The Wranglers go down for the first time this year as Houston figures out a way to put them off their game and holds on to end the unbeaten streak at 13 games.  New Orleans gets a huge win at home against the Federals and some help from Portland to take over first place in the South, and Texas punches their ticket to the playoffs with a win over Dallas.  A big week across the league as the last unbeaten team falls, just two weeks before the end of the season, and the playoff hunt intensifies with a cluster of teams looking at those final Wild Card spots.  We still have 3 divisions unsettled (the entire Eastern Conference) and we still have a lot of battling left to go as the USFL regular season reaches its final stages.  It’s all here, from a breakdown of just how Houston did it to a look ahead at what could be a decisive Week 15. ARIZONA WRANGLERS 21    HOUSTON GAMBLERS 28 We all wondered if this would happen, having clinched the division and a bye in the playoffs, could the Arizona Wranglers keep up the intensity needed to pull off one of the toughest tasks in all of sports, to complete a full pro football season undefeated?  Only the 1973 Miami Dolphins and the 2002 Ohio Glory have ever run the table from Week 1 through to a title, and there is a reason why that is so rare.  Not only does the pressure start to mount each week in an unbeaten season, but every foe sees their game with you as their shot at glory.  That was certainly the case this week for the Houston Gamblers, who had this game circled on their schedule.   Backs  to the wall for playoff hopes, Houston not only wanted to win this game to prove something to themselves, they needed it in order to have any shot at a postseason bid. The Gamblers came out of the gate white hot, and that fast start put Arizona on its heels early.  It was a position the Wranglers have not faced most of the year, playing from behind and not having their defense in a position to shorten the game and lock down the opponent.  Houston scored all 28 of their points in the first half, and that gave them the ability to play with a lead, to shorten the game on their terms and to hold Arizona short of a full comeback in the second half. The stars were many for Houston in this one, beginning with the run game and former Machine back Michael Turner.  Houston broke out heavy sets early and often in the game, and the added blocking helped Turner crank out 44 yards in the first half, including both of his touchdowns for the game. Cedric Cobbs also got several first half carries, and did quite well, averaging 3.6 yards per touch against a Wrangler D that had been among the toughest in the league to run against. The big sets, often with 2 tight ends, a fullback, and only 1 receiver, forced Arizona to bring players into the box, which also allowed Matt Hasselbeck to find a receiver in one-on-one coverage.  Hasselbeck went 10 for 18 in the first half, largely on play action, hitting Mike Sims-Walker with a TD to get Houston on the board after Arizona had taken an early 7-0 lead on a Jonathan Dwyer goallline plunge. But the play of the game came after the score was tied at 7.  Arizona was starting to drive when Osi Umenyiura just missed a sack of David Carr, but impacted his throw.  The ball wobbled off target and right into the hands of Houston DB Justin Knox, who had clear sailing 40 yards to the endzone.  The Defensive score not only put Houston up, but got the crowd into full voice.  That crowd noise, amplified by the closed roof at NRG Stadium, helped propel the Gamblers into the 2nd quarter.  It got even louder when on a 3rd and 1, Michael Turner not only slashed his way to a first down, but found himself in the secondary after breaking through the initial wave of tacklers.  He would take the ball 26 yards for a touchdown and put Houston up by 14 points. Arizona was reeling.  They were down by double digits for the first time all season, and that meant changing their run-first philosophy to get back into range before the half.  They would do that on a 9-play drive that ended with Carr hitting Larry Fitzgerald for a 13-yard touchdown.  That play seemed to put Arizona back in a comfort zone, down only 7 with nearly 8 minutes of the 2nd quarter left to play.  But, it the 7-point gap would be expanded once again, and in impressive fashion as Houston went on a 7-minute, 16-play drive, the likes of which Arizona had rarely seen all season.  It was Turner and Cobb using the enhanced line to break free for several runs of 6-8 yards.  It was play action to tight end Dante Rosario or WR Bethel Johnson.  It was Matt Hasselbeck scrambling for a first down (against all odds) on a 3rd and 2.  When Turner plunged in from the 1, putting Houston back up by 14, the Wranglers knew that they were in deep water if they wanted to keep their unbeaten season alive. At the half, there was a jubilant but cautious feel about the stadium as the Gambler faithful were both impressed by their first half and worried that a change of momentum could come at any time.  But that change never came.  Arizona tried to adjust to the larger sets that Houston kept throwing at them, but the Gamblers continued to have success both with the run and with play action off the run.  They effectively slowed down the game, holding Arizona to only 5 possessions in the 2nd half, and aside from one brilliant throw, a 60-yard TD from Carr to Antonio Bryant with 3 minutes left in the game, the Wranglers simply did not respond. Turner finished the game as the offensive MVP, with 95 yards rushing and 2 TDs.  Justin Knox’s pick-six was clearly the play of the game, but a lot of kudos should go out to the entire Houston coaching staff, who not only found a way to get Arizona out of their game, but kept Houston focused throughout the second half, trading points on the board for time off the clock.  In the end, Arizona would outgain the Gamblers, but not where it counted.  The Gamblers would take the win, improve to 7-7, put themselves in position to fight for a Wild Card in the season’s final weeks, while Arizona would drop their first game of the year, and now would have to decide how to play out the final two weeks of the season.  Would they rest some players and enter the postseason healthy, with home field already locked up, or would they try to regain their swagger with their final two regular season games before their bye week? ST. LOUIS 17   CHICAGO 14 The week kicked off with a good one on Friday night, a divisional matchup of the 2012 and 2013 division champs, and with the Chicago squad reeling a bit from recent injuries, St. Louis kept their playoff hopes alive with a 4th quarter field goal.  The game featured two of the best young tailbacks in the league this year, St. Louis’s Eddie Lacy, making a push for ROTY with his 101 yard performance, and new league rushing leader Doug Martin, who exploded for 173 yards on 25 carries.  But, sadly for Martin, it was not enough as St. Louis got the W and finds themselves in a cluster of teams at 7-7. CHARLOTTE 10   ORLANDO 14 With Brandon Wheedon still suffering from last week’s blow, Jeff Tuel took the helm in Charlotte, and, well, it did not go as he would have wanted.  Orlando also struggled on offense, but got 4 Bill Grammatica field goals and a safety from Arthur Moats to outlast the Monarchs and move to 6-8, still mathematically alive for a playoff spot.  Charlotte now falls into a tie with Atlanta atop the division, but holds the tiebreaker thanks to their 2-0 record against the Fire. PITTSBURGH 27   PHILADELPHIA 24 It seems like the Stars may have taken the foot off the gas a bit early in this one.  Andy Dalton threw for 2 scores and Kenny Watson added another as the Maulers edge the Stars, costing them a chance to wrap up the division.  The Stars face Washington next week in what could be the game of the year for these two teams. DENVER 20   LAS VEGAS 7 Denver inched closer to a Wild Card spot, while Las Vegas, dropping their 4th in a row now slides all the way to 4th place in the Pacific.  Jake Plummer tried to start but immediately had to be pulled after reaggravating his injury.  Ingle Martin completed only 10 passes and was sacked 6 times by the Gold.  Denver got a 48-yard pick six of Martin and added a Leinart to Tate TD pass to build up their lead on a punchless Thunder squad that is fading fast. WASHINGTON 10   NEW ORLEANS 13 No one is talking about the Breaker defense, but they should be as New Orleans shut down Deuce McCallister (only 35 yards on 22 carries) and takes sole possession of first place in the Southern Division.  New Orleans held Washington to 261 total yards in the game, a relief for backup QB Kyle Boller, who filled in for the dinged-up Drew Brees. LOS ANGELES 13   OAKLAND 30 The Invaders flex their muscles and lay claim as the dominant team on the West Coast.  Joey Harrington throws for 3 scores and the Oakland defense picks off Mark Sanchez 3 times as the Invaders dominate on both sides of the ball.  Reggie Bush rushes for only 20 yards as the Invader defense asserts themselves on the line.  They locked up the 2nd seed and a bye week with their win and Chicago’s loss this week. NEW JERSEY 14   TAMPA BAY 31 Daunte Culpepper had no issues in this game, throwing for 265 and 4 touchdowns as the Bandits easily dispatch the Generals at home.  The win helps them stay in the playoff hunt, though only barely.  Shane Vereen got the start over the injured Willis McGahee, rushing for only 46 yards on 22 carries.  Vincent Jackson went off in this game, catching 8 balls for 124 and 3 of Culpepper’s 4 TDs. SEATTLE 22   NASHVILLE 14 The Dragons get a win on the road as they handle a flailing and uninspired Nashville squad.  Cadillac Williams and Richard Turbin rushed for a combined 143 yards and the Dragon D picked off Peyton Manning twice as the Knights lose their 10th game of the season, putting the future of Jim Johnson in question. MEMPHIS 34   JACKSONVILLE 16 Memphis has another good offensive day against the shell shocked Jacksonville Bulls.  Eli Manning threw for 379 and 3 scores as the Bull defense simply had no answers. Both Greg Jennings and Lee Evans went over 100 yards, with Evans hauling in 141 on 5 catches, including a 55-yard scoring play. TEXAS 31   DALLAS 14 Dallas drops to 3-11 and Texas punches their playoff ticket with the road win.  Flacco rebounded from last week with a strong game, completing 16 of 26 for 268 yards and 3 scores.  Dallas led early with two first quarter Jake Locker TD tosses, but they could not hold down the Outlaws and would not score again in the remaining 3 quarters. BIRMINGHAM 14   PORTLAND 18 Portland may in fact be for real as they win again, giving Matt McGloin another victory as the starter.  McGloin had a good day, completing 21 of 31 for 193 yards and 2 scores, but it was Jonathan Stewart’s 30 carries for 123 yards that helped seal the victory of a Birmingham squad that seems to have lost their spark.  The loss drops the Stallions a game behind New Orleans and they could drop all the way out of playoff contention unless they can win their last 2 games. OHIO 25   MICHIGAN 30 Ohio’s early season success seems long gone as they lose on the road to a feisty Michigan squad.  LeVeon Bell was the story for Michigan as the rookie back rushed for 159 yards on only 20 carries.  He added 2 scores and a third from Mike Hart secured the win for the homestanding Panthers. Chris Weinke looked good early but went 1 for 11 in the 4th quarter and could not rally the Glory. BALTIMORE 12   ATLANTA 21 A bad loss for the Blitz but a very welcome win for Atlanta, who now sit tied with Charlotte atop the Southeast Division.  Steven Jackson had a great game, going over 100 yards on 19 carries, but it was rookie Marcus Lattimore who got the scores, two touchdowns for the Fire.  The Fire D also came to play, sacking Big Ben 7 times, including two each for DE C. J. Mosely and blitzing FS Curtis Fuller. Four Game Slide Slips Vegas to Fourth Place All is not well in the desert.  Las Vegas has dropped 4 games in a row and 5 out of 6.  After starting the year at 6-2 and looking like a Summer Bowl contender, they have dropped to 7-7 and are currently on the outside looking in at the playoffs.  Yes, this is in part due to the hip injury suffered by QB Jake Plummer, particularly since Ingle Martin has proven not to be able to coordinate any semblance of an offensive attack, but it cannot all be put on the team’s QB woes. Marshawn Lynch is not having the type of season that most expected.  After his brief injury respite, it seemed he was raring to go, rushing for 130 yards in his first game back, but he has only had one 100-yard game since, and in the past two weeks has had a grand total of 17 and 16 yards.  When the team is desperate to generate offense, those numbers will not get the job done.  And while the combination of Chad Johnson and T. J. Houshmandzadeh started the year on fire, they too have cooled off as the Thunder have stumbled. And relief may not be coming as soon as Coach Jones would like.  Jake Plummer lobbied all week to get the start, he earned it in practice, but lasted only 3 plays and 1 throw before having to come out as he reaggravated his hip injury.  That left Martin to manage the game, and with fewer practice snaps due to Plummer’s return, he was not prepared to do so.  The defense is getting tired, and while they are still a top 5 run defense, they have been giving up more in the passing game.  They need an offense that can shorten the game, prolong some drives, and put more points on the board.  In their last 6 games, they have scored 14 or fewer points 5 times.  And once again Plummer is pushing to get a start.  The Thunder could be in real trouble as they face Oakland next week, and even a season finale against 4-10 Seattle may not be enough for them to qualify for a postseason that at one point this year looked like a foregone conclusion. Breakers Win 4th in a Row to Take Over First in South If the Thunder show all the signs of a late season swoon, New Orleans is the opposite story, a surge that could take the Breakers to a division title.  New Orleans has won 4 in a row, including important division wins over Birmingham and Memphis and solid showings against the Thunder and just this week the Washington Federals.  During this run it has been the defense showing the way.  Other than a surprising shootout with the Showboats, it has been shut down defense for New Orleans, allowing 11 or fewer points in the other 3 games of this streak. The defense is being led by a pretty solid 3-man front line of Ty Warren (15 sacks tie him for second behind Calais Campbell), Cameron Jordan (a solid 8 sacks), and DT Ricky Jean-Francois, who has 5 sacks from the interior.  The Breakers are currently 3rd in the league in QB sacks with 57 (only Atlanta’s 59 and Oakland’s nasty 72 are ahead of them), and they are also getting it done against the run, currently ranked 3rd in the league behind Arizona and those Invaders once again.  The arrival of Antonio Pierce from Washington has certainly been a spark to change the aggressiveness and focus of the squad.  CB’s Patrick Peterson and Randall Gay have been very solid as well, and the safety combo of Corey Chavous (SS) and Mike Doss (FS) has been having their best year to date. The Breakers now control their own destiny, with Charlotte and Nashville left on the schedule.  Win out and they are the Southern Division champs, and a win over Charlotte could also put them in position to earn the 2nd seed and the bye week that any team would covet. Portland’s Playoff Push Another team that has to be considered a 2nd half surprise is Portland.  After starting the year 1-6, the Stags have rattled off 6 wins in their last 7 games.  They have done this despite making a QB change mid-streak, moving from journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick to rookie Matt McGloin.  The Nittany Lion has not been putting up huge numbers, but what he has done is minimize mistakes and keep his team in every game. As with New Orleans, the secret to Portland’s second half success is not the offense, but a newfound defensive fortitude.  Since the midpoint of the year, Portland has steadily  moved up the defensive rankings and now sit as the 3rd best team in yards allowed and in pass defense.  Over the past 6 games, they are averaging only 16 points per game against, and that number drops below 14 when we remove the Memphis game. Portland has two DE’s, Eddie Freeman and rookie Dion Jordan, at 10 sacks apiece, and FS Darnell Bing has five picks on the year.  Add to this a pretty solid season from a no-name LB group of Mark Simoneau, Channing Crowder, and Justin Durant, and the 7-7 Stags are still very much alive in a playoff hunt that no one would have seen coming after the season’s opening half. Three Divisions & When They Will Be Decided We have three division titles yet to be earned, and two of those three divisions, the loser could miss out on the playoffs entirely.  That is not the case with Philadelphia and Washington, but certainly is possible with the New Orleans-Birmingham duel in the South and the Charlotte-Atlanta battle in the Southeast. Washington and Philadelphia is about as clear cut as it gets, well, at least if Philadelphia wins next week.  The two will face off at the Linc next week, and the winner will control their own destiny.  A Philadelphia win earns them the division crown, but a Washington win and the two teams would sit atop the division at 11-4, each with a 6-2 record in division.  That would mean that if the two tie at season’s end (with Washington facing Orlando in the season finale and Philadelphia visiting Dallas) the advantage could come down to a third or fourth tiebreaker. In the Southeast, Charlotte holds the tiebreaker over Atlanta thanks to two victories over the Fire in their two meetings this year. With both sitting at 8-6, it means that Charlotte can clinch by going 2-0 against New Orleans and Los Angeles, but neither of those are easy matchups.  Atlanta needs Charlotte to lose one of those games and then the Fire need to take care of business against Arizona and Tampa Bay. That Arizona game could be a nasty one next week as the Fire have to travel out to Glendale and face a Wrangler squad that just lost their first game of the year.  Atlanta is hoping that now that an unbeaten season is off the table, the Wranglers will use the final two weeks to strategically rest some key starters, but that may be wishful thinking for the Fire. Finally, in the South, we have the slipping Stallions and the surging Breakers.  New Orleans is now in the driver’s seat, having taken a 1-game lead over Birmingham. New Orleans can lock up the division with a win at Charlotte next week and then at home against the Knights.  If they stumble, Birmingham can still even things up, as they face two 10-loss teams in the final 2 weeks, visiting Seattle in Week 15 before finishing the year with a home game against arch-rival Memphis.  If the Stallions and Breakers end the year tied atop the standings, then the Stallions’ better division record would give them the edge and the division crown.  Clear motivation for the Breakers to put the season to rest with 2 more wins. Chicago Signs 38-year old Richard Seymour to Fill DT Spot The Chicago Machine made a bold move to try to replace injured DT Ellis Wyms.  They went out and brought a player back from retirement, but a player they feel can be a factor in their final push into the playoffs.  Former St. Louis Skyhawk DT Richard Seymour agreed to a deal that would bring him back to the league for the final 3 games of the year and the Chicago playoff run.  The 36-year-old Seymour was basking in the glow of retirement until the Machine called, but the opportunity to once again make a playoff run was too good to pass up.  Seymour arrived in Chicago in time to greet his former club as the Skyhawks upended the Machine, but was not yet ready to suit up.  He will be on the field against New Jersey this week, but the real goal is to have him ready to contribute when the Machine face their first playoff foe. LA does not add a DE, Adding SS Tra Battle Instead The Express went a different route after adding DE Keneche Udeze to the Injured Reserve.  With 4 DE’s already on the roster, they opted not to add another via free agency, but to shore up their secondary as they push for a possible Wild Card.  The Express added former Atlanta Fire SS Tra Battle to their roster.  Battle, who left the Fire to pursue an NFL job, was cut loose mid-season by the NFL Vikings and recently passed the 6-month threshold which allows teams to sign players whose NFL contracts have expired or been terminated outside of the NFL-USFL Transfer window.   Battle had been thought to be considering a return to the Fire, but LA had a better offer, a possible starting position if the Express could qualify for the postseason and a 2-year deal beyond that. Battle is expected to compete with Rahim Moore to fill in the spot season starter Lance Schulters vacated due to injury.  He, like Seymour in Chicago, may see very limited action during the final 2 weeks of the year, but could be a factor if the Express can qualify for the postseason. The Texas Outlaws become the 6th team to lock up a playoff spot, thanks to their win over the Dallas Roughnecks.  Texas is now fighting to retain the 4th seed, which will allow them to host a game in the Wild Card round.  The only other lock this week is that, despite their loss, Arizona locked up the top seed in the West, so the playoffs will run through University of Phoenix Stadium.  The only newly eliminated team this week was Nashville, who, at 5-9, are now out of the hunt for a Wild Card and for the Southern Division, leaving only Birmingham and New Orleans in that race. A lot could be decided in Week 15, with some big matchups, headlined by the battle for the Northeast as Philadelphia hosts Washington.  Other games to watch include Oakland at Las Vegas, New Orleans at Charlotte, and Texas at Houston. Overall, a very good week for the USFL with no new IR placements and only a few noteworthy additions to the injury list.  That is always good news as no one wants to see the sprint to the playoffs marred by late season injuries. OUT FS           Terrance Kiel                     ORL       Foot              1-2 Weeks C             Robbie Tobeck                 ATL         Nerve            1-2 Weeks LB           Justin Durant                    POR      Ribs                 1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL OT          Chris Williams                 NSH      Wrist OT          Nate Dorsey                      NOR      Jaw LB           Jonathan Vilma               TBY        Hip CB          Sam Shields                      PHI        Hernia QUESTIONABLE OG         Daniel Kilgore                   OHI       Knee DT          Ziggy Hood                       STL         Miniscus CB          Patrick Peterson             NOR      Neck USFL Announces Hall of Fame Class of 2013 The USFL and the Pro Football Hall of Fame made their annual announcement of a new enshrinee class this week, much to the joy of fans in Seattle, Philadelphia, Dallas, and Denver, among others.  The new class includes three first-time nominees, two returning nominees, and one player selected for the “Legacy” category that recognizes players whose standard eligibility ended no less than 5 years ago. This year’s class is headlined by former Denver Gold QB Mark Brunell, elected in his fourth year of eligibility and beating out newly eligible QB Jeff George to join the illustrious company of the Hall.  He is joined by three defensive players in former Star DE Regan Upshaw (1st year), Atlanta-Boston cornerback Tyrone Poole (1st year), and Fire, Cannon, and Gambler LB Randall Godfrey (2nd year).  Also entering the Hall, another first-ballot entrant, Seattle OT Lomas Brown, beat out his own teammate Willie Anderson to receive the honor. The five new nominees will be joined by a legacy selection known to USFL fans from Detroit to the PNW.  Quarterback Jack Trudeau joined the USFL as a rookie out of Illinois in 1986.  Chosen to be the heir apparent to Bobby Hebert by the Panthers, Trudeau played 8 seasons in Michigan, earning All-USFL honors in 1992 and leading the Panthers to the playoffs three times.  He won a title with the Panthers as a rookie, but spent most of the season holding a clipboard for Bobby Hebert, who would leave for the NFL the next year. Following solid seasons in 1992 and 1993, the somewhat undervalued Trudeau left Michigan for Portland, where he would finish his career with the Thunder.  In Portland, Trudeau would earn 3 more All-USFL honors, and would take the Thunder to the Summer Bowl in 1997.  Trudeau retired in 1998, completing his career with over 42,000 yards passing and a lifetime TD:INT total of 295:127.  Trudeau still holds team records for career attempts, completions, passing touchdowns, passing yards, and pass completion percentage.  He also holds the team roecords for passing TDs and passing yards for the Panthers, all part of a two stage career that is now recognized as one of the best in the history of the USFL. Trudeau, Brown, Brunell, Upshaw, Poole, and Godfrey will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on October 17th as part of the USFL’s fall Celebration of the Legends. League Wants a Las Vegas Owner in Place by November While the Ad Hoc ownership committee put together by the USFL to manage the divestment of the Thunder franchise from Phil Ruffin and the Thunder Football Group and the sale to a new investor has been very tight-lipped about their process and the contenders for ownership who have stepped up to put in bids, we did get some word this week from the league regarding a timeline.  