Search this site

Summer Bowl 1992 was all that was advertised, two evenly matched teams playing their best football at the right time. Two dynamic backs trying to will their teams to victory. Two defenses doing their best to stunt the opposition attack. This was a good one. In the end only one team could come out victorious, but this was a battle between two teams that both deserved to be here and both showed what they were made of. In the end, Houston had just enough in the tank to outlast Pittsburgh and earn their second league title, thanks in large part to a passing game that included the wideouts, tight ends, and backs. Pittsburgh was game, and they got a solid performance all around, but there was just too much Kelly & Co. and the Houston Gamblers would walk away victorious when the clock ran down. The game began with a 68-yard Houston drive, one helped by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty at the worst time. Houston had a 3rd and 17 after a Godfrey Miles sack of Kelly, but on an incomplete pass, the flag came out. Illegal hands to the face from DT Tony Siragusa and Houston got the automatic first down. They would cash in 3 plays later when Kelly found HB Thurman Thomas from 11 yards out for the game’s first score. Pittsburgh immediately responded with their own first drive, again aided by a penalty, this time an encroachment call on blitzing safety Robert Blackmon, who mistimed his jump. Risher found Louis Lipps to get the ball to the 5, and on the very next play he hit backup TE Charles Arbuckle for the score as the entire Houston D followed Mike Rozier on the play. Pittsburgh would score again on a brutal play from Kelly. Trying to squeeze the ball to Perriman as he rolled left, Kelly’s ball trailed his receiver and was snatched from the air by CB Quintin Jones, who had easy sailing for 52 yards and the go-ahead score. A noticeably upset Kelly roamed the sidelines trying to rally his troops. He would lead the Gamblers on a field goal producing drive later in the quarter, finishing the half with Houston down 14-10. Things would look worse for Houston on the opening drive of the second half. Starting on their own 32, it only took the Maulers 3 plays to find paydirt. Risher hit TE Mike Shaw on first down, on a play that should have gone for about 8 yards, but ended up going for 45 thanks to a missed tackle. Mike Rozier then took the ball around the left end for another 18, and suddenly, in only 22 seconds, the Maulers were at the Houston 9-yard line. Rozier punched it in from there and now Pittsburgh had an 11-point lead and it was time for Kiki DeAyala to rally the troops. Houston could do nothing on their next drive, and once again Pittsburgh got the ball, bu ton a 3rd and 10, the Maulers failed to convert and the ball went back to Houston. On this drive Kelly started to hone in on his outside receivers. He found Proehl for 33 on a nice slant & up, then hit Perriman to get into the red zone. From there it was Ron Heller to the 1 and then Thurman Thomas up and over the pile to pull Houston to within 5 at 21-16. Kelly would go for 2, but the ball deflected away from Perriman and the score remained a 5-point Mauler advantage. The Maulers gained only 3 yards on their next possession and Houston was back in business. The DC crowd could feel the momentum shift as Kelly carved up the Mauler D on his way to a 2nd TD pass. The big play on the drive was a 3rd and 3, which turned into a first and 10 on the Pittsburgh 13 as Brett Perriman found a gap in the zone coverage and split defenders on his way to a 27 yard catch. Two plays later Kelly found Proehl for the 13-yard score. He would complete the 2-pointer to Thomas as well, flipping the score. Houston led 24-21 with under a minute gone in the 4th. Pittsburgh had some success on their next drive, but a well-timed blitz by Pat Swilling on a 3rd and 6 produced a sack of Risher, and the Maulers would again have to punt. Now Houston was clicking and everything seemed to work. Manoa for a short gain was followed by a perfect play action to Thomas which pulled in the safety and gave Ricky Proehl single coverage. 56 yards later he was tackled for a first down in Mauler territory. Kelly then found Heller, a couple of Thomas runs, and then went back to Proehl once more, this time for a 26-yard TD pass on a skinny post. Houston was up 31-21, the tide had fully turned, and the entire stadium could feel the pressure that the Mauler offense now faced. Pittsburgh and Alan Risher were up to the task. In only 6 plays the Maulers worked their way back into the game. Risher hit Mike Pritchard on a deep ball, then Mike Shaw and Mike Rozier for short plays on what appeared to be an “all Mike” drive. With a first and goal at the 3, the Maulers gave Rozier a moment to catch his breath, and that moment gave Lydell Carr the chance to get his name on the scoreboard. He took a handoff intended as a counter tre to the right, but seeing nothing, shifted left, found space between the center and the guard, and plunged in for 6. Pittsburgh was within range at 31-28 with 2:16 left in the game. The Maulers opted not to go for the onside kick, which surprised many in the stands, as well as many of us watching. Houston got the ball at their own 31 after a good return by Rowe. Rather than sit on it, Kelly used play action to fake out the Mauler D, and found Perriman deep, moving the ball all the way to the Pittsburgh 33. From here it was Thomas left, Thomas right, Thomas left again, and eventually John Kasay moved the differential to 6 points with a 31 yarder. More importantly he left Pittsburgh only 30 seconds on the clock. It was too little for the Maulers as they were unable to move into range to even try a Hail Mary. The clock ran out and the Houston Gamblers celebrated a hard-earned championship title. Coach Willsey was doused in GatorAde. Jim Kelly hoisted first the USFL Trophy and then the Summer Bowl MVP Award, and the streets of Houston filled with rowdy revelers through the night. For Pittsburgh it was a game well-played. Mike Rozier finished with 102 yards on 16 carries. Alan Risher connected on 74% of his passes and threw two scores with no picks. Mike Shaw was the leading receiver with 76 yards on 16 carries, and the defense managed to get to Kelly 3 times, along with Jones’s pick-6 score. But it was not enough against a Houston team that found momentum in the second half and made the plays when they had to. Kelly would win the MVP award for his 368 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. Thurman Thomas would contribute 79 yards rushing and another 78 as a receiver. Ricky Proehl, who caught two touchdowns, ended the game with 141 receiving, and teammate Brett Perriman also finished the game with 102 after 13 targets and 5 receptions. The defensive stars for Houston were DeAyala, with a workmanlike 8 tackles, Swilling, with his key sack of Risher, and a secondary which kept everything in front of them and made tackles when called upon. Houston now joins the Panthers and Stars of the 80’s as the only teams to win multiple titles. For Pittsburgh the Summer Bowl was a huge step in the right direction, capping off a season few predicted, but one which Coach Marchibroda has been pointing towards since arriving in the Steel City. Another great championship game, another great season, the USFL’s 10th. And now it is on to fall and the long USFL offseason before we kick it all off again in March of 1993. On to the 1993 USFL Season!! See You in The Big Easy for Summer Bowl '93!!!

Four teams came into the weekend with visions of Summer Bowl ’92 in their heads. Two teams emerge with their tickets to DC punched. For one it is a chance to reignite past glory and become only the third USFL club to win multiple titles. For the other it is a chance to change the narrative, from also-ran to champion. It was a weekend of dreams and possibilities, and of heartbreak. Let’s get right to it. Sunday, July 26 @ 1pm ET Liberty Bowl, Memphis, TN 57,234 in attendance PITTSBURGH 29 MEMPHIS 18 The Pittsburgh Maulers had never won a playoff game before this season. They had never won their division. And they had never been considered a powerhouse. This week’s convincing win over the favored #1 seed Memphis Showboats may change all of that. The Maulers dominated the early game and then contained the Memphis comeback on their way to a conference title and an almost undreamed of trip to Summer Bowl 1992. The Maulers used a balanced attack and an opportunistic defense to build up a 23-0 lead over the course of the first quarter and a half, forcing Memphis to play catch up for most of the game, and allowing their defense to focus on containment. It all started with special teams and defensive pressure. After both teams were held to short drives and quick punts, Pittsburgh drove the ball to their own 47 and then got a perfect coffin corner punt from Mark Royals, pinning the Showboats on their own 3 yard line. After a Greg Boone run set them back to the 2, Memphis tried a play action pass to get out of the shadow of their own endzone, but the slow-developing play was exactly what John Bosa wanted, and by the time the Memphis receivers were getting open, he was forcing Mike Kelley to tuck the ball and take the safety. Pittsburgh received the safety kickoff and in only 4 plays they were up by 9. After a 2nd and 5 run by Rozier got them the first down, Alan Risher missed on a pass to Mike Shaw and then hit on a big 2nd and 10 deep ball to underappreciated wideout Raynard Brown. The out & up worked to perfection and the line protected Risher, leading to a 31 yard touchdown for the Maulers. They would add the next 14 points as well, first on a Lydell Carr screen pass and then a 2-yard off tackle run from Mike Rozier. Only 4 minutes into the 2nd quarter and the visiting Maulers were up 23-0. Memphis would have to dig deep to come back. They would also need to adjust both their offensive and defensive schemes on the fly. They got on the board 3 minutes later when Greg Boone had his best run of the day, a 31 yard rumble to the endzone. He would finish the day with 147 yards on 23 carries, outpacing the league rushing champion, who gained 120 on 24 carries, but Pittsburgh was more than happy to let Memphis run the ball in chunks of 3-4 instead of giving up quick strikes. Both teams would trade field goals to end the half, with the Maulers taking a comfortable 26-10 lead into the half. The second half would be a war of attrition. Pittsburgh was happy to let Rozier and Carr tote the rock, to stretch out the play clock, and to play a containment defense that slowed Memphis down the rest of the way. Memphis would score 10 more points over the half, to Pittsburgh’s 3, but nothing came easy and with 2 second half turnovers (a Terrell INT of Kelley, and a Godfrey Miles strip of Tommy Agie) the Showboats simply did not have enough offense or enough time to battle back. Pittsburgh would be headed to their first Summer Bowl, Mike Rozier, after years of frustration, would have his shot at a title to go along with all his individual accolades. Coach Marchibroda, whose slow development of the Maulers’ identity almost cost him his job a year ago, was now leading a championship calibre team towards the final prize. Sunday, July 26 @ 5pm ET Astrodome, Houston, TX 51,405 in attendance NEW ORLEANS 30 HOUSTON 43 It was a battle of expectations. The savvy veteran QB with the cannon arm against the surprise starter. The league MVP runner-up against a division rival who knew every trick in his arsenal. The #1 seed against the squad most predicted to miss the playoffs entirely. Houston was the favorite and they played like it all game long. New Orleans was the plucky upstart and they too played their part, challenging Houston throughout the day, but in the end there was simply not enough for the Breakers to upset the favored Gamblers. Houston would be returning to the Summer Bowl after a 3 year absence. Kelly and Thomas would get a shot at immortality with another championship shot. The game started out slowly, with both the Breakers and Gamblers forced into two quick 3-and-out possessions each, testing each other out and devising a strategy after the initial scripted plays failed to produce much. On their third possession, the Gamblers found the answer, with Thomas working in the screen game to loosen up the D-line and Kelly looking beyond the tight coverage on Proehl and Perriman. He would eventually find TE Ron Heller, a former Breaker, open for a 19-yard TD pass to open the scoring. New Orleans responded with their first downs of the game, 3 of them to move into Houston territory and set up Tim Mazzetti for an easy 33 yarder. 