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Week 8 of the 2021 season gave us two of the biggest headlines of any week in recent league history. First, we saw both of the league’s unbeatens fall on the same week, both at home, as Pittsburgh and New Jersey stunned the previously unblemished Chicago Machine and Tampa Bay Bandits. But, as huge as that was, we also got one of the most incredible single game performances anyone has ever witnessed, with Ohio Glory QB Justin Fields sending a warning shot to the entire league that he had arrived as a successor to the USFL bloodline of scrambling QBs. Fields will be our Big Story of the week, but we will be sure to highlight how the Generals and Maulers surprised their hosts to remove the last unbeaten records from the USFL standings. We will also update our Power Rankings with a new list after 8 weeks of action, and take a look ahead to our Midseason Report, now in Week 9 of the 17-week season. Stay tuned, this is not a week you want to miss.   Rookie Racks Up Records in Rivalry Romp! Forget the Rookie of the Year debate, Ohio QB Justin Fields may have just inserted himself in the MVP conversation. The former Buckeye, who chose to remain in Columbus with the Ohio Glory, had a game that made us all stand up and take notice. This week in St. Louis, Fields broke not one, but two records for a USFL quarterback, all part of a 45-31 win that has Ohio sitting at 5-2 and looking like one of the rags-to-riches stories of the season.   Fields, whose passing numbers have been solid but uninspiring (1,215 yards, 5 TDs and 6 picks in 8 games), has been impressing with his legs. A scrambler by nature, Fields put his full skillset on display against the Skyhawks, going 13 of 21 passing but breaking two USFL records in one game by rushing the ball for 243 yards and scoring 4 rushing touchdowns. And he did both on only 11 carries. It was an absolute clinic on how to use the QB as a big play weapon, a strategy that new Glory coach Jay Gruden has embraced ever since signing the Buckeye QB in the 2021 Territorial Draft. Ohio was already looking good after a first quarter that saw them take a 14-0 lead on an Isaiah Pead 1-yard run and a Fields TD pass to newly acquired WR Dontrelle Inman. On their first two drives, Fields had largely played the role of a pocket passer, handing the ball off to Pead and Trey Sermon, using play action, and connecting with Inman for the score on a 1 st  and 10 from the 11. But on the third Ohio possession, opening the 2 nd  quarter, Fields got his first chance to show off his legs, and he brought the house down. It was a 1 st  and 10 from their own 33 after a St. Louis punt, the call was an option call, with Fields given the task of gauging edge rusher A. J. Epenesa’s break and opting to either hand the ball to Pead for an inside run or keeping it and heading outside. Epenesa broke towards Pead, Fields kept the ball, and found the corner unencumbered by defenders. Fields was 10 yards downfield before the Skyhawks secondary got close at all. He used a shoulder fake to disengage the initial tackle attempt, then turned on the burners, outpacing the safety on his way to a 67-yard touchdown run that was both a combination of his own skills and some pretty poor containment by St. Louis.   Chalking that one up to a poor defensive scheme, the game plan stayed largely as we saw in the first quarter. Up 21-0, Ohio got a bit more conservative after another defensive stop, using short passes and their halfbacks to drive down the field once again, with Fields getting his 2 nd  touchdown on a QB sneak from the 2. Now up 28-0, it seemed more likely that Fields would get to rest in the 2 nd  half rather than be risked as a ball carrier. But, when St. Louis finally responded, with Lamar Jackson hitting Deionte Jackson for a long TD throw, Coach Gruden opted to let Fields continue to run the ball.   With the Glory up 28-7 at the 2-minute warning, Gruden called another option run, and once again the St. Louis defense overplayed the handoff to Pead. This time Skyhawk LB Cody Glenn stayed in position, but a nice juke from Fields caused him to whiff completely on the tackle. When confronted by safety Tyree Gillespie, Fields used a straight arm and a ¼ spin to bypass the tackle once again, and at that point he was off to the races for a 2 nd  time. The 62-yard run would be his 3 rd  touchdown of the day, and would give Ohio a very convincing 35-7 lead with less than 2 minutes to play in the half. Fields took a well-deserved rest on the bench while the Ohio defense took the field for what we all expected was the final possession of the half.   St. Louis put up a field goal to make the score 35-10 with just under 30 seconds to go, forcing the Ohio offense back on the field for a potential kneel down to go to half. But, sometimes a kneel is not a kneel. After taking the ball at their own 13 after a poor kickoff return, Fields handed the ball to Pead on 1 st and 10, only for the handoff to go awry. The ball popped out of Pead’s breadbasket, was picked up by Fields, who instinctively headed towards the sideline. With the entire St. Louis defense still confused and believing Pead had the ball, Fields quickly realized he had a clear path down the sideline. Even the cameramen were fooled, losing sight of Fields for a second as he turned the corner and had a clear path down the field. The Ohio QB took full advantage of the defensive confusion, racing untouched 87 yards for a league record 4 th QB rushing TD in the game, heck, in the half.   It was a half of football unlike any the USFL has ever seen, with three QB touchdown runs of over 60 yards and a total of 228 rushing yards by the QB in a single half. Both were league records. In a league that had seen Doug Flutie, Jake Plummer, and Cam Newton, no quarterback had ever rushed for 200 yards in a game, much less in a half. Justin Fields had done that and more, putting 28 points on the board all by himself (not to mention the early TD pass which made it 35 of the team’s 42 halftime points.)   