A member of the executive committee who wished not to be named confirmed our reporting that the league has set a deadline of November 12th, the date of their late fall league meetings, as the timeline to have a decision ready for leaguewide vote. While any sale of a USFL franchise requires a leaguewide vote of the 27 other owners, the Las Vegas situation is, of course, more complex in that the league took over operation of the organization during the offseason when investigations of Phil Ruffin’s financial dealings produced not only violations of league policy but actual legal entanglements for the casino developer turned USFL owner.  There are rumors of several ownership groups hoping to get their foot in the door with the Thunder franchise, though at least one bidding group appears to be making a pitch to relocate the franchise despite the construction of a new domed facility in Las Vegas.  What we expect to see by November is a sense of the various potential ownership groups and what their pitch is to get the inside line on a potential sale. Native American Group Protests Orlando Renegades This week’s Orlando-Charlotte game at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium had an interesting sideshow this week as a pretty sizeable group of 200-300 protestors sought signatures on petitions and made declarations via loudspeaker, upset at the Renegades’ use of a tomahawk as their logo.  The group included organizations representing the Timucua and Calusa people of central Florida. It seems that there is concern that the sacred symbol of these indigenous people is being used by the Renegades and that the commonly seen “tomahawk chop” crowd chant, similar to the one used at Florida State University and at Atlanta Brave games is not sitting well with members of these two communities. The petition being circulated is asking the Renegades to develop an alternative logo that does not refer to the native peoples and cultures of central Florida.  Similar to the concerns expressed by other groups around the Braves’ tomahawk chop, the nickname of Washington’s NFL team and the depiction of the Cleveland Indian in their primary logo. This was the first public protest of these groups, though the USFL has reported that they have received prior notices from a group called Native Peoples of Florida regarding the Renegades.  While the Renegades  have not made a statement on the situation, the league’s central office has stated that any decisions about team branding rests with the club and not the league. We started off our report by saying that Week 15 could be decisive, and we meant it.  Rather than a quick rundown of the week’s action, let’s go game by game and see what impact each match could have as we head into the final 2 weeks of the season. Friday @ 8pm                  Oakland (11-3) @ Las Vegas (7-7)                                         NBC The Invaders have the Pacific wrapped up, and one more win ensures them a bye as well.  For Las Vegas, they need 2 wins to have a real shot at a Wild Card, and they need to defeat Oakland to prove to themselves that they are truly the team that started the year 6-2, not the one that has lost 5 of their last 6.  Jake Plummer is back in action, but will that be enough against that Oakland D? Saturday @ 12pm         New Orleans (8-6) @ Charlotte (8-6)                                  ABC A battle of first place teams, neither of which can afford a loss now.  The Breakers have a one game lead on Birmingham and want to keep it that way.  Charlotte is tied with Atlanta, but would win on tiebreakers, so they cannot afford to slip a game behind.  This one could be a real slobberknocker as both teams need to win and both bring solid defensive squads to the table. Saturday @ 12pm         Baltimore (7-7) @ Pittsburgh (6-8)                                        FOX Believe it or not, this NE Division matchup is very much for playoff lives.  Both teams are on the fringe for that final Wild Card. The loser is likely out of contention, the winner is thrust back into contention.  A win in this game is a lifeline for either. Saturday @ 4pm            Birmingham (7-7) @ Seattle (4-10)                                       ABC The Stallions’ recent slide has cost them first place, but with New Orleans facing a tough Charlotte squad, this could be a chance for Birmingham to get back into tie for first and lean on their tie-breaker advantage.  Seattle is just playing out the string, but they can still pose a threat if Birmingham is not on their game. Saturday @ 4pm            Michigan (5-9) @ St. Louis (7-7)                                             FOX St. Louis has not had the title defense season they expected, but if they can win their final 2 games, they could still find themselves back in the postseason.  They cannot let down their guard against a Michigan squad that has shown some signs of offensive firepower of late and could be getting Hines Ward back on the field. Saturday @ 7pm            Tampa Bay (6-8) @ Orlando (6-8)                                          NBC Both of these 6-win clubs still has a mathematical path to a Wild Card, but only with a win this week, and next, and quite a bit of help.  Will either feel motivated to play the long odds and hope that the rest of the games play out in their favor?  It has been a disappointing season for Tampa Bay, a bit better than expected for Orlando, so how will expectations play out in this Florida Derby matchup? Saturday @ 9pm            Texas (9-5) @ Houston (7-7)                                                     ESPN/EFN The Gamblers just came off their biggest win of the year, but need help to get into the playoff mix.  Texas has locked up a Wild Card, but if they want a home game in the Wild Card round, they cannot let their guard down.  Add to all this the drama of a Texas Showdown between old rivals and this one could be a lot of fun. Sunday @ 12pm            Nashville (5-9) @ Memphis (4-10)                                        ABC Regional Nothing but pride is on the line for these two teams, both eliminated from postseason consideration. But it is a Tennessee in-state rivalry game and these two clubs do not like each other at all, so that should be fun.  Add to that another showdown of the Manning brothers, Eli and Peyton, and there is still some good drama in this battle of teams with sub-par seasons. Sunday @ 12pm            Portland (7-7) @ Ohio (6-8)                                                       ABC Regional Ohio’s quick start made them one of the darlings of midseason, while Portland started horribly but has become one of the stories of the season’s second half.  Both are still alive in the Western Conference playoff hunt, and the winner could be in a pretty good situation, but the loser, well, let’s just say that both clubs will be motivated when they meet in Columbus. Sunday @ 12pm            New Jersey (4-10) @ Chicago (9-5)                                       FOX Chicago locked up the Central Division title, but injuries to both Brian Urlacher and Ellis Wyms have led to a short losing streak.  They need to right the ship against a New Jersey squad that simply does not have a lot to play for.   Could be a trap game for Chicago, but could also help prep them for a first round playoff game. Sunday @ 4pm               Atlanta (8-6) @ Arizona (13-1)                                                 ABC The Fire need to win out to have any shot at the Southeast Division title.  Arizona has everything wrapped up, but could come out angry after losing their perfect season this past week. A lot depends on the motivation and the focus of the Wranglers in this one.  Atlanta could become the victim of an angry team or could benefit from one that wants to play it cautiously before the playoffs start. Sunday @ 4pm               Dallas (3-11) @ Los Angeles (7-7)                                         FOX Regional The LA Express are clinging to the 6th seed in the West, but they will likely need to finish the year with 2 wins in order to hold that position.  This game, on paper, looks like a W for the Express, but Dallas has had some moments and has been staying in games each week, so it is not a foregone conclusion that the Express get this one. Sunday @ 4pm               Jacksonville (3-11) @ Denver (8-6)                                       FOX Regional Denver can all but lock up a surprising Wild Card spot with a win at home against the Bulls.  Jacksonville is looking very much like a team that will be picking either first or second in the draft this year, so, can the Gold stay focused and get the job done? Sunday @ 8pm               Washington (10-4) @ Philadelphia (11-3)                         ESPN/EFN This one could be the game of the year.  Two clubs that know each other well and have built quite a rivalry over the past 31 years.  Two teams hoping not only for a division crown, but the top seed in the Eastern Conference Playoffs.  It very likely all comes down to this game.  Philadelphia has held onto first place for most of the season.  Will they clinch it now, or will Washington overtake them on the penultimate week of the year?  Do not miss this game.  It is going to be as intense as regular season football can get.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Vincent Jackson is having himself a year, and this week he had himself a week, scoring three times and catching 8 passes for 124 yards as the Bandits keep their slim playoff hopes alive with a big win against the Generals. PLAYOFF PICTURE: Texas locked up a Wild Card with their win this week, becoming the 6th team to secure a playoff spot. We know the winners of the Southeast and Southern Divisions will both get playoff spots, but the battle still rages over just who that will be. Charlotte and Atlanta are tied at 8-6 with two games to go. New Orleans now takes a 1-game lead over Birmingham and can control their own destiny. With clusters of teams at 8-6, 7-7, and 6-8, there is still a lot to determine as we head into the final two weeks of the year.

A big week for the playoff hunt as our total number of berths awarded jumps from 2 to 5 with the additions of Oakland, Washington, and Chicago.  The Machine backed into the playoffs despite a bad loss against the Feds as they benefitted from Ohio’s upset of St. Louis within their division.  Oakland got themselves a big win at Texas as they try to position for a bye week, and Arizona, well they just keep going, winning close game after close game on their quest to become the 2nd USFL team to ever finish a regular season unbeaten. We will cover all the games from an exciting Week 14, beginning with that Oakland-Texas clash, a game that went to extra time to decide a winner, and we will look at the playoff situation as it now stands.  We will also highlight an emerging star for the Denver Gold, and ask some tough questions about a couple of QB situations across the league.  All right here, right now. OAKLAND INVADERS 29   TEXAS OUTLAWS 23    OVERTIME A great game between two Summer Bowl contenders as the Pacific-leading Oakland Invaders headed to San Antonio to face the Texas Outlaws.  We got to watch two veteran QBs duke it out, with Joe Flacco throwing for over 380 yards while Joey Harrington went 29 of 48 for 291.  Harrington would hit 9 different receivers in the game, while both WR Marques Colston and HB Arian Foster both went over 100 yards receiving for the Outlaws.  In the end, it came down to one drive, a game winning, sudden death march to victory for the visiting Invaders, but what a ride it was to get there. The game started a little slow, as inter-divisional matchups often do.  Neither team found much success on their first drives.  It took until the 4th possession of the game, Oakland’s first, for the first points to be put up, and those came via a 36-yard Mike Hollis field goal for the Invaders.  But that field goal sparked the scoring for the rest of the game.  Coming at the 3:14 mark in the first quarter, Oakland took an early lead, but Texas was seemingly inspired by that as Joe Flacco led a quick strike 7-play drive that ate up 66 yards and ended with a beautiful screen to Foster that would go 33 yards to paydirt for the first touchdown of the game.  Foster would be frustrated in the run game, earning only 64 yards on the day, but as a receiver, he would have his best USFL outing to date, with 4 receptions, each averaging 32.2 yards. Oakland responded to Texas’s score in the 2nd quarter as they added another 3 on their next possession.  The 19-yard kick from the 2-yard line was a disappointment as an apparent TD catch by Joel Dreesen was ruled out of bounds upon replay, forcing the Invaders to make a decision on 4th and goal from the 2.  Coach Green played it conservative and went for 3, cutting the deficit to a lone point. After breaking up a Joe Flacco pass on 3rd and 7, Oakland would quickly get the ball back again, and on their next drive they would not settle for another field goal.  Joey Harrington connected with Pierre Garçon and Jeb Putzier on the drive, and Ryan Williams had one of his best drives of the game, rushing for 33 of his total 75 yards on this one push.  The drive was capped off by a perfectly called pitch play to Williams, who found the edge, turned up field and raced for 14 yards to the pylon and six points.  Mike Hollis added the PAT and Oakland were up 13-7 with 3:51 left to play in the half. That was more than enough time for Joe Flacco to work some magic, and for a while he did, moving the Outlaws into scoring range with crisp passes to both Colston and Bo Scaife, but the drive stalled out and on 4th and 4 from the 26, the Outlaws had to settle for 3 and would accept a 13-10 deficit at the half. Both teams had suffered one turnover in the first half, both fumbles, but in the second half the tide would largely be determined by more turnovers.  On their first drive of the half, Oakland would turn the ball over deep in Texas territory when receiver Derek Hagan bobbled a ball, only to have SS Terrance Holt snag it before it hit the ground.  The play stymied a very promising Oakland drive and gave Texas the ball and some momentum.  The Outlaws turned that momentum into 7 points and a lead when Joe Flacco hit Marques Colston with a 7-yard TD pass 4 minutes later.  Texas would shut down Oakland’s offense on their next drive, and finish the third quarter with a second Kai Forbath field goal to take a 20-13 lead into the final period. It was in the final 15 minutes where two Texas turnovers helped keep Oakland in the game.  The first came on a muffed punt, when the Outlaw returner, rookie Marquise Goodwin, misjudged the ball.  It bounced off his chest, through his arms, and was recovered by Oakland’s Sean Jones.  That muff led directly to the tying score, as only 5 plays later, the Invaders found the endzone on a Ryan Williams 5-yard run for his 2nd TD of the day. Texas would again retake the lead on a long drive that ate up over 5 minutes of the quarter, but again it was only 3 as the drive stalled on the 21 and Kai Forbath put the Outlaws up 23-20.  When, on the ensuing drive, Oakland missed on a 3rd down play that was blown up by Texas LB Jonathan Moulton, the Outlaws got the ball back with 2:44 left to play.  Oakland had 2 time outs left, so it was within their ability for the Outlaws to run out the clock if they could earn a first down.  After running the ball on both first and second down, Texas gambled a bit on 3rd and 5, using play action against a safety blitz, and rolling Joe Flacco out of the pocket.  The Texas QB tried to find TE Bo Scafe for the first down, but found SS Pearson Prioleau instead.  Prioleau picked off Flacco on a throw that should never have been made.  With over 2:30 left in the game, Oakland got the ball in Texas territory, down by only 3. But Texas’s defense was not going to give up anything easy.  They eschewed the prevent defense and focused on tight man coverage with pressure up the middle.  The strategy worked, as best as it could in the situation, forcing Oakland into a bad throw on 3rd down and bringing Hollis out to attempt a game tying 55-yarder.  The Oakland kicker was true to form and nailed the long kick, tying the score and sending the game to overtime after a couple of Flacco kneel downs. In overtime, Texas got the ball first, but again the turnover bug shut them down and gave Oakland a chance to win.  While this ball will go down as a second Flacco interception, the fault was really not his.  He threw a good ball to Reggie Brown, but when Brown was hit by the safety, the ball popped out and before it could hit the turf, CB Eric Wright of the Invaders had it in his hands.  Another bad pick that once again put Oakland in a good position, this time at their own 44. Joey Harrington would lead Oakland on a drive to win the game.  Mixing Williams runs with short passes to 3 different receivers (Keenan Allen, Garçon, and Joel Dreesen), the Invaders got the ball within the 10-yard line.  A field goal would win the game for them, but they took one shot at the end zone, and with that shot Harrington found slot receiver Derek Hagan open in the right corner.  The little-used Hagan came down with the ball and Oakland came away with an overtime win. That win clinched a playoff spot for the Invaders, while the loss by Texas locked up the Southwest Division for the unbeaten Arizona Wranglers.  It was a bitter pill for the Outlaws to swallow as their own miscues not only caused the game to go to overtime, but gave Oakland the boost they needed in the extra period to secure the win. Texas will finish the year with 3 straight division games, including a huge matchup with Houston in Week 15, and a match with Arizona in the season finale.  Will Arizona play their starters to go for a perfect 16-0 or will they rest them ahead of the postseason?  An interesting question Texas fans would love to know the answer to.  As for Oakland, they also face three straight divisional foes, knowing that only 1 win against LA, Las Vegas, or Portland will secure them the title. PHILADELPHIA 26   NEW JERSEY 16 A good game from New Jersey’s Muhamed Sanu, who is making a name for himself in what has been a lost season for the Generals.  Sanu had 6 catches for 100 yards and a TD, but it was not enough as New Jersey falls by 10.  With both Slaton and Stevie Johnson still out, Matt Gutierrez spread the ball to 8 different receivers and connected with rookie HB Zac Stacy for a TD toss. Stacy also had another score on the ground to be the game’s offensive POTG. TAMPA BAY 12   BALTIMORE 27 Baltimore continues to look like a Wild Card contender while the Bandits drop to 5-8 with another tough loss.  Ron Dayne had 113 yards and a score, while Ben Roethlisberger hit NFL import Brian Hartline for another score as the Blitz ground out a win, holding Wills McGahee to only 33 yards rushing and picking off Daunte Culpepper 4 times.  Could that be the end of any talk of Culpepper for MVP?  Seems like a bad day that could cost him a lot of votes. CHARLOTTE 27   JACKSONVILLE 24       OVERTIME The Bulls nearly pulled off the upset, but Charlotte got a last second field goal to send the game to an extra period and then got the winning kick from Brandon Coutu to get the W and keep their hold on first place over Atlanta.  Brandon Wheedon got knocked out of the game, so it was Jeff Tuel who led the game tying and game winning drives for a very plucky and determined Monarchs squad.  Tim Tebow threw 3 touchdowns for the Bulls but also had 3 picks as his accuracy issues continue to be a major issue for the Bulls. ST. LOUIS 23   OHIO 24 A huge win for Ohio’s slim playoff hopes and a huge blow for the defending champ as the Glory get two 4th quarter TDs from Chris Weinke to come back from a 23-11 deficit in the final 5 minutes of action.  Javon Walker and Arrelious Benn had the game-changing scores as St. Louis’s defense completely collapsed down the stretch.  Isaiah Pead also had a huge game, rushing for 128 yards on 22 carries, while Steve Smith added yet another 100-yard day to his OPOTY campaign. HOUSTON 17   DENVER 45 This battle of 6-6 teams could determine a Wild Card and the homestanding Gold left no doubt how bad they wanted this one.  The Gold went on a 28-0 run between the 2nd and 3rd quarters to put Houston far in the rear view mirror.  DeMarco Murray was the hero for the Gold, rushing for 144 yards and 4 touchdowns in a huge game for Denver. NASHVILLE 14   BIRMINGHAM 37 The Stallions tried to put some space between themselves and their challengers in the South, and a complete game on both sides of the ball did it against visiting Nashville.  Cam Newton came up huge with his arm (252 yards and a TD) and with his feet (71 yards rushing and 2 more TDs) as the Stallions move to 7-6, but remain tied with New Orleans in the South. PITTSBURGH 10   MICHIGAN 48 The Maulers had hoped that a late season surge could see them earn a Wild Card, but Michigan played angry and just took it to their former division rivals.  Kirk Cousins had one of his best games as a pro, going 23 of 28 for 314 yards and 3 scores as he picked apart a tired-looking Mauler D.  The much-maligned Panther D also came to play, picking off Quincy Carter 2 times and limiting Ronnie Brown to only 61 yards rushing. NEW ORLEANS 34   MEMPHIS 24 The Breakers stay tied with Birmingham in the South, with a big win in Memphis.  A good Breaker contingent made the trek to the Liberty Bowl, which appeared to be almost a 50/50 split with Showboat fans.  They watched as Eli Manning threw for 284 and a TD to Lee Evans, whose 151 yards made him the lead receiver in the game.  Both Darren McFadden and Knile Davis also scored as the Breakers held off Memphis, despite 3 TDs from Drew Brees. ATLANTA 27   ORLANDO 3 The Fire improved to 7-6, only 1 game behind Charlotte, by knocking off the ‘Gades in Orlando.  Steven Jackson and J. J. Arrington combined for a whopping 174 yards and 2 scores as the run game was working for the Fire on this day.  Russell Wilson did not have it going on, throwing 3 picks against the Fire defense, all three from 12-year vet Corey Fuller. LAS VEGAS 14   PORTLAND 17 Jake Plummer was not cleared to play and Ingle Martin was unable to rally the troups, sacked 5 times and picked off twice as Las Vegas’s offense could not get the job done in Portland.  Matt McGloin gets another W for the Stags, despite throwing for only 122 and tossing 2 picks.  Portland, now 6-7, is still very  much a surprise team in the Wild Card hunt, while Las Vegas is now 3 games behind Oakland and could well be dropping from the Wild Card position unless Plummer can return and spark a late run of wins. DALLAS 17   ARIZONA 21 The Roughnecks played a good game in a tough environment, but in the end a Frank Gore TD gave Arizona the W, keeping them unbeaten through 13 games.  Gore finished with 75 yards and a TD, and David Carr threw to 9 different receivers as Arizona again found a way to win once again. SEATTLE 13   LOS ANGELES 21 The Express improved their playoff standing with a home win against a Seattle team that just does not have any spark left.  Mark Sanchez threw for 2 scores and Keyshawn had 123 yards and a score as the Express move to 7-6 and take over 2nd place in the division. CHICAGO 20   WASHINGTON 41 The absence of Brian Urlacher was definitely noted as Washington rushed for 190 yards against the depleted Machine defense.  McCallister had 143 of those 190, and Washington also got 3 TD passes from Joe Webb, who went 18 of 21 on the day in one of Washington’s most impressive outings of the year.  Despite the loss, the Machine still clinched a playoff berth and the Central Division thanks to other results this week.  Washington also clinched a playoff berth, but remain 1 game behind Philly in the Northeast. Murray Makes a Statement: I am the Man. DeMarco Murray is using his third season in the USFL to make the case that he can be an every down option for the Gold. After a rookie year that saw the former Sooner rush for 703 yards, many thought the Gold back would crack 1,000 in 2012 and take on the roll of a bellcow back.  But, last year saw Murray fall well short of that mark, as he struggled with injuries and with sharing carries with LeMichael James.  This season began much the same way, with James and Murray all but splitting carries evenly.  As Denver has made a late push for the playoffs, that balance has decidedly shifted in Murray’s direction.  Over the past 4 games we have seen Murray’s touches and his production take off. Murray has also loved facing the Gamblers  In Week 8 he had his best game to date, rushing for 114 yards, and after 73 against Texas and 92 at Tampa Bay, the Gold once again faced Houston and this gave Murray his best chance to date to make his case.  The OU back rushed 21 times, a season high, and in those 21 attempts racked up 144 yards and 4 touchdowns.  That was a statement not only to the team but to the league that Murray can be a big time weapon for Denver. With the Gold now in Wild Card position, Murray is likely to continue to see the rock.  