7-3 after one. In the second quarter the dyke burst and the Houston offense rushed in. The Gamblers would score 21 unanswered points in the quarter before New Orleans added a second field goal to end the half. Again it was Kelly spreading the ball out, with a quick strike TD to slot receiver Ernie Jones on their first possession of the quarter. On their next possession it was a 4 WR formation that forced New Orleans into single coverage, and that allowed Ricky Proehl the space he needed to haul in a 22-yarder to put Houston up 21-3. After a solid defensive stop which included a tipped ball nearly picked off by LB Johnny Holland, Houston took over and once again drove the length of the field, this time primarily on Thomas runs, before a subbed-in Keith Woodside dove in from 2 yards out to give Houston a dominant 28-3 lead. Down 28-6 at the half, New Orleans abandoned a run game that simply found no room against the Houston defenders and turned the ball over to Danny McManus. What did they have to lose? McManus, who had only 81 yards in the first half, would throw for 281 in the second half, including 121 to Michael Jackson and three scores to three different receivers. It would still not be enough. Thurman Thomas added another Houston TD, John Kasay would add two field goals, and despite late TD passes to Herman Fontenot and Greg Paterra, it was still Houston 41-30 when a muffed snap forced Marcus Dupree to fall on the ball in his own endzone, producing a safety and the final score of 43-30. Kelly would end the game with 338 yards passing, 4 touchdowns, and a QBR of 156.5. Thomas would rush for only 37 yards but would add 59 more through screens, circle routes, and swing passes. Houston did what they had to do to take control of the game and contain New Orleans throughout. The Gamblers would be headed back to the championship with a chip on their shoulder and a chance to become 2-time champions. SUMMER BOWL PREVIEW While we love to focus on quarterbacks in the USFL, this year’s USFL Championship, Summer Bowl 1992, is shaping up as a battle between two of the league’s best halfbacks. It is league MVP Mike Rozier against 2nd place vote-getter Thurman Thomas. Rozier is a classic one-cut back, willing to run you over or make you miss. Thomas is the dual threat, a solid runner and excellent out of the backfield. While there are other stars on both offenses, from QB Jim Kelly and wideouts Ricky Proehl and Brett Perriman to newly-acquired deep threat Louis Lipps and reliable TE Mike Shaw for Pittsburgh. And both teams also have solid defenses with two of the league’s best middle linebackers in Eric Kumerow and Kiki DeAyala. But, when all is said and done, the team that can best utilize their star halfback will likely be the team to win. Both clubs have first-time championship coaches in Pittsburgh’s Ted Marchibroda and Houston’s Ray Willsey (It was Jack Pardee who took Houston to consecutive championships in ’87 and ’88). Let’s take a quick look at the key positions before we make our pick: QB Advantage: Houston. Jim Kelly can be a bit of a gunslinger, but this year he has avoided the negative plays, setting league records for QBR and completion rate along the way. HB Advantage: Toss Up. Rozier is the league MVP and came close to the league rushing record, but Thomas became the first back in league history to gain 2,000 all purpose yards with WR-like receiving numbers. TE Advantage: Pittsburgh. The combo of McKeller and Heller works for Houston, but in a pinch we know that Pittsburgh’s Mike Shaw is a better option for a desperate QB. WR Advantage: Houston. We like what Louis Lipps has brought to Pittsburgh, but the combo of Brown and Lipps is not as proficient or as diverse in what they offer as the trio of Proehl, Perriman and Ernie Jones for Houston. OL Advantage: Pittsburgh. The Maulers have one of the best run-blocking lines in football. Both clubs can protect their QB’s, but the advantage goes to Pittsburgh’s ability to pull guards and their center to work the outside run. DL Advantage: Pittsburgh. John Bosa had a career year with 12 sacks and 4 forced fumbles. Add in DTs Dan Saleamua and Moe Gardner and you have a line that can put pressure on QBs or stuff the inside run. Houston’s best D-lineman is DE Gerald Williams, who is a solid passrusher but tends to vanish on run plays. LB Advantage: Houston. We love Eric Kumerow for Pittsburgh, and his teammates Godfrey Miles and rookie Mark D’Onofrio are good complements, but for our money the more athletic set of backers is the one led by Kiki DeAyala, and includes Johnny Holland, Quentin Coryatt, and former Saint Pat Swilling. DB Advantage: Houston. Ashley Ambrose is developing into an elite CB, add in safeties Donald Dykes and Robert Blackmon and you have both experience and talent. Pittsburgh’s secondary has had its issues over the season and is a clear weakness when matched up against deep receiving corps such as Houston’s. Coaching Advantage: This is tough, as neither coach has proven himself in the USFL before. Marchibroda came to Pittsburgh with a solid NFL pedigree, while Willsey was viewed as something of a surprise selection. Both have had midling success so far with this season being the high point for both. We are going to call this one a draw. OUR PICK: Like we said, it likely will come down to the halfback position and the ability of the offensive squads to find ways to use them to good effect. We like Thurman Thomas’s versatility to make that easier for Ray Willsey. Add in a more confident Jim Kelly and we like the odds for Houston to win a second title. Our pick is Houston 24 Pittsburgh 20. As expected, with Washington, Tampa Bay, Oakland and Portland joining the free agency pool, and with all clubs now having their coaching staffs in place, we are seeing more action on the hot stove. Let’s get right to the movement seen around the league. PHILADELPHIA: The coaching search ended this week as the Stars announced that NFL Hall of Fame receiver and former New England Patriots head coach Raymond Berry would be the new leader of the club. Berry has spent the past year serving as QB coach for the Lions, and with Philadelphia hoping to either develop young Browning Nagle or find a suitable alternative, those QB development credentials are going to be vital. Berry is also known as a WR guru, and he will need to look at restocking a very old WR corps of Mike Quick, Tom Donovan, and Gerard Phelan. Coach Berry and the Stars did not waste any time in working to strengthen the roster, they added two players in their first 48 hours on the job. Despite WR being a priority, the Stars started with defense, signing Portland DT Esera Tuaolo and veteran MLB Ed Brady from Tampa Bay. Berry commented that the key to defense is a strong central line running from NT to MLB to SS, and he hopes to build out from there. Expect Philly to look to the draft for wideouts as there are not many left within the USFL free agent pool and no clear choices to defect from the NFL until at least February’s transfer window. MICHIGAN: The Panthers’ attempt to reimagine their offense continues as Michigan signed HB Alfred Jenkins from the Federals. Jenkins is a change of pace back, a good receiver, and a solid punt returner. He adds a bit of quickness and ball skills to the more power game of Rodney Culver. PORTLAND: The Thunder moved to fix an obvious hole in their defense, picking up Birmingham FS Vencie Glenn. Glenn has been a top flight safety since coming into the league, and free safety was a clear weakness for the Thunder who rotated Darren Carrington with Gary Jones, to poor effect, all season. TEXAS: The Outlaws hoped to improve their O-Line performance and protect QB Kelly Stouffer. To do so they have signed Michigan LT Arnoldo Gardner. Gardner, despite giving up significant sacks each year, is thought of as an effective run blocker and does well against power rushers, despite having a bit of a problem with the speed rush. BIRMINGHAM: The Stallions snapped up one of the best linemen in the free agent pool, signing Oakland guard Guy McIntyre to a 3-year deal. Big Mac is expected to immediately move into the Right Guard position on the strong run side, making Joe Cribbs happy for certain. NEW JERSEY: The Generals have signed Portland SS Eric McMillian, a clear sign that they have inside information on the possible retirement of longtime starter Gary Barbaro. McMillian is known for the same type of hard hitting and run support as Barbaro, but with considerably more tread left on the tires. MICHIGAN: The Panthers, after losing Arnoldo Gardner, dipped back into Washington’s roster and have signed tackle Jim Lachey. Lachey is a more athletic pass defender, able to handle the speed rush, and is quite adept at run blocking as well. Many in the Motor City are seeing this as an upgrade, and we tend to agree. OAKLAND: No official signing yet, but it looks as if Oakland is definitely going to have to look for a new QB. Since their loss last Sunday, Oakland has seen QB Gale Gilbert interview with the Chicago Machine, but also with the Seattle Seahawks and San Diego Chargers of the NFL. Oakland’s GM all but admitted that the Invaders were not seeing themselves as a viable contender for Gilbert’s services. Expect to get word on Gilbert’s final destination next week, but now we have to wonder who is available for the Invaders to go after. It may take a trade, or a costly NFL raid for Oakland to find a viable starter. At present the only available free agent is Texas backup Mike Shula, and, as of Monday, Memphis backup Cary Conklin. Neither of those seem like strong starting QB material, and with Oakland’s roster only having Mike Pawlawski and Troy Taylor as backups to Gilbert, the cupboard is pretty bare. Retirements: We have seen a significant number of players announce their retirements this past week, but still no word on one we have heard in rumors but are unable to confirm. Here are the new retirees we can confirm: Baltimore WR Jackie Flowers St. Louis TE Todd Christiansen Tampa Bay S Roy Gee Philadelphia HB and PR Vi Sikahema New Jersey DE Gary Jeter New Orleans DE David Wilkinson and FS Matthew Fong Michigan LB Rick Naylor Denver K Brian Speelman Chicago D-Linemen Dan Hampton and Dave Board While none of these departures are huge surprises, it certainly will not help Baltimore to lose their top receiver, or for St. Louis to lose the dependable Christiansen. New Orleans and Chicago will have to start looking for defensive help as well as both clubs are losing key role players. This is always the case in pro football. Either through free agency or retirement there is always turnover on USFL rosters, and teams are always asked to adapt and move forward. We will see how these clubs do so.