Fields would come out for the first drive of the 2 nd  half, producing a field goal after adding another 15 yards rushing on his total, but, with Ohio now up 45-10, it would be his last action on the day, with former starter Christian Hackenberg given most of the 2 nd  half to mop up. In less than 40 minutes of game action, the rookie QB of the Glory had almost single handedly destroyed a division rival, had set two USFL records, and had provided enough highlights for a whole season. What was more, he had sent out a clear warning to the rest of the league. The Ohio Glory, known for nearly 2 decades as a conservative team, living on defense, the run game and a solid pocket passer ever since the iconic early 2000’s seasons with Kerry Collins at the helm, were no more. This was a new, wide open, dangerously unpredictable Ohio Glory squad, and they had a QB at the helm who could not only beat a defense but make them look foolish as well. This is not your Dad’s Ohio Glory.   WASHINGTON FEDERALS 33  ATLANTA FIRE 27  OVERTIME With both Chicago and Tampa Bay going down to defeat this week, and with Justin Fields’ record setting game, how is a battle between 1-6 Washington and 5-2 Atlanta our game of the week? Well, while our GOTW process does take into account factors like playoff impact, surprise factor, and rivalry energy, the key to being a GOTW has always been the drama of the game itself. Fantastic finishes, amazing comebacks, back and forth shootouts, and overtime thrillers tend to get the nod, even if the two teams involved don’t produce a marquee matchup on their own, and even if the game was not one of the week’s hyped-up affairs. And that is certainly the case for this game at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where the Fire were expected to have a pretty easy time of their matchup against the 1-win Federals.   Yes, Washington played well in their 14-17 loss in Philly, and the QB swap from Nassib to Brissett was giving Federal fans some optimism, but this was not viewed by many as a must-see game. Atlanta, at 5-2, coming off a tough loss to the unbeaten Bandits, were expected to play angry and rebound with a pretty decisive win over the undermanned Federals. But, as is so often the case in pro football, heart and a good gameplan can make any expected results look completely unjustified. The Federals came into this game hungry, the Fire perhaps a bit overconfident, and perhaps eagerly looking forward to their upcoming Week 9 bye.   The first quarter of the game largely held up the narrative that Atlanta was going to storm through the Feds on their way to 6-2 and their bye. In the opening period, the Fire defense held Washington to only 1 first down on 2 possessions, while the offense found the endzone twice, including a big play that got the fans to their feet. Up 7-0 after an opening drive that covered 77 yards in 11 plays and finished with a fade route from Murray to A. J. Green, the Fire quickly got the ball back again after holding Washington on 3 rd  and 11. After an initial first down on short O. J. Howard 2 nd  and 7 reception, Atlanta lined up at their own 42. The call was a simple “counter tre”, a play that had been in every USFL playbook since the early 80’s. But, this time the blocking was perfect, the linebackers out of position, and the back more than capable of getting through arm tackles from the secondary. Nick Chubb went untouched through the line, easily evaded the linebacker, and then just leveled CB Richard Crawford, using a devastating stiff arm to avoid the tackle. He was in the open, racing 58 yards for a score, with only a late diving tackle attempt from Kenny Vaccaro complicating his final 10 yard dash to the score. It was an electric run, sending the 42,218 in “the Benz” to their feet, feeling very good about their Fire on the day. The Fire, it seemed, were poised for a big win over a pretty lackluster Washington Federals squad.   Fortunately for the Federals, neither Head Coach Kevin Gilbride, nor newly-anointed starter Jacoby Brissett, were quite ready to cede the game. Both were seen on the sideline riling up the players as the Fire kicked the ball off to Washington. A nice return by Kavontae Turpin put the ball on the Washington 39, and Brissett took to the field ready to finally get the Washington offense moving. Brissett did just that, completing his first 3 passes on the drive, and helping the Feds push the ball into the red zone. After a zone run from rookie Travis Etienne got the ball to the 5. Brissett missed on a throw to TE Kellen Winslow, but then found the elusive Turpin on an in-cutting route for the first Washington points on the day.   The Feds were back in play, down only 7. But they would soon suffer a potential spirit-killer. Atlanta again hit on a big play against the error prone DC defense. This time it was Murray to A. J. Green for a 49-yard TD toss as an out-and-up completely took CB Prince Amukamara out of the play and allowed the speedy Fire receiver a clear path down the sideline. Back down 14, Washington took over with 1:02 left to play. Again, Brissett was effective, helped by a very nice draw play by Etienne, which picked up 22 on a 2 nd  and 6 and got the ball into range for kicker Adam Vinatieri. With seconds left to play in the half, Vinatieri connected and Washington went into the half down 11, 21-10. Not an auspicious first half, but one that would keep the Federals alive and believing they could pull the game out.   That feeling was reinforced when the Federals offense found real success with their run game on the opening drive of the 2 nd  half. Etienne rushed 4 times for 31 yards and backup Darrynton Evans added 11 more on 3 carries, helping Washington get deep into Atlanta territory. A tipped ball at the line on 3 rd  and 4 forced Coach Gilbride to go for 3 and Vinatieri pulled Washington to 21-13 with his second field goal.   