The Gold finish their year with a game at Las Vegas and then two home games out of division, against Jacksonville and St. Louis, two teams with major defensive issues.  Murray has 3 games to gain the needed 228 yards for his first 1,000-yard season. That is an average of just over 70 per game, numbers Murray has proven he can attain when given the carries. Dre Kirkpatrick a Bright Spot for the Panthers. To say that Michigan’s 2013 season has been a year of retooling and minimal initial returns would be a nice way of saying that the club has just not been that good.  As the offense has tried to develop both Kirk Cousins at QB and rookie LeVeon Bell (both with Hines Ward out for most of the season), the defense has also struggled to find an identity.  They are currently dead last in the USFL with only 17 sacks over 13 games.  They are giving up over 315 yards per game, and are 27th in the league in run defense, averaging 118 yards per game against the D.  However, there has been one bright spot on their somewhat troubled defense, cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick. The Alabama product has 10 picks in his first two seasons with Michigan.  He is currently the only player on the roster with more than 1 pick this year, raking in 4 after a 6-pick 2012.  He is also 3rd on the team with 76 tackles and not only leads the team, but is tied for 5th in the league with 26 passes defended.  Michigan needs help on defense, to be sure.  Their front 4 is just not able to put pressure on the QB, the linebackers are stretched thin, and Kirkpatrick leads a secondary that is getting a bit old and a bit slow.  We loved Deltha O’Neal during his prime, but the injured CB is just not the man he once was.  But, despite all the issues in Detroit, the Panthers seem to have found themselves a stud in Kirkpatrick. Is the Peyton Manning Experiment Over? That is a question being openly asked about the former Tennessee Vol and 2-time Super Bowl winner in the NFL.  Why is it being asked?  Well, for starts, Nashville is sitting at 17th in scoring, despite having decent yardage numbers.  Secondly, Cody Pickett, who was brought in from Pittsburgh to serve as a reliable backup has sparked a lot of interest. Pickett got a chance to start 2 game when Manning went down with a minor injury and in those two games he amassed 562 yards and 5 TDs, numbers far better than Manning’s averages. The concern is, of course, that Manning simply lacks both the mobility and the arm strength following his spinal fusion surgery as a Colt.  The hope had been that Manning would be able to use his famous vision, poise, and knowledge of the game to offset any physical diminishment since his surgery, and while his leadership is unquestioned, the reality seems to be that physically the former NFL MVP may just not have enough in the tank to be more than a game manager for a Knights team that simply does not have enough other weapons to succeed with a less-than-dynamic QB at the helm. Of course, no one with the Knights, and even many in the local Nashville media want to say anything negative about a player who spurred not only ticket and jersey sales for the club, but who is an almost certain first-ballot Hall of Famer for the NFL.  But the truth is, the Knights may well be better off moving on for 2014, because what they have seen this year is not enough to keep even a legendary QB as the starter. Is Washington Now Webb’s Team? Hard to imagine we are saying this after the very strong seasons David Garrard has had in Washington, but Joe Webb is making a very strong case that he may be the future of the Federals at QB.  Garrard was the unquestioned starter when the season began, and in the first four games of the year, he was better than good.  He put up 860 yards, threw 5 touchdowns, and had a QB Rating of 89.7, all very solid numbers.  But when a season-ending injury struck in Week 5, Joe Webb was called on to take on the mantle of the Federal offense. What has Webb done since then?  How about nearly 2,000 yards in 9 starts, a 2:1 TD:INT ratio (16-8), and a QB Rating of 98.1, more than 10 points over Garrard’s number.  He has also led Washington to a 7-2 record and kept the Federals right in the thick of the NE Division title hunt.  So, what does this mean for the future?  Well, Garrard is only 31, so this is not a clean generational handoff to the 26-year old Webb.  Both quarterbacks are under contracts through 2016, with Garrard slated to earn $1.2M per year and Webb coming in at $600K per season.  So the Feds are under no financial pressure to remove one or the other. The truth may be that if Washington is open to the idea, there could be a very good market for either QB.  They could easily deal one of the two and acquire some amazing quality for either of the signal callers.  For now, they move on in 2013 with Webb more than ably handling the QB duties, and they have a very good shot at a deep playoff run, so no thoughts of the offseason yet.  But, with so many teams still trying to find an answer at QB, and with Webb having found great success in his shot at starting, there very well could be a lot of interested parties hoping Washington does not want a 2-headed QB room in 2014. A big week for playoff clinching around the USFL, with three more teams joining the Wranglers and Stars as playoff participants.  Chicago, despite a tough loss this week to the Feds, benefitted from St. Louis’s loss to Ohio.  That game’s result locks up Chicago as the Central Division Champion.  They now trail Oakland by 1 game for a shot at a bye, as neither are likely to catch Arizona for the number one seed. Oakland, sitting at 10-3, also clinched a playoff spot, and while Las Vegas and LA are both technically in range to catch the Invaders should Oakland lose out and either of the two Pacific rivals win out, the odds are not in their favor.  Oakland is guaranteed no less than a Wild Card, but one more win over the next 3 weeks and they will win their first Pacific Title since 2010. Washington, with their huge win over Chicago, also locked up a Wild Card berth.  The Feds, winners of 3 of their last 4, still sit 1 game behind Philadelphia, who they will face in Week 15 with the division on the line, but they are assured no worse than a 4-seed (the top Wild Card seed) thanks to a 3-game lead over all the other Wild Card contenders.  That means that no matter the results of the next 3 weeks, the Feds will be playing at home for their first playoff game. Now they want to challenge Philly for the top seed, a bye, and home field advantage for all playoff games. We also had our first eliminations of the season as both the 3-win clubs and the two 4-win clubs are now all out of the hunt.  In the case of 4-win Michigan and New Jersey, the tiebreakers with the 7-win teams are just not in their favor.  For 3-win Dallas, Seattle, Memphis and Jacksonville, they are just too far behind the 6th place spots to catch up with only 3 games left.  So for these 6 clubs, it is now all about pride. We continue to see significant contributors lost for the rest of the year as injuries for nearly all teams continue to be a concern.  For contenders like Chicago, Oakland, and LA, losingquality players, even for a week or two can be a big hit.  Chicago now loses a second key defender right up the middle, with Ellis Wyms joining Urlacher on IR.  LA will struggle to put QB pressure on their foes with Keneche Udeze now ruled out for the year after a partial rupture of the Achilles tendon.  We also may not see Drew Brees on the field for the Breakers’ key game against Washington as he deals with a strain to the arch of his plant foot. OUT DT          Ellis Wyms                   CHI        ACL                       IR DE          Keneche Udeze               LA          Achilles               IR CB          Nnambi Asomugha       BAL        Leg                        IR HB          Willis McGahee              TBY        Shoulder             1-2 Weeks TE           Zack Ertz                           OAK      Neck                  1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL CB          Sam Shields                      PHI        Hernia CB          Ricky Manning                 ATL         Ribs OT          Maurice Williams           MEM     Concussion WR         Marques Colston            TEX        Toe LB           Jonathan Vilma               TBY        Hip QUESTIONABLE FB          Quinn Johnson                 BAL        Finger CB          Gregory Gray                    NSH      Shoulder QB         Drew Brees                        NOR      Foot OKC Group Fishing for a Taker. Is Oklahoma ready for prime time?  In 1987 they were considered a poor choice but a necessary stopover for a USFL franchise that could not find a home in San Diego, but now, nearly 30 years later, is the Sooner state, and it’s capital city, ready for major league football? The city has been home to the NBA Thunder since 2008, and efforts to bring both baseball and football to the region have been ongoing ever since, but now, with a stadium already in the works, and some pretty big money invested in a bidding group, Oklahoma is once again hoping they can lure a USFL team to town, and this time as a first choice destination and not a 1-year layover as owners seek a better deal. If you recall, in 1987 the USFL was all set to expand to San Diego with California investor William Tatham heading up an expansion franchise that expected to play in Jack Murphy Stadium.  But, despite claims that the deal was in hand, Tatham was not able to acquire a lease for the San Diego venue.  Concerns about the site having 4 tenants (the NFL Chargers, MLB Padres, and SDSU already had long term leases in place) caused the stadium authority to reject every proposal Tatham put forward.   That forced Tatham to look for a temporary home for the 1987 season.  He considered Honolulu and Indianapolis, but costs (travel for Hawaii and the lease at the recently-constructed Hoosier Dome in Indy) proved prohibitive.  Tulsa, Oklahoma offered Tatham a stadium (Skelly Stadium at the U. of Tulsa) and a good bargain. That experiment ended with the merger of the Outlaws and the poorly-funded San Antonio Gunslingers, and by 1988, Tatham had his team, though in San Antonio and not San Diego.  Oklahoma, while garnering decent attendance, was seen as a poor market for the USFL at the time. Fast forward to today, where the success of the NBA Thunder and the growing economy of the state make Oklahoma a much more attractive destination.  Add to that a new stadium capable of holding up to 50,000 fans, and without a set tenant, and you have a pretty attractive package.  So, what is the plan?  Expansion is not on the table at present, but is expected to be an option in the next 5 years.  Relocation is always on the table if the deal is right.   We know that Nashville is looking for an owner, and the stadium deal at Adelphia is not ideal, so a move of the once Express, then St. Louis Knights, and now Nashville Knights is not out of the question.   There are issues in several other markets either with aging stadia or poor lease contracts, so another team could well look at sale as a way to quickly divest from the league and make a killing by selling to a very deep pocketed Oklahoma City investment group. We all know who the fans in OKC want. They have largely stuck by the Outlaws even with the short-lived connection with Tulsa.  Fan groups schedule regular trips to San Antonio and when the team was relocated to Dallas for one year during Alamadome renovation, Tulsa tried very hard to acquire the team for even one year, and Dallas saw a lot of fans crossing the Red River to visit the Outlaws.  We don’t foresee the Outlaws making the move, especially with the dome’s recent upgrades, but fans in Oklahoma would love nothing more than to relive their very short wading into the USFL waters, a year that saw Doug Williams and Brian Bosworth excite fans in the Sooner state.  So, for now, the investors continue to test the waters, seeking out a deal, while at the same time lobbying the league for an expansion timeline.  They are not alone in this.  Several other markets are also pushing the same agenda, but the OKC group is one to watch out for if for no other reason than they have the funding and the stadium (or they will by 2016) to make a convincing case. Is Steve Wynn in the Running for the Thunder? After the fiasco that has been the Phil Ruffin financial scandal with the Thunder, would the USFL really be willing to get in the mix with another casino developer?  Well, when that developer is one of the biggest players in the gaming industry, Steve Wynn of the self-named Wynn hotels, well perhaps they would.  Rumors have begun to swirl that Wynn is interested in the Thunder, and particularly in getting a share of the new stadium in Las Vegas that will not only host the USFL club, along with conventions, concerts, and everything from rodeo to monster trucks, but which is also actively pursuing an NFL franchise as well.  Wynn is certainly a shrewd player when it comes to land development as well as marketing of entertainment and venues, so a deal that would bring him a pro sports franchise and a pretty significant share of a major venue in Sin City seems exactly the kind of investment he might just bite on. So the question is whether this is a reality or wishful thinking from many around the USFL? And if it is real, just how detailed and deep will the financial probing go to ensure that Wynn will not present the same type of questions and concerns that have already cost Phil Ruffin his club?  Trying to decipher the finances of a casino magnate is no easy task.  Even with Wynn’s reputation, he will certainly have some skeletons in the closet, and the question becomes whether or not those are skeletons that the league can live with or ones that would cause them to shy away from making the same mistake twice. Ten Players Who Could Be In Their Final Year Three weeks left, and while the attention of the fans is on the playoff hunt, the attention of the front offices across the league is squarely on the rosters.  Teams are trying to lock up players before free agency takes effect, determining cap space, and having conversations with seasoned veterans about their plans.  And that is where we focus today, the elder statesmen of the league who may be considering whether another offseason of recovery and training is worth it to come back for one more year.  We have compiled a list of 10 players over 35 who may well be considering whether or not to give it one more year.  We expect some will announce their intention to step away from the game early in preseason, having already made the decision.  Others may wait until camp starts, and others will give it another year, confident that they are still competitive and still able to contribute.  Here is our list of 10 players to watch, all of whom could be playing their final games in the USFL. QB Jake Delhomme (CHA) We have already chronicled Delhomme’s noncommittal statement.  After being knocked out of the 2012 playoffs and missing more than half of the 2013 season with a torn ACL, speculation is rampant that Delhomme has taken the field for the last time.  Rehab from the ACL is brutal, and with no guarantee that Delhomme could beat out Brandon Wheedon for the starting position, the timing may just be right. QB Jake Plummer (LV) This season has been billed as a year for the club to win for Jake, but his recent injury has led to a slip and now the Thunder may not even make the postseason.  After 16 years of scrambling, taking hits, and throwing his body into the fray, Plummer has become more injury prone, certainly lost a step or two, and, quite frankly does not seem to be any closer to that elusive league title.  Is that enough to cause the plucky QB to call it a career? HB Rod Smart (LA) After 13 seasons as an on-again, off-again starter, Smart is slowing down and has been largely removed from this 3rd down back status by the more versatile Reggie Bush.  He has only 20 carries for 56  yards this year and seems to be losing out on carries not only to Bush but to rookie LeRon McClain as well. Perhaps he will land a 1-year deal with what would be his 5th USFL club, but more than likely we will see him depart the game this offseason. WR Peerless Price (DEN) Many expected Price to retire last year, but he signed a 1-year deal to return to Denver for one more go.  Price will be 38 when the 2014 season starts, and while he is still a major factor in the Denver offense, the arrival of Michael Crabtree does give Denver options.  We don’t anticipate Price will resign one more time unless there is a real sense that the Gold are on the cusp of something, a sense we are not getting from this squad. WR Derrick Mason (CHA) If Delhomme calls it a career, there is a very good chance that WR Derrick Mason will do likewise.  Mason has had a good season, most of it with Wheedon at QB.  He has 58 catches and 596 yards, 2nd in both categories behind D. J. Hackett, but Mason is also 37-years-old and may not be ready to be part of a rebuilding of the roster if Charlotte sees major changes this offseason. WR Keyshawn Johnson (LA) The last of our three receivers and most likely the least prone to a retirement announcement.  Keyshawn remains a major weapon for the Express, leading the club with 79 receptions on 143 targets.  He is only 33 yards from another 1,000-yard season, but he is 36, and a pretty beat-up 36.  If LA can develop a true 2nd option, perhaps through the draft, that may be enough for Keyshawn to decide to stay.  Having a good friend in Reggie Bush on the team may be another factor. DE Chuckie Nwokorie (DAL) After 8 solid years in Baltimore, Nwokorie left for Boston and now finds himself in Boston.  Injuries have cost him several games this year, and being stuck on a team that is clearly rebuilding means that Nwokorie is constantly having to justify his starting position.  He has only 1 sack this season, and there is talk that he could be moved to a rotational position if he remains with the team.  We think that may just be enough for him to decide that another offseason is too much effort. LB James Farrior (HOU) With 103 tackles this year Farrior is showing no signs of slowing down at age 36.  The MLB has had over 100 tackles in three of four years in Houston, a revival of a career that was considered winding down back in 2009 when Baltimore let him go. At 36, the wear and tear of so many USFL seasons has to be setting in, but Farrior still has the fire and can obviously still play at a high level.  Does that mean that 2014 is still on the table for him? LB Mike Vrabel (JAX) Vrabel is once again leading the league in tackles, a sort of one-man-show for the Bulls.  But he has been in the league since 1997.  At some point his body deserves a break.  He has had over 100 tackles in 5 of the past 6 years, and can still command the middle of the field, but he may be another player who does not see team success on the horizon, and that may motivate him to move on to another phase of his career. LB Kendrell Bell (CHI) It is 35-year-old Bell, not Brian Urlacher, who is leading the Chicago Machine in tackles this season, and now, with Urlacher out, Bell has shifted over to the MLB position. He certainly still has skills and a lot of experience under his belt.  Chicago is having a good year, and if they make a solid playoff run, he may be convinced to stick around to see if they can get over the hump in 2014, but the other very real possibility is that he will see this year as a strong swan song and use it to parlay some local media opportunities. Atlanta Reveals 2014 Uniform Update The last of the 2014 uniform updates has been announced, with the Atlanta Fire releasing a new look that will likely make the field in the Wild Card round later this summer.  The look is not a major departure from past looks, retaining the same helmet they have worn since returning to the league in 2006, and keeping their orange primary jersey despite rumors that the team was looking at a switch to Navy blue. The main update is to the jersey, which retains its orange dominance, but which has removed the side panels in favor of a full shoulder yoke.  The shoulder & sleeve treatment includes spark gold shoulders and navy sleeves (orange sleeves on the white jersey).  The secondary logo appears on each sleeve, and the shoulder yoke is separated from the torso by thick navy blue stripes.  This is an expansion of the use of the gold tertiary color.  The pants feature a color shifting stripe which begins as fire orange at the hip before transitioning to the spark gold color at the knee. Adidas had apparently pushed for a switch of the helmet as well, encouraging the team to move to an orange helmet with the secondary logo on either side, but ownership refused to budge, citing the unique design of the wrap around flame logo on the navy helmet as an “iconic” element of the Fire’s look, one that dates back to the first iteration of the team in 1995. Should Atlanta make the postseason, expect to see them trot out the new uniforms for that game, likely forced to wear the dark set as a road Wild Card team.  If they do manage to win the division, overtaking Charlotte, then the white set might be available to them as the home team in the Wild Card or Divisional round. Week 14 means there are only 3 weeks left for teams to make a push for the playoffs, and that means that nearly every game has playoff implications.  We begin the weekend in the Central Division.  Chicago has the division won, but are dealing with significant defensive injuries.  Not a good time to face a hungry and somewhat desperate St. Louis squad.  The Skyhawks all but need to win out to have any shot at the playoffs, and they are likely licking their chops at facing a weakened Machine defense. On Saturday we start with Charlotte trying to build on their lead in the Southeast.  They head to Orlando and hope to gain some ground on the Fire with a win.  Philadelphia hosts Pittsburgh for the Keystone Clash, and with only a 1-game lead on the Federals, they  need to take care of business against their in-state rivals.  Denver and Las Vegas are both at 7-6, and both currently in the Wild Card chase, but the loser could well be on the outside looking in.  New Orleans hosts Washington, a tough task if they want to keep pace with the Stallions in the South.  Finally, the nightcap game has LA visiting Oakland and hoping they can use the game to springboard them to a Wild Card spot. On Sunday, we have a few games with clubs not in the hunt any longer, but we also have a key matchup of two contenders in Portland.  We know, weird to think of the Stags as a contender, but at 6-7 they are very much still in the hunt as they prepare to face the Birmingham Stallions. The final game of the weekend is a big one for both clubs, with both Baltimore and Atlanta sitting at 7-6, a precarious position.  Winning this game gives one team not only an 8-6 record, but a tiebreaker against the other should they end up tied as the Wild Card spots are gobbled up. Friday @ 8pm            St. Louis (6-7) @ Chicago (9-4)                               NBC Saturday @ 12pm         Charlotte (8-5) @ Orlando (5-8)                            ABC Saturday @ 12pm         Pittsburgh (5-8) @ Philadelphia (11-2)              FOX Saturday @ 4pm            Denver (7-6) @ Las Vegas (7-6)                              ABC Saturday @ 4pm            Arizona (13-0) @ Houston (6-7)                              FOX Saturday @ 7pm            Washington (10-3) @ New Orleans (7-6)           NBC Saturday @ 9pm            Los Angeles (7-6) @ Oakland (10-3)                    ESPN/EFN Sunday @ 12pm            New Jersey (4-9) @ Tampa Bay (5-8)                    ABC Sunday @ 12pm            Seattle (3-10) @ Nashville (5-8)                             FOX Regional Sunday @ 12pm            Memphis (3-10) @ Jacksonville (3-10)                FOX Regional Sunday @ 4pm               Texas (8-5) @ Dallas (3-10)                                       ABC Regional Sunday @ 4pm               Birmingham (7-6) @ Portland (6-7)                      ABC Regional Sunday @ 4pm               Ohio (6-7) @ Michigan (4-9)                                      FOX Sunday @ 8pm               Baltimore (7-6) @ Atlanta (7-6)                              ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: DeMarco Murray's 144-yard, 4-TD performance this week helped keep Denver in the playoff hunt, with the win vaulting the Gold into the 6th playoff spot at 7-6. PLAYOFF PICTURE: A big week for the playoff scene, with 3 more clubs locking up a playoff spot. Washington, Oakland, and Chicago all join the Wranglers and Stars in the postseason party. In addition to locking up playoff berths, the Wranglers and Machine now have a lock on division titles. Chicago is still a game behind Oakland for the coveted 2nd seed and the bye week that comes with it, but with a 3 game lead over St. Louis and a much better division record the title of Central Champions is theirs. We also saw the first official playoff eliminations this week with 6 teams now officially out of the running. That includes the four 3-win teams (Jacksonville, Memphis, Seattle, and Dallas) as well as the two 4-win clubs, New Jersey and Michigan.