The busiest week of playoff action all summer. Eight teams playing in four games, and everything to play for. It’s the Divisional Playoffs in the USFL and this year we had a little of everything. The defending champions playing at home against a perennial also-ran, past champions hoping to return to the biggest show in spring football, newcomers and upstarts, top tier defenses and dynamic offenses. This was a week for football fans to enjoy. And at the end of the week four teams remain in the hunt for a USFL championship. Saturday, July 18 @ 3PM ET Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA (42,403 in attendance) WASHINGTON 7 PITTSBURGH 19 The Maulers, appearing in their franchise’s first home playoff game earn their first playoff win, dispatching the Washington Federals with a stifling defense and an unrelenting ground attack. Pittsburgh owned the clock, set the tempo, and never let the Federals sniff victory as they took the lead early in the first and held it for the entire game. Pittsburgh got 116 yards rushing from Mike Rozier, added another 30 from backup Lydell Carr, and combined that with a turnover-free passing day form Alan Risher to dominate the Federals. The Maulers got on the board first with a field goal 7 minutes into the game. They would add a Rozier TD run and another field goal in the 2nd to take a dominant 13-0 lead into the half. Washington QB Don Majkowski was knocked out of the game early and Coach Rutigliano opted to go with young Will Furrer at the helm. The Federals tried to come back, scoring a lone TD in the third quarter, but there just was not enough on offense to sustain a comeback, and as the game wore on the Federals vaunted defense got tired. More and more Mauler runs paid off, more third downs were converted, and with 2 more Raphael Septien field goals in the final period the Maulers comfortably ground out the game and took the W. Erick Kumerow finished the game with 10 tackles, John Bosa got a key sack to end a Federals drive, and free safety Pat Terrell picked off the inexperienced Furrer to seal the game. It was a full team effort, and in every phase of the game the Maulers came out ahead. They will now head off to the Conference Finals and a chance to erase 8 years of futility and frustration. Saturday, July 18 @ 8pm ET Houston Astrodome, Houston, TX (43,250 in attendance) PORTLAND 20 HOUSTON 27 In a game that was much tighter than most anticipated, the 8-8 Thunder held their own against the 11-5 Gamblers before a late TD sealed the win for the home team. Houston outgained Portland only 404-327 as Kerwin Bell threw for 222 yards and Robert Drummond ground out 86 yards rushing. But the day would belong to the Gamblers as Jim Kelly threw for 284 and 3 scores and Thurman Thomas combined 116 yards on the ground (a 6.1 ypc average) with 38 yards and a TD through the air. Brett Perriman also had a big day with 102 yards and a score, and the always reliable Ricky Proehl added 62 and a score as well. After falling behind 14-3 with 5 minutes left in the first half, on a Mike Cade run and Adrian Cooper TD reception, Houston scored twice in the final 4:30 to take a halftime lead against a stunned Portland defense. The first score was a 35-yard corner pattern from Kelly to Perriman with 2:56 left in the half. The second came only 2 minutes later when Kelly found Proehl from 26 yards out. In the span of just 2 minutes, the Gamblers had put 14 on the board and silenced the small contingent of Thunder fans in the Astrodome. Portland tied the game in the third with a long Del Greco field goal, but Houston added a kick of their own only minutes later to go up 20-17. Entering the 4th quarter it felt like a game that could go into overtime, as both playoff games the week before had. Portland again tied the scoreat 20 at the 9 minute mark of the final period, but the tie would not hold. On their next drive, Houston took advantage of Portland’s overpursuit of the run game. With a first down inside the Portland red zone, they faked the outside run to Thomas, who had already carried the ball 4 times on the drive, Kelly bootlegged right, then reversed himself and found Thomas unguarded in the flat. 13 yards later it was paydirt for the Houston MVP and the Gamblers had themselves a 7-point lead late in the game. Portland would get two more possessions, but both ended badly, the first with a Robert Blackmon interception of Kerwin Bell, his only turnover of the day, and then, with time running out, a final drive ended when Bell could not hit Webster Slaughter on 4th and 10, leading to a turnover on downs and two very content Jim Kelly kneeldowns. The Gamblers, the West’s #1 seed, avoided a first round letdown and would not await the winner of New Orleans-Oakland next week. Sunday, July 19 @ 12pm ET Liberty Bowl, Memphis, TN (56,203 in attendance) TAMPA BAY 27 MEMPHIS 30 In front of a huge and rambunctious Memphis crowd, the home team took a first quarter lead and held it despite every effort of the visiting Bandits to come back. In a game that saw QB Troy Aikman sacked 7 times by the impressive Showboat line, the Bandits would not go away, and in the end only a Kevin Shea field goal allowed Memphis to advance and prepare to host the Maulers next week. The game opened with something we have seen repeated all year long, Aikman to Truvillion for 6. This one was particularly pretty as Truvillion lept beyond the grasp of the defender, managed to stay on his feet, and dashed 75 yards for the score. It would be the first of several big plays by both teams all night. After a quick 3-and-out for the usually bendable Tampa D, the second big play changed the momentum of the game. With Tampa Bay backed up to their own 3 after a muffed kickoff return, Reggie White got the first of his huge 4 sacks on the day, this one the biggest of all, a safety. Memphis was on the board, and after the short post-safety drive resulted in 3 points, it was Tampa 7, Memphis 5. On their next drive, Memphis would take the lead, as former Bandit Greg Boone once again came back to haunt his former team. On a 2nd and 4, Boone exploited a hole in the Tampa line, juked past the charging backer and was off to the races. His 38-yard TD scamper put Memphis up 12-7 as the first quarter ended. The second quarter would see Tampa score on two field goals, but sandwiched between those drives was a Memphis drive that resulted in a Kelley to Townsell TD toss, allowing the home team to head to the intermission up 19-13. Tampa would come out strong in the second half, and for a few brief moments retook the lead. Aikman again found Truvillion, this time from 29 yards out, and Tampa gained the upper hand 20-19, but only 5 plays later Kelley would do his own repeat performance, finding Townsell for his second score of the day, a 38 yard beauty, and with the 2 point conversion good, the Showboats took the 27-20 lead. As the third quarter wound down, Aikman showed he had other targets, finding little-used wideout Robert Brooks for a 22 yard scoring play, splitting the safeties down the middle of the field, and we were all tied up at 27. At this point Memphis let Greg Boone carry most of the load. With only 2 drives, one producing the final score of the game, a 33-yard Shea field goal, Boone would earn 44 of his 117 for the day, and would grind out nearly 11 minutes of game time to keep Aikman and the Bandits from having a chance to equalize or take the lead. Tampa did have one more possession, but it was cut short by yet another huge Reggie White sack, this time on 3rd and 11 on the Memphis 44. Tampa was forced to punt, and they would not see the ball again as the Showboats killed the clock and punched their ticket to next week’s Conference Title Game. Sunday, July 19 @ 4:30pm ET Oakland-Alameda Stadium, Oakland, CA (37,844 in attendance) NEW ORLEANS 27 OAKLAND 20 The story of Danny McManus and his surprising run as a replacement QB for the New Orleans Breakers just continues to get more and more exciting. The former 3rd stringer led the Breakers to a win over the defending champs, throwing for 307 yards, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions in the biggest game of his short pro career. Aided by a defense that kept Oakland in check all day and a wideout in Charle Smith who had a career day with 152 yards receiving on only 5 receptions, McManus earned a playoff win for a team that many expected to collapse when starter Matt Robinson went down for the year. Oakland came out flat, it must be said, and by the time they awakened, the Breakers were already up 13-0. McManus had hit Charlie Smith with the longest pass of the day, a 65-yard TD toss, and Tim Mazzetti had added both a 44-yarder and a 47-yarder. Oakland would finally show their mettle, scoring twice in the 2nd period to take the lead at the half. The first was a 1-yard plunge from rookie Siran Stacy, one of only 66 yards on the day. The second a Mark Duper TD reception as time wound down in the 2nd quarter. Back on top, and after adding a field goal in their first possession of the second half, Oakland started to feel that they had the game, and the fans started to celebrate, but that all ended when, on a broken play, McManus escaped the Oakland rush and found Ray Rowe, hardly a household name, wide open for a score. McManus had put the Breakers up 20-17. Oakland came right back and tied the game with a Matt Bahr field goal, but the Invader defense seemed shaky, not knowing just how to defend the young Breaker QB. With 1:51 left in the game, the Breakers started a drive tied with Oakland at 20 and with an eye on Tim Mazzetti to once again with the game for them. But, after a costly pass interference call got New Orleans into field goal range with just under 1 minute left on the clock, the Breakers took a chance. McManus faked the ball to Dupree, and with the entire Oakland defense expecting run, they bit on it, leaving Erric Pegram open for a quick McManus pass. Pegram raced down the sideline, and dove over SS Chris Carrier and into the endzone to put New Orleans on top for good. The crowd was stunned, the complaints about that PI call are likely still being heard in bars all over the Bay Area, but New Orleans would be moving on. They now head to Houston to face a Gamblers squad who the Breakers had split their two games with under Robinson. Houston has not faced McManus yet, and for the Breakers, the prospect of going into a big game vs. Houston with McManus at the helm is no longer a scary prospect. There were very few major moves this week, though we did see Denver sign their coach and several of the moves cited last week were made official. Let’s run through the news of the week. DENVER: As expected, the Gold announced this Wednesday that their new Head Coach would be former Broncos Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips. Phillips, the son of legendary Bum Phillips, has been with the Broncos for only 3 seasons, having also served as DC in Philadelphia (86-88) and New Orleans (81-85). Technically this is his second head coaching job as he did serve as an interim HC with the Saints in 1985. Known for his prowess in designing a defense to match his personnel, the challenge for Phillips will be to strengthen the defense while also upgrading an offense that was 20th of 20 teams in scoring, total yards, and passing yards. He is likely to retain Dave Krieg, a major NFL signee just last season, but expect a new OC and a lot of turnover in the offensive roster. On defense his best returning players are showing some age, with DE Larry White turning 33, DT James Herribone also 33, DT Dave Butz 32, and LB Kurt Gouveia now 28. Denver does have some young talent on D, with Marvcus Patton looking like the next big Gold LB at 25 years old, and rookie CB Bruce Pickens having a solid first year. We also like 25 year old Charles Mincy at Free Safety and 24 year old Kurt Schulz as a possible candidat to take over the position as 35 year old Patrick Gannon has hinted that retirement may be eminent. ARIZONA: Long time DT Ed Weaver has announced his intention to retire this year. The loss likely means that Arizona will seek to sign a proven nose tackle as their remaining DT’s Sean Lee and Mike Lodish are best suited for support rather than over the center. BIRMINGHAM: FS Vencie Glenn has been on the market for just under a week and has already spoken with 2 USFL clubs and the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings. Glenn, who is 27 and just finished a 4 interception, 47 tackle season, is the most senior of Birmingham's three players at the position. ST. LOUIS: The Knights have signed Philadelphia TE Alex Higdon. With the emergence of Eric Green as the primary receiving TE in Philly, Higdon was simply not going to get a better contract with the Stars. He will serve as the 2nd TE in St. Louis, behind 32-year old Todd Christiansen, but may be positioning himself to take over should Christiansen retire within the next year or two. CFL-USFL: Baltimore wideout Derek Hill has decided that his supporting role with the Blitz is not his ideal situation and has signed a contract with the CFL Toronto Argonauts, hoping to reboot his career up north. Hill caught 59 passes in Baltimore this year but was stuck behind both Jackie Flowers and Bill Brooks in the depth chart. With Toronto he hopes to obtain a 1 or 2 position. RETIREMENTS: A few retirement notifications have come in over the past week. Most prominent are Chicago SS William Cesare, Jacksonville QB Jason Garrett, and Orlando wideout Nathan Bruce. Chicago is perhaps the hardest hit by the retirement as Cesare has been the regular starter for the Machine since coming over from Birmingham. We are expecting several more retirement notifications over the next two weeks, with rumors circulating that one of the league's biggest stars may be walking away from the game. No details until we get more secure intel on that, but expect something soon. There you have it, a pretty slow 2nd week of free agency, but with 4 playoff calibre teams now joining the free agency pool, we expect next week will be a busy one. Meanwhile on the field it will be a battle of top seeds in the East as #2 Pittsburgh heads to #1 Memphis, while out West it is a divisional matchup as New Orleans is at #1 seed Houston.

