing title, and their club took home a title. But when you look at the Skyhawks as a franchise, since their arrival as an expansion team in 2006, what you see is a whole heck of a lot of bad football, with one short run of quality. The year before and after their title run they were 8-8, go a year out in either direction and they were 5-11 (2010) or 4-12 (2014). They were the definition of a flash in the pan. And since 2012, what do we see? How about 5 seasons with 10, 11, 12, or13 losses and only 1 with a winning record. St. Louis already has 13 losses this year, and could hit a new low if they lose a 14 th . So, yes, we think it is fair to say that the Skyhawks are one of the Futile Five, and a team deeply in need of a transfusion of winning culture.   Seattle Releases 2021 Look, Hopes to Wear them in 2 Weeks Hot in pursuit of a playoff spot, the Seattle Dragons this week revealed a new look they hope to debut on the field in 2 weeks, rather than 8 months, and it is a look that fans immediately embraced. Gone is the white helmet and wrap around logo and back in vogue is the return to deep forest green and gold. The new look reduces the role of red in the team’s design, focusing primarily on green with a significant use of yellow as the secondary color.   The look begins with a new logo, the 4 th  dragon design the team has used since coming into the league in 1995. The new design has a green dragon with gold underbelly, red “fins” and a burst of red flame emerging from its mouth. The design also features a flared “tail” that helps the dragon design form the letter “S” for Seattle. This new logo, outlined in black and yellow, now occupies the satin finished green helmet.   The jerseys are simpler than in recent years, but we retain the “Gothic” font for the numbers, with the top of each numeral coming to a point much like a gothic arch. There is a minimal use of red in the jerseys, only seen in the Under Armour logo, the very tip of the collar, and a few logo elements. Both the home greens and the road whites feature a shoulder yoke coming to a point at the sleeve cuff, but on the greens, it is barely noticeable, with only the yellow piping showing us the shape of the yoke. Both jerseys also feature the new primary logo, which means that the secondary “S” design does not appear on the uniform. What does appear is a Chinese symbol, the symbol for “Dragon”, which appears above the nameplate on both jerseys, a nice nod to Seattle’s prominent Asian community.   As with all the Under Armour releases, the Dragons also revealed two alternate looks. The first, of course, is the throwback, taking the look back to 1995, with the green helmet, original yellow dragon logo, and “Spanish Flag” striping of red-yellow-red (so named by fans, not the team). With the forest green helmet used for the primaries and the throwback, that meant Seattle could do something new with their other alternate look, and they did just that, leaning into the city’s nickname as the “Emerald City” by releasing an alternate that uses 3 tones of green, none of them the familiar forest. The helmet is a pale, almost metallic silvery green, paired with a deep midnight green facemask. The third color is a brighter lime or electric green, used primarily in piping and in the logo. Both white and dark jerseys retain the same yoke as the primary, but with the midnight green outlined in the electric highlight color, while the body of the home jersey is the same silvery grey of the helmet. Midnight green pants will be worn with both jerseys as the Dragons embrace the “emerald” nature of their home. Seattle hopes to debut their new primary uniform in 2 weeks, if they can get the W in week 16 and punch their ticket to the postseason. Seattle's design is based on a mesh of the 2020 XFL and 2023 XFL designs, with a nudge from a design by jackkmart on Sportslogos.net Down to the final week of USFL regular season action, and with one division title and two Wild Card spots still up for grabs, there are quite a few games that will have an impact in the playoff picture this week. It will be a bit different from most Week 16 lineups in that the limitations of the USFL’s Hub System means that we won’t see games paired up with each other at the same time to avoid gaming the system. For example, the 5 teams still alive in the Western Conference Wild Card scenarios are not all playing at once, we have Portland playing on Friday Night, Seattle and Dallas both at 4pm on Saturday, Pittsburgh at 1pm on Sunday, and Oakland at 4. That could well lead to the Stags having to wait to see if they are in, even with a win, or both Pittsburgh and Oakland knowing they are out even before they suit up on Sunday.    It will be an odd one, to be sure, but we at least have one game that we know has immediate impact. The Memphis-New Orleans showdown on Saturday night is a battle for the Southern Division Title, and with it, a by week for the playoffs. The Showboats are a game up, but would lose the tiebreaker to New Orleans if they cannot pull out this game. Expect both teams to be in full playoff mode for this one.   FRIDAY 8pm ET    New Jersey (7-7-1) @ Philadelphia (1-14)         Orlando       NBC                No playoff implications   8pm ET   Portland (8-7) @ Arizona (12-3)                                Las Vegas         ABC                 Arizona earns 1 seed with win + Michigan Loss.                Portland earns Wild Card with win + 2 losses from Seattle, Dallas, and Pittsburgh.   9pm ET    Birmingham (3-12) @ Houston (9-6)                    TDECU          ESPN/EFN               No playoff implications.   SATURDAY 1pm ET    San Antonio (2-13) @ St. Louis (2-13)                    NRG           ABC                 No playoff implications.   4pm ET   Seattle (9-6) @ Denver (6-9)                                      Glendale          FOX                 Seattle earns Wild Card with win. Division Title with win + LA Loss.   4pm ET   San Diego (3-12) @ Dallas (9-6)                               Las Vegas         ABC                Dallas earns Wild Card with a win.   8pm ET    Jacksonville (7-8) @ Tampa Bay (14-1)               Gainesville     NBC                 No playoff implications.   8pm ET   Baltimore (9-6) @ Atlanta (12-3)                              Tampa            FOX                 Atlanta earns 4-seed with win or New Orleans loss.   9pm ET   Memphis (12-3) @ New Orleans (11-4)              Rice               ESPN/EFN                 Winner is division champion and earns a bye week.   SUNDAY 1pm ET   Ohio (3-12) @ Pittsburgh (9-6)                                  NRG              FOX                Pittsburgh earns a Wild Card with win + Dallas or Seattle loss.   4pm ET   Los Angeles (10-5) @ Las Vegas (3-12)                 Glendale        ABC               No playoff implications.   4pm ET   Oakland (8-7) @ Oklahoma (7-8)                             Las Vegas      FOX                 Oakland needs a win and multiple losses from Dallas, Seattle, Pittsburgh & Portland to earn a Wild Card.   8pm ET   New England (6-9) @ Washington (5-9-1)         Orlando          ABC                  No playoff implications.   8pm ET   Charlotte (6-9) @ Orlando (7-8)                            Tampa           FOX                                 No playoff implications.   9pm ET   Chicago (11-4) @ Michigan (13-2)                          TDECU          ESPN/EFN                 Michigan earns 1-seed with win.

Week 14 has Wrangler nation worried, the Machine Guild feeling good, and tensions high between fans of the Bandits and Fire as those two prepare for one of the biggest games of the year. It was a bad week for Denver, Oakland, and Orlando, but things are looking up for the Portland Stags and Houston Gamblers. In other words, it is end-of-season drama at its best. We will break down all the Week 14 results and their impact for the next two weeks and the postseason. We will also take a sneak peak at the top of the draft and teams likely to be there, our Big Story of the week, then highlight some big performances, including at least one very familiar name to USFL fans, and take a look at what could be brutal Black Monday in two weeks. All this, plus our game of the week features a team rallying together after losing their starting QB. Sounds intriguing? Of course, this is the USFL after all.   Who Wants the First Pick in the 2021 USFL Open Draft? The USFL Draft is a funny thing. Not only do you not know who is going to be available in the Open Draft until 1 week prior to making your picks, thanks to the USFL’s long history of a Territorial Draft that allows each team to protect 3 players from a pool of regional schools, but you also have the NFL in the mix every year, which means that at best you have a 50/50 chance of actually landing the player you pick, even with the USFL’s overall number one pick. We have seen time and again that teams just don’t have confidence in the pick, and with the T-Draft in the mix, so many top prospects are taken off the board even before you get to walk your card up to the podium. Many believe that the best use of the 1 st  overall pick is as trade bait, to get you access to another team’s best T-Draft prospect. Others realize that there are always blue chip options left in the Open Draft and that teams near the top of the draft always have multiple needs. For some, the key is to pick a player who almost certainly will be chosen in the middle of the NFL 1 st  round, because that league’s rigid compensation system for rookie contracts gives a Top 5 USFL pick almost certainly a better deal to play in spring than to take the contract available to the 15 th  pick in the NFL draft. So, who are the teams that are still alive for the 1 st  overall pick, and what might they do with it. Well, it starts with 1-win Philadelphia and moves all the way through the teams at 2 or 3 wins, with diminishing odds each step, but we know all of these teams are looking at potential Top 5 picks, so what is their path forward? Do they hold the pick? Go for needs? Best Player Available? Or do they use the pick as bait to acquire veteran players or to get access to someone else’s T-Draft selection and maybe nab that coveted prospect who will never make it to the floor in the Open Draft? So many options, so many possible missteps. It is what makes the USFL Draft exciting, exciting like a single role of the dice at a craps table, because the odds are not in your favor, but a lot is riding on that roll of the dice. Philadelphia (1-13) The Stars are the frontrunner for the 1 st overall selection, and in what could be a QB-rich draft, they certainly could benefit from having that pick. The problem is that none of the top QB prospects are unprotected from potential T-Draft selection. That means that the Stars need to think not necessarily of retaining the 1 st  pick, but of using it as trade fodder to get access to a T-Draft eligible QB. For example, they could trade with Jacksonville to get a shot at Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, though they likely won’t be the only team barking up that tree. They could also package the pick with some other collateral to get a current USFL QB in trade, though that is not likely the path to getting a franchise guy, because those just are not traded.  