That field goal would prove to be the only points of the 3 rd  quarter. Washington’s oft-critiqued defense played a very solid quarter, sacking Aaron Murray to end one drive, and picking off the Fire QB for a second stop. Unfortunately, Washington could not capitalize on the takeaway, but after getting the ball back after a short Atlanta drive sputtered out, the Feds suddenly made this game a lot less comfortable for Atlanta. Using short passes to Jarvis Landry, Keenan Allen, and Kellen Winslow Jr, and with a pair of solid Etienne runs mixed in, Washington quickly moved the ball inside the Atlanta 10. A swing pass to Darrynton Evans looked like a score, but upon review the ball was placed inside the 1-yard line. On the next play, Etienne plunged in for the score, and Washington was a 2-point PAT from equalizing things at 21. Brissett rolled out on the conversion, pump faked the trailing defender into a bad jump for the tip, then scooted behind him and into the endzone for the score equalizer. With only 17 seconds gone in the 4 th  quarter, we had a new game, all tied up at 21, and the Fire fans were noticeably concerned.   The nerves both on the stands and on the Atlanta bench were not helped much by the ensuing drive, ending in a John Bounds field goal. Nerves were put on edge soon after when Vinatieri again leveled the score. Washington had never led in the game, but they were keeping pace with every Atlanta move, and the Fire were not finding anything easy. When an apparent TD pass from Murray to Kelvin Benjamin was overturned by replay (Benjamin’s foot had landed on the white line, out of bounds), Atlanta again had to settle for 3, now holding a 27-24 lead with 1:02 left to play.   Fire confidence, the bravado they had shown early in the game, was shattered. Washington’s sense of possibility was very much alive, and it showed as Brisett found Tyreek Hill on a 27-yard strike for a huge momentum-enhancing first play on their next possession. The big play to Hill started as only a 7-yard pass, but the elusive speedster simply made people miss as he raced across the 50 and into Fire territory before being shoved out of bounds. The Feds were looking at ending the game with another big play, but the Fire held, limiting Washington to one more first down before Washington was forced to settle for a game-tying field goal, the 3 rd  game-tying score in the quarter for Brissett and the Feds. The game would go to overtime with Washington certainly feeling they had a real chance to claim a win against all expectations.   The toss went to the Fire and Atlanta chose to take the ball. They would rely on Nick Chubb on the drive, with the back building onto his 100-yard game by rushing the ball 5 times for 37 yards on the Atlanta drive. He would finish the day with 151 yards, his best outing of the season, but on this drive, it came down to a 3 rd  and 11 after a false start. Atlanta was in the fringes of field goal range for Bounds, sitting on the Washington 36, so if a 1 st down conversion was not possible, even gaining 5 yards would help the Fire cause. But, what Atlanta got was the worst possible situation. Aaron Murray struggled to find a receiver on the 3 rd  down play, and with Joe Giles-Harris bearing down on the Atlanta QB, Murray opted to force a ball towards TE O. J. Howard, rather than throw it away. Washington safety Rafael Bush not only kept the ball from Howard, but snatched it out of the air on the bounce, ending the Atlanta drive without a field goal attempt.   The fans in Atlanta were crushed, the sideline clearly upset, but the Fire defense stepped up, holding Washington without a first down and forcing a quick punt after Luke Kuechley rushed Brissett on 3 rd  and 5 and forced an incompletion. Atlanta got a second chance but they too struggled to move the ball, missing on a 3 rd  and 7 after picking up only 1 first down. Washington got the ball back at their own 17, but with only 1:22 left in overtime to avoid the tie.   While the game’s announcers, ABC’s Joe Tessitore and Matt Leinart, debated whether Washington would settle for a tie, killing the clock rather than giving Atlanta another chance with the ball, Coach Gilbride was intent on getting into range for Adam Vinatieri. He would need only 1 play to do it. The call was for a pair of out routes by Keenan Allen and Jarvis Landry, with Turpin and Hill inside, crossing the zone. The call produced exactly what Gilbride hoped for, single coverage inside. Nickel corner Desmond King was on Hill, and it took almost no time at all for Hil to get the advantage with his speed. Brissett saw Hill coming open over the middle, hit his speedy receiver with a frozen rope of a pass and Hill was off to the races. It would be 57 yards later before a lucky swipe of the ankle by safety Baccari Rambo avoided the touchdown and sending Hill tumbling to the turf.   Washington was in range for Vinatieri, and were content to run the ball 3 times before going for the game winning kick. But, when Travis Etienne broke through the line and got the ball down to the Atlanta 10 with 27 seconds still on the clock, Coach Brissett opted to give it one shot for a touchdown before bringing out Vinatieri. He called an option for Brissett, who bootlegged left, drew in the defenders and lobbed a quick pass over them to Turpin for the 5-yard TD and the game. With the 6-point margin, Atlanta would not be given another possession, the game was over and the Feds had pulled off a major upset.   It was a gritty win from a team few had much hope for, the kind of win that could help Gilbride build something within the Federals. It was the kind of win that gave Federal fans hope, while leaving Atlanta Fire faithful disturbed and disappointed. Atlanta would go into their bye on a very sour note, while Washington would return home uplifted and ready to host the Ohio Glory next week with a bit of confidence in them.   