It was a wild start to the playoffs when both Wild Card games went to overtime to decide who would move on to face each conference's #1 seed. Tampa Bay and Birmingham had a shootout, with both clubs proving that the passing game is still key to USFL football, while Portland and Arizona found out that even a night game in Tempe in July is a hot affair, as both clubs fought the heat and dehydration as much as they faced each other. In the end the weekend sent two teams on to the next round, and, as if that were not enough, the offseason kicked off with the first signings, first postseason retirements, and, for Denver and Philadelphia, the first stages of the coaching hire process. Let's get right to it. TAMPA BAY BANDITS 28 BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 22 OT The Bandits and Stallions battled to a draw after 4 quarters, but a blown coverage in overtime turned a simple swing pattern into a winning score for Tampa Bay. Eric Bienemy ran untouched for a 34-yard touchdown to help the Bandits advance to face the Showboats in Memphis next week. In a game that saw Tampa Bay surprisingly outgain Stallions on the ground (111 to 81) and saw Brett Favre sacked 4 times by a Bandit squad which had lacked pass rush all year, Tampa Bay stayed close all game, got the tying 2-point conversion after a late Speedy Neal run, and upend the Stallions in Legion Field. The game was all Birmingham for 30 minutes. Brett Favre connected with Lawrence Dawsey for a 55-yard score midway through the first, but the PAT from Scott Norwood was missed. Two field goals wrapped up the first half scoring and it looked like the Birmingham defense would be the heroes of the day, with Birmingham leading Tampa Bay 12-0 at the intermission. In the second half, Birmingham expanded on their lead as Favre again hit Dawsey, this time from 24 yards out, to increase the score to 19-0. Tampa made adjustments at the half, however, and in the next 7 minutes Troy Aikman found both Eric Truvillion and Robert Brooks for TD passes. Suddenly Birmingham’s lead was a tenuous 5 points at 19-14. The Stallions responded to the Tampa scores with a field goal, building their lead up to 8 points, but it would prove to be insufficient as the Bandits drove down the field late in the 4th. With just over 3 minutes to play, Speedy Neal scored on a 2-yard run to pull the Bandits within 2. On the PAT, Tampa opted to run an almost identical play from a slightly adjusted formation. This time it was Bienemy who dove into the endzone to tie the game. When Birmingham could not get Norwood into a comfortable range the game went to overtime. In the extra period Tampa Bay got the ball first and never let Birmingham take a shot. Aikman completed passes to Ben Coates, Mike Espinoza, and Truvillion to get the ball to the Birmingham 34. On a 1st and 10 the deep route to Collinsworth was well-covered, so Aikman dumped the ball to Bienemy in the flat. The elusive back was stunned to see that the backer had not followed him out. By the time Stallion defenders caught on and sought to intercept the speedy back it was too late. Bienemy dodged a desperate tackle attempt at the 5 and lept into the endzone for the winning score. Tampa would live to fight another day and the Birmingham Stallions would have to return to the drawing board and plan for 1993. PORTLAND THUNDER 17 ARIZONA WRANGLERS 14 OT The second of two Wild Card games on the week also ended in overtime as two exhausted teams fought into an extra period before an Al Del Greco field goal thankfully concluded the game. The field temperature at kickoff was 107 degrees even with an evening start in the desert. As night fell the temperature dropped but never got below 85 degrees as both teams dealt with both the heat and their opposition. The heat led to a rotation of players at an above average pace. The result was inconsistent offense for both clubs, as Arizona’s Clack and James each got only 12 carries. For Portland, the trio of Drummond, Flagler and Dereck Loville each had their shots at the position. Arizona had the better ground game, outgaining Portland 128-54, but Kerwin Bell compensated with a strong 354 yards passing without an interception. Arizona got on the board first, with 2:10 left in the first quarter, when TE Mark Boyer caught a short TD pass from Bosco. Midway through the second, Portland equalized as Bell found Robert Jameson for the tying score. The two teams went to half at 7-7 and several players took intravenous saline to rehydrate. By the time the second half started the sun had mostly set, and the temperatures were more tolerable, but the damage had been done. Both teams were slow coming out of the gate, with the defenses benefitting from some sloppy play. Portland, in particular, was having trouble with concentration, as several mental errors led to penalties. The Thunder would outgain the Wranglers, but also ended the game with 13 penalties for 93 negative yards. Arizona again scored first in the second half, scoring the only points of the third quarter as Keith Cash caught the swing pass from Bosco and dove in from only a yard out. It took Portland 3 more drives before they were able to equalize. With 9:19 left in the 4th, Robert Drummond took a short handoff and dove over the pile to once again tie the score, now at 14. Neither team was successful at retaking a lead, with both Del Greco and Luckhurst missing late field goal attempts. And for the second time this weekend the playoff game went into overtime. Portland would start with the ball in overtime, and they moved the ball well, but when Del Greco tried his luck at a 43 yarder to win the game, the ball again sailed left on him and Arizona took over. The Wranglers moved the ball well, getting to the Portland 33, when a mistake cost them a shot at taking home the win. Robbie Bosco tried to force a ball to Trumaine Johnson and CB Gill Byrd jumped the route, falling to the ground wth the ball at the Portland 22. The Thunder would take that ball down the field and when given the chance to end the game with a 30-yarder, Del Greco did not fail a third time. Portland got their first franchise playoff win and were more than ready to hop on a plane to the cooler climate of the Northwest. Next week they face a tough matchup in Houston, but at least it will be at a guaranteed 72 degrees inside the climate controlled Astrodome. Several news stories to report as the offseason gets under way. We have our first signings, and Denver seems to be close to getting their coach as Philadelphia speaks with candidates. We also have our first retirements to report. Let’s get right to it. DENVER: The Gold are indeed seeking to sign the NFL Broncos’ D-Coordinator Wade Phillips as their new head coach. Phillips met with Gold executives this week and had glowing things to say about the meeting. If it is going to happen, it will likely happen fast, as the Broncos will be entering their training camp soon and once that happens the window closes to sign such a high-level staff member. PHILADELPHIA: The Stars spoke with their first coaching candidates this week, bringing in both Patriots Head Coach and NFL Hall of Fame receiver Raymond Berry as well as former Breakers head man, Dick Coury. Philadelphia is likely to see 2-3 more candidates before making a final selection for their open coaching position. There are rumors that they have asked to speak with Eagles’ DC Bud Carson, and have also been in contact with former U. of Pittsburgh Head Coach Mike Gottfried. CHICAGO: Strong Safety William Cesare, who spent most of his career with the Stallions, has announced his retirement from the USFL. Cesare finishes his career with 13 career interceptions and 945 career tackles. Known as a hard hitter out of the secondary, Cesare cited wear and tear on his body as a primary motivation for the retirement after 10 seasons as a starter in the spring league. PHILADELPHIA: Another retirement as 9 year veteran Niko Noga has informed the Philadelphia Stars that he too will end his career. Noga spent his first 4 years in LA with the Express, where he was a starter and had his best years, with 82 tackles in 1986 and 81 the year after. Since coming to Philadelphia, Noga has been a spot player, seeing action in only 1 game in 1990 due to injury, then playing in 9 games in 1991 and 12 this year, but never as a starter. He totalled only 41 tackles in 4 yours in Philadelphia. JACKSONVILLE: The paperwork is not finalized but it looks like the Bulls have come to an agreement with former Panther HB Vince Workman. This very likely means the end of James Wilder’s stint with the Bulls. Wilder, who came to the USFL after several successful NFL seasons, has struggled in the spring league. His best year was in Arizona in 1988, his only 1,000 yard season in the league. Since coming to Jacksonville in 1990 he has not been able to stay healthy or average over 4 yards per carry. If released, Wilder could sign on with another USFL or an NFL club. MICHIGAN: Michigan also jumped into the early free agent pool, in what almost amounts to a trade, coming to a verbal agreement with Bulls’ wideout Weegie Thompson. Thompson will almost certainly try to take on the #2 slot along with Dereck Holloway in Michigan as the Panthers look to the speedy wideout to try to recreate the magic of the Holloway-Anthony Carter years. CHICAGO: The Machine has an agreement to sign their first free agent, DT Kevin Fagan of Texas, who is expected to sign the dotted line this upcoming week. Fagan started all 16 games for the Outlaws one year after coming to Texas on a short term contract from the Bandits. BALTIMORE: Another defensive cog as Baltimore signs LB Todd Bell from division rival New Jersey. Bell, who has spent 5 seasons with the Generals, had his best year this season, starting 11 games for New Jersey and recording 47 tackles. With both Ben Apuna and Sam Norris in their 30’s the younger Bell make get a shot at starting right away, or at least being a regular rotation player. NFL-USFL: We also have our first two NFL signings of USFL talent, with Orlando CB Melvin Jenkins signing with the NFL Lions and backup HB Johnny Johnson moving on the New York Jets. With several of the top free agents still engaged in the playoffs, NFL teams are still prohibited from speaking with the agents or the players, including QB Gale Gilbert or DE Charles Haley. As we move through the playoffs, expect more movement within the USFL and between the spring league and the NFL. Several of the top free agents are still in action right now, but as more and more playoff teams are eliminated the hot stove will just continue to get hotter.