Week 12 was a week defined by rivalry upsets.  Baltimore knocked off Washington, while Dallas snapped a 9-game losing streak to surprise the Houston Gamblers, Jacksonville dealt Atlanta a big blow to their playoff hopes, and Portland sent LA to 6-6 with a surprising road win in SoCal.  It was also a big week for blowouts in interdivisional play as St. Louis just manhandled Seattle, 41-7.  Oakland dispatched Birmingham by 14, Texas crushed Orlando by 21, and Denver outpaced Tampa Bay by 10.  The end result?  Two teams have clinched playoff spots, and a huge cluster of 6- and 5-win teams are all headed towards some potential tiebreaker clusters as the season gets serious.  We will have all this, plus an update on some key injuries and a look at the potential mess that the USFL has as they try to find new ownership in Las Vegas and Chicago. HOUSTON GAMBLERS 18   DALLAS ROUGHNECKS 19 If you are a struggling team, playing in their first season in a new city, this is how you build a rivalry.  Knock off an in-state competitor who are deep in the playoff hunt, late in the season, when an upset loss hurts the most.  That is what Dallas pulled off, earning their first win in 10 weeks by hanging tough against Houston and then pulling out the win in the final minutes of action.  Houston needed this win.  It would have set them up at 7-5, deep in the Wild Card pool, but instead their “little brother” from Dallas got the W and dropped the Gamblers to 6-6, putting a serious crimp in their Wild Card hopes, and making a statement that this Dallas club was looking to become a full-fledged part of the in-state battles in Texas. It was Jake Locker’s second game back after a 3-game benching, and the former 1st round pick of the then Boston Cannons, made good, completing 16 of 28 passes for 224 yards and one of the biggest plays of the season for the struggling Roughneck squad.  The Dallas defense also came up big, harassing Matt Hasselbeck, who returned to action this week, and limiting Michael Turner to only 52 yards on the ground. That combination of stingy defense and solid offence helped keep Dallas in the game all afternoon, and, in the end, helped them earn their third win on the season. The first half was very much Dallas’s as the enthusiasm of nearly 47,000 at the Cotton Bowl helped spark the team to early wins on both sides of the ball.  The offense struggled to get into the end zone, but solid drives provided points on the foot of Stephen Haushka.  Midway through the 2nd period it was Dallas up 9 on three Haushka field goals, and Houston struggling to make plays against a fired up defense.  The Gamblers would find a way, however, and on a well-executed play action pass, Hasselbeck did as he has done throughout his career, taking advantage of a misaligned Dallas secondary to hit Mike Sims-Walker on a 38-yard scoring strike that silenced the Dallas crowd. The Roughnecks finished the half with a fourth field goal, but the fans were visibly troubled by the fact that their club could not get the ball into the end zone.  A 12-7 lead was nice, but it was not enough to help the oft-disappointed Dallas fans feel good about their situation.  That feeling of discomfort with a 5-point lead was well-founded.  On their first possession of the 2nd half, Houston looked to have turned the tide.  A 12-play drive was capped off by a Cedrick Cobbs TD run from the 10, and after a successful 2-point play, Houston had themselves a 3-point lead at 15-12. Dallas would need to rediscover the early success they had in the first half.  They entered the fourth down three and feeling very much like they were again playing into a familiar script, a high-energy start leading to a fading down the road and an eventual loss. When Houston managed another drive, adding 3 off the foot of Dan Carpenter, the lead was now 6 and many in the stands seemed to be sitting on their hands, expecting their team to again fritter away a game. But, with 4:02 left to play, Dallas would get the ball with a chance to win the game if they could just find the end zone.  Jake Locker got the crowd engaged and on their feet with a beautiful throw on first and 10 from their own 20.  Hitting Justin Blackmon on a perfect out route, squeezing the ball just over the arms of the corner, the play not only gained 19 yards for the Roughnecks on their first play from scrimmage, but it got the Dallas faithful engaged and feeling like their club was not done yet. Locker would hit TE Robert Royal two plays later for another first down, and then solid runs from Rashard Mendenhall put the ball in Houston territory.  A Locker scramble on 3rd and 3 got the crowd even louder as the first down kept the drive alive.  Locker still had 2 timeouts to play with, so he had the whole field available.  He used the middle of the field to get the ball inside the Red Zone, connecting with big TE Brandon Manumaleuna on a 10-yard toss to the 17.  Mendenhall then ripped off a nice draw play down to the 8, giving Dallas a 2nd and 1 inside the 10 with over 1:40 left to play.  They would get the first on the next play, a dive over the center by Locker.  The former first rounder would then make the play that erupted the stadium. Taking a shotgun snap, Locker had to move into the pocket as the Houston outside rush crashed around his original spot, he stepped out to the left, and spotted WR Tim Wright streaking across the back end line of the endzone.  Throwing sidearm to avoid a rusher, he flung the ball towards Wright and the rookie hauled in the pass close to his knees, rolling to the ground before holding the ball aloft. The entire stadium erupted in cheers as the Roughnecks tied the score.  When Haushka put them up by one, the crowd again cheered, but more cautiously, with 1:32 still left on the clock.  Houston only needed a field goal to take back the lead and likely the win.  It would be on the defense to hold this game.  Three plays into Houston’s drive they would do just that.  DE Elvis Dumervil would pressure Hasselbeck on a 3rd and 6 throw, the Houston QB would try to hit slot receiver Jeremy Kerley, but DB Jason David saw the ball coming and outwrestled Kerley for the ball.  When the ref signalled Dallas ball, the crowd let out a huge sigh of relief and the win was assured for the Roughnecks. Dallas had upended the Gamblers, won their first game in 3 months and, very possibly, started a new rivalry. MICHIGAN 6   CHICAGO 34 It all went as planned for the Machine as they roll past the Panthers at Soldier Field.  Doug Martin went wild, rushing for 153 and 3 TDs against a Panther D that had no answers. The Panther offense did not fare much better, with Kirk Cousins picked off twice and LeVeon Bell limited to only 29 yards rushing as Chicago takes a strangle hold on the Central Division, with a chance to clinch next week. It was a big win for Chicago, but came at a big cost, as we will outline in our Top Stories. OAKLAND 31   BIRMINGHAM 17 Birmingham’s third consecutive loss drops them to 6-6, while Oakland takes a 2-game lead over Las Vegas in the Pacific with the road win.  Joey Harrington took advantage of a defense designed to stop the run, completing 21 of 26 attempts for 275 yards and 4 scoring tosses to 4 different receivers.  Pierre Garçon led all receivers with 133 yards and a score.   Cam Newton was sacked 8 times by an Invader defense that simply did not give up lanes for him to run as the Invaders move to 9-3. CHARLOTTE 13   PHILADELPHIA 20 After coming back on Atlanta last week, the Monarchs simply did not have enough in the tank this week to do it again. Matt Gutierrez had another strong game, going 31 of 41 for 276 yards and 2 TDs, despite playing without Stevie Johnson.  Fred Jackson rushed for 114 for the Monarchs, but Charlotte was shut out in the 2nd half by that tough Stars defense. MEMPHIS 10   NASHVILLE 24 With Birmingham’s loss, Nashville finds itself only 1 game back and after their win over Memphis they are still very much alive in a Southern Division that could see 8-8 take the title.  Ray Rice rushed for 119 and the Nashville D recorded 6 sacks of Eli Manning in this battle of brothers.  Peyton fared much better, sacked only 2 times and able to complete 26 of 35 passes for 235 and 3 scores. SEATTLE 7   ST. LOUIS 41 St. Louis stays alive at 6-6 with another offensive explosion against another week team.  The Dragons actually outgained St. Louis 320-260, but it was the ability of St. Louis to turn yards into scores that made all the difference.  Josh Freeman threw 3 TD passes and William Bethea ran for another as St. Louis built up a 21-0 lead at the half and coasted from there. BALTIMORE 27   WASHINGTON 19 If not for our GOTW, this would have been the upset of the week as that plucky Blitz squad went into Washington and cost the Federals a share of first place.  Washington had leads of 10-0 and 19-7, but could not hold them as the Blitz scored the final 21 points of the game on 2 Robert Ferguson TD grabs and a late Anthony Dixon TD run.  Joe Webb was picked off 4 times in his worst game of the year, and despite 132 yards from Deuce McCallister, those turnovers did in the Feds. DENVER 27   TAMPA BAY 17 A huge setback for the Bandits, and a needed win for the Gold as Denver came into Tampa Bay and stole a win.  DeMarco Murray and LaTavius James combined for 145 yards, rolling over the Tampa rush defense all game.  Throw in 2 Matt Leinart TDs and Denver is the one to move up to 6-6 after 12 weeks. JACKSONVILLE 24   ATLANTA 14 Another bad result for Atlanta as they come out flat against the Bulls and pay the price.  Despite being sacked 5 times, Tim Tebow completes 63% of his throws, including 2 scoring tosses.  The Bulls also held Steven Jackson to only 46 yards rushing and the entire Fire club to 44 total rushing yards. At 6-6, Atlanta is barely clinging to the 6th playoff spot, though they are still only 1 game behind Charlotte for the division. NEW JERSEY 6   PITTSBURGH 25 Switching back to Bryan Hoyer did not help the New Jersey offense, as they had only 63 rushing yards and Hoyer threw 3 picks on the day. Andy Dalton struggled as well against a pretty fair Generals defense, but got 6 Elliott Parson field goals to go along with a Robert Sands 67-yard pick six, and that was all the scoring the Maulers needed to get the home win. OHIO 21   ARIZONA 24 Ohio showed some character in this one, leading 21-14 at the half, but the Wrangler defense shut them down in the second half and the Wranglers found a way to win once again.  This time it was a game-shifting 75-yard TD from tight end Rob Gronkowski that set the tone of the second half and helped Arizona move to 12-0.  Gronk finished with 5 receptions and 121 yards to lead all receivers, while Frank Gore added another 91 yards to his MVP campaign. ORLANDO 13   TEXAS 34 Joe Flacco made it happen for the Outlaws, throwing for over 425 yards and connecting on 4 TD tosses, including 2 to Marques Colston to go along with the receiver’s 167 yards on the day.  HB Arian Foster also had a big game, with 102 yards as a receiver and another 64 on the ground.  Orlando struggled against the Texas blitz, with Moreno limited to only 3.3 yards per carry and Russell Wilson picked off twice. NEW ORLEANS 14   LAS VEGAS 11 A huge win for the Breakers, who even their record and take a share of first place in the Southern Division.  For Las Vegas, another game without Jake Plummer is another tough loss as the offense racked up 324 yards, but simply could not turn drives into points. It was not a pretty win for the Breakers, but at 6-6 they can still take the Southern Division on their terms. PORTLAND 20   LOS ANGELES 15 The Express’s win streak ends at 3 as Portland continues to improve as the season goes along. The Stags now sit at 5-7, only 1 game out of a playoff spot, after knocking off LA in Farmers Insurance Field.  Matt McGloin gets the W despite going only 18 of 31 and throwing for only 173 yards.  Mark Sanchez’s 3 interceptions, certainly helped the Portland cause as well.  LA now drops to 6-6 and is at risk of falling behind Portland if they don’t get back to winning games. Urlacher Lost to Broken Leg A bad  break for the Central Division leaders, literally, as All-USFL and team captain Brian Urlacher’s leg injury was confirmed as a fractured femur. That is a nasty break, especially for a veteran player, and one that will cost him the rest of the season.  It happened on a pretty humdrum mid-game play against Michigan, but it was clear immediately that Urlacher was in great pain.  He was helped to the sideline but then the cart took him to the locker room.  X-rays revealed a fracture, fortunately not a radial fracture, in the thigh bone.  It should heal well with time, but time is not what Urlacher was hoping would be the remedy. With Urlacher out for the rest of the summer, Chicago will move Kendrell Bell from the strong side to the MLB spot, bringing Beau Bell in at Kendrell’s old position, and will shift Alvin Bowen into a swing position behind both Bells. The Machine also brought Curtis Lofton in from the practice squad to fill the slot, but can anyone really take the place of Urlacher?  This could be a big blow for the title hopes of the Machine, to be sure. New Jersey Still Unsure of Bradford’s Best Path Medically Sam Bradford is on pace for a Week 15 return, but whether or not the 4-8 Generals want to have their star QB on the field is another question.  There are some who argue that getting Bradford even a few snaps in the season’s final weeks would be a huge boost to the team, and to their offseason ticket sales for 2014.  On the other hand, would they really want to risk a possible aggravation of the injury that put him out of action for most of the year, or risk another injury in meaningless games?  Were New Jersey sitting at 6-6, we might expect to see Bradford come in and try to get two season-ending wins to get to the postseason, but with the club at 4-8 and fading from playoff contention, the pressure may be to keep him sidelined and prepare for a healthy 2014 campaign.  The Generals still have 2 weeks to decide, and, should they go 2-0, they might still have a tough call on their hands, but if they lose even 1 more, we expect that Bradford will be placed on IR at this late date and plans for 2014 will begin. Philadelphia eyes Week 15 for Slaton Return Unlike the Generals, Philadelphia is not only in the thick of a playoff run, but looking to lock up a top seed, so their decision on halfback Steve Slaton is not a hard one.  If he is cleared to play in Week 15, you can bet he will be on the field.  He has begun light practice with the team, even as he continues rehab on his back and ongoing therapy. Slaton was having an outstanding season prior to his Week 8 injury, with 578 yards in his first 7.5 games.  In his stead, Philadelphia has turned to veteran Leon Washington (459 yards this season) and rookie Zac Stacy (164 yards), but they will certainly be eager to have Slaton’s dual threat skills back on the field for a playoff run. Will he start in Week 15?  That is to be seen, but can we expect a heavy dose of Slaton when the Stars start their playoff campaign?  You bet. Plummer Hopes for Clearance Jake Plummer missed last week’s matchup against New Orleans and the Thunder struggled, dropping their 2nd in a row.  They had previously lost to Houston 33-10 in the game that saw Plummer taken off the field, and against New Orleans, the Ingle Martin-led Thunder managed only 11 points.  Those two losses dropped them out of a tie for first in the Pacific and they now find themselves two games behind their division rivals and even in peril on the Wild Card front at 7-5. Plummer is listed as Doubtful in this week’s injury report, and reports out of practice say that his ankle is still very tender. But, of course, Plummer wants to be on the field.  He could potentially wear a brace on the ankle, which would limit his mobility quite a bit, but would allow him to play out of the shotgun.  We don’t think Coach Jones wants to risk him in that vulnerable position.  With a game this week against 5-7 Portland, it seems that Jones is content to go with Ingle Martin once again and to rely on the team’s solid defense to get a W.  That would allow Plummer to return to action, healthier and more mobile, when the club returns to Sam Boyd Stadium to take on the Denver Gold.  With a final 3 games against Denver, Oakland, and Seattle, all at home, the Thunder are hoping that they can have a healthy Plummer and get 4 wins to end the year. Can Culpepper Win MVP if Bandits .500? When you have a QB who is leading the league in passing TDs, with 33, 10 more than the 2nd place contender, and when that QB is also 2nd in the league with 3,451 yards, likely on pace to hit 4,000, and has a QB Rating on the north side of 110.  You expect that the QB would be an MVP frontrunner.  But, in the case of Daunte Culpepper, that is not the case, at least not at present. Tampa Bay’s 28th ranked defense and 5-7 record is making it hard for Culpepper to gain traction as an MVP candidate despite his top-of-the-league numbers.  The Bandits may be scoring over 27 points a game and Culpepper’s passing attack is among the league’s best, but that defense is giving up 382 yards per game and over 28 points, making it difficult for the Bandits to hold a lead or win close games.  Yes, in back to back wins Culpepper and the Bandits scored 44 against Texas and 52 against Jacksonville, but equally noteworthy, they lost by 10 to the Gold this week and were utterly thumped at home by Arizona, 45-17. Culpepper is almost certainly a frontrunner for Offensive Player of the Year, a more statistically-focused award, but without support from the rest of the team, he still lags behind other MVP candidates on winning clubs, players like Frank Gore (ARZ), Joe Flacco (TEX), Jake Plummer (LV), and Cam Newton (BIR), despite putting up numbers that are equal to or which surpass those other superstars. Delhomme Hints at Retirement “We will see what we see.” Those were the enigmatic words uttered by Charlotte Monarchs’ QB Jake Delhomme when interviewed by ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio this week.  Asked about his plans for 2014 and whether he was expecting to be back under center for the Monarchs in what would be his 18th season in the USFL, Delhomme seemed to hem and haw, and gave us an answer that certainly felt very noncommittal. Delhomme has missed all but 6 games this season due to injury, a year after he missed two of Charlotte’s 4 playoff games with another injury.  For a player who has had his share of injury-riddled seasons, and with the very real possibility that he would need to compete with Brandon Wheedon for a starting job in 2014, the veteran of 4 USFL teams (PHI, JAX, MEM, CHA) may well be considering another path.  There has been talk that FOX wants to hire the QB as an analyst for their weekend pre-game crew once his career is over, but to date the possibility of him handing the reigns over to Wheedon and stepping away from the game has always just been speculation. But with Wheedon having a strong season, leading them to a 7-5 overall record (3-3 as starter), and recording a very solid 92.7 QB Rating in his 6 starts, Whedon has proved very capable.  He may have slightly fewer yards than Delhomme, with both having started 6 games (1223 v. 1402) but his 5:1 TD:INT ratio is strong and the team has rallied behind him.  While Delhomme certainly did not want to go out on the terms of an injury, a playoff run for the Monarchs could be the perfect time for him to step away, perhaps get one last curtain call on the sideline from Charlotte fans, and transition to life after football. The first two playoff spots have been locked up and no one is surprised that it is unbeaten Arizona and 10-2 Philadelphia who have punched their tickets.  The Wranglers are one win away from locking up the SW Division, holding a 4 game lead over Texas with 4 to play.  Philadelphia now holds a 1-game lead over Washington, but that final game between the two will still be huge. At the other end of the table, none of the 3-9 teams are officially eliminated yet, because as of right now, both 6th seeds are sitting at 6-6, which means it is still mathematically possible for a 3-9 club to run the table and sneak in.  Not likely, but not impossible.  Right now LA and Atlanta hold the two six seeds, but they both have a lot of competition for those spots, with Denver, Houston, St. Louis, and New Orleans all also sitting at 6-6, and plenty of teams at 5-7 as well. Expect Chicago, Oakland and Washington to be the next teams to clinch a spot, with Oakland already up 2 games in the Pacific and Chicago holding a 3-game lead over the Central. With only 4 weeks left in the season the IR list is growing as more and more players are expected to miss at least 4-6 weeks, and that, in many cases, means their seasons are done.  We highlighted Chicago’s defensive captain and MVP Brian Urlacher, but several other key players are going to be out down the stretch, including young Aldon Smith of St. Louis, CB Shaun Springs in Houston, and center J. D. Walton for the Renegades.  Pittsburgh thought that Andy Dalton may have suffered a neck injury, but it was ruled a concussion, meaning that he is likely to return in Week 14 if not in 13. OUT CB          T. McBride          DAL         Groin                    IR FB          J. Felton              SEA        Hamstring         IR CB          S. Springs           HOU        MCL                      IR LB           B. Urlacher        CHI          Leg                        IR LB           A. Smith              STL         ACL                       IR C             J.D. Walton        ORL      MCL                      IR DOUBTFUL QB      A. Dalton            PIT Concussion QUESTIONABLE WR         G. Jennings        MEM        Neck CB          C. Finnegan       ORL       Concussion G            S. Locklear        CHA       Shoulder Is Chicago Sale a Done Deal Already? Reports out of Chicago seem to indicate that there is an insider deal ready to happen between Rocky Wirtz, current owner of the Chicago Machine and two members of the influential Pritzker family.  It appears that an investment group headed by cousins Thomas and J.B Pritzker have already been in negotiations with Wirtz for the sale of the Machine franchise, with numbers being cited that would make the Machine the most expensive USFL franchise ever sold. Wirtz has been hush on the sale of his franchise, other than filing with the league his intention to divest himself of the franchise which he inherited from his father.  The timing of the sale was considered a potential concern for the league in that it was seen as competition for the league’s efforts to find an owner for the Las Vegas Thunder franchise already under league control.  If, however, there is an internal agreement within the organization to sell to an already-identified ownership group, that could relieve the issue. The Pritzker family is well-known and somewhat highly regarded within Chicago circles.  Thomas and J.B. are both heirs to the Hyatt Hotels fortune produced by their two fathers, Jay and Donald Pritzker.  Between the two cousins, there is an estimated total worth of nearly three billion dollars.  Thomas is a major supporter of the Art Institute in Chicago, while J.B, who recently ran for congress in Illinois, has long been a figure in Democratic Party politics in the state, J.B. headed up the Illinois Human Rights Commission for then-governor Rod Blagojevich, and served as national Co-Chairman of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign. The Pritzkers have strong Chicago ties, and certainly the financial portfolio to be approved by the USFL owners as a potential ownership group, so if the rumors are true, Chicago may be fast-tracked for sale, paving the way for the league to move ahead with the Las Vegas situation and the more complex dealings certain to be part of the transfer from private ownership, to league conservatorship, and then a new owner. A Look at the Draft From the 3-9 Perspective As most teams are fighting for playoff position, the five clubs sitting at 3-9 may be mathematically alive, but we all know they are already looking at 2014.  Draft position and filling key areas of need are top priorities for these basement dwellers.  So, who exactly should Dallas, Jacksonville, Memphis, Michigan, and Seattle be targeting?  How does their T-Draft look as a potential source of talent and who should they be scouting heavily in the Open Draft?   Let’s take a very early look at all 5 clubs and their positions of need as fans for each club start dreaming of draft day. DALLAS Best T-Draft Prospect:  Cornerback looks like a rich position for the Roughnecks, with TCU’s Jason Verrett, OU’s Aaron Colvin, and SMU’s Kenneth Acker all available.  But does Dallas also take a long look at SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert? Likely Open Draft Target: Dallas needs to add more weapons for either Jake Locker or Landry Jones.  Justin Blackmon is doing it all alone.  So, how about a pure speed guy like Watkins, Oregon State’s Brandin Cooks, or USC’s Marquise Lee?  They could also look at TE with Eric Ebron from UNC as a really good safety valve option for the Dallas QB, whoever it may be. JACKSONVILLE Best T-Draft Prospect: WR Sammy Watkins seems like a natural fit for the Bulls, who need to get Tim Tebow more options.  The other big need is defense, so a solid DT like Florida’s Dominique Easley could be another good target for Jacksonville. Likely Open Draft Target: Could Jacksonville be in the QB market?  Well, it depends who you ask.  Tebow has put up huge numbers, but he is also amazingly inaccurate, throwing way too many picks.  More likely the Bulls go for someone like Tajh Boyd in the T-Draft than make a huge deal for the Open Draft.  They need so much on defense, they need these early Open Draft picks to look that direction.  How about someone like LB Khalil Mack, unprotected out of Buffalo. MEMPHIS Best T-Draft Prospect: No real 1st round talent in Memphis’s protected pool, but some good mid-round options. We like DE Chris Smith from Arkansaw, and WR Donte Moncrief from Ole Miss as good fits for Memphis. Likely Open Draft Target: Darren McFadden has not worked out the way Memphis had hoped, so expect the Showboats to spend some draft capital on a back who could be a 3-down option.  This is not a great draft for halfbacks, but one possible target would be Ohio State’s Carlos Hyde, who has the inside run game that the Showboats love to see. MICHIGAN Best T-Draft Prospect:  The Wolverines and Spartans have been a constant pool of talent for the Panthers but this year is looking pretty lean.  We like CB Darqueze Dennard from MSU and, if Michigan wants a big run-blocking tackle, they could do a lot worse than Michigan’s Taylor Lewan, but outside of these two, there just is not much to be excited about. Likely Open Draft Target: Hines Ward needs some help out wide, and we love the idea of Michigan making a deal with either New Orleans or Houston to take a shot at LSU’s Odell Beckham or Texas A&M’s Mike Evans, both of whom would be ideal targets for Kirk Cousins and the Panthers. SEATTLE Best T-Draft Prospect:  HB Bishop Sankey could be exactly what Seattle wants from the T-Draft.  He won’t be a 3-down back, but in combination with Cadillac Williams, he could be a perfect 3rd down option and lightning to Williams’s thunder.  We also love safety Deone Buchanon as a plug & play starter for the Dragons. Likely Open Draft Target: A lot depends on Byron Leftwich.  If he steps away after an injury-shortened 2013, then QB becomes the top priority for Seattle, and they may take a long hard look at Teddy Bridgewater (unlikely to be picked by Baltimore in the T-Draft) or Derek Carr of Fresno State. Los Angeles Express Mix Old & New in 2014 Uniforms Adidas and the LA Express celebrated the release of their newly refashioned 2014 uniforms at an event at the LA Fashion District.  Tuesday night, following LA’s weekend victory over Seattle, the Express, along with several high-profile Los Angelenos were on hand for the reveal of the new look.  Modeled by QB Mark Sanchez, HB Reggie Bush, LB Lofa Tatupu and CB Marcus Truffant the new design blends elements of the past with a few new wrinkles for the team. For the traditionalists there is a strong return to Navy Blue as a primary color. This is not to say that Speed Blue, the lighter hue which has been the primary color in recent years is not present, but the jerseys return to using the darker Navy tone as the dominant color. Paired with a greater use of silver in the overall look, these new Express uniforms certainly harken back to the early years of Steve Young and Jo-Jo Townsell (a team history that is somewhat shared with the original franchise now located in Nashville). Along with the new Navy blue jerseys, the team revealed three pant sets, Navy, silver and a new white set, a first for the Express.  The jerseys feature offset color sleeves in silver with a three-stripe shoulder treatment, with two thick stripes containing a thin center stripe.  Much of the design plays off of the two-color LA monogram, complete with the con trails of a speeding jet.  Just as the logo has distinct top and bottom colors, the striping parallels this, both on the shoulders and on the horizontal pant stripes. The jersey numbers also follow the motif of the split color, divided by the contrail.  On the dark jerseys, the numbers are split with silver on the top and white below, while on the white jersey the lower portion of the number is in Speed Blue while the top is in Navy. But by far the most striking innovation in the new uniform set is the new helmet.  For the first time in team history (both the current iteration and the original 1983 franchise now relocated to Nashville), the Express will not boast an LA monogram on the helmet.  While the monogram remains the team’s primary logo, the helmet features only the streaking jet plane with its two con-trail stripes.  The helmet is metallic silver with a Navy blue facemask, and it features two large wraparound decals, depicting the jet in Navy, with an upper contrail stripe also in Navy and a lower stripe in Speed blue.  The two stripes do not meet in the back but are separated by the player number.  The striping and the jet are outlined in white to set them off from the silver helmet. It is a bold departure for a team that has toyed with various versions of the LA monogram for years.  There was a brief period when the Mercury secondary logo was tried on the helmet, but this new look represents a truly new direction for the Express, one that tips its cap to the past with its color profile, but also clearly looks to the future.  If the Express can garner a playoff spot (which they are in position to do at present, they will debut the new look for their playoff appearance, as is the custom in the league.  If not, then next March will see the debut of the new-look, no-monogram Express. Week 13 looks to be a huge week for divisional races, with 10 of 14 games pitting division rivals against each other and a ton of games between teams 1-game apart in the standings.  Friday Night sees the Philadelphia Stars hoping to avoid a trap game against a struggling New Jersey club.  On Saturday, we have several battles of 5-7 and 6-6 teams, including St. Louis v. Ohio, Houston v. Denver, Nashville v. Birmingham (all divisional matchups) and Tampa Bay @ Baltimore. Saturday ends up with the Invaders visiting Texas in a huge Western Conference game, then on Sunday it is back in divisional play with Atlanta facing Orlando in a key SE Division clash, while Las Vegas is in Portland and Seattle visits LA in two key Pacific clashes.  We end the week with a nice game between two 9-win teams, both hoping to reach 10 and a playoff berth with a win.  Chicago heads into Washington hoping to grind down the Federals. Blue = Divisional Games All games not indicated as "regional" are national broadcasts. Friday @ 8pm                PHILADELPHIA (10-2) @ NEW JERSEY (4-8)       NBC Saturday @ 12pm           TAMPA BAY (5-7) @ BALTIMORE (6-6)                    ABC Saturday @ 12pm           CHARLOTTE (7-5) @ JACKSONVILLE (3-9)          FOX Saturday @ 4pm             ST. LOUIS (6-6) @ OHIO (5-7)                                    ABC Saturday @ 4pm             HOUSTON (6-6) @ DENVER (6-6)                            FOX Saturday @ 7pm             NASHVILLE (5-7) @ BIRMINGHAM (6-6)              NBC Saturday @ 9pm             OAKLAND (9-3) @ TEXAS (8-4)                                 ESPN/EFN Sunday @ 12pm              PITTSBURGH (5-7) @ MICHIGAN (3-9)                 ABC Regional Sunday @ 12pm              NEW ORLEANS (6-6) @ MEMPHIS (3-9)               ABC Regional Sunday @ 12pm              ATLANTA (6-6) @ ORLANDO (5-7)                           FOX Sunday @ 4pm                LAS VEGAS (7-5) @ PORTLAND (5-7)                    ABC Sunday @ 4pm                DALLAS (3-9) @ ARIZONA (12-0)                             FOX Regional Sunday @ 4pm                SEATTLE (3-9) @ LOS ANGELES (6-6)                    FOX Regional Sunday @ 8pm                CHICAGO (9-3) @ WASHINGTON (9-3)                ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Joe Flacco had another huge game for Texas as the Outlaws move to 8-2. With over 400 yards passing and 4 TD's Flacco is making a late run at a possible MVP award. And with Jake Plummer out at least one more week, he will get another chance to impress in Week 13. PLAYOFF PICTURE: The first two playoff teams have been set, and to no one's surprise it is 12-0 Arizona in the West and 10-2 Philadelphia in the East who have punched their tickets to the postseason. Neither club has their division locked up yet, though Arizona, with a 4-game lead on the division, needs only 1 more win to do so. No teams have yet to be eliminated, with the gap between the 6th playoff spot and the 14th rated team in each division only 3 games.