ARIZONA 20  NEW ORLEANS 36 The Wrangler defense continues to struggle as New Orleans scores on 8 of 11 possessions to take a double digit win over the visitors from Arizona. HB DeMarco Murray rushed for 105 yards while Geno Smith threw for 199 and 2 scores against Arizona. Add in 5 Randy Bullock field goals and you get a solid win for the Breakers, who improve to 3-4, while sending Arizona to .500 at 4-4. Both QBs came out of this one bruised, with Smith sacked 5 times and David Carr 7. POTG:  Breaker LB Kwon Alexander: 4 Tck, 2 TFL, 1 PDef, 1 Int   PITTSBURGH 16  CHICAGO 7 Chicago falls at home, suffering their first loss of the season as the Mauler defense holds the Machine to a lone TD despite 416 yards of total offense. Six sacks and 3 picks of Sam Bradford tell the story as Pittsburgh gave up yards but made big plays when they needed to. Chicago had a shot, down only 6 in the 4 th , but Bradford’s 3 rd  pick of the day, this one to Mauler CB Rasul Douglas, set up the Maulers for a late fieldgoal that gave them a 2-score lead, and the eventual W. POTG:  Mauler CB Rasul Douglas: 9 Tck, 3 PDef, 1 Int   SAN DIEGO 13   ORLANDO 28 Orlando claws their way back to .500 thanks to solid outings from Wilson and Carson. Russell Wilson threw for 220 and 3 scores, 2 to TE David Njoku, while Carson rushed for 72 and a score. The Orlando D also came up big when needed, picking off Christian Ponder in the 4 th  and forcing 2 fumbles on the day. Down 21-13 in the 4 th , it was a David Wilson fumble that gave the ball back to Orlando in Thunder territory, and Chris Carson punched it in from the 3 to give Orlando a 15-point lead. POTG:  Renegade CB Dee Milliner: 8 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int   OHIO 45  ST. LOUIS 31 An absolute showpiece for Ohio QB Justin Fields, who ran the ball 11 times for 243 yards and 4 TDs. Fields was simply uncontainable in this game, with 3 TD runs of over 60 yards, a 4 th  in the redzone, and a TD pass to new Glory WR Dontrelle Inman. It was a record setting day for Fields (most rushing yards by a QB and most rushing TDs by a QB in a single game) and an embarrassment for the reeling St. Louis defense. POTG:  Ohio QB Justin Fields: 13/21, 164 Yds, 1 TD, 1 Int, 11 Att, 243 Yds, 4 TD   MEMPHIS 10   OKLAHOMA 28 The Showboat offense continues to struggle in 2021, held to only 10 points despite 410 yards of offense. Oklahoma, meanwhile, improved to 3-5 thanks largely to Jalen Hurts’s 334 yards and 2 TD tosses. Mark Andrews reeled in 54 for 138, while both Nick Toon and Justin Hunter scored for the Outlaws as they pulled away from the Showboats with 28 unanswered points. POTG:  Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts: 12/18, 334 Yds, 2 TD, 1 Int   NEW JERSEY 30   TAMPA BAY 16 New Jersey silences the critics with one of the biggest upsets of the year, dominating the unbeaten Tampa Bay Bandits. Coach Saleh pressured Bandit backup B. J. Daniels all game, producing 2 picks and disrupting the Bandit Ball passing game. Meanwhile, much maligned QB Nick Foles was solid, going 19 of 28 for 199 yards and 2 TDs without a pick. The General run game also proved potent, with Tony Pollard going for 94 yards on 16 carries and Delone Carter adding 62 and a TD on 10 touches. POTG:  New Jersey CB Aqib Talib: 5 Tck, 4 PDef, 1 Int, 1 FF, 1 FR   JACKSONVILLE 38  CHARLOTTE 20 The battle of 0-7 clubs was a sparsely-attended game, but a good one for the Bulls, who had their most complete game of the year. Rookie Trevor Lawrence went 21 of 30 for 177 yards and 3 TDs, while the defense picked off Jimmy Garoppolo 4 times. The Bulls scored 17 in the 2 nd  to take a 10-point lead and never trailed after that. LB Sean Lee got POTG, thanks to 2 of Garoppolo’s 4 picks. POTG:  Bulls’ LB Sean Lee: 7 Tck, 3 PDef, 2 Int   BIRMINGHAM 21   SAN ANTONIO 37 The Gunslingers held Cam Newton to only 6 yards rushing, using SS Walt Harris as a spy all game long. That, combined with 2 picks of the MVP candidate helped the Gunslingers contain the Birmingham offense. Meanwhile, veteran QB Joe Flacco found plenty of open receivers in the Stallion secondary, completing 27 of 35 passing for 348 yards and 3 TDs. Add in a combined 156 yards rushing from Gordon (69) and Procise (87) and you get a 3 rd  win on the season for the 2 nd  year San Antonio squad. POTG:  Gunslinger HB C. J. Prosise: 15 Att, 87 Yds, 2 Td, 1 Rec, 11 Yds   DENVER 14  MICHIGAN 9 The Denver defense has not gotten much attention this year, not with all of the offensive fireworks being put up by the Gold, but when they found themselves in a dogfight, it was the Gold defense that stepped up. Michigan reached the red zone only 3 times in this game and each time had to settle for a field goal. Denver stopped the Panther offense three times, including a goal line stand, as Michigan could not put 7 on the board. After Josh Allen found Golden Tate for the go-ahead score in the 3 rd , Michigan would have 4 possessions and not reach even the Denver 30 on any. POTG:  Denver DE Odafe Oweh: 4 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 Sck, 1 FF   BALTIMORE 16   HOUSTON 23 Despite a very solid day from Carlos Hyde (114 Yds rushing, 67 and a TD receiving), it would be Houston’s defense that would get them the win over Baltimore. Tied at 16 late in the 4 th , LB Ramik Wilson tipped a Jake Locker pass, caught it, and ran it back 51 yards for what would prove to be the deciding score. It was the lone turnover for either team, but it was about as big a play as any this season. In a game that saw Colt McCoy harassed (7 sacks and only 9 of 24), it was Hyde and the defense that stepped up and got Houston their 5 th win in 7 games. POTG:  Houston LB Ramik Wilson: 6 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 int, 1 Def TD   Generals & Maulers Knock Off the Last Unbeatens in Double Dip Upset Weekend With both the Machine and Bandits playing at home in Week 8, and against teams lingering around .500, there was little expectation of an upset this week, much less for both unbeatens to taste defeat in the same weekend. Chicago was a 9-point favorite over the visiting Pittsburgh Maulers, while Tampa Bay was given an 11-point advantage by the Vegas books, but apparently no one told the Maulers and Generals that they were not supposed to try. So, how did they do it? Different strategies, but both games were highlighted by surprisingly ineffective offense from the favorites, timely plays from the visitors, and a solid game plan to contain each unbeaten team’s biggest advantages.  