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The final week of the season sees 4 teams lock up playoff berths, 5 teams nab division titles, and two very disappointed squads miss out on a chance to extend their season.  Texas and Tampa Bay get season-ending wins without their starting QBs to secure in Texas’s case the division and the top seed in the West and in Tampa’s the division crown and a bye week.  Las Vegas and Ohio disappoint their fans as weak second halves to the season mean they miss out on postseason play, while Houston avoids a last-minute stumble, losing to the Denver Gold but maintaining the 6 seed in the West thanks to the Thunder and Glory losses.  We will break down all the games of the week, preview the Wild Card round of playoffs, and give you all the news from Black Monday right here, right now.   TEXAS OUTLAWS 28    BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 23 With Birmingham sitting at 7-8 and eliminated from playoff contention, this game could have easily been a playoff warmup for the Texas Outlaws, but with Joe Flacco out, and having lost in Week 15 with Kyle Boller at QB, the pressure was on the Outlaws.  A loss and they very likely would drop from the top seed in the West all the way to a 4 seed Wild Card.  That was the reality for the Outlaws, who needed to see that Boller could lead them to victory, a victory that would assure Texas the top seed and a very needed bye in the playoffs.   With a bye next week, Texas would almost assuredly have Joe Flacco back in action for their playoff premiere, a result that could allow them to take home field advantage all the way to the first Summer Bowl appearance in team history, possibly the first title for the club as well.  So, when Birmingham announced that they would not shutter Cam Newton to protect him in the final, and that all regular starters would be on the field, it forced Texas to bring everything they could to this game to ensure the win and their seed in the playoffs.   Birmingham did not make it easy on Boller or the Outlaws, but, called upon to provide leadership and guide Texas towards that top seed, the backup came through.  The Outlaws came in with a focus on the passing game, providing only 10 carries to Chris Johnson while Kyle Boller threw for 306 yards and 4 touchdowns.  While this was partly the result of falling behind 17-0 in the 2nd quarter, it was also very much the strategy of the Outlaws, to feature the skills of receivers like Marques Colston, Brandon Marshall, and Marquise Goodwin against a Stallion secondary that had shown a tendency to lose focus.   Despite their desire for a fast and decisive start, Texas found themselves very much in trouble early.  Birmingham got the only score of the first quarter on a Newton TD toss to Dontrelle Inman as the Texas passing game was not finding success early.  That lead expanded to 10-0 and then 17-0 for Birmingham when Cam Newton broke containment and raced 59 yards for a score on a play that could have broken the spirits of the Outlaws, but with over 9 minutes still left in the 2nd quarter there was time for Texas to regroup and recover, and the Outlaws did both.   Texas put 14 points up in the second half of the quarter, first with an absolute momentum-shifting play as Boller hit speedster Marquise Goodwin with an 83-yard catch and run for the first Outlaw points of the game.  That was followed by the first of 3 turnovers by the Stallions, a tipped ball that was picked by Nate Vasher, putting Texas in position to cut the lead to only 3.  Texas marched the ball down to the 6 as time ticked down, with Boller hitting TE Bo Scaife for the score in the final minute.  From a 17-0 deficit, Texas had quickly jumped back in the game with two 2nd quarter scores, signaling that this game was by no means over.   The third began with a pair of three and outs as both defenses adjusted to their first quarter failings.  Birmingham would add a field goal on their 2nd drive, following a nice set or runs by much maligned HB Joseph Addai.  Texas was down 6 and would respond with their first scoring drive of the second half.  Once again it was Boller and the passing game at the center of the attack, with Brandon  Marshall the hero of this drive, first with a 31-yard play on a 2nd and 3, and then with the 10-yard TD play from Boller, his third TD toss of the game.   Down 21-20 as the 4th quarter began, Birmingham seemed content to feed the ball to Addai and Marion Barber, to slow the game down and sneak out with a win at the end.  They retook the lead early in the 4th on another Hartley field goal, but now would have to hold that lead for nearly 12 minutes.  With Texas having all but abandoned any semblance of a running game, Birmingham stayed in nickel and dime coverage for the remainder of the game.  This worked at first, with Texas forced to punt on the post-field-goal drive, but it proved ineffective after a Barber fumble gave the Outlaws the ball back at their own 48 with plenty of time left.    It would take the Outlaws only 3 plays to score after the turnover.  The lead-changing play was another deep ball, this time to Marshall as a bunch formation allowed the taller receiver to find himself matched on Birmingham’s shortest corner, with safety help trapped in the middle of the field.  Boller got the protection he needed and lofted a deep ball to Marshall. The bigger receiver went up for the ball at the 3, brought it down and fell into the endzone for the decisive score, Boller’s 4th TD toss of the day, and a 28-23 lead.   That play seemed to break the spirit of the Stallions, who put up little resistance in the final minutes.  Texas would get the ball back for the last time with only 57 seconds left, allowing Boller to take a knee and the Outlaws to douse Coach Landry with the sideline water coolers, champions of the SW Division and the 1 seed in the West, guaranteeing both a bye week and a run through San Antonio if the Outlaws wanted to punch a ticket for Atlanta and Summer Bowl 2014.   We are going to do things a bit differently this time, going through the weekend based on the game start times. So that you can get a feel for how the final week impacted playoff position at different points of the weekend.  We start with three games on Saturday that locked up the top seed in the East.   Saturday @ Noon PHILADELPHIA 30   WASHINGTON 24 The Stars locked up both the NE Division and the top seed in the East with this victory on the road in DC.  At first it looked like it might be a cakewalk, with Philadelphia racing out to a 24-0 lead, but Washington showed some moxy, scoring 24 unanswered to tie the game before a late Travis Kelce TD catch sealed the win for the Stars, who finish the season atop the East at 13-3. POTG:  Stars WR Stevie Johnson: 7 Rec, 117 Yds, 1 TD   BALTIMORE 36   NASHVILLE 20 The Blitz tried to avoid scoreboard watching, but after going up 16-7, the got a bit lax and Cody Pickett brought Nashville to a 17-16 lead.  That is when Baltimore went on a 21-0 run and put the game away.  They would end up stuck as a Wild Card and the 4 seed, but they kept from falling behind Charlotte or Atlanta, so a home playoff game will start their postseason. POTG:  Blitz QB Ben Roethlisberger; 18/29, 358 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   NEW JERSEY 19   NEW ORLEANS 30 The Breakers played their starters, still hoping for an outside shot at a bye.  That did not work out, but they did get a solid win over New Jersey and avoided any Week 16 injuries as well.  Drew Brees threw for 3 scores and both Kenny Britt and Early Doucet went over 100 yards as the Breakers found plenty of room against New Jersey’s struggling secondary.  POTG:  New Orleans QB Drew Brees: 28/40, 345 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int    Saturday @ 4pm SEATTLE 22    OAKLAND 21 Oakland led most of the way, but let up in the second half. That was enough for Mike Flynn to rally the Dragons with a TD in the final 3 minutes and a field goal at regulation to upend the struggling Invaders.  Oakland would need help now to hold on to the Pacific Division lead.  Joey Harrington played well, but Seattle’s Mike Wallace showed that the Oakland D is not what it had been earlier in the year. POTG:  Dragon WR Mike Wallace:  7 Rec, 131 Yds, 1 TD   LAS VEGAS 17   DALLAS 24 If the Thunder could knock off Dallas, they would be the Pacific Champions, but the Roughnecks have been gelling as a team lately and were game to play spoilers.  Johnny Manziel threw for 2 scores and the defense frustrated Jake Plummer all game.  With the score tied at 17, it would be a Plummer mistake that would cost Las Vegas the game and a playoff bid.  Manny Lawson picked off a Plummer ball and returned it 22 yards for the game winner, a pick-six that ended Las Vegas’s playoff bid. POTG:  Dallas LB Manny Lawson: 3 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   PITTSBURGH 23   MEMPHIS 26 A pretty decent game considering that both 5-10 teams were playing only for pride.  Memphis recovered from an early 13-0 deficit with 21 straight points in the third quarter.  Eli Manning threw for a TD and got help from HBs Darren McFadden and Anthony Allen as the Showboats roared back and took the win. POTG:  Showboat CB Keith Smith: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty   Saturday @ 8pm ST. LOUIS 10   MICHIGAN 31 Saturday wrapped up with the Michigan Panthers locking up the Central Division crown in convincing fashion.  Kirk Cousins looked primed for the playoffs, completing 23 of 28 passes and throwing for 4 scores as the Panthers rolled to the division title and a bye in the Wild Card round.  Rookie Cody Latimer had 2 TDs in one of his best games as a pro, while LeVeon Bell added 73 yards on the ground and another 27 through the air. POTG:  Panther QB Kirk Cousins: 23/28, 238 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   Sunday @ Noon CHARLOTTE 27    ATLANTA 10 It was a battle to finish 2nd in the SE Division, even though both teams knew that they would be starting their playoff run on the road, thanks to Baltimore’s earlier win.  While the starters played quite a bit, both teams also subbed in some backups as well, particularly after Charlotte had a solid 24-0 lead and the game was all but done.  Kyle Orton threw 3 picks trying to come back in the game, but wiwth Fred Jackson rushing for 155 yards the run game of Charlotte just wound down the clock. POTG:  Monarch WR D. J. Hackett: 5 Rec, 180 Yds, 1 TD   ORLANDO 20   TAMPA BAY 31 Orlando looked to spoil things for the Bandits, but QB Ryan Lindley responded well, despite being sacked by Calais Campbell a stunning 6 times, and with the home crowd behind him, the Bandits put away the Renegades and claimed the SE Division title at 12-4.  Lindley came close to cracking the 300-yard mark, and connected for 4 TDs, including 2 to Vincent Jackson, giving Bandit fans hope for the playoffs.  Lindley and the Bandits will get a bye as the 2 seed, time to prepare Lindley for playoff football. POTG:  Orlando DE Calais Campbell: 10 Tck, 6 Sck, 1 FF   CHICAGO 23   JACKSONVILLE 19 Fans with a morbid curiosity about the Bulls got to watch the club on FOX as they blew their 16th and final game of the season.  At one point it was 19-7 Jacksonville, but the Bulls collapsed at the end, with Chicago scoring the final 16 points to take the win. To no one’s surprise, Mike Nolan was let go the same day.  POTG:  Chicago WR Aaron Dobson: 9 Rec, 96 Yds, 1 TD   Sunday @ 4pm PORTLAND 7   LOS ANGELES 34 A somewhat meaningless game played before barely 12,000 fans in LA saw the Express dominate a lackluster Portland squad, leaving both teams at 6-10 for the season.  Aaron Murray played only a series before Coach Reid put Mark Sanchez back in.  The running theory is that he is hoping to get a little interest going on the trading block for Sanchez.  A 10 of 20 showing for Sanchez may not be what Coach Reid was hoping for. POTG:  LA halfback Reggie Bush: 16 Att, 130 Yds, 2 TD   OHIO 13   ARIZONA 30 With Michigan having won on Saturday, Ohio had already been eliminated from playoff contention.  That showed as they faced the Wranglers, who were hoping for a Texas loss to propel them to the 1 seed.  They did not get the help they needed, but did their part with a solid win over the Glory.  Rob Gronkowski, set to become a free agent, showed his worth with 122 yards and a TD for Arizona. POTG:  Wrangler CB Joe Haden: 5 Tck, 2 Int   Sunday @ 8pm HOUSTON 13    DENVER 24 With Las Vegas and Ohio both losing, this game was not for a playoff berth, but for positioning within the Wild Card round.  The winner would go to Arizona, the loser to Oakland.  That is an odd scenario because by most accounts these two teams would both prefer to play the Invaders than the Wranglers.   It seems Houston understood the mission more than Denver as they kept Hasselbeck out of harm’s way, let Hyde run the ball, and came away losing by 11, but perhaps winning the bigger battle. POTG:  Denver LB Hannibal Navies:  12 Tck   Boller & Lindley Get the Job Done The pressure was on, the playoffs, or at least each team's role in them, was on the line, and backups Ryan Lindley and Kyle Boller were on the spot to guide their teams into the postseason with a season ending win. Both were subbing for injured starters, with Joe Flacco expected back in action as early as the Divisional Round of the playoffs, while Tampa's Daunte Culpepper was lost for the year, putting Lindley in position to guide a team that had been among the league's elites all season. In the finale for each, pressure was on to get a W and secure the division title and a bye week for both clubs. Both, with losses, could slip out of first in their divisions and into the Wild Card mix. For both clubs, this would be seen as a disastrous result after leading not only their divisions, but the conferences as well for much of the season. First up was Tampa Bay, playing in the Sunday noon slot. In their game against rival Orlando, Ryan Lindley absolutely did not have it easy, sacked 11 times by a ferocious Orlando pass rush, 6 alone from DPOTW and likely DPOTY Calais Campbell. And yet, despite constant pressure from the Orlando front 7, Lindley succeeded in 20 of 28 passing, for just short of 300 yards (296) and 4 TDs as the Bandits put up 31 on the Renegades and locked up a SE Division title. Boller had it only slightly easier in Birmingham, where he was not shown quite the same violent welcome. Birmingham played mostly conservative zones, but the Stallions had the lead at the half and required Boller to put up some scores in the second half. He did just that, connecting with Brandon Marshall twice in the final 30 minutes to give Texas the win, and with it the SW Division title and the top seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The win means that Boller may just have seen his last action. While there was concern about bringing Joe Flacco back for the Wild Card round, the bye week that the top seed receives means that Texas will get a week off and Flacco could and should be back under center for the Outlaws in 2 weeks. For Lindley, the win also gives him two weeks to prepare for his next action, as he will be the starter when Tampa Bay takes on its first opponent in the Divisional Round. Houston & Denver in, Las Vegas Out… Again We speculated about it and it came to pass, four teams from the same division have made the 2014 playoffs, with Texas as the 1 seed, and all three Wild Card spots now held by Arizona (4), Houston (5) and Denver (6).  That means that for the second year in a row the Las Vegas Thunder have fizzled down the stretch, turning what looked like a possible Division Title into a non-playoff year.  This is a trend we used to see from the Texas Outlaws with late summer swoons, but now it seems that Las Vegas is the squad that cannot finish a year out strong. We should also mention that this is also the case with the Ohio Glory, who spent the first half of the year looking like the team to beat in the Central only to be overtaken by a rising Michigan Panther team, dropping out of first place and now dropping out of playoff contention with an 8-7-1 record.  For the SW Division however, this is great news, a situation that acknowledges if not confirms what many have been saying, that the Southwest is the best and toughest division in the league this year.  It also means that two of the three Wild Cards from the SW Division will face off in Week 1 of the playoffs.  Those two will be the Arizona Wranglers and the Denver Gold, who will meet in Glendale on Sunday.    Seattle Upsets Oakland, but Invaders Get Last Laugh The Dragons played spoilers on Saturday, upsetting the Invaders in Oakland and sweeping the season series, but to no avail.  The hope among Dragon players was that a win over Oakland would lead to the club falling all the way out of the playoffs at 9-7.  And while that would have been the case had Las Vegas beaten Dallas, it was the Roughnecks who got the honor of knocking a club out of playoff  position with their upset of the Thunder.   The Seattle win helped the Dragons avoid a 10-loss season at 7-9, a better record than most predicted for them, but the win did not produce the additional pleasure of ruining the season for Oakland fans, long disliked by Dragon faithful.  Oakland may be limping into the postseason at 9-7, having lost 4 of 8 in the season’s second half, including 2 losses to the Dragons, but they still managed to hold onto the Pacific Division title.  The only potential joy for Seattle is that Oakland’s lost makes them the 3 seed, costing them a chance at a bye week and forcing them to take on a tough Houston squad next week.  A pyrrhic victory, but for the Dragons, winning over the Invaders is still a good feeling.   League Leaders Include Lots of New Names Every year brings rising stars and surprises in the standings. It also brings surprises in the statistical leaderboards, and 2014 is certainly no exception. Preseason picks had names like Joe Flacco and Daunte Culpepper listed among the potential passing leaders, with Deuce McCallister, LeVeon Bell and Steve Slaton expected to compete for the rushing title, and perennial contenders Hines Ward, Marques Colston and Deion Branch expected to battle it out for the top spot on the receiving lists.    What no one predicted, either on a team level, or on an individual level, was the rise of the Baltimore Blitz.  Along with Baltimore’s win-loss success came a lot of statistical success.  As we look at the end of year stat leaders, we see Baltimore’s success written into their passing game.  Ben Roethlisberger had his best year as a pro, throwing for over 4,700 yards to finish as the yardage leader, while also topping the boards in both TD passes (36) and QB Rating (118.5), a very nice trifecta for the big guy.  With his success we also saw Darrius Heyward-Bey have a huge year, breaking out as a top tier threat in the passing game.  His 1,650 yards are among the best ever by a Blitz receiver and good enough to get him third on the yardage list, behind only Colston and Tampa Bay’s Vincent Jackson.    The other big surprise was in Houston, where the Gamblers connected with two outstanding rookie picks.  While WR Mike Evans has looked more than solid as a number one receiver, it is Carlos Hyde who sits as the almost locked-in Rookie of the Year.  His 1,456 yards was the best of any back this year, and serves as a warning to all run defenses across the league that Houston has themselves a stud at tailback.  Throw in 13 rushing TDs, a league best as well, and Hyde is quickly becoming a player to follow in the league.    Before we wrap up we should also acknowledge one ludicrously consistent stat leader. It just seems that no one is going to be able to remove Calais Campbell from his throne as the king of the QB Sack.  Campbell once again ran away with the title after a purely nasty 6-sack game against Tampa Bay’s Ryan Lindley.  That gave him 33 sacks in 16 games, another absolutely mind-boggling total.  The closest competitor was Aaron Kampman of New Jersey with 18.  Think about that for a second, Campbell had 15 more sacks than the closest competitor.  That is the same as having Kampman at 18 and a second DE on the team with 15.  We would consider that a truly amazing edge rush duo, but in the case of Campbell it is all just him.  Truly stunning.   Jacksonville Joins Worst Team Ever Discussions at 0-16 What more can we say about the 2014 Jacksonville Bulls.  They, by every measure of a team, just flat out stunk. No one is surprised that Mike Nolan is out after only one year when it is a year that saw the Bulls go 16 games without a win, and with major blow outs in several outings.  The Bulls did wrong just about everything you could do wrong, from a complete lack of blocking to some truly horrible tackling, to more turnovers than a Danish bakery.  It was ugly.  So now what?   Well, they start by overhauling the front office, from GM to Head Coach and most of the staff as well. They will start all over.  Then you look at the roster.  Do they cut Tim Tebow loose?  There are still many Floridians who give him a lot of love and seem hesitant to see his role in the team’s failures this year. The Bulls need a more reliable run game, some breakaway capacity in the receiving corps, much better O-line play, and, well, maybe 11 new starters on defense.  Whoever takes on the job of GM in Jacksonville will be a busy man, and whoever signs on as the team’s new head coach is likely to turn grey before the Bulls reach playoff contention.  Best of luck to both, you will need it.   DeMarco Murray Out for Denver Wild Card Game Denver will be shorthanded in their playoff matchup with rival Arizona.  After leaving the game by hopping off the field, it was determined that HB DeMarco Murray fractured the big toe on his left foot.  The injury could be addressed with extra taping and perhaps a special splint in a week or two, but there is little that can be done right away other than to not attempt to practice or play.  That means that Denver will be without their lead rusher (844 yards this season) as they face one of the league’s best defenses in the Arizona Wranglers.    Arizona currently ranks 2nd in the league in both scoring and yards allowed, and their run defense in particular is strong, allowing fewer than 90 yards per game.  Denver will now go into Glendale with 3rd year player LeMichael James as the likely starter, though we expect to see a good deal of Andre Williams as well.  James has had a good year, with 646 yards on only 212 carries, but at 3 yards per carry he is a full yard off of Murray’s pace.    Denver will likely try to compensate by putting more on Matt Leinart and the passing game, but it is exactly that type of one-dimensional attack that Arizona is so capable of snuffing out.  Without a strong threat from the run game, expect Matt Leinart to be under constant pressure from the Wrangler front 7.    There was a lot on the line this weekend, and yet, as seems to happen nearly every year, the teams in position to earn berths after Week 15 all held that position and qualified in Week 16.  Losses by both Las Vegas and Ohio meant that the 6 teams already in playoff position in the conference survived, including Oakland (who lost to Seattle) and Houston (who lost their season ending matchup against Denver).   When the dust settled Sunday night, we had our 12 playoff teams, with the Invaders, Panthers, Gamblers and Gold all locking in their spots.  Texas held on to win the top seed in the West, while Philadelphia’s win gave them the best record in the East at 13-3.  The Stars join Tampa Bay, Texas, and Michigan with Wild Card Round byes, while Oakland, Arizona, New Orleans and Baltimore will all host games next week. The week also settled the first half of the draft.  No surprise at the top, where the Jacksonville Bulls locked up the top pick several weeks ago.  They will be followed by 3-13 Nashville, 4-12 St. Louis, and then a cluster of Dallas, Pittsburgh, and New Jersey at 5-11.  The full draft order will be known once the playoffs conclude, with the 12 playoff teams assigned their slot based on their success in the postseason paired with their regular season standings. We look over the 4 Wild Card games and see quite a few known issues, and just a couple of new concerns among the 8 teams that will be in action next week.  Here is the breakdown, game by game.   The Fire are certainly hurting on defense with Kelsay on IR and questions around CB Darius Slay and DT Jason Ferguson.  New Orleans certainly will miss Chris Spencer on the line, but seem the healthier team. ATL:  DE Chris Kelsay (IR), HB J. J. Arrington (IR), CB Darius Slay (Q), DT Jason Ferguson (P) NOR: C Chris Spencer (D), CB Mark Donohue (Q), SS Brandon Taylor (P)   Houston is hoping that both Andrews and Applewhite can go, though the former seems a bit more unlikely. For Oakland, the key is how Justin Smith looks on game day.  They would hate to miss his pressure on the outside. HOU: FS Willie Andrews (D), DE Antwan Applewhite (Q) OAK: DE Justin Smith (P), FS Sean Jones (P), G Logan Mankins (P)   Charlotte is looking quite healthy, while Baltimore has possible concerns if Tavares Gooden cannot go. They have him as probable, so the hope is that he is good to go on Sunday. CHA: FS Tre Boston (D) BAL: G Andy Alleman (IR), QB Vince Young (IR), HB Cedric Benson (P), LB Tavares Gooden (P)   Arizona has some concerns on the O-line, but both Smith and Schlueter seem to think they will be able to go on Sunday.  That is not the case for DeMarco Murray, which puts Denver in a pretty sizable disadvantage as they plan for a very solid Wrangler D. DEN: CB Patrick Robinson (IR),  HB DeMarco Murray (Out) ARZ:  OT Wade Smith (P),  C Blake Schlueter (P)   Black Monday Taps Out Four USFL Coaches For as long as the USFL has been around, the Monday after the final regular season games has been a date when teams release head coaches from their duties after a rough season or after a series of disappointing ones.  This past Monday saw four teams change directions, removing their head coach on the day after season, concluding games.    Mike Nolan: Jacksonville It should not come as a surprise that the coach of an 0-16 team is let go.  Even as a first year head coach, Nolan could not survive a year in which his Bulls squad simply did not look like they were up to par with any of their opponents.  Nolan joins a franchise-wide purge that includes the GM, the head of scouting, the Director of Football Operations and all of the assistant and position coaches.  Only a few scouts and the medical staff survived the purge.  And now the Bulls start from scratch.  Expect them to seek a GM as well as a new Director of Football Operations first, before landing on a head coach. Brad Childress: Memphis Three seasons, three bad years.  Yes, Childress saw the Showboats improve each year, but going from 4 to 5 win, then 5 to 6 is just not the pace of change that Memphis, or any other team, would accept as a positive.  Three consecutive 10-loss seasons doomed Childress, as did the expectation that this was the year for the Showboats to compete with New Orleans for a possible division title.  Their inconsistency and the fact that they finished in the bottom 4th of the league on both offense and defense (scoring and points allowed) was enough for ownership to move on. Mike Shanahan: Birmingham Birmingham was a bit of a surprise, as they were in the mix for most of the season, trailing New Orleans, but alive in the playoff hunt. But, when you have a dynamic talent like Cam Newton at QB and the club still finishes 22nd in offense (yards) and 17th in scoring, something has to change.  Add yet another year of mediocre to just plain bad defense, and Childress was the piece to go. Childress finishes his tenure at Birmingham with a record of 21-27 and a playoff appearance with the 8-8 squad in 2013.  Marty Mornhinweg: Portland The Stags seemed to have gone in reverse with Mornhinweg at the helm.  The former Chicago Machine head coach raised hopes in the PNW with a 9-7 Wild Card season his first year.  But the club fell to 7-9 in 2013 and this year finished at 6-10.  Along the way, Mornhinweg experimented with Matt McGloin at QB, only to go back to Ryan Fitzpatrick.  James Stewart proved to be a star, but one many felt was underutilized and not complemented with a viable passing game.  Add to that a defense that struggled to stop the pass or to keep foes out of the endzone, and ownership decided they could do better.  We anticipate that this is just the first in a series of changes, including at QB, where all indications are that the Stags will lobby hard to sign Oregon senior QB Marcus Mariota, a lock to be protected by the club in January’s Territorial Draft.   Several coaches rumored to be on the cusp were able to survive their team’s non-playoff seasons, including New Jersey HC Norv Turner, St. Louis’s Bruce Arians, Dallas’s Mike Sherman, and Chicago’s Greg Schiano. Late season wins by Dallas over Tampa Bay and Las Vegas seem to have proven the case that Sherman had his club playing hard in his second year.  Rumors were that Schiano might have been out had the 5-10 Machine managed to lose to the 0-15 Bulls, but their win in Jacksonville appears to have given Schiano another shot to improve the standing of the Machine.   Jake Plummer Hints at Retirement, Is Culpepper Next? While no official announcement has yet to be made, the rumor mill in Las Vegas has been stirring with expectations that a retirement announcement from QB Jake Plummer is eminent.  Plummer, who has been with the club since 2009, turns 38 this summer and after 17 years of USFL play is certainly feeling the pain of yet another failed playoff hunt.  For the second year in a row the Thunder faded down the stretch, missing out on a playoff spot this week when they were upset by the 5-11 Dallas Roughnecks.  If the rumors are true and the Thunder field marshal is hanging up his cleats, that means a fresh start for the Thunder at QB when they open their inaugural season in San Diego next March.  With Kevin Kolb and Case Keenum still under contract, the Thunder and head coach Dick LeBeau could go after a high profile free agent (from within the USFL or NFL), look for a trade, or we could see a true QB competition, with Keenum in particular getting a long look in the offseason.    Discussion of Plummer’s potential retirement also stirs conversation about the status of another All-USFL quarterback.  In Tampa Bay there are rumors all over town that MVP candidate Daunte Culpepper may be struggling with his late season injury and the wear and tear his body has taken over 15 USFL seasons.  Culpepper will also turn 38 over the summer, and is in the process of recovering from a fully torn MCL.  Were he to also announce the end of his pro football career, Tampa Bay would almost definitely be looking longingly at the Territorial Draft and the prospect of FSU quarterback Jameis Winston being a top offseason target.  But that may well be putting the cart before the horse.  The Bandits are embroiled in a playoff hunt, and no one expects Culpepper, even if his decision is made, to distract from that while his club is still in the midst of a playoff run.   Brown Seeks Release from Maulers Four years after jumping from the NFL Dolphins to the Pittsburgh Maulers, halfback Ronnie Brown is dissatisfied with his role on the team, the inability to escape a HB-by-Committee system, and the subsequent numbers he has produced.  This week he publicly demanded an opportunity for his agent to seek a trade partner.  Brown is stil under contract with Pittsburgh through 2017, so a trade would be his way out of town.  The Maulers have yet to respond to the demand, and obviously, were they to lose their rushing leader they would expect significant compensation.  The other option would be for the Maulers to release the disgruntled back, which would free up nearly $1.6M in cap space, though it would not bring either players or draft picks to the cash-strapped squad.    In his 4 years in Pittsburgh, Brown has rushed for 3,188 yards, averaging just under 800 yards and 6 touchdowns per season.  Those are pretty solid numbers, but in a league that saw 16 different backs cross the 1,000-yard threshold, they are not the kind of numbers that are going to bring either big money offers or a clean shot at a lead back position.  Brown may just find that takers are harder to come by than he imagines.   First Retirement Announcements Made While we expect a run of season-ending retirement notices to come over the next month, the first few days saw very few immediate announcements.  We had only 3 starters across the league notify the media and their teams that they were indeed stepping away from the game they love.    Dallas LB Dat Nguyen was the first to announce on Monday.  The 15-year veteran, who spent most of his career with the Denver Gold, played 4 years with the Boston/Dallas franchise, starting only 24 games in those 4 seasons and serving as a swing player this year, subbing across the LB group for starters all season.  He finished this year with only 6 tackles, a career low.   Another veteran LB made the announcement later the same day as LA’s Lofa Tatupu announced he was retiring after 9 seasons, all with the Express.  Tatupu, unlike Nguyen, started all 16 games for his club this year, finishing 4th on the team with 74 tackles.  The Samoan son of former NE Patriot HB Mosi Tatupu came to the Express in the T-Draft out of USC.  He became a starter in his rookie season, scoring 83 tackles in his 2005 rookie year.  The next year he had his first of two 100-tackle seasons as a full-time starter.  This season was more of a battle for the 32-year old linebacker as he played through the pain of ongoing knee issues.  While LA certainly hoped he would be able to return for 2015, unofficial sources had said this season that there was some expectation that it could be the last for Tatupu.   Finally, early Tuesday, cornerback Mike Rumph of Portland announced he would be stepping away from the game after 12 pro seasons.  Rumph, a 2006 All-USFL corner with New Jersey, came into the league with the Generals, where he played for 8 years before joining Portland in Free Agency in 2010.  Rumph started all 16 Stag games this year at CB, racking up 83 tackles (2nd only to LB Channing Crowder) and adding a sole pick this season. Playoff football begins with four games this weekend as all 6 Wild Card teams as well as the two 3-seed Division winners are in action.  Will we see all 4 home favorites hold serve or will we get upsets in the opening round of the 2014 playoffs?  Here are our picks as well as some notes on each game.   (6) Atlanta Fire (10-6) @ (3) New Orleans Breakers (12-4) Saturday, July 5 @ 4pm ET Mercedes Benz SuperDome, New Orleans, LA Breakers -5   Most money is on the Breakers in this one, and for good reason.  New Orleans averages 3 more points per game than Atlanta and has a defense that is about even with the Fire in points allowed.  However, when we look closer, we see that these two teams are very even across the board.  Atlanta ranks 10th in rushing, New Orleans 12th.  Atlanta is also 13th in passing while the Breakers are 17th.  The Fire also had a 5-game winning streak going before dropping their final 2 to Orlando and Charlotte.  New Orleans had won 6 in a row before dropping an odd “trap” game to Memphis in Week 15, but they recovered nicely this week against New Jersey.   OUR PICK:  The big difference for us is that we see that Ryan Denney is out for Atlanta, and we just trust Drew Brees more than Kyle Orton on offense, so we are going with the home favorites.  New Orleans wins 28-24.   (6) Houston Gamblers (9-6-1) @ (3) Oakland Invaders (9-7) Saturday, July 5 @ 8pm ET Oakland-Alameda Coliseum, Oakland, CA Invaders -1 Houston seems to be very much the model of the “play at the level of their competition” kind of team.  That is how they managed to tie Texas but lose to Dallas.  Their loss to Denver this week has us wondering if they may have miscalculated in preferring to face Oakland over Arizona.  On the other hand, when we look at the Invaders what we see is a team that was 6-3 at one point and only went 3-4 down the home stretch, including two losses to Seattle.  They got a good win against Philly in Week 13, but other than that they have just not been impressive.   OUR PICK:  We see this as the most likely upset of the weekend, just as the gambling books in Vegas do.  They give Oakland a meager 1-point advantage as the home team.  We don’t  think that is enough.  We are picking Houston to win, 21-17.   (5) Charlotte Monarchs (11-5) @ (4) Baltimore Blitz (12-4) Sunday, July 6 @ 1pm ET M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD Blitz -4   The Monarchs have won 10 of 11 games, with only a letdown in New Orleans in the L column since Week 6, and yet, they get no respect.  They are the Rodney Dangerfield of USFL clubs this season.  Baltimore has been looking very dangerous all year long, 9 of 11 themselves, so this is a matchup of two teams that are accustomed to winning.  Charlotte is the healthier team, and they may have a chip on their shoulder for being disrespected by the line.    OUR PICK: We think this could be a surprise.  We are going to take the more experienced Charlotte squad, a team with a lot of players still there from the 2012 Summer Bowl run.  Charlotte stuns the crowd in Baltimore, 27-23.   (5) Denver Gold (10-5-1) @ (4) Arizona Wranglers (11-5) Sunday, July 6 @ 5pm ET University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, AZ Wranglers -5   We love divisional rivalries in the playoffs and Denver-Arizona is one of the best.  They have only faced each other once in the postseason, with Denver getting the win.  But, while they may only be separated by ½ game in the standings, we just cannot get over how good Arizona has looked lately.  That said, the Gold have had their number, winning 16-13 in Week 1 and then sweeping the series with a 30-20 victory in Denver during Week 10 play.  Since that loss, Arizona has rattled off 5 wins in a row, including blow out victories over Dallas, Houston, and Nashville.  David Carr is in rare form, Frank Gore looks rested, and the defense has risen all the way to 2nd in the league in both scoring and yards.   OUR PICK:  Denver is a very solid team, but we think Arizona is a clear Summer Bowl contender, and we think they just have more ways to beat you.  Denver always keeps it close, but we see Arizona coming out on top in the 3rd meeting of the year.   Wranglers win 19-14.