St. Louis (2-12) The Skyhawks’ win this week pulled them a game ahead of Philadelphia, which means more likely they are the 2 nd  pick than the first, but if Philly pulls out a win in the final weeks, they could again be in the running. They do not need a QB, as that is just about the only position they have locked down. So, if they get the pick, they are likely to hold onto it and snag the best defensive player available. That just makes too much sense.  San Diego (2-12) A playoff team over several years, the Thunder are still trying to figure out the reasons for their absolute collapse. They don’t think the issue is Christian Ponder, though he certainly has not been at his best this year. If he is fine, then they too are not a QB-hungry team, which means they can look at either halfback, receiver, some line help or defense. If by some miracle they end up at the top of the draft order, and if OT Oregon’s Penei Sewell does not end up on the Stags’ protected list, we could see them go for the QB bodyguard, but if not, and it does seem a longshot, then they, like St. Louis have to go for defense.  Birmingham (2-12) The Stallions always have such a rich pool of talent in their T-Draft, thanks to the Alabama-Auburn pipeline, that they tend to undervalue the Open Draft. That may not be the case if they have the 1 st overall pick. We think they too go defense, though they could surprise us and essentially treat the 1 st  pick like a 4 th  T-Draft option, using their 3 official T-Draft picks on positions of need and still getting the best Alabama prospect left with this pick, which makes a lot of sense, especially if they go WR in the T-Draft ands save Najee Harris for this choice.   San Antonio (2-12) The only team in this group that is not absolutely devastated to be so high in the draft. The Gunslingers expected their first year to be tough. And with Joe Flacco still looking like a good option, they are not QB-obsessed, so even if they get the top pick they are more likely to look at positions of need than to focus on the QB position. We think a HB, maybe a WR, or, perhaps most likely, a solid edge rusher if they think they see one in the draft is the pick for them.  Ohio (3-13) Very unlikely they end up with the first pick, and honestly, they really don’t need it. Picking in the Top 5 or 6 is going to get them what they want. Why? Because their obvious issues at QB can, and almost certainly will, be solved by selecting Ohio State QB Justin Fields in the T-Draft. Fields is athletic, disciplined, and basically pro-ready after playing for the Buckeyes against top level opposition. We cannot imagine the Glory let him slip away as they almost certainly will start wooing him even before the draft and because playing in Columbus will give him instant merchandising and sponsorship options that going elsewhere in the NFL would not.  Las Vegas (3-13) Matt McGloin is not the big issue for the Vipers, but they could still get QB Fever. If we assume they are picking in the Top 5 but not at number 1, the most likely scenario is that they go for a halfback. Their run game is just tragically unreliable, and while that cannot be solved by one rookie tailback, it won’t hurt. They can build up the O-line through plenty of paths this offseason, but getting stud to carry the rock is usually a build-through-the-draft proposition.   OAKLAND INVADERS 21   PORTLAND STAGS 24 For the second time in the 2020 season the Portland Stags were facing an injury to their star quarterback. Marcus Mariota missed both Week 2 and Week 3 to injury earlier this year, and last week he suffered a hamstring tear that ended his season. But, while many immediately began to write off the Stags, some remembered that when Mariota went down early in the season, backup A. J. McCarron came in and helped the Stags defeat the Oklahoma Outlaws.   Well, McCarron was back under center again this week against a tough Oakland pass rush and a pretty good Invader secondary, and he proved once again that he could lead this team. The Portland backup went 17 of 29 for 276 yards with 2 TDs and 2 picks. Despite absorbing 8 sacks in the game, he was in position to win the game on a final drive and he did what needed to be done to get the Stags into field goal range and keep their playoff hopes alive.   It was not all McCarron, of course. Halfback Doug Martin stepped up in a big way, rushing for 101 yards on 26 carries and scoring the game’s first touchdown. Tight end Trey Burton had a nice game as well, catching 6 of 8 targets and rackin gup 82 yards, but the big star of the day, at least for the Stag offense, was WR Alshon Jefferey. While Brandin Cooks racked up more yards, it was Jeffery who brought in two touchdowns, including a toe tapper in the 3 rd  quarter that gave the Stags a 21-10 lead.   All this against an Oakland defense that had helped the Invaders win 8 games and which put points on the board itself. While Doug Martin’s 1-yard TD plunge in the first quarter was the only scoring of the opening period, the Oakland defense got the Invaders right back in the game. Jahleel Addae read McCarron’s eyes perfectly and jumped the throw on an out route to Cooks. He nabbed the ball out of the air and ran it back 35 yards for the equalizer, causing the Portland QB to slam his helmet to the turf on the sideline. But McCarron rebounded and on his very next possession led the Stags on a 14-play, 71-yard trek, taking back the lead with a TD toss to Jeffery.   By the half it was 14-10 and Portland was feeling very much like this was a game they could win. Despite the gloom and doom when Mariota was placed on IR and done for the year, the Stags players rallied and pulled together and now they had the lead with 30 minutes to play. They felt even better when another McCarron-led drive, helped significantly by a 25-yard Doug Martin run, put 7 more points on the board. Alshon Jeffery kept both toes on the turf as he leaned out of the endzone to bring in the McCarron pass, and Portland had themselves an 11-point lead with 8 minutes left in the 3 rd But, Oakland being Oakland, and Tom Brady being Tom Brady, that 11-point lead was in no way secure. The Invaders got a field goal later in the 3 rd to pull within 8, and just as the 4 th  quarter began, they got their biggest play of the day against a conservative Portland shell defense. On a 3 rd and 7 on their own 22, Tom Brady looked to be sacked by Portland LB Nico Johnson, but somehow slipped out of the sack, scrambled to his right and found former Stallion Jerrel Jernigan for an 11-yard gain to keep the drive alive. That play sparked the Oakland offense, and 6 plays later Brady found Davante Adams on a perfect slant & go route, producing a 28-yard TD strike. Down 2, the Invaders went for the play from scrimmage to tie the game. Brady faked the ball to McCaffrey and then found the back in the flat. The Oakland tailback gave a shoulder fake to the safety and dove to the corner, getting the ball across the plane before his knee hit. We had a tie score with just under 8 minutes to go.   The following 8 minutes included 3 changes of possession, starting with a 3-and-out from the Portland offense. That was followed by a rarity, a 2 nd  Tom Brady interception in the same game. Brady tried to squeeze the ball into the hands of Taylor Gabriel, his leading receiver on the day, but the ball glanced off his outstretched hands. In classic tip drill style, Portland’s Taron Johnson dove into the play and snagged the ball before it hit the turf. The Stags were in business with 2:17 left to play and the ball on the Invader 48. They did not rush, using Doug Martin and a nice TE screen to Burton to get the ball into range. Not wanting to risk a turnover they ran the ball three times in an attempt to keep the drive going, but when Martin failed to reach the line to gain on 3 rd  and 4, they sent out Cody Parkey to kick a go-ahead field goal form 40 yards out. Parkey’s kick went right down the middle and Portland was up 3 with 1:20 to go.   Oakland mounted a final drive to either win or tie the game, but the Portland defense held, forcing Roberto Aguayo to attempt a 55-yarder to tie the game. The kick sliced right and the Stags got the win, their second in a row, evening their record with Oakland at 8-6 and leaving a very complicated final 2 weeks in the Pacific as Oakland, Portland, and Seattle all sit 1 game behind the 9-5 LA Express. Just how complex? Well, here are the games on tap the final two weeks for these 4 teams:   WEEK 15 Portland vs. Seattle in what could be a playoff elimination game. LA has to face a desperate Arizona Wranglers team, eager to hold onto the 1 seed. Oakland has what appears to be a cakewalk against 2-12 San Diego, but this is a California Derby game, so who knows.   WEEK 16 None of the 4 teams have a division game. Portland’s road is perhaps toughest, with Arizona on the schedule. Oakland will face the Oklahoma Outlaws, LA goes up against the Las Vegas Vipers, and the Seattle Dragons have the Denver Gold. We could see all 4 win, creating a cluster atop the division, or we could see some teams lose their shot with a badly-timed loss in an interdivisional game. It could be a whole heck of a lot of scoreboard watching too.                                 ORLANDO 24  NEW JERSEY 30 The Generals got back over .500, kept the flame alive for a division title, and eliminated the Renegades from playoff consideration all in one fell swoop, and all despite being outgained. The way they pulled that off was with takeaways. New Jersey won the turnover battle 4-0, a very decisive advantage as they picked off Russell Wilson three times and forced a fumble from Knile Davis on their way to the win. They also got 3 touchdowns from Nick Foles as the New Jersey QB went 22 of 33 in the victory. POTG:  New Jersey LB Aldon Smith, 9 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   LOS ANGELES 17   SEATTLE 27 A huge win for the Dragons as they knock LA back a game and pull themselves within 1 of the division lead. Knowshon Moreno was again the focal point for Seattle, and while he only had 89 yards, his 2 touchdowns helped propel Seattle to 8-6. Kyler Murray hit Eric Weems with 2 TD tosses but it was not enough to get LA the win and a larger margin in this tight division. POTG:  Seattle LB Khalil Mack: 8 Tck, 3 TFL, 1 Sck   MICHIGAN 20  PITTSBURGH 7 With Andy Dalton sidelined by Covid-19, the Maulers struggled to match the Panther offense. They were limited to only 66 yards rushing, well below LeVeon Bell’s total of 115. Michigan got an early TD from Martellus Bennett and added a late one from backup HB Alexander Mattison, and that was really all they needed against a weakened Mauler squad. POTG:  Michigan CB Keivarae Russell: 6 Tck, 5 PDef, 1 Int   MEMPHIS 33   SAN ANTONIO 13 Paxton Lynch returned under center for the Showboats and promptly threw for 295 yards and 2 scores, while Todd Gurley added 119 on the ground as Memphis rolled past the expansion Gunslingers. Devin Funchess was again outstanding, catching 8 of 10 targets for 138 yards, while Robert Woods and TE Dallas Goedert caught TDs from a healthy Paxton Lynch. POTG:  Memphis QB Paxton Lynch: 28/47, 295 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   DALLAS 45 DENVER 30 Four Josh Allen picks helped Dallas fend off the Gold and move to 8-6, eliminating Denver from the playoff race in the mix. Allen threw for 310 yards and 3 scores, but the picks were brutal, including a 39-yard pick-six from Dallas CB Patrick Peterson. Dallas also got a strip-sack-recovery-touchdown from DE Connor Barwin and 4 TD passes from rookie Justin Herbert in a battle of two of the league’s young