For the Maulers, the key was to absorb pressure and avoid mistakes, while also finding a way to force Chicago into turnovers. They did both exceptionally well, finishing the game with a 4-0 turnover advantage as they picked off Sam Bradford 3 times and forced a fumble as well. It was Pittsburgh, not Chicago that produced constant pressure. While the Mauler offense limited itself to 2-3 receivers on a play, using “max protect” schemes, even on 3 rd  and long, to avoid costly QB sacks or poor decisions on tight throws, the Machine struggled to adjust to the variety of stunts and blitzes presented by the Mauler D. Sam Bradford was under constant pressure, taking 6 sacks on the day. Despite throwing for 345 yards, the pressure clearly impacted Bradford, with Rasul Douglas snagging a pick and Mauler safety Robert Sands getting 2 on the day. Those turnovers would lead to the only Mauler TD of the day, Dalton finding Brian Quick on a 13-yard strike, as well as the game’s final points, an Andrew Franks field goal in the 4 th . Chicago only scored on 1 of 10 drives, with 4 of them ending with a turnover and 4 more ending with a punt from the Chicago side of the field. The Machine would outgain Pittsburgh 416-266, but the patient Maulers took advantage when field position was on their side or when their D gave them a short field, while Chicago struggled to get out of their own way.  In Tampa Bay, it was a surprisingly similar story, with the Generals also winning the turnover battle 3-0, thanks to 2 B. J. Daniels picks and a fumble from TE Jordan Cameron. However, unlike the Mauler-Machine game, what we saw from New Jersey was a very capable offense, one which rushed the ball for 161 yards against the Bandits. Tony Pollard, getting more carries than we have seen all season, rushed the ball 16 times for 94 yards, just barely missing out on his first 100-yard game. Delone Carter, who crossed 100 yards 2 weeks ago when New Jersey took out another unbeaten in Philadelphia, finished with only 10 carries, but added 62 yards with an impressive 6.2 YPC average. With Nick Foles looking sharp, hitting on 19 of 28 passes, including TD throws to both Muhamed Sanu and TE Jonnu Smith, it was the New Jersey offense that looked like the juggernaut, not the Bandits.   Admittedly, with Dak Prescott out to injury, there was some expectation that the Bandit offense might not be at its peak ability, but with Daniels having put up 307 yards and 4 TDs earlier this year in a Week 3 demolition of Charlotte, Bandit fans still had high hopes that their squad could handle the Generals. But this New Jersey team has been on a tear ever since Teddy Bridgewater’s season-ending injury forced the team to return to Nick Foles under center. Since that move, the Generals have now won 5 in a row, including their upset over unbeaten Philadelphia in Week 6, a 47-9 demolition that Tampa might have wanted to take into account. Now at 5-3, New Jersey is looking very much like a dangerous contender in the Northeast.   Both the Machine and the Bandits are still seen as elite clubs this year, and we certainly would not want to be in the shoes of New England or Jacksonville, the next clubs set to face Chicago (this week) and Tampa Bay (week 10, after their bye), but this week, both of the unblemished clubs got knocked down. It was a blow which could prove to be a good thing as the two look at the weeks ahead and the tough climb to a Summer Bowl. The defeats certainly will give their coaches plenty to focus on as they prepare for the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, both Pittsburgh and New Jersey need to use the unexpected victories as a way to focus on the road ahead as well, because, with both squarely in the playoff hunt, finding lightning in a bottle, and being able to replicate that success are two very different things.   Michigan Drops 3rd in a Row as Offense Sputters Things are getting a little tense up in Detroit as the Michigan Panthers drop their third straight this week. After dropping their first game of the year at home to Pittsburgh in Week 5, then being dismantled by the then-unbeaten Chicago Machine in Week 6, Michigan hoped to use their bye week to refocus and get back in the form that helped them start the year 4-0, but this week’s 14-9 loss to the Denver Gold, a second home loss in 3 games, has to have folks in the Panther organization worried.   With the Panthers scoring 10 points against Chicago and then only 9 points against Denver, the focus of the anxiety is squarely on the offense. Seven games into the year and the numbers are not looking good. Kirk Cousins has solid numbers, but hardly strong ones, with 1,753 yards and 10 TDs. Over the past 2 weeks, however, we should note he has not thrown for over 230 yards and has no touchdowns in those losses. Even more troubling, LeVeon Bell is also seeing his numbers dip. After back-to-back 100-yard outings against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, the past two games have seen him rush for 83 and 57. And while folks will certainly give Chicago’s defense its due against Bell in Week 6, gaining only 57 yards against Denver feels like a sign of something bigger.   The Panthers offense is currently ranked 18 th  in scoring at 21.4 PPG. While its yardage averages are certainly better, those too reflect early season success and have been declining in recent weeks. So, what is the solution? Well, this week’s trade may be part of the plan (see below for the details), but the real question is if OC Ken Dorsey is doing enough to threaten defenses. The joke, and there is, of course, a joke, is that Dorsey is stuck in a 3-play cycle of Bell-Bell-Out Route. The tendency to run on first down is certainly a reality, with Michigan last in the league in 1 st  down pass percentage at only 27%. And with those runs not producing bigger gains, the 2 nd  and 3 rd down calls are often dictated by distance, not by choice, so Michigan is becoming predictable. Dorsey will certainly be under pressure to use more 3-wide options, as well as to engage his backs into the passing game as more than a dump off. If the Panthers, now sitting in 3 rd  place behind both Chicago and the surprising Ohio Glory, are going to make a serious push for the division title, they will need a lot more innovation from Dorsey and a lot more production from their main weapons.   