Fifteen weeks down, only one to go and we still don’t know who the top seeds in either conference will be. The injuries to Culpepper and Flacco have complicated the end of the season and given hope to teams like Baltimore, Philly, Michigan, and Arizona. The Wranglers looked good and by knocking off Texas could once again claim the top seed in the West, something no one wants to see outside of the Grand Canyon State.  Tampa fell to Dallas in a thriller, and Philadelphia got a win in Baltimore, so the race in the East is as tight as ever.  All this, plus we still have 5 of 6 divisions to determine, and 4 of 6 Western playoff spots in what may be the most down-to-the-wire USFL season yet.   TAMPA BAY BANDITS 28    DALLAS ROUGHNECKS 31 This is every Bandit fan’s nightmare.  They lose Daunte Culpepper right as the season is winding down, but before they can lock up the top seed in the East.  The offense has some struggles, and the defense is overwhelmed, and they cannot win down the stretch, potentially dropping not only out of that top seed, but possibly out of the division title altogether.  Tampa Bay’s road trip to Dallas this week brought out the worst fears of Bandit Nation, and with Dallas getting the win, Tampa Bay has already slipped out of the top seed and now find themselves a game behind the Philadelphia Stars.   For Dallas, the feeling was very different.  Yes, the Roughnecks are eliminated from the postseason, and have been for a while now, but this game would give them the chance to play spoilers, even if a minor injury to rookie Johnny Manziel meant they would go into the game with Jake Locker under center.  This was their Summer Bowl, their shot to knock off a playoff team and build for next year, and they were going to take it.   Dallas started the game on fire, spurred on by a very nice crowd at Cotton Bowl Stadium on a pretty hot day.  The Roughnecks started off with a field goal on their first drive, then followed that up with a C. J. Spiller TD run on their next, taking an early 10-0 lead on a Bandit squad that was clearly not yet firing on all cylinders.  Tampa would start to show signs of life with their second possession, with Ryan Lindley over the initial nerves and finding targets downfield.  He got some help from HB Rex Burkhead, who started the game strong with 10 carries for 51 yards in the first half.  At the end of a 67-yard drive, Lindley connected with Santonio Holmes and the combination dropped the Dallas lead to 10-7 as the 1st quarter wound down.   In the 2nd, Tampa Bay would briefly take the lead.  Following a shanked punt by Dallas, Tampa Bay got the ball at their own 47, and shortly after were in the red zone.  Lindely did well to find Vincent Jackson for what at first appeared to be a score, but was ruled out at the 1-yard line after video review.  Rex Burkhead would run the ball in from there on the next play, and Tampa Bay was on top 14-10.  But, that lead would not last.  Locker and HB Rashard Mendenhall helped lead Dallas right back down the field, with Locker connecting with Ben Watson for a 15-yard play, then Hank Basket for 12, and Mendenhall contributing a 17-yard run as well.  The Dallas drive ended with Locker hitting Tim Wright on a crossing route to put the Roughnecks up 17-14.  That would remain the score into halftime.   The second half started badly for Tampa Bay, and for their new QB, Ryan Lindley.  On his second play of the quarter Lindley threw a ball to where he thought Davone Bess would be, but found Dallas CB Trey McBride instead.  McBride returned the ball to the Tampa 21, and from there, 4 plays later, Jake Locker connected with Hank Basket to boost the Roughneck lead to 24-14.    Tampa and Lindley would rebound, putting together a 13-play, 71-yard drive on their next possession, helped by a defensive pass interference call and a lucky bounce on a deflected ball, finding the arms of TE Dustin Keller and not a defender.  They would end the drive with another Santonio Holmes TD grab, and would trail at the end of 3 quarters, but only by 24-21.   The teams continued to trade touchdowns in the 4th quarter, making Dallas’s initial 1st quarter field goal the main difference between the two teams.  Dallas again scored first, this time a Mendenhall run from the 3 with barely 3 minutes gone in the period.  Tampa Bay would once again pull the score down to a 3-point difference as they put another touchdown on the board at the 6-minute mark.  This time it was Jackson from Lindley, reducing Dallas’s lead to 31-28.  They still had time to get the ball back and try to get a game tying field goal, or even a game-winning touchdown. The Tampa defense gave up one first down, but then forced a punt on the next set of downs.  They would give the Bandits the ball back with 3:10, more than enough time to get three, maybe even seven points on the board.  But, while Bandit fans were eager to see the team mount a comeback, they were soon heartbroken when once again it looked like Lindley and his receiver were not on the same page.  From all accounts it looked like Lindley expected Holmes to run an in-cutting route, but the veteran receiver, seeing the CB on his inside shoulder, cut to the outside, towards the sideline.  Lindley’s ball stayed inside and was easy pickings for Dallas corner Brandon Carr.  The 7-year vet knew what to do.  He ran to the middle of the field and slid to end the runback.  No sense risking a fumble.    Dallas’s offense took over with just under 2:30 left to play.  They rushed the ball 3 times, and on 3rd down picked up just enough for a new set of downs.  That was the end of Tampa’s hopes.  With two kneel downs the game was over, Tampa Bay was now no longer the East’s top seed, and fans had to hope they could somehow find a way to win in Week 16 against Orlando, or potentially face a road trip in the playoffs instead of home cooking.   NEW ORLEANS  16    MEMPHIS 26 The Breakers came out flat after clinching the division and Memphis made them pay.  NaVorro Bowman had a big week, including a pick-six, and the Memphis offense did just enough to hold off the Breakers late.  The run game for New Orleans, in particular, was a disappointment as 14 carries between Hill and Tolbert were not enough, but neither was 31 total yards rushing.  Did the Breakers peak too soon, or is this just a let down after clinching their division and taking the Showboats too lightly? POTG:  Showboat LB NaVorro Bowman: 6 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   ST. LOUIS 13   OHIO 30 Ohio stays alive and can still win the Central with a victory next week if St. Louis rebounds and somehow upsets the Panthers in the finale.  Ohio doubled up the Skyhawks and rookie Tajh Boyd, largely by pounding the ball in the run game.  Isaiah Pead had a huge game, rushing for 166 on only 18 carries and scoring on a 49-yard run in the 2nd quarter.  Steve Smith also had a big day, going over 100 yards again with 103 on 7 catches. POTG:  Ohio HB Isaiah Pead:  18 Att, 166 Yds, 1 TD   JACKSONVILLE 14   CHARLOTTE 37 Charlotte had no difficulty dispensing with the winless Bulls as Fred Jackson and Shonn Greene combined for 100 yards and 3 TDs on the day.  The defense also was a problem for Jacksonville, with Adrian McPherson being knocked out of the game in the 3rd quarter.  The Win moved Charlotte to 10-5 and, more importantly, to 6-1 in the division.  That means that a Monarch win next week paired with a Bandit loss and Charlotte will win the division on a tiebreaker for better division record. POTG:  Monarch DE Jevon Kearse: 1 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   MICHIGAN 23   LAS VEGAS 28 A good game between two potential playoff dark horses as Las Vegas had a pretty decent home field crowd for a change.  The Thunder raced out to an early 14-0 lead and then hung on as Michigan tried in vain to make up ground. Thanks to 107 yards and 2 scores from HB Marshawn Lynch, the Thunder remain in position to possibly take the Pacific Division, while Michigan could still lose the Central if they cannot get a W next week against the Skyhawks. POTG:  Las Vegas HB Marshawn Lynch:  23 Att, 107 Yds, 2 TD   PITTSBURGH 20   OAKLAND 34 The Invaders struggled at first but then put the game away late, thanks to a strong day from Ryan Williams (115 yds & 2 TD) and Bobby Wagner (2 FF).  The win means that Oakland holds onto their tiebreaker lead over Las Vegas.  A win next week and the Pacific Division is theirs, along with a bye in the playoffs. POTG:  Invader HB Ryan Williams: 30 Att, 115 Yds, 2 TD   ATLANTA 12   ORLANDO 16 Orlando is going down swinging, and they took down Atlanta in the process.  Neither team could mount a run game in this one as the Renegades gained only 41 yards on the ground and the Fire only 52.  In the end it was a short Tim Hightower plunge that gave the Renegades the lead late and the win.  The loss drops Atlanta into a tie with Charlotte for 2nd place, with the two facing off next week. POTG:  Orlando DT Albert Haynesworth: 11 Tck, 3 TFL   ARIZONA 40   TEXAS 31 Kyle Boller was game, throwing 3 TD passes for the Outlaws, but he also threw2 picks, and one of those was returned for 6 in this wild shootout.  Arizona lost David Carr to a blow to the head early, so Nick Foles again came in and performed admirably, throwing 2 TDs and keeping the Wrangler offense on the field.  Frank Gore added 74 yards and 2 scores and Antonio Bryant had a day with a 41-yard touchdown and 110 total yards as Arizona now sits only ½ game behind the Outlaws and could steal away the SW Division and maybe even the top seed with a win next week and a Texas loss. POTG:  Wrangler WR Antonio Bryant: 3 Rec, 110 Yds, 1 TD   PORTLAND 26   NEW JERSEY 9 The Stags picked off Sam Bradford 3 times and backup HB Javon Ringer went for 106 and a score in his first start of the season as Portland laid some lumber on the Generals.  Pressure from Dion Jordan and Tyrone Crawford led to too many Bradford mistakes as the QB seems very insecure in the pocket, sacked 3 times but throwing the ball away far too often as well. POTG:  Stag CB Mike Rumph:  6 Tck, 1 Int, 1 FF   DENVER 14     NASHVILLE 7 The Gold did not exactly look dominant against the 3-win Knights, but they did enough to get the win, and that is what matters.  Matt Leinart connected with Crabtree and Graham for scores, but Golden Tate was his favorite target, catching 7 balls for 107 yards on the day.  The defense held Nashville to 255 yards and only 2 of 12 on third down as Nashville and QB Cody Pickett continued to struggle to sustain drives. POTG:  Gold DE Justice Cole:  3 Tck, 2 Sck   BIRMINGHAM 23   WASHINGTON 26 The Federals got the better of the Stallions thanks to 13 unanswered points in the 4th quarter, including a 37-yard TD toss from Joe Webb to Brandon LaFell.  Webb got the start as David Garrard dealt with soreness in his throwing shoulder.  The backup, who may well be on the trading block, looked pretty good, completing 28 of 41 for 343 yards, 2 TDs and 1 pick.  Both teams now sit at 7-8 and can finish the year at .500 with a win in their finales. POTG: Feds’ WR Brandon LaFell: 8 Rec, 116 Yds, 2TD.   SEATTLE 17   LOS ANGELES 37 Aaron Murray made a case for consideration as the starter in 2015 thanks to a 25 of 34/, 241 yard, 2 TD day against division foe Seattle.  The Express also got a rushing TD from Murray, who scrambled for a 3-yard score in the 2nd quarter.  The defense did the rest, holding Cadillac Williams to only 55 yards and picking off Byron Leftwich twice. POTG:  Express FS David Young: 4 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Int   CHICAGO 16   HOUSTON 34 Houston looked solid in a comfortable home win over the Machine.  Mike Evans caught 5 passes, including a 2-yard TD on a perfect fade route, and Carlos Hyde rushed for 98 yards and 2 scores as Houston took care of business. They next head to Denver for a huge game for playoff positioning, with a lot riding on their game and others to determine who is at home in the Wild Card round. POTG:  Houston LB Steve Tulloch: 2 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   PHILADELPHIA 26    BALTIMORE 17 It was billed as the game of the week by ESPN and did not disappoint.  Baltimore and Philadelphia battled it out all night, with several small skirmishes along with a lot of hard hitting. Baltimore had an early lead but two Gutierrez to Kelce touchdowns in the 2nd quarter gave Philadelphia the lead for good.  Baltimore clawed their way back but could never get ove the hump as Philly added field goals to keep them just out of range despite 147 yards from Darrius Heyward-Bey on the night. POTG:  Philadelphia TE Travis Kelce: 5 Rec, 120 Yds, 2 TD   Arizona Can Still Be Top Seed Again Early this season we were wondering what was wrong with the defending champs and now we are talking about the very real possibility that they could win the SW Division and quite possibly steal away the top seed in the West.  Now, we don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but the possibility is there.  Here is what would need to happen:   First off, Arizona has to defeat Ohio, but it is a home game, so that feels very possible.  Then, Texas has to lose in their Week 16 matchup in Birmingham.  That also seems possible, especially if the Stallions pressure Kyle Boller, which we expect they will. Those two results alone mean that Arizona, not Texas, is the SW Division Champion at 11-5, with Texas second at 10-5-1.  An 11-5 record also means that Arizona is a game up on Michigan and on Oakland, which means they are not only the SW Division Champion, but also the top seed in the West, something that has to be striking fear into anyone who saw what the Wranglers did in the playoffs last season.    After a very shaky start, one that had Arizona at 4-4 after 8 weeks, the Wranglers have been on fire, winning 6 of their last 7 games.  An 8th win could very well have them in the driver’s seat for the playoffs, something that seemed very unlikely earlier this season.  With blowout wins in several of their recent games and with both the offense and defense looking very potent, no one wants to face this Wrangler club in the postseason, but especially not in Glendale in front of a wild and riled up fanbase.  But it very much could happen.   How Ohio and Las Vegas Can Get Into Playoff Mix For both the Glory and the Thunder, the season has pretty much come down to one week.  Either both will have had fast starts melt away (Las Vegas for a 2nd year in a row, or they could rise up and snatch a playoff spot on the final weekend of the year.   In both cases, the future is not entirely in their hands. For Las Vegas it is a little more cut & dry.  If they win, they are very likely in the playoffs.  Why?  Well, because Houston is playing Denver this week.  If either team wins, it means the loser is 9-6-1.  A win by Las Vegas puts them at 10-6 and would give them that last Wild Card spot.  A win and an Oakland loss against the Seattle Dragons, and Las Vegas jumps all the way up to a Divisional Title, and possibly a bye (depending on Michigan’s situation).  So, the Thunder have to be happy knowing that their playoff berth is in their hands (assuming the Gamblers and Gold don’t tie their game).  With a little help they can go from the 7th seed up as high as the 2nd seed.  As for Ohio, they cannot do it alone.  Sitting at 8-6-1, and with no tiebreaker advantage against the loser of the Denver-Houston game, they have one shot and one shot only.  They can edge out Michigan for the Central Division if they can upend Arizona in Glendale and, at the same time, the Michigan Panthers are upset at home by the St. Louis Skyhawks.  That is not an easy combination to picture, but it is the one combination of results that would provide Ohio with a path to the postseason.  Once again, a huge shift could be possible.  Ohio is currently in 8th position, but a win over Arizona, a loss by Michigan, and a loss by Oakland at  home to Seattle, and Ohio could also leap all the way up to 2nd place and get a bye.  That is how volatile the Western Conference is this year.   One Last Chance for Bulls and Nolan The Jacksonville Bulls have been a disaster all year long. They sit at 0-15, one game away from a winless season.  They have given up 445 points in 15 games, more than any other team (by a healthy margin), and their 191 total points scored is also easily the worst in the league (Nashville is next at 217).  Coach Mike Nolan’s first year has been an utter disaster.  He even went so far as to pull Tim Tebow, a local legend from his days at Florida, to try to win games, and has not been successful.    So, what now with 1 week left?  Well, the Bulls are home to Chicago, another team who have disappointed this year, but not nearly to the same degree.  They will likely be playing that game in front of a sparce and angry crowd, many with paper bags on their heads, and the chant they will hear across the stadium won’t be “Bulls Hit” but it will sound a lot like that.  In other words, they have one game to try to salvage some shred of dignity, or to become a part of history as perhaps the worst team in USFL history.    That reality, that possibility, will almost certainly mean a full and unwavering housecleaning.  Nolan, his assistants, the GM and many scouts are very likely gone.  We expect many will be gone regardless, but to go 0-16 with a club that has had a lot of pride over the years, well, that is just not going to be a forgivable offense.  It has gotten so bad in Jacksonville that fans have started to ask if it is too late for the Bulls, their coaches, owner, everyone to move to Las Vegas and for Nashville’s team to relocate to Jacksonville to start over.  That is not happening, but what could and should happen is a total reboot, starting at the top and working its way through every aspect of the team and its roster.    Hard to believe, but we really only had one change to the playoff situation this week.  Arizona locked up a berth thanks to a 10-5 record.  Beyond that we saw absolutely no teams capture their division, leaving 5 of 6 open (New Orleans being the exception), and we still have 4 open slots in the West, with 6 teams in the mix.  As we look over the playoff situation with one week left, here is what we each club involved needs or wants as we enter Week 16.   PHILADELPHIA:   Easy, win and you are the NE Division Champion and top seed in the Eastern Conference. Not a bad incentive to motivate the guys.   TAMPA BAY:  A win gets them the SE Division title, if paired with a loss by Philly and the Bandits would regain their position as the top seed.  But, with concern at QB, a win over Orlando is not at all guaranteed.  A loss and they could drop as far as the 5 seed.   NEW ORLEANS:  The Breakers have the division title, but really want a bye.  Their best shot at one is a win this week and a loss by the Bandits.  That would bump them up to the 2nd position. A win and losses by both Philadelphia and Tampa Bay and they could even get home field throughout the playoffs.  A loss and they are still the 3 seed as they are right now.   BALTIMORE: The Blitz’s ideal situation is a win and a Stars loss, that gives them the NE Division and a possible bye if both Tampa Bay and New Orleans lose.  Conference records are a key tiebreaker and Baltimore trails both so they really want to get a game up on the Breakers and Bandits.  A loss and they could drop as far as the 6 seed.   CHARLOTTE: A Win and a Bandit loss and Charlotte is your SE Division champ.  If not, then a road Wild Card game seems in the mix.   ATLANTA: The Fire would need a lot of help to steal the SE Division.  We see them as a Wild Card, but losses by Charlotte and Baltimore could at least get them a home opener in the Wild Card round.   TEXAS:  From a nearly guaranteed division title to now playing for their playoff lives.  Texas is only ½ game up on Arizona.  If they lose and the Wranglers win, they drop down to the Wild Card round, which is absolutely what they do not want.  They need that extra week to get Joe Flacco back. But if Kyle Boller can come through and get them the win against Birmingham (Boller’s former team), then Texas is golden, King of the Western Conference mountain.   OAKLAND:  The Invaders have the tiebreaker over Las Vegas, so a win means they win the division and the 2 seed, with its automatic bye. A loss and all bets are off.  They could even drop all the way out of the playoff picture if Michigan, Houston, Las Vegas and Ohio all win.   MICHIGAN: A win and the Centra is theirs.  A loss and an Ohio win and they are in trouble. Like Oakland, they could drop all the way out.  Best to stay positive.  A win with Oakland and Las Vegas losses and Michigan is the 2 seed.   ARIZONA: From a 4-4 start to a potential 1 seed in the West.  That is quite a late season run. But the situation is basic.  Win next week, get help from the Stallions with an upset of Texas and the Western playoffs will run through the desert.   HOUSTON: Win & In. That’s the mantra.  The winner of the Gold-Gambler game is assured a spot, the loser is likely out.  Harsh but fair.   DENVER: Same story, win & in, lose and you are at great risk of sitting home in 2 weeks.   LAS VEGAS:   Best case scenario is a win over Dallas and an Oakland loss. That gives the Thunder the title in their last season in Sin City. A loss and they are almost certainly out of the postseason again.   OHIO: Another pretty simple one.  Beat Arizona in Arizona and get help from St. Louis (beating Michigan) and Ohio jumps back to the top of the Central Division, with a shot at a bye if Oakland and Las Vegas both lose.  Did we say simple?  Beating Arizona in Arizona is anything but simple.   Following several absolutely brutal weeks of injuries to key performers and top stars, we finally get a week with no new IR additions and only a pair of minor injuries (both concussions).  This is exactly what the league needed as it prepares for its final week and then the playoffs, some belief that teams will be in good shape and healthy for the postseason.  After losing so many big names—Culpepper, Flacco, Stewart, and Kelsay just in the last week, we needed a week like this one.   OUT SS           Michael Mitchell       TBY        Concussion       1-2 Weeks LB           Nate Irving                NSH      Concussion       1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL CB          Dunta Robinson       PIT         Back FS           Matt Elam               JAX         Knee C             Chris Spencer        NOR      Concussion   QUESTIONABLE DT          Ego Ferguson         ORL       Toe DE          Justin Smith               OAK      Abdomen QB         Adrian McPherson    JAX         Shoulder FS           Jairus Byrd                PHI        Shoulder   Five Coordinators Who Could be Head Coaches by 2015. As we get closer and closer to the end of the season, we also sidle up to Black Monday, when we expect several positions to open up as Head Coaches who have not produced are let go.  And while there are certainly many viable candidates for those newly-vacated positions, we know that a coordinator can rocket up the list with some good years under his belt.  So, who are the hot prospects among USFL coordinators?  We have picked 5.   Sean McDermott: DC-Michigan Jim Johnson gets a lot of the credit for the revival of defense in Michigan, but his DC, Sean McDermott is also being recognized as a key acolyte of Johnson’s philosophy and as an excellent defensive playcaller.  Will he get a shot to break out on his own after following Johnson from Nashville to Michigan?   Pep Hamilton: OC Baltimore One year does not a career make, but the explosive gains in Baltimore’s offense make for quite a one-year resume.  Yes, Jim Caldwell is the main man, but the offense is Hamilton’s and it has turned Darrius Heyward-Bey from a draft bust into perhaps the breakout player of the game.  Big Ben has never looked better, and the Blitz have a run game that does not have a star but still works like clockwork.  There are plenty of teams that would love that kind of turnaround with a new coach.   Rick Dennison: OC Houston Another club with a surprising offensive output, the Houston Gamblers have two rookies looking like MVP candidates and a veteran QB looking as good as he ever has. With Wade Philips clearly on the defensive side, the kudos are going to his OC, Dennison, and deservedly so.   Ernest Givens: OC New Orleans That’s right, the USFL Hall of Fame WR and former Stallion great is getting a lot of kudos for the work he is doing in New Orleans under Lamar Lathon.  Givens is only in his 2nd year as an OC after working his way up as a position coach, but the Breakers are proving to be a dynamic offense under his tutelage, especially the receiver group, with Early Doucet likely an All-USFL selection this year and very solid production from up and comer Kenny Britt.    Chuck Cecil: DC Los Angeles Why would a defensive coordinator from a 5-10, fifth place Express team be getting looks?  One number tells the story, 41 takeaways, the league’s best.  Believe it or not Andy Reid’s team is actually in the Top 10 in scoring defense, and they lead the league in takeaways.  Cecil is getting a lot of credit for that.  The hardnosed former NFL safety is a no-nonsense taskmaster with his defense and there are plenty of teams who need the discipline, grit, and aggressiveness he has fostered in the Express D.   Adidas Announces 4 Teams for 2016 Redesign As fans have already started snapping up new jerseys from the Generals, Machine, Stags, and the new San Diego and Las Vegas Vipers gear, the league and Adidas are already moving on to their next round of design updates.  This week Adidas announced that 4 USFL squads will be getting an update in 2016.  As we have seen in past years, some may just be tweaks, retaining much of the current look and all the current logos.  Others may see new wordmarks, secondaries, and even occasionally a more dramatic transformation.  So, who will the teams be that get a new coat of paint?    Adidas announced that Seattle, Charlotte, Denver and Ohio will be getting updates.  This will be the first refresh for the Monarchs since they arrived in the league in 2008.  Seattle was last updated in 2010, so there must be some desire within ownership to go in a new direction.  Ohio was last updated in 2010 as well, and while we don’t expect them to move away from their updated logo, we do think they may try to recapture some of the magic of the early 2000’s with their refresh.  Denver is the final club in the group. They had their last refresh in 2009, so they too have a relatively recent look.  That said, the Gold are a team with a long history and a lot of nostalgia.  Could we be seeing a return to the starburst logo or will the “Pick-D” remain the primary in the Mile High City.    We will get our answers during the 2015 season, with all looks revealed in time to have playoff teams wear the new look when they take the field, something we won’t see this year as the only newly-redesigned team in playoff position are the Thunder and no one believes that trotting out new San Diego uniforms would be a good idea for the team’s final action as the Las Vegas Thunder.   USFL’s Greatest Rivalries:  Memphis v. Birmingham There is just something about rivalry football in the South.  Whether it is Alabama-Auburn, Florida-Georgia, or the Stallions and the Showboats, there is just a different vibe to it. Maybe it is the tailgating, where rival fans can go head to head over some barbecue.  Maybe it is the heat and humidity.  Or maybe it is just that the South loves its football and loves to get into it with a rival.  Whatever the reason, the twice annual duel between Memphis and Birmingham is always a party and always a good game.  Even when both teams are not at their best the fans come out in droves and the action on the field is always intense.   The two have been duking it out for Southern Pride ever since Memphis joined the league a year after the Stallions in 1987.  They have played each other 64 times, including two Memphis playoff wins.  The Showboats trail in the overall 30-34, but with both clubs having won titles, the debate over who is the top dog is a fierce one. The arrival of Brett Favre as a Showboat after winning a title as the Stallion QB only stoked the fires between these two big fanbases.  Winning Memphis a second John Bassett trophy in 2007 only made the enmity between the two teams even more heated.  Not that it needed any more heat.  This is one of the best pro sports atmospheres in the country and a game that every USFL fan should try to attend at least once, even if both squads are not at their best right now.   Let’s get right to each matchup on this specially scheduled Week 16, because there is a lot on the line in a lot of these games.   SAT @ 12pm                      Philadelphia (12-3) @ Washington (7-8)              ABC A win and the Stars are the top seed in the East.  A loss and they could drop to a 4 seed.   SAT @ 12pm                      Baltimore (11-4) @ Nashville (3-12)                       FOX Regional Baltimore needs a win and a Stars loss to take the NE Division and the East’s top seed.   SAT @ 12pm                      New Jersey (5-10) @ New Orleans (11-4)            FOX Regional New Orleans is locked in and may be one of very few teams to rest their starters.   SAT @ 4pm                        Seattle (6-9) @ Oakland (9-6)                                   ABC Regional Oakland wins the Pacific Division with a win against the Dragons.   SAT @4pm                         Las Vegas (9-6) @ Dallas (4-11)                               ABC Regional If Seattle upsets Oakland, the Thunder can finish their run in Vegas as a Division Winner.   SAT @4pm                         Pittsburgh (5-10) @ Memphis (5-10)                      FOX This game has only pride on the line as two 10-loss teams face off.   SAT @ 8pm                        St. Louis (4-11) @ Michigan (9-6)                            NBC Michigan locks up the Central Division and a bye week with a win.   SUN @ 12pm                    Charlotte (10-5) @ Atlanta (10-5)                            FOX Regional The winner of this game has a slim chance to host a Wild Card game instead of being on the road.   SUN @ 12pm                    Orlando (8-7) @ Tampa Bay (11-4)                          FOX Regional The Bandits need to avoid losing and possibly slipping out of a bye or even the Division title.   SUN @ 12pm                    Chicago (5-10) @ Jacksonville (0-15)                     ABC Will the Bulls pull this one out and avoid a winless season?    SUN @ 4pm                      Portland (6-9) @ Los Angeles (5-10)                       ABC Regional Two teams that underperformed now playing for pride in a game that few will attend.   SUN @ 4pm                      Texas (10-4-1) @ Birmingham (7-8)                        ABC Regional The Outlaws need this win to lock up the SW Division and the West’s top seed.   SUN @ 4pm                      Ohio (8-6-1) @ Arizona (10-5)                                    FOX If Texas Falters, Arizona has a real shot to repeat as the West’s top seed, which no one else wants.   SUN @ 8pm                      Houston (9-5-1) @ Denver (9-5-1)                           ESPN/EFL A playoff spot could be on the line, depending on what happens with Ohio and Las Vegas.  No guarantee that either make the postseason so a win here is vital.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Memphis has not had much to celebrate this year, but we are going to celebrate a strong Week 15 effort from Showboat LB NaVorro Bowman, who did a little bit of everything this week, recording a sack, picking off a ball and returning it for 6 in the Showboats' surprise win this week. Bowman has been playing hard every week and finally gets a W thanks in large part to his efforts. PLAYOFF PICTURE: Week 15 may have shaken up things around the league in some ways, but the playoff picture was not one of them. Only 1 change has been recorded after the league's penultimate week, with Arizona clinching a spot in the playoffs. All three division titles in the West, and 2 more in the East will go to the final week to decide. We also still have 6 teams vying for 4 playoff spots in the West, with Las Vegas and Ohio still in the mix, though both will need some help to overtake Oakland and Michigan. Seattle is the only club to be added to the list of eliminated teams, as their loss this week removes any chance that they could catch the Invaders and Thunder.