Sporting News, July 10, 1992 As the USFL enters the postseason ten teams are gearing up for a chance at glory and a USFL title, while ten others are reevaluating their rosters, seeking new leadership, or simply licking their wounds. This week we look at both groups as we explore what lies ahead in the USFL playoffs and the upcoming offseason hot stove. We know the NFL is out their looking to pluck a few tasty apples from USFL rosters, and we know that USFL GM’s are looking at unsigned NFL talent as well as other USFL rosters hoping to improve their rosters and make a run for Summer Bowl 1993, but before we look at that, let’s start off by previewing the next 4 weeks of playoff football in the USFL. PLAYOFF PREVIEW After one of the most balanced seasons in league history, one that saw so many franchises hovering around the .500 mark all season, we come to the playoffs with a wide-open field. Ten teams, all with a chance and a dream of victory. Let’s look at the contenders and see if we cannot lay some odds on who will be lifting high the USFL Championship Trophy when Summer Bowl ’92 concludes. PORTLAND THUNDER (8-8) Vegas Odds: 15-1 Difference Makers: WR Cris Carter is a sideline magician and a touchdown machine. HB Robert Drummond just had his first 1,000 yard season. He won’t wow you with big plays, but can grind out important yards. CB Gill Byrd had 5 interceptions this year, and is capable of coming up and stuffing the run as well. Concerns: Portland finished with an 8-8 record for a reason. They are solidly middle of the pack in most major statistics, below average in the passing game, and were near the bottom of the league in scoring offense (19 ppg). The good news is that their once infamous run defense has improved, and they are a top 5 scoring defense. If they can slow game tempo down and stay close, they have the ability to upset some teams. Projection: Portland has a decent shot in the Wild Card match against Arizona, but then it would be off to Houston, and we don’t see them getting past the much more talented Gamblers. ARIZONA WRANGLERS (9-7) Odds: 12-1 Difference Makers: WR Trumaine Johnson had 1,400 yards and 11 TD’s in a very strong year 10. His QB, Robbie Bosco, threw for over 4,000 yards, but also had 16 INTs. On Defense the Wranglers lost their top edge rusher as Al Noga went down injured, but they still have the very talented Broderick Thomas at LB. Concerns: The loss of Noga hurts the Wrangler D, which will now be forced to blitz more to get pressure, which exposes a middling secondary. On offense, the combo of Lionel James and Darryl Clack has not had the explosive plays of past years, so it may all rest on Bosco finding an open Trumaine Johnson. Projection: As with Portland, we think a win this week is possible, but what happens when they face off against Houston. If they cannot pressure the QB with their front 4, they may get shredded by Jim Kelly. We don’t see them upending the #1 seed. That said, they still have the #1 defense in the league, which, come playoff time, can be a difference maker even without Noga in the lineup. TAMPA BAY BANDITS (9-7) Odds: 10-1 Difference Makers: QB Troy Aikman has elite accuracy and in WR Eric Truvillion he has one of the best wideouts to play the spring game. The defense has few stars, but CB Raul Brown has snagged 5 Ints despite being largely unheralded around the league. Concerns: Tampa’s defense was 18th in the league in PPG allowed. That is never a good thing going into the playoffs. They have an explosive passing game, but the combo of Eric Bienemy and Kevin Harmon has not been up to par, ranking as the worst run offense in the USFL. If you cannot run and you cannot defend the run, how do you win in the playoffs? Projection: If Tampa gets past Birmingham, they then face Memphis. Playing only divisional foes in the playoffs could be a huge opening for the Bandits, as familiarity may allow them to move further than if they were playing unfamiliar foes. The Bandits are definitely a longshot, but with Aikman and Truvillion we are not willing to say that they are out of the picture. If you want to take a shot on a darkhorse, you could do worse than laying some cash on the Bandits. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (10-6) Odds: 8-1 Difference Makers: QB Brett Favre has been a revelation, taking over the starting role for an injured Cliff Stoudt, and breaking league records for passing yards (5,169) and passing TDs (47). In the process, WR Ernest Givens has exploded with 23 TDs and nearly 1,700 yards. Of course, Joe Cribbs is also on the roster, but the shift in offensive philosophy meant he had his first sub-1,000 yard season since coming into the league. Concerns: Inexperience is a concern. How will Favre handle the pressure of the playoffs. Not exactly something he had to worry about at Southern Miss. The other big issue is pass defense. Birmingham ranked in the bottom quartile of the league, and if you cannot defend the pass in the USFL you will not get far in the playoffs. Projection: Birmingham has a wicked home field advantage, especially with a Legion Field crowd that has fully embraced Favre as a superstar. That will likely get them past Tampa, but what happens when they head up to Memphis in the Divisional round? Will Favre escape the vicious Showboat pass rush and surprise the ‘Boats, or will the experience and pressure brought by Coach Buddy Ryan be too much? WASHINGTON FEDERALS (10-6) Odds: 10-1 Difference Makers: QB Don Majkowski has done it before, but 1992 has not been his best year. HB Barry Word has proved that the move from FB to HB was a good one. We also have to respect the best D-line in the game with Jerome Brown, Charles Haley and Dexter Manley combining for 38 sacks. Concerns: Both the D and the O finished in the Top 10 in the league, and yet Washington lost some games that they should not have. Consistency has been their issue all season. If they make a run, it will be because of that defensive front as the Feds offense, while capable, is not going to win a shootout. Projection: Washington heads to Pittsburgh for their first playoff game, and that is an issue. The Maulers match up well with Washington. The threat of Mike Rozier forces the D-Line to play the run first, slowing down the pass rush and opening up chances for play action. If they can edge the Maulers, they have a shot. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (10-6) Odds: 15-1 Difference Makers: HB Marcus Dupree just missed 1,000 yards but clearly misses having Hilliard as a running mate. DE Jerry Reese, with 13 sacks, is their best defender, but this team has always been built on team defense and a solid balance of run & pass. Concerns: Las Vegas hates the Breakers this year. Hard to argue. They are on their 3rd QB after Matt Robinson went down, but Danny McManus has been a surprise performer. Can he handle the playoff pressure. The other concern is that LB Jeff Herrod led the team in interceptions. This is not a scary secondary any longer, which is tough when your first game is against Oakland and Henry Ellard. Projection: It is a bit of a shocker that New Orleans made it to 10-6 and the playoffs. Statistically they should not be here. We, like Vegas, have trouble seeing them winning on the road in Oakland against the defending league champion. PITTSBURGH MAULERS (10-6) Odds: 8-1 Difference Makers: HB Mike Rozier is having a monster year, finishing 300 yards ahead of the 2nd best rusher in the league. Louis Lipps had a breakout season in his first year in the Steel City, and the defense is solid, thanks in large part to the leadership of MLB Eric Kumerow and the pass rushing of John Bosa. Concerns: The Maulers have never hosted a playoff game, and they feel pressure after missing out on the #1 seed. Washington is a tough first opponent, and Barry Word in particular is a concern as the Maulers have had some struggles against bigger backs. Projection: Las Vegas is not sure what to make of the Maulers, and we are somewhat in the same boat. If they can show maturity and act like a team that has been here before, they can go far, but if the nerves and inexperience show, they may have a quick exit. OAKLAND INVADERS (10-6) Odds: 4-1 Difference Makers: WR Henry Ellard is an underrated deep threat in the league. The defense, led by CB Aeneas Williams, DE Kim Bokamper, and LBs Ken Harvey and Ron Rivera is the heart of the team, and ranked #1 in scoring D this year. Concerns: Oakland’s offense has been irregular this year, with Siran Stacy gaining 1,000 yards but not producing a lot of big plays. The loss of Richard Williams changed this team from last year’s champions, and they seem less certain, despite the favor the Las Vegas oddsmakers seem to be showing them. Projection: The defending champs know how to do this. The roster is solid from top to bottom and a solid scoring D can go a long way in the playoffs. That said, Oakland has not shown us a killer instinct all season, and there are concerns that the fire to fight for a repeat may not be there. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (10-6) Odds: 5-1 Difference Makers: HB Greg Boone has had his best year in the league, rushing for over 1,300 yards, but we know the stars of this team are on defense. Reggie White is a Defensive POTY candidate with 21 sacks, and rookie Santana Dotson has been a huge factor, earning 13 sacks himself. LBs Mike Douglass and Eddie Simmons are essentially run stoppers due to the strength of the D-line. Concerns: Despite the strong season from Boone, the Memphis offense is not exactly fear-inducing. They finished the year in the bottom half of the league in most categories. QB Mike Kelley had a poor season, throwing a league-leading 18 interceptions to go with his 24 touchdowns. If Memphis cannot completely shut down the opposing offense, they may get outpaced and outscored. Projection: Defense wins championships, so Memphis has that going for them, but you have to be able to do something on offense as well, and we are just not sold on Mike Kelley as a guy who can shake off the bad decisions and guide the offense to a win if the defense falters. HOUSTON GAMBLERS (11-5) Odds: 3-1 Difference Makers: Las Vegas loves the year that Jim Kelly (39 TD’s) and Thurman Thomas (2,125 yards from scrimmage) had. Both are MVP and Offensive POTY candidates. But don’t sleep on the year that Brett Perriman put together after coming over from Tampa 2 years ago. Houston is the scariest offensive team in the post-season, and their defense, led by LBs Kiki DeAyala and Pat Swilling, can rise up when called upon. Concerns: Houston is perhaps the most balanced team in the league, between run & pass, and offense & defense. They are the favorites this season for a reason, but that does not mean they are an unstoppable juggernaut. They lost all 3 games against the Pacific playoff teams (Arizona, Oakland and Portland), so facing off against the Arizona-Portland winner will not be automatic. Projection: This club has experience at its core as all of its team leaders were there for their back to back Summer Bowl appearances and the 1988 league championship. We like their mindset, their grit, and their talent level. But, they need to beware of being too confident in themselves. They have lost some games this year that they should have won easily. There you have it, a look at the next 4 weeks of playoff football in the USFL. But, with the end of the regular season also comes the opening of the USFL offseason and the transfer window between the USFL and the NFL. This year is a down year for free agency, as there are not many huge names in either league who remain unsigned, but there are some players looking to play the market, and names big enough to draw attention and possibly alter the path of their current franchise and a new team. Here are our picks for the Top 10 USFL free agents going on the market this year. We will include both playoff teams and the 10 teams already looking at free agency. 10—HB Terrance Flagler (POR); Not a bellcow by any stretch of the imagination, but Flagler’s dual carrying and catching skills could complement a big back very well, as he has done for Robert Drummond and the Thunder. 9—FS Vencie Glenn (BIR): The Stallions do not want to lose a defensive captain, but Glenn has opted to test the waters. Like William Cesare before him, the Stallion safety could be a prized addition for a team looking to add leadership to their secondary. 8—HB Vince Workman (MGN): The Ohio State product has yet to break through for the Panthers, and with Rodney Culver in the fold, it is very likely that he will look for greener pastures. Not a speed back, but Workman can fight for those tough goal line yards. 7—LB Bobby Houston (POR): Houston has not garnered much acclaim in the Pacific Northwest, but he is a consistent and smart backer who can help lead a group of linebackers against both the run and the pass. 6—LB Ed Brady (TBY): The savvy vet is no longer as fast or as hard a hitter, but he has the know-how to make plays and provide a cool head for a defense. 5—WR Weegie Thompson (JAX): A quality slot receiver with speed to burn. He will not serve as a #1 but for a team that is looking to add speed inside, Thompson is a great addition. 4—DT Michael Dean Perry (HOU): He does not get the praise that Jerome Brown does in DC, but Perry has been a rock in the middle of the Houston D-Line for years now. If you want to slow down the flow of a run game, you won’t find a better cork than Perry in this year’s free agent pool. 3—OT Doug Reisenberg (PIT): The best O-lineman to join free agency this year, Reisenberg is good in pass defense, but excels as a pulling guard in the run game, just ask Mike Rozier. 2—QB Gale Gilbert (OAK): Gilbert has never been a statistical star, and he has some limits, but he is also a Championship QB who plays smart, avoids big mistakes, and can help a team add stability. Several NFL teams have already sent out feelers, so Oakland will likely have to make Gilbert a salary exempt player near the top of the pay scale to keep him. 1—DE Charles Haley (WSH): On a line that includes Jerome Brown and Dexter Manley it can be hard to shine, but Haley is a beast. On any other team he would be a surefire #1 sack specialist. He has had double digit sacks every year in DC, with 14 again this year. Expect him to be one of the first players to be signed, since Washington cannot afford to keep him, but will he be with another USFL team or jump to the Fall league? We’ve looked at the free agents, but that is not the full story for USFL squads as they head into the offseason. Let’s look at the #1 priority for each club as the hot stove begins (for the 10 non-playoff teams at least), going in order of the current power rankings: Philadelphia: Find a coach who can rebuild a top notch D and groom a young QB. Denver: Add some explosiveness to an offense that was both slow and predictable. Chicago: Decide on an identity, which may mean new leadership at QB. New Jersey: Devise an offense that highlights both Walker and Flutie. Baltimore: Add defensive playmakers and draft a HB with explosiveness. Texas: Find a pass rusher (Haley?) and improve the secondary. Michigan: Improve the O-line with an eye towards a power run game with Culver. St. Louis: Add speed on both sides of the ball. Give Archer a shot to unseed McGwire. Jacksonville: Find some hard hitters on defense. Orlando: Strengthen the secondary and add speed at LB. Portland: Add a run-stopper at DT. Arizona: If a true bellcow back is out there, now is the time to get one. Tampa Bay: Find a pass rusher, LB or DE. Birmingham: Sign a #2 receiver and prepare for Cribbs’s eventual departure. Washington: Find a suitable replacement for Charles Haley, who is sure to go. New Orleans: Figure out the QB spot. Will it be McManus? Will Robinson return? Oakland: Either resign Gale Gilbert quickly or have a solid plan to replace him. Pittsburgh: Resign Reisenberg and groom a backup/future replacement for Rozier. Memphis: Is it time to move on from Mike Kelley? Houston: Add youth on defense, youth and speed if possible.