Rising & Falling at Midseason With the USFL’s new 17-week season, our midseason point has shifted to Week 9, but that won’t stop us from doing some midseason analysis after 8 weeks. Looking across the league standings, it is pretty clear who has gotten hot and who is cooling off. The question is if the fortunes of these teams are now headed in a clear path forward or will we possibly see momentum again take a swing.   Strong Positive Momentum New Jersey Generals (5-3) The Generals have won 5 straight after an 0-3 start, and that 5-game streak includes big upset wins in both Philadelphia and Tampa Bay, knocking off two of the league’s unbeatens. The Generals now boast the league’s 2 nd  best scoring defense, allowing only 13.9 points per game, and their run game has been a huge surprise, currently 4 th  in the league at 111.4 yards per game, with Delone Carter and Tony Pollard now in a very nice duo format. They could still use more from Nick Foles, back under center after the injury to Teddy Bridgewater, but what they have gotten these past 5 weeks is a clean streak, with no picks thrown since Foles returned under center. Even with modest passing numbers, a pick-free QB is still a very nice thing to have.   Seattle Dragons (5-2) Another 5-game win streak and another team doing it with their defense and the run game. Seattle I sonly 20 th  in passing but they are putting up over 100 per game on the ground and they are holding teams to only 63.9 YPG rushing and only 16.3 points per game. Knowshon Moreno is on track for another 1,200 yard season, with an impressive 4.8 yards per carry after 7 games. The defense, led by edge LB Khalil Mack, is stuffing the run, and forcing takeaways, with 17 in 7 games for a +8 turnover margin.   Positive Momentum Houston Gamblers (5-2) Winners of their last 3, including two big divisional games against New Orleans and Birmingham, the Gamblers are doing it with the league’s best offense (yardage), putting up 425.4 YPG, with Colt Mcoy averaging a league-best 331.9 per game through the air. They Gamblers have some concerns on defense, but they clearly are leading with that passing offense as they try to regain their spot atop the Southern Division standings.   Pittsburgh Maulers (4-3) The Maulers have found their strengths after a 1-3 start, pulling their way back over .500 thanks to a 3-game streak that saw them knock off 3 pretty solid clubs in Michigan, Arizona, and this week’s removal of Chicago from the ranks of the unbeaten. Statistically there is not much to crow about (29 th  in rushing, 30 th  in rush defense, 23 rd in total defense), but hidden within the numbers is a pretty stingy pass defense and a league-best turnover margin of +15. Pittsburgh has committed only 6 turnovers, but have forced 21 in their first 7 games, a pretty impressive 3 per game.   Denver Gold (6-2) A 2-game slump seemed to derail the Gold, but they found their footing again, winning their last 3, all on the road, as they had a successful swing east by knocking off the Breakers, Showboats and Panthers. They are doing it largely with their passing attack, led by MVP candidate Josh Allen, and with a defense that is giving up the fewest rush yards of any USFL club, only 54 per game.   TRENDING THE WRONG WAY Michigan Panthers (4-3) Losers of 3 in a row, we have already established some of the issues in Detroit (see above), as the offense simply is not putting points on the board. They are still within range of the Chicago Machine, but will also have Ohio to contend with, as they face the Glory twice in the season’s second half.   Memphis Showboats (3-5) The ‘Boats have also lost 2 in a row, turning 3-3 concern into a 3-5 midseason panic. The offense is not clicking, currently 25 th in scoring, 20 th  in total yards, and 23 rd  in passing, but what is more concerning is that the Rex Ryan defense which was the engine for their 2020 success, has apparently gone beyond its warranty and is falling apart. Memphis currently ranks 24 th , allowing 373.8 yards per game, and is giving up 25 points per game. Not the formula for a 2nd half surge.   Birmingham Stallions (4-3) Another team that has dropped their last 2, both in division. Stallion Nation might have understood being beaten in Houston by a solid Gambler squad, but going to San Antonio after their bye and losing by 16 to the Gunslingers? That one is troubling. Troubling but not surprising when you realize that the Stallion defense is among the most porous in the league, dead last in total yards (426 per game) and passing yards allowed (346.4 per game). When you are practically giving up 350 per game through the air, you are going to struggle, even against teams you expect to beat.   Oakland Invaders (4-3) The Invaders followed a 4-game win streak with two losses in which they failed to score 10 points. They were absolutely demolished by the Bandits, 33-9 in Week 6 and this past week they just did not impress at all as they lost at home to an LA Express team that did not even score a TD, falling 9-7. Statistically the Invaders are middle of the pack across the board, with scores ranging from 11 th  in the league to 20 th . Does that mean that they are balanced or that they are pretty mediocre at everything? They had a bye this week to figure that out, before returning to action in Week 9, when they will start a 3-game divisional run (home to San Diego, then on the road in Portland and Seattle) that could determine their identity this year.   Winless Monarchs Lose Murray to Achilles Injury To say that first year head coach Vance Joseph’s season is not going as planned might be the understatement of the year. Joseph’s Monarchs currently sit at 0-8 on the season, with an average loss of more than 14 points. They are in the bottom third of the league in nearly every offensive and defensive category we record, have a new QB who fans are already calling to be replaced in Oakland retread Jimmy Garoppolo, and now one of their more popular, and, quite frankly, more talented players, is lost for the season. Tailback Latavius Murray, who has been with the team since coming over in free agency back in 2019 from division rival Orlando, has a ruptured Achilles and will be out for at least the rest of the year. We say “at least” because recovery from an Achilles injury for a back who is already 32 years old may well be more than any reasonable person should ask.   