gunslingers. POTG:  Dallas CB Patrick Peterson: 7 Tck, 3 PDef, 2 Int, 1 Def TD   CHARLOTTE 27  WASHINGTON 17 The Monarchs won their third straight, but both they and the defeated Washington Federals were both eliminated this week. In a battle of backups, Kyle Boller and Tajh Boyd fought for the win and for respect, and for the 3 rd week in a row it was Boller getting the win. He got help from the run game with Murray and Hines combining for 145 yards and a TD, and from WR Justin Blackmon who caught 9 passes for 116 yards. POTG:  Monarch WR Justin Blackmon: 9 Rec, 116 Yds   ATLANTA 24  PHILADELPHIA 16 The Fire seemed a bit doused in this one but still managed to get their 12 th win against a deeply troubled Philadelphia squad. Nick Chubb rushed for 121 and Aaron Murray threw for 2 scores despite the absence of star WR A. J. Green. Ryan Lindley was replaced midway through the game as the Stars’ QB as P. J. Walker got a chance to show what he could do. The two Star QBs combined to go 22 of 35, but neither threw a TD and both threw a pick as the Stars all but locked up the 1 st  pick in the draft with their 13 th  loss. POTG:  Atlanta FS Earl Thomas: 8 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int, 1 FF, 1 FR   HOUSTON 16   NEW ORLEANS 24 In a huge game for both Southern Division teams, it was a surprise player who starred for the Breakers as Myles Gaskin again made a case for the starting job, rushing the ball 18 times for 112 yards. The threat of the run kept Houston’s pass rush in check and that allowed Geno Smith to hit Jordy Nelson for 114 and a TD and to find TE Coby Fleener for 132 and a score as well. Despite 113 yards from Carlos Hyde, the Houston offense sputtered, with Mike Evans catching only 1 ball on the day, and that was enough for the Breakers to take the game. POTG:  Breaker LB Kwon Alexander: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   OHIO 13  ST. LOUIS 21 In an odd game that had fans of both teams hoping their club would lose (and improve their draft position) it was St. Louis getting the win, their 2 nd on the year, thanks to a Lamar Jackson TD toss to Stevie Johnson and 5 Zane Gonzalez field goals. Connor Shaw got the start but struggled to 10 out of 21 passing and only 119 yards. Not an impressive win from St. Louis to be sure, and one that many Skyhawk fans dreaded as it now likely removes the Skyhawks from a shot at the first overall draft pick. POTG: Skyhawk LB Trey Hendrickson: 10 Tck, 3 TFL   ARIZONA 10   OKLAHOMA 23 A very bad sign for Wrangler fans as Brandon Allen and the Wrangler offense struggled to get anything going against an Outlaw squad that was eliminated from playoff contention last week. The Outlaws outgained Arizona 472-258 despite a ridiculous 5-sack performance from Calais Campbell. DeeJay Dallas had 100 on the ground and rookie QB Jalen Hurts was back under center and looked very solid, throwing for 332 yards and 2 scores despite being sacked 12, yes, that is right, 12 times by the aggressive Wrangler D (although 3 of those were just him running out of bounds behind the line to be honest.) POTG:  Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts: 14/24, 332 Yds, 2 Td, 1 Int, Survived 12 sacks.   LAS VEGAS 30  SAN DIEGO 24  OVERTIME San Diego continues to play teams tough but also continues to come up short. They pushed Las Vegas to overtime in a battle of 2-win teams, and again, as with St. Louis, Viper fans seemd almost disappointed when Matt McGloin found Aaron Dobson for a game-winning score in overtime. McGloin looked about as good as he has all year, completing 41 of 50 passes for 360 yards and 3 TDs against an ineffective Thunder secondary. POTG:  Viper QB Matt McGloin: 41/50, 360 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int   TAMPA BAY 27  NEW ENGLAND 10 The Bandits bounced back from their surprising loss last week by putting together a 24-0 run against the Steamrollers, thanks to three Prescott to Bryant TD tosses, each over 40 yards long. Bryant’s stat line was insane, with 5 receptions for 213 yards and 3 scores. Prescott was sacked 6 times as the Steamrollers played them tough, but the New England offense just could not respond to the Bandits’ scoring run. POTG:  Bandit WR Dez Bryant: 5 rec, 213 Yds, 3 TD   JACKSONVILLE 23   BALTIMORE 35 The Blitz retained their slim lead in the NE Division, thanks in large part to a 292-yard, 4-TD day from QB Jake Locker. It was TE C. J. Uzomah who stood out as a target in this game, with three of his five receptions going for scores. The Blitz also got huge numbers from Josh Jacobs, who averaged 6.2 YPC on his way to 162 yards on the ground. POTG:  Blitz QB Jake Locker: 23/39, 292 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   BIRMINGHAM 17   CHICAGO 30 The Machine contained Cam Newton, holding him to 26 yards rushing, and rookie WR Chase Claypool had a nice 6-catch, 2-TD game as Chicago locked up a playoff spot with the win. Sam Bradford is in playoff form, completing 20 of 31 for 331 yards and 2 scores. It was 10-10 at the half, but the Machine put up 20 unanswered before a garbage-time TD from Newton to Anderson made the game a bit closer. POTG:  Chicago QB Sam Bradford: 20/31, 333 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int     Campbell a One Man Show for Arizona Yes, there are real concerns for Arizona after they dropped their 2 nd  in a row without David Carr, but don’t tell defensive end and team captain Calais Campbell that they are out of it. From this week’s effort it seems Campbell is ready to carry this team on his back if he has to. The league’s all-time sack leader not only put himself back on top of the statistical leaderboard this week, after trailing Montez Sweat all season long, but he also set an Arizona team record with 5 sacks of Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts (who clearly hurts after this game).   Campbell cannot produce points for the Wranglers (now that I say that I expect he will score on a fumble recovery next week), so there are still issues with Arizona’s bid to repeat, but the 11-time Sack Champion can certainly make life tough for opposing offenses and give the Wranglers a shot. They just need to find an answer or two on offense and they could well run the table, a table set by their future Hall of Fame DE.   Back to Bandit Ball in Tampa Bay The Bandits got exactly what they needed after suffering their first loss of the season in Week 13. Facing expansion New England they had a chance to play their game, lean on the passing game, and play defense aggressively. They did all three against the Steamrollers, with Dak Prescott throwing for 287 and 3 scores and the D holding New England to only 257 total yards. Oh, and we should mention the insane performance from Bandit WR Dez Bryant. The NFL import again showed why he is one of the best deep ball receivers in the league. He had only 5 receptions on the day, but those 5 included touchdowns of 41, 52, and 68 yards. Add them up and throw in two non-scoring deep balls and Bryant finished the day with a season-best 213 yards receiving, on 5 catches!!! 5!!!   That is Bandit Ball folks, an aggressive defense, a complementary run game, and a deep ball threat that is there on every play. It is fun to watch, and so far it has helped the Bandits to the best record in the league, 13-1 with 2 weeks left to play. They have a huge matchup with 12-2 Atlanta, in a game that could blow right past Las Vegas’s 55 point over-under this week. That is a high mark, but we honestly think 70 or more points is what we could see. Bandit Ball fans would love nothing more.   Charlotte Wins 3rd in a Row with Boller The 2020 season for the Charlotte Monarchs has not exactly been a trip through Wonka’s wonderful chocolate factory. Or maybe it has. Every time they think they are getting a sweet treat, they end up losing a game and getting a sad Oompa Loompa song about how they screwed up. Well, that was the story when they sat at 3-8, but they made one move which has at least given fans something to cheer about. After benching pick-prone Mitch Trubisky and giving the ball to veteran backup journeyman Kyle Boller, the Monarchs have rattled off 3 straight wins.   And while this week’s 27-17 victory over Washington may seem a bit mundane after last week’s stunning upset of the Bandits, it still marks a significant improvement, an ability for this team to be in games, to compete each week, and to string together wins. They have 2 weeks left and they could finish the season at 8-8, which seemed nearly impossible less than a month ago. Does Boller’s success mean that they will stick with the veteran next year? Maybe not entirely, but we would not be surprised if Boller does not get a legitimate shot to compete with whatever new talent the Monarchs bring to town. That could be a talented rookie or a free agent from across both pro leagues, or it could mean a deal with another club looking to clear cap room, but what we think is likely is that Boller has given himself a shot. One he could well carry into next year.   Chicago punched their ticket to the postseason and is hoping to lock up a home game in the Wild Card round in the next 2 weeks. They could still technically catch Michigan, but that is largely out of their control, while locking in the 4 seed is very much theirs to control. Arizona is guaranteed a bye as the SW Champion (with several games on the Pacific champ) and the winner of this week’s Atlanta-Tampa Bay game will almost certainly lock up the 1-seed in the East. Memphis and New Orleans are still battling to decide the Southeast, and Baltimore can lock up the NE with a win this week. Meanwhile, a cluster of 8-6 teams in the West are comparing tiebreakers and hoping for a 2-0 finish to climb into the playoffs. It seems likely that only 1 will make it, so will it be Portland, who currently hold down the 6-spot, or can Oakland, Seattle, or Dallas leapfrog the Stags and claim a spot.   Several teams were eliminated this week, including every 6-8 team except Jacksonville (gotta love tiebreakers). So that adds Orlando, Charlotte, Washington, and Denver to the list of teams playing out the string and possibly giving some young players a chance to show what they have.   The QB situation in San Antonio just got interesting. With backup Easton Stick now moved to IR with an ACL tear suffered this week, the Gunslingers have to decide if they want to risk Joe Flacco, still listed as Questionable this week, or trot out 3 rd  stringer Chad Kelly for a start or two to end the year. Our money is on Kelly, but Flacco wants on the field, so maybe he gets his way. One team wishing their QB could come back is Pittsburgh, but Andy Dalton continues to show symptoms, so he is on the Covid-19 list for a second week. Meanwhile in Philly, Ryan Lindley is likely to miss the final two games of the year, so it is back to Matt Gutierrez once again. Weird how injuries late in the year can lead to some odd starting lineups and tough decisions.   