A good week for Charlotte, Los Angeles, and Oakland, disappointing for Ohio, Atlanta, and Nashville.  Tough sledding for Las Vegas without Jake Plummer in action, and a heartbreaking loss for Baltimore as they let one slip away against the Maulers.  In a Week 11 that still has not produced any playoff clinches or eliminations, there is a lot of battling to be had over playoff position and the Wild Card spots in particular.  Las Vegas in particular has to be feeling nervous as they lose Jake Plummer for 1-2 weeks, and in losing to Houston they now fall a game behind Oakland and have a hot LA team right on their heels.  We will recap all of Week11’s games, take a look at the Las Vegas ownership situation, and at some more QB shifting near the bottom of the standings as teams try to find answers and coaches try to avoid a bad Black Monday.  All right here This Week in the USFL. ATLANTA FIRE 16   CHARLOTTE MONARCHS 19    OVERTIME The two top contenders clash in a late season game with a lot of potential impact.  Both came into the game with the same record, so the victor would put themselves in a position to control their own destiny.  It was a game that could decide the division, but it would take overtime to get there.  It was a game that was defined by penalties (15 total in the game), defensive stops, and drives ending with field goals, 7 in total over the game’s final 3 quarters.  Both defenses bent quite a bit (344 yards allowed for Atlanta, 321 for Charlotte) but did not break as drive after drive stalled before hitting paydirt. Atlanta came into the game having won 5 in a row to go from 1-4 to a contender at 6-4.  Charlotte had been atop the division since early in the season, but losses to Nashville and Tampa Bay had allowed others to draw closer to them. Both entered the game with Top 10 defenses, and that showed, particularly in the first quarter where neither team crossed midfield.  Defense and field position would play a major role the entire game, and while the 2nd quarter produced both of the game’s touchdowns, it did so largely because of field position. Atlanta got the first break when a poor punt from Charlotte’s Ken Walter went out of bounds at the Fire’s 48-yard line.  The Fire used that shank, as well as a costly roughing the passer call against Rolando McClain to get the ball inside the 10.  From there, Steven Jackson did the rest, crossing the plane for the first score of the game.  Jackson would finish the game with only 47 yards on 15 carries, but the threat of the run helped Kyle Orton stave off the Charlotte pass rush. Charlotte would respond, thanks again to field position, as a nice kick return from Hakeem Nicks helped shorten the field.  D. J. Hacket had his best catch of the day on this drive, a one-handed grab along the sideline that put the ball in the redzone.   From there Brandon Wheedon connected with Luke Wilson and we had a 7-7 game.  Atlanta would add a field goal to end the half, and after 30 minutes we had a 10-7 slugfest on our hands. In the third, penalties started to play an even larger role.  A 15-yarder against Andre Woolfork, and then a defensive holding call on a key 3rd down helped Charlotte get in range for a short Brandon Coutu kick that evened the score at 10.  Atlanta would follow that with a good drive, but a holding call on 3rd and 7 both negated a first down in Charlotte territory and pushed the Fire out of field goal range.  They would get another shot after Charlotte went 3-and-out, and this time it was a defensive PI call that helped the Fire, again putting them in field goal range.  Ollie Brody, the rookie kicker for the Fire, connected on his 2nd attempt of the game, and once again Atlanta held a 3-point lead as the game went into the 4th. Charlotte opened the final period with a nice drive, using up nearly 6 minutes and 14 plays, but again had to settle for a short kick when Wheedon missed on a 3rd down endzone throw to Mark Clayton.  The game was again tied up.  Atlanta would again go on top with yet another kick on a drive that saw Demaryius Thomas catch balls on three consecutive throws.  Thomas would end the game with 6 receptions for 122 yards, with half of those on this one drive.  But again a penalty cost Atlanta a shot at 6 and they settled for a 16-13 lead with 6:08 left to play. Charlotte would once again be seeking to equalize the score.  Despite a rough day for the Monarch run game (72 total yards), they stuck with it, and the Fire were forced to keep safeties closer to the line.  That allowed Wheedon to find space behind them to connect with Brandon Pettigrew and Luke Wilson as well as slot receiver Hakeem Nicks.  As time wound down, the Monarchs positioned the ball, setting up Coutu for a makeable 49-yarder.  Not the easiest of kicks, but one that the veteran kicker has made, and made again on this date. The game would go to overtime.  Atlanta won the toss and opted to receive.  After an initial first down on an Orton to Reed toss, the Fire cost themselves with a holding penalty and could not recover from 1st and 20.  They would punt the ball to the Monarchs.  With short passes to his backs (Jackson and FB Justin Green, Charlotte managed to break down the Atlanta zone.  They again bogged down around the Atlanta 30, but that was still within Brandon Coutu’s range.  This time from 50 yards out, Coutu would need to connect to end the game and give the Monarchs a 1-game lead in the division race. Coutu’s kick was straight down the middle and the home Monarch crowd celebrated a big win over their rival and a return to sole possession of first place in the Southeast Division.  With a bye week still possible for the SE Division winner, Charlotte now holds the advantage of 1 game and a much better divisional record (5-1) than Atlanta (2-3) or the rising Orlando Renegades (also 2-3).  That puts them in the driver’s seat with 6-5 Birmingham now a target as Charlotte hopes to lock up a 2nd seed and that coveted week of rest in the postseason. BIRMINGHAM 3   NEW ORLEANS 14 A big win for the Breakers and a rough game for Cam Newton, as the Breaker D held the Stallion QB to only 11 of 30 passing, 102 yards, and a grand total of -5 yards rushing.  Add to that 6 sacks, including 3 from LE Ty Warren, and you have defensive domination by a team that needs their D to help lead the way.  Matt Forte rushed for 95 yards for the Breakers, but when the New Orleans D limits Birmingham to a grand total of 14 yards rushing, 95 yards looks awfully good. TAMPA BAY 52   JACKSONVILLE 28 While the Breakers were winning with defense, Tampa Bay was simply scoring, over and over again.  Again it was 8 times in 10 drives, but this time those 8 scores included 7 touchdowns, 5 of which came off the arm of Daunte Culpepper.  The Bandit QB only put up the ball 19 times, but averaged 22.7 yards per completion for a stunning 432 yards passing and 5 TDs.  Vincent Jackson averaged over 35 yards with his 5 receptions.  Santonio Holmes averaged 49.7 yards on 3 catches, and between the two of them, they accounted for all 5 scores as the Bandits just “shock and awed” the Bulls. LOS ANGELES 24   ST. LOUIS 17 The Skyhawks needed a big win to set up a playoff run, but it was LA that declared that they will be a player down the home stretch.  The LA defense sacked Josh Freeman 4 times and picked the QB off as well.  While Eddie Lacy led all rushers with 114  yards on 18 carries, LA got touchdowns from FB Timothy Frederickson, TE L.J. Smith, and from Keyshawn.  The Express held St. Louis to 3 for 14 on third down and controlled the clock to take a huge road win if they want a shot at a Wild Card. LAS VEGAS 10   HOUSTON 33 Houston sacked Jake Plummer 3 times, knocking him out of the game early in the 2nd, and that was all she wrote for the Thunder.  Ingle Martin came in and was also sacked 3 times as the Houston D held the Thunder at bay all game.  Meanwhile Tim Rattay went 15 of 20 and Michael Turner had a huge game, his first big result as a Gambler, rushing for 187 yards and 2 scores to give Houston a much-needed W and put them over .500. NEW JERSEY 3   WASHINGTON 26 Another rough outing for the New Jersey offense, as Washington allowed only 28 yards rushing and did not give up a touchdown to Charlie Whitehurst and New Jersey.  Deuce McCallister rushed for 98 yards and Joe Webb hit Deion Branch for a score as the Federals consolidated their record at 9-2, and sent New Jersey to a precarious 4-7 record after 11 weeks. TEXAS 26   DENVER 24 The Gold gave it their all but could not come back against a solid Outlaws team.  Both Marques Colston and Chris Cooley went over 100 yards as Joe Flacco went 14 of 23 for 357 yards on the day.  Four Kai Forbath field goals were paired with TDs from Colston and HB Felix Jones as the Outlaws move their record to 7-4 and send Denver below .500 again at 5-6. ORLANDO 34   MEMPHIS 23 Don’t look now but the Orlando Renegades are in playoff position at 5-6 after knocking off the Showboats in Memphis.  Russell Wilson had his best day as a pro, going 20 of 26 and connecting for 4 TDs, including two to Michael Jenkins.  Add in a 115-yard day from Knowshon Moreno and the ‘Gades find themselves in the Wild Card mix with only 5 games left. ARIZONA 26  DALLAS 14 A 13-0 run in the 2nd quarter gave Arizona a 16-7 lead and they bolstered that with a Joe Haden pick-six in the third to pull away and secure their 11th win in 11 tries.  Dallas returned to Jake Locker on offense, and he actually fared pretty well against the nasty Wrangler D, throwing for 182 yards and a TD, but it was not enough as Dallas dropped their 9th consecutive game. PITTSBURGH 33  BALTIMORE 31 A bad loss for the Blitz, who were working their way into the playoff picture.  The Blitz give up 427 yards of offense to the Maulers, as Andy Dalton throws for 304 and 3 scores. Dalton also scrambled for 42 yards, which is a shocker to all who have seen him play before.  Victor Cruz is making a push for recognition as he catches 7 balls for 136 and a score as Pittsburgh shock the Baltimore crowd. CHICAGO 24   SEATTLE 17 Not the blowout win most Machine fans expected, but a win nonetheless.  Brady Quinn goes 25 of 33 for 302 yards and 2 scores, while Doug Martin adds 88 yards and a score as the Machine outlast a pretty game Dragon squad.  It was tied at 17 at halftime and through the 3rd before a fourth quarter TD from Quinn to Sanders broke the game for Chicago. MICHIGAN 29   PORTLAND 3 A rough game for Stag fans as they had hoped to get win number 5 at home against a 2-win Panther squad. LeVeon Bell found plenty of holes in the Stag D on his way to 128 yards rushing and Kirk Cousins went 9 of 18 with 2 TD tosses on the game as Michigan spoiled the Stags’ plans.  With Jonathan Stewart dinged up, the Stags could not muster a run game with LeGarrette Blount and Javon Ringer, and that doomed them against the Panthers. OHIO 13   OAKLAND 35 Ohio hoped this would be a statement game, but it was Oakland who spoke the loudest, with Pat White subbing for Joey Harrington.  The former Mountaineer threw for 204 yards and 3 TDs.  Not all good news for Oakland however, as Ryan Williams came up hobbling after only 1 carry.  The Invaders muddled through with BenJarvis Green-Ellis, but fans now have to wonder what this means for Williams. PHILADELPHIA 34   NASHVILLE 16 The Sunday nightcap game saw Peyton Manning return under center for Nashville, but it was a rough return for the veteran as Philadelphia sacked him 5 times and picked him off twice in a decisive road win for the Stars.  Matt Gutierrez went 14 of 20 for 152 and 2 scores but it was rookie HB Zac Stacy who had the biggest game.  Starting for the injured Steve Slaton, Stacy declared his presence with 82 carries and 3 touchdowns on the day as the Stars show just how deep their roster is. Muddle in the Middle as Playoff Race Heats Up While it is hardly a surprise that Week 11 has us staring at a cluster of teams all within 1 game of each other and all within 1 game of one of the season’s final Wild Card spots.  While no teams have clinched this early in the season, we have a pretty sizeable cluster of teams right around the .500 mark, all hoping that they can string together some wins and make a move into safe playoff position. Current count right now is 13 teams all within range for the sixth seed in each division.  Right now Orlando (5-6) and Los Angeles (6-5) have the advantage and sit in the sixth position, but there is no security in that.  In the East, there are 3 other 5-6 clubs right there except for the complex tiebreakers, with Tampa Bay, Baltimore, and New Orleans all tied with Orlando.  Add to that three more teams at 4-7 and only 1 game out (New Jersey, Pittsburgh, and Nashville).  In the West it is LA at 6-5, as are the Houston Gamblers, but sitting at 5-6 we find St. Louis, Denver, and Ohio.  All of this means that one bad week could lead a team to drop from playoff position, or one good week could propel another into the postseason mix. It also means that as the final weeks of the season progress, the pressure will build and teams will either make a move or peal off as pretenders. This very scenario is what the league hopes for with its playoff formula.  Not only are there 4-5 teams in each conference who are feeling good about their playoff lives, but these additional 13 teams are also in the mix, and that means13 more fanbases riveted to their tv screens, to the daily updates on their favorite teams, and on the results of games from across the league.  All in all, that makes 22 of 28 cities and regions still fully invested in the USFL season, and it is that kind of engagement that has helped build the USFL into the nation’s spring obsession. Outlaws lose their Marshall One team that is looking a bit shakier as the playoff push continues is Texas, who have lost 2 of their past 4 games, but who now have also lost a key contributor in wideout Brandon Marshall.  The 7-year veteran receiver got the news he feared on Monday when MRI’s revealed that he had ruptured his Achilles tendon.  It is both a painful and a slow-to-improve injury that will cost Marshall the rest of the season. Marshall was having a strong season with Joe Flacco back under center.  In 10 games he had accumulated 27 receptions, which is not eye-popping, but his 23.6 YPC average translated those 27 catches into 636 yards and 6 touchdowns.  And while the receiver is now on IR and will spend the rest of summer undergoing surgery and rehabbing his heel, the Outlaws will move forward towards what they hope is a playoff appearance without one of their biggest weapons. Texas currently sits at 7-4, good enough for 2nd place behind the unbeaten Wranglers in the Southwest division, but only 1 game ahead of Los Angeles and Houston in the race for 2 Wild Card spots.  Losing a key target for Joe Flacco could be a huge factor in their ability to hang onto the 5 seed.  With Marshall out, Texas will likely alternate possession receiver Reggie Brown and straight line speedster Marquise Goodwin in the position, hoping to equalize the number of targets between the two.  It also likely means that TE Chris Cooley and slot receiver Roscoe Parrish may also see more balls headed their way as the Outlaws try to diversify the offense and spread around the targets that had been going to their number 2 receiver. Plummer to Miss 1-2 Weeks with Ankle Injury More bad news out West, but not horrible news, as Jake Plummer’s ankle is a lower ankle strain, and not the dreaded High Ankle Sprain that can cost a player weeks of recovery time.  Plummer is expected to miss 2 weeks, but could be back in action by Week 13.  The problem for Las Vegas is that their three-point loss to Houston this week broke the tie atop the Pacific Division and gave Oakland a 1-game lead in the division. That is a bad situation for Las Vegas, but the upside is that Plummer is expected back in action well before the Week 15 showdown between the two contenders in the Pacific Division.  What has to be on the minds of the Thunder team now is that they need to keep that gap between themselves and the Invaders to 1 game.  They cannot drop another unless Oakland does likewise.  And while Oakland faces 3 tough games with a road trip to Birmingham and Texas before a home date with LA, Las Vegas does have an easier route to that Week 15 clash, as they start off at home against New Orleans, before a road game in Portland, and another home date against Denver.  Those are all winnable games, particularly if Plummer is under center, but now, with Ingle Martin expected to start those games, the question of an easier schedule gets a lot more complicated. Ryan Williams Injury a Pinched Nerve, Probable for Week 12 While Las Vegas is concerned about 1-2 games without Jake Plummer, their rival in the division, Oakland, is sighing in relief after learning that the injury that took lead tailback Ryan Williams out of action this past week was only a pinched nerve, not a muscular or ligature injury.  That means that with some treatment, massage, ice and heat, Williams should be good to go this week when the Invaders visit Birmingham.  Oakland has listed Williams as “probable” on the injury report, and we won’t get final word until Saturday, but the prognosis is certainly better than initially expected. No clinched teams yet, but we are getting close.  Arizona needs only 1 more win to lock up a playoff spot, but with only a 3-game lead on the Outlaws, the division title will take more time.  Most of the other divisions are much closer, with Philadelphia and Washington tied atop the NE, Oakland, Charlotte, and Birmingham sitting on 1-game leads, and Chicago the other 3-game leader as St. Louis’s loss gives the Machine a 3-game advantage with 5 to play. The Wild Card race is looking very much like a battle to be over .500 as Atlanta (6-5), Orlando (5-6), Tampa Bay (5-6), Baltimore (5-6) and  New Orleans (also 5-6), all battle for 2 spots.  In the West, it is 6-5 LA, 6-5 Houston, 5-6 St. Louis, 5-6 Denver, and 5-6 Ohio all fighting for just 1 spot unless 7-4 Texas and Las Vegas start to slip. No eliminations from the playoffs yet, but we are watching both 2-9 clubs, Jacksonville and Dallas, as the final whistle is not far off for both clubs. We have briefly discussed the situations of Brandon Marshall, Jake Plummer, and Ryan Williams, and that certainly would have been enough this week, but as we have come to expect, there are more players with a range of injuries, including some concerns that likely mean the end of the regular season for several players.  Here is the rundown: OUT CB          Trumaine McBride         DAL       Groin                    IR FB          JeromeFelton                   SEA        Hamstring         IR WR         Brandon Marshall          TEX        Achilles               IR LB           Paul Posluszny                ORL       Leg                        IR CB          E. J. Bibbers                      MEM     Abdomen           2-4 Weeks LB           Nico Johnson                    BIR         Jaw                        1-2 Weeks QB         Jake Plummer                  LV           Ankle                    1-2 Weeks WR         Greg Jennings                   MEM     Concussion       1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL WR         Stevie Johnson                 PHI        Finger LB           Alonzo Johnson               JAX         Appendicitis QB         Pat White                           OAK      Back QUESTIONABLE DT          Terrell Troupe                   TEX        Finger CB          Darius Slay                        ATL         Biceps DE          Tamba Hali                        CHI        Jaw TE           Anthony Fasano              CHI        Concussion QB Changes As Teams Scramble for Answers In football, the position of quarterback is the most pivotal and most scrutinized position on the field.  Get yourself a good one and your team can overcome a lot of weaknesses.  Struggle at the position and your franchise could be in for a very rough patch.  So it is no surprise that teams that are struggling to find success at the position often switch back and forth between their options, hoping that one player will step forward and make it clear that they should be starting.  This week, we have seen three teams announce changes as they try to either salvage the last month of the season or build to the future. NEW JERSEY:  Whitehurst to Hoyer The injury to Sam Bradford proves our point about the indispensability of a top QB.  With Bradford out at least the next 3-4 weeks after missing most of the season, the Generals have floundered.  They started the post-Bradford period with backup Bobby Hoying, made a deal with Charlotte to bring Charlie Whitehurst over, and then gave the former NFL player 5 starts to see what he could do.  Whitehurst went 1-4 over that span, including 4 straight losses, so this week the Generals announced that they will return to Bryan Hoyer at QB.  Will that help them salvage something out of the year?  We don’t know. But with Bradford expected to be cleared to play in Week 15, the question is now whether the Generals should put him out there if their season is already a lost cause.   For now it is Bryan Hoyer taking over once again. Here is a quick look at the comparison between Hoyer and Whitehurst. HOYER:              83 of 182 (45.6%), 815 Yards, 3:5 TD: INT, 52.8 QBR, 1-3 Record WHITEHURST:  122 of 213 (57.3%), 1409 Yards, 6:4 TD:INT,  78.9 QBR, 1-4 Record PORTLAND: Fitzpatrick to McGloin This one is a bit of a surprise as Ryan Fitzpatrick helped Portland get 3 consecutive wins, with upsets of Texas and Seattle during that run, but the Stags are sitting at 4-7 and are clearly thinking about 2014.  That desire to see what they had is the reason they are now turning to Matt McGloin.  Fitzpatrick’s numbers have not been bad, attested to by his 88.4 QB Rating, but with rookie Matt McGloin getting a short look during a 2-game Fitzpatrick absence (injury) earlier this year, the Stags clearly want to see more.  McGloin got 2 starts, but failed to throw a TD in those two games (he also did not throw a pick), and with both games against brutal defenses (Arizona and Las Vegas) the Stags feel that McGloin was certainly held in check and held back by Coach Mornhinweg.  It seems that ownership has said that they want a longer look, so they pushed for McGloin to finish out the year despite a healthy Fitzpatrick ready to go.  How McGloin fares could well determine Fitzpatrick’s future with the team.  Here again is a quick comparison of the two to date: FITZPATRICK: 192 OF 333 (73.4%), 1,681 Yards, 11:7 TD:INT,  4-5 Record MCGLOIN:      51 of 83 (61.4%), 468 Yards, 0:0 TD:INT, 0-2 Record DALLAS: Jones to Locker Another team trying to decide if their rookie pick is the future face of the program or if they should give their oft-criticized season starter another year.  Jake Locker started the season well, winning his first 2 games, but then lost 5 in a row, leading to his removal and the arrival of Oklahoma rookie Landry Jones.  Jones started the next 3 games, all losses, before Locker was reinstated for Week 11.  So, the question now is whether Locker can do anything to give Coach Sherman confidence in him going into his final contract year.  The drafting of Jones seemed to be a clear signal that Locker may be on the way out, but Jones struggled in three starts this year, and may have given Locker a shot to redeem his image with the coaching staff.  One last head to head comparison of the QB’s: LOCKER: 199 of 325 (61.2%)   1,956 Yards,  7:6 TD:INT,  79.0 Rating         2-6 Record JONES:    46 of 119 (38.7%), 493 Yards,  1:2 TD:INT,  47.4 Rating 0-3 Record Chicago Owner Rocky Wirtz Wants to Sell, League Concerned As if things were not confusing enough with the situation in Las Vegas and the potential for both new ownership from outside the league and for an owner seeking to sell off his club and get in on the Las Vegas market, now we have news out of Chicago that Machine owner Rocky Wirtz, son of the team’s founder Bill Wirtz, wants to cash out.  Chicago is having a strong season both on the field and at the ticket office, and that success has apparently signaled to Wirtz that the time is right for him.  Wirtz is not particularly engaged in the day to day operations of the club, preferring instead to focus his attention on the NHL Blackhawks, but it seems that he has decided that the time is right to get maximum dollar for his franchise. Chicago should be a very attractive market for a new ownership group.  The club is playing well, draws consistently between 38,000-45,000, right in the sweet spot of USFL attendance, and the deal with Soldier Field is a solid one, providing ample revenue from parking, ticket sales and concessions.  While the Machine have never really challenged the Bears within the market, they have certainly carved out a niche in the busy spring sports schedule of the city, competing alongside the Cubs, White Sox, Hawks and Bulls. The addition of Chicago as a possible market could actually pull away investors from the Las Vegas sale, as certainly there are several investment groups that would love to get into the USFL through the 3rd largest market in the nation, rather than Las Vegas’s glitzy but smaller metro area.  Sure, Las Vegas will have a shiny new domed stadium by 2015, but the team has neither the history nor the draw that Chicago can boast, partially due to the transient nature of the Las Vegas population and the inherent limitations of the current Thunder stadium (Sam Boyd Stadium).  Even with the promise of a new stadium, there will certainly be investment groups that see Chicago as a market with a higher ceiling and a better chance at long term financial viability. So, we now have 2 teams up for sale, a third in Nashville, that is throwing some questions out there, and ownership groups still trying to get teams to places like San Diego, Miami, Oklahoma City, and Minneapolis.  The question now is whether all this fluidity in the USFL leads to quick sales or long protracted issues of relocation and franchise uncertainty. Week 12 starts the sprint towards the season finale, and a series of weeks with heavy divisional action.  Seven of fourteen games will be divisional clashes in the week, starting on Friday with Michigan visiting Chicago. The Machine are having one of their best seasons in recent history, while Michigan is still trying to find themselves, but you know the Panthers would love to play spoiler in this rivalry game. While some of the most interesting matchups of Saturday are interdivisional games (Oakland at Birmingham, Charlotte @ Philadelphia), we also have some good old rivalry games, starting with Memphis at Nashville in the Battle of Tennessee, Baltimore and Washington in an always hard-fought battle, and Houston headed up to Dallas in what Roughneck fans see as their game of the year against their downstate rivals. Sunday has more divisional clashes with Atlanta hosting Jacksonville, New Jersey visiting Pittsburgh, and our nightcap, Portland heading to Los Angeles.  We also have three interdivisional games as one of the league’s best offenses, Ohio, heads out to Arizona to face the top rated defense of the Wranglers.  Denver is in Tampa Bay, with both teams 1 game under .500 and trying to stay engaged in a Wild Card hunt.  Finally, we have New Orleans visiting Las Vegas, and hoping they can reach .500 and get right back in the mix for the Southern crown against a Thunder team still unsure if Jake Plummer can suit up or not. Friday @ 8pm            Michigan (3-8) @ Chicago (8-3)                      NBC Saturday @ 12pm         Oakland (8-3) @ Birmingham (6-5)                 ABC Saturday @ 12pm         Charlotte (7-4) @ Philadelphia (9-2)                   FOX Saturday @ 4pm            Memphis (3-8) @ Nashville (4-7)                           ABC Saturday @ 4pm            Seattle (3-8) @ St. Louis (5-6)                                 FOX Saturday @ 7pm            Baltimore (5-6) @ Washington (9-2)                   NBC Saturday @ 9pm            Houston (6-5) @ Dallas (2-9)                                   ESPN/EFN Sunday @ 12pm            Denver (5-6) @ Tampa Bay (5-6)                             ABC Sunday @ 12pm              Jacksonville (2-9) @ Atlanta (6-5)                            FOX Sunday @ 12pm              New Jersey (4-7) @ Pittsburgh (4-7)                       FOX Sunday @ 4pm                Ohio (5-6) @ Arizona (11-0)                                        ABC Sunday @ 4pm                Orlando (5-6) @ Texas (7-4)                                       ABC Sunday @ 4pm               New Orleans (5-6) @ Las Vegas (7-4)                  FOX Sunday @ 8pm               Portland (4-7) @ Los Angeles (6-5)                       ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Daunte Culpepper is on a tear, with Week 11 sizing up as his best game in several years. Culpepper and the Bandits exploited the defense all game long, with the QB throwing for over 430 yards on fewer than 20 attempts. Throw in 5 TD passes and you have the formula for a huge win and a sense of confidence as the Bandits fight for a playoff spot. PLAYOFF PICTURE: Five weeks left and we are just now reaching the edge of when clubs might start clinching spots. Arizona has exactly a 5-game advantage over the 6th and 7th place clubs, so one more win will clinch it for them. The other clubs need a bit more, of course, but as of right now it is looking very good for Philly, Washington, Oakland and Chicago. No teams have been eliminated as of yet, but, as you might expect, the 2-win clubs, Jacksonville and Dallas, are getting very close to making it official.