Week 14 saw some huge performances, tight games, tough losses, and big wins.  It saw the first club in the West lock up a  playoff spot, to no one’s surprise Texas took that honor, and it saw the Eastern playoff lineup secured, with the final two spots locked up by two Southeastern clubs, Charlotte and Atlanta. It saw a 562-yard passing effort in our overtime GOTW, but it also saw two injuries that could have devastating effects as both Daunte Culpepper and Joe Flacco were unable to finish their games.  Tampa Bay received the devastating news that a full MCL tear would mean the end of action for their MVP candidate QB, while Texas got word that their MVP quarterback would likely miss both of the two final games, potentially putting the Outlaws at risk of losing not only the top seed in the West, but the division title that had seemed to be theirs all season long.  A lot to cover on this action-packed, and season-altering Week 14, so let’s get right to it.   BALTIMORE BLITZ 41    SEATTLE DRAGONS 35   OVERTIME One of the great aspects of the final month of the USFL season is that a game that has little history in its matchup of teams, where both teams are not only in different divisions, but different conferences, and where they play each other very rarely, can take on huge implications for the playoffs and bring out playoff-like intensity.  That was absolutely the case this weekend when the Baltimore Blitz flew across the country for a rare matchup against the Seattle Dragons. Seattle, a team not expected to do much this year, had played themselves into contention for a playoff spot, thanks in large part to a 3-game winning streak, but needed to maintain momentum to have a chance.  Baltimore, a team picked to finish last in its division, had outperformed all expectations and were on the verge of not only winning the division but having a shot at the top seed.  For both clubs, a win in this inter-conference matchup was essential if they hoped to fulfill the promise this season had provided, and they played like the game was absolutely do or die.   The game saw the two teams combine for over 1,000 yards, 76 points, and 40 first downs.  Both quarterbacks were at their best with Ben Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich combining for over 900 passing yards in an incredible display of aerial innovations.  Five different receivers went over 100 yards in the game, including 4 just on the Blitz roster alone.  It was, by all accounts, the shootout of the year.  And yet it began slowly, as so many games between unfamiliar opponents do.   Both Baltimore and Seattle began the game a bit cautiously, with short drives leading to punts.  But, Seattle, on their second drive, found some room in the Blitz’s zone schemes, moved the ball well on first down, creating shorter 2nd and 3rd downs and converted 3 third downs on the drive, leading to the game’s first score as Leftwich found Kevin Kasper from 7-yards out to put Seattle up nearing the end of the quarter.   That first score seemed to open up the game, as Baltimore too started to take more risks.  The Blitz, realizing that the run game was struggling on early downs, started to call more first down passes, and finding success in the air, largely gave up on the run, providing Anthony Dixon with only 12 carries on the day, while Ben Roethlisberger would have 45 pass attempts, many of them medium and deep throws.  Baltimore’s shift to a pass-first offense had immediate effects as the Blitz scored on their first drive of the 2nd quarter, a 12-yard seam route to Antonio Gates, one of 7 catches the TE would have on the day.    Seattle responded with their own long drive, one that took nearly 7 minutes and regained the lead for the Dragons just before the half.  A goalline sprint out led to a 2-yard TD toss from Leftwich to Mike Wallace and the Dragons went into the half up 14-7.  So, only 21 total points scored in the first 30 minutes, not at all a harbinger to the 49 points we would see in the 2nd half as both teams went back and forth down the field in what could be seen as a failure of both defenses, or as an intense game of chess with the offenses simply finding more opportunities to strike.   Baltimore began the second half and found the equalizer in the form of a 30-yard strike to the break out star of the season, Darrius Heyward-Bey. It would be one of 9 catches and 2 TDs on the day for DHB, who shared the spotlight with 3 other 100-yard receivers on the Blitz this day (Gates, Walker, and Hartline also went for a century.)  Just 3 minutes later, Seattle would again take the lead on a beautiful deep ball to Mike Wallace for his 2nd score on the day, a 54-yard strike that had the crowd on their feet.    But Baltimore did not get to 10-3 by folding when challenged.  They responded immediately, with a drive that took only 5 plays (all passes) and concluded with Big Ben finding slot receiver Roscoe Parrish for a 10-yard strike to again even the score.  A rare turnover (there were only 2 in the game) by Seattle, a strip-fumble of C. J. Anderson, gave Baltimore the ball back almost immediately, and the Blitz struck again, using a deep ball to Hartline to get the ball to the 7, and then fooling Seattle with a draw play to Dixon that put the ball in the endzone.  The 3rd quarter ended with this score, the 4th TD of the period, and the one that put Baltimore up 28-21.    The Blitz would extend that lead early in the 4th, as Seattle pressed and Byron Leftwich made an error in judgement which led to a pick by Baltimore’s Eric Weddle.  The second turnover of the game gave Baltimore a chance to go up by 14, and they did just that, with Big Ben connecting with Darrius Heyward-Bey for his second score of the game.  It felt very much like the Blitz had stolen all of Seattle’s momentum and energy, but only to the fans and viewers, to the Dragons themselves, this game was far from over.   Seattle rallied, and on their next possession, they halved the Baltimore lead, going on a 10-play drive that ended with Leftwich finding his big TE, Dennis Pitta from 6 yards out to pull within 7.  With 8 minutes left, it was a 7point game.  Baltimore would try to switch to a bit more of a run game to kill more clock, but this proved a poor choice, as Seattle’s front 7 limited Dixon to only 6 yards on 4 carries, causing the Blitz to have to punt after only garnering one first down on their drive.  Seattle got the ball back, with nearly 5 minutes to play still on the clock, and they wasted no time getting back into the action.    Cadillac Williams had his best run of the day, a 17-yarder on the Dragons’ first play, and Seattle used the threat of a protracted 4-minute drill to lure Baltimore into dedicating more attention to the run game, a ploy which eventually led to Seattle’s biggest play of the game, a fake to Williams and a deep ball to Nate Burleson that produced the tying score.  Baltimore sent safety Eric Weddle on a blitz to disrupt the run on a 2nd and 2, but Leftwich evaded the initial rush and found Burleson in single coverage.  He dropped the ball in perfectly and Burleson did the rest, racing for a 47-yard touchdown that tied the score at 45 with just 1:20 left to go.   Baltimore would have time to get into field goal range to end the game.  Big Ben connected on 4 consecutive passes on the Blitz drive, getting the ball down to the Seattle 20 with time to set up a Nick Folk kick.  The pressure was on the Baltimore kicker, having missed from 47 and from only 28 earlier in the game, Folk was feeling the yips, so Baltimore tried on 1st down to get him closer, throwing the ball down to the 10, but it was broken up by CB Richard Sherman.  On 2nd down and with time winding down, they used a Kerwynn Williams dive play to get the ball centered, and brought out Folk on third and 9 with 11 seconds left on the clock to kick the game winner.   Folks’ yips were real and the ball sliced to the left, just outside the goalposts.  Baltimore’s hopes for a last second game-winner were dashed and the shootout would go to overtime.  Seattle would get the ball first and Byron Leftwich would lead the Dragons down to the Baltimore 29 in 7 plays, including a brilliant one-handed catch by Burleson on the sideline.  But, now it was time for their kicker, Dave Rayner to have his own struggles.  The 46-yard attempt sailed far to the right and Seattle gave the ball up to Baltimore on their own 36.    The Blitz would not try another kick.  Instead they would push the ball down the field, again a drive with no rush attempts as Big Ben was now over 500 yards passing.  Strikes to Walker, Gates, and DHB got them closer and closer, a shot to Hartline looked like it might be the winning score, but the receiver was mugged in the endzone before the ball arrived, producing a pass interference call that placed the ball on the 1 and gave Baltimore the ability to take the win with one successful play from in close.     The Blitz got that play, a dive over the pile by Williams to end the game with a final score of Blitz 41 and Dragons 35.  Ben Roethlisberger would be recognized as the POTG with a 33 of 45 day that produced 562 yards passing and 4 touchdowns.  Leftwich would finish with 365 yards and 5 scoring tosses in a game we hated to see end, one of the best offensive shows of the year. HOUSTON 36    ST. LOUIS 14 Tajh Boyd struggled and was even pulled for a portion of the game as Seneca Wallace saw his first action in 2 years, but Houston had this game in hand from the start, and a 26-0 scoring run assured the win fo the Gamblers.  Carlos Hyde went over 100 yards again, taking over the league rushing lead, and Matt Hasselbeck hit 8 different receivers on a 23 of 37 passing day. POTG:  Gambler FS Willie Anderson: 1 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 Int, 1 Sfty, 1 FF   OAKLAND 26   NEW JERSEY 16 The Invaders took the cross-country trip and got the W they needed to get back in the hunt for the Pacific title.  The Invader D sacked Sam Bradford 5 times and the offense got scoring tosses to Zack Ertz and Pierre Garçon to knock off New Jersey and move back into a tie for first place with the Thunder. POTG:  Invader LB Bobby Wagner: 8 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR   OHIO 31    CHICAGO 14 Ohio stayed alive in the Central Division and the hunt for a playoff spot with a road win in Chicago.  Chris Weinke had himself a game, going 23 of 32 for 311 yards and 4 TDs to power the Glory to the W.  The Glory defense held Chicago to 2 of 14 on third down and sacked Brady Quinn 6 times on their way to the divisional win. POTG:  Glory QB Chris Weinke: 23/32, 311 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int   MEMPHIS 28    TEXAS 45 A costly win for the Outlaws as Joe Flacco went down in the 3rd quarter.  Kyle Boller took over and tossed 2 touchdowns to help Texas outpace the Showboats, but now all eyes turn to Boller as he will have to lead the Outlaws for the next two weeks.  Chris Johnson had a great game for the Outlaws, rushing for 135 and a score to help Boller keep Memphis at bay. POTG:  Outlaw HB Chris Johnson: 20 Att, 135 Yds, 1 TD   DALLAS 20   DENVER 27 Dallas mounts a late comeback to make it close, but the Gold hold on to win their 8th of the year. Rashad Mendenhall rushed for 108 for the Roughnecks, but Matt Leinart connected with 3 different receivers on scoring tosses to help Denver get the win.  Denver wins despite losing both the yardage battle (360-308) and time of possession (32:43-27:17) to the Roughnecks. POTG:  Denver LB Shaquille Barrett: 7 Tck, 1 Sck, 2 FF   CHARLOTTE 12    NEW ORLEANS 23 The Breakers stop the Charlotte win streak at 7 games, thanks to a defense that held the visitors to only 229 total yards and held them without a converted third down all game.  On offense, the story was Kenny Britt, who had his first 100-yard game of the season, catching 6 balls for 113 and a touchdown to help power New Orleans to a win and an 11-3 record. POTG:  Breaker WR Kenny Britt: 6 Rec, 113 Yds, 1 TD   LAS VEGAS 6   PORTLAND 35 A bad loss for the Thunder, not just on the field, but in the standings as well, with Oakland’s win producing a tie atop the Pacific Division.  Las Vegas could not protect Plummer, who was sacked 6 times and hurried on almost every pass attempt.  Ryan Fitzpatrick had a much easier day, sacked only once and able to complete 24 of 29 with 3 TDs to lead Portland to the upset. POTG:  DT Atiyyah Ellison: 4 Tck, 3 Sck, 2 FF, 2 FR   ATLANTA 30    JACKSONVILLE 6 The Fire take care of business against the hapless Bulls, who are now two games away from total ignominy.  Jackson and Lattimore combined for 129 yards, but it was WR Josh Reed who had the game of the season, catching 7 balls for 189 yards and a TD against an overmatched and, quite frankly, spiritless Bulls defense. POTG:  Fire WR Josh Reed: 7 Rec, 189 Yds, 1 TD.   TAMPA BAY 20   BIRMINGHAM 24 A truly horrible day for the Bandits and their fans. Not only do they go down to defeat in Birmingham, costing them the top seed in the East at present, but they also lose QB Daunte Culpepper for the rest of the season and the playoffs with a torn MCL.  Ryan Lindley will have to take the reins for the Bandits moving forward. Despite the win and a nice 3-TD day from Cam Newton, the Stallions, now 7-7, were eliminated from playoff contention, but may have dealt the Bandits a deadly blow along the way. POTG:  Stallion LB Nate Webster: 5 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF WASHINGTON 35   PITTSBURGH 17 The Feds and Maulers play for pride and Washington gets a healthy win thanks to 136 yards from the ageless Deuce McCallister.  Both David Garrard and Joe Webb saw action in a move that may be designed to stoke the trade value of the Washington backup.  Rumors are that Webb could be on the trading block and there is no shortage of teams that would have interest.  POTG:  Feds HB Deuce McCallister: 19 Att, 136 Yds   ORLANDO 10   MICHIGAN 20 Orlando drops out of playoff contention while Michigan comes close to locking up the Central Division as they double up the Renegades for win number 9. LeVeon Bell had a good game, and the Panthers limited Orlando to only 2 sacks of Kirk Cousins as Michigan shut down Russell Wilson and the now-anemic Orlando run game. POTG:  Panther HB LeVeon Bell: 19 Att, 114 Yds, 1 TD, 3 Rec, 30 Yds, 1 TD   NASHVILLE 0   ARIZONA 27 Cody Pickett may not be the long term answer for Nashville.  The Knight QB struggled and seemed flustered by the Wrangler D, throwing 2 picks and sacked 3 times as the Knights could not mount any type of offense against Arizona.  The Wranglers held Nashville to 206 total yards, while getting scores from Antonio Bryant and James Casey. CB Joe Haden added a third on a pick six and the route was on. POTG:  Wrangler corner Joe Haden: 4 Tck, 2 Int, 1 Def TD   LOS ANGELES 6   PHILADELPHIA 26 Aaron Murray continues to struggle for Andy Reid and the Express again fail to mount much offense as Philadelphia dominates with LA garnering only 122 total yards on a sad outing for the Express.  Philadelphia was happy to slow down the game, use the run game to control the clock and protect Matt Gutierrez in a game that never felt competitive. POTG:  Philadelphia LB Sean Lee: 3 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 Sfty   Culpepper Lost to Injury, Can Bandits Still Compete for a Title? This is exactly what a team dreads down the stretch.  Looking great, locked up a playoff spot, playing for home field advantage, and a relatively meaningless game against a team you expect to beat turns into not only an upset loss but costs you one of your star players.  Daunte Culpepper, who was having an MVP candidate season with nearly 3,500 yards and 27 TD passes is lost for the season, including your postseason run.    The devastating play happened early in the game, just as the 2nd quarter was beginning.  Culpepper took the snap from under center, looking to his right to try to connect with Vincent Jackson, but the left tackle whiffed on his block of Derreck Harvey, and the big man hit Culpepper full on. As the QB fell to the ground, his leg got caught under the big DE and bent awkwardly.  Culpepper knew immediately that something was wrong.  He tried to get to his feet but could not.  Helped to the sideline by his teammates, he was quickly carted off to the locker room.  Later that day an MRI would reveal the issue, a full MCL tear.  Culpepper, with a partial tear, could wear a brace and hope to play in a few weeks, but this was a full tear, meaning surgery was required and a long PT recovery leading well into the winter.  The potential MVP’s season would be lost for the rest of the season.   The injury means that Tampa Bay, which for most of the year has looked like a clear Summer Bowl favorite, is now going to have to find a way to win without their QB.  Ryan Lindley, the 3rd year backup who has appeared in only 6 games (mostly mop-up duty) since coming to the Bandits from San Diego in the 2012 draft will have to step up.  Lindley will have help.  The Bandit defense has morphed from an afterthought to one of the league’s best, currently ranked 4th in scoring and 7th in yards allowed.  Lindley could also get help from the run game, as not only has Rex Burkhead looked strong in the past month, but season starter Jahvid Best is expected back from injury next week.    Tampa Bay will need to adjust their strategy going forward, and while we still expect plays to target Vincent Jackson and Santonio Holmes, we don’t think we will see the same vertical game with Lindley that teams had feared with Culpepper under center.  Tampa Bay has Dallas this week, and Orlando the next, and with both those clubs out of the playoff running, their path to the top seed is not as tough as for others, but even with the extra week of rest, the Bandits will need to do some reinventing with Culpepper out of action.   Flacco to Miss Season’s Final 2 Weeks Another scary moment in another game as Joe Flacco also went down in Texas’s game against the Showboats.  Flacco also got rolled onto by a defender, and also hobbled to the sideline, and while the timing of his absence is not good, the verdict that he has a slight fracture in a small bone in his mid-foot is a far better result than what we saw in Culpepper’s case.  The verdict is that Flacco should sit out this week’s game, could potentially play in Week 16, though that seems doubtful, but would certainly be ready for a divisional  playoff game.    That timeline puts pressure on the Outlaws to take the next two games and secure the top seed in the West.  Doing so would mean a bye week in the Wild Card round and a very good chance that their first playoff game will see Flacco up and ready to roll.  Loss one or both of the season’s final games and Texas could drop below the Panthers, which would not cost them the bye but could mean they lose homefield advantage.  Even worse, if they lose both and the Wranglers win out, then Texas would be a Wild Card team and would very likely have to go into the playoffs with a backup at the helm.   That backup is former Birmingham starter Kyle Boller.  Boller started 25 games for Birmingham in 2009 and 2010, but then left for New Orleans, where he only saw action in 5 games over 3 years.  He came to Texas this offseason as the backup for Flacco, and now the Cal product is going to be on call for the two final games for Texas, including a huge game against Arizona this week before finishing the season at Birmingham in a game that could decide if the Outlaws need to suit up for Wild Card weekend.   Orlando a Victim of Tie Breakers They cannot blame anyone but themselves, because while the 7-4 Renegades were right in the mix of the playoff hunt, a 3-game losing streak, including a bad loss to a 5-9 Mauler squad, has wiped Orlando from the Wild Card hunt.  The Renegades were official ousted this week when a study of the tie-breakers showed that their poorer divisional record made it impossible even with 2 wins in the final 2 weeks, to overcome Charlotte’s 2-game advantage.  If the two were to tie, Orlando would still be out, due to their current 2-4 division record compared to Charlotte’s 5-1 mark.  Even with 2 division wins, they finish at 4-4, while Charlotte with 2 losses would still be 5-3 in division, so the tiebreaker stays with the Monarchs.    Orlando faces Atlanta and Tampa Bay over their final two games, and while they can no longer hope for a postseason appearance, they can play spoiler, sending both the Fire and the Bandits to potentially tougher playoff trajectories by knocking off their divisional and regional foes.   Could SW Division Really Put 4 Teams in Postseason? That seems very possible at present, with Texas currently occupying the conference’s top seed and Arizona, Houston, and Denver all sitting in playoff position.  Thanks to the ties that have occurred for the Gamblers and Gold, they sit a half/game up on Las Vegas and a full game up on Ohio for the Wild Card spot.  Now, they cannot afford to go 0-2 down the stretch, but if they can win out, we could well see 4 of 5 teams from the same division in the playoffs and all three Wild Cards held by the SW Division.     Of course, Las Vegas, Ohio, and even Seattle are still mathematically alive, and with Oakland sitting at only 8-6, we could see the Invaders drop from the playoff picture even if all three SW teams get in, but right now the best hopes for the Thunder, Dragons, and particularly the Ohio Glory is for each club to finish with a 2-0 streak and hope that one or more of the Southwest teams falters down the stretch.   With Arizona headed to Texas this week, and Houston facing Denver at Invesco in Week 16, there is a chance, but as of right now the odds are still in favor of the SW Division being a major player in the Western Conference Playoffs in 3 weeks.   Week 14 locked up the East and finally got us our first ensured spot in the West.  We now know that the Eastern Conference playoffs will consist of the Blitz, Bandits, Breakers, Stars, Fire and Monarchs.  We don’t know the seeding yet, with 4 teams all sitting at 11-3, but we know which six teams will be vying for a title.  As of Week 14, we have Baltimore as the top seed, but they face Philadelphia in a game that could decide both the NE Division and the top seed.  Tampa Bay is also 11-3, but now has a lot of questions with Daunte Culpepper’s season shuttered.  The Wild Card in all of this are the New Orleans Breakers, winners of 6 in a row, and finishing up their season with a pretty cushy pair of games, at Memphis and then home to the New Jersey Generals.  If they can go 2-0, they may just jump over the other division winners and snag an unanticipated 1 seed.   In the West, Texas locked up the first of the conference’s playoff spots with their 10-3-1 record.  If they can defeat Arizona this week, a game they will play without Joe Flacco, they would not only lock up the SW Division, but also the top seed in the West.  Lose and they could face a serious challenge form both Arizona (for the division) and the Michigan Panthers (for the top seed).  The Gamblers, Gold and Invaders currently fill out the Western playoff group, but Oakland is still potentially in trouble with Las Vegas, and even Seattle, on their heels for the Division, while losses by either the Gold or Gamblers could provide a window for the Ohio Glory to get back into position for a Wild Card berth.  The weeks’ results now mean that we have 13 eliminated teams.  We also know that Jacksonville, to no one’s surprise, has locked up the 1st overall pick in the 2015 USFL Open Draft.  With losses this week Ohio and Seattle could soon be joining the list, but with wins, their chances still remain alive.   A bad week for several playoff contenders as we saw not only Flacco and Culpepper sidelined, but Atlanta will also head into the playoffs without their star edge rusher Chris Kelsay, who went down with a back injury. Add to that the loss of Patrick Robinson for the Gold and this is truly an impactful weekend of injuries across the league. All this and we have not even mentioned Jonathan Stewart now lost for the Stags' final two games and unable to compete for the league rush title after leading the rankings for much of the year, and this was certainly a week to concern the league.   OUT WR         D’Juan Woods                CHI        Neck                     IR DE          Chris Kelsay                       ATL         Back                     IR QB         Daunte Culpepper           TBY        MCL                      IR CB          Patrick Robinson               DEN      Leg                        IR CB          Devin McCourty              NJ           Shoulder             IR HB          Jonathan Stewart              POR      Wrist                     2-4 Weeks G            Max Jean-Gilles               NSH      Hip                        1-2 Weeks QB         Joe Flacco                        TEX        Foot                      1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL HB          Cedric Benson            BAL        Shoulder WR         Johnny Knox                   JAX         Concussion LB           DeMeco Ryans                BIR         Foot CB          Darius Slay                        ATL         Foot   QUESTIONABLE LB           Buster Davis                  PIT         Hip CB          Morris Claiborne                WSH     Hand DE          Dwight Freeney                 PIT         Toe QB         David Garrard                  WSH     Hamstring CB          Ashton Youboty                OHI       Back   Las Vegas Sportsbooks Adjust Odds After Culpepper & Flacco Injuries Never wanting to be caught napping, the various sports books in Vegas were quick to adjust their Summer Bowl odds following the injuries to both Joe Flacco and Daunte Culpepper.  Confidence in both Texas and Tampa Bay to hold onto the top seed in each conference withered first, and then the Summer Bowl odds followed.  Tampa Bay went from a 4-1 favorite to a drop down to 7-2, falling below all three fellow 11-3 teams. The current odds in nearly every book have New Orleans as the favorite, with Baltimore only slightly behind them and Philadelphia still slightly ahead of the Bandits.  Charlotte, despite currently sitting in 6th place, is still favored over Atlanta, but both clubs remain quite a bit behind the cluster of 11-3 clubs.   In the West, Texas had been a 4-1 favorite, but now slips to 6-1, second to Michigan in the rankings.  A loss this week to Arizona and we would expect the Wranglers to suddenly make a move and possibly unseat Michigan as the favorite in the west.  After, all these are the defending USFL champions and the Wranglers have won 5 of their last six, most in impressive fashion.  Of the teams currently not in playoff position, Las Vegas is given the best odds, with many expecting them to overtake Oakland in the season’s final weeks.  Ohio is seen as a slim 20-1 to surpass Michigan and claim the Central, while Seattle is seen as a 100-1 shot to take the Pacific at 8-8, largely because they require both Oakland and Las Vegas to lose out in order to avoid elimination.   A Sneak Peak at the Top 10 Prospects for the 2015 Draft With 13 teams already ousted from playoff contention, and forced to start looking at next year, it may be time to start scouting the 2015 draft.  We will likely have a bit of movement in the rankings as the 2014 college season progresses, but for now, we have 10 names on our list as potentially big targets for USFL teams and their player personnel staffs. As always, the T-draft will be huge as nearly all top prospects tend to come from protected schools, but as we have seen time and time again, if need does not align with players in the T-Draft teams are more than willing to either pass on a top prospect in a position of low need, or to trade away their T-Draft selection to another team willing to give up precious Open Draft picks.   That said, here are the 10 players we expect will get the most attention in the upcoming college season:  QB Marcus Mariota-OREGON Territorial pick of the Portland Stags With Portland clearly unsatisfied with another losing season and with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, we could easily see Mariota being a top target for the Stags. They thought they had a prospect in Penn State QB Matt McGloin, but poor play and a still-mysterious personal issue cost McGloin the starting job and now we think Portland may fixate on Mariota as a local hero who could elevate the 2008 expansion club in what is a weak Pacific Division.    QB Jameis Winston-FLORIDA STATE Territorial Pick of the Tampa Bay Bandits We don’t see the Bandits pursuing Winston unless, and this is always possible, Daunte Culpepper were to announce his retirement.  Honestly, the injury to Culpepper may actually decrease the chances that he retires after this year.  No player wants to go out with the memory of an injury costing him a shot at playoff glory as his final pro experience.  If Culpepper returns, which we think is likely, then that means the Bandits may be open to trade offers.  The one team that likely should give up on that hope is Jacksonville, who would do well to land a QB like Winston, but with whom the Bandits would never make a deal.   WR Amari Cooper-ALABAMA Territorial Pick of the Birmingham Stallions Talk about a perfect fit!  The Stallions need weapons for Cam Newton, and the Crimson Tide can provide them.  We would be shocked if the Stallions did not use two of their three T-Draft picks on Cooper and on HB T. J. Yeldon.  That combo would be absolute dynamite for a Stallion club that has been on the cusp but unable to turn the corner over the past few years, despite Cam Newton’s talent.   OT Brandon Scherff—IOWA Territorial Pick of the St. Louis Skyhawks. With Bryan Bulaga firmly locked in at LT, the question becomes whether St. Louis would pursue Scherff to be a RT and if so, would Scherff go to a team that does not want him on the more lucrative and desirable left side.  If Scherff sends a message that he expects to be a left tackle in either the NFL or USFL, St. Louis may just address other areas and let the big Hawkeye drift into the Open Draft.    DE Donte Fowler—FLORIDA Territorial Pick of the Jacksonville Bulls The Bulls need a lot of help, but DE does not seem like the position of most need.  We could easily picture Jacksonville entertaining offers for their T-Draft pick so that they can focus on rebuilding their offense, linebacker group, and secondary.  Let’s face it, they need more picks, not one big pick to make themselves relevant again.  That may be good news for Fowler, who would likely not be too happy to head to a potentially 0-16 Bulls squad.   HB Todd Gurley—GEORGIA Territorial Pick of the Atlanta Fire If the Fire go after Gurley it will be a bit of a luxury pick.  With Steven Jackson and Marcus Lattimore already providing Atlanta with a very solid 1-2 punch at halfback, they really don’t need to spend the big money it would take to sign Gurley.  We see the Bulldog back as a very likely top overall pick in the Open Draft unless someone jumps in and offers the Fire some solid draft choices to nab him in the T-Draft first.   DE Leonard Williams—USC Territorial Pick of the LA Express The Express need help on both sides of the ball, but we think the biggest issue for Andy Reid is that he does not yet have a QB he trusts to run his offense.  If he is eager to land a QB, he could try to make a deal with Tampa Bay, one that would allow the Bandits to pursue Williams while LA went after Jameis Winston.  That may be a bit of a far-fetched scenario, but we just don’t see LA spending big on a DE when their coach is so focused on his legacy as an offensive mastermind.   HB Melvin Gordon—WISCONSIN Unprotected in Territorial Draft The shifting of the T-Draft this year had the surprising effect of leaving Wisconsin as an unclaimed school, which makes Melvin Gordon the absolute top commodity of the known unprotected players.  Gordon will possibly be competing with Todd Gurley to be the top pick.  Honestly, Jacksonville, who is guaranteed the top pick in the Open Draft, will be happy to land either one, so the scouting this season could be huge for the Bulls.  CB Trae Waynes—MICHIGAN STATE Territorial Pick of the Michigan Panthers We could see the Panthers try to land Waynes as a counterpart to Dre Kirkpatrick, especially if Deltha O’Neal decides to retire, but if O’Neal remains in plum & champagne, then we think Waynes becomes a far less enticing target for the Panthers.  If he slips into the Open Draft, we can picture quite a few teams that need help in the secondary, so he won’t likely last more than 3-5 picks in.   WR DeVante Parker—LOUISVILLE Territorial Pick of the Baltimore Blitz This one could go either way.  Either the emergence of Darrius Heyward-Bey this year means that Baltimore sees WR as a low priority position and looks elsewhere, or they want a strong number two opposite DHB and they jump all over the speedy Parker.  If he hits the free market, we expect he too will be a top 5, maybe top 8 pick.  When you look at who is likely to be drafting early in the first round, it is not hard to find teams that are in need of skilled weapons in the passing game.    USFL Greatest Rivalries: Houston v. Texas Houston joined the USFL in 1984 as the first Texas-based team.  Three years later the short-lived San Antonio Gunslingers were added in the 1987 expansion and a potential rivalry was born.  When the Gunslingers merged with the Outlaws and opted to locate in San Antonio as the Texas Outlaws the rivalry flourished, and for 30 years it has been one of the best in the league.   The two have played each other 54 times over the years, with Houston holding a 32-20-2 advantage over their rivals from San Antonio.  The Gamblers have also seen significantly more success than the Outlaws, snagging 7 conference titles and 4 league titles since 1988, while Texas has yet to appear in a Summer Bowl in their long and somewhat jinxed history.  The Outlaws win the duel this year with a tie and a win over Houston, but the playoffs may be where we see the real test of this rivalry in 2014.   Sadly, the relocation of the Nashville Knights to Las Vegas has forced a tough call from the league and the USFL has opted to realign Houston into the Southern Division for 2015, meaning that the Houston-Texas rivalry may have a bit of a hiatus, with the two clubs only facing off in years when the South’s inter-conference are against the SW Division.  That is a huge shift from the twice-a-year pair of games that the two were accustomed to for most of their existence.  Hope, of course, is that with either future realignment or expansion the chance will appear to reunite the two Texas squads and reignite one of the league’s oldest and best rivalries. Week 15 and so much on the line.  We still have 5 playoff spots to claim in the West, and 8 teams hoping they can put together the right combination of wins and opponent losses to make it happen.  In the East the 6 playoff teams are set, but only 1 division title has been won and we have 4 teams all sitting at 11-3, any one of which could capture the top seed and home field.  It starts Friday night, where Nashville hopes to avoid a letdown over a Memphis team that they should beat handily.  They are hoping to see the Bandits and Blitz struggle so they can leapfrog them for that top seed.   On Saturday  we have one playoff hopeful, Ohio, hoping a home division win gives them a shot at the Central title.  Currently in first place, Michigan has a 1.5 game advantage on the Glory, but they face a tough task going into Las Vegas to face the Thunder.  If Las Vegas falters, Oakland hopes they can get a game up in the Pacific with a home victory over eliminated Pittsburgh.  We also have a huge game in the SW Division, where surging Arizona heads into San Antonio to take on an Outlaws team that will be putting Kyle Boller in at QB for the injured Joe Flacco.   Sunday sees a lot of games with playoff implications.  Denver visits Nashville, hoping to lock up a spot with a win.  Houston hosts Chicago, also eager for a playoff spot and a possible Texas loss to get back in the mix for the division.  Tampa Bay needs to find a way past Dallas without Daunte Culpepper or they risk losing out on the top seed in the East.  Philadelphia and Baltimore have a head to head clash that will almost certainly decide the NE Division and could propel the winner to the top seed.  So it is a week where you might want to send the family to visit your in-laws, because you will need to stay focused all weekend long.   FRI @ 8pm ET             New Orleans (11-3) @ Memphis (4-10)           NBC   SAT @ 12pm ET              St. Louis (4-10) @ Ohio (7-6-1)                         ABC SAT @ 12pm ET              Jacksonville (0-14) @ Charlotte (9-5)                 FOX SAT @ 4pm ET                 Michigan (9-5) @ Las Vegas (8-6)                     ABC SAT @ 4pm ET                 Pittsburgh (5-9) @ Oakland (8-6)                      FOX SAT @ 7pm ET                 Atlanta (10-4) @ Orlando (7-7)                         NBC SAT @ 9pm ET                 Arizona (9-5) @ Texas (10-3-1)                        ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET             Portland (5-9) @ New Jersey (5-9)                    ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET             Denver (8-5-1) @ Nashville (3-11)                     ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET             Birmingham (7-7) @ Washington (6-8)              FOX  SUN @ 4pm ET               Seattle (7-8) @ Los Angeles (4-10)               ABC SUN @ 4pm ET               Chicago (5-9) @ Houston (8-5-1)                   FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET               Tampa Bay (11-3) @ Dallas (3-11)                   FOX Regional SUN @ 8pm ET               Philadelphia (11-3) @ Baltimore (11-3)             ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: The Blitz-Dragons game produced two of the best QB performances we have ever seen, with both Byron Leftwich and Ben Roethlisberger just going off against each other's defenses. But we have to give the award to Big Ben for the just staggering total of 562 yards passing. Yes, Leftwich had 5 TDs to Ben's 4, but you don't put up that many yards, get the win in overtime, and not win POTW. PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Eastern Conference locked in their slate of playoff teams, though 2 of 3 divisions remain to be decided. Texas also becomes the first team in the West to lock up a spot. Atlanta and Charlotte became the 5th and 6th club in the East to secure their spots, meaning that all 8 other clubs in the conference are now eliminated. In the West, 5 slots remain open and 8 teams remain mathematically alive, with Las Vegas, Ohio, and Seattle all needing some help to jump into the Top 6.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Two weeks in a row we see a QB throw for 5 scores. Last week it was Jake Plummer for the Thunder and this week David Carr for the Arizona Wranglers as he helps his club leap over both Denver and Houston into 2nd place, now only 1.5 games behind the Texas Outlaws. Carr went 14 for 23 PLAYOFF PICTURE: A huge week in the East, where 4 teams clinched playoff berths, with New Orleans also locking up the Southern Division. The Breakers join Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, and Baltimore as playoff teams for 2014. Things are a little tighter in the West, where no team has yet to guarantee themselves a slot in the postseason. We now also have 11 teams who are out of the mix when it comes to the postseason. Birmingham, Washington, Pittsburgh, Portland, LA, and St. Louis join Dallas, Jacksonville, Nashville, Memphis, and New Jersey as teams on the outside looking in. That still leaves 3 teams in the East fighting over 2 spots and 9 teams in the West, where all 6 spots are still on the table.