OUT QB         Easton Stick               SAN       ACL Tear                    IR DE          Dion Jordan              POR      Quad Tear                   4-6 Weeks DE          Malik Jackson                PHI        Stress Fracture            2-4 Weeks QB         Ryan Lindley              PHI        Pinched Nerve             1-2 Weeks WR         Courtland Sutton           DAL       Thigh Bruise                1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL LB           Clay Matthews                DAL       Thigh Bruise   QUESTIONABLE WR         Mike Evans                   HOU     Thigh Bruise SS           Leon McQuay                OKL       Foot   COVID-19 INACTIVES DAL       DE          Taylor Hart PIT         QB         Andy Dalton              2 nd  Week SD          CB          Justin Gilbert             2 nd Week SD          OT          Antonio Garcia SD          CB          Jaquan Johnson STL         LB           Roquon Smith     Could 2020 Be a Very Bloody Black Monday? The Magic 8-Ball seems to be pointing towards “Yes” on that question. We have already had two coaches lose their jobs by midseason, Philadelphia’s Jim Harbaugh and St. Louis’s Frank Reich, and from the look of things, neither interim head coach is likely to get an offer to stay on. So, already we have 2 teams almost certainly in the market for a new head man. And by out estimation, that is not where it will stop. We could see as many as 5 other coaches hit the pavement on Black Monday. Where are we looking? It is not hard to figure that out, just look for teams that have 10 or more losses already, of our 5 coaches looking very shaky, 4 of them are on teams with at least 10 losses. Here is our pool of potential departures, from the club with the worst record to the one that was just eliminated from the playoffs this week.   Tom Coughlin (OHIO) We had Coughlin on our early Hot Seat along with Reich and Harbaugh, and while he was not let go midseason, it seems almost certain that the 3-11 Glory will be moving on from Coughlin and his disciplinarian ways. We expect Coughlin and QB Christian Hackenberg to be part of a franchise wide shakeup after the Glory took a surprising division title in 2018 only to drop to 4-12 last year and what appears to be an equally inept 2020.   Todd Haley (BIR) As we seem to say every year, “this is the year the Stallions get into the mix” was heard often before the season, and despite some strong games from QB Cam Newton, we are looking at a 2-12 season, which does not bode well for Haley. The Stallions went 7-9 last year, but a collapse to only 2 wins right now means that they are guaranteed yet another sub-500 season. For a franchise that had such a tradition, we need to recognize that the Stallions have been at or under .500 in 18 of 20 seasons since the turn of the century. That is a hard pill to swallow for Stallion fans, who just never felt Haley was the guy.  Dick LeBeau (SD) A legendary defensive mind, and a former USFL Champion with the Panthers, LeBeau may seem an odd choice, particularly since he has taken the Thunder to 4 straight postseasons. But even with a 42-22 record between 2016-2019, there were grumbles that the Thunder just could not with the big game, especially in the playoffs, where they were humbled by Arizona 41-10 last year and 38-6 the year before. The hope was that San Diego could finally get over the hump this year, but instead they are staring at 2-12 and, what is even worse, they sport the worst defense in the league, not a good sign for a coach who made his name on defense.  Rick Neuheisel (LV) Another team that many thought was headed in the right direction only to fall flat on their faces with a current record of 3-11. After hovering around .500 the past 3 years under Neuheisel (9-7, 7-9, and 8-8), the floor fell out from under the Vipers. What is particularly troubling is that the weakest areas of the Viper squad are exactly what they were last year and simply were not addressed in the offseason. The run game is among the league’s worst, averaging only 69.7 yards per game. The defense gives up far too many big plays, and the Vipers are not a very complex team to gameplan for. All of those issues lead us to believe that four years under Neuheisel will be all she wrote.  Gus Bradley (WSH) The lone coach whose team could escape the dreaded 10-loss threshold, Washington, and Coach Bradley, are here because of missed expectations. In 2018 the Feds went 9-7 and fans were hopeful that Bradley had found the formula to return Washington to playoff form, but they took a big risk in putting all their eggs in the Ryan Nassib basket, and that has proven to be a huge letdown. Add to that the fact that Bradley, another defensive guru, has struggled to get Washington out of the bottom third of the league in both yards and points allowed. They currently sit 23 rd  of 30 teams in yards allowed, and they are not much better in scoring defense, giving up 23 points per game. It is about 50/50 whether or not Bradley will be back for 2021, and the ability to avoid that 10 th  loss could be the key.   Six Teams that Could or Should be QB Shopping this Winter As the season gets close to reaching its conclusion, many teams are already thinking about next year. Others are looking at unsigned QBs in their final year of a contract and wondering if they will stay put, and others still are hoping their teams are seriously looking for an upgrade. We went through the league and picked 6 teams who well could be on the QB market this offseason. No guarantees, but any of these 6 could be on a quest to find themselves a 10-year starter and a future champion.  PHILADLEPHIA: Currently Ryan Lindley/Matt Gutierrez This one is an easy one. The Stars will soon have a new head coach and we fully expect that by February there will be a new starter. The only question is what route the Stars will take to get there. Will they make a deal to try to land a current USFL QB or will they be one of the teams approaching the Jacksonville Bulls to garner the rights to Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence? Our recommendation would be that they go rookie, because they could get a serviceable guy in free agency or via trade, but getting a true franchise guy is not something you often see.  OHIO: Currently Christian Hackenberg While we are not willing to put all the blame for Ohio’s struggles on Hackenberg (what are his weapons? Where is his line?) we think the former Nittany Lion will be a casualty of a purge we think is inevitable in Columbus. Maybe Hack is the answer for the Stars? After all, he was a star in Happy Valley. But we digress. We think we already know what Ohio is going to do. They are going to go big on the Justin Fields train and claim the Buckeye signal caller in the T-Draft. A clearly popular direction among Glory fans, and not a bad option at all.  WASHINGTON: Currently Ryan Nassib Back to the NE Division and an intriguing situation here because Nassib has a big contract and cutting him loose would coast the Feds a pretty penny (and a lot of dead space in the cap), so what other options do they have? How about this for a scenario? If David Carr cannot or does not return for 2021, could the Feds send Nassib back to Arizona, where he had the kind of season in 2018 to make him a cult hero among Wrangler fans? That would be fun, but more realistic is that they offer to cover some of the cap hit and send him to a team in need of a veteran. That, of course, does not tell us who they will go for at QB if they do find a taker for Nassib, but we think they do want to move on.  ARIZONA: Currently David Carr We have mentioned Arizona, so let’s address the elephant in the room. David Carr turned 37 last month, and with a nasty injury to recover from, we could have seen him play his last game for the Wranglers. Fans don’t want to admit that, but it is a very real possibility. So, what would the Wranglers do if Carr does announce that he is not returning for 2021? Do they go fishing for Nassib, who certainly knows Coach Tomsula’s system, or do they try to get into the mix with a pretty solid rookie class coming up in draft season? We think the Nassib option is very real for this club, but we won’t know if that is what happens until we know what Carr wants to do.  CHARLOTTE: Currently Kyle Boller Yes, Kyle Boller has won 3 straight for the Monarchs, but he is also a 13-seaosn vet who has not been a regular starter in over a decade. While we think the Monarchs keep Boller in the mix and try to find a new home for Trubisky, we have to believe they are going to be part of the mix for Trevor Lawrence, who plays just down the road at Clemson. That would be a coup for the Monarchs.  NEW JERSEY: Currently Nick Foles Of the six, this is the one we are most ambivalent about. It seems obvious that Foles is not going to suddenly become the next Tom Brady for the Generals, but when he is healthy, he is a solid option. He finished last year with a 104.0 QB Rating and a 28:7 TD:INT ratio. This year has been a lot tougher, with some injury issues and some on-field struggles (75.1 QBR and a 14:10 TD:INT ratio), but the bigger issue is that fans in New Jersey are not feeling the love. They want a superstar, not a game manager. Is that an unrealistic request? Not really, not if you are serious about getting another trophy in the case at MetLife Stadium.   Only 2 weeks left in the 2020 regular season, and that means that pretty much every game has meaning either for the USFL playoffs or for the draft order. It means pressure, it means teams have to be at their best. And that even a small mistake can get amplified. It also means that there are few games any of us want to miss, since they all could matter to our favorite team. So, what does Week 15 hold for us?   How about Baltimore hoping to lock up the NE Division after a very up-and-down season? A win over the Feds on Friday (with a little help) could do it. How about Portland and Seattle playing a Cascade Clash which also could be doubling as a Playoff elimination game? That is what happens when both enter Week 15 at 8-6. And, what about a huge inter-conference game between the Chicago Machine and the New Orleans Breakers, neither of whom can afford a loss if their goal is to be playing at home in 2 or 3 weeks?   Saturday is also rich with playoff implications, like when 9-5 Pittsburgh faces 8-6 Houston in a game that could lock up a playoff spot for either or add more drama to Week 16. We also have New England hoping to reignite the Boston-NY rivalry by knocking off the New Jersey Generals and quite possibly ruining any chances they have to sneak into the playoffs. On Sunday we have a really fascinating matchup in Las Vegas, when the Wranglers, who have lost both games since losing David Carr, fight for their playoff position against a 9-5 LA Express team that boasts one of the league’s best defenses and that still has to win games to claim the Pacific title. And then there is the unquestioned Game of the Week, when the 12-2 Atlanta Fire take on the 13-1 Tampa Bay Bandits. This game will be enormous, a must-watch affair as the two battle for the SE Crown and an almost certain bye week in the playoffs. Can the Bandits wrap up the division and the 1 seed, or will Atlanta rise up and clip the team that has been atop the division all season long? No way we are missing that game.   FRIDAY 8pm ET      Baltimore (8-6) @ Washington (5-8-1)        Orlando               NBC 8pm ET        Portland (8-6) @ Seattle (8-6)                           Las Vegas           ABC 9pm ET        Chicago (10-4) @ New Orleans (11-3)           TDECU                 ESPN/EFN   SATURDAY 1pm ET         Pittsburgh (9-5) @ Houston (8-6)                   NRG                      ABC 4pm ET          Dallas (8-6) @ Las Vegas (3-11)                        Glendale            FOX 4pm ET         Oakland (8-6) @ San Diego (2-12)                  Las Vegas           ABC 8pm ET          Charlotte (6-8) @ Jacksonville (6-8)                 Gainesville        NBC 8pm ET          New Jersey (7-6-1) @ New England (5-9)        Tampa                  FOX 9pm ET         Michigan (12-2) @ San Antonio (2-12)             Rice                      ESPN/EFN   SUNDAY 1pm ET         Ohio (3-11) @ Birmingham (2-12)                   NRG                      FOX 4pm ET        Denver (6-8) @ Oklahoma (6-8)                        Glendale            ABC 4pm ET            Arizona (12-2) @ Los Angeles (9-5)                    Las Vegas           FOX 8pm ET            Philadelphia (1-13) @ Orlando (6-8)                Orlando               ABC 8pm ET          Atlanta (12-2) @ Tampa Bay (13-1)                  Tampa                  FOX 9pm ET            St. Louis (2-12) @ Memphis (11-3)                     TDECU                 ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Dez Bryant must have decided that one loss for his Bandit club was enough this year. He only had 5 catches against expansion New England, but with those 5 receptions he racked up 213 yards (that's an average of 42.6 yards per catch) and 3 TDs, including a 68-yarder, a 52-yarder, and a 41-yarder. How is that for a playmaker? PLAYOFF PICTURE: Chicago joins the playoff cool kids' table as they move into the postseason at 10-4. Their addition means that there are 5 spots left and 2 weeks to earn them. We also saw several teams eliminated (Washington, Charlotte, Orlando, and Denver) which means we have 10 teams left battling for those last 5 spots.