It all came down to one week. Every division up for grabs. Playoff spots to be won or lost. It does not get more dramatic, and when it was all said and done ten franchises would play on and ten would reflect, reexamine, and start planning for the future. Who is in? Who is out? And which league records fell along the way? It all happened this week. BAL 9 NJ 5 In a game that felt like no one wanted to win, the Blitz get their third straight W thanks to 3 field goals and defense that stymied and harassed rookie QB Dave Brown in his first USFL start. Coach Wyche gave Brown a start to see what he could do, and the answer was “not much”. 13 of 47 (a horrid 27.7%) for 138 yards and no scores. Even Herschel Walker was affected, going for only 40 yards on 16 carries and finishing under 1,000 for the year for the first time in his career. PIT 17 PHI 14 The Stars played hard for Coach Bicknell, but came up short, giving Philly their worst record in team history and ending the Bicknell era. Pittsburgh got a late Louis Lipps TD to upend the home team and secure their first division title. Eric Kumerow had 10 tackles and forced a key fumble to help the Maulers earn the W. Kelvin Bryant had one of his best games in a down year, rushing for 116, while Rozier gained only 42 yards, falling short of Herschel Walker’s season rushing record. BIR 41 JAX 24 Birmingham left no doubt, crushing the Bulls and securing a playoff spot while knocking Jacksonville out, after 4 straight losses. Brett Favre’s 379 yards and 5 TD’s on the day not only got Birmingham the win, but also set new league records for season passing yardage and touchdowns. Ernest Givens also went wild, gaining 171 yards and scoring 3 times as the Stallions moved from 4th to 2nd in the division with this one key win. ORL 20 MEM 18 Orlando needed a win and a lot of help to get into the playoff field at 9-7. They got the win, knocking off a somewhat uninspired Showboats squad, but did not get the help they needed. The Renegade D came to play, holding Greg Boone to only 33 yards on the day. On Offense it was not spectacular, but it was enough as a Dalton Hilliard TD run and a Wamon Buggs reception for a score were enough. Memphis knew they had the division won regardless of the result, so they played with an eye on staying healthy. HOU 33 MGN 21 The Gamblers did what they had to do to lock up the #1 seed in the West, getting 4 TD’s from Jim Kelly as he set new league records for passer rating and completion percentage for a season. Brett Perriman caught 7 balls for 158 and 2 scores, and the defense got a safety on Jack Trudeau to go along with a solid game all around. Houston will now await the Wild Card winner, while Michigan finishes the year at 7-9. NOR 37 TEX 24 It looks like New Orleans will be fine with McManus at QB. The FSU grad threw for 282 and 2 scores, and the Breakers added TD runs from Dupree (133 yards on the day) and NFL signee Reuben Mayes to vault over the Outlaws, knocking Texas from playoff position, and securing a bye in the process. Kelly Stouffer had trouble with the Breaker secondary all day, completing only 58% of his passes and throwing a key interception when the game was in range. OAK 24 DEN 21 The Gold played hard in their final outing, and the last game under Head Coach Joe Walton, who was let go on Black Monday, but Oakland needed and got the W to secure the Pacific Division and the much-desired bye week. Gale Gilbert threw for 234 and 2 scores, Kevin Shea added 3 field goals, and Oakland got the win they needed. They will host the Breakers in 2 weeks on their path to a repeat title. STL 27 POR 10 Talk about backing in, the Thunder were manhandled by the Knights, but still earn the final playoff spot at 8-8 thanks to losses by Texas and Michigan. St. Louis once again showed how poor the Thunder run defense is, with the combo of Thompson and Jordan gaining 123 on the day. Dan McGwire added a TD pass, and that was all the Knights needed as Kerwin Bell threw 4 interceptions, including 2 right into the hands of FS Roman Lewis. LB Bob Crable caught another and ran it back for a score as the Knights finish the year with an improved 7-9 record and a grateful fan base in St. Louis. WSH 13 CHI 9 The Chicago defense came ready to play, taking Washington to the final minutes before a late Barry Word TD run gave the Federals the win they needed to lock up a playoff spot. Washington’s D also played lights out football, holding Ricky Watters to only 16 yards rushing and sacking Scott Zolak 6 times. The win moves Washington to 10-6, and the loss, Chicago’s 6th in a row, drops them to 5-10-1 after a 5-4-1 first half. Expect some player turnover in Chicago as Coach Schottenheimer tries to put his stamp on a roster that simply did not match his coaching mindset. TAMPA BAY BANDITS 30 ARIZONA WRANGLERS 35 Other results of the day would have allowed both Arizona and Tampa to make the playoffs regardless of the result of this game, but they could not know that at the time, and both clubs played as if their playoff lives depended on a win. Arizona would build a 35-17 lead midway through the 4th quarter, but Tampa came roaring back into the game in the final 8 minutes, scoring 3 times, converting an onside kick, but falling just short as time ran out on their comeback attempt. It was a very god game for QB Robbie Bosco as he threw for 3 scores, all to flanker Bruce Hill, as Tampa focused all their attention on Trumaine Johnson and Terry Orr. For Tampa Bay, Troy Aikman would throw 4 touchdowns, including 2 to league leader Eric Truvillion and a late score to TE Ben Coates. But, with only 39 seconds left, even a 2nd successful onside kickoff return would have been tough to turn into points. When Arizona recovered the 2nd onside kick, the game was over, with Arizona scoring the home victory and locking up a playoff spot at 9-7. Tampa’s 9-7 record also proved enough to give them the final Wild Card spot. Expect both clubs to look to address defensive weaknesses revealed in this game as they head into the postseason. Arizona will host Portland, so you know they will try to run the ball against the weak Thunder run defense, while Tampa, as the lowest seed, will head to Birmingham to face Brett Favre and the Stallions. That one could produce 1,000 yards passing and 8 TD tosses as both teams have trouble on pass defense and both QB’s are playing lights out football right now. The obvious choice here is Birmingham’s Brett Favre, who set two league records with his 379 yard, 5 TD performance. Favre has been a revelation in his 2nd year with Birmingham and is now among the league’s hottest young stars. But, we want to shine some light on a player who has been solid all year and who simply does not get the recognition he deserves. That player is tackle Richmond Webb. Webb has been a starter since the second game of his rookie year, and has been among the league leaders in both pancake blocks and sacks allowed since stepping into the role. He is the road grater that frees up Joe Cribbs for huge gains, and the brick wall that has kept Cliff Stoudt, and now Brett Favre, upright. This season he was the league leader in pancakes, and only allowed 1 sack (his first allowed in 3 years) all season. When you look at the success of Brett Favre, a lot of credit should go to his blindside protector and one of the most dominant tackles in the game. This week, as Favre threw for 2 league records, Webb was once again a dominant force, holding Jacksonville’s best pass rusher, DE Jim Reynosa, without a single solid touch on Favre. It was another in a long line of clean games for the big tackle, and another win for Favre and the Stallions. As expected, it was a crazy week, leading to teams climbing the standings, others falling hard, and a lot of tiebreakers. What was the end result? Well, all 4 division leaders clinched their division titles and byes this week. Houston as the top seed in the West and Memphis in the East, with Pittsburgh and Oakland getting byes and home games in the divisional round. The biggest riser was Birmingham, which jumped from 6th position (and out of the playoffs) to 4th after beating Jacksonville. The Bulls, who lost their last 4 games, fell all the way out of the playoffs and will have to watch from home. Washington tied Pittsburgh at 10-6, but lost the tie breaker with both the Maulers and the Stallions, so they will host Tampa Bay this week in the Wild Card Round. Tampa, thanks to a 5-3 division record, ended up atop a 3-way tie of 9-7 clubs with Jacksonville (4-4 in division) and Orlando (3-5). Out west, the play of Danny McManus may have just saved the season for the Breakers. New Orleans won their last 4 games, moving to 10-6 and snagging the top Wild Card and its bye. They will head to Oakland to face the Invaders in the Divisional Round. Arizona snagged the 2nd Wild Card and will host the 8-8 Portland Thunder, who secured the 5th and final playoff spot despite losing badly this week. Losses by Texas and Michigan helped secure the position for the Thunder. 1992 PLAYOFF SEEDS EAST: 1-Memphis 2-Pittsburgh 3-Washington 4-Birmingham 5-Tampa Bay WEST: 1-Houston 2-Oakland 3-New Orleans 4-Arizona 5-Portland As you may have noticed above in the game breakdowns, this week’s season finales were also the final games for two USFL coaches, let go on “Black Monday”. After 3 years replacing legendary coach Jim Mora, “Cowboy” Jack Bicknell earned Philly the #1 pick in the draft and himself a quick ticket out of town. Bicknell never recovered from the retirement of Chuck Fusina, and his efforts to groom Browning Nagle for the starting job, along with a weak receiving corps, left the Stars unable to compete offensively. No word yet on candidates for the position, as Philadelphia is expected to look into a wide range of both college, NFL, and USFL coaches to find someone who can revive the team’s once dominant defense, and groom either Nagle or a new QB into a consistent winner. Joe Walton, the other Black Monday casualty, had two rough years with the Gold. He had hoped that the signing of NFL quarterback Dave Krieg would inject some energy into the Gold offense, but Krieg struggled behind an unathletic line, and had little help from a weak running game. Denver tied Philly at 4-12 this year, and after two years of futility, the Gold decided a new direction was needed. Despite the fact that the offense is the biggest issue for the Gold, Denver is expected to pursue Broncos Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips hard as their top candidate to fill the position. Phillips, the son of legendary Houston Oilers coach Bum Phillips, could certainly help the Gold on defense, but will need to find someone who can help improve the team’s last place scoring offense. With New Jersey, Chicago, and Baltimore all working with first year coaches, it is no surprise that despite poor seasons all three coaches are safe and will be given more time to shape the roster and the character of their teams. St. Louis was the other potential hot seat, but with the Knights making a serious playoff run, and finishing a respectable 7-9 in their first year in the Gateway City, it is no surprise that Jack Elway will be back to see what he can do in a third season with the squad. Looking at the 10 playoff teams, we are happy to see that their rosters are largely free from new injuries as they head into the playoffs. Here are the players who will not be in action this week (and perhaps in the Divisional Round) for our playoff qualifiers: ARZ: DE Al Noga (IR) BIR: CB Anthony Blaylock (Out), FS Vencie Glenn (Out) HOU: No reported injuries NOR: QB Matt Robinson (IR) OAK: No reported injuries PIT: CB Mike Mayes (IR), G Mark Krenowitz (IR), G Steve Kenney (Out) TBY: LB Ed Brady (Questionable) WSH: G Mark Hutson (IR) Two games on the docket for next week as Tampa visits Birmingham in the first of two Wild Card games. The winner will go on to face the Memphis Showboats, so it is 2 straight divisional matchups for one lucky team. Both the Bandits and the Stallions can score at will, as both have dynamic young quarterbacks. It may all depend on if Birmingham can get more out of Joe Cribbs, who had his first season below 1,000 yards rushing this year. Coach Erhardt has been happy to let Brett Favre carry the load, but this is playoff season and having a back like Cribbs is a luxury that the Stallions should not ignore. We like Birmingham, always tough at home, to find a way past the 9-7 Bandits and on to Memphis for what should be a packed stadium of Tennesee, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas partisans of both teams. The Sunday game sends Portland out to Tempe to face the Wranglers. This game will be played at 7pm local time, in hopes of avoiding the heat of a July day in the desert. Both clubs have had a lot of ups and downs this year, with solid performances followed by complete collapses. It makes this game very hard to predict. We like Robbie Bosco at QB more than Kerwin Bell, and both clubs have solid #1 receivers in Trumaine Johnson and Cris Carter. It may be a game where a few key defensive plays or takeaways could be huge. On paper Arizona has the better scoring defense, but Portland is certainly capable of forcing turnover too. We are going to give home field advantage to the Wranglers and send them into the divisional round to face the Houston Gamblers.