Four teams locked in playoff berths this week, all from the Eastern Conference. We also saw a change at the top of the NE Division, where the upstart Baltimore Blitz now control their own destiny, with a chance to take the division for the first time in nearly 2 decades.  Charlotte continues to rack up wins, now 7 in a row, and the Arizona Wranglers are beginning to scare some people in the Western Division as they dominate Houston in a huge SW Division game.  We will start, as always, with our game of the week, featuring the Monarchs and Renegades, run through the scores, look at a couple of coaches who got the often-problematic “vote of confidence” and reveal the Hall of Fame USFL Class of 2014.  All that and a look ahead to Week 14 in the USFL, right here, right now.    CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 24    ORLANDO RENEGADES 21 Seven wins in a row does not just happen.  It takes planning, execution, a bit of luck, and a lot of resilience.  The Monarchs showed just that in their comeback win over the Orlando Renegades this week. Charlotte had built a 17-3 lead only to watch Orlando run off 17 unanswered points, but they found a way, a dramatic way, to pull out the victory in the final minute, giving them their 7th win in a row and setting them up as a truly dangerous team as we look ahead to the USFL playoffs.   It was billed as a make or break game in Orlando.  The Renegades were trailing not only Tampa Bay, but both Atlanta and Charlotte in the division.  They were coming off a shocking loss to the Pittsburgh Maulers, breaking their own winning streak after only 3 games.  Now they faced a team that was ahead of them in the division, with a chance to get themselves into the thick of the playoff hunt, but the game did not start off looking like one Orlando would use to springboard themselves towards the postseason.    Charlotte dominated the first half, with the return of Brandon Wheedon under center proving to be an immediate benefit as the 3rd year QB found veteran receiver Mark Clayton on the 5th play of the game for a  75-yard catch and run.  Clayton had found a gap in the zone, and then used a perfectly timed juke to get past the safety and off to the races.  The play stunned the Orlando crowd, who threw their hands up in disbelief.  The score put Charlotte up early, and for most of the first quarter the two teams did not find much else to contribute.  Orlando needed to wait until their third possession before they got their initial first down conversion.  They were clearly dealing with issues in the run game as neither Tim Hightower nor recently acquired Jonathan Starks found any room against Charlotte’s D.  But, despite the issues on the ground, Russell Wilson’s elusiveness and ability to find receviers late in plays had gotten them into field goal range.  With 12 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, Orlando got on the board and pulled the ‘Gades within 4 at 7-3.   But the rest of the 2nd quarter clearly belonged to the Monarchs.  Fred Jackson was running well on his way to a 116-yard day, and that run game kept Calais Campbell from pressuring Wheedon excessively.  The Renegades would finish the day with 7 sacks of Wheedon, but 6 of the 7 came in the second half.  In the 2nd quarter the Monarchs used play action effectively, with Wheedon connecting again for a score, this time a short pass to D. J. Hackett to expand the lead to 14-3.  A late field goal just before the half pushed the advantage to 17-3 and it was looking very much like the Monarchs had this game in hand.   But, as so often happens, the halftime break gave the Renegades a chance to regroup, adjust their schemes and shift momentum.  They came out of the half intent on passing the ball on 1st down, mixing in the run primarily through draw plays, and using more 3-receiver sets.  That proved effective on the opening drive of the half, a drive which could have produced 7 except for a badly timed holding call that stunted the Renegades’ progress. They again settled for 3, but seemed to have found an answer on offense. The defense also seemed to have figured out how to address the play action pass.  Coach Fox called up more run blitzes, which not only slowed down Jackson but gave Campbell and Haynesworth more options to quickly convert to pass rush when Wheedon held the ball.  The strategy worked and Charlotte saw their offensive production grind to a halt in the 3rd.  Orlando took advantage of two quick outs on defense and fought their way back into the game, eventually into the lead.  The big break for Orlando came when Renegade punter Adam Podlesh pinned the Monarchs back at their 3 yard line.  Immediate pressure produced a sack-fumble by Wheedon and when Albert Haynesworth fell on the ball it was 6 points for the renegades, pulling them to within 4 at 17-13 after the PAT.    The score would stay at 17-13 well into the 4th quarter, with both teams struggling on the ground and both defenses finding ways to disrupt their opponents, particularly on 3rd down.  Charlotte failed on 3 straight third down attempts, Orlando faired little better, garnering only 1 first down between their defensive TD and the 5-minute mark of the 4th quarter.  But their final drive of the quarter was the one they needed.  Orlando found some rhythm and produced 3 consecutive first-downs without reaching 3rd down, thanks largely to the short passing game between Wilson and the combination of TE Greg Olsen and WRs Dwayne Harris and Doug Gabriel.  They worked their way deep into Monarch territory, and with a short toss from Wilson to Greg Olsen took their first lead of the day with only 53 seconds on the clock. Now up 21-17, the Renegades did not have to worry about defending field goal position, just not giving up the big play.   Denying the big play seems easy on paper.  You set up a shell zone, keep the safeties deep, and force the team to dink and dunk their way down the field, hoping the clock would do as much damage to the attack as the defense.  In most cases that works quite well, despite the criticism of the prevent defense that so many fans hold.  But on this day, it failed, and failed spectacularly.  Orlando kicked off to the Monarchs and got a touchback to put the ball on the Charlotte 25.  The Monarchs would need to march 75 yards in only 53 seconds.    As it turned out, they would need only 10 of those seconds.  With Orlando predictably in a prevent shell, three deep in the secondary, Coach Mora decided not to fool around with quick out routes.  He called the kind of play you usually only see with 5-10 seconds left as the first call of the new drive.  On first and 10 from their own 25, Charlotte lined up with 3 wide outs and TE Brandon Pettigrew on the field, Taiwan Jones as the lone back, and largely there to chip Campbell on the play.   Wheedon took the snap from the shotgun, surveyed the field and quickly found D. J. Hackett about 8 yards deep in the middle of the field.  Two safeties converged on Hackett, hoping to bring him down before he could reach the sideline and force Charlotte to use their 2nd timeout. But this is what the play called for, with the safeties geared up to lay a hit on Hackett, the receiver flipped the ball to a passing Pettigrew, a classic hook & ladder play.  The design worked perfectly, the safeties now out of position, Pettigrew had a clear line down the middle of the field.  Even better, he had Doug Gabriel falling in behind to pick off the next defender. Gabriel obstructed Shane Welton’s pursuit, frustrating the safety and allowing Pettigrew the space he needed to make a line for the endzone.  Seventy-five yards and a game winning score in the final minute of the game thanks to an aggressive play call and a perfectly executed “trick” play.  Charlotte had their 7th win in a row, and with it may well have removed a potential threat from the playoff hunt, at least the realistic playoff hunt.   PITTSBURGH 17    BALTIMORE 45 The Blitz responded after a tough 13-9 win over New Jersey with an offensive outburst at home against the Maulers.  The Blitz put up the first 28 points on the board before the Maulers managed even a field goal, and led 31-3 at the half.  Ben Roethlisberger threw for 346 and 4 scores, with both Darrius Heyward-Bey and Javon Walker going over 100-yards in this one.  Even better, the win, paired with a Stars loss, moves Baltimore into 1st place in the NE Division. POTG:  Blitz QB Ben Roethlisberger: 15/17, 346 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   BIRMINGHAM 13   ATLANTA 44 Another blowout win, this time the Fire taking it to Birmingham in a game the Stallions could not afford to lose. Kyle Orton returned to action and had a solid game, going 17 of 23 for 261 yards.  The scoring came from the defense (a fumble return TD and a pick-six) and from the run game, where Lattimore and Jackson combined for 3 touchdowns.  The defense held Birmingham to only 47 rushing yards (including Newton) and picked off the Stallion QB twice in the lopsided win. POTG:  Fire FS Earl Thomas: 4 Tck, 1 Def TD, 1 FF, 1 FR   TEXAS 24   NEW ORLEANS 30 A standout win for the Breakers, one that may finally garner them some respect as a legitimate Summer Bowl contender.  Drew Brees threw for 2 scores and the Breakers got a third on a Patrick Peterson pick-six, his second this month, but it was the D-line that should get the credit this week as the Breakers sacked Joe Flacco 7 times, including 2 from DT Ricky Jean-Francois and 2 more from DE Cam Jordan.  Texas had a shot late, but missed on a Hail Mary from the Breaker 39. POTG:  Breaker CB Patrick Peterson: 7 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   ST. LOUIS 16   CHICAGO 21 Chicago wins the Double Nickle rivalry game thanks to a big day from HB Doug Martin.  After falling behind 13-0, Chicago rattled off three consecutive touchdown drives in the 2nd half, with Brady Quinn hitting Dobson, Floyd, and Fasano for scores, but it was Martin’s 134-yard day that made it happen.  That, and the fact that the Machine knocked Ricky Stanzi out of the game, and possibly out for the season, forcing rookie Tajh Boyd into action. POTG:  Machine HB Doug Martin: 25 Att, 134 Yds, 0 TD   LOS ANGELES 12   PORTLAND 46 An ugly loss for the Express and an ugly game for Aaron Murray, who was sacked 3 times, hurried constantly, and whose 2 picks helped Portland pull away in what had been a 10-9 game at the half.  The Stags scored 38 unanswered points in the second half, including 4 TDs in the final period (one on defense) as they turned a close game to a blowout with 3 Javon Ringer TD runs and a Donte Whitmer pick six. POTG:  Stags HB Javon Ringer: 5 Att, 22 Yds, 3 TDs   TAMPA BAY 28   WASHINGTON 21 The Federals’ disappointing 2014 continues as they give up a 14-0 lead with 28 unanswered points from the Bandits.  Daunte Culpepper threw for 390 yards and 3 scores and Vincent Jackson was the main target once again, catching 8 for 161 and two scores as the Bandits lock up a playoff spot with the win and eliminate the Feds at the same time. POTG:  Bandit WR Vincent Jackson: 8 Rec, 161 Yds, 2 TD   ARIZONA 41    HOUSTON 21 It may have come late, but it looks like the defending champion Wranglers are back in form.  A huge game from David Carr (391 yards and 5 TDs) and a defensive showing, holding Carlos Hyde to only 43 yards on 26 carries, helps Arizona leapfrog over both Houston and Denver to take second place in the division.  Don’t look now, but the Wranglers are looking very dangerous. POTG:  Wrangler QB David Carr: 14/23,391 Yds, 5 TD, 0 Int   SEATTLE 20   NEW JERSEY 22 A big upset that throws a wrench into Seattle’s late season surge. New Jersey gets TDs from Delone Carter and Miles Austin and they upend the Dragons in a shocker.  Byron Leftwich was sacked hard in the 3rd quarter and never looked quite the same after, while Cadillac Williams was held to only 53 yards by a Generals defense that was not getting much respect. The loss drops Seattle back under .500 and puts a serious crimp in any playoff hopes. POTG:  Generals LB Donterrious Thomas: 7 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF   MICHIGAN 33    JACKSONVILLE 20 The Panthers become the latest team to knock off Jacksonville as the D sacks Adrian McPherson 6 times.  A 101-yard day from Bulls HB Lamar Miller was not enough as Jacksonville drops to 0-13 and Michigan holds sole possession of first place in the Central at 8-5.  A safety and a pick-6 highlight a strong day from the Panther D, while Kirk Cousins throws for 287 and 2 scores. POTG:  Panther CB Deltha O’Neal: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   DALLAS 24   LAS VEGAS 38 The Thunder retained sole possession of first in the Pacific with a nice win in front of a home crowd that actually seemed to support the Thunder, despite their impending move.  Jake Plummer threw 3 picks but also put up 4 TDs in a hot-and-cold game, while Chad Johnson made up for the absence of T. J. Houshmandzadeh by catching 5 balls for 117 yards and 3 touchdowns.  POTG:  Thunder WR Chad Johnson: 5 Rec, 117 Yds, 3 TD   NASHVILLE 13   MEMPHIS 24 Memphis sweeps the series with Nashville, taking the last of the Tennessee Tussle games (with the Knights moving next year) and claiming victory in the short-lived rivalry.  Eli Manning threw for 2 scores, both to TE Jay Finley, and the defense sacked Cody Pickett 5 times on the way to a Showboat victory. POTG:  Memphis DE Mario Williams: 5 Tck, 2 Scks   DENVER 27   OHIO 27   OVERTIME Another tie involving a SW Division team as neither Ohio nor Denver could get a field goal in overtime to earn the win.  Greg Zeurlein for Denver missed from 47 and Ohio’s David Green could not connect from 49 in the waning seconds of the extra period, which meant these two teams go home with a tie score.  POTG:  Ohio HB Isaiah Pead: 12 Att, 79 Yds, 2 TD   PHILADELPHIA 20    OAKLAND 26 The weekend concluded with Oakland holding serve at home in a game they absolutely had to have.  A 4th quarter touchdown toss by Harrington to Derek Hagan was the difference in this one as both clubs slugged it out for 60 minutes.  Reche Caldwell was huge for Philly, catching 6 balls for 134 yards and a score, while Oakland’s Pierre Garçon stepped up with 4 for 82 and a score for Oakland. POTG:  Oakland DE Cliff Avril: 6 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF   David Carr Explodes for 5 TDs & 391 Yards Don’t look now, but the Wranglers appear to be back in championship form, especially on offense. The Wranglers have now won 3 of their last 4, and the offense is more than pulling its weight, as evidenced by David Carr’s huge game this week against a very tough Houston squad.  The Wrangler QB put up 391 yards and tossed 5 touchdowns against the Gamblers, only one week after Arizona just humiliated Dallas 51-3.  Carr over the past 4 games has thrown 11 touchdowns and no picks, a nasty streak that could spell very good things ahead for the Wranglers.  Add to that a solid month for Frank Gore, racking up 365 yards in the past 4 games, and you have a very potent Arizona attack that could spell trouble for Texas and the rest of the Western Conference.  The defense is still not quite where they were in 2013, but sitting at number 3 in both scoring and yardage allowed, it is certainly good enough to challenge for a title, especially if Carr and the offense continue to roll.  Arizona will face Nashville before a huge showdown with Texas in Week 15, so watch out Western Conference, the champs may well be back in form.   Baltimore Makes a Statement Arizona is not the only team surging at the right time.  Baltimore has won 7 of their last 8, and their blowout win over Pittsburgh this week, paired with Oakland’s win over Philadelphia, now puts the Blitz in the driver’s seat in the NE Division.  Baltimore has a huge rematch with the Stars in Week 15, in a game that almost certainly will decide the NE Division title and very possibly whether or not the Blitz (or Stars) can earn a bye in the playoff seedings.   The Blitz are doing it on both sides of the ball, with the league’s top ranked scoring defense, allowing only 14.8 points per game, as well as the 3rd ranked offense, scoring an average of 27.2 points each outing. That combination is a tough one to match as Baltimore continues to prove week in and week out that all the pundits, including our own, were  idiots to pick them last in the division.    Ben Roethlisberger remains a viable MVP candidate, Darrius Heyward-Bey continues to shine, now at 1,273 yards for the year, and the defense, led by a ballhawking secondary and a fast, aggressive LB group headed by former NFL Dolphin Jason Taylor, is making waves in the East.  The Blitz have not won a division title since 1996, but this year they have momentum and a lot of talent on their side.  Can this be the year for the longsuffering Blitz faithful?   New Jersey Ownership Stands By Turner To say the Generals have been underwhelming this year is pretty fair, perhaps even kind. But, following a surprising win over Seattle, their first since Week 5, Generals ownership has come out to say that first year coach Norv Turner is at no risk of losing his position with the team now at 5-8 on the year. While the team stated that they hope this week is a sign of things to come and that they hope the team can make a push for 8-8 and a .500 finish, they gave Coach Turner the vote of confidence that he would be given time to work with the GM on the club’s roster and to develop a new culture in East Rutherford.    New Jersey was considered by many to be a darkhorse for the NE Division, with many looking back at a 12-4 run in 2012 and expecting that the return of Sam Bradford would rebound the club’s record after a horrific 2013.  But, despite starting the year at 4-1, a 7-game losing streak took all the wind out of New Jerey’s sails.  The offense has struggled, currently averaging only 19.5 points per game and sitting in the bottom 8 in yards, scoring, passing and rushing.  The D has been a bit better, currently 12th in scoring at 20.7 PPG and 16th in yards allowed, but overall this has not been the year that Generals’ fans expected.    Norv Turner took over the team after last year’s 4-12 debacle, and as an “offensive guru” was expected to work with Bradford, back from injury, to revive an attack that was quite solid in 2012.  That has not yet manifested, despite the early success of rookie Odell Beckham Jr. and a solid run game with Maurice Jones-Drew.  Given a second year to get things to where they need to be to win more games, expect Turner to focus on improving the offensive line, which has been shaky this year, and to perhaps seek another weapon for Sam Bradford to diversify the passing game a bit.   Arians Gets Vote of Confidence Another coach on the potential hot seat, St. Louis’s Bruce Arians, got his own vote of confidence from ownership this week.  Hard to believe that the leader of the 2012 league champion Skyhawks would be in trouble only 2 seasons later, but when you see that the defending champions fell to 8-8 in 2013 and this year are guaranteed a losing season with their 4-9 record, it is understandable that Arians would be feeling some heat.  It has been a tough  year for the Skyhawks all around, as their defense currently ranks 21st in both scoring and yards allowed, far from the success of their 2012 title run. The offense has not been any better, and that was once seen as the strength of the club.   St. Louis currently ranks 23rd in passing (due in part to the loss of Josh Freeman at QB), 21st in total yards, and only 24th in scoring, far from the dominance they showed only 2 years ago.  Of course, this Skyhawk team is not the 2012 squad.  With the retirement of Antowain Smith and the departure via free agency of Taylor Jacobs, the offense is just not the same.  Josh Freeman has seen his QB Rating dip from 114.3 in his title season to 84.7 last year and 82.6 in an injury shortened 2014.    But, all this said, winning a title, especially a club’s first, has its advantages and for Bruce Arians one of those advantages is a longer leash before ownership starts tugging.  The club has confidence in their head coach, though we do expect some changes in the front office and among the coordinators this offseason, and Arians will be given every opportunity to show he can rebound with the club in 2015.  At least that is what we are hearing today.  If St. Louis continues to struggles and finishes the year at 4-12, that may not be the same story.   St. Louis Turns to Rookie Boyd The Skyhawks’ final month will be even more challenging than this year has been already.  The injury suffered by Ricky Stanzi this week has been confirmed as a torn hamstring, sufficiently damaged as to require surgery and forcing the backup to Josh Freeman to also be placed on the IR list, ending his season.  That injury means that Bruce Arians and the Skyhawks will have to roll with rookie QB Tajh Boyd at quarterback the rest of the way.  Boyd, who had not taken a single regular season snap until this week’s action, will take over an offense that has struggled, and will have a steep learning curve with Houston, Ohio, and Michigan on the docket for the season’s final 3 weeks, all three being teams in the playoff hunt.    Boyd will be backed up by former Tampa Bay Bandit Rhett Bomar, signed as the emergency QB when Josh Freeman went down, and by 31-year old veteran Seneca Wallace, signed this week.  Bomar has not thrown a regular season pass since 2010, and Wallace has not been on a roster since 2012, when he last suited up for Seattle.  So, the rookie from Clemson will get his first action as a pro in a less than ideal situation, but he will get to see the field.   A big week for playoff clinching performances in the East as 4 of the 6 slots are wrapped up. Wins by the Bandits and Blitz lock up their playoff berths, while New Orleans goes one better, pairing a win with a Stallion loss to win the Southern Division.  Philadelphia, despite losing in Oakland, also nabs a spot with their 10-3 record.  With most of the rest of the Eastern Conference now eliminated from contention, Atlanta and Charlotte control their own destinies as the two hold a 2-game lead over Orlando for the remaining Wild Card spots.  The ‘Gades have lost 2 in a row and could be eliminated with another loss or wins by their two division rivals.   In the West no spots are locked up yet as there remain 9 clubs in contention for 6 spots.  Texas has a 1.5 game lead over a surging Arizona squad in the SW Division. Michigan’s lead over Ohio is now 1.5 games as well, and Las Vegas is 1 game up on the Oakland invaders in the Pacific.  Chicago, Portland, LA, St. Louis, and Dallas are out of contention, while Seattle, Ohio, and Oakland all need some help to get back into playoff position.  A rough year for the Skyhawks continues as they place their 2nd QB onto the IR list.  For the Stars, they will be without cornerback Bradley Fletcher for the rest of the season, and they also lose Kirk Morrison potentially for the remaining regular season games, though a playoff appearance is possible.  Several contenders, including Texas, Tampa Bay, and Las Vegas will be missing key defensive players at least for Week 14.  Is that going to open the door for an upset or do they have the depth to survive some short-term injuries at this vital stage of the season?  Here is the full Week 14 Injury Report, with all newly-listed players cited.   OUT QB         Ricky Stanzi               STL         Groin                    IR CB          Bradley Fletcher        PHI        Neck                     IR FS           Tre Boston                  CHA      Shoulder             2-4 Weeks LB           Kirk Morrison             PHI        Knee                     2-4 Weeks CB          Aaron Ross                 TEX        Knee                     1-2 Weeks DT          Kawann Short            TBY        Concussion       1-2 Weeks DT          Kyle Williams              LV           Concussion       1-2 Weeks WR         Dontrelle Inman         BIR         Hamstring         1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL CB          Nate Clements          NJ           Concussion       TE           Michael Egnew           STL         Hand   QUESTIONABLE LB       Jonathan Goff                 TBY        Concussion CB          DeAngelo Hall                 POR      Neck   USFL ANNOUNCES 2014 HALL OF FAME CLASS The USFL and the Hall of Fame had some very tough decisions this year to pick only 5 At-Large nominees for the Hall and one Legacy player.  While debates will certainly rage about some of the players who did not make it this year, players like Corey Dillon, Drew Bledsoe, and Hugh Douglas, it would be hard to argue that any of the five players selected do not belong enshrined in Canton.  Here is your 2014 USFL Hall of Fame Class.   QB Brett Favre (BIR 91-05, MEM 07-09) There was little doubt that Favre would be a first ballot Hall of Famer.  After all, the numbers speak for themselves:  232 consecutive starts, over 67,500 yards passing, 558 TDs, an 11-time All-USFL performer who took two different teams to a title.  Favre was also a 4-time Offensive Player of the year, 2-time MVP, and playoff MVP three times.  There is absolutely an argument to be made that Brett Favre was the greatest QB in USFL history.   QB Kerry Collins (OHI 98-09) Not so fast says Kerry Collins.  The numbers may not be as gaudy, but the success is absolutely there.  Collins played 12 seasons for the Glory, including leading the team to the only undefeated season in USFL history as well as the only repeat championship in league history.  His numbers may  not be quite as high as Favre’s (49,800 yards passing, 407 TDs, a career QB Rating of 113.6), but the accolades are there:  10-time All-USFL, 3-time league MVP, two titles, a playoff MVP trophy and an OPOTY trophy.  Collins is absolutely in the debate and another easy first-ballot choice.   OT Jonathan Ogden (LA 96-09) Linemen don’t have the stats to fall back on like a QB would, but that is not to say that we do not recognize greatness when we see it and in Ogden we have another of the all-time USFL greats.  The big man came to the Express in 1996, their second year of existence as a reborn expansion franchise.  He would stay with them for 14 seasons, racking up 200 starts and 9 All-USFL honors.  By some estimates he has over 1,500 pancakes as well, a gaudy number for a humble man.   OT Wayne Gandy (BAL 94-04, NSH 05-07, CHA 08-09) Right there with Ogden is another left tackle that was among the game’s best for over a decade.  Wayne Gandy played for 3 teams over his USFL career, a career that spanned 16 seasons.  In that time, he had 206 starts and was voted All-USFL six times.  Like Ogden, he never won a title, but is still recognized as one of the best of the best among all-time USFL linemen.   DT  Pat Williams (ORL 97-08) The only repeat candidate to make the cut, DT Pat Williams was a mountain of a man on the D-line for the Orlando Renegades, where he was able to line up alongside some of the best edge rushers ever, including fellow Hall of Famer Chris Doleman and surefire future HOF first ballot nominee Calais Campbell.  Williams was the block absorber who freed up both edge rushers. He won a title with the ‘Gades in 2001, was chosen as All-USFL five times, and finished his career with 39 sacks and 20 forced fumbles.   WR Louis Lipps (ARZ 84-91, PIT 92-97) The USFL has had so many game-changing receivers that sometimes it is hard for all of them to get the recognition they deserve.  Louis Lipps is absolutely in the category of underappreciated players that deserve more attention.  Lipps played 14 seasons, splitting his time between the Wranglers and Maulers.  He was a part of Pittsburgh’s high flying 1995 title team, and is still among the all-time career leaders with over 1,000 receptions and over 14,000 yards.  He caught 94 TDs in his career, and was voted All-USFL twice, once with each of his clubs.  Lipps is a very deserving Legacy Pick for this year’s class.    Las Vegas Update:  A Name and a New Division It is decided.  The fans have voted and by an overwhelming majority the pick is the Las Vegas Vipers.  That identity won nearly 70% of the votes in the month-long competition, with Posse a distant second.  And so, as of August the Nashville Knights will cease to be and the Las Vegas Vipers will take residency in Wynn Arena, the newest stadium in the league and a showplace for the city of Las Vegas.  The team will sport the silver, black, and Deseret blue uniforms announced with the contest, and will begin play in Sin City in March of 2015.  Here once again is a look at the logos and uniforms of the league’s newest team.  The other big news this week about Las Vegas’s newest pro sports team came directly from league headquarters. We knew that there would have to be some shuffle of divisions with Nashville moving to Las Vegas and the Thunder relocating to San Diego, and now we know what it is.  San Diego will hold onto their position in the Pacific Division, maintaining rivalries as the Thunder with Seattle, Portland, LA and Oakland.  The new Las Vegas Vipers will play in the Southwest Division, perhaps making new rivals with Arizona and Denver, their closest divisional foes.  The addition of Las Vegas to the division means that someone has to move out, after all, we cannot have a 6-team SW Division and a 3-team Southern Division.  So, who is getting bumped?    The Houston Gamblers will join the Southern Division in 2015, splitting up the rivalry with Texas across two different conferences, but potentially building a new one with nearby New Orleans or Memphis.  Houston ownership was surprisingly not all that upset to jump divisions and conferences, citing their proximity to the Gulf Coast as a natural reason for the Gamblers to build rivalries with other Southern clubs Birmingham, Memphis, and New Orleans.  So, Houston replaces Nashville, Las Vegas replaces Houston, and the Thunder remain just where they were, but now have even more reasons to get riled up about games against LA.   USFL’S GREATEST RIVALRIES: DENVER v. ARIZONA We have had a lot of news about the Southwest Division today, so it seems only fair that our USFL Rivalry of the week is also a SW Division affair, the longstanding clash of the Gold and the Wranglers.  This is another one that dates all the way back to 1983, when Denver and Arizona formed part of the 4-team Western Division.  As two founding franchises who have been in the same division with each other for over 30 years, the Gold-Wrangler matchup is one of the rivalries with the most matches over the years, 63 in total, with Denver holding the advantage at 36 wins and only 27 losses to the Wranglers.    The clash has often been one of home field advantage, with both Mile High and Invesco being havens for the Gold, while Sun Devil Stadium and University of Phoenix Stadium have been kinder to the Wranglers.  This is also a rivalry that has seen their share of wild weather games, with Denver hosting several “Snow Bowls” against the Wranglers, while Arizona has had more than their share of scorching games against Denver in the desert heat.  Always a huge date on the schedule, the games between these two can be nasty, ugly, and sometimes very chippy, but they are always fun and usually meaningful in the standings as well.   Week 14 feels very much like the lull before the storm, with fewer divisional matchups than most weeks, and certainly fewer than in Weeks 15 and 16.   But, this is not to say that there are not games that will have a huge impact on the remaining playoff races as well as on seeding for both conferences.  We have several teams in games where they will be expected to win over opponents already eliminated from contention, as is the case for Houston on Friday night visiting St. Louis, or others in the weekend like Oakland (@ New Jersey), Texas (v. Memphis), Denver (v. Dallas) or Las Vegas (@ Portland).    Perhaps the most intriguing game of the weekend has Charlotte (9-4) visiting New Orleans (10-3) in a matchup of two teams who have been quietly playing some of the best all-around football all season.  Brandon Wheedon returns under center for the Monarchs as they face a tough road matchup.  Sunday’s best game looks to be Orlando visiting Michigan, with the Renegades needing to win out and get some help to catch up to division rivals Atlanta and Charlotte.  We also like the Baltimore-Seattle matchup, where the upstart Dragons also may need to win out to have a shot at a playoff game.   FRI @ 8pm ET                  Houston (7-5-1) @ St. Louis (4-9)               NBC   SAT @ 12pm ET              Oakland (7-6) @ New Jersey (5-8)             ABC SAT @ 12pm ET              Ohio (6-6-1) @ Chicago (5-8)                      FOX SAT @ 4pm ET                 Memphis (4-9) @ Texas (9-3-1)                 ABC SAT @ 4pm ET                 Dallas (3-10) @ Denver (7-5-1)                 FOX SAT @ 7pm ET                 Charlotte (9-4) @ New Orleans (10-3)     NBC SAT @ 9pm ET                 Las Vegas (8-5) @ Portland (4-9)                ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET             Atlanta (9-4) @ Jacksonville (0-13)             ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET             Tampa Bay (11-2) @ Birmingham (6-7)      ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET             Washington (5-8) @ Pittsburgh (5-8)          FOX  SUN @ 4pm ET               Orlando (7-6) @ Michigan (8-5)                  ABC SUN @ 4pm ET               Baltimore (10-3) @ Seattle (6-7)                FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET               Nashville (3-10) @ Arizona (8-5)                  FOX Regional SUN @ 8pm ET               Los Angeles (4-9) @ Philadelphia (10-3)     ESPN/EFN