What the who? Huh? How? What just happened? That was pretty much everyone’s reaction to a weekend that saw both unbeaten teams fall in the same week. Oakland took advantage of a nasty injury to Arizona QB David Carr and snapped the Wrangler win streak at a stunning 23 games (12 this year, 3 in the 2019 playoffs, and 8 to end the 2019 regular season). Only 4 hours later the Charlotte Monarchs, led by veteran backup Kyle Boller, knocked off the 12-0 Tampa Bay Bandits. It was a shocking 1-2 punch that created one of the wildest Sundays in league history. The historic double defeat will be our lead story, but we will update you on all the Week 13 action around the league, its impact on the 2020 playoff picture, and take a look as well at the playoff odds, all that, plus another starting QB may be lost for the rest of the season, and some good news for the league and for football fans hoping to catch playoff action. It all starts now, with our big story of the week. Unlucky 13 for Arizona & Tampa Bay Whether it is Friday the 13 th , the 13 th  floor of buildings, or just old-fashioned triskaidekaphobia (Yup, fear of the number 13), there is certainly some lore around the bad juju of that number and now the USFL can add Week 13 of the 2020 season to the list, because this week certainly was a bad one for both unbeaten teams, as both Tampa Bay and Arizona fell to defeat for the first time all season.  After what had been a pretty uneventful slate of Friday and Saturday games, at least as far as upsets were concerned, few expected Arizona to be particularly troubled by the Oakland Invaders. Yes, Oakland had a solid defense, but they had struggled to be consistent on offense, and even with Victor Cruz out for the year, the Wranglers still had plenty of ways to challenge the Invader defense. They did, of course, until fate stepped in and produced a season-ending injury to 2-time MVP David Carr. The Wrangler QB had led his club to an opening drive score, a 17-yard TD toss to HB Ka’Deem Carey, but on the first play of the Wranglers’ second possession, Carr was slammed to the ground by DE Michael Bennett, his arm twisted awkwardly beneath him. The Arizona QB got up and immediately sat back down, holding his arm in his other hand. He would walk off the field along with the trainers, but head directly to the locker room.   Following his departure, Brandon Allen stepped up, and while he led the Wranglers to two scoring drives, it was not enough as Tom Brady and the Invaders came back from a 17-10 deficit to win the game 29-24 in the 4 th  quarter, helped by an Allen interception late. It was the first loss for the Wranglers in over one whole calendar year, from Week 8 in 2019 to Week 13 in 2020, and along the way a playoff run to win their third league title. When the medical verdict was in, a torn biceps, and the reality that David Carr’s season was done and that either Brandon Allen or Tom Savage would have to lead the Wranglers in defense of their title, we saw immediate results, with Arizona dropping from the overall favorite to win the league title to 5 th  behind Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Michigan, and New Orleans.  After the shock of the Invader victory over Arizona, devoted fans turned in to watch Charlotte take on 12-0 Tampa Bay on ABC’s Sunday Night coverage. Little did they know they were about to watch the curse of 13 strike again. This time there was no signature injury that turned the tide against the unbeaten Bandits, just sloppy play paired with a solid game plan from a division rival. Charlotte, who had won only 4 games all year, played classic “bend but don’t break” defense, allowing Tampa Bay to rack up 426 yards of offense, including 383 for QB Dak Prescott, but held the Bandits under 20 points for only the 3 rd time all season, and for the first time, it was not enough for Tampa Bay to get the W.   The Monarchs used the rushing duo of Latavius Murray and Nyheim Hines to rush for 152 yards (89 more than the Bandits put together) and to control the clock, taking a 10+ minute advantage in the game by the final whistle. QB Kyle Boller, starting his second game for the turnover-prone Mitch Trubisky, protected the ball, going 18 for 23 with no picks and 3 TDs, and the Monarch defense limited the Bandits to only 2 third down conversions the entire game. When the dust settled on the game, Charlotte had a 24-17 victory, overcoming not only the unbeaten Bandits, but the lowered expectations from the nation, expectations that included being a 12-point underdog before gametime.   The two losses don’t impact the playoff standings, with each at 12-1 and still atop their respective conferences. Arizona even clinched their division despite the loss as no other SW Division clubs has more than 7 wins, but the twin losses certainly broke the aura of invincibility that both the Bandits and Wranglers had fostered all year. And while both teams are already guaranteed a playoff spot, the Wranglers now have only a 1-game lead on Michigan for the top seed in the conference, while Tampa Bay is only 1 game up on Atlanta for the division, and with it the likely one seed. Arizona must now prepare for both a late season stretch and a playoff run without their star QB, while Tampa Bay now faces a final 3 weeks that includes a key matchup with that tough Atlanta Fire club as well as a potential trap game against Jacksonville in the season finale.   What a difference a week can make. The Ohio Glory now can relax as the only club ever to go a full season with out a blemish, much like the NFL 1973 Dolphins, and fans across the league can start wondering if their club has a chance against two clubs that now seem as vulnerable as ever.   ARIZONA WRANGLERS 24   OAKLAND INVADERS 29 We stick with the Wrangler-Invader game as our GOTW, not just because it was a tight matchup that produced an exciting come-from-behind victory for the Invaders, but because it may well be the most impactful game of the year. In the blink of an eye a nasty injury turned the clear Summer Bowl favorite and defending champion hoping for a repeat into a team that may struggle to hold their own down the stretch and into the postseason. The complexity of the Western Conference, which is also home to an 11-2 Michigan team, and three pretty solid defenses in the Express, Machine, and Maulers, all sitting at 9-4, could now be a more wide open affair come the playoffs.   It did not look like we would be in for such a season-defining game when the action started in Wynn Arena. Arizona, the league’s defending champion and a team that had not lost a game since Week 8 of the prior season, took the opening kickoff and marched right down the field in 8 plays, putting up 7 points on a David Carr toss to HB Ka’Deem Carey. Once again it looked like a team known for their defense, this time the Invaders, would not find a way to slow down the Arizona avalanche. But that all changed only minutes later.   Following a short Oakland drive that produced a punt after only 6 plays, the Wranglers got the ball back. After a 3-yard gain by Carey on first down, David Carr took the snap, dropped back to pass, and never saw DE Michael Bennett bearing down on him. He turned his body just as the big edge rusher crashed into him, and the two crashed to the ground. Carr’s throwing arm got caught beneath him, and the ball rolled out. It was declared down by contact, but the bigger issue was Carr himself. He left the field, holding his arm in his hand, and visibly both worried and in pain. We would not get a verdict on the injury until near the game’s final minutes, when the game announcers were informed that it was a torn bicep, likely to require at least 3 months to heal. That meant that Carr’s season was done and backup Brandon Allen would be under center from now on.   Allen responded well to his call to action and on Arizona’s first drive of the 2 nd quarter, he found DeMarcus Robinson for the Wrangler’s second touchdown, building up a 14-0 lead over Oakland. But with Carr sidelined, Oakland focused on the run game and would hold Arizona to only 10 more points all game. Meanwhile, Invader QB Tom Brady started to find his groove, connecting with Davante Adams on two key plays on their next possession, the first a 29-yard catch and run on 3 rd  and 8, and the next a short TD toss to pull Oakland back to within 1 score. They would add a field goal on their next possession and as both teams headed to the locker rooms for the halftime break, Oakland seemed to have momentum as well as higher spirits as the Wranglers looked shaken.   The third quarter saw both defenses hunker down and take command. The quarter produced only 6 points, with both teams connecting on long field goals on their only successful drive. Oakland added a pick of Brandon Allen, while Arizona’s Calais Campbell added a sack to his season total. Oakland would open the 4 th with a second field goal, this time failing to find the endzone after a first and goal from the 9. They settled for 3 after a muffed snap on 3 rd and goal killed their chance for a score to take the lead. They took the 3 points to improve to a 17-16 deficit, hopeful that Arizona’s offense would continue to struggle.   Arizona surprised the Invaders on the next drive, a 13-play march that occupied nearly 5 minutes of clock and finished with Ka’Deem Carey scoring for the 2 nd time, this time on the ground. Brandon Allen had put his pick behind him and completed 3 of 5 passes on the drive. Arizona now led 24-16, an 8-point lead that would require a TD and a 2-point conversion to tie. Oakland wasted no time getting the touchdown, with Brady finding TE Zack Ertz on a well-timed seam route, a 41-yard strike that looked to give the Invaders the chance they needed to break Arizona’s will. But on the 2-point try, Brady’s pass, well thrown and well placed, nonetheless glanced off the hands of WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, leaving the Invaders 2 points down at 24-22.   