For as long as the USFL has had a 16-game season, Week 10 has been seen as the start of the playoff run. By this time in the season we have a very good idea who the frontrunners are, who the bubble teams are, and who is likely thinking about their golf game already. But, with every season we also see teams that come out of nowhere down the stretch and others who spiral out of control in the season's final month. Did week 10 give us any hints as to who may be about to put it all together and who may be about to see their season fall apart? Well, read on and see what you find. BALTIMORE BLITZ 26   OHIO GLORY 23 Two teams on the fringe of the Wild Card race, Baltimore at 4-5 after winning 3 of their last 4, Ohio sitting at 5-4, but having lost 3 of the last 4.  Would this be a story of two teams headed in opposite directions or would Ohio’s big win over Washington the week before put them back on the right track.  The Glory still had a Top 5 offense, able to both run and pass the ball against most defenses. Baltimore relies on their defense, as they are still barely averaging 20 points per game despite good outings in recent weeks. The game would be played in the late afternoon on Sunday, and it would be perfect conditions for football, a high barely topping 80 degrees but dropping throughout the game, no rain, and little wind, a perfect setting for a big game.  The Blitz won the toss but deferred to the second half and Ohio, as they had done against Washington the week before, hoped to score on the opening drive. Using plays pre-arranged, as most teams did, the Glory moved the ball effectively on the opening drive.  In just about 3 minutes there were into Baltimore territory, and on the Blitz 34-yard line they got their first bi play of the game.  Isaiah Pead took one step to the left and then cut back to the right.  The Blitz defense overcompensated on the initial move and were out of position.  Pead was able to find a crease and before Baltimore knew what hit them, the big Ohio back was in the secondary.  A strong shoulder to the cornerback and Pead was off along the sideline, racing the full 34 yards to paydirt.  It was exactly the start that Ohio fans hoped for and the crowd of 41,304 made their voices heard. Baltmore would not have much luck on their first drive, with a third-down pass too high and out of reach for Darrius Heyward-Bey.  Following their punt, Ohio was again on the move.  This time it was the passing game that produced the bigger plays, with Weinke connecting with Javon Walker for 17 yards before finding Steve Smith for a scoring strike from the 29.  It was not looking particularly good for the Blitz with 6 minutes still left in the opening quarter but down by 14. Baltimore rallied, as Washington had done the week before.  They altered their strategy, picked up the tempo, and used Ron Dayne as a cudgel to force Ohio into more 8-man fronts.  With that in place, Ben Roethlisberger was able to find Robert Ferguson and Antonio Gates on consecutive plays to get inside the 10.  From there, Ron Dayne did his thing and pounded the ball in for the score.  The second quarter began with Ohio leading by 7. In the 2nd, again much like the week prior, both defenses stiffened up, both offenses lost their earlier rhythm and we only saw a lone Baltimore field goal in the quarter.  14-10 Ohio as the two went into the break.  As they came out for the second half, something odd was noticed right away.  It was Tony Pike, and not Chris Weinke who was taking warm up throws on the sideline as Baltimore started with the ball.  Weinke had not returned from the locker room.  As Baltimore slowly worked their way down the field, a drive that led to a go-ahead score for Dayne, fans in Columbus wondered where their starter was.  We would find out later that he was in the locker room trying to loosen up an ankle that he tweaked not in on-field action, but on his jog back to the locker room, when he caught the seam from field to concrete awkwardly.  A weird way to get hurt, but a concern nonetheless. After the Ron Dayne TD put Baltimore up 17-14, Ohio would rally behind Pike and would even up the score at 17 with a David Green field goal, but Baltimore felt that without Weinke they certainly had the upper hand.  They too drove down the field, but another miss, this time with Big Ben’s arm being clipped by an Ohio defender just as he released the ball, meant a fourth down and Baltimore settled for a 39-yard Nick Folk kick to end the 3rd at 20-17. Ohio would need to rally in the 4th, but down only 3, they still had the full support of their home crowd.  That crowd helped to rally support for the team as they worked their way into Baltimore territory to start the fourth quarter.  The drive stalled at the 32, which put David Green back on the field.  He connected from 49 yards out and once again we had a tie score.  This would be the them of the 4th quarter, with both teams moving the ball well within the 30’s but stalling out. There would be a grand total of 4 field goals in the period.  First Ohio’s to even the score, then a 22-yard kick from Nick Folk to put Baltimore up 23-20 with 6:28 left.  When Ohio again tied the game at 23 with a 30-yard kick from Green with only 1:04 left, many in the stadium started preparing for overtime.   But, Coach Caldwell and the Blitz were not going to play along. Caldwell put the ball in Ben Roethlisberger’s hands, and the big QB did what any franchise QB should, he led a quick-paced sprint down the field to get into range for Nick Folk. Connecting with his newly acquired target Robert Ferguson for 14 yards, then with Antonio Gates for 7 and Brian Hartline for 12, Big Ben got the team in range.  Not wanting to give Ohio any time, the Blitz ran Ron Dayne into the line twice before bringing Nick Folk out with just over 9 seconds left to go.  Folk would need to connect from 33 yards out, which was not much to ask of a veteran kicker.  Folks’s kick was good and Baltimore moved to 5-5, knocking Ohio to the same record. Roethlisberger finished the game with 314 yards, and while he did not throw a TD, he did what he needed to do to get the W.  Ron Dayne finished with 97 yards on 16 carries, including both Blitz TDs.  Both Robert Fergusion and Darrius Heyward-Bey just missed 100 yards, Fergie ending at 99, DHB with 97.  For Ohio, Isaiah Pead finished with 89 yards on 17 carries.  Steve Smith cracked 100 yards, with 7 catches for 108, and Tony Pike finished the game with a 12 of 17 performance, but no TD’s as the second half saw only field goals from the Glory. DENVER 41   HOUSTON 20 A big day for DeMarco Murray and an even bigger win for the Gold as they have a huge day on both sides of the ball.  CB Jamar Fletcher took advantage of Houston’s Tim Rattay with not one, but two pick-sixes, a 32- and a 52-yarder.  Murray rushed for 114 and a score, and Matt Leinart threw for 2 more as Denver took advantage of a Houston squad clearly not up to speed with Matt Hasselbeck sidelined. PHILADELPHIA 30   PITTSBURGH 21 Philadelphia bounces back from their home loss to Memphis by shutting out Pittsburgh in the 2nd half and focusing on the passing game with Matt Gutierrez.  Gutierrez threw for only 198 yards but his 4 TDs helped Philadelphia pull away after 2 early Tavon Austin TDs had Pittsburgh looking very competitive in this one. NASHVILLE 24   CHARLOTTE 17 A bit of an upset and a good outing for former Mauler QB Cody Pickett, subbing for a dinged up Peyton Manning.  Pickett threw for 262 and 3 scores on the day as Nashville built up a 24-10 lead before a late TD helped Charlotte get into striking range.  Pickett found a favorite target in WR Ahmad Merrit, who caught 2 of his 3 TDs. DALLAS 14   CHICAGO 38 The Roughnecks drop their 8th in a row as Chicago gets 3 TDs from Aaron Dobson, who is developing into a major weapon for Brady Quinn this season.  Dobson caught 7 of 10 targets and 3 scoring tosses as the Machine move to 7-3, alone atop the Central Division. TAMPA BAY 44   TEXAS 24 Texas was not expecting to see vintage prime Daunte Culpepper, but that is what they got.  The Bandit QB went 17 of 21 for 359 yards, connecting on several deep balls.  Santonio Holmes was the big weapon, catching 5 passes for 171 yards and 2 scores, including a 71-yard bomb that stunned and silenced the San Antonio crowd.  Vincent Jackson also had 2 TDs as Tampa Bay scored early and often against a seemingly overwhelmed and shellshocked Outlaw defense.   Arian Foster burst out for 188 yards on the day, but to no avail against a Bandit squad that scored on 8 of 9 possessions in the game. ORLANDO 10   ATLANTA 16 Two pretty solid defenses clashed in this SE Division matchup, but the best day of Steven Jackson’s short USFL career helped give the homestanding Fire the win.  Jackson busted out for 112 yards on only 18 carries, including a 26-yard TD run in the 2nd that gave Atlanta a 13-3 lead at that time.  Both QB’s limped out of this one, with Kyle Orton sacked 4 times but Russell Wilson getting the worst of it, surviving 8 Atlanta sacks, including 2 each from Chris Kelsay and Keyonta Marshall. LOS ANGELES 21   SEATTLE 12 Another divisional win for the Express as they move to 4-1 in divisional play this season.  Reggie Bush had his best game as a USFL back, rushing for 114 on 19 carries.  The game was close throughout but a Dominique Rogers-Cromartie pick-six of Matt Flynn turned out to be the game winner for the Express, who move to 5-5 after 10 weeks. LAS VEGAS 38   BIRMINGHAM 20 The Thunder, and especially QB Jake Plummer, continue to impress with a nice road win over a very tough Birmingham squad.  Plummer had a career day with 385 yards passing.  He also connected with T. J. Houshmandzadeh for 3 scores and added a 4th TD to TE Ben Watson as the Thunder pulled away in the 2nd half. WASHINGTON 7   JACKSONVILLE 6 A thunderstorm caused a 45-minute delay in the start of the 2nd half, and the entire game was something of a slop-fest as both Joe Webb and Tim Tebow tried and failed to create offense for their clubs.   Washington got an early TD from Jahvid Best and that held up as Jacksonville’s David Akers connected on 2 second half field goals but went only 2 for 7 on field goals attempts in the nasty conditions. OAKLAND 27   MEMPHIS 19 After seeing what the Showboats did to Philly last week, the Invaders were ready, and while Eli Manning was able to pass for 341 yards, the Memphis offense time and again  had to settle for field goals.  As for Oakland’s offense, Ryan Williams moved into the rushing leader board with 113 yards and a TD on the day.  Keenan Allen also continued his outstanding rookie season with 5 catches for 80 yards and 2 scores to win ROTW for Week 10. PORTLAND 21   NEW ORLEANS 7 We said we were concerned about the Breakers and a 14-point loss at home to Portland certainly shows that our concerns were valid.  Drew Brees was picked off 3 times and the Breakers were simply flat all throughout a game they needed to win.  It was hardly a dynamic performance by the Stags, but New Orleans just was not focused and it showed. ARIZONA 20   MICHIGAN 10 Tyler Thigpen got the start as Kirk Cousins was dinged up, and, well, let’s just say that going up against Arizona’s defense was not what he wanted to do.  The Michigan D had a halfway decent day, limiting Frank Gore to only 82 yards, and Arizona to only 2 touchdowns, but the Michigan offense just could not produce enough to stay in this one as Arizona moves to an impressive 10-0. ST. LOUIS 28   NEW JERSEY 13 The Skyhawks needed this one to return to 5-5, and they wanted to put on a show on ESPN’s Sunday Night Showdown.  They did both against a Generals team that just does not hold up well.  We will say that in his first start, replacing Michael Crabtree, Muhamed Sanu looked good, catching 7 balls for 134 yards and a score.  A bright spot for New Jersey.  St. Louis got 3 scores from Josh Freeman and David Nelson again proved to be a good sub for Jordi Nelson, leading the Skyhawks with 5 receptions and a TD. Another Great Week for Tailbacks It was another solid week for the league’s backs, especially some of the new faces across the league, as both of the big-name NFL imports finally cracked the 100-yard mark.  It was not the league leaders, Gore or McCallister that had the biggest days either.  Both were held under the century mark by defenses designed to limit their options.  It was a day for backs who were very much still trying to prove themselves. Steven Jackson (ATL) recorded his first 100-yard game, ringing up 112 yards and a TD on only 18 carries, a very nice 6.2 yards per carry against the Renegades. In Seattle, Reggie Bush (LA) had his best game as a USFL back, rushing for 114 yards in a key divisional win over the Dragons.  It was the most carries and the best results Bush had seen this year. Denver’s DeMarco Murray had been splitting carries with Lemichael James, and did so this week, but after racking up 114 on only 13 carries, including a 36-yard jaunt and a TD, we may see Murray finally emerge as the true starter for the Gold. In Chicago, Doug Martin has been a part of the Machine’s 2013 success story all year.  He had put up two 100-yard games earlier in the season, but it had been since Week 4 that we had seen the century mark eclipsed by the 2nd year back.  Against Dallas, Martin had a field day.  He carried the ball 32 times, putting up 142 yards along the way and helping Chicago move to 7-3 on the year. Oakland’s Ryan Williams has been one of several pleasant surprises for the Invaders this year.  After 10 games he is within 10 yards of his career best season and could easily crack 1,000 for the first time this year.  Against Memphis he put up his 4th 100-yard game of the year, rushing for 113 and a score on 23 carries. We have been waiting to see the old Marshawn Lynch after he returned from an early season injury, and it looks like he is getting back to 100% just in time for a late season division title push. The big back averaged 5.1 yards per carry, rushing for 108 on 21 carries in a big road win against the Stallions. But, by far the biggest day was had in defeat as Texas’s Arian Foster put up a whopping 188 yards on only 20 carries, an eye-popping 9.4 yards per carry, but, with Tampa Bay scoring at will against the Outlaws, it was to no avail. Even with his huge day, the Outlaws suffered a 20-point defeat at home to the visiting Bandits. Could Season 17 Be the Golden Year for Jake Plummer? Jake Plummer may not be the league leader in passing yards (he sits 8th after missing a couple of starts), but his 19 TDs and his 124.5 QB Rating have many wondering if the two-time MVP is in line for a third award and, more importantly, his first championship.  Plummer is the kind of player fans of other teams root for when their club is not in the game.  A steady performer who used to thrill Arizona fans with his dual threat ability, but a player who in recent years has simply become one of the best passers in the gam while still retaining the swagger of a younger gunslinger mentality. Plummer is on pace for a possible 4,000 yard/30 TD season, but what he and his fans most want is for him to lift the John Bassett Trophy in his 17th season in the league.  But, with an almost cruel irony, the team that seems poised to prevent that for Plummer is none other than his former squad, the Arizona Wranglers.  Las Vegas is hoping to take the Pacific Title and to edge past Chicago for the 2nd seed in the West, but Arizona is already 3 games up on the Thunder for the top seed and home field advantage.  Riding a historically stingy defense, the Wranglers are very much looking like a team of destiny, but a destiny that Plummer and his fans hope is thwarted. In a season when the Las Vegas franchise is undergoing both turmoil and public humiliation due to the unethical and likely illegal actions of their principal owners, the team on the field is looking to be on solid ground.  The Thunder sit at 7-3, and have both a Top 10 offense and a Top 10 defense after 10 weeks.  Plummer led the Thunder to their first division title since moving from Portland in 2012, and the hopes this year were that the team could go one step further.  Plummer is playing some of his best ball, Marshawn Lynch is back from injury, and the receiving duo of Chad Johnson and T. J. Houshmandzadeh is one of the most dangerous in the league, combining for nearly 1,400 yards and 12 touchdowns so far this year.  But, many are wondering what it means if they find themselves up against an Arizona buzzsaw come the playoffs. Is ROTY Now a 2-Man Race? It certainly seems that way, with Oakland receiver Keenan Allen and St. Louis tailback Eddie Lacy looking like they have put a lot of space between themselves and the rest of the field.  Allen leads all rookie receivers with 48 receptions, over 670 yards, and 5 TDs. He has been so reliable for Joey Harrington that the club felt comfortable trading away Greg Jennings in a 3-team deal that brought the Invaders several draft picks.  Lacy is leading all rookie backs with 758 yards on the ground, and should have a fair chance of cracking 1,000 yards in his first campaign. The rookie has helped the Skyhawks emerge after a nasty 0-3 start and has them in the thick of the Wild Card race with a potential run at 1st place Chicago still in the cards. Voting will not take place until the first week of the playoffs, but as of right now, these two offensive stars in the making look like it will be a one-on-one showdown come award season. Can Steve Smith Win MVP as a Receiver? Speaking of awards, fans in Ohio are wondering if WR Steve Smith can do the nearly unthinkable, win a league MVP as a receiver.  Often seen as a position that is so dependent on good QB play that the receiver cannot win the title without pushing the QB ahead of him in the voting, Smith’s position seems uniquely located to give him a shot.  While Chris Weinke is certainly having a good year, it is Smith’s ability to maintain strong numbers regardless of the signal caller that is so impressive. He has done it with Weinke under center, but also looked strong with Vince Young and even Tony Pike putting the ball up. Smith has put up 100-yard games five times this season, including each of the past 3 games.  He has over 1,000 yards already, and is nearly 200 yards ahead of the 2nd place receiver, Outlaw Marques Colston.  In addition to leading the league in yards by a wide margin, he also has a 20 reception lead over Robert Meachem as we count receptions.  Yes, a 20-reception lead.  He is one of only 3 receivers (Keyshawn Johnson and Victor Cruz) with more than 100 targets, and he is racking up yards largely in smaller chunks, averaging only 12.2 yards per catch. But, the truth remains that MVP is almost always a QB-only category.  This year the QB’s being spoken about include Jake Plummer, Birmingham’s Cam Newton, and even Tampa Bay’s Daunte Culpepper, whose 26 TD passes is 7 more than the closest competitor.  Add to the mix the interest in recognizing Frank Gore for his amazing contributions to Arizona’s 10-0 season and you have a tall hill to climb for Smith, even though his accomplishments in Ohio this year have been very deserving of recognition. As is typical for the first Playoff Status Report of the year, Week 10 shows no teams clinched, but it certainly looks like that will change soon as Arizona sits at 10-0. They appear destined for a number one seed even if they are not able to keep their undefeated season intact.  Also looking good are the Philadelphia Stars and Washington Federals, though only 1 can be NE Division Champions.  Denver put their best foot forward this week and were rewarded with the 6th spot in the West. St. Louis and Ohio are right there as well, though currently outside looking in. In the East, Baltimore, with a 3rd consecutive win, is in the mix in the 6th spot, edging out a cluster of 4-6 teams.  