Huge games across the league as we saw division foes square off in San Antonio, Philadelphia, and Seattle.  The Monarchs and Dragons remain hot, the Glory and Invaders seem to be fading, and in St. Louis, Jake Plummer threw his name into the ring for MVP consideration, not only getting a big win for the Thunder to put them in 1st place in the Pacific in their swan song season in the desert, but also putting up 5 touchdowns in an impressive display.  We will recap all the games, outline which teams are now playing only for pride, explore the coaching ranks of the USFL and update you on some changes to the league’s famous Territorial Draft system. All this is coming up, so don’t go anywhere. HOUSTON GAMBLERS 27   TEXAS OUTLAWS 27   OVERTIME A huge game in the SW Division that neither team wanted to lose, and neither did.  We have our first tie of the season and it could not have come in a bigger game.  Houston came into this game two games behind the Outlaws.  A win would have propelled them within 1, and loss would have all but ended any chance at a division title.  For Texas, the win would have put them 3 games up on the pack and all but assured not only a division but very likely the top seed and homefield throughout the playoffs.  So, what happens when we have two evenly-matched teams and both refuse to lose?  We get a tie game in San Antonio.   We had a bit of everything in this game.  Joe Flacco again went over 300 yards, Chris Johnson supplied balance with a solid day on the ground, but Houston got huge games from both of their rookies, already becoming legends in the Texas-Houston rivalry.  Carlos Hyde would tote the rock 31 times, racking up 167 yards, while Mike Evans emerged as the game’s lead receiver, with 8 catches for 131 yards and a score.  The defenses had their moments as well, particularly Houston’s which held Texas to 1 of 12 on third down and helped Houston finish the game with a 44-30 minute time of possession advantage.   It was a game of swinging momentum from the onset.  The first quarter belonged to Houston, with the 2nd and 3rd owned by the Outlaws before a back and forth 4th quarter ended the game in a tie, a deadlock that would not be resolved with an extra 15 minutes of play.  The game began with back to back 3-and-outs before Houston found their rhythm, completing an 11-play drive with an 18-yard strike from Matt Hasselbeck to Mike Sims-Walker.  Texas could not find a response and in the waning moments of the quarter, Houston doubled their advantage when Carlos Hyde burst through the line and juked a linebacker out of position on his way to a 36-yard TD run. Houston was looking good after 15 minutes, up 14-0 on the homestanding Outlaws.   But, despite the slow start, Texas stuck to their gameplan and in the 2nd quarter that tenacity paid off as the Outlaws began what would be a 24-point scoring streak.  It began with Chris Johnson, now clearly the lead back for the Outlaws, scoring from the 1 yard line to get the Outlaws on the board.  Houston was now stymied and it was Texas putting together a long drive, this one only 9 plays before Joe Flacco caught Houston in man coverage and found Marquise Goodwin for a 34-yard strike to even the score before the half.   All tied up a 14 at the break, both teams came out in the 3rd with eyes on capturing the lead.  Houston got yardage on their first drive, but a missed 38-yard kick by Dan Carpenter meant that the drive would not produce a lead for the Gamblers.  Texas would fare better on their next drive, going 81 yards down the field on 18 plays before a 3rd and goal run from the 1 by Terrance West resulted in 7 points.  The 3rd quarter ended with the Outlaws up 21-14.    Texas would quickly add to that lead with a Kai Forbath field goal at the 13:16 mark of the fourth quarter, but that 10 point deficit sparked the Gamblers to go big, and they did just that with Hasselbeck hitting Mike Evans on a beauty of a 1-handed catch that would produce a 54-yard touchdown.  Down only 3, the Houston D stepped up and sacked Joe Flacco to end Texas’s next drive.  Within 3 minutes the Gamblers would tie the score with Dan Carpenter hitting from 47.  With just over 3 minutes left, Texas went into their 4-minute offense, trying to both kill the clock and get in range for Kai Forbath. They were more successful at the latter goal as Forbath came on and put Texas back up, but with 1:35 left on the clock, they had left Houston plenty of time to equalize.   That is exactly what the Gamblers did.  They took the kickoff, and used short and medium-range passes to get into range for Dan Carpenter.  They had a shot to win the game, with Hasselbeck hitting Evans on another perfect strike that put the ball on the Texas 5-yard line.  With time running out, Hasselbeck tried to hit Vernon Davis on 1st and goal, but the ball sailed on him.  On 2nd down they tried to fool the Outlaws with a draw to Ben Tate, but the play went nowhere and Houston was forced to use their final timeout.  Rather than risk a 3rd down play with little time left, Dan Carpenter came on and put the ball between the uprights to tie the game with just 3 ticks left on the clock.  This game was going to overtime.   In the extra period, both clubs struggled to make plays against tight zone coverages. Hasselbeck was sacked by Reynaldo Wynn to end their first possession.  Flacco missed on a 3rd and 9 throw to Colston on Texas’s first.  With time ticking away, both clubs largely abandoned the run, save for one nice 11-yard play to Hyde.  The closest either got to a field goal was Texas reaching the Houston 41, but they were not willing to try a 58-yarder, choosing to punt instead.  By the final minute, Houston with possession of the ball, a deep shot to Sims-Walker failed, and the Gamblers decided to take the tie as a better option than giving the ball back to Texas.  On 2nd and 3rd down they ran the ball, killing the clock and finishing the game up as a 27-27 tie.  Not satisfying for either team but not devastating for either as well. The real winners here?  Denver and Arizona, who now stand only ½ game behind the Gamblers and 2 ½ behind Texas in a very tight, very fun to follow SW Division. WASHINGTON 20    PHILADELPHIA 28 The Federals raced out to a 17-0 lead in this one, thanks in part to an 86-yard pick-six from LB Daniel Ellerbe, but it was not to last.  An explosive third quarter for the Stars put 21 points on the board and gave the Stars the lead.  The capper for the Stars was their own pick-six, this one from Terrell Suggs, who not only tipped the ball into the air at the line, but snagged the ball out of the air and ran it back 27 yards for the go ahead score.  A third pick-six in the game, this one from Stars DB Jairus Byrd capped the scoring and gave Philly the W. POTG:  Stars LB Terrell Suggs: 9 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD.   NEW ORLEANS 35    NASHVILLE 24 Nashville had the game tied in the 3rd, but New Orleans pulled away with a strong 4th quarter as Drew Brees hit Joel Dreesen for the go-ahead TD only to have Cody Pickett make a huge mistake on the last minute drive, a poorly thrown ball that was picked and returned for 6 by Breaker CB Patrick Peterson.  Pickett had been doing very well, throwing for 384 yards and 3 scores, but this late mistake gave New Orleans their 4th consecutive win. POTG:  Breaker CB Patrick Peterson: 6 Tck, 1 PDef, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   MEMPHIS 10   TAMPA BAY 14 The Showboats were game, holding Culpepper without a TD pass and limiting Rex Burkhead to only 29 yards rushing, but it was still not enough as the Bandit HB added a late 1-yard TD run to an earlier goalline dive to put the Bandits ahead early in the 4th quarter.  Memphis could not mount a comeback and the Bandits hold on to the top seed in the east. POTG:  Bandit LB Devon Kennard: 5 Tck, 1 Sck   BIRMINGHAM 21    DENVER 17 The Stallions needed this one and they played the game with a playoff intensity.  Cam Newton used his legs as much as his arm, rushing fo r94 yards, including a 53-yard TD run, while throwing for only 102 on the day.  The Stallion D was the other big star, picking off Matt Leinart 3 times to help preserve the road win and move the Stallions to .500 with 4 weeks left.  They got the win despite a 9-catch, 133-yard game from Denver speed receiver Michael Crabtree. POTG:  Stallion QB Cam Newton: 13/27, 102 Yds, 1 TD, 0 Int, 7 Att, 94 Yds, 1 TD   CHICAGO 15    LOS ANGELES 14 Aaron Murray struggled against the Machine defense in his second start and Chicago got just enough from their offense, including Doug Martin’s first 100-yard game in weeks, to pull out the 1-point win despite never reaching the endzone.  It was not a pretty win for the Machine, but it was a win, while LA drops to 4-8 and is on the edge of playoff elimination. POTG:  Machine HB Doug Martin: 23 Att, 102 Yds, 0 TD   NEW JERSEY 9   BALTIMORE 13 The Blitz’s offense seems to have lost its rhythm, but still had just enough to defeat the lackluster Generals.  Anthony Dixon rushes for 131 and Ben Roethlisberger’s lone TD to Javon Walker was enough for the Blitz as New Jersey was held to 255 yards of total offense and only 23 minutes of possession. POTG:  Blitz LB Jason Taylor: 12 Tck, 1 Sck   PORTLAND 17   SEATTLE 35 Seattle’s late season surge continues with their third win in a row, this one at the expense of Cascade rival Portland.  Byron Leftwich had a big game with 364 yards and 3 TDs on the day.  Portland’s Ryan Fitzpatrick was knocked out in the 2nd quarter and surprisingly it was Kellen Moore and not Matt McGloin that filled in.  Both TE Dennis Pitta and WR Mike Wallace went over 100 yards for the Dragons, with Pitta adding 2 scores as Seattle rolls. GOTW:  Dragon QB Byron Leftwich: 31/42, 364 Yds, 3 Td, 1 Int   ORLANDO 7   PITTSBURGH 21 A let-down game for the Renegades as Pittsburgh gets 4th quarter TDs from Tavon Austin and Ronnie Brown to turn a 7-6 deficit into a 21-7 win.  Orlando was held to only 203 total yards and Knowshon Moreno got only 6 touches as he was gimpy throughout the game.  No huge offensive numbers for either team as the two combined to go 7 of 28 on third down in this defensive battle. POTG:  Mauler DE Dwight Freeney: 3 Tck, 2 Sack, 2 FF, 2 FR   JACKSONVILLE 14   ATLANTA 17 The Bulls bench Tim Tebow and almost get a W for their efforts.  Adrian McPherson goes 17 of 33 for 222 yards and 2 scores, connecting often with WR Rashaun Woods (7 for 157 and a score) as the Bulls stun Atlanta, but in the end the Fire find a way, adding a late Steven Jackson TD run to avoid the major upset. Brad Gradkowski started for the injured Orton and went 21 of 31 for 214 yards and a score in this tighter-than-expected game. POTG:  Fire SS DaJuan Morgan: 8 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF   OHIO 21   CHARLOTTE 24 Ohio could have snagged a share of first with Michigan, but they ran into a buzzsaw as Charlotte won their 6th in a row with the 3-point win.  Jeff Tuel threw for 2 scores and D. J. Hackett caught 4 for 125 and a TD as the Monarchs edged a very game Glory squad. Ohio was led by 94 yards from Justin Blackmon and a D that recorded 6 sacks in the game, but they just could not get the late FG they needed to send the game to overtime. POTG:  Charlotte CB Asante Samuel: 5 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   LAS VEGAS 45   ST. LOUIS 21 Jake Plummer went off against the suspect St. Louis secondary and put himself in the MVP hunt with a 5-TD game as Las Vegas exploded to score on 6 of 8 possessions.  It was 21-0 after one quarter and the Thunder showed St. Louis no compassion the rest of the way.  Chad Johnson had his best game of the year with 126 yards and 2 scores.  Everett, Owen Daniels, and Marshawn Lynch also caught Plummer TDs as the Thunder take over first place in the Pacific Division. POTG:  Thunder QB Jake Plummer: 16/22, 364 Yds, 5 TD, 0 Int   ARIZONA 51    DALLAS 3 Dallas’s growing confidence was shattered as the Wranglers went off on the divisional foe, with Gore and Carey combining for156 yards on the ground, David Carr throwing for 3 scores, and the defense picking off Johnny Manziel 4 times, including a pick-6 from Nate Allen in an absolute shellacking that sent the Dallas crowd of over 52,000 home very disillusioned. POTG:  Arizona WR Larry Fitzgerald: 5 Rec, 105 Yds, 2 TD   OAKLAND 10   MICHIGAN 13 The Invaders lose their third in a row, dropping behind Las Vegas in the Pacific as Michigan rebounds and moves to 7-5 atop the Central.  The homestanding Panthers struggled on offense but got a huge game from their defense, holding the Invaders to only 192 yards passing and shutting them down on 5 consecutive drives in the 2nd half.  POTG:  Panther DE Justin Tuck: 4 Tck, 2 Sck Plummer Back In MVP Talks How is this for a week.  Jake Plummer not only puts his team in first place in the Pacific with a big road win against the Skyhawks, but also tosses 5 TDs in the game, showcasing his moxy and his deadly accuracy with the deep ball. Oh, and by the way, that performance leapt him over 3 other players to now hold the best QB Rating of any starter, sitting at 120.3.  Throw that league leading rating in with Plummer’s 23 TDs (only 2 behind Joe Flacco) and 3,027 yards, and you have yourself a very possible MVP candidate.   Add to this mix the chaos produced by the Thunder’s eminent move to San Diego, the weirdness of playing home games in front of angry Las Vegans and very often more visiting fans than home fans, and you have a pretty monumental feat.  The fact that Las Vegas is sitting atop the Pacific, now a game ahead of 6-6 Oakland is something of a minor miracle, and for many the miracle maker is the 17-year veteran of both the Wranglers and the Thunder.  Plummer, a 2x MVP already (2000 and 2006) is looking to garner a third but is still also looking for his first championship ring.  With Las Vegas now 2.5 games behind Texas for the Western Conference’s top seed, this may be the best chance at a title for Plummer since he led Arizona to the Summer Bowl in 2004.  If last year was defined by the Thunder’s second half collapse, turning 6-2 into 7-9, this year may be defined by Plummer willing his team to success against all odds.   Oakland drops Third in a Row If excitement in Las Vegas is peaking, then concern in Oakland must be coming to a head after the Invaders drop their third in a row, dropping to 6-6 and now a game back of the Thunder in the division.  Oakland was the prohibitive favorite to win the Pacific, and now there are questions on all sides as the team struggles to find a rhythm. The Invaders, once riding high atop the division at 6-3, hae now lost consecutive games to Seattle, Arizona, and Michigan.  In that span they have not been able to top 17 points in any game, and there are concerns that the offense that was so important to their early success is faltering.   QB Joey Harrington’s stats over the past three weeks, following a Week 8 debacle with 4 picks, are not looking great.  He has thrown 3 more picks an no touchdowns over the course of the losing streak.  He has also not been able to top 200 yards in any of those games.  What is to blame for the sudden decline in productivity?  It is hard to say.  The Invaders are not particularly injury-riddled, wth the only offensive player out the past few weeks being center Russell Bodine.  The run game has continued to look solid, with Ryan Williams rushing for 86 yards in Week 11 and 69 this week, both around his regular pace.  So, all eyes are on the passing game, where Harrington has no lack of weapons.  He has 2nd year receiver Keenan Allen, still on pace for a 1,000-yard season.  He has Pierre Garçon also on pace, with 862 yards already, and he has Richard Rodgers, a very solid rookie TE who has 50 catches on the year.  So, what is the issue?  That is the question Oakland hopes to answer, and quickly, as they face Philadelphia in a game that could easily put them under .500 in a season where 10+ wins were the minimum expectation.   Monarchs, Dragons, Panthers Among League’s Hottest Back on the positive side of the standings, we have to recognize three teams that are getting hot at the right time.  Charlotte has been hot for a while now, winners of 6 in a row after a 2-4 start. They have not been blowing opponents out, but have been consistent with solid games against teams like Baltimore and Ohio helping them stay right in the hunt for a playoff spot.  They have two more huge divisional games left, with Orlando on the docket this week and a season-ender against Atlanta, a fellow 8-win club.   Seattle was predicted by many to bring up the rear in the Pacific, but they now find themselves tied with Oakland for 2nd place at 6-6 and looking the more dangerous club after Oakland, Las Vegas and Portland in three straight divisional games.  They now head off to New Jersey where they can make it 4 in a row, and have two big divisional games left, games that could determine if Seattle gets the edge on a fading Oakland squad and can surprise many with a playoff appearance.  The Dragons will face LA in Week 15 before what could be a “play in” game against the Invaders in Week 16.   Finally, there is Michigan , winners of 6 of their last 7 games, turning a 1-4 start into a 7-5 position and sole possession of first place in the Central Division.  Following their 34-0 drubbing of Chicago, Michigan returned home and edged Oakland by 3 to go two games over .500. They have 3 out-of-divisoin games up next, with 0-12 Jacksonville on the agenda for this week, followed by a home game against Orlando, a trip out to Las Vegas, and a season-ending matchup against 4-8 St. Louis.  This is a Michigan team that has surprised us with the 6th ranked scoring defense and with an offense that is able to win on the ground with LeVeon Bell or through the air with Kirk Cousins connecting with Hines Ward. Only 1 of three teams impressing us down the stretch and possibly finding their legs in time to make a deep run in the playoffs.   Orlando Loses Moreno for Home Stretch It is one of the nastiest injuries in the game, a ruptured Achilles tendon, and when it happens to your lead back, one who was hoping to build on 3 straight 1,000-yard seasons, and help Orlando make a playoff run, it is a big hit.  Moreno tore the tendon in the game against Pittsburgh, a blow that was a big reason Orlando fell in the 4th quarter, unable to muster a run game with Tim Hightower taking over.  By Monday, the physicians had identified the issue and had scheduled a procedure to reattach the severed tendon.  Moreno will be on crutches for at least 2 months, wiping out any chance that he could make a playoff appearance even if Orlando were able to qualify.    With Moreno sidelined, Orlando will go into the final 4 weeks of the season with Tim Hightower as the starter and newly-acquired Joique Bell as the third down and relief option.  Orlando sits at 7-5, a game back of the 6th place playoff spot, and is 4th in the SE Division behind 10-2 Tampa Bay as well as 8-4 Charlotte and Atlanta. Their path forward to a playoff spot will  require they outpace one if not both of their divisional rivals.  They will have a chance to influence this standings for certain as three of their final four games are home to Charlotte (Wk 13), home to Atlanta (Wk 15) and a season finale to in-state rival Tampa Bay, but they will need to make this tough run of games (along with a game in Michigan, no easy win at all) without their primary threat on the ground.    Twelve weeks down, four left to play and we still do not have a single team locked in for a playoff spot. With the widest gap between a current playoff position team and the 7th seed only 3 games, we are at least 1 week away from a club being able to breathe easy with a playoff berth in hand.  Texas, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia can all lock up spots with wins this week. New Orleans and Baltimore can get there with some help as well, but for now, there is still everything to play for in all five camps.    On the other side of the playoff rankings, there has been more movement, with the number of eliminated teams growing from one (Jacksonville) to 6, with Nashville, Memphis, Dallas, Portland, and New Jersey joining the Bulls as clubs now officially out of contention.  Expect this to also be the group that has the highest heat on their coaching staff, with 4-8 clubs Chicago, LA, and St. Louis also feeling some heat.  The division races remain close, with Tampa Bay and Texas enjoying a 2-game buffer over their closest rivals, Philadelphia, Michigan, and Las Vegas only 1 game up on their division rivals.  Then there is New Orleans, looking good at 9-3, having won their last 4 games, and sitting on a 3-game lead over 6-6 Birmingham.  A win by the Breakers or a loss by the Stallions at this point and the race is over.   A tough break for the Michigan Panthers, who have been so hot of late, as they lose their top cornerback to a groin injury.  Dre Kirkpatrick was placed on IR this week, meaning that even if Michigan does qualify for the postseason, Kirkpatrick will not be available.  Dallas also lost a corner to injury with Jason David placed on IR after suffering a partial ACL tear.  Perhaps the biggest hit was in Orlando, as already reported, where HB Knowshon Moreno saw his season end with a ruptured Achilles.  Here are all the new injury listings from the week as we prepare for Week 13.   OUT CB          Dre Kirkpatrick                 MGN     Groin                    IR CB          Jason David                     DAL       ACL                       IR HB         Knowshon Moreno          ORL       Achilles               IR WR         T. J. Houshmandzadeh    LV           Wrist                     1-2 Weeks CB          DeAngelo Hall                  POR      Concussion       1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL LB           Tavares Gooden              BAL        Hamstring LB           Cameron Wake                WSH     Shoulder G            Mackenzie Bernadeau   LV           Hamstring CB          Mike Mickens              ARZ       Concussion   QUESTIONABLE TE           Kellen Winslow II       LV           Jaw DT          Atiyyah Ellison         POR      Patella LB           Barrett Rudd                 ORL       Concussion   USFL Updates Territorial Draft With 2 Teams Relocating The shift of the Las Vegas Thunder to San Diego and the recent announcement that the Nashville Knights will take over in Las Vegas has caused a major ripple in the allotment of Territorial Draft selections. With both clubs adjusting their three protected schools to match their new location, ripples ran through the league, as other teams also adjusted.  The league this week announced the new alignment of protected schools, at least for 2015, and shockingly two pretty big schools are now among the unprotected, Wisconsin and the Tennessee Volunteers. Though we expect Memphis will try to land UT as a school for 2016, they are unprotected this year.  Here is the full roster of T-Draft schools for each team in 2015.   ARIZONA:                  Arizona, Arizona State, New Mexico ATLANTA:                         Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia State BALTIMORE:                     Maryland, Louisville, Wake Forest BIRMINGHAM:                Alabama, Auburn, UAB CHARLOTTE:                    North Carolina, NC State, Eastern Carolina CHICAGO:                        Notre Dame, Illinois, Northwestern DALLAS:                            Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas Christian DENVER:                           Colorado, Colorado State, Nebraska HOUSTON:                       Texas A&M, Houston, Rice JACKSONVILLE:              Florida, Clemson, Georgia Southern LAS VEGAS:                      UNLV, BYU, Utah LOS ANGELES:                USC, Fresno State, Oklahoma State MEMPHIS:                         Arkansas, Ole Miss, Memphis MICHIGAN:                      Michigan, Michigan State, Central Michigan NEW JERSEY:                   Syracuse, Rutgers, Boston College NEW ORLEANS:              LSU, Tulane, Southern Mississippi OAKLAND:                       Cal, Stanford, San Jose State OHIO:                               Ohio State, Kentucky, Cincinnati ORLANDO:                      Miami, Central Florida, South Carolina PHILADELPHIA:               Penn State, Temple, Buffalo PITTSBURGH:                  Pitt, West Virginia, Marshall PORTLAND:                    Oregon, Oregon State, Montana SAN DIEGO:                   UCLA, San Diego State, Hawaii SEATTLE:                         Washington, Washington State, Boise State ST. LOUIS:                       Missouri, Iowa, Iowa State TAMPA BAY:                    Florida State, Southern Florida, Mississippi State TEXAS:                            Texas, Texas Tech, UTEP WASHINGTON:             Virginia, Virginia Tech, Duke   Major Unprotected Universities:  Wisconsin, Minnesota, Indiana, Purdue, Kansas, Kansas State, Vanderbilt, Wyoming, Army, Navy, Air Force.   Ranking the USFL Coaches As we enter the final quarter of the season, it is a time when we know that some coaches are feeling the heat.  For others it is all about solidifying another playoff season, while for yet a third group there is the battle to make a case that their club is on the right path.  As we look across the league, we see coaches in a variety of positions, some quite secure and others very much on the edge.  We have classified all 28 current head coaches into one of four categories: Untouchable, On Solid Ground, Too Soon to Tell, and Feeling the Heat.   Each group has its own unique position, and while coaches move from group to group over time, this is a snapshot of where we are right at this moment.   UNTOUCHABLE We have placed 8 coaches in this category, more than ¼ of all the league’s head men.  Some are here because of past success, others because their current squads are doing well enough to have the coaches in high esteem.  In both cases these coaches are not going anywhere soon. They are solidly at the top of their game and in a position to take a lot of risks.  Who is in this group? The list is pretty easy to determine: Philadelphia’s Jim Harbaugh, Texas’s Greg Landry, Oakland’s Dennis Green, Denver’s Dick Jauron, Houston’s Wade Philips, New Orleans’s Lamar Lathon, Charlotte’s Jim Mora Jr., and Tampa Bay’s Mike Shula.   ON SOLID GROUND These are coaches who seem to have their teams headed in the right direction.  They may not yet have a title, though some do, but they have the respect of the franchise, its fans and the owner, and that means that they can survive a bad season without too much worry about their position.  They are not untouchable, so a couple of bad years strung together could be an issue, but for now they feel pretty good about where they are.  Some have had very recent success, some are relatively new but with enough of a resume to avoid quick hooks form their owners, others are just seen as moving the team towards future succss.  These coaches are: Arizona’s Jim Tomsula, Atlanta’s Tom Ramsey, Las Vegas’s Dick LeBeau, Michigan’s Jim Johnson, Orlando’s Jim Fox, Portland’s Marty Mornhinweg, St. Louis’s Bruce Arians, and Washington’s Sean Payton.   TOO SOON TO TELL This is a group that needs to prove itself.  They are typically in their first year or two of service, have just started putting their stamp on a team, and will be given time to make changes, even if the team is not at its best this year.  Some were brought in to reboot a team, others to get them to the next level, and all likely have at least 3 seasons to show growth before their position would be in danger, but it is just too soon to tell if they are the right fit or not.  These coaches include: Baltimore’s Jim Caldwell, Dallas’s Mike Sherman, Nashville’s Greg Roman, New Jersey’s Norv Turner, Pittsburgh’s Vic Fangio, and Seattle’s Stump Mitchell.   FEELING THE HEAT These are the coaches who are looking over their shoulders.  They may have had a shot, two shots, and now are worried that they have not been able to make their case.  Their clubs are either floundering or just not showing the kind of growth that ownership expects.  If we have a big Black Friday, it is very possibly these names that we will be discussing as casualties of the end of season house cleaning.  Who is in this group?  These folks for sure: Birmingham’s Mike Shanahan, Chicago’s Greg Schiano, Memphis’s Brad Childress, Ohio’s Bart Andrus, and, after only 1 season, but a winless one to date, Jacksonville’s Mike Nolan.     GREATEST USFL RIVALS: LOS ANGELES v. OAKLAND The California Derby is one of the league’s first rivalries, dating back to the 1983 inaugural season, though there was a three year hiatus as the original LA Express moved to St. Louis in 1992, only to be replaced by Express 2.0 in 1995.  With the first Express keeping the team records as they moved to St. Louis (then Nashville, now Las Vegas) the league recognizes only the Derby records from the new Express as part of the official rivalry numbers, but fans tend to look all the way back to the early years of the two cities facing off in the USFL Pacific Division.    It is, of course, a natural rivalry, SoCal vs. NorCal, Giants v. Dodgers, Rams v. 49ers, and, beginning in 1983, Express v. Invaders.  Much like the Federals-Blitz rivalry, the California Derby is something of a Big Brother-Little Brother matchup, with Oakland having had the better of the rivalry since the early days.  While LA have certainly had their years, Oakland has overall had more success as a franchise.  In the official records, the Invaders hold a 21-17 advantage in the matchup, which is closer than most would anticipate.  Oakland also has its two Summer Bowl appearances and the 1991 league title to LA’s one appearance and no titles.     This year the series was split, with LA edging out the Invaders in Week seven 25-23, while Oakland won the rematch at home 27-24.  In fact, most years, regardless of record, the two seem to play to a 1-1 stalemate.  They have met only once in the playoffs, a 31-18 Invaders win last year, when the 13-3 Division Champs bested the 9-7 Wild Card Express club.  And while typical laid back Californians may not have the overt animosity that we see in some other regional rivalries, turnout and support for both clubs is always at a peak when the California Derby rolls around.   We have to say that Week 13 likely looked a lot better in the preseason schedule planning than it does now, knowing what we know.  Not a lot of top-of-the-standings clashes, but we do have some important games as teams try to work their way into the playoff mix.  Pittsburgh starts us off with a trip to Baltimore, where the Maulers all but have to win out to make the postseason while Baltimore is looking to be in good shape and remains only 1 game behind Philadelphia.    On Saturday, the intriguing games include Birmingham at Atlanta, a regional rivalry that could determine if the Stallions are a potential late surging playoff team or if Atlanta will lock in a spot.  Texas is in New Orleans in one of the few games between teams at the top of the standings.  It is an interconference game that could be a preview of Summer Bowl 2014.  We also have a good game in the SW Division as Arizona hopes to leapfrog Houston with a win at NRG Stadium, while the Gamblers hope to make some ground up on Texas if the Breakers can beat the Outlaws earlier in the day.   Sunday brings us Charlotte vs. Orlando in the SE Division and Denver @ Ohio in a playoff-impacting inter-divisional game, but our biggie for the day is Oakland hosting the Philadelphia Stars.  If the Invaders have any hope of recouping their season and winning the Pacific Division as so many predicted, they will have to knock off a very tough Stars team.   FRI @ 8pm ET                  Pittsburgh (5-7) @ Baltimore (9-3)                  NBC   SAT @ 12pm ET              Birmingham (6-6) @ Atlanta (8-4)                    ABC SAT @ 12pm ET              Texas (9-2-1) @ New Orleans (9-3)                   FOX SAT @ 4pm ET                 St. Louis (4-8) @ Chicago (4-8)                         ABC SAT @ 4pm ET                 Los Angeles (4-8) @ Portland (3-9)               FOX SAT @ 7pm ET                 Tampa Bay (10-2) @ Washington (5-7)             NBC SAT @ 9pm ET                 Arizona (7-5) @ Houston (7-4-1)                      ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET             Charlotte (8-4) @ Orlando (7-5)                        ABC SUN @ 12pm ET             Seattle (6-6) @ New Jersey (4-8)                     FOX Regional SUN @ 12pm ET             Michigan (7-5) @ Jacksonville (0-12)              FOX  Regional SUN @ 4pm ET               Dallas (3-9) @ Las Vegas (7-5)                      ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET               Nashville (3-9) @ Memphis (3-9)                    ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET               Denver (7-5) @ Ohio (6-6)                                 FOX SUN @ 8pm ET               Philadelphia (10-2) @ Oakland (6-6)         ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: This was an easy one, made easy by a truly dynamic week for Jake Plummer. The Las Vegas QB just went off on the St. Louis defense, throwing for 5 touchdowns in an easy win for the new Pacific Division leaders. PLAYOFF PICTURE: No teams have clinched as of Week 12, though several are on the cusp. We did have several teams lose their eligiblity, dropping too far behind the 6th seeds to be able to catch up. Now eliminated are Jacksonville, Dallas, Portland, Nashville, Memphis, and New Jersey.