Hi all. I want to let you know that starting in August I am going to have to reduce the pace of my posting. I work in academia, and with the new school year ramping up, along with an edict to return to working on campus instead of from home, it will be harder to find time to do all the simulating, statistic building, narrative writing, and searching for information and images to incorporate into the blog articles you have come to expect. I believe I can complete the 1992 season and playoffs before slowing the pace, but once we get into the 1992 offseason and then seasons beyond, the number of weekly posts will have to be decreased. My goal is to move from a post every day to an average of 3-4 posts per week. The pace of a post a day (or a USFL week of action per day) has been feasible as I worked from home as I can access the simulation software from there and have more freedom to blend personal and business work all day long. That will no longer be the case, and the added commute time cuts into my morning and evening time spent on this USFL project. I believe a 3-4 post week is a manageable workload for this project. I hope you will continue to follow the story of this alternate history USFL as we move into the 1990's and beyond. It has been a blast to create and hopefully a lot of fun for you all to follow. Thanks, A. Bertsche, USFL fanatic

CHI 13 BAL 17 Marty Schottenheimer returns to Baltimore, where he was unceremoniously released after 3 unremarkable years, and the Blitz upend Chicago to essentially prove that their management was correct to do so. In a game that lacked offensive fireworks, the biggest play was a goal line stand by Baltimore that included a sack of Scott Zolak, a 2 yard loss on an Albert Bentley run, and a goal line tackle by Bryce Paup to force Chicago to kick a field goal rather than gain 7 points as the second quarter ended. That would prove to be the difference in the game. HOU 31 NJ 25 Jim Kelly threw for 3 scores and Thurman Thomas rushed for 115 as the Gamblers edged the Generals in the Meadowlands. After several weeks of favoring the pass, Sam Wyche returned to handing the ball off and got 82 yards from Herschel Walker and another 34 from Amp Lee to keep the game close. Doug Flutie threw for 3 scores of his own, but in the end it was Kelly to Dennis Ransom on a 17-yarder that proved the game winner. MGN 39 PHI 38 A nip and tuck battle all the way as Michigan fought for their playoff lives. Jack Trudeau had a career game, throwing for 485 yards and 4 TDs, and he needed every one of those yards as the Stars simply would not quit on the game. Browning Nagle threw for 395 and 4 TD’s of his own as neither defense was able to consistently disrupt the offenses. Once again Butch Rolle played a big part, catching 5 balls for 132 yards, including an incredible 75 yard dash for the big man. NOR 26 PIT 21 The switch to Danny McManus at QB once again proved a solid move as the young signal caller threw for three scores, including the game winner with 4:06 left on the clock. Pittsburgh finished the game with Jeff Hostetler at the helm after Alan Risher was hit hard by Breaker Jeff Herrod on an ill-advised scramble. Hostetler played well but could not get the Maulers into the endzone until late in the game, when two scores were needed. Just a little too late for the Maulers. TEX 17 WSH 48 Washington came out of the tunnel on fire, and by the half it was 24-7 Federals, built up to 34-7 after 3. The Outlaws just could not compete as the combination of Brown, Manley and Haley harassed Kelly Stouffer all game long. Reggie Cobb was the best performer for Texas, with 115 yards on the day, but it was not enough as Washington got 3 scores from Majkowski and a combined 117 yards from Word, Jenkins and Jamie Covington. ARZ 16 BIR 23 A good game for the Stallions defense as they held the Wranglers in check all game. Brett Favre threw for 329 yards as he closes in on the league record for both yardage and touchdowns in a season. Add in 3 Scott Norwood field goals and the Stallions had just enough at home to hold off the Wranglers. DEN 14 JAX 7 The Bulls’ recent woes continue as this time their offense was simply off key all day. Tony Eason got the start, and he finished with 350 yards, but Denver’s bend-but-don’t-break strategy paid off. The Gold, led by Vince Evans, slowed the pace of the game way down, and kept Jacksonville guessing on both offense and defense. Denver blitzes produced 5 sacks of Eason, and two of them were safeties (one on a holding call in the end zone) as the Gold shock the Bulls and severely hurt their playoff chances. OAK 17 MEM 13 This one was a defensive gem as neither team could muster 300 yards of offense on the day. Gale Gilbert suffered 4 sacks but Oakland’s D forced 3 turnovers in the tight battle. Both Siran Stacy and Greg Boone were held under 50 yards rushing apiece, but Oakland got one big play that Memphis could not, a 75-yard bomb from Gilbert to Duper, and that single big play proved to be the difference maker in this one. STL 17 TBY 27 The Knights held tough through 3 quarters, down only 20-17, but a big play from Aikman to Truvillion put the game away for the Bandits, who are streaking up the standings with another win. Neither team had a run game to speak of, so it was Aikman’s 408 yards passing with 3 scores that made the difference in the game. Truvillion ended the game with 149 yards on 5 receptions, and Chris Collinsworth added another 78 as Tampa’s pass offense proved too much for the young secondary of the Knights. PORTLAND THUNDER 28 ORLANDO RENEGADES 31 In a game that saw Cris Carter go off for 135 yards and 3 scores, it was the ageless combo of Collier to Wamon Buggs that proved decisive as Orlando rallied late to overtake Portland and earn a much needed win if they are going to squeak into the playoffs. Both teams remain on the outside looking in, but both are right on the cusp with one game to go. Orlando started the game looking like they would run away with it. Thanks to a Collier to Carpenter TD, a Winston Moss pick-six, and then a Hilliard TD run, the Renegades found themselves up 21-0 midway through the second, but they may have become overconfident as Portland would score the next 28 points. The comeback began with the first of 3 Cris Carter TD’s, this one a 15 yarder from Bell to end the first half. He would add 2 more in the 3rd quarter, a 33-yarder and a 14-yarder. Webster Slaughter would catch Kerwin Bell’s 4th TD pass as the 4th quarter began and unexpectedly the Thunder had turned a 21-0 deficit into a 28-21 lead. Orlando, sensing the real danger of an epic collapse, rallied in the 4th, getting a Fuad Reveiz field goal to pull within 4 at 28-24, but it would come down to a final drive to decide the game. Orlando got the ball on their own 33 after a short Portland punt, and Collier guided the Renegades down the field in the final 3 minutes. With 56 seconds left in the game, he saw Slaughter opening a gap on a corner route and threw a perfect ball over the outstretched hands of the corner and just inside enough for Slaughter to get both feet down and ensure the win for the home team. It was a crushing defeat for Portland, who fought their way back only to have victory slip from their grasp. For Orlando, the win moved them to 8-7, and gave them hope, admittedly slim hope, of catching some of their divisional rivals and qualifying for the postseason. For Portland, the loss is not a season-ender. They remain in the hunt at 8-7 and could potentially qualify at either 9-7 or even at 8-8, depending on what happens next week. I realize that we focus on the QB position a lot in reporting on the USFL, but it is impossible to deny that this is a QB-driven league, with passing being the preeminent feature of USFL play. So it should come as no shock that this week our top contenders for POTW are all quarterbacks. We opted to split the award this week as we focus on two signal callers who are doing all they can to keep their teams alive in a very tight, and precarious playoff hunt. Jack Trudeau is in a tough spot. He has no run game to speak of, the offense has been spotty all year, recording two games where they were shut out, but also having some explosive weeks, and in the end it all comes down to him. This week against Philadelphia, he needed everything he had just to keep the Panthers on top and alive (marginally) for the playoffs. Trudeau responded with 485 yards passing, the second highest total behind Brett Favre’s record-setting 500-yard game. He also threw 4 TD’s to help power the Panthers to an absolute must win result against the Stars on the road. Troy Aikman found himself in a very similar situation. With a run game which simply has not been able to spring any big plays despite the focus on speedy Eric Bienemy, and a defense which can be extremely erratic, it has often been on Aikman’s shoulders to produce wins, and this week they needed a win at home against the Knights to propel themselves within one game of the division lead. Aikman, like Trudeau, responded with a big game. He went 25/31 for 408 yards and 3 scores, including the game-securing 44-yard toss to Truvillion in the 4th. If either Michigan or Tampa are going to make the postseason and have success, it will depend on the ability of these QB’s to overcome the weaknesses and deficiencies in other parts of their teams. That is a lot to ask of a QB, but it is what the best of the best do. Rather than review the thousands of permutations that this last week of the season could produce, let’s look at each contender and their Best Case Scenario. What should they be aiming for. DIVISION LEADERS MEM: Win and they are the Southern Division Champs and #1 Seed in the East. HOU: Win and they are the Central Division Champs and #1 Seed in the West. PIT: Win and they are the Atlantic Division Champ. OAK: Win and they are the Pacific Division Champ. IN PLAYOFF POSITION TBY: Win = in. Win + MEM loss and Tampa is the Southern Division Champ. JAX: Win = In. Win plus Tampa + Memphis losses and they win the South. NOR, ARZ, POR, WSH: Win = In. NEED HELP BIR: Win + Loss by TBY or JAX and they are in. TEX: Win + Loss by POR or ARZ and they are in. ORL: Too many tie breakers to figure. They know they must win. MGN: Again, too many tie breakers to figure. They know they must win. Honestly, we probably should eliminate Orlando and Michigan from contention because their divisional and/or conference records make the odds so slim as to be nigh impossible. It really is about whether Birmingham or Texas can leapfrog one of the teams ahead of them and snag the last spot. That and every single division title being in play. With only 1 week left in the regular season, we are looking at some of the league’s most revered records potentially being shattered. In what has been a year defined by offensive explosions and dynamic playmakers, there is a real chance that we will see new marks made in passing, rushing and receiving. Let’s start with the Rushing Title, which MIKE ROZIER has locked up, nearly 250 yards ahead of the next competitor, but now Rozier has a chance to break Herschel Walker’s league record of 1,767 rushing yards, set back in the inaugural 1983 season. With 1 game to play, Rozier sits at 1,701, needing only 67 yards to take over the record. BRETT FAVRE this week broke one record and is in range of another. His 4,790 yards passing surpass the league record of Doug Williams (4,726 in 1985) and he could be the first USFL player to reach 5,000 yards in a season with another 210 yards in Week 16. He could also break John Reaves’s record of 44 touchdowns in a season, set in 1984, if he tosses for 3 scores in the final week’s matchup against Jacksonville. What is amazing is that he is reaching for these records in his first year as the starter for Birmingham, his first year of significant play in the league. Favre sits behind JIM KELLY as the 2nd rated QB in the league despite his gaudy numbers. Kelly, thanks in large part to his 71.3 completion percentage and 35-9 TD-INT ratio, is atop the all time record for season QBR, held by Bobby Hebert from 1984, at 122.1. Both Troy Aikman and Kelly Stouffer came close last season, but both finished in the high teens, and could not break 120. Kelly, unless he suffers a horrible final game of the regular season is all but assured the record. Kelly has already become the career passing yards leader, jumping over Chuck Fusina with this year’s numbers. ERIC TRUVILLION is on pace for a potential record, breaking year, though the record holder he is shooting for is himself. Truvillion holds the record for yards in a season when he gained 1,959 in 1986, just barely falling short of the astounding 2,000 yard mark. This season, with one game left, he sits at 1,844, so it would take a relatively reasonable game of 114 yards for him to reach 1,960 and gain the record. A top-level game of 154 yards would reach the 2,000 yard plateau. Finally, Memphis DE REGGIE WHITE, who is having an amazing bounce-back year with Santana Dotson opposite him on the Showboat D-Line, stands at 20 sacks for the season. The record sits at 23, set by Phil Hansen last year. A 3-sack day, not out of Reggie’s norm, would tie the record. If he were to get 4 against the Renegades, he would set the record. Orlando’s Reggie Collier is an elusive target, so that may be asking a bit much, but White still is having an incredible season for the Showboats. Some injuries that may impact the final playoff push (and potentially the post-season) include DE Al Noga for Arizona (8-12 weeks with a ruptured disk), G Mark Hutson for Washington (8-12 weeks, broken leg), G Duval Love of Jacksonville (6-8 weeks with a stress fracture), DT Greg Meisner of Orlando (Groin Pull), LB Curtis Taliferro of Washington (knee), and LB Ed Brady of Tampa Bay (hand). There are plenty of folks on the Questionable or Probable lists, but with this essentially being a playoff week, we expect most of them to play. In a week where pretty much every game has playoff implications, the ones you do not want to miss are Birmingham @ Jacksonville, New Orleans @ Texas, and Tampa Bay @ Arizona. In most other games the key is whether or not the non-playoff contenders will be up to play spoiler. Do you see an upset in one of these games?: Washington @ Chicago, St. Louis @ Portland, Oakland @ Denver, Houston @ Michigan, Orlando @ Memphis, or Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia. And expect to see some backups play in the last game of the year for the Generals and Blitz, as they finish out the string.