Murray was having a pretty rough year to begin with, averaging only 3.4 yards per carry behind Charlotte’s questionable O-line. It would be his lowest per carry average in a 9-year career that saw him regularly above 4.0, and his pace was not one that would have him return to 1,000-yard status, as he had attained his first year with the Monarchs. Instead of pursuing a second 1,000-yard season, Murray now will spend the next few months in physical therapy after surgery next week. As for Charlotte, they have already apparently opted to build towards the future, with Joseph likely to engage in a very significant roster turnover, one which has already begun with a trade this week (see below). What this means for the rest of 2021 is very likely that Monarch fans will be struggling just as much with the year as Murray is with his Achilles tendon, a long year for a team without much to look forward to as the next 3 months play out.   The Murray injury was only one of three new IR additions, with Washington suffering the other two after both OT Cedric Ogbuehi (MCL) and safety Adrian Amos (Foot) were forced out of the game in the Federals’ upset of Atlanta.   OUT HB      Latavius Murray     CHA      Ruptured Achilles       IR OT          Cedric Ogbuehi    WSH     MCL Tear                    IR FS           Adrian Amos            WSH     Broken Foot                     IR LB           Reuben Foster       BIR         Leg Fracture                    4-6 Weeks LB           Jabril Cox               MEM     Covid Protocol                 1 Week   DOUBTFUL OG         Dan Feeney           BAL        Hamstring   QUESTIONABLE DE          Kwity Paye             MGN     Concussion HB         Charles Sims            SD          Deep Thigh Bruise FS           Derek Jordan           NE          Back     Four Trades in Last 24 Hours Show Teams Seeking Answers With just about 10 days until the USFL Trade Deadline, teams are getting active. We saw four trades just in the past 24 hours, each featuring teams in the middle of the pack, hoping to make one move that helps push them towards a playoff run. The focus was clear, improve areas of weakness, particularly on offense, to help teams compete in what feels like a very balanced season, one in which we currently have 18 of the league’s 30 teams sitting between 3-5 wins, meaning that we have a huge middle-of-the-pack cluster, one where teams feel they have a shot at either a division title or a Wild Card if they can just put the right pieces together. So, what did the 4 trades we saw over the past day do? Let’s break them down.   Michigan Seeks Offensive Help Riding a 3-game losing streak and now 2 full games behind Chicago, the Michigan Panthers made a move to try to get LeVeon Bell and their run game, the engine of their offense, back on track. The Panthers parted with WR K. J. Hill, practice squad fullback Ben Mason, and a 5 th round pick to acquire veteran FB Khari Blasingame and WR Mac Hollins from the winless Charlotte Monarchs.   Hollins is a solid possession receiver, and could prove useful in the red zone, but the key to the deal was Blasingame, the 2020 All-USFL Team fullback. A brutal lead blocker as well as a very viable receiver, Blasingame followed up a strong 2019 rookie campaign with an All-USFL season in 2020. There is no doubt Michigan felt they needed an upgrade at fullback, and we could now see far more frequent use of 2-back formations and a heavier dose of Bell as the Panthers try to rebound from a bad month offensively and regain their swagger as they chase Chicago in the division.   Vegas Seeks More Weapons, New Orleans More Stopping Power The Las Vegas Vipers and New Orleans Breakers have made what each hopes is a key deal for them, swapping 4 players and 2 draft picks in hopes of improving areas of weakness. For the Breakers, the issue was the secondary, which has struggled, particularly on third down. For Las Vegas, it is about finding a more explosive option on offense. With the combo of Aaron Dobson and Rashod Bateman struggling to spread defenses, the Vipers acquire speedy slot receiver John Ross from the Breakers, who had signed Ross from the NFL but had also largely in a swing role behind Nelson, Jefferson, and Lockett. Ross will start for the Vipers, taking over the slot role from Darius Slayton. Expect a rotation with Slayton and Kenny Golloday as Las Vegas seeks to employ more spread formations, which makes sense as a means of creating space as well for HB Kareem Hunt.   In return for Ross, Las Vegas sent veteran starting strong safety Eric Berry to the Breakers. Berry had seen more snaps going to rookie Zayne Anderson, who now will take over as the full time starter. Berry, an 11-year veteran of the Vipers, now heads to the Breakers, where he will step in for Terrance Brooks almost immediately. The move should help New Orleans’s pass defense, with Berry representing a significant upgrade. The versatile safety can play back in coverage or come to the line to impact the run game, a fact testified to by his 569 career tackles. The move comes after New Orleans has seen their passing defense decline in effectiveness this season, one of several issues leading to their current 3-4 record as well as the 4-game losing streak that prompted a roster review. In addition to the two bigger name players, Las Vegas sent kick returner Quintez Cephus and a 5 th  round pick to New Orleans, while the Breakers sent backup safety Kevin Hickey and the Breakers’ 4 th rounder this offseason.   Express Part Ways with Agholor to Acquire Speed The LA Express and Orlando Renegades swapped receivers in a 5-player deal which shakes up both rosters. For the Express the declining role of WR Nelson Agholor made the 6-year veteran expendable. Once considered the prime receiver for Kyler Murray, Agholor’s issues with drops and his struggles creating space with defenders led to him seeing his role reduced in 2020, where he started only 8 games, and again this year, where he had only 18 receptions in the Express’s first 7 games. He heads to Orlando, along with HB Boston Scott , and LB Scott Wilson. The Renegades part with a starting receiver of their own in speedster Jeremy Maclin , as well as linebacker Anfernee Jennings, for their part of the deal.   