Charlotte and Atlanta now sit tied atop the Southeast Division, while Birmingham holds a 2-game lead in the South. No one is eliminated at present, but at 2-8, Jacksonville, Michigan, and Dallas are on life support. We expect the Roughnecks would be happy just to snap an 8-game losing streak, but all three are on the edge as we enter Week 11. With 6 weeks left to play, we are seeing more and more teams opting to use IR as players come up against the reality that even a 4-week injury could mean that their regular season is done.  Four more players were added to IR this week, including two defenders who have had a big impact on their clubs, cornerback Nnambi Asomugha in Baltimore and LB Paul Posluszny, a defensive captain for the Renegades.  With the home stretch underway, every injury is a possible blow to a team’s playoff hopes, even moreso when that team is on the outside looking in or sitting right on  the fringe. Here is the full list of new additions to the Injury Report heading into Week 11. OUT CB          Nnambi Asomugha     BAL     Broken Leg                      IR FB          Jerome Felton                  SEA          Torn Hamstring          IR LB           Paul Posluszny                ORL       Leg Fracture                     IR HB         LeRon McClain LA          Knee                              IR DT          Corey Liuget WSH      Hip                                 4-6 Weeks OT          Willie Colon HOU         Knee                              2-4 Weeks FB          Tommy Bohanan         WSH        MCL                                2-4 Weeks DE          Fred Perry                     CHA         Knee                                 1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL DT     Ellis Wyms           CHI Ribs QUESTIONABLE CB          Nathan Vasher         TEX     Finger QB         Joey Harrington           OAK      Concussion HB         Jonathan Stewart           POR       Thigh WR         Antonio Bryant               ARZ         Shoulder Evaluating the Last 3 Rookie Classes It is a Herculean task to try to accurately predict how a rookie class will fare, which teams found gems and chose wisely and which muffed their opportunity.  It can easily take 4-5 years to determine who has been a Prime Grade pick, who has been solid, and who has fallen short of their hype.  But, no one wants to wait 5 years to start assessing, including us.  So we are going to revisit the past three drafts and get a sense of what has gone well and what has not.  Yes, it is way too early, especially for the class of 2013, but that is the nature of the game.  We will go year by year, highlight 4-5 players who have made a huge difference for their teams, 4-5 who have become solid starters, and 3-4 who have yet to truly prove themselves and run the risk of receiving the dreaded “draft bust” moniker.  We start with the 2011 draft, which has given us a sample size of 52 games so far, then 2012 (26 games) and finally the very early assessment of 2013 (10 games). 2011 DRAFT Breakout Stars: While not every one of these 3rd year players is a household name, they are all major contributors and leaders on their teams already. HB Ryan Williams (OAK):  He is having his best year to date, but in 3 seasons, his 2,791 all-purpose yards and 19 combined TDs (rushing & receiving) have made him an indispensable part of a pretty solid Invader Offense. CB Patrick Peterson (NOR): Peterson has proven to be one of the most consistent and one of the more dangerous DB’s in the league.  He has 7 picks in 2.5 seasons, including 2 pick-sixes, and with his 176 tackles, he is fulfilling everything the Breakers could have wanted from a cornerback. LB Aldon Smith (STL): Selected a team captain this year, the 3rd year LB has a stunning 46 tackles for loss among his 218 tackles in 32 starts.  Add in 8 sacks and, oh yes, a league title in St. Louis, and you have a defensive stud to be celebrated. C Mike Pouncey (CHA):  The Monarchs found themselves an All-USFL center in the 2013 draft, and a big reason why the run game of Fred Jackson helped not only propel Charlotte to the playoffs last year, but two upset wins with rookie Brandon Wheedon at QB.  Pouncey is a nasty blocker and athletic enough to lead the way for Jackson and the Monarch run game. DE Robert Quinn (BAL):  Quinn has not gotten the press he deserves in Baltimore.  The Blitz have not been world-beaters, but Quinn, with 100 tackles and 25 sacks in 39 starts is looking very much the part of a future 20-sack edge rusher. Steady Contributors: These players have earned their way to a starting spot, and may be on the verge of something bigger.  Their path has not always been a straight upward trajectory, but they are valued team members and could develop into major factors for their squads. QB Cam Newton (BIR):  We were very tempted to put Newton in the Breakout category, and certainly this year he is playing the part of a superstar 1st rounder.   His rookie season was strong, but flawed, and his sophomore campaign was a bit of a setback, but if this year is any indication, Newton could well be a leaguewide superstar for years to come. DT Corey Liuget (WSH): Moving from a rotational player to a starter in his sophomore year, Liuget is proving to be an impressive inside pressure tackle.  He has 11 sacks and 91 tackles as  DT and is also a reason that Chris Long is having such a good year outside. DE Cameron Jordan (OAK):  A second strong pick for the Invaders in 2011, Jordan has 20 sacks in 42 starts and has been solid since he began taking snaps early in his first year.  We are still waiting for the breakout that puts him among elite edge rushers, but his role for the Invaders is certainly secure. DT Marcel Dareus (OHI):  Dareus was the consensus #1 DT on the board in 2013, but it has taken him a while to get his legs under him in the pro game. He is having a good season for Ohio this  year, and he does have 141 tackles in only 40 starts, so he has certainly earned a starting spot. QB Andy Dalton (PIT):  His 3,069 yards and a 20:18 TD:INT ratio are not exactly All-USFL numbers, but Pittsburgh liked him well enough to trade away Cody Pickett and hand the starting position to him as a sophomore.  If he continues to develop, he could be a player that Mauler fans can rally behind. Yet to Shine: These players came into the league with high expectations, but so far have struggled to make the leap from college accolades to the pro game.  It is not too late, but the clock is ticking for each. QB Jake Locker (BOS/DAL):  Locker was to be the golden boy for the Cannons, the next Drew Bledsoe, but so far he has been a bit more Ryan Leaf than Bledsoe.  He is currently battling with rookie Landry Jones to be the starter on a Dallas club that has lost 8 games in a row. WR Randall Cobb (OHI):  Cobb was expected to jump  right into the slot position and become a major target for Vince Young (now Chris Weinke), but he has yet to be able to supplant Javon Walker as the primary slot receiver.  With only 14 starts and 25 receptions in 3 years, it may just be that Cobb needs a change of scenery to find himself. OT Nate Solder (DEN):  While earning 30 starts in 3 years, the jury is still out on Solder.  Why?  Well, how about allowing 19 sacks in those 30 games.  That is not exactly the kind of success you expect of a highly rated college tackle.  Denver wants him to succeed, but cannot afford to keep putting Matt Leinart at risk if he just cannot handle the speed of USFL edge rushers. 2012 DRAFT Breakout Stars: A draft without a clear “cannot miss” QB prospect, the 2012 draft so far has been about players who may not have been the biggest names coming out of college, but who have started to assert themselves as pros. WR Justin Blackmon (JAX): Blackmon has been a rare bright spot in a pretty bad 2 season stretch in Jacksonville. With over 140 receptions and 2,000 yards under his belt already, Blackmon needs more help if Jacksonville is going to turn things around, but he is certainly doing his part. HB Doug Martin (CH): Martin is having a breakout season with the Machine, but it was the early signs of potential last season that gave Chicago the confidence to trade away veteran Michael Turner.  They have not regretted the choice, with Martin currently among the league leaders on the rushing list. CB Dre Kirkpatrick (MGN):  Originally slated to go to Denver, a violation of tampering regulations sent Kirkpatrick to Michigan instead, and the Panthers have been very happy with the result.  Kirkpatrick was an instant starter on a pretty weak Michigan secondary, and has paid off with 8 picks in 26 starts. LB Bobby Wagner (OAK):  Someone is doing their job at peak level in Oakland.  Another really strong draft pick in 2012, as Bobby Wagner has already become a leader on the Invader defense, and why not, with 159 tackles in only 24 starts, including a whopping 15 forced fumbles, Wagner is one of the most ferocious “enforcers” in the league. TE Coby Fleener (NOR): After hitting on Patrick Peterson in 2011, the Breakers found another solid pick in 2012 with Fleener.  The Stanford TE already has 94 receptions, 7 TDs, and 1,056 yards despite not becoming a regular starter until midseason last year. Steady Contributors: We are beginning to see a pattern in the teams we see doing well, with another Machine pick and another Charlotte player appearing now. WR Michael Floyd (CHI):  Floyd started 10 games last year and came to camp as the number one target for Brady Quinn.  A reliable possession receiver and red zone target, Floyd is not blazing past defenders, but his route running is helping Quinn lead a very strong Chicago squad to a possible division title this year. QB Brandon Wheedon (CHA):  We are not ready to anoint Wheedon the starter for the future, but in two different backup stints, he has proven that he is poised under pressure and can lead the squad.  From his stunning 2012 playoff run to his current stand-in role for the injured Jake Delhomme, Wheedon is not wowing us with huge numbers, but he is winning games, which sort of matters a lot. S Mark Barron (LV):  The Thunder have been thrilled with Barron’s leadership and his drive to the ball.  He has not put up huge numbers yet, but he has certainly been a major part of the success of the Thunder defense as they try for a division title in the desert. LB Luke Kuechley (BOS>ATL):  Kuechley came with a lot of expectations and, while 131 tackles and 10 TFL is nice, he has not yet had the kind of impact the Cannons expected, which is why he was available to Atlanta in trade this year.  We will need to check back on the former BC linebacker after he gets up to speed with the Fire to see if he pays off on the potential we saw in college. Yet to Shine: Way too early to write these players off, but the time is now for them to start showing that they are capable of living up to the expectations. OT Matt Kalil (LA):  Kalil has started every game in LA since arriving last year, but the 6 sacks he has allowed are a concern.  Still on the right side, LA was hoping to move him to LT this year, but he has just not shown them enough to make that move. WR Brian Quick (POR): The Stags hoped they were getting Mike Quick version 2.0 when they drafted the speedy receiver, but with only 1 start and 4 receptions to his name in 26 games, so far Stag fans are unimpressed.  Portland’s offense needed a playmaker and so far they are not getting that from Quick. DE Bruce Irvin (OHI):  Irvin was to be the solution on the edge, but he has yet to earn a start in his first 26 games.  He has 1 tackle and 1 sack on record.  This is not the production Ohio wants or needs. HB David Wilson (WSH): We are not shocked that Wilson has no starts for the Federals.  He was always going to be a backup for McCallister, but something triggered Washington to bring in Jahvid Best in the offseason, and that has pushed Wilson down to 3rd on the depth chart and a very possible offseason cap cut, not what Feds fans wanted from the tailback. 2013 DRAFT Breakout Stars: We are only 10 games into these players’ careers, but already we are seeing big things. WR Keenan Allen (OAK): You knew Allen would have to be at the top of this list. A ROTY frontrunner, the receiver not only got his first start in only the 3rd game of the year, but was so good in camp and in early games that the Invaders made a deal to send Greg Jennings away in trade. That is an impressive first impression. HB Eddie Lacy (STL): The other ROTY contender, Lacy has been everything the Skyhawks had hoped for after the retirement of Antowain Smith.  In his 10 starts he has averaged over 75 yards per game and has 7 TDs in his rookie campaign, with 6 games left to play. DE Barkevious Mingo (JAX):  Another good draft pick in Jacksonville.  The wins have not come yet, but Mingo is certainly doing his part with 6 sacks and a safety in his first 10 games. DT Star Lotuleilei (DAL):  Lotuleilei made a huge first impression, winning Rookie of the Week in the season’s opening week, and while his numbers have not continued at the same pace, his presence, even during the Roughnecks’ 8-game losing streak, has not gone unnoticed. DE Dion Jordan (POR):  The Stags may  not be knocking on the door of a division title, but don’t put that on Jordan. 7 sacks in his first 10 games have folks in Portland very happy with the local Oregon product. LB Alec Ogletree (WSH): The Feds feel they got a steal in Ogletree, who already has 33 tackles and 6 TFL in his first 9 starts.  He is not Antonio Pierce, but who is.  What he has shown is that he is not overwhelmed by the pace of the pro game and not afraid to lay hits on back, which is what the Feds were hoping to get. Steady Contributors: These players have seen quite a bit of action, with mixed results, but enough production that we think their roles will only increase in importance. CB Dee Milliner (ORL):  Another player who quickly got a starting gig, Milliner has been pretty solid, with 29 tackles and 2 picks this year, but has also gotten burnt on some double moves as a rookie. LB Manti Te’o (CHI): Teo’s on-field performance for Chicago has been solid, with 44 tackles and 2 sacks in his first 5 starts, but the off-field weirdness of an apparent catfishing scandal has left Chicago fans a bit leary of Teo and the Chicago sports radio crowd pretty harsh in general. HB LeVeon Bell (MGN):  In comparison with Eddie Lacy, Bell’s numbers have not kept pace, but he is still one of the bright spots for the Panthers, whose run game has been a joke for several years.  With 685 Yds after 10 weeks, Bell may not make the 1,000 yard mark, but he is still off to a decent start on an offense still trying to find itself. WR Tavon Austin (PIT):  We considered moving Austin down to the “Yet to Shine” category, because he has only 2 starts to his name so far, and has not even taken over the full-time position as the slot man.  But, he has been strong as a kick returner and the fact that of his 15 receptions this year, 4 are for scores, does show potential for a breakout once he is able to get on the field more consistently. Yet to Shine: S Kenny Vaccaro (HOU): Injuries have beent he biggest issue for Vaccaro. A preseason nick and held him out of the season opener, and when he did get into the starting lineup, he got dinged again and missed more action.  1 start in 10 games was not what Houston was hoping for when they drafted Vaccaro. WR Justin Hunter (NSH):  Expected to be an instant target opposite Robert Meachem, Hunte has yet to earn a start and has only 7 receptions on the year.  That is a major disappointment for the Knights, who have simply not been the team most expected this year. OT Eric Fisher (SEA):  Fisher quickly moved into the starting lineup in Seattle.  His run blocking has been solid, but 6 sacks already has some worried that LT may be a lot to ask even for a top draft pick. WR Robert Woods (LA): The USC star was expected to line up opposite his idol, Keyshawn, and form a 1-2 combo that would be hard to stop.  With only 3 starts and 2 receptions so far this season, it can be said that already fans in LA are disillusioned with Woods.  He has time to turn it around, but LA can be an unforgiving market, so he had better get to it. NBC got themselves a beauty for Friday Night Lights as the two co-leaders of the Southeast Division clash in Charlotte.  The winner of this one has the inside track and the ability to control their destiny moving forwards, so expect a major battle between the Fire and the Monarchs. Saturday starts off with what may be New Orleans’s last stand.  If they cannot defeat Birmingham at home in the Dome, well, they may just be sitting out the postseason.  But, if the Breakers can upend the Stallions, it puts them within 1 game of the division leaders.  There are a couple of really interesting 4pm games as well, with LA and St. Louis both sitting at 5-5, neither can afford a loss right now. Meanwhile Houston is struggling for their playoff life but have a big task ahead of them as they host Las Vegas.  QB Matt Hasselbeck is considered a game time decision, and that could be the key to any Gambler hopes. Denver is in a similar situation on Saturday Night, but a win over Texas means that we could have 3 teams in the Southwest all at 6-4 and chasing Arizona.  They cannot all get Wild Cards (technically yes, but realistically no), so every division game between the Outlaws, Gold, and Gamblers is huge from now on.   Then on Sunday we get a few seeming mismatches with Arizona (-14) @ Dallas, Chicago (-8) @ Seattle) and Philadelphia (-6) @ Nashville.  Perhaps the most interesting game is a late afternoon tilt between the 5-5 Ohio Glory and the 7-3 Oakland Invaders. The Invaders have been very tough at home, but Ohio needs this win to stay alive in the Wild Card hunt and if they want any chance of catching the Machine. Friday @ 8pm          ATLANTA (6-4) @ CHARLOTTE (6-4)                   NBC Saturday @ 12pm         BIRMINGHAM (6-4) @ NEW ORLEANS (4-6)        ABC Saturday @ 12pm         TAMPA BAY (4-6) @ JACKSONVILLE (2-8)             FOX Saturday @ 4pm            LOS ANGELES (5-5) @ ST. LOUIS (5-5)                   ABC Saturday @ 4pm            LAS VEGAS (7-3) @ HOUSTON (5-5)                       FOX Saturday @ 7pm            NEW JERSEY (4-6) @ WASHINGTON (8-2)              NBC Saturday @ 9pm            TEXAS (6-4) @ DENVER (5-5)                            ESPN/EFN Sunday @ 12pm              ORLANDO (4-6) @ MEMPHIS (3-7)                  ABC Sunday @ 12pm              ARIZONA (10-0) @ DALLAS (2-8)                             ABC Sunday @ 12pm            PITTSBURGH (3-7) @ BALTIMORE (5-5)                FOX Sunday @ 4pm               CHICAGO (7-3) @ SEATTLE (3-7)                            ABC Sunday @ 4pm                MICHIGAN (2-8) @ PORTLAND (4-6)                       FOX Sunday @ 4pm                OHIO (5-5) @ OAKLAND (7-3)                                  FOX Sunday @ 8pm               PHILADELPHIA (8-2) @ NASHVILLE (4-6)                ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jake Plummer is back on top as the league's top-rated passer, and his outstanding season was highlighted by a 4-TD performance this weekend. Plummer threw for 385 yards as the Thunder stay neck and neck with Oakland atop the Pacific Division. PLAYOFF PICTURE: Week 10 does not have any teams ready to clinch, though the unbeaten Wranglers are not far off. The Wranglers have a 5-game lead over the 7th place clubs at 5-5, so it could come quickly for them. Currently no teams are eliminated either, with 2-8 clubs Jacksonville, Dallas, and Michigan all within range still of the 6th playoff spot in each conference.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: He has been the workhorse all season long and that does not appear to be changing any time soon. Frank Gore rushed the ball 27 times for 150 yards and 2 scores, and then, just to make things worse for the Bandits, the Arizona back also caught 3 balls for 43 yards and another TD as Arizona cruised to victory and a 9-0 record.