It was a week defined by upsets of the two frontrunners in the league. Divisional foes Denver and Atlanta took it to the Outlaws and the Bandits, snagging wins that kept the underdogs’ hopes for a division title alive.  In the case of the Fire it was a heroic performance by backup QB Brad Gradkowski that got Atlanta the win, while in San Antonio, the Denver Gold survived 534 yards of Texas offense, including 490 yards passing from Joe Flacco, and still came away with a 27-24 victory.  We will recap these two games, as well as all the action from the field this past weekend, but we will also focus on the revelation that it will be the Nashville Knights taking up the offer to relocate to Las Vegas, a decision that has many in the Mid-South fuming and which may explain Peyton Manning’s retirement announcement last week. All this and more right here on This Week in the USFL. ATLANTA FIRE 30   TAMPA BAY BANDITS 24    OVERTIME One of the great things about pro football is that every once in a while you are honestly surprised by something that happens. A team, or even a single player, comes out of nowhere and shocks us.  It is the kind of unpredictability that makes the game fun to watch.  That is exactly what we got from the Atlanta Fire, and particularly from backup QB Brad Gradkowski, as the Fire took Tampa Bay to overtime and snagged a much-needed victory from the Southeast Division leaders.  With their starter forced out of the game by injury late in the first quarter, Atlanta rallied around Brad Gradkowski, the backup, and Gradkowski responded with a game for the ages, 22 of 30 for 228 yards and 4, count them, 4 touchdown tosses as the Fire upended the 9-1 Bandits in Tampa Bay.   The game started well for Atlanta, with starter Kyle Orton going 3 of 4 on the first possession, producing a field goal for the Fire to open the game.  But Tampa Bay also looked strong.  They marched down the field in their opening drive and one-upped the Fire by putting 7 on the board with a Culpepper to Vincent Jackson TD.  The familiar combo would be big all day, with Jackson bringing in 6 Culpepper throws and scoring twice.   With the ball once again, Atlanta started to move their way down the field, anticipating the coverages that the Bandit defense would give them, but, on a 2nd and 3, Devon Kennard was left unblocked on a blitz and collided with Orton just as the ball was leaving his hand.  The ball fluttered to the ground but so did Orton. Woozy and disoriented, the Fire QB would be helped to the sideline and immediately taken into the locker room for evaluation for a concussion.  Onto the field came Brad Gradkowski, the 9-year veteran who had spent a stint in Tampa Bay before coming to Atlanta in 2011.  Gradkowski had last started a game in 2008 and had attempted only 13 passes in 2013 with the Fire.   With that history of non-participation on his record, Gradkowski took the field in a game that Atlanta had pumped up all week as a must-win against the division leaders.  Starting with the ball on the Tampa Bay 13, he faced a third down right away, and connected on a short pass to Ben Hartsook for the first.  Two plays later he would find Matt Jones from the 7 for a go-ahead score, the start of an amazing day for Gradkowski and the Fire.     A scoreless 2nd quarter followed, with Atlanta trying to use the run to wear down the Bandit defense, and with the Fire defense holding Tampa Bay outside of scoring range for the quarter.  To his credit, Coach Ramsey did not baby the veteran backup, sticking to the same game plan that he had prepared for Kyle Orton and asking his backup to make the throws to open up the Bandit zone scheme.    In the third quarter, this strategy began to pay off as Gradkowski eased into the rhythm of the game, and on their second drive of the 3rd, he found Demaryius Thomas on a beautiful out & up for a 22-yard touchdown.  Atlanta now had a 10-point lead on the 9-1 Bandits.  That lead would be cut considerably by a late Tampa Bay TD run from James Wilder Jr. to cap the 3rd quarter with the Fire up 3.    In the fourth, Tampa Bay tied the game on their opening drive, leading many to assume that the momentum had swung, and that Atlanta would now fold as so many teams without their starting QB do.  But that would not be the case.  With 2 minutes left, Atlanta once again took the lead and it was once again Gradkowski connecting on a precise pass, this time to Ted Ginn for the go-ahead score. The drive had been largely orchestrated on the ground, where both Steven Jackson and Marcus Lattimore were finding huge gaps in the Bandit run coverage.  Both backs, supporting Gradkowski, would finish with over 100 yards on the day as Atlanta focused on the run as a way to free up Gradkowski from Tampa’s pass rush.    Atlanta had scored to go up 7 with 2 minutes to play, but the Bandits did not get to 9-1 without showing some resiliency and Daunte Culpepper responded quickly, and in only 1:19 had the Bandits in the endzone again as well, connecting with Vincent Jackson for a second time.  The game was knotted up at 24 and would be heading to overtime.  In the extra period, Atlanta won the toss and would get the ball first.  On their first drive, the Fire made it just over the 50 when a holding call on 2nd and 5 led them to back up and forced Gradkowski to go for longer completions to stay alive.  He was unable to connect on 3rd and 15 and Atlanta was forced to punt.    Tampa Bay could now win the game with a score of any kind.  They moved quickly, using Rex Burkhead as their main back, but also sprinkling in passes to Jackson, Keller, and TE Luke Stocker.  When Culpepper went for the endzone on 3rd and 3 from the Atlanta 22, Nate Kaeding came out and the fans prepared to celebrate a 39-yard field goal.  But Kaeding’s kick doinked off the left goalpost and stayed out, leading to a dejected Bandit fanbase and a very upset Mike Shula on the sideline.  Atlanta would get the ball back.   The Fire wasted no time getting the ball into Tampa Bay territory.  Marcus Lattimore, who had been getting good looks all day, had the play of the game, a 50-yard run on a basic toss play.  That play put Atlanta on the Tampa Bay 27. They could have gone for the kick from there, but having just witnessed the Kaeding miss, the decision was made to play on until a kick was required.  That kick never came.  Runs by Jackson, and a short screen pass to Ginn, got the ball to the 3 yard line.  On 1st and goal, Coach Ramsey decided to give his backup a shot at making a play and Gradkowski hit Ben Hartsook for the game winner, his 4th touchdown of the game.    The loss was a tough one for the Bandits, watching as their defense proved less than adequate against a backup quarterback, while the offense could not put the underdog Fire away.  For Atlanta this was a must-win situation, and even with their starting QB out they found a way, proving they could be a contender in the SE Division.   For Gradkowski it was far and away his best performance of his 9-season career.  He would have a shot to repeat the performance the next week as Orton would be ruled out due to the blow to the head he had received, but for now it was all about celebrating a big win against a tough division rival.   NEW ORLEANS 27    WASHINGTON 22 A bad home loss for the Feds, as they drop below .500, while for New Orleans, the road win is a vindication of their belief that they are now among the elites in the Eastern Conference.  Sitting at 8-3, it is a case that can be made.  A great game from Brees and an 8-catch, 138 yard outing from Early Doucet helped New Orleans pull out to a 27-16 lead and hold on for the big win. POTG:  Breaker QB Brees: 26/33, 295 Yds, 3 TDs, 0 Int   MEMPHIS 14   BIRMINGHAM 17 The Stallions needed this one to get back in the mix, but it was not easy as Memphis scored the tying TD with 2:47 left to go, but a late drive by the Stallions led to a game winner from Garrett Hartley.  POTG:  Stallion QB Cam Newton: 19/27, 233 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   OHIO 10   ORLANDO 21 The ‘Gades are peaking and the Glory seem to be fading as Orlando gets all 21 points in the first half and cruises through a scoreless second half to get their 7th win.  Russell Wilson threw for only 99 yards and threw two picks, but Orlando still had enough to get the W.  POTG:  Renegade HB Knowshon  Moreno: 24 Att, 97 Yds, 2 TD   SEATTLE 31   LAS VEGAS 28 Seattle seems to have found a formula to win while Las Vegas may again be fading down the stretch.  Leftwich had a good game and got a lot of help from Cadillac Williams, who rushed for 118 and a score in his best game of the year.  The Dragon D gave up 3 TDs to Jake Plummer, but also picked off the Thunder QB 2 times to help hold on for the win, moving them to 5-6 and into playoff contention. POTG:  Dragon QB Byron Leftwich: 29/39, 311 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int.   DENVER 27    TEXAS 23 Denver is an underappreciated team, now at 7-4, and they showed their mettle against the Outlaws, knocking Texas down for only the 2nd time all season.  DeMarco Murray went off for 139 yards agains the Outlaw D, while 7 different Gold players got sacks on Joe Flacco in a wild game for the MVP candidate, one that saw him finish only 10 yards short of 500 for a personal record in passing yards, but to no avail. POTG:  Gold HB DeMarco Murray: 14 Att, 135 Yds, 1 TD.   NEW JERSEY 17   PHILADELPHIA 25 The Generals played their rivals tough, going into the half with a 14-13 lead, but the Stars’ quality won out at the end.  Steve Slaton led the way and the Philly D knocked Sam Bradford out of the game in the 3rd, all but ending any hopes the Generals had of taking the road win. POTG:  Stars HB Steve Slaton: 17 Att, 166 Yds, 1 TD   ARIZONA 27    OAKLAND 17 Oakland drops their 2nd in a row as Arizona shows they still have a lot of fight in them.  Frank Gore goes over 100 yards and the Arizona D harasses Joey Harrington all game long, forcing 2 turnovers and nabbing 4 sacks as the Wranglers hold the Oakland offense under 300 total yards and take the low scoring win. POTG:  Wrangler LB Lance Briggs: 4 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   PITTSBURGH 20   PORTLAND 13 The Maulers head out west and grind out a win in the PNW.  Both teams were held under 65 yards rushing in a game dominated by the defenses. The difference for the Maulers was the combo of Victor Cruz and Adam Thielen, who combined for 162 yards on 12 receptions to help Pittsburgh win the battle of 3-win clubs. POTG:  Mauler SS Sean Taylor: 4 Tck, 2 Pass Def, 2 Int.   JACKSONVILLE 14   NASHVILLE 17 This may have been the Bulls’ best chance at a win all year but they just could not pull it off.  Cody Pickett threw TDs to the Moores (Lance and Denarius) to hold off Jacksonville and keep the Bulls winless.  Tim Tebow got the start despite rumors he might be out as QB, but he was again ineffective in moving the Bull offense. POTG:  Knights’ DT Dee Ford: 3 Tck, 2 Sck, 1 FF   CHARLOTTE 21    BALTIMORE 16 A big win for the Monarchs and a tough loss for the Blitz as backup QB Jeff Tuel interviews well for a starting gig, going 18 of 31 for 223 and 2 TDs.  HB Fred Jackson added 106 on the ground and D. J. Hackett had a POTG performance as Charlotte escapes Baltimore with a win.  POTG:  Monarch WR D. J. Hackett: 6 Rec, 142 Yds, 1 TD   LOS ANGELES 28   ST. LOUIS 14 Andy Reid makes the call to bench Mark Sanchez and rookie Aaron Murray thanks him with LA’s best offensive performance of the season.  The Express also knocked Josh Freeman out of the game with a scary helmet to helmet blow that was later revealed to have caused a skull fracture in the St. Louis QB.  Ricky Stanzi finished the game, but could not generate enough offense against a revitalized Express team. POTG:  Express HB Reggie Bush: 13 Att, 135 Yds, 1 TD   HOUSTON 20   DALLAS 25 The Roughnecks win their 2nd in a row and this one is a major upset as they knock off the Gamblers.  Manziel throws for 2 scores and the defense holds off Houston late to secure the win.  The Roughneck D stymied Houston rookie Mike Evans, holding the big receiver to only 2 receptions on the day and forcing Matt Hasselbeck to look elsewhere in a formula others may try to repeat. POTG:  Roughneck DE Elvis Dumervil: 5 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty.   MICHIGAN 34   CHICAGO 0 New Chicago Ernest Byner cannot be happy about his debut as the Machine are manhandled by their division rival.  Doug Martin and Matt Forte combined for a miserable 40 yards total on the ground and Brady Quinn tossed two more picks as Michigan’s D just went off on the Machine.  Kirk Cousins threw for 3 scores before being relieved by Tyler Thigpen as Michigan moves over .500 and deep into the playoff mix. POTG:  Michigan QB Kirk Cousins: 19/20, 306 Yds, 3 TDs in 3 quarters of play. Texas & Tampa Bay Both Fall It was a good week for upsets across the USFL, especially at the top, where the Texas Outlaws and Tampa Bay Bandits both fell from their 9-1 perches.  Denver came into Texas and proved to a lot of people that they need to be taken more seriously, knocking off the Outlaws 27-23 with a very solid day all around and a strong run game from DeMarco Murray.  Meanwhile in Tampa Bay, another divisional rival, the Atlanta Fire, took the Bandits to overtime and stole the win thanks to an eye-opening 4-TD day from backup QB Brad Gradkowski.  Atlanta also racked up 220 yards rushing against a Bandit defense that had been among the league’s best the past month.  Both Steven Jackson (23 carries for 104 yards) and Marcus Lattimore (9 carries for 112) broke off big run after big run against that supposedly tough Bandit defense.   So what do these wins mean for the league and for the two conference frontrunners?  It means that we have no sure things in the USFL, that the season, and the playoffs, could be wide open, and that every team in contention has to put out their best effort each week to ensure a win.  The fact that both defeats were to divisional foes makes that message even more salient, as both the Bandits and Outlaws could see real challenges to their positions in their own divisions before the season is out.  In other words, folks, hold onto your hats, the final 5 weeks of the year could be one heck of a battle.   Reid Benches Sanchez, Murray Gets Win In a surprise move this week, Coach Andy Reid sent Mark Sanchez to the bench and gave UGA rookie Aaron Murray a shot at starting.  The result?  How about a 28-point offensive production, the highest for LA since Week 2, and a win over the Skyhawks in St. Louis.  Could this be the sign of a tectonic shift in LA?   Sanchez has been the starter for the Express since his rookie season in 2009, but growing criticism, and declining numbers, have led many to call for the Express to look a different way for their QB position.  When we look at this year’s numbers, they are among the worst for Sanchez in his career, sitting under 2000 yards passing after 10 weeks, a 7:8 TD:INT ratio, completing barely 53% of his throws and sitting with a QB Rating of 65.1, among the worst in the league for a regular starter.   In comes Murray, the University of Georgia product who brings a lot of winning but whose physical gifts were questioned at the draft, and, he produces a very solid win for the Express, even if his numbers are not MVP level (13 of 26 for 124 and a TD).  The key is that he managed the game, avoided turnovers, and helped LA put 4 scores on the board, including a key 49-yard TD in the 4th to boost the Express lead and all but guarantee them the win.    So, what happens now?  Murray is again slated to start this week, his first home game as a pro, when the Express face the Chicago Machine at Farmers Insurance Field.  We expect he will get a good reception from the LA crowd.  If he can produce a win against the 3-8 Machine, he could well be named the starter for the remainder of the year.  What does that mean for Sanchez, who still has another year on his contract?  Well, it could mean that Sanchez is dangled out there as trade bait for teams looking for a new option at QB.  Would a benched QB with a rating under 70 be a top prospect?  Normally we would say no, but Sanchez has had better years, and has taken LA to the playoffs, so there would be some interest. The question would be if the price meets what LA might want for him.    Of course, this assumes that Murray continues to look good over the next month.  If he struggles, then LA has a bigger issue on their hand, a QB competition between two players that have questions, and that is not ideally what you want, especially if you are Andy Reid and you are entering a 3rd year on your own contract with a lot of pressure to do with the Express what you were able to do in the NFL with the Eagles.   Dallas Impresses in Upset Don’t look now, but the Dallas Roughnecks may have started learning how to win games.  The Roughnecks hosted Houston and won their second in a row, both games against teams with a winning record.  Johnny Manziel is finally looking comfortable under center, the run game with Mendenhall and Spiller is coming together (95 combined yards this week) and Manziel has started to build rapport with another young player, 2nd year receiver Tim Wright.  The defense still has some issues, as evidenced by Carlos Hyde’s 103 yards and 5.2 YPC average, but they are doing enough to keep the offense in the running.    Against Houston, the Roughneck defense held Houston to 3 of 10 on third down and only 4.9 yards per pass attempt.  They struggled a bit against the run (giving up 4.7 yards per carry) but, defending a 22-17 lead in the 4th quarter, they held the Gamblers to a lone field goal and were able to walk away with their 3rd win of the season.  They may not be ready to compete this year, but in 2014, Dallas could be a factor in a very competitive SW Division.   Freeman Lost for Season with Cracked Skull Bad news and a scary injury in St. Louis, where QB Josh Freeman was helped off the field with what was initially believed to be a concussion, but which got more serious as the team took Freeman to the hospital as a precautionary measure.  The QB underwent an x-ray and CAT scan, the results of which proved that this was no standard concussion, but a fracture to the skull which was leading to swelling on the brain.  The Doctors were able to relieve the pressure, and they believe that the fracture will heal properly, but there is potential for future issues should Freeman return to football and suffer a similar head-to-head collision.    The play that produced the injury was about as common as any in the game.  Freeman was scrambling to escape pressure, gained a few yards and then started a slide, but at the same time LB Nate Triplett was honing in for a hit.  Just as Freeman dropped, Triplett put his head down to hit the QB in the chest, the resulting collision was not shoulder to chest but helmet to helmet.  Triplett was assessed a 15-yard penalty, but Freeman was not only out of the game but lost for the season.   St. Louis finished the game with Ricky Stanzi at QB, andwill likely stick with the 3-year veteran as the starter moving forward.  The only other QB on the roster is rookie Tajh Boyd, who may see some action, particularly if St. Louis, now 4-7, is eliminated from playoff consideration before Week 16.  We expect the Skyhawks to bring in a third QB from the free agent pool as an emergency option, but for now, they will move ahead with Stanzi and Boyd as the primary options, hoping that Freeman is cleared and willing to return for the 2015 season.  Losses by both of the league’s 9-1 squads (Texas & Tampa Bay) means that no clubs are locked into a playoff berth just yet, but with their drop to 0-11, the Jacksonville Bulls lock up the indignity of being the first club officially out of playoff contention.  All eyes now are on the Bulls to see if they can get even a single win this year, and if not, just how widespread the sweeping out of old staff and players will be as the club tries to erase the memory of this truly horrible year.   Tampa Bay and Texas, despite their losses, remain atop the playoff standings.  The Bandits have both Philadelphia and New Orleans nipping at their heels, with Baltimore right there too.  Texas has a bit more of a lead, with Houston 2 games back in the division (and the two set to square off this week) and both of the other division leaders sitting only at 6-5, 3 games back.  Michigan takes over the Central lead on tiebreakers, with Ohio now sitting in the 6th and final playoff spot, barely holding off Arizona and Las Vegas at 6-5.  In the East, the cluster is at 7-4, with Charlotte and Atlanta currently both qualified and Orlando the odd man out.  But, as we all know, the tiebreakers can change each week.  And let’s not forget the other teams just outside of the playoff picture.  In the West, Seattle is now in the picture at 5-6, just one game back, while in the East, the gap is a bit larger, with 5-6 Washington and Birmingham  now 2 games behind the three 7-4 teams. The big story this week is the skull injury to Josh Freeman, a blow not only to the team but to the entire league as teams now question whether this was a fluke or whether the helmets designed to avoid just this type of serious head injury are really not as protective as everyone had assumed.  Freeman is out for the season, as you would expect, but is expected to recover fully.  How he returns next Spring will depend a lot on his own sense of security in his ability to avoid future head injuries.  Freeman is not alone on the injury board, of course, so here is the full rundown of  new names added to the list this week.   OUT QB         Josh Freeman                  STL         Skull                      IR CB          Jason David                    DAL       ACL                       IR WR         Lee Evans                        MEM     ACL                       IR DE          Cullen Jenkins                 POR      Back                     2-4 Weeks WR         DeSean Jackson             ORL       Neck                     2-4 Weeks LB           Cameron Wake               WSH     Concussion       1-2 Weeks HB         Kory Sheets                    JAX         Concussion       1-2 Weeks DE          Aaron Kampman             NJ           Groin                    1-2 Weeks LB           Barrett Rudd             ORL       Shoulder             1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL G            Deuce Lutui                      ATL         Hand                    WR         Mario Manningham       MGN     Back   QUESTIONABLE G            John Moffitt                     ARZ       Arm C             Andre Gurode                 CHI        Toe C             Zach Williams                  TBY        Thigh C             Russell Bodine                 OAK      Foot OT          Kenyatta Jones                SEA        Neck QB         Sam Bradford                 NJ           Hamstring WR         Larry Fitzgerald               ARZ       Neck QB         Kyle Orton                      ATL         Concussion   Honky Tonk Blues: Nashville Knights To Relocate to Las Vegas It began as a leak to local radio, but by yesterday the announcement was official.  The Nashville Knights were playing their final games in Music City before relocating to Las Vegas and taking on a new identity in 2015.  This will mark the third relocation for a franchise that began as the original LA Express in 1983.  The club relocated to St. Louis in 1992, where they took on the moniker of the Knights.  They would move again a decade later, heading to Nashville for the 2002 season.  Thirteen years later the Knights will again be relocating, now with a rebrand either to Posse, Locos, or Vipers as they start again in 2015 in a new city.   Fans in Nashville are understandably shocked and upset.  The Knights had drawn well in the Tennessee capital, but stadium issues had led to low profitability for ownership, and ongoing fueds with both the NFL Tennessee Copperheads and the stadium authority responsible for Nissan Stadium, were factors that led the ownership group to consider the generous proposal put forward by the USFL and by Steve Wynn of Wynn Properties of Las Vegas.  Brad Kelley, the lead owner in the Knights ownership group, will retain a 51% share of the new Las Vegas franchise, while Wynn and several other minority owners will control the other 49% of the team’s privately-held shares.    As for Nashvillians, fans who have ridden with the Knights since 2002, they are left with a few options, none particularly enticing.  Many came from the ranks of the fandoms of either Atlanta, Birmingham, or Memphis, and could return to support those teams, but after 12 seasons rooting against those regional teams, it may be tough for them to go back.  They can, of course, focus their energy on the NFL Copperheads, as many held dual affinity to begin with, though Tennessee’s NFL franchise has seen largely hard luck and losing seasons over the past two decades.  The third option is to hope that USFL expansion will be on the agenda soon and that, like other cities such as St. Louis, Atlanta, or Los Angeles, Nashville will be considered a viable market and one worthy of replacing with a new franchise.  Right now the timeline for expansion is very much uncertain, and the recent relocation of the Boston Cannons to become the Dallas Roughnecks, means that the smaller Nashville market will be up against very likely competition from Boston and the New England region for consideration if the league does opt to expand in the future.    While no mention was made of the team sale in Peyton Manning’s retirement speech, inside knowledge of the team’s relocation may well have played a part in the Tennessee legend’s decision to end his pro career this year with the Knights.  Nashville will play their final home game of the season, their final game in Nashville on June 30, when the Knights finish their 2015 schedule hosting the Baltimore Blitz.  There is a very good chance that, falling outside of playoff contention, the Knights will dedicate that night to their fans and that there is a very good chance that we will see Peyton Manning in action.  For now, however, fans of the Knights are distraught, shocked, and angry that their team is the sacrificial lamb to ensure that a USFL team was playing in the Las Vegas stadium built with league funds. 5 Stories We Should Not be Ignoring In every season there are stories that grab the headlines or which we follow week in and week out, whether the saga of the Mannings in both Nashville and Memphis, the drama of Tampa Bay’s sudden rise through the standings, or the surprising success of Houston’s rookies, the 2014 season has certainly had its share of attention-grabbing stories.  But there are also always stories which seem to slip through the cracks.  Topics we should be discussing more in-depth, but never seem to get the attention they deserve.  We have selected five of these stories to provide you, our national readers, with a peak into some stories which have been highlighted locally, but which have not yet drawn much national attention.  Here are our 5 stories more people should be talking about.   Dalton Learning Fast Mauler QB Andy Dalton is in his 2nd full season as the starter in Pittsburgh, after getting the mantle midway through the 2012 season, and what 2014 is showing is that the “Red Rifle” is quickly becoming a dangerous weapon in Pittsburgh’s arsenal.  Dalton’s numbers in 2013 were solid, 2,800 yards, a 10:7 TD:INT ratio (20 to 14 actually) and a rating of 90 overall.  Those were solid numbers, and this year’s appear to be even better.  Dalton has 13 touchdowns after 11 weeks and is already at 2,800 yards, likely on his way to well over 3,000 by season’s end. He has the Mauler offense in the Top 10 in the league for passing yards, and while points have still been a tough proposition (Pittsburgh averages only 19.3 per game) he is putting up numbers with a very young receiving corps that bode very well as he and his receivers mature into the game.   Dalton has started all 11 games so far this year, with backup Jeff Smoker seeing action in only 1 game, and throwing only 1 pass attempt.  His receviers are a very young group, with 4th year Victor Cruz the oldest of the regular contributors, followed by 2nd year players Adam Thielen and Tavon Austin.  Throw in 4th year TE Jimmie Graham and you have the youngest receivers group in the league, and yet Dalton is connecting with his young targets and moving the ball effectively.  