With 5:24 left to play, the message was clear for the Arizona offense, kill the clock, keep the ball, and don’ t give Oakland a chance to win the game on a field goal. Initially the plan seemed to work, with Arizona using the run game to earn two first downs and kill 3 minutes, but inside the Invader 45, they got fancy and tried to fake out the Invader D. Brandon Allen faked the handoff to Isaiah Crowell and threw a quick toss out towards rookie Brandon Aiyuk. But FS Jahleel Addae was not fooled. He had picked off Allen earlier in the game, and he saw something he liked in this play as well. He stepped in front of Aiyuk, picked the ball off, and rolled to the ground, having given the Invaders exactly what they needed, the ball, the momentum, and the feeling that this game was theirs for the taking.   It would take Tom Brady only 2 plays to make Arizona pay for the late mistake. The first was a 17-yard throw and catch to Arcega-Whiteside, a nice vote of confidence after the key drop on the 2-point play. The second was a backbreaker, a simple slant route to Davante Adams, but one that proved effective well beyond its design as Adams split the safeties and scampered 48 yards for the score. When Roberto Aguayo put the ensuing kick through the uprights, Oakland had a 5-point lead with 2:04 left to play.   Those two minutes, along with 3 timeouts, would normally be a sign that Arizona was about to march down field and crush Invader fans’ dreams of the upset. But without David Carr, the yards had been much harder to come by in this game, and with both Michael Bennett and Vinny Curry in full pass rush mode, Allen had little time to make magic happen. As news spread along the sideline of the medical diagnosis for Carr, you could feel the air coming out of Arizona’s balloon. The game came down to a 4 th  and 8, but Allen threw into double coverage on DeMarcus Robinson and Addae again was there, this time swatting the ball down before jumping his way to the sideline as the Invader offense came to the field to end the game with a pair of runs and a kneel down. Arizona had fallen, their QB was now lost for the year, and the Invaders, now 8-5 and in position for a Wild Card, had shaken up the entire Western Conference. WASHINGTON 17  NEW JERSEY 17  OVERTIME The one result that helped neither club is exactly the result the Generals and Federals got, a tie. Both teams have to be upset with their kicking games as Adam Vinatieri went 1 of 3 for the Feds and Ka’imi Fairbairn did exactly the same, with both kickers missing an overtime attempt that could have won them the game, Vinatieri from 48 and Fairbairn from 51. In what was an otherwise nice game between two rivals, the overtime failures left everyone watching with a foul taste in their mouths. POTG:  New Jersey QB Nick Foles: 28/54, 325 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int   LAS VEGAS 17   SEATTLE 42 The Dragons stay alive in the playoff hunt at 7-6 by absolutely demolishing the Vipers. Knowshon Moreno was just unstoppable, averaging 7.6 YPC on his way to 145 yards and 2 TDs. Backup Wendell Smallwood added another 87 yards on only 8 attempts as it seems Las Vegas completely forgot the fundamentals of tackling in a deeply troubling performance. Even with Aaron Dobson catching 8 for 117 and Arrelious Benn adding 7 for 107, the Vipers just could not keep up. POTG:  Seattle HB Knowshon Moreno: 19 Att, 145 Yds, 2 TD   BIRMINGHAM 6  MICHIGAN 27 Cam Newton has no one to blame but himself after going 9 of 27 for only 111 yards with 2 picks and a pick-six mixed in. He was off all game, completing only 3 throws to wideouts on the day. Meanwhile, despite 3 picks himself, Kirk Cousins gets the win, largely due to 27 carries by LeVeon Bell and a nice TD catch on a wobbly pass by rookie Donovan Peoples-Jones. The win locked up a playoff spot for the Panthers, while Birmingham is very much in the running for a Top 5 draft choice. POTG:  Michigan CB Dre Kirkpatrick: 1 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   HOUSTON 37  OHIO 3 Ohio went up 3-0 in the first quarter and then watched, almost helplessly, as Houston put up the next 37 points with little to no resistance. McCoy found JuJu Smith-Schuster and Josh Reynolds for scores, rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire added another, and it all kicked off with CB Leodis McKelvin returning a Hackenburg interception 43 yards for a score as Houston rolls and puts themselves in position to control their own playoff destiny. POTG:  Gambler CB Leodis McKelvin: 7 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   DALLAS 19  PORTLAND 26 In a game both teams desperately needed and wanted, the Stags raced out to a 19-0 lead in the first half and never relinquished it, despite playing with 3 different QBs after losing Marcus Mariota early. Mariota was lost for the season after suffering a torn bicep on a bad landing after a scramble in the 1 st quarter. A. J. McCarron came in, went 4 for 4, including a TD to James Hardy, and then he went down with a hyper-extended knee, and so we got to watch Steven Tyler manage the game for nearly 3 quarters. But a win is a win is a win. POTG:  Portland DT Ndamukong Suh: 8 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty   DENVER 38  SAN DIEGO 34  OVERTIME A wild game we will highlight below, but one that saw Josh Allen throw for 430 yards and 5 touchdowns. In a rarity we saw both teams score in overtime. San Diego kicked a field goal on the opening drive, but with a touchdown needed to end the game, the Gold had one drive to match or beat it and they did, with Allen finding Lance Kendricks for the game winner as the Gold struggled with the Thunder but get the win to move to 6-7 and stay alive. POTG:  Gold QB Josh Allen: 26/39, 430 Yds, 5 Td, 0 Int   JACKSONVILLE 7  NEW ENGLAND 36 A surprise scratch as QB Teddy Bridgewater got into a car accident on the way to the stadium and broke his jaw. We kid you not. That meant that Ben Dinucci got the start, with almost no reps all week. The result? What you would expect, a lot of struggles against a Steamroller team that smelt blood in the water and earned the 5 th  win of their expansion campaign despite not having a single receiver with more than 44 yards on the day. POTG:  Steamroller LB Jamie Collins: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 FF, 1 FR   ORLANDO 7  ATLANTA 33 No car accident before the Fire-Renegade game, just a really solid gameplan from the Fire that saw TE O. J. Howard catch 2 touchdowns and the fire score 33 straight points after going down 7-0. Three Orlando turnovers and 13 penalties for 130 yards certainly helped Atlanta’s cause, but so did a 338-yard, 2 TD game from Aaron Murray as the Fire move to 11-2 and may well have sunk Orlando’s playoff hopes as they drop below .500 at 6-7. POTG:  Atlanta QB Aaron Murray: 27/43, 338 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   MEMPHIS 27  PITTSBURGH 24 A really good game between two really solid teams, as Memphis edges the Maulers thanks to Ryan Fitzpatrick dishing out more Fitz-Magic. Fitzie went 23 of 41 for 280 yards and 3 TDs to lead Memphis, who also got a combined 137 yards rushing between Gurley, Hester, and David Williams. The Maulers were hurt by the departure of Andy Dalton, who left the field with a bloody nose and a black eye after catching an elbow. Kevn Hogan came in and went 13 of 18 with a TD but could not rally the Maulers when they fell behind late. POTG:  Memphis WR Devin Funchess: 5 Rec, 120 Yds, 1 TD   NEW ORLEANS 20 ST. LOUIS 10 Other than one nice bomb to Nelson, it was a bit of a ho-hum game as New Orleans built up a 10-0 halftime lead and just kept St. Louis at arm’s length the rest of the way. DeMarco Murray had his best game since coming over from Denver, rushing for 86 yards on 9 carries and scoring a TD for his new team. The Breaker D spied Lamar Jackson and he simply did not take off running as much as the past couple of games. POTG:  Breaker WR Jordy Nelson: 3 Rec, 150 Yds, 1 TD   OKLAHOMA 19  LOS ANGELES 20 Oklahoma started Mason Rudolph again, and LA teed off, sacking the former OK State Cowpoke 10 times, with Nick Bosa doing most of the damage with 4 on the day. Oklahoma somehow stayed in it, but kept settling for field goals (4 of them) while LA got TDs from Reggie Bush and Hollywood Brown, enough to finish with a 1-point victory that eliminates the Outlaws from the playoff hunt. POTG:  Express HB Reggie Bush: 26 Att, 104 Yds, 1 TD   TAMPA BAY 17  CHARLOTTE 24 As we outlined above, this one was a shocker, with no major injuries like we saw in Arizona’s loss. It was just a combination of Charlotte playing their best ball and the Bandits perhaps succumbing to the stress of trying to go unbeaten. Kyle Boller may have made himself some fans in the Carolinas by going 18 of 23 and throwing 3 TDs to knock off the heavily favored Bandits. Dak Prescott threw for 368 but was also picked off twice in this major upset. POTG:  Charlotte QB Kyle Boller: 18/23, 158 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   PHILADELPHIA 17  BALTIMORE 20 The Blitz survive a game that many thought they would win easily. Philadelphia played them tough but two Ryan Lindley picks and a late Brian Hartline TD catch were enough to help Baltimore comeback from a 17-10 deficit to claim the W. Josh Jacobs added 80 yards and a TD, and the Blitz now sit ½ game ahead of New Jersey thanks to the Feds-Generals tie game. POTG:  Baltimore CB Eric Murray: 10 Tck, 1 Int   SAN ANTONIO 14  CHICAGO 31 The Machine put up 172 yards rushing, with Jeremy Hill having a nice game at 90 yards with 3 touchdowns as Chicago cruises past the Gunslingers. Easton Stick had a solid game for San Antonio, going 23 of 37 with 2 TDs and 1 pick, but it was not enough as the Machine went up 10-0 and 24-7 in a pretty convincing game for them. POTG:  Machine HB Jeremy Hill: 16 Att, 90 Yds, 3 TD   Gold & Thunder Give Us a Wild Overtime Game One would hardly have suspected that the showdown between Denver and San Diego would end up producing some of the highest offensive totals of the year, but that is the surprising shootout that fans watching the Gold-Thunder matchup were provided on Saturday. The overtime thriller saw the two teams combine for 1,005 total yards of offense, 37 first downs, and 72 points. In one game we saw Josh Allen throw for 430 yards and 5 TDs, Christian Ponder go for 322 yards, Ryan Williams crack the 100-yard mark at 110, and 4 different receivers gain 100—Denver’s Golden Tate (131) and Kevin White (112) and San Diego’s Marques Colston (101) and Ronald Johnson (110). We also saw a true rarity, a game in which both teams scored in overtime, with San Diego putting up a field goal, enough to take the lead but not end the game, only for the Gold to rally for a touchdown that gave them the win. It was a wild one, and a game that helped keep Denver alive in the playoff race, though at 6-7 their margin for error is extremely thin.   Express Sack Rudolph 10 Times, Bosa with 4 If the Gold-Thunder game was all about the offenses, the Express-Outlaws game was about the defenses, in particular, the ability of the Express to get to Oklahoma QB Mason Rudolph. The Express sacked Rudolph, who is not exactly an immobile statue at QB, a whopping (and painful) 10 times. That included 4 sacks by our Defensive POTW, Nick Bosa. Throw in 2 picks and what felt like another 30 hits on Rudolph and we can see why Oklahoma ended up settling for field goals on far too many drives, and eventually lost the game to a slightly more successful Express offense.   