PHI 15 BAL 27 Chris Miller got the start and the Blitz got their first win in 2 months as they held off the Philadelphia Stars and a rusty Bob Gagliano to earn the W. Miller threw for 289 and a score and the combo of Derrick Fenner and Barry Foster combined for 86 yards rushing and a score as Baltimore outlasted the Stars for a home win despite a Vi Sikahema 108 yard kickoff return touchdown for Philly. NJ 27 WSH 25 A big blow to Washington’s playoff hopes as the Generals upset them in RFK. Despite holding a clearly gimpy Herschel Walker to only 29 yards rushing, the Federals could not do enough to earn the win. Roger Ruzek kicked 6 field goals for the Generals as they built up a 27-18 lead and held on to win. Don Majkowski started, but was clearly still not 100% so Mike Hohensee finished the game for Washington but could not rally the Feds to a win. MEM 28 BIR 34 A huge homestanding win for the Stallions to move to 8-6 as they knock off the division leading Showboats despite a record-breaking day for Greg Boone. Boone rushed for 167 yards and 3 scores, but Mike Kelley was picked off twice. Meanwhile, Brett Favre found Ernest Givens for 167 yards and 3 scores of his own, on his way to a 4-TD day and the win. JAX 20 TBY 42 Tampa’s hot streak continued as they pulled away from Jacksonville, taking a 35-6 lead into the 4th quarter. Troy Aikman threw 5 TD’s on the day, despite being sacked 6 times by the Bulls defense. Eric Truvillion caught 2 of them along with 159 yards receiving. Timm Rosenbach got the start over a recovering Tony Eason but was unable to keep pace with Aikman and the Bandits. CHI 28 HOU 35 A three TD day from Thurman Thomas (2 receiving, 1 rushing) and 4 TDs from Jim Kelly were too much for the Machine, who drop to 5-8-1 and out of playoff contention yet again. Chuck Long threw for 4 scores, mostly in desperation as Houston took the lead early and held it throughout. Thomas finished with 64 yards rushing on 15 carries and another 58 in the air on 4 receptions. Ricky Proehl also returned to action at 100% and caught 5 balls for 92 yards. MGN 0 NOR 22 Michigan is shut out for the second time this season as the Breakers’ defense got to Jack Trudeau 6 times and limited the run game to only 51 total yards. That was enough for Danny McManus to get the win, with 2 TD passes and only 164 yards passing. Ericc Pegram had a good day subbing for a dinged up Marcus Dupree, as he rushed for 93 yards on 26 carries, and former NFL vet Reuben Mayes added another 42 in his best game of the year. DEN 13 ARZ 23 Vince Evans left the game late in the 2nd, bringing Dave Krieg back to action, but neither QB was able to muster enough offense to keep up with the Wranglers. Arizona got 123 yards and a score from Trumaine Johnson, and added another TD from Bosco to TE Terry Orr as they knocked off the Gold and stayed atop the Pacific Division at 8-6. OAK 20 POR 21 Portland needed every trick in the book to beat the Oakland Invaders, and nearly every second of regulation as well. Down 20-6 at the half, Portland got three field goals and a Robert Drummond TD in the second half to edge past the Invaders. They scored the final, game-winning points with only 29 seconds on the clock as Del Greco kicked his 5th field goal of the day to help the Thunder come back and get a needed win to move into a 3-way tie with Oakland and Arizona. ORL 21 STL 3 Orlando’s defense came through again, keeping them alive in the Eastern Conference playoff hunt and all but eliminating St. Louis from postseason play. Dan McGwire had a rough day against Orlando’s front 4, getting sacked 7 times and tossing 2 interceptions under pressure. On the other side of the ball, Reggie Collier threw for 3 scores, including 2 to his favorite target, John Jefferson. That was enough to secure the win as the defense kept St. Louis from the endzone all day. PITTSBURGH MAULERS 44 TEXAS OUTLAWS 38 OT For the third straight week the Maulers are in our Game of the Week, this time an overtime thriller in San Marcos against the Outlaws. Mike Rozier had another MVP game, rushing for 140 and 2 scores, and Alan Risher threw for 3, including the game winner in overtime, as the Maulers win a shootout against the Outlaws. Texas, for their part, had a great outing from Reggie Cobb, who gained 134 and added 3 touchdowns in the game. Eric Metcalf caught 5 balls for 92 yards and 2 scores as well as the Outlaws and Maulers fought to a draw at 38 points after 60 minutes. The two teams combined for 848 yards of offense, but committed a combined 7 turnovers in a game that was simply big play after big play. In overtime, it was a long pass from Risher to Louis Lipps that set up the winning score, a short pass to TE Charles Arbuckle for the game’s final 6 points. Risher would finish the day with 373 yards, going 29 of 53, while his counterpart, Kelly Stouffer threw for only 172 and suffered 3 interceptions on the day. With the win, Pittsburgh regains sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division, while Texas slips to 3rd in the Central, behind Houston and New Orleans. In a week dominated by huge rushing games, from Rozier, Boone, Cobb and others, we are still going to give the POTW to a QB, because when it comes to close games, and there were several this week, it was the QB’s who were called on to secure a W. Countering Greg Boone’s 167 yard, 3 TD day, was Brett Favre’s 371 yard, 4 TD day. Chuck Long threw for 387 and 4 TD’s, but lost to Jim Kelly’s 364 and 4 TD performance. And Portland’s Kerwin Bell through for 346, but relied on the foot of Al Del Greco to secure the win. But, we are going to give our POTW to another QB, Pittsburgh’s Alan Risher, who often does not get a lot of praise, seen as complimentary to HB Mike Rozier’s incredible season. Risher, in his own right, is having a great year. For the first time in his career he is very likely to end up among the Top 5 quarterbacks in the QB Rating (he currently sits at 4th. His 70.3% completion rate is among the league’s best. He has tossed 25 TD’s to only 10 interceptions, and while his 3,248 yards passing is well short of Favre’s 4,461, it is still among the league leaders. In this week’s game, Risher was the perfect complement to Mike Rozier’s 140-yard day. He was efficient, completing over 73% of his throws, and he found the endzone when it mattered, with key 3rd downs completed and a final drive in overtime to win the game for the visiting Maulers. Risher may not get the accolades of a Kelly, Aikman, or Favre, but he is a huge piece of the puzzle as to why Pittsburgh has risen up the standings the past two years and become a potential #1 seed this year. Aside from St. Louis, Michigan, and Chicago fading from playoff relevance, there was little to show for the 14th week of play. Pittsburgh regained sole possession of 1st place in the Atlantic. Houston and New Orleans improved their situation, and we now have a 3-way race for the Pacific title with only 2 games left to play. In the South, Memphis holds a 1 game lead over Jacksonville, but the team no one wants to face are the 8-6 Tampa Bay Bandits. Birmingham has gotten over their mid-season slump and has won two in a row, but Tampa’s 4 game win streak has made them a real player down the stretch. With 2 weeks left on the schedule, it is still far too close to call pretty much in every division, and certainly for the final Wild Card spots as we have clusters of teams all within a game of each other and all very much with their destinies in their own hands. Go 2-0 and almost any of these teams would be guaranteed a playoff spot. Go 0-2 and you can kiss it goodbye. Michigan will be finishing out the year without their rookie HB Rodney Culver, who tore his MCL this past week. Texas is in a similar boat with a knee injury to CB Najee Mustafaa. Orlando will be without CB Melvin Jenkins for at least the rest of the regular season and Houston will finish the regular season without it’s big free agency signing, LB Pat Swilling. For Pittsburgh the concern is for guard Leo Goeas, who has a wrist injury that will keep him out at least 1 week, but likely 2. Arizona tackle Kirk Lowdermilk may also miss the home stretch with a hamstring injury. It seems weird to see this so late in the season, but Week 15 is a fully inter-conference week. All 5 Central teams are visiting the Atlantic Division while all 5 Pacific squads are in the South to face the Southern Division. Of the top-level matchups we have New Orleans at Pittsburgh, Texas at Washington, Arizona at Birmingham, Oakland at Memphis, and Portland at Orlando. In other playoff-impacting games, teams are hoping to avoid an upset as Tampa hosts St. Louis, Jacksonville hosts Denver, and Houston is in New Jersey. Rounding out the schedule we have Chicago at Baltimore and Michigan in Philadelphia.