Thielen is the biggest revelation, a mid-round pick out of Minnesota State (no, no the fictitious school from “Coach”, the regional college formally known as Mankato State).  Thielen is currently 9th in the league with 62 receptions and 7th in yardage with 871, well on his way to back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.  Victor Cruz, sitting at 750 yards after 11 weeks, has a shot at being a 2nd 1,000-yard receiver for the Maulers, who have not seen a passing game like the current year’s since the departure of Andre Rison in 2004.    Sanchez & Tebow Could be Trade Bait Mark Sanchez and Tim Tebow may not seem that similar on the face of things, but the two do share two significant traits.  Both were early round draft picks by teams hoping to use a local talent to not only spice up their offenses but expand their local fanbases, and both are now under a lot of scrutiny for their lack of production and, more importantly, the inability to build playoff-winning teams.   Sanchez, who came to the Express directly from USC, has been the starter in the City of Angels since 2009, but has struggled to match the hype that came with his years as a Trojan.  Other than a strong 2010 campaign that saw him throw 29 touchdowns to only 8 picks, Sanchez has struggled to maintain a strong balance of TDs over picks.  His QB rating has, in most years, fluttered between 65 and 75, well outside the range of what one might expect for a starter in the USFL, much less a “franchise” QB.   Tim Tebow came to the Bulls with all the fanfare and hype that a star University of Florida should expect when he stays just a few short miles from Gainesville.  There were questions about his style of play when he arrived, and those have only been exacerbated by five seasons in which interceptions have become commonplace and the Bulls have struggled to stay outside of the 10-loss club, with this year’s 0-11 record being the worst the club has seen since the 2-14 season that preceded Tebow’s arrival.   Both quarterbacks were at one point viewed as franchise “saviors” but now are very much looking like potential trade bait.  Sanchez has one more season on his contract, but was benched last week by head coach Andy Reid. Tebow has remained the starter in Jacksonville, but many are now saying that if Coach Nolan is retained for a second year, the odds of Tebow entering the 2015 campaign as the starter are very slim, with the most likely scenario being an attempt by Jacksonville to jettison the inaccurate but athletic quarterback to another team in hopes of snagging a few more draft picks in what could be a full retooling of a very bad team.   Seattle Rising Two straight wins over division leaders Oakland and Las Vegas, have fans feeling like the Seattle Dragons may be ready to make a run.  They sit at 5-6, only a game under .500 and well within the pool of teams within contention for a Wild Card spot in the wide open Western Conference.  With 3 of their final 5 games against teams with losing records, including 3-8 Portland next week, the Dragons could very legitimately make a run at 8-8 or even 9-7, which could be good enough to get them a playoff spot. What have the Dragons done of late that has pushed them into contention and made them a dangerous foe in the later half of the season?  We could point in a lot of directions, but the two things that seem to be clicking right now are the passing game and the pass rush on defense.  Byron Leftwich over the past 4 weeks has been on a run, with 8 TDs to only 3 picks, and with 4 straight games with 30 or more pass attempts.  He has gotten into a groove with both lead receiver Nate Burleson and his tight end, NFL import Dennis Pitta.  On defense, the Dragons do not have a 10-sack edge rusher, but have been diversifying their pass rush, with three different defenders now sitting on 6 sacks apiece.  That group includes DE’s Travis LaBoy and DeMarcus Lawrence, but also blitzing LB Carl Ihenacho.  With the combo of a stronger passing game and a better pass rush, Seattle is mixing things up in the Pacific, and could well exceed expectations if they can keep on this run.   Orlando D More than Campbell It is easy to look at the Renegades’ 1st ranked defense (for yardage) and focus all of our attention on Calais Campbell.  After all, Campbell has won the sack title 5 seaons in a row, an astonishing feat, and is well on his way to a 6th title with 20 sacks in 2014.  But he is not doing it alone.  Both DT Albert Haynesworth and DE Arthur Moats both sit at 7 sacks this year and could finish the year in double digits.  LBs Sean Spence and Anthony Barr are able to focus on runstuffing with the front 3 doing so well on pass rush without much blitzing, and a secondary composed of CBs Syd’Quan Thompson and 2nd year star-in-the-making Dee Milliner, along with safeties Darnell Bing and Chad Scott, are playing solid football, even if the INT totals are not there.  This is, despite the initial perception, a team defense, not just one outstanding player doing it all himself.  Sitting at 7-4, the new team defense concept is proving to be just what Orlando needed (along with improved QB play from Russell Wilson) to put the Renegades into the playoff discussion.   Denver a Contender It seems like every year we find ways to not talk about the Denver Gold, and yet year in and year out Coach Jauron has this team ready to join the playoffs.  2014 is no different.  While we have been focused on Texas and Houston, Denver has been there all the way.  This week’s upset win in San Antonio just goes to show that the Gold are very much a part of the mix when we look at the SW conference.  They are not flashy, but they are good in almost every phase of the game.  The Passing game is 11th in the league, with the run game currently 10th, one of the best balances of any team in the league.  The same is true for their defense, where the run stuffing and pass rushing front 7 seem effective against a wide range of attacks.    Denver is now sitting in a tie for 2nd place with Houston, only 2 games behind the Outlaws, but with a solid 4-2 division record.  The next 5 weeks they face three teams with losing records and have a pivotal season finale hosting Houston at Invesco Field.  There is a real chance that Denver could not only edge their way into the playoffs as a Wild Card, but that they could beat out the Texas Outlaws for the division, having just defeated Texas head-to-head.   Every Team’s Toughest Free Agency Decision We are reaching the point in the season where teams are trying desperately to sign key players before their contracts expire, but also putting together a strategy for the offseason, thinking about potential retirements, looking at draft prospects, and determining which players could be allowed to walk in free agency and which should be signed at all costs.  As we look across the league, we see a variety of scenarios, and a lot of variation related to cap space, and the number of contracts coming due this year.  With that in mind, here is our estimation of the biggest issues and questions for all 28 USFL clubs as we enter the final month of the season.   ARIZONA: Who Can the Wranglers Afford to Lose? Arizona has 4 major figures on the team up for new contracts this year: Safety Troy Polamalu, Corner Joe Haden, WR Larry Fitzgerald, and TE Rob Gronkowski.  At present they have barely $700k in remaining cap space, even with reworkings they are unlikely to be able to sign all 4, so who will stay and who will find a new home?   ATLANTA:   Is Orton the Man? Kyle Orton has been the starter for the Fire since arriving in 2009.  He has been a very solid player, but is not considered an elite QB, with a lifetime QBR of 88.5.  Will Atlanta spend the big bucks to sign him to another long-term deal or is this a pivot point for the franchise, one where they might look to go younger?   BALTIMORE:  How Many receivers to retain? The Blitz are having a breakout season, and that is in large part due to the evolution of their receiving group, but they are looking at big potential changes this offseason.  Not only is TE Antonio Gates in his final year of a deal but so is breakout star Darrius Heyward-Bey, along with role playing receivers Javon Walker and Donte Do.  Does Baltimore have enough capital to sign their big two, and then what does that do to the depth in this group?   BIRMINGHAM: Is Addai Worth Resigning? We all know that Birmingham is going to prioritize getting DeMeco Ryans resigned, so then the attention goes to lead back Joseph Addai.  Is the 28-year old doing enough to warrant a multi-year big deal?  Since coming over from the NFL, Addai has averaged 4.1 YPC, but has not surpassed 1,000 yards in any season.  Being injured much of this year does not help him make his case very well. And with Alabama producing a T-draft protected back like T. J. Yeldon, the temptation may be for Birmingham to cut Addai loose.   CHARLOTTE: Could Tuel Head to Greener Pastures? With Brandon Wheedon locked into his deal through 2018, Charlotte has committed to him as a member of the team and likely as the starter.  But we have seen a lot of good football form Jeff Tuel this season, so the 23-year-old could well look for greener pastures and a chance to compete for the starting job elsewhere.  Charlotte may just have to let that happen as they are very tight on cap space and have several other priorities, including LB Rolando McClain and HB Fred Jackson.   CHICAGO: Is Weaver at 35 a worthwhile investment? Chicago has a big chunk of its D-line up for new deals, including 35-year-old Anthony Weaver, along with DT Ellis Wyms, DE Tamba Hali, and backups Andy Studebaker and Kris Jenkins.  And while Weaver has been a force for the Machine for over a decade, at 35 can the Machine really invest the big money in him that it will take to resign the big man?  Is this a case where a player finishes his career on a 1-year deal for a chunk of change with a team that is just a few pieces from a title?   DALLAS: How big do they want to spend? Dallas does not have a lot of key players they need to resign, perhaps LB Manny Lawson and G Harvey Dahl, but with over $8M still in cap room even before the free agent salaries are dropped, there will be money available to the Roughnecks to spend big if they choose to.  We could see a spending spree, especially to bolster the 25th rated defense this offseason.  They have a QB on a rookie deal, and that always helps.   DENVER: Can Leinart Win a Title? Do we really think Denver will cut bait with Matt Leinart?  No, that just does not seem likely, but it has to be noted that Leinart is 2-5 in playoff games since coming on as the starter as a rookie.  That is not exactly confidence-inspiring.  But, does that mean you let him walk in free agency and hope you have a better option?  And where would that option come from?  No, we think the Gold resign him and work on building more weapons.   HOUSTON: Does the D need a Youth Movement? That is a big question for the Gamblers, especially because they have Shaun Springs (35), James Farrrior (37), Osi Umenyiura (32) and Derrick Burgess (35) all on contract years.  Standard wisdom is to go younger, but that is complicated if Houston sees themselves on a short window with Matt Hasselbeck to win a title. Do they hang on to some key pieces for one more run at a title before they bring in a young QB?   JACKSONVILLE: Is it time to blow it all up? If this club goes 0-16, you can bet the answer is “yes”.  That could mean retirement for Mike Vrabel, but also a lot of veterans going to free agency, including SS Mike Brown, FS David Bruton, HB Lamar Miller, DT Broderick Bunkley, SS Atary Bigby or WR Johnny Knox, all of whom are in the final year of their deals this summer.   LOS ANGELES: 3 LBs to sign, can they keep them all? The Express have an issue at LB.  With Lofa Tatupu, Will Overstreet, and Clay Matthews all in contract years and with just over $2M currently in cap room, there may be no way to sign them all.  So, who is the odd man out?  We like Matthews, as a 26-year-old for the top priority.  Tatupu is 33, Overstreet is 35, and if we are just being cutthroat about this, Overstreet is the most expendable.  With few other major contracts to work around (Jason Whitten is the only other big one on the table), the LB spot is where the tension will be.   LAS VEGAS: Is Plummer Coming Back? If he is, that is a lot of cap room that Las Vegas won’t have for other signings, but if the 37-year-old hangs up the helmet, then Las Vegas could be a buyer’s market.  Their other big resigning questions are at WR, where T. J. Houshmandzadeh (35) could be another retirement candidate, and at DE where a decision has to be made about Adewale Ogunleye.   MEMPHIS: Is their starting HB on this roster now? Yes, we could focus on the injury to Lee Evans in a contract year, or whether or not Memphis retains Matt Cassel as a backup QB, but honestly the big question for the Showboats is whether or not they have a HB they like.  Anthony Allen is a free agent as of this July but has barely gotten a look in this offense.  Darren McFadden has not produced as expected, and while Knile Davis has certainly shown flashes of greatness, he is not a 3-down, 400 carry back.  If Memphis wants to hunt for a free agent HB, they should have the funds to find a good one if any are out there.   MICHIGAN: Is Manningham their true number 2? Michigan has very few high impact contracts in the works right now, but the one that catches our attention is that of wideout Mario Manningham.  The number two receiver toyed with 1,000 yards in 2013, but that was with Hines Ward injured for nearly 2 months.  This season he has regressed, with only 404 yards on 37 catches after 10 weeks.  Is that enough to spend the money to resign him or will Michigan look for a better option across from Ward?   NASHVILLE: What is the answer at QB? Peyton Manning has announced his retirement, so that makes the 2nd half of the season an audition for Cody Pickett.  If he does well, Nashville moves ahead with other priorities, but if he struggles, they may need to allow more players to leave in free agency in order to have the cap space to sign a quality quarterback.  A lot on the line for Coach Roman over the next 5 weeks.    NEW JERSEY: Scott or Raji at DT? The Generals have two quality DTs, both coming up for extensions or new deals, but they are cash poor, with under $500k of current cap room, so it seems very unlikely that they can sign both, especially not with Aaron Kampman also up and almost certainly going to demand some bank-busting numbers.  We could see several players let go, players like Donterrious Thomas, Danieal Manning, and Tatum Bell just to free up cap space for Kampman’s deal, so what does that mean for B. J. Raji and Ian Scott?   NEW ORLEANS: Is Ty Warren worth the money he will demand? He is one of the highest rated edge rushers in the league, but his numbers are down this year.  So, do the Breakers break the bank to resign him, or do they let the 31-year-old test the market and invest more in other positions with multiple contracts coming up?  They have both centers and three wideouts all on their final years, so there will be competition for the limited funds New Orleans will have.   OAKLAND: Is it time to shop for weapons? Oakland has a ton of cap room (nearly $8M before their free agent contracts come off the books), and they don’t have a lot of big name players in contract years, with guard Logan Mankins, LB Keith Bullock and DT Jarron Gilbert being the only realtargets, so this looks like an opportune time for the Invaders to upgrade some key positions by spending big.   OHIO: Is Weinke the man? That is the question of the season for the Glory.  Weinke is 34 years old, and his contract is up.  Do they go a new direction?  Do they think he has more left in the tank, and is what he has good enough?  And just where will they get a QB from if they let him walk?  It is not an easy situation for the Glory, because it is not like their T-Draft schools guarantee them good QB prospects year in and year out.  Ohio State is just not that team.   ORLANDO: Resign Wilson at what cost? We all think that Russell Wilson is worth resigning, but can Orlando do it without gutting their roster to reach the cap room needed?  They have less than $1M in space currently, and they have over 20 players in the final year of deals, so this is going to take some serious math for them to both resign their potential franchise QB and to not have a roster of backups.   PHILADELPHIA: Will Stevie Johnson demand more than they can pay? Johnson is without a doubt one of Philadelphia’s biggest weapons, but he is not going to be happy to extend his $1.7M contract, he is going to want that doubled or more, so what does that mean if the Stars also want to resign Darren Sharper, Steve Slaton, Mike Nugen, Sean Lee, and Reggie Torbor?  Well, the good news is that they still have $10M in cap space and that will expand when the season ends, so they well could resign anyone they want and still have room for some shopping on the free agent market.     PITTSBURGH: Can Maulers Retain the O-Line? The Maulers have 4 members of their line rotation up for new deals, including LT Oniel Cousins and three of their top guards (Canfield, Adams and Kelemete).  They have plenty of cap space, but they also have needs on defense and possibly at halfback.  Do they take some risks with their line or do they lock them in and then hope to be able to fund upgrades in other need areas?    PORTLAND: 4 LBs to sign, not enough money. Mark Simoneau, Channing Crowder, Justin Durant, and Jonathan Casillas represent four of the 6 linebackers in regular rotation for the Stags, including the team captain in Simoneau and the league’s leading tackler in Crowder.  With barely $1.7M currently under the cap, can the Stags keep the group together or will they have to make some tough decisions.  Simoneau is 34, and that could be a factor, because there is no way they let Crowder go after the year he is putting in. As for Durant and Casillas, we expect one of the two at most to be retained because Portland could well be engaged in a QB hunt this year and that requires some major cap space.   SEATTLE: Leftwich is up, does he have 3-4 years left in him? The Dragons have a long list of contracts coming to an end this year and are under $1M in current cap space, so that means something of a fire sale is likely.  But, with Byron Leftwich among the unsigned, can they afford to invest heavily in the 33-year-old quarterback?  It would be a shock to the system for Dragon fans not to have Leftwich under center, but it may save them enough to be able to resign others like Cadillac Williams, safety Shaun Schilinger, DE Travis LaBoy, or LT Kenyatta Jones.  If they hold onto Leftwich, expect a lot more of the roster to turn over.   ST. LOUIS: Can the Skyhawks afford to go shopping? The ‘Hawks have just under $700K in their current cap space, and while their list of upcoming contract expirations is pretty short compared to most, they do have some players that they would hate seeing leave, players like center Shaun O’Hara, LB Aldon Smith, and CB William Gay.  So, what does St. Louis do?  There is a general feeling that this team is not capable, as it is now constituted, of rebounding to the heights they saw in 2012.  So a talent infusion is needed.  They will certainly look to restructure some contracts, but they may also have to selectively let some of these contracts end and set players into the free agency pool.   TAMPA BAY: Are Hughes and Pierre-Paul both signable? Tampa Bay’s defense has been one of the big surprises of the year, and the Bandits are getting great production out of the combo of Jerry Hughes and Jason Pierre-Paul, but can they afford to resign both of their edge rushers? They have limited cap space and they have other needs as well, including emerging back Rex Burkhead and LB Jonathan Goff.  Daunte Culpepper is also up for renewal, so a lot could depend on his decision to stay or to retire.    TEXAS: Do they have the funds to land a top tier edge rusher? The Outlaws have some players to resign, including DT Luis Castillo, OT Roger Saffold, and LB Casey Matthews, but the biggest gap in their roster remains at DE, where Reynaldo Wynn has been a one man show for several years now.  If they want to put another bookend opposite Wynn, they will need to free some money up and that means letting some other position slip a bit.  Will it be the interior D-line by releasing Castillo or will it be a skill position?   WASHINGTON:  Do they deal Webb after a strong year for Garrard? With players like FS Ed Reed, CB Jimmy Williams, DE Mathias Kiawanuka and SS Gibril Wilson all up for renewal, Washington has some work to do.  They do have good cap space ($6.5M right now), but they also have a budding QB controversy.  Garrard has played very well this year, but the team is struggling.  Do they try to get top talent by trading away their starter and going with Joe Webb, or do they hope to bring in a fair deal for Webb and use their cap space to shore up some other roster areas.  Of course, what they need depends a lot on whether this is Deuce McCallister’s swan song season or if the centerpiece of the Feds’ offense comes back for another year.   Chicago Leans Into City Identity with New Look When the Pritzkers (cousins J. T. and Thomas) joined the USFL as the newest owners of the Chicago Machine franchise, they emphasized that not only would the Machine be staying in the Windy City, but that they were doubling down on the connection between the USFL franchise and its home town.  We begin to see that redoubling of local ties this week as Adidas unveiled the new 2015 designs for the Machine’s uniform.    The changes start with the color scheme.  While the primary deep maroon, a color inspired by the University of Chicago, remains in place, the dark machinery grey is gone, replaced by a sky blue color inspired by the city’s well-known flag.  That flag plays a big role in the new design, with the sky blue and white striping and the ubiquitous six-pointed stars taking on a greater role in the Chicago look.  The Machine have used sky blue and the red star in their logo for several seasons, but with the 2015 look, Adidas is pumping up the symbolism in the uniforms.    The Chicago logos are altered, replacing the dark grey with more of the sky blue and red.  The helmet has a new stripe, a wide white stripe with a thin offset sky blue stripe inside, designed to evoke the city flag without being a direct representation.  Two small red stars sit at the base of the stripe, one just above each bumper at the front and the rear of the helmet.  A similar pattern is seen on both pant sets, with the 6-pointed star at each hip.  The striping motif is even carried into the jersey numerals, where white and blue stripes are part of the upper horizontals of all 10 numbers. The jerseys remain white and maroon, but are brighter now without the dark grey secondary color. Instead we have white numbers on the maroon jersey, with no striping on the sleeves, only a patch with the primary logo on each.  The collars also have a version of the Chicago flag, with a white base, blue stripe and red star.  The white jerseys feature maroon sleeves and collar, with the same treatment at the base of the neckline.  The numbers are maroon with no outline, but with the white and blue stripe through the upper horizontals.  Both sets of socks, the maroon version and the white with maroon stripes, also feature thin white and sky blue striping as well. It is a coordinated look to be sure, and one that still very much speaks to the tradition of the maroon-clad Machine, but it is also a look that hopes to align the Machine with the iconography of the city, building a greater tie to the community and the pride that Chicagoans feel in their city and its flag. GREATEST USFL RIVALRIES: BALTIMORE V. WASHINGTON Safe to say that when we hit the Top 6, the intensity is ratcheting up a notch, and that is certainly the case between these two longstanding NE Division foes. Separated by only 44 miles, the Federals and Blitz are among the closest geographical rivals in the league, and the two cities have long been at each other, vying for recognition as world class cities. And while the NFL never played up the rivalry, and the lack of a MLB team in Washington kept it from blossoming as a rivalry, the USFL dove in head first in 1986 when the Chicago Blitz relocated to the Magic City. Ever since then these two have been a classic big brother, little brother feud for the ages. You see, Washington is clearly the big brother here, a founding franchise that has never relocated, and a two-time USFL champion and regular playoff favorite. Baltimore, well, they have had some good teams, but their trophy case remains empty. That disparity is a big part of the rivalry, with every Blitz victory over the Feds seen as a small notch in a long belt, but a belt Washington often uses to smack the Blitz. The two have played each other 59 times over the years, and Washington is only 1 win away from doubling Baltimore's win total, currently on top 39-20. They split their series this year, and by all accounts the Blitz are certainly having the better season, but until the Blitz win a title, they will forever be the little brother and Washington fans will absolutely let them know it. The Home Stretch is in full effect with 7 divisional games this week, and a lot of middle-of-the-pack battles to be had.  We kick it all off on Friday where NBC’s Friday Night Lights game is a must-win for the Federals if they want any chance at a playoff spot.  Dropping to 5-7 would not be a good look for the Feds, but they head to Philadelphia, where the Stars still have designs on the top seed, sitting at 9-2 on the year. On Saturday, we have a Cascade Classic with Portland heading to Seattle, but the biggest game of the day could be in Denver, where the Gold face a Birmingham Squad desperate to get back to .500 and have a say in the Wild Card race.    On Sunday, we start off with a good one in Charlotte, where the 7-4 Monarchs face the 6-5 Glory.  Later in the day, we have Las Vegas at St. Louis in a must-win for both clubs, and an intriguing game in Dallas, where the Roughnecks, winners of 2 straight, face a fading defending champ in Arizona.  We finish the week off with a huge matchup atop the SW Division as Houston takes their shot at knocking Texas off their pedestal and getting back into the division title race.    FRI @ 8pm ET              Washington (5-6) @ Philadelphia (9-2)    NBC   SAT @ 12pm ET              New Orleans (8-3) @ Nashville (3-8)      ABC SAT @ 12pm ET              Memphis (3-8) @ Tampa Bay (9-2)          FOX SAT @ 4pm ET                 Birmingham (5-6) @ Denver (7-4)           ABC SAT @ 4pm ET                 Chicago (3-8) @ Los Angeles (4-7)           FOX SAT @ 7pm ET                 New Jersey (4-7) @ Baltimore (8-3)        NBC SAT @ 9pm ET                 Portland (3-8) @ Seattle (5-6)              ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET             Orlando (7-4) @ Pittsburgh (4-7)           ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET             Jacksonville (0-11) @ Atlanta (7-4)         ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET             Ohio (6-5) @ Charlotte (7-4)                    FOX  SUN @ 4pm ET               Las Vegas (6-5) @ St. Louis (4-7)              ABC SUN @ 4pm ET               Arizona (6-5) @ Dallas (3-8)                     FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET               Oakland (6-5) @ Michigan (6-5)             FOX Regional SUN @ 8pm ET               Houston (7-4) @ Texas (9-2)           ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: This may be a first, but our POTW goes to a player on a losing team. Yes, Texas lost only their 2nd game of the season, but you still have to give it to Outlaw WR Marques Colston, who put up ludicrous numbers trying to help his team get win number 10. Colston was unstoppable on the deep ball, catching 9 passes for 209 yards and a TD. It was not enough for the W, but it was enough to impress our POTW voters. PLAYOFF PICTURE: With both Texas and Tampa Bay going down this week, there was no clinching, and the races just got tighter, but we did have our first elimination, and to the surprise of no one, it was Jacksonville, sitting at a miserable 0-11, who are now officially out with 5 games left to play. The question now is if they can win a game all season long.