In addition to Bosa’s big day, the Express defense saw 6 additional defenders record a sack, including SS Rahim Moore, LB Yannick Ngakue, and backup DE Andy Studebaker, none of them known as big parts of the Express pass rush. It also saw both Jalen Mills and LB Keith Rivers come away with picks, while CB Stephon Gilmore, one of the league’s best, led the Express with 6 tackles. While not the lowest point output given up by the Express this year (LA has held 4 teams below 10 points, including last week’s 32-0 shutout of San Diego—who we just saw put up 34 on Denver), this week’s game was another indication of just how nasty Marvin Lewis’s top ranked defense (in yards allowed) can be. The question, of course, is whether the Express can muster enough offense to be successful in postseason play despite the quality of their defense.   Moreno Leads Dragons in Blowout It was a very good week for Seattle Dragon HB Knowshon Moreno. The former Orlando Renegade, now in his 3 rd  season in the Pacific Northwest, drew a lot closer to his second consecutive 1,000-yard season with a 145-yard, 2-TD performance this week against the struggling Las Vegas Vipers. The outing was his third 100-yard game of the season, following a 155-yard day against Dallas and Week 5’s 160-yard outing against the Thunder. Compare this week to the last matchup against the Vipers, when Moreno was held to only 46 yards (Week 3) and we can see that Seattle is doing as Coach Riley promised and focusing energy on the rushing attack. Seattle is slowly moving up the statistical lists, now ranked as the 10 th  best rushing attack, while Moreno now finds himself in 6 th  position among running backs, only 13 yards behind Josh Jacobs. He needs only 19 yards in his remaining 3 games to reach 1,000, but we suspect that his goal is to crack the 1,200-yard club for only the 2 nd time in his career, a full 10 seasons after his 1,352-yard season in 2011.   Bridgewater a Late Scratch, Bulls Blown Out We mentioned it briefly in the game summary, but the weirdness that was Teddy Bridgewater’s Saturday evening deserves a moment. The Bulls’ quarterback had himself a day. First, he misses the team bus up to Gainesville from Orlando because he was doing laundry (what a mundane way to go) and was apparently changing loads without his phone, which caused him to miss the calls and texts from teammates until he returned to his hotel room. So, he gets on the phone with Coach Moss and tells him that he will drive his own car up to the UF campus. He then proceeds to get into a car accident only a half mile from the hotel in Orlando, t-boned by a teen aged driver who mistook a green light in the main lanes for a green turn signal in his turning lane. He winds up with a trip to the local emergency room, forced to make another awkward call to Coach Moss. The diagnosis is whiplash leading to a compression of two vertebrae in his neck. He will likely miss 1-2 weeks, a diagnosis confirmed by team doctors on Monday. He misses the game against New England, one in which backup Ben DiNucci struggles and the Bulls are blown out and shows up on Sunday to answer media questions with a foam neck brace on and the most sheepish look we have ever seen from a starting QB. Not exactly the weekend Teddy B and the Bulls were hoping for.   Carr Lost to Torn Bicep in Wrangler Double Whammy Teddy Bridgewater’s injury, while almost comedic in its bizarre setup, is not particularly worrisome. The same is certainly not true for David Carr, who suffered a full bicep tear after landing awkwardly on his throwing arm as he was sacked by Oakland’s Michael Bennett. Carr’s injury requires surgery, scheduled for this Friday, and will necessitate a lengthy healing and recovery period. The injury will cost him both the remainder of the regular season and any playoff run the Wranglers can put together. It is a devastating blow to the Wranglers’ hopes to repeat as league champions, but also a potential tipping point for the 36-year-old, 2-time MVP. There is real concern among Wrangler fans that the injury may well mean the end of Carr’s distinguished career in Arizona. After all, at 36, Carr has been on the retirement watch list, and now this injury costs him a chance to potentially win a 4 th  title and a possible MVP award and will require significant effort and dedication to heal. The Wranglers are now a huge question mark for the rest of the year, with untested Brandon Allen now at the helm, but so too is Carr’s future on the football field, and that is something you never want to see.   Mariota’s Season Ends with Torn Hamstring A second big blow at the QB position (well, third if you count the blow Teddy B. took from the kid in his car accident) as Portland got the news it dreaded, Marcus Mariota’s hamstring injury is a tear, not a strain. An MRI revealed a 2/3 tear of the hamstring muscle with partial separation, which means he too will be undergoing surgery in the next week or two to reset the muscle and reconnect ligaments. That diagnosis means that Mariota will not be appearing in any upcoming Stags games and could put a major crimp in any hopes the Stags have of reviving their season and reaching the playoffs. The Stags, currently sitting at 7-6, are on the fringe of playoff contention after a 6-3 start has turned to a 1-3 stretch. They got the win this week over Dallas, an absolute must have, but ended up using all 3 QBs on their roster after both Mariota and A. J. McCarron had to leave the game. The good news is that McCarron, the former Alabama and Stallion QB, is OK to go in Week 14, but Mariota is done for the year, and in a year when he was putting up very strong numbers. His year is now prematurely halted with 2,673 yards, 18 touchdowns, and a career-best 111.9 QB Rating as his final numbers.     Three more teams have gotten their invites to the postseason dance. The Michigan Panthers, now 11-2, are now locked into a playoff spot and now only 1 game behind the Wranglers for the top overall seed. Michigan has a 2-game lead over both the Machine and Maulers, and could clinch the division this week with the right combination of results. In the East, both the Breakers and Showboats, both locked up at 10-3, join Atlanta and Tampa Bay in the playoff pool, locking up 4 of the 6 spots. The two Southern teams have a 2-game lead over Houston, who are also currently in playoff position with a 1.5 game lead over the 7 th ranked team in the conference (New Jersey).   The next teams to potentially lock up spots are the group of 3 teams at 9-4, all in the West, where LA, Chicago, and Pittsburgh can all secure spots with wins this week and some help from the 7-6 clubs, who could drop out of the race with losses (again if all games go just the right way). Speaking of dropping out of the race, we saw three more teams now officially out of the running, one of them the Charlotte Monarchs, who despite their stunning upset of Tampa Bay are now out at 5-8. They are joined by two more 5-win clubs, Oklahoma and expansion New England, while 5-7-1 Washington still has a mathematical (though quite convoluted) chance to earn a Wild Card or even the division title, if, that is, both Baltimore and New Jersey completely fold down the stretch. This was a bad week for injuries across the USFL, that cannot be denied. We had 2 star QBs hit injured reserves, lost for the year, but we also saw a rash of less extensive, but still impactful injuries, including Teddy Bridgewater’s accident, a concerning back injury to Seattle LT Eric Fisher, and a shoulder injury to Atlanta WR A. J. Green which could impact their hopes to catch Tampa Bay and steal away the SE Division Title. Green hopes to be back for the Week 15 clash between the two Southeastern powers, but that seems iffy with his diagnosis. Finally, we saw one of the worst weeks of the season for players held out for a 2 nd week with COVID-19 symptoms. 6 players are back on the list after being held out last week, including Memphis’s best pass rusher, Chase Winovich, and Houston corner Siran Neal. We also should note that Washington will go into a pivotal Week 14 game without their starting QB after Ryan Nassib tested positive for COVID this week and must be held out.   OUT QB         David Carr             ARZ            Torn Bicep                  IR QB         Marcus Mariota      POR             Torn Hamstring            IR OT          Eric Fisher             SEA               Back                               4-6 Weeks CB          Jabari Greer        BAL                Hamstring                         4-6 Weeks C             Bradley Bozeman  MEM             Biceps                           2-4 Weeks LB           Chapelle Russell      BAL         Hand                             1-2 Weeks WR         A. J. Green              ATL                Shoulder                        1-2 Weeks QB         Teddy Bridgewater  JAX         Elbow                           1-2 Weeks WR         Michael Pittman Jr  BAL                Finger                              1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL TE           Tyler Eifert                   CHI        Knee OT          Jonah Williams                SD           Hamstring DT          Danny Shelton                 CHA        Ribs CB          Jalen Ramsey                 TBY         Toe OG         Cole Madison              POR       Pinched Nerve CB          Jeremy Harris               ARZ         Back   QUESTIONABLE TE           Dustin Keller              LV             Knee DT          Tyson Alualu                 OAK       Broken Nose CB          Desmond King             ATL          Toe   COVID 19 INACTIVES ARZ       CB      Jeremy Harris      2 nd  Week HOU     CB          Siran Neal             2 nd  Week MEM     DE          Chase Winovich     2 nd  Week OHI       LB           Daniel Ellerbe        2 nd Week PIT         QB         Andy Dalton          PIT         FS           Robert Sands         2 nd Week SD          DT          Damon Harrison    2 nd  Week SD          CB          Justin Gilbert                    STL         OT          Tristan Wirfs WSH     QB         Ryan Nassib   Playoff Odds with 3 Weeks Left Three weeks left to play and a lot of teams teetering on the brink as we look over the playoff picture. So, who is in a good position? Who is in need of some help? And who needs an act of God to get the right combination of results to propel them to the post-season? We are ready to break down the situation for 20 of the league’s 30 teams, from locked in to praying for a miracle.   READY TO DANCE: Arizona, Michigan, Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Atlanta, Memphis These six teams are all assured a trip to the 2 nd season, but there is still a lot to determine, from the winner of the Southern Division, where New Orleans and Memphis are locked at 10-3, to the 1 seeds in both conferences, now much more in question as the two unbeatens went down this week. We should also remember that Atlanta is only 1 game behind Tampa Bay, so the Wranglers are the only team locked into a division title after 13 weeks. But, at the very least these teams know that they will be playing football after Week 16, which is a nice feeling to have at this point in the season.   