The second half kicked off with some major upsets as Washington fell in Columbus, Orlando edged New Orleans, LA toppled the Thunder, Baltimore knocked off Chicago, and  Memphis absolutely shocked Philadelphia and the nation with a huge road win.   It was a week that saw some outstanding performances across the league, with Jonathan Stewart (141 yards rushing), Joseph Addai (107 yards) and LeVeon Bell (139 yards) all putting up huge games for their teams.  Chris Weinke proved he could win the close won at the end, and Cam Newton proved he could run his team to victory.  Let’s kick off our coverage of Week 9 with one of the week’s big upsets as Ohio came back to beat the Federals in the final 2 minutes.  We will have all the game recaps and also take a look at where some of our middle of the pack clubs may be heading in the season’s second half. WASHINGTON FEDERALS 21   OHIO GLORY 24 A huge win for the Glory as they hault a 3-game losing streak and get back to .500 against a very tough Washington Federal squad.  Chris Weinke had his best game in over a month, throwing for 331 yards and avoiding any costly turnovers.  Washington’s Joe Webb also played well, but it was Ohio’s ability to control the line and limit Deuce McCallister to only 2.8 yards per carry that helped them carry the day. Will this be a formula that other clubs can repeat against the Feds or was Ohio just the right matchup to make it work? The game started strong for the Glory from the onset as they took the opening kickoff and put together a 10-play drive that ended with an Isaiah Pead TD run.  Ohio showed they could manage the Federal pass rush on a 3rd and 9, when Weinke had the time needed to find Arrelious Benn for the first.  On Washington’s first drive, the tone was set immediately by the Glory as they stuffed McCallister for negative plays on the first two snaps.  Washington would have to punt and the Glory would respond with a field goal drive that put them up 10. Washington got a break on their next drive as a defensive pass interference call gave the Feds strong field position. Joe Webb did the rest, connecting on 3 passes over 4 plays and hitting Bryant Johnson for the team’s first score.  The first quarter ended with Ohio up by 3.  The first half would end with Washington flipping the score.  In a quarter that saw both offenses struggle, Washington had the only scoring drive, a short 51-yard drive in 7 plays that saw McCallister plunge over on a goallline run to give the Feds a 14-10 advantage at the break. The third quarter saw more solid defense from both teams, but one big play helped Ohio get back on top.  Chris Weinke used a perfect 3rd and 1 play action fake to Pead to buy time and then found Steve Smith wide open for 27 yards and a first down inside the red zone.  From there, the Ohio QB would hit Javon Walker on a slant for six points.  Ohio finished the third up 17-14 and feeling good. Washington would strike first in the final period, but it would not come until the 2-minute warning had sounded.  Webb hit Bryant Johnson for his second TD of the day with only 1:21 left on the clock.  The score, capping off a 9-play drive, gave Washington a 4-point lead and would require Weinke to lead the Glory on a furious 2-minute drill to secure the win. Washington kicked off and Glory KR Ashton Youboty helped Ohio start strong with a 25-yard return up to the 31-yard line.  From there Chris Weinke gave the Glory fans what they have wanted to see from their QB, a confident hurry-up drill of 6 plays.  He connected with Walker for an initial first down, then a beautiful screen to Pead gained 29 yards.  After hitting Reggie Cobb and TE Lee Smith, Weinke finished off the drive with only 16 second on the clock when he hit Pead out of the backfield and the big back bulldozed his way past the safety and into the endzone for the game winner.  Ohio Stadium exploded with celebration and the Glory moved their record over .500 with a big home win.  It was only Washington’s 2nd loss on the year, but it was one that could foretell how teams will play them in the future.  Lots of run blitzes on defense and lots of max protect or play action from the offense is what Ohio used to get the win, that and a very solid final drive from a QB gaining in confidence this year. NASHVILLE 17   OAKLAND 37 Oakland is a tough team to beat in front of their home crowd, and when you go into the game with your backup at QB, it is that much tougher. Cody Pickett played well, throwing for 302 yards, but the result was still a lopsided win for the Invaders.  Both Keenan Allen and Pierre Garçon scored, and Eric Wright added a pick 6 of Pickett to drive the message home that Oakland were a team to take seriously. ARIZONA 45   TAMPA BAY 17 If Oakland is to be taken seriously, Arizona is to be feared. Tampa Bay did better than most by scoring 17 points against the Wrangler defense, but they still were blown out, losing by 28 points as Arizona was in full form on the road.  Frank Gore had 150 yards rushing, another 43 through the air and 3 total TDs as he makes his boldest statement yet for MVP consideration.  Add in 2 scores and another 81 yards from backup Steven Ridley and you have a dominant win by the unbeaten SW Division leaders. JACKSONVILLE 10   CHARLOTTE 16 In a sloppy game that saw 7 turnovers between the two clubs, Charlotte held a slight 9-3 lead into the 4th quarter before a Taiwan Jones 1-yard TD run put them in safe distance from the sluggish Jacksonville offense. Brandon Wheedon played conservatively as the Monarchs combined runs by Fred Jackson and Jones to control the clock and slog out a win at home in muggy conditions. LAS VEGAS 10   LOS ANGELES 17 Our first big upset of the week, but one of many, as the Express used a bit of home cooking and a late Mark Sanchez scramble to upend the Thunder and stay alive in the playoff hunt.  It was not a pretty game for either QB, but Sanchez was able to connect with Keyshawn Johnson for one score and then run in the second on a 17-yard scramble that caught Las Vegas completely by surprise. The loss drops Las Vegas behind Oakland again on tiebreakers. CHICAGO 10   BALTIMORE 27 The Machine clearly underestimated Baltimore as they entered this game expecting a W.  Baltimore was ready for them, holding Doug Martin to only 62 yards on 23 attempts and picking off Brady Quinn twice.  Meanwhile. Ron Dayne had 2 TD runs and Ben Roethlisberger added a 27-yard TD strike to Darius Heyward-Bey as the Blitz move to 4-5 and feel they have a chance to make a run for a Wild Card. DALLAS 3   HOUSTON 20 No upset in Houston, where the Gamblers took advantage of Landry Jones’s inexperience.  They pulled ahead even as their own QB, Matt Hasselbeck was knocked out of the game, forcing Tim Rattay to see action.  Rattay went 11 of 19 for 185 and a TD, giving him better numbers than Jones and helping Houston move over .500 at 5-4.  For Dallas it was a 7th consecutive loss, and one that might lead to a frustrated Mike Sherman returning to Jake Locker at QB. MEMPHIS 28   PHILADELPHIA 9 Another huge upset as Memphis went into Philadelphia and sideswiped the Stars.  The Showboats racked up 436 yards of offense against a Stars defense that looked like anything but a league leader.  Eli Manning went 22 of 31 for 360 yards and 4 TDs to earn POTW consideration.  Three of those four went to the newest, and quickly becoming the favorite, Showboat.  Greg Jennings caught 7 passes for 105 yards and 3 scores.  Lee Evans added another 124 yards as Memphis simply caught Philadelphia sleeping at the wheel. NEW ORLEANS 18   ORLANDO 21 The Renegades move to 4-5, proving they might still have something to say this season.  Russell Wilson threw for 246 and connected on 2 TD tosses.  Knowshon Moreno added 104 on the ground and the oft-maligned Memphis defense shut down the Breaker run game completely, limiting the team to 22 total yards on the ground and Matt Forte to only 12 yards on 10 carries. NEW JERSEY 27   BIRMINGHAM 30 A great game at Protective Stadium as Birmingham edged the Generals on a Cam Newton TD run in the 4th, his 3rd rushing TD on the day.  Newton finished with only 122 yards through the air, but had 86 yards and 3 scores with his feet.  Joseph Addai also found running room as Birmingham surprised New Jersey with a ground-based attack.  The tailback tallied 107 yards on 16 carries as the Stallions move to 6-3 and send New Jersey below .500 on the season. PORTLAND 27   SEATTLE 24    OVERTIME Portland evens their record with Seattle, now both sitting at 3-6, thanks to an overtime field goal from Mason Crosby.  They needed a Koren Robinson TD in the final 1:18 to send the game to extra time, but pulled out the win on the road.  James Stewart was the player of the game with 141 yards rushing, but it was a team effort as the defense held Seattle out of field goal range at the final whistle and the offense got the final points needed to earn the win, their second in a row. ATLANTA 24   DENVER 17 The Gold fall at home as Atlanta gets 17 points in the final period against a tiring defense.  Kyle Orton connected with Demaryius Thomas for one score, but the other was a self-inflicted wound as Matt Leinart threw a pass right to Atlanta’s Dannell Ellerbe, who ran the ball back 30  yards for the TD and a 24-10 lead.  Too much for Denver to come back from as Atlanta moves to 5-4 on the year. MICHIGAN 24   TEXAS 27 Michigan hoped the upset magic would help them, but Texas had just enough to edge the visiting Panthers.  TDs from Chris Cooley, Brandon Marshall and Marques Colston helped Texas overcome three Kirk Cousins TD passes as both teams found success in the air.  Michigan also got a strong 139-yard day out of rookie LeVeon Bell, almost enough to earn a road win, but not quite. ST. LOUIS 34   PITTSBURGH 13 The Skyhawks flexed their offensive muscles in this one, with Eddie Lacy and James Ridley both scoring, while the defense added a pick six on one of three Andy Dalton interceptions.  With Jordi Nelson out, Dave Nelson stepped up, catching his 2nd TD on the season as St. Louis moved to 4-5 and remained alive in the Wild Card hunt. Trades Heat up ahead of Week 10 Deadline With several teams still feeling close to making a playoff run, and others now resigned to finishing out the year and building for the future, the setting was right for USFL clubs to make some moves just before the Week 10 trade deadline.  We had 3 big trades, all involving at least 1 team in the 5-4 or 4-5 range that want to push for a Wild Card spot. We start in Atlanta, where the Fire made a huge move to improve their defense.  The Fire had been weak in the middle all season, and spent significant capital to solve that issue by trading for one of Dallas’s best defenders, MLB Luke Kuechley.  Kuechley had been a top prospect out of Boston College just a couple of years ago when the Roughnecks selected him in their T-Draft as the Boston Cannons.  He now heads to Atlanta where the Fire hope he will solidify the spine of their defense.  Atlanta may have gotten a steal, but it was still not cheap.  Dallas will receive WR Hank Basket, lB Clint Sintim, and the Fire’s 2nd round pick in the 2014 draft.  The Roughnecks needed depth at WR, and certainly are hoping that a 2nd round pick will bring quality to the franchise as they build for the future. Our next big move involved the Denver Gold and their lack of explosiveness.  They have solid possession receivers in Peerless Price and Golden Tate, but no one who scares safeties into playing the deep routes.  Enter New Jersey WR Michael Crabtree, a solid receiver who still has the speed that makes defenders worry about the fly route.  Crabtree was seen as expendable by New Jersey thanks to the development they have seen in Miles Austin, and the depth they have with Muhamed Sanu and Kevin Kraft. New Jersey sends Crabtree to the Gold for two 4th round picks, both 2014 and 2015.  Expect Crabtree to steal some snaps from Peerless Price and to appear in most 4-receiver sets as needed. Finally, a swap of Defensive Ends as Tampa Bay tries to upgrade a defense that once again got burned this week.  They send Derrick Burgess, who had fallen out of favor with Coach Shula, and in return get Jerry Hughes, a faster edge rusher, but one who has not fully lived up to expectations in Houston.  In addition to the two DE’s swapping teams, Houston and Tampa Bay also swapped picks, with the Bandits picking up Houston’s 4th rounder, while Houston upgrades with Tampa Bay’s 3rd round pick in 2014. There are still a couple of days left before the draft window closes.  Will these moves be the last we see or will another big name be changing teams before the week is out? Richie Incognito Suspended for Remainder of 2013 Season The league has spoken on the Richie Incognito suspension and their decision has been to extend the suspension put on the lineman through the remainder of the 2013 season.  The Ohio Glory had suspended Incognito pending league review of his case and the league has completed that review, one centered around comments caught by microphones during a game in which Incognito used both homophobic and racial slurs in trash talking during a game.  The league, using references to the standard language found in all league contracts regarding appropriate conduct and actions unbecoming of the league as the standard to set the suspension.  Ohio had previously placed Incognito on an indefinite suspension, with the league now setting the timeframe for his potential return. The question now for Ohio will be whether or not they wish to retain Incognito for the 2014 season.  His contract is set to run through the 2015 season, but they could opt to avoid the potential blowback and distraction of having him remain with the team by releasing him come August.  A spokesman for Incognito again reiterated the player’s remorse and stated that they hope to appeal the duration of the suspension while also hoping to work with the Glory to ensure that the player can return to the team once any final suspension is completed. Stars lose both Steve Slaton and Stevie Johnson in Memphis Game Not only were the Philadelphia Stars stunned by the offensive output of the Memphis Showboats in their game this weekend, but perhaps more troubling, they also suffered two significant injuries on their own offense, injuries likely to impact their playoff hunt over the next month, perhaps longer.  Philadelphia lost two of their primary offensive weapons, with Steve Slaton going down in the first quarter with an ankle injury that could keep him out of the lineup for up to 6 weeks.  Later in the game, Slaton was joined on the training table by WR Stevie Johnson, who suffered a dislocated, and later confirmed, broken finger on his right hand. Johnson is expected to miss no less than 2 weeks of action while the finger is splinted.  The loss of both starters was a big factor in Philadelphia’s offensive woes this week, limited to only 9 points.  They were already missing WR Reche Caldwell, lost for the season back in Week 6 with a shoulder injury.  They are now without their two season-starting receivers for at least the next 2 weeks, putting a lot of pressure on the rest of the offense to step up. The team has already announced that rookie Zac Stacy will start at halfback, allowing Leon Washington to retain his role primarily as a 3rd down back.  The Stars also signed former New Orleans tailback Kenny Irons to a 1-year deal with hopes that he could provide some short yardage support in the run game. At receiver, Philadelphia will now be starting Marshall Newhouse and James Hardy out wide, with Williamson still retaining his slot receiver role, at least for the next 2 weeks until Johnson potentially returns to duty.  In a division race where the Stars are tied with Washington and every game is pivotal, these offensive absences could prove decisive, but Philadelphia has succeeded in the past with players stepping up, most famously the promotion of Matt Gutierrez last season, and they do have one of the league’s best defenses, so we won’t count them out just yet. Coach LeBeau Issues Challenge to his Panther Squad Sitting at 2-7, it does not look like the Michigan Panthers will be attending the Big Dance this year, but that is not keeping Coach Dick LeBeau from trying to rally his troops and get signs of life from them.  The veteran coach, while not happy with the tough season his squad has endured to date, is looking to the future and hoping that he has some pieces in place to build on for the future. Working with an untested QB in MSU grad Kirk Cousins, and with a rookie HB, the offense has struggled at times.  The defense has also not lived up to his usually high standards, but Coach LeBeau is not making any excuses, saying in this week’s presser that he expects to see his team improve week to week and that despite their struggles this year, he has been pleased with the team’s effort. He went one step further in a team meeting on Wednesday, asking this team to commit to this season, to commit each week, and to push themselves each game to improve over their last game. His challenge to them, to win 5 games in the season’s second half, in other words, to finish the year with a winning record over the final 8 weeks.  That may be a tall task, having already lost their first game of the 2nd half and looking ahead to tough games at Chicago, vs. Ohio, and St. Louis, and even games where they will be the underdog at Portland this week, then against Pittsburgh and Baltimore. There is a good chance the 2-7 Panthers will not be favored in any game this year, so asking the club to win 5 of 8 is a big ask.  What it may also be is a standard ownership will hold him to when it comes time to decide if LeBeau will be a Black Monday casualty or will be granted a chance to continue to build a young team into a contender. Only 2 new IR additions this week, with one being Ohio QB Vince Young, anticipated since last week’s injury, and the other being Nashville safety LaRon Landry, who suffered a back injury that wil require significant time to resolve.  Outside of these two IR additions, the big news is in Philadelphia, where Steve Slaton is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. That won’t put him on IR, which would eliminate any chance for a playoff run return, but will force Philly to go with rookie Zac Stacy for most of the rest of the regular season.  Here is the full rundown of newly-added Injury Reports: OUT SS           LaRon Landry                  NSH      Back                     IR HB         Steve Slaton                   PHI        Ankle                    4-6 Weeks OG         Brett Williams                  LA          Foot                      4-6 Weeks OT          Todd Wade                      POR      Hand                    1-2 Weeks DE          Chuckie Nwokorie         DAL       Toe                         1-2 Weeks WR         Stevie Johnson                PHI        Finger                   1-2 Weeks QB         Matt Hasselbeck            HOU     Hamstring         1-2 Weeks DOUBTFUL CB          Jordan Poyer                  CHI        Concussion CB          Reggie Smith                  PIT         Neck DT          Brandon Mebane            NJ           Shoulder QUESTIONABLE OG         Aaron Sears                     WSH     Toe DT          Kevin Vickerson              MGN     Pinched Nerve QB         Kyle Orton                       ATL         Shoulder WR         Deion Branch                  WSH     Hip Pointer In the Hunt or in the Tank? Nine weeks in and we have 10 teams sitting either at 5-4 or 4-5.  We know some of these teams will make the postseason, likely sitting at 9 wins, though 8 is not out of the question, but a good number will not.  So we asked ourselves, who in this Group of 10 is a team to fear?  Who could be headed the right way?  Who could be in trouble?  And who is a pretender?  Here is our assessment of the 10 and where we think they are headed. A Real Threat Atlanta Fire (5-4) The Fire have won 4 in a row after a rough 1-4 start, and appear to have figured out just who they are.  They have a solid, Top 5 defense, and they hae shown they can beat some solid clubs, upending Houston, Tampa Bay, Birmingham and Denver in that streak.  We think they are on the way to challenging Charlotte as they did last year and could still be in the hunt for a Division Title. Houston Gamblers (5-4) Maybe we are overestimating the Gamblers, but this just does not feel like a .500 team to us.  Yes, most of their wins have come against lesser opponents, but they have beaten both Chicago and St. Louis this year.  The problem is that they have not proven they can win on the road, with a 1-4 record so far this year.  If they cannot get more road success, they will be destined for 8-8 at the best, though it might help that their remaining road games are at Dallas, Denver, and Jacksonville, not exactly a Murderer’s Row. St. Louis Skyhawks (4-5) The defending league champions have won 4 of the last 6 games, with tough losses to Chicago and Las Vegas.  We think they are much better than their record, and with a Top 5 offense, they are always dangerous. They have some very winnable games on the horizon with New Jersey (Wk 10), LA (Wk 11), Seattle (Wk 12), Michigan (Wk 15) and Denver (Wk 16) on the schedule. The key will be the 2-game tough run of playing at Ohio and then at Chicago in weeks 13-14.  If they can go even 1-1 in those 2 games, they could well be in the playoff mix. Headed in the Right Direction Baltimore Blitz (4-5) We disparaged the Blitz, and particularly their offense, earlier this season, but Baltimore has won 3 of their last 4, including this week’s upset over Chicago. The offense looks much better after the trade for Robert Ferguson, and the defense is still a pretty solid group.  This is a team that could make a run, at least at a Wild Card.  It won’t be easy, with a lot of solid teams still on the schedule, but the Blitz do seem to be playing to their capacity right now. Los Angeles Express (4-5) Every time we praise LA they seem to tank, and every time we say they are done they impress us.  They just finished a brutal run of Vegas, Oakland, Chicago and Vegas again.  They lost the first three but impressed us this week with a good in in Las Vegas to move to 4-5.  Their schedule does get easier in the next few weeks, with 2 games against Seattle and 1 against Oakland.  That could help propel them towards a winning record.  Their final 3 games include a huge derby matchup at Oakland and a season finale at home against Charlotte.  Those two games could make or break their season. Possibly in Trouble New Jersey Generals (4-5) No surprise here, as the General have lost 3 of 4 and are looking a bit lost without Sam Bradford.  They face St. Louis, Washington, and Philly in the next 4 weeks.  If they cannot win 2 of those 3, they likely fall behind Baltimore and should start looking at 2014.  We just don’t see them doing enough to push for Sam Bradford to come back for the final 1-2 games of the year if they cannot get to Week 14 with at least 8 wins. Ohio Glory (5-4) The early season success seems to have faded, with 3 losses in their last 4.  The win this week over Washington was a big one, however, and may indicate that they are not done yet.  They have a tough run coming up (Baltimore, @ Oakland, @ Arizona, St. Louis), and will need to win 2, maybe 3 of those games to have any shot at the division or possibly even for a Wild Card. New Orleans Breakers (4-5) The breakers won 3 in a row, including victories at Oakland and vs. Philadelphia, but the way they lost to Nashville, and this week’s loss to Orlando has us worried that they have lost the juice they need to make a run.  They Have a winnable game at home against Portland this week and then a big matchup with Birmingham in Week 11.  Win those two and we might just believe there is a second wind for this club. A Pretender Denver Gold (4-5) Yes, Denver has won 3 games in the past 5 weeks, but are we really impressed with 2 wins over Dallas and a 4-point win over Orlando?  Denver is just not impressing us on either side of the ball.  Under Coach Jauron they are always a hard-working team, but we just don’t see the firepower to do much, unless, of course, the Michael Crabtree trade turns out to be a huge move, but we are not feeling it is a game changer and our gut tells us Denver is not going to finish the year above. .500. Orlando Renegades (4-5) Maybe we are biased because of the poor season they had last year, or because Russell Wilson has had some real rough patches, but we have a hard time seeing a 4-5 Orlando team as potential 9-7 Wild Card.  They have no wins over teams that are currently over .500, and with Texas, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Washington still on the schedule, we just don’t see much out of the Renegades (Calais Campbell excepted) that scares us. A look at the possible 2014 QB Draft Class Will it be Manziel Mania for the USFL in the 2014 Draft?  Or will other potential top picks like Louisville’s Teddy Bridgewater, Clemson’s Tajh Boyd, or Alabama’s A. J. McCarron be all the rage by January’s Draft?  We would need a crystal ball to know for sure, but what we do see is a pretty deep pool of potential early round QB picks.  In addition to those named above, we have intriguing prospects in players like Central Florida’s Blake Bortles, Fresno State’s Derek Carr (Brother of Arizona’s unbeaten David), LSU’s Zach Mettenberger, or potential darkhorses like Virginia Tech’s Logan Thomas or Jimmy Garoppolo from Eastern Illinois, the same school that brought the NFL star Tony Romo. Right now Manziel is the player that most scouts are talking about, sometimes praising his playmaking instincts, other times criticizing his character.  He seems to be a gunslinger who mixes the bravado of Jim Kelly with the elusiveness of Doug Flutie, perhaps a perfect match for the more wide-open USFL than for the stodgier NFL.  As a Texas A&M product, he would fall under the territorial rights of the Houston Gamblers, but will Houston invest in Manziel?  With Matt Hasselbeck turning 36 this season, the Gamblers may very well be looking for a young gunslinger. Teddy Bridgewater is an intriguing option, again very agile, elusive, and with a strong arm, the 5-star recruit who led the Cardinals to a huge upset win over Florida in the 2012 Sugar Bowl, could be a very big get for the USFL by January, after one more year in Louisville.  He could be protected by Baltimore in the T-Draft, but the Blitz are hardly a team that seems to be QB-needy, which could open up a trade war to get the Blitz’s first T-Draft pick.  Any team could potentially make a move to land the Louisville QB. Other possible T-Draft impact picks include Jacksonville’s rights to Clemson’s Boyd, Washington’s rights to Va Tech’s Thomas, or Oakland’s claim to Dereck Carr.  We could certainly see the Bulls and Invaders taking at shot at their potential QB options, but unless David Garrard’s injury is worse than reported, we are not so sure they need to take a shot on Logan Thomas. Blake Bortles is an interesting case.  His rights are held by Orlando, but they are investing a lot of effort on developing Russell Wilson, so do they undermine that by selecting Bortles, or do they let him go to the Open Draft.  Just how many of these QB’s make it to the Open Draft is always a big question, as is how many will wait out competing bids from the NFL before deciding their pro football destiny.  Of course, there is an entire college football season ahead of all of them, so a lot can change, but what we see right now is a very hot QB market come January.  Just how well the USFL will fare and who will come away with a potential franchise QB is yet to be seen. Week 10 starts our official playoff countdown, and we have plenty of games that will impact that first playoff status update.  We start on Friday where the divisional clash between Denver and Houston is also a fight for playoff positioning.  If Houston wins they would move solidly into the mix at 6-4, if Denver wins, then both teams sit at 5-5 and we could be in for a dogfight down the stretch. Saturday opens with a fun matchup that could regain its former glory as the Keystone Clash between the Stars and Maulers is once again a twice-a-year divisional rivalry.  We also have two nice evening games, including a big matchup of 4-5 vs. 5-4 as Orlando tries to prove our skepticism wrong as they head to Atlanta.   LA is in Seattle in the late night game, and that could be huge for the Express if they can even their record at 5-5 with a win. On Sunday we start the day off with Las Vegas at Birmingham, a game that highlights two division leaders.  The best of the afternoon games has Baltimore (4-5) at Ohio (5-4) in another clash of teams that are trying to prove they can be dangerous down the stretch.  The nightcap is St. Louis at New Jersey, a rare game between these two, but a nice opportunity for the Skyhawks to prove they are back to championship form. Friday @ 8pm            Denver (4-5) @ Houston (5-4)                           NBC Saturday @ 12pm         Philadelphia (7-2) @ Pittsburgh (3-6)              ABC Saturday @ 12pm         Nashville (3-6) @ Charlotte (6-3)                       FOX Saturday @ 4pm            Dallas (2-7) @ Chicago (6-3)                             ABC Saturday @ 4pm            Tampa Bay (3-6) @ Texas (6-3)                         FOX Saturday @ 7pm            Orlando (4-5) @ Atlanta (5-4)                            NBC Saturday @ 9pm            Los Angeles (4-5) @ Seattle (3-6)                    ESPN/EFN Sunday @ 12pm            Las Vegas (6-3) @ Birmingham (6-3)                  ABC Sunday @ 12pm              Washington (7-2) @ Jacksonville (2-6)             FOX Sunday @ 12pm              Oakland (6-3) @ Memphis (3-6)                     FOX Sunday @ 4pm                Portland (3-6) @ New Orleans (4-5)                ABC Sunday @ 4pm                Arizona (9-0) @ Michigan (2-7)                  ABC Sunday @ 4pm               Baltimore (4-5) @ Ohio (5-4)                            FOX Sunday @ 8pm               St. Louis (4-5) @ New Jersey (4-5)                     ESPN/EFN