A good week for the favorites as 11 of 14 favorites got the W they sought.  That said, the three upsets are where the excitement was as Oakland fell to Seattle, Memphis shocked Washington, and Dallas got their 2nd win of the year with a big upset over heavily-favored Michigan, snapping the Panther win streak.  Texas and Tampa Bay kept chugging along, reaching 9 wins each, and Jacksonville just kept flopping, now at 0-10 for the season.  We begin our coverage with a fun matchup of two fringe contenders as Orlando headed to Birmingham with both hoping to stay relevant in their divisions.  We will also take a look at the newly-released USA Today All Under-25 Roster for the USFL, discuss five players who may be entering the final weeks of their careers, and get a peak at the newest fashion out of the Rose City as Portland updates their look for 2015.   ORLANDO RENEGADES 27   BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS 24 This was a game that featured two teams on the cusp of playoff eligibility, Orlando sitting at 5-4 in a tightly-packed SE Division and Birmingham at 4-5 and beginning to drop out of range of the New Orleans Breakers.  Both teams saw a win here as a potential springboard to a home stretch run towards the postseason and a loss as a major obstacle to their plans for playoff football.  The game also featured two promising younger quarterbacks with Russell Wilson facing off against Cam Newton.  Both are mobile and both can get the ball deep, so this was a matchup that promised some fireworks.   While not a high-scoring shootout, the game did feature both quarterbacks throwing for 3 scores, but what made this game our GOTW was simply the way the game played out as one of the biggest comebacks in league history.  Birmingham dominated the early going, building up a 24-0 lead midway through the second quarter, but that all changed with one play and Orlando would go on to score 27 unanswered points over 35 minutes of game clock to stun the Birmingham crowd, uncertain how a team that had been so dominant could disappear and be dominated by the trailing opposition.   It all began about as well as a game can for the Stallions.  They received the opening kickoff, marched down the field in short order, moving into Orlando territory in only 7 plays and then hitting on the big play to take the game’s first points, a 34-yard strike from Newton to his new favorite target, Dontrelle Inman.  With Orlando failing to make a first down on their first possession, Birmingham soon had increased the lead to 10-0 on a Garrett Hartley field goal.  It was all looking good for the Stallions early.   Following another short drive from the Renegades, Birmingham got their third possession of the game, and just like the other two, they moved the ball well and put points on the board.  This time it was another short pass turned into a long gain as Newton hit slot receiver Julian Edelman over the middle on a quick slant, only to have the elusive receiver juke the safety and race to the endzone for a 29-yard score.  Birmingham was up 17-0 and was not done yet.    The ensuing Orlando possession, now down 3 scores, lasted only 1 play as Knowshon Moreno took a pitch from Wilson, bobbled the catch, and let the ball fall to the turf.  It was recovered by LB DeMeco Ryans, and despite protestations from Orlando that the ball had been a forward pass, replay showed it was a lateral and possession was given right back to Birmingham.  The Stallions wasted no time getting back into the endzone, adding Cam Newton’s third TD toss of the day, a 7-yarder to Inman to go up 24-0 and seemingly put the nail in the coffin for the visiting Renegades.   But, this is pro football, where momentum can be the difference between a blowout win and a fierce comeback victory.  Orlando, looking deflated on the sideline, came back onto the field and were quickly forced to punt after only 3 plays.  This was a team that simply did not believe in itself, but that was about to change.  On the second play of their next possession, lined up at their own 17, Birmingham was itching to put the game away, but an attempt to hit on a big pass would backfire, shifting the game towards the Renegades.  Newton connected with Chris Chambers on an out & up, and the Stallion receiver started heading upfield when he was blindsided by Orlando LB Sean Spence, delivering a punishing blow that separated Chambers from the ball.  The football bounced erratically, kicked by one player attempting to capture it, and eventually a dogpile formed.  At the bottom of the pile was Calais Campbell (Who else?) and Orlando had the ball at the 24 yard line with a chance to shift the energy of the game.    It would take Russell Wilson only 2 plays to transform the turnover into points.  The first play was a 16-yard pass to slot receiver DeSean Jackson, the second a perfect fade route to Dwayne Harris.  By game’s end, Harris would be the match’s leading receiver with 10 catches,100 yards, and 2 scores, but at this moment, his over the shoulder catch was the spark that gave Orlando hope of responding to Birmingham’s quick start.   Now it was Birmingham’s time to sputter. For the first time all game the Stallions were held without a first down, going 3-and-out and giving Orlando the ball back with 3:03 left to play in the half.  Orlando would control the clock, move the ball in small steps, and finish the half off with a 47-yard Billy Cundiff field goal.  Now down 24-10, Orlando believed in their ability to come back, the momentum had changed.   In a scoreless third quarter, Birmingham held on, doing just enough to stop Orlando drives from getting into range, but also unable to do anything on offense themselves. The gameplan which had worked so well in the early stages of the game was not adjusting well to Orlando’s new schemes.  The Renegades stopped blitzing, leaving 6, sometimes 7 players in coverage and rushing only their front line.  Newton missed on passes, and when he tried to scramble, Orlando linebackers were there to spy him.  It was a frustrating quarter for the home fans, watching as the Stallions lost all inertia, but still looking at a 14-point lead.   The confidence of the Stallions that they could hold the lead faded quickly in the 4th, when Orlando did what they had  not been able to do all game, move the ball from deep in their own end all the way to 7 points.  Orlando mounted a 13-play drive, complete with a 12-yard Moreno run, a 21-yard pass to Harris, and 2 third down conversions.  The drive ended with Wilson’s favorite target, Harris, snagging a short crossing route from the 5 and taking it across the plane to pull Orlando within 7.   After another failed Birmingham drive, it was clear that not only the momentum, but the confidence had also slid over to the Orlando sideline.  Birmingham was now questioning themselves, feeling very much like the game was slipping away, while Orlando was bolstered by a new found confidence in their ability  to tie the score.  It would take Orlando only 7 plays to do so, putting up the game-tying field goal with 1:38 left to play, another short toss from Wilson to his receiver, this time Doug Gabriel, scoring from the 7.  The score led to an eruption of excitement from the Orlando bench and a lot of heads hung low on the Stallion sideline.  What came next would break the Stallions’ spirit.   Coach Fox, long a veteran of USFL wars of attrition, saw the lack of spirit and sense of loss on the Birmingham sideline and knew that the Stallion squad was lacking focus.  He called for an onside pooch kick from a standard formation, showing that the ball would go deep but then sending only a high bouncer off the tee.  The call was perfect.  No need to wait for overtime.  Orlando took over on the Birmingham 49 with a chance to win the game in regulation.   The Renegades would do just that, moving the ball almost at will against a deflated Stallion squad, getting the ball to the Birmingham 10 before a couple of dive plays to set up Cundiff with a 29-yard chipshot for the win at the whistle.  Cundiff connected and Orlando’s sideline celebrated while nearly 50,000 Stallion fans trudged to their cars in disbelief.  Birmingham was now 4-6, and while certainly still alive in the Wild Card hunt, they were a defeated unit, while Orlando, now sitting at 6-4 was right in the mix for a playoff spot, with a newfound confidence in their ability to overcome.    PHILADELPHIA 26   PITTSBURGH 13 The Stars defense helps Philadelphia get back to winning ways, shutting down the Maulers when it mattered most, in the red zone.  Pittsburgh gained 317 yards on the day, and made 5 trips to the red zone, but came away with only 2 field goals.  Meanwhile Philadelphia combined TDs from Travis Kelce (back from injury) and Steve Slaton with 4 mike Nugent field goals to take the W. POTG:  Stars CB Sam Shields: 7 Tck, 1 Int, 1 FF, 1 FR   ST. LOUIS 3   CHARLOTTE 37 It was a battle of backups as Ricki Stanzi and Jeff Tuel faced off after both Freeman and Wheedon injured themselves in late week practices.  To say that Tuel had the better day is pretty obvious.  Stanzi threw 2 picks while Tuel tossed 2 TDs, but the biggest star of the day was once again Monarch HB Fred Jackson, who rushed for 126 yards and 2 scores as Charlotte rolled to victory and solidified themselves above .500 with a 6-4 mark. POTG:  Monarch HB Fred Jackson: 22 Att, 126 Yds, 2 Td   NASHVILLE 17   NEW ORLEANS 38 The Breakers are breaking away from the division with another convincing divisional win.  Drew Brees went 25 of 33 and the combo of rookie Jeremy Hill and Mike Tolbert rushed for 248 yards as New Orleans just outclassed Nashville in all phases.  The defense held the Knights to 24 total yards rushing, Early Doucet had 2 TDs and special teams provided 7 points as punt returner Johnny Morant brought one back 65 yards in this dominant Breaker win. POTG:  Breaker QB Drew Brees: 25/33, 204 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int   TEXAS 29   CHICAGO 15 Chicago’s losing streak hit 6 games as Texas picked off Brady Quinn 4 times and Marques Colston went over 100 yards and scored 2 TDs to once again show off Texas’s balanced approach.  Joe Flacco only attempted 17 passes in the game, but still got a 14-point win over a flailing Chicago squad thanks to a defense that was all over Quinn and his receivers. FS Earl Wolfe had 3 picks in the game, while CB Nathan Vasher had one, but ran it back for 6 points. POTG:  Texas FS Earl Wolfe: 4 Tackles, 3 Pass Defenses, 3 Ints   OAKLAND 6   SEATTLE 20 A huge upset in the Pacific as the Dragons sacked Joey Harrington 6 times and shut down the Oakland run game to shock the Invaders.  Seattle got touchdowns from Dennis Pita and Nate Burleson, but it was the defense that was the story in this one, holding Oakland to only 218 total yards and 0 for 12 on third down. POTG:  Dragon CB Tramon Williams: 7 Tck, 3 Pass Def, 1 Int.   ATLANTA 27    OHIO 24 A tale of two halves as Ohio blew a 24-3 halftime lead with Atlanta going on a 24-0 scoring run in the second half, thanks in part to Brad Gradkowski being given free reign. After trying to win on the ground in the first half, and falling to a 21-point deficit, Coach Ramsey let Gradkowski cook in the second half, and the backup to Kyle Orton threw for 3 scores and led the Fire to a game winning FG in the final minute of play.  Gradkowski would finish the game 17 of 26 for 285, 3 TDs and no picks after throwing for only 41 yards in the first half. POTG:  QB Brad Gradkowski: 17/26, 285 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   LAS VEGAS 7    LOS ANGELES 3 In a game that was quite honestly painful to watch, both the Thunder and Express looked absolutely inept on offense,  Jake Plummer was sacked 6 times and rushed 6 times for -2 yards.  Mark Sanchez completed only 40% of his throws and the LA run game accounted for only 42 yards on the day as both clubs combined for only 10 points.  The lone moment of offensive explosiveness was a blown coverage by the LA secondary which produced an 85-yard Plummer to Kevin Everett TD.  This was a game that has to have both clubs worried. POTG:  Las Vegas DT Terrance Knighton: 4 Tck, 2 Scks   WASHINGTON 17   MEMPHIS 21 The second shocker of the weekend as a flat Feds team, clearly looking past the Showboats to next week’s game against New Orleans, got sideswiped by a rejuvenated Eli Manning and a surprisingly effective Showboat run game.  Manning’s game was not perfect, he did throw 3 picks on the day, but he also guided the ‘Boats on 3 TD drives.  Knile Davis bust out with 89 yards on only 11 carries, helped by Darren McFadden’s 52-yard day, as Memphis stunned the Feds and their own fans with a pretty solid outing for the first time in weeks. POTG:  Showboat HB Knile Davis: 11 Att, 89 Yds, 1 TD   TAMPA BAY 34   JACKSONVILLE 17 The Bandits did not fall for the trap game and put up 21 points in the first quarter to take control and put away the winless Bulls.  Rex Burkhead once again impressed in his fill-in role, rushing for 97 yards and 2 scores, while both Vincent Jackson and Santonio Holmes went over 100 yards receiving as Tampa Bay kept rolling towards that top seed in the East. POTG:  Bandit WR Santonio Holmes: 3 Rec, 104 Yds, 2 TDs   BALTIMORE 27    NEW JERSEY 10 A big Baltimore contingent took the ride up I-95 to watch their Blitz in East Rutherford, and they were not disappointed.  Darrius Heyward-Bey hit on several big plays, including an 86-yard TD, finishing with 176 yards on the day, and with Anthony Dixon out, Baltimore still dominated on the ground, with Cedric Benson rushing for 64 yards and 3rd stringer Kerwynn Willams going off for 104 yards on only 10 carries.  Expect to see more of him after this outing.  POTG:  Blitz WR Darrius Heyward-Bey: 4 Rec, 172 Yds, 1 TD   DENVER 30    ARIZONA 20 A big win to boost Denver’s playoff hopes, and a tough loss for the Wranglers at home as former General Michael Crabtree had himself a very nice game with 5 catches and 130 yards, but the big hero for the Gold was DE Bryce Fisher, who had himself a one-play opus that turned the game from a battle to a Denver win.  Fisher’s third quarter sack-fumble-recovery-score was the grand slam Denver needed to pull away and put away the Wranglers.  POTG:  Denver DE Bryce Fisher:  3 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR, 1 Def TD.   PORTLAND 20    HOUSTON 26 Ryan Fitzpatrick and Jonathan Stewart had Portland in this game, but the defense let them down, giving up 124 yards and 2 scores to Carlos Hyde and failing to stop Houston as they ran out the clock over the final 5 minutes.  The Gamblers held the ball the entire time, putting up a field goal as time ran out to secure the win.  POTG:  Gambler HB Carlos Hyde: 32 Att, 124 Yds, 2 TD   DALLAS 27    MICHIGAN 21 Our third of three pretty seismic upsets as Michigan’s winning streak is done in by the Roughnecks.  Dallas got only their 2nd win of the season, upending the Panthers in Detroit thanks to a huge day for HB Rashard Mendenhall.  The big man rushed for 143 yards on 21 carries, helping Dallas keep the Michigan defense at bay. Add in 3 TD tosses from Johnny Manziel, including 2 to speed receiver Tim Wright, and a defense that held Kirk Cousins to only 183 yards passing, and you have a win for a team that needed something positive to happen. POTG:  Dallas HB Rashard Mendenhall: 21 Att, 143 Yds, 0 TD   Peyton Manning Announces Intention to Retire After watching Nashville fall to New Orleans from the sideline, his fifth consecutive game without any on-field action (3 due to injury), Peyton Manning had apparently done some soul searching. In a Wednesday press conference, Manning announced to the Nashville fans and to the country that he would finish out the 2014 Knights season as his last in pro football.   Manning’s stint in Nashville has been a mix of emotions.  There was his triumphant return to football after what  many considered a career-ending neck injury and spinal fusion surgery, but something has been different about his game since coming over from the NFL Colts.  The zip is just not there on his fastball, and the victories did not pile up the way they had for him as a 3-time NFL MVP and Super Bowl winner.  This season, after starting the year once again under center, he was injured in a Week 5 game at Pittsburgh, and the injury, to his mid-back, brought up concerns that there would be further complications related to the stability of his spine.  Added to this, the Knights opted to stick with backup Cody Pickett at QB even as Manning was cleared to practice and then to play.  That was a tough combination of bad news, both physical and professional, for Manning.  Manning, speaking to the press at Nissan Stadium, thanked the Knights for giving him the chance to prove himself, thanked the fans of Nashville and the state that has adored him since his days in Knoxville, and thanked his family for their support and love.  He was clearly emotional about stepping away from the game but insisted that it was the right decision at the right time.  It is not known if Manning will get another start in what is looking like a lost season for the Knights, though we would not be surprised if Coach Greg Roman gave him the Week 16 game just as a tribute to a future Hall of Famer, what is known is that a player who came to define excellence for nearly a decade in the NFL, has not had the USFL follow up that he and most of us wanted.   Manziel Leads Upset of Michigan It has not been a coronation season in Dallas for Johnny Manziel, despite the massive jersey sales in the preseason or the hype coming out of Texas A&M and the Heisman.   But, when we look at his year, what we see is a rookie QB who is growing into his role.  This week’s performance in Michigan was perhaps his best of the season, throwing for 258 yards and 3 touchdowns with no picks and leading his Dallas club to a hard-fought road victory after several near misses in prior weeks.    Manziel’s numbers are not going to win him Rookie of the Year (2044 yards, 12 TDs, 9 Ints after 10 weeks) but there are signs that he is growing, and he is going to be more effective as a sophomore.  He is throwing fewer picks as the season goes, making faster reads, using his feat more judiciously, and building rapport with his teammates, especially with 2nd year receiver Tim Wright, who has moved up the depth chart and is now the leading target for Johnny Football with 72 targets and 45 catches.  Dallas is still sitting in the SW Division basement, and they still have some pretty big holes on the roster, including depth at WR, but we are seeing signs of hope for the future from the club and from their anointed franchise quarterback and media superstar.   Chicago Makes 2nd Big Staffing Change in 3 Weeks Something had to give.  After a week in which the Machine lost their 6th in a row, the offense scored fewer than 20 points for the 5th time in 6 weeks, and QB Brady Quinn threw 4 picks, it was clear that Week 7’s shuffle in the front office (changing the GM) was not enough.  Coach Schiano gave his OC the boot this week, letting Mike Sullivan go and promoting HB Coach and former USFL/NFL back Earnest Byner to the interim OC position.  Of course, at the rate the Machine are going, the new owners may decide that Schiano’s entire staff is now interim.    Byner, who played for the Cleveland Browns before coming over to the USFL to run the ball for the Ohio Glory in the mid-1990’s, will now take over an offense that is ranked 25th in scoring at only 16.6 points per game and 23rd in passing.  Brady Quinn, once viewed as the franchise QB for the club, is sitting at 14th in yards passing and 21st in passing touchdowns.  His 11:12 TD:Int ratio is a career worst, and his QB Rating of 79.7 is the worst of his career by nearly 10 points.  Byner will be asked to fix that issue, and quickly.   He will also be charged with boosting a run game that was dynamic in 2013 but has just not found its groove this year.  With a 3-7 record after 10 weeks, Chicago has only fleeting hopes at a playoff spot, but Schiano and Byner need to show something in the final 6 games or both of them could be following Mike Sullivan out to the street by August.   No Final Week Trades, but a Surprise Signing in Week 10 The trade deadline came and went this week with no last-minute deals made, but that is not to say that there was no roster news, as we got a surprise announcement out of Columbus, a familiar face coming back for one last dance.  Ohio held an impromptu press conference on Tuesday to announce that superstar former Glory wideout Joey Galloway, who retired after the 2012 season with the Tampa Bay Bandits, was cancelling his golf outings and lemonades at the club to return to the Glory for the remainder of the 2014 season.   Galloway played 16 seasons in Columbus with the Glory, a key piece of one of the most prolific offenses in league history and a big part of the team’s back-to-back titles and undefeated 2002 season.  He and the team agreed to a separation in 2010, when Galloway then went to Tampa Bay and helped them win a title in 2011.  He played one more season in Tampa Bay before announcing his retirement, and many thought he would sign a 1-day deal to retire as a Glory team member, but that did not happen.  So, it was a huge surprise, but a very welcome one for Glory fans when the team announced not only that the 40-year-old receiver would come out of retirement to become a Glory player again, but that this was not a 1-day deal, but an actual contribution to the team.    Expect Galloway, who has not played a down in nearly a year and a half, to work his way onto the field in very limited packages, but to get a huge welcome from the Glory fans when he does, which could be as soon as Week 13, when Ohio hosts Denver.  The Glory, who lead the USFL Central Division with a 6-4 record, could use a boost to the passing game, currently ranked 19th in the league, but more likely will just benefit form the knowledge, mentorship, and locker room savvy of a superstar like Galloway.    While it is still too early for any team to have locked in a playoff spot or for any to be removed from contention, we certainly can see the writing on the walls with our first Playoff Picture report.  On the one hand it seems all but assured that Tampa Bay and Texas, both perched atop their conferences at 9-1 are going to be playoff bound, and now are in a position to control their destiny in regard to the top seed and home field advantage throughout the playoffs.  Dallas, and particularly Jacksonville, on the other hand are all but assured to be the first teams eliminated from playoff contention in their respective divisions.  Beyond these 4 teams, there is a lot to be determined. Texas holds a 2-game lead on Houston, and 3 games over the other two division leaders, so the top seed is theirs to determine.  For Tampa Bay, even a single loss puts Baltimore in play, with the Breakers and Stars also in the mix.  Lower down on the playoff standings what we see is what we often see around Week 10, a cluster of teams sitting between 6-4, 5-5, and 4-6.  This year that group, the Playoff Peloton, to borrow from bike racing lingo, is made up of 6 teams in the East and another 8 teams in the West.  We know that perhaps half of each peloton will qualify for the postseason while the others fall short.  So, just what is needed from each club with 6 weeks left.  The truth tends to be that a team in this boat that can finish the year with 5 wins out of 6 games is in great shape, ending the season somewhere between 11-5 and 9-7, which is typically good enough.  Teams that go 4-2 down the stretch, or 3-3 have a much harder time.  Obviously the current 6-4 teams have more wiggle room than those at 4-6, but with all 14 of these teams, the key to locking in a playoff spot is the same, get hot now and string together wins when the season is on the line.   A lot of injuries impacting the league this week.  In addition to the two minor injuries which kept both Brandon Wheedon and Josh Freeman out of action this past weekend, we had some pretty impactful injuries during the week’s action, including season-ending injuries to three players, two of them ACL injuries which could take 9-12 months to fully address.  Orlando lost 2 wideouts this past week, both potentially for multiple games, while Portland will be without DE Cullen Jenkins and their lone fullback, Greg Jones.  Baltimore takes hits on their O-line depth with Alleman and Armstead both expected to miss multiple weeks, while Arizona will be without three players at least this week, one of them being star wideout Larry Fitzgerald.  Here is the full list, and it is a long one, as late season injury lists tend to be:   OUT CB          Jason David             DAL       ACL                       IR WR         Lee Evans                MEM     ACL                       IR G            Andy Alleman         BAL        Hip                        IR WR         Jeremy Maclin        ORL       Abdomen           4-6 Weeks DE          Cullen Jenkins         POR      Back                     4-6 Weeks WR         DeSean Jackson      ORL       Jaw                        4-6 Weeks FB          Greg Jones             POR      Back                     2-4 Weeks OT          Tarron Armstead     BAL        Groin                    1-2 Weeks HB         Kory Sheets              JAX         Concussion       1-2 Weeks TE           L. J. Smith               LA          Ribs                       1-2 Weeks CB          Mike Mickens         ARZ       Concussion       1-2 Weeks LB           Kiko Alonso          POR      Pinched Nerve   1-2 Weeks   DOUBTFUL WR     Larry Fitzgerald      ARZ       Concussion       G    John Moffitt     ARZ       Arm                       FS           Tyrell Johnson     NSH      Ribs TE           Coby Fleener           NOR      Foot DT          Sione Pouha              DEN      Toe   QUESTIONABLE WR         Josh Reed                 ATL         Thigh QB         Brandon Wheedon  CHA      Shoulder LB          Chase Blackburn      NJ           Broken Nose FS          Mark Barron          LV           Hand DE         Isaac Hilton             OHI       Toe FS          Clyde Adams             TEX        Back CB         Charles Godfrey      JAX         Hip QB        Josh Freeman             STL         Concussion   USFL & USA Today Announce All Under-25 Team With an eye towards the future, USA Today this week put out their list of the USFL All Under-25 Team, showcasing the best and brightest of the younger set on USFL rosters across the league. Some names on the list will be well known as they have already had their break out moments, others may be less familiar to you, but are gaining notice among GMs and coaches across the USFL.    Quarterback:  Cam Newton, Stallions (23) While USA Today also cited Andy Dalton of Pittsburgh and Russell Wilson of Orlando as potential up and comers, they viewed Newton as the “already arrived” candidate for the U-25 QB group.  Newton had a breakout season last year, and while 2014 has not been the step up that most expected, he is still very clearly the one player on the Birmingham offense that defenses are gameplanning around.   Halfback: Leveon Bell, Panthers (22) and Ryan Williams, Invaders (24) Running back is a position where youth is often at a premium, so it is not surprising that there were 2 players selected and 4 named (Carlos Hyde and Eddie Lacy were the other two).  Williams and Bell are centerpiece players for their teams and regular contenders for the rushing title, though they often have to contend with more veteran players like Deuce McCallister.   Fullback:  Tommy Bohanan, Federals (22) A bulldozer of a back who is also beginning to show some skill in the passing game, Bohanan is one of very few under-25 fullbacks who have been given the full-time job in a position that is falling more and more out of favor each year.   Tight End: Tyler Eifert, Knights (21) One of the youngest players on our list, Eifert is the clear number one in Nashville and beats out others younger tight ends like Houston’s Rob Housler or rookie Richard Rodgers in Oakland.   Wide Receiver: Adam Thielen, Maulers (22) and Mike Evans, Gamblers, 24 Thielen burst on the scene last year with outstanding numbers and was the rare wideout who came into the league as a mid-range draft pick and was almost immediately thrust into the starting lineup.  Evans is the first rookie to make the list, though a slightly older rookie than most. Just missing the cut were fellow rookie Odell Beckham Jr in New Jersey and one of our favorites, Chicago’s Aaron Dobson.   Offensive Tackle: Matt Kalil, Express (24) and Eric Fisher, Dragons (21) Kalil was a hot commodity coming out of USC, so it is no surprise that we see him here.  Fisher was an overall number one pick in the NFL and a huge signing for Seattle, so again, no surprise. Just missing the cut was New Jersey’s Donald Stephenson.   Offensive Guard: Kyle Long, Outlaws (23) and Jonathan Cooper, Monarchs (22) Both guards started their first week as rookies and have been stalwarts on the inside every since.  Both are on playoff contenders, and both can play on either side of the center.  Just missing the cut was Riley Reiff, the former Hawkeye now protecting Newton in Birmingham.   Center: Philip Blake, Outlaws (22) Fans of the Outlaws have to be overjoyed to see 2 names from their O-line on this team, because it means that Joe Flacco could be very well protected for a very long time.  Nashville’s Wesley Johnson (24) is the Honorable Mention here.   Defensive End:  Barkevious Mingo, Bulls (22) and Robert Quinn, Blitz (24) Mingo is here largely on the merit of his strong rookie year, because his numbers are down in the Bulls’ 0-10 season this year.  Quinn is a name that Blitz fans are beginning to tout as one of the most undervalued players at the position.  A potential third candidate is Nashville’s Mario Addison, who has had some injury issues keeping him from being more productive.   Defensive Tackle: Star Lotuleilei, Roughnecks (23) and Aaron Donald, Maulers (20) Lotuleilei was an instant hit in Dallas, winning POTW in his first game as a pro.  Since then he has been a force for Dallas on the inside.  Donald, the youngest player on our list, has been a standout in what has been a tough year for the Maulers otherwise. Tampa’s Kawann Short also deserves some praise for his contributions to Tampa’s vastly improved defense (Now 3rd in the league in scoring).   Linebacker: Luke Kuechley, Fire (23), Rolando McClain, Monarchs (24), Khalil Mack, Dragons (22) Dallas may be kicking themselves that they let Kuechley go, because he is having a great year with the Fire.  McClain may not get all the praise, but he is a huge piece of the Monarchs’ defensive schemes, and Mack is growing each week in his rookie year with the Dragons. Also worth mentioning is Sean Porter up in Michigan.   Cornerback: Dre Kirkpatrick, Panthers (24) and Dee Milliner, Renegades (21) Kirkpatrick was an immediate impact player for the Panthers as a rookie, which we could also say for Milliner coming from Alabama to Orlando.  We should also throw in Seattle’s Richard Sherman, who is very tough on the field and one of the league’s best trash talkers.   Safety: Calvin Pryor, Showboats (22) and Eric Berry, Knights (24) Looks like the state of Tennessee has locked down the safety position for a while with these two outstanding young players.  Pryor is just a rookie, and is already one of the best defenders Memphis has.  Also worth mentioning is free safety Robert Sands, another good young piece in Pittsburgh.   Special Teams:   Kicker Caleb Sturgis, Breakers (21) and Punter Jeff Locke, Outlaws (23) Sturgis just beats out Denver’s Jeff Zeurlein for this spot, while Locke and Seattle’s Pat O’Donnell are both strong legged punters who put their teams in solid position.   Five Players Who May be in Their Final Games With Peyton Manning announcing his retirement plans, it got some buzz going about others who may be considering hanging up their cleats.  This is always a crapshoot because one player’s physical and mental resilience at 36, 37, or 38 may be very different from another.   We know, for example, that running backs can step away earlier due to the beating their bodies take, while other positions can see players potentially reach 40 without stepping away.  Just look at Joey Galloway’s return to Ohio at age 40 and you see how tough it is to gauge.  But, that being said, here are 5 names that we are hearing in the rumor mill as possibly looking at their final games over the next 6 weeks.   DT Paul Grasmanis (TEX):   Eighteen seasons at defensive tackle is stunning and praiseworthy, but with the Outlaws potentially on the path to a title, we could very easily see this longstanding figure in their D-line go out on top.   DE Jevon Kearse (CHA): Another D-lineman, Kearse turns 38 this offseason, and it is very rare that a player in his type of physical position would play that late into his 30’s.  But, once again, the lure of a title could be pushing his engine.   LB James Farrior (HOU): We keep putting Farrior on lists like this, and he keeps putting up one more solid year after another.  He is 37 this year, his 16th in the league, and his numbers are down, so perhaps we have finally seen the swan song happening, but don’t tell him that.   QB Jake Plummer (LV): Not his first time on lists like this either, but 37-year-old Plummer is again in the hunt for a playoff spot, and again could tell Father Time to shove off for one more go.    HB Frank Gore (ARZ):  He won the MVP in 2013, but seems to be struggling this year.  Yes, Gore is only 33, but just like a dog, you have to count HB years differently than regular human years.  Thirty-three is about 85 in human years because the pounding a tailback takes is life-draining.   Portland Reveals Blazing New Uniforms It is all about blaze orange for the Portland Stags as they revealed their new Adidas-designed uniforms for 2015.  From a new orange lid to bright orange jerseys and pant sets, the Stags are embracing their ties to hunter culture, to the north woods of the PNW, and to their unique color scheme.  While several elements of the Stag’s 2008 look remain, including the wrap around antlers on the helmet, the shoulder yokes with antler cutouts, and the use of multiple pant sets (now 4 with white, brown, buff, and orange options), the new-look Stags are fully embracing the uniqueness of orange as color.  Portland has been and remains the only team in the USFL to use orange as its dominant color, a fact that is even heightened with the switch of the helmet from brown to blaze.  Their colors, originally stated to resemble those of the Cleveland Browns, are distinct due to the vibrant nature of the blaze variant of orange and the inclusion of buff (dull gold) as a tertiary color.  The other outstanding feature of Portland’s look is the use of the antler motif on nearly every item of their uniform.  This is again heightened in the new Adidas look as the club will now have antlers as part of their pant stripe, with an antler cutout in the main stripe of the pants, causing the contrasting center stripe to end at the mid-thigh instead of continuing to the hip. The two main logos of the club remain the same, the antler head primary and the football-shaped secondary, but the font used for the team is being modernized.  Gone  is the swirling script “Stags”and in its place is a serifed block font.  The jerseys also now feature a unique shadow feature on the numbers, with the drop shadows going straight down, instead of angled as we most often see in the shadow number style.  It is a new look, but one that fans across the nation will immediately associate with Portland’s outdoorsy identity. GREATEST USFL RIVALRIES: CHICAGO V. ST. LOUIS  Are we cheating on this one? Just a little bit. Why? Well, because it very much feels like the Machine and Skyhawks have stumbled into a rivalry late and are just picking up a baton that has been around for a long time. It is undeniable that the cities of Chicago and St. Louis have had a running feud going for the better part of a century, it has never been much of a football rivalry. The Bears and Cardinals was not a heated NFL clash, even with the Cards having moved from Chicago to St. Louis (now much further afield in Phoenix), and while the University of Illinois and the University of Missouri had their moments, neither is actually in the cities involved here, and they are not even in the same conference. St. Louis v. Chicago is a baseball rivalry. Always has been. Games between the Cardinals and Cubs can rival the Yankees-Red Sox matchups for drama and fan buy-in. The longstanding rivalry between the two National League foes has trickled into other arenas, most notably the NHL where the Blackhawks and Blues regularly clash, but has never been much in the NFL. Enter the St. Louis Knights in 1992, only 5 years after Chicago's Machine debuted, and we have the start of another spring sport with both clubs in the same division. That familiarity hurt, but when the Knights relocated once again, moving on to Nashville, it created a gap. The Skyhawks arrived in 2006 to fill that gap and give Chicago the chance for more drama with their rival across the state and over the Mississippi. Is this rivalry bigger than Chicago-Michigan? Honestly it depends on the year and the standings. Is it bigger for the Skyhawks than the Machine? Probably, after all Chicago has other clear rivals, St. Louis does not. The two have only played 17 times, with the Machine holding an 11-6 advantage. They will play again in Week 13, but both teams are struggling to stay relevant this year, so will we see true rivalry passion? We don't know. Many may argue that we have placed this rivalry too high in our list, and that may be true, but there is a joy to the banter between these two fan groups, especially now that the Skyhawks have a title under their belt, something Chicago has tried repeatedly and failed to obtain. It may not be as storied or as intense as some other USFL rivalries, but we are putting this one here because the rivalry of cities is so profound and the potential for annual clashes so great. Week 11 brings us 7 divisional games, including some of the league’s best rivalries, like Memphis @ Birmingham, Michigan @ Chicago, and New Jersey @ Philadelphia.  It also brings us some really huge games as the playoff hunt gets nasty.  Friday’s Breakers-Federals game could be a do-or-die affair for the 5-5 Feds, as they sit in 3rd place in a NE Division that is pulling away from them.  Saturday includes a great rematch of the Western Conference Finals from 2013, with Arizona headed out to Oakland.  The Wranglers, mired at 5-5 also need to get a W, while Oakland has dropped a pair of games recently and cannot afford to let Las Vegas pull ahead of them in the Pacific.   On Sunday we have battles in the three divisions with Atlanta visiting Tampa Bay early, Houston in Dallas late, and Michigan @ Chicago at night, but the biggest game may be in Baltimore, where the 6-4 Charlotte Monarchs hope to derail the surprising 8-2 Baltimore Blitz.   FRI @ 8pm ET                  New Orleans (7-3) @ Washington (5-5)          NBC   SAT @ 12pm ET              Memphis (3-7) @ Birmingham (4-6)               ABC SAT @ 12pm ET              Ohio (6-4) @ Orlando (6-4)                                FOX SAT @ 4pm ET                 Seattle (4-6) @ Las Vegas (6-4)                     ABC SAT @ 4pm ET                 Denver (6-4) @ Texas (9-1)                                FOX SAT @ 7pm ET                 New Jersey (4-6) @ Philadelphia (8-2)             NBC SAT @ 9pm ET                 Arizona (5-5) @ Oakland (6-4)                    ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET             Atlanta (6-4) @ Tampa Bay (9-1)                    ABC SUN @ 12pm ET             Portland (3-7) @ Pittsburgh (3-7)                 FOX  Regional SUN @ 12pm ET             Jacksonville (0-10) @ Nashville (2-8)            FOX  Regional SUN @ 4pm ET               Charlotte (6-4) @ Baltimore (8-2)                   ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET               Los Angeles (3-7) @ St. Louis (4-6)                ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET               Houston (7-3) @ Dallas (2-8)                            FOX SUN @ 8pm ET               Michigan (5-5) @ Chicago (3-7)             ESPN/EFN