CAN ALMOST TASTE IT: Los Angeles, Chicago, Pittsburgh With a 2-game advantage over the teams in the 7 th through 9 th  spots, LA, Chicago, and Pittsburgh are all in a very good position. They could each lock up a spot this week with a win and some key losses elsewhere, and even if they don’t get it this week, they seem very likely to find a playoff ticket waiting for them soon. Of course, LA is hoping to wrap up a division title as well, and all three are hoping they can garner a home playoff game in the Wild Card round at a minimum.   CONTROL THEIR FATE: Oakland, Portland, Baltimore, Houston The Invaders, Blitz, and Gamblers currently hold playoff positions, which means that if they can win out, they are guaranteed a spot. Portland is also in this group because they have a late season matchup with Oakland this week. A win there and they could be on the path to a Wild Card, if not the division title. Each of these teams has issues, but they also have the ability to decide their own fate. That is a nerve-racking position to have, but still a better one than any team in the next two categories.   NEED HELP: New Jersey, Dallas, Seattle If it were about the Wild Card, New Jersey would already be out, but they are only ½ game behind Baltimore for the NE Division title, even at 6-6-1, so they have a real shot to not only get themselves into the dance but get a home game (in Florida) on their schedule. As for Dallas and Seattle, they need to see Oakland drop at least one game, and they have to be worried about Portland as well. Tiebreakers are about to become a topic of conversation among their fanbase as it very likely will be a factor for both of these teams.   NEED DIVINE INTERVENTION: Jacksonville, Orlando, Washington, Denver These are teams where mathematically there is a chance, in the same way there is a chance that you hit the Powerball lottery. They, of course, need to go on a 3-game winning streak, something none of them has proven is probable this year, and they need some key results along the way. Both the Bulls and Renegades need Houston to tank all 3 games, as well as at least 2 defeats for the Generals, and Orlando also needs to leap over the Bulls to have any shot. That is a lot of asks. For Denver the needs are equally complex. They need to finish the year at 9-7 and hope that Oakland, Dallas, Seattle, and Portland all blow enough games so that Denver has the advantage, which likely means a lot of 0-3 runs. But, hey, at least they are not Washington. The Federals are an extreme longshot for a Wild Card, needing Houston to go 0-3 and all three other teams ahead of them to lose at least 2 games, all while they go unbeaten to reach 8-7-1. Oddly enough, it might be easier for them to win the NE Division, needing only to have Baltimore finish at 7-9, New Jersey to finish either 7-8-1 or 6-9-1, and for them to finish at 8-7-1. Yeah, that is complicated and very unlikely, but it is not mathematically impossible, so they are still alive.   League Gets What it Wants from Nevada, Arizona, and North Carolina The USFL got the news it wanted to hear this week on two fronts. First, the states of Arizona and Nevada approved stadium use policies that would allow for 25% capacity in all venues, joining Texas and Arizona. That all but guarantees that there will be fans in the stands when the USFL playoffs begin in 4 weeks. But where will the playoffs end up? The answer is Charlotte, North Carolina, as the league and the city both hoped would be possible. The original site for Summer Bowl 2020, selected long before anyone had ever heard of Wuhan, infected bats, masking policy, or Covid-19 will host the title game as originally planned. They will do so because the Governor of the state, Roy Cooper signed the bill this week to allow 25% capacity for all sporting events in the state, a long negotiated and often near-dead proposal that carried the weight of the USFL title game on its shoulders.  So, we now know that there will be tickets for sale for playoff games in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Houston, Orlando, and Tampa Bay. We also know that the finale for the season will be at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, with a capacity allowance of just under 19,000 fans. The league has not yet announced how tickets will be distributed, though there is some expectation that some seats will go up for sale soon, with others held until the conclusion of Week 16 and the decision as to which teams are playing which in which venues. Expect season ticket holders for each team involved to get allocated some tickets, while others will be for the general public and even a small number made available to season ticket holders of the home city franchises. The goal, of course, is to fill the capacity of each game with diehard fans to create the noise and atmosphere of playoff football after a season of empty stadiums and canned artificial crowd noise on broadcasts.           Hall of Fame Class of 2020 Announced Welcome the USFL Class of 2020 to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Six former USFL stars join the pantheon of pro football’s best as the latest class of inductees was named on Monday. The presentation included videos of each member being informed of their selection, interspersed with clips from their playing days and messages from former teammates and coaches. The entire announcement was a nicely designed and polished video of about 20 minutes aired on the USFL’s flagship webpage as well as the PFHOF website. And who are the newest members of this elite fraternity? Here is your list of the newest honorees and the newest busts to join the Hall of Legends in Canton:   QB Daunte Culpepper (Tampa Bay 2004-2014) A second-year nominee, Culpepper played 11 seasons for the Bandits after beginning his career in the NFL. During that tenure he threw for nearly 37,000 yards and threw 259 touchdowns, retiring in 2014 after 4 All-USFL nominations and, of course, the honor of being the Playoff MVP in his 2011 USFL Championship season.   HB Eddie George (Ohio 1996-2010): Legacy Selection Long overdue recognition for the former Ohio State back who helped the Ohio Glory go undefeated in 2002 and win the league’s only back-to-back title in 2003. George had issues with his retirement documentation, a paperwork debacle that led to him missing his primary nomination window, but the Legacy Committee could not let that stand and inducted him this year. In his career, George rushed for 16,265 yards, averaging over 1,000 yards per season for his entire career. He also added 102 rushing touchdowns, over 6,000 receiving yards, and 52 receiving touchdowns as one of the league’s great dual threat backs. He retired with 2 titles, 2 Offensive Player of the Year trophies, and 9 All-USFL honors.   CB Quentin Jammer (Texas 2002-03, Philadelphia 2004-13, Birmingham 2014) Another 2 nd  year nominee, Jammer was a 5-time All-USFL corner who retired with 1,040 tackles, 24 forced fumbles, 32 Interceptions, and 343 passes defended. Jammer never won a title during his USFL tenure but was considered one of the best pure cover corners of his era.   LB Joey Porter (Portland/Las Vegas, 1999-2015) A first-year nominee and career-long member of the Thunder, Joey Porter retired in 2015 with 1,443 tackles, 277 for a loss, 57 sacks, 20 forced fumbles, and 13 interceptions. A 5-time All-USFL nominee, Porter was the leader of the Thunder defense during some of the franchise’s best years in both Portland and Las Vegas.   FS Ed Reed (Washington, 2002-2014) Our third player nominated in his 2 nd  year, Ed Reed, was the player you did not want to meet going over the middle. A fierce hitter with a nose for the ball, Reed retired after 12 USFL seasons with 896 tackles, 38 picks, and a reputation for always being in the right place to deliver a big hit. He was a 4-time All-USFL nominee during his years in Washington.   WR Hines Ward (Arizona 1998-2001, Michigan 2002-15) Perhaps the greatest blocking receiver in league history, Hines Ward, never shied away from leading a back around the outside or taking on a linebacker. But he could catch as well, as is evident in his 1,280 career receptions, 18,972 yards, and 121 receiving touchdowns. An 8-time All-USFL nominee, Ward won a title with the Panthers in 2008, midway through his tenure in Michigan after starting his career in the desert with the Arizona Wranglers.   Eight division games and more than a few high impact games for the playoff race are what we are in store for in what could be an action-packed Week 14. We kick it off on Friday night with a triple-header of games that could very well all be vital to the playoff picture. We have Orlando and New Jersey playing at Camping World Stadium, and with both at only 6 wins, the loser very likely is out of any playoff contention. The other 8pm start is from Las Vegas where the LA Express, currently all alone atop the Pacific, face the Seattle Dragons, who sit at 7-6 and need to turn up the heat if they want a shot at a playoff spot.   On Saturday we have 4 divisional games, three of which have big playoff implications. In the 4pm slot we have Dallas vs. Denver. A loss by the Gold and they are out, a win by Dallas and their odds of obtaining a Wild Card are greatly enhanced. We also have Oakland v. Portland at 4pm, with both on the edge of the Wild card race. It is unlikely that both will qualify, so this could be an elimination match. Then, at 9pm we have a classic matchup over the past few years, Houston v. New Orleans. The Breakers have a 2-game lead over the Gamblers in the division, so Houston is largely playing to obtain a Wild Card, but a loss by the Breakers could cost them the division title with Memphis right there as well.   Sunday wraps up the weekend with fewer matchups of playoff-bound teams, though the Jacksonville-Baltimore matchup at 8pm could be impactful. What we have to look for on Sunday is the upset. Can Oklahoma get a win against Arizona now that the Wrangler QB situation is in flux? Could Birmingham stun the Chicago Machine with a big day from Cam Newton, and can the New England Steamrollers cause Tampa Bay to lose a second in a row? Maybe we are grasping at straws, but who saw both Arizona and Tampa Bay going down this week? You never know what can happen.   FRIDAY 8pm ET      Orlando (6-7) @ New Jersey (6-6-1)        Orlando      NBC 8pm ET        Los Angeles (9-4) @ Seattle (7-6)             Las Vegas         FOX 9pm ET         Michigan (11-2) @ Pittsburgh (9-4)      TDECU                 ESPN/EFN   SATURDAY 1pm ET        Memphis (10-3) @ San Antonio (2-11)      NRG                      ABC 4pm ET          Dallas (7-6) @ Denver (6-7)                      Glendale            FOX 4pm ET           Oakland (8-5) @ Portland (7-6)            Las Vegas           ABC 8pm ET          Charlotte (5-8) @ Washington (5-7-1)      Gainesville        NBC 8pm ET           Atlanta (11-2) @ Philadelphia (1-12)         Tampa                  ABC 9pm ET        Houston (8-5) @ New Orleans (10-3)       Rice                      ESPN/EFN   SUNDAY 1pm ET        Ohio (3-10) @ St. Louis (1-12)                  NRG                      FOX 4pm ET          Arizona (12-1) @ Oklahoma (5-8)          Glendale            ABC 4pm ET           Las Vegas (2-11) @ San Diego (2-11)       Las Vegas           FOX 8pm ET           Tampa Bay (12-1) @ New England (5-8)   Orlando               ABC 8pm ET                Jacksonville (6-7) @ Baltimore (7-6)      Tampa                  FOX 9pm ET                Birmingham (2-11) @ Chicago (8-4)      TDECU                 ESPN/EFN