The move is an interesting one for Orlando, who likely don’t see Agholor as a starter, in fact, it appears that the ‘Gades will promote 3 rd  year receiver Hunter Renfrew to the starting position opposite Brashad Perriman. Renfrew has become a favorite for QB Russell Wilson and has demonstrated good mid-range quickness and an ability to find space in zone coverage. Agholor will likely serve as a red zone target and a swing receiver behind Perriman, Renfrew, and slot specialist Braxton Berrios. For Orlando, the key addition appears to be HB Boston Scott, who will step in behind NFL import Chris Carson. Scott has been effective as a 3 rd  down receiver as well as a relief back for Paul Perkins in LA, and we anticipate seeing him take on that role in Orlando.   As for the two linebackers included in the deal, both are likely to be swing players, backing up the starters across the LB groups of each club. Scott Wilson had yet to appear on defense, with only some special teams appearances for LA after coming to the team as a 6 th  round pick last year. Anfernee Jennings, also a 2 nd  year player, appeared in 10 games for the Renegades last year, making 6 tackles. This year he had been limited to special teams for the Renegades, but could see some snaps for LA as a backup to both Aaron Wallace inside or strong side LB Yannick Ngakue.   San Diego Sets up QB Competition with Hackenberg Deal In what is perhaps the most intriguing of the deals this week, Ohio shipped former starter Christian Hackenberg , along with wideout Marques Valdes-Scantling , to San Diego, receiving a 4 th  rounder and former NFL QB E. J. Manuel in return. Ohio had been shopping around Hackenberg for several weeks, following the initial success of rookie Justin Fields as their new starter. The two have radically different styles, which explains why Ohio opted for E. J. Manuel as a part of the deal, a quarterback who could more readily slip into an offense designed for Fields.   For San Diego, growing concerns about starter Christian Ponder are almost certainly the cause for the mid-season acquisition of Hackenberg. Following a solid pair of seasons in 2018 and 2019, seasons that helped lead San Diego to the USFL playoffs, the 5 th  year QB slumped significantly in 2020, struggling with picks and inaccuracy as San Diego’s fortunes as a team declined precipitously. Ponder’s QB Rating dropped from a career high of 104.9 in 2018 to a very solid 96.9 in 2019, but then collapsed, hitting 77.6 last season. His 2021 campaign has been equally troubling, with his completion percentage dropping to 57.3%, with 6 picks in his first 6 games, and with his per game yardage dropping to 180.3, among the worst among USFL starters.   Coach Lebeau clearly seems to want to either motivate Ponder by bringing in a true competitor at the position, or to move from Ponder to Hackenberg if improvement is not seen. Hackenberg was the starter in Ohio from 2016-2020, and in that time he had some solid years, throwing for 3,000 yards in both 2017 and 2019. He struggled in 2020, throwing 19 interceptions to only 13 touchdowns in a very rough 2020 campaign. The skeptics among us wonder if having two accuracy-troubled quarterbacks competing is truly a solution, but it seems clear that by opening a QB competition, LeBeau is hoping one of the two will rise to the occasion.   Not to be lost in this equation is the seeming “add on” of WR Marques Valdes-Scantling. A straight line speedster, MVS has had flashes in both LA and Ohio, but never stepped fully into a regular role, appearing for rarely more than a handful of snaps in LA his rookie and sophomore seasons, before getting a slightly larger role last year in Ohio. He finished 2020 with 19 receptions for 185 yards and 2 TDs and so far in 2021 has 13 receptions for 163 yards this year. In San Diego, the former Express receiver will get a chance to prove himself. San Diego has been moving away from Arrelious Benn due to serious criticisms about his ability to find space and create distance from defenders. Of Christian Ponder’s 6 interceptions this year, 4 have been passes intended for Benn and many have pointed out that Benn has been simply unable to create the space needed for Ponder to safely get him the ball. These concerns have led to Coach LeBeau shifting speedster Kadarius Toney from the slot, giving him more snaps in Benn’s split end role. Laviska Shenault has taken on more of the slot role in this structure, but we expect to see Valdes-Scantling also see significant snaps as an outside option opposite possession receiver Ronald Johnson.   With little over one week left in the trade window, we doubt we have seen the last of the moves, and we are left to wonder if we will see more starters (like safety Eric Berry) or more QBs (like Hackenberg) making moves across the league as teams gear up for what could be a very densely packed playoff peloton.    Week 8 Power Rankings Eight weeks in, and while some teams have only completed 7 games thanks to the new bye system, it is still time for our second assessment of the power of each club. And while the past few weeks have seen several of the top contenders take a fall, including our two last unbeatens knocked out this week, we still see a pretty stable grouping at the top of our ranking. The middle is where it gets very messy and where we think we will hear the most debate among fans. After all, how do we decide which 4-3 or 3-4 team is truly ready to make a move upwards and who is headed down the ladder?   1—Tampa Bay (7-1) No longer unbeaten, but expecting Prescott back, which we think keeps them at the 1 spot. Mid-season MVP:  HB Dalvin Cook is perhaps the league’s best dual threat back, with 643 yards rushing, 444 receiving, and 6 combined TDs.   2—Chicago (6-1) The defense is legit, but the offense has had some struggles. Mid-season MVP:  CB Josh Norman has become a true shut-down corner for Chicago, and is still one of the best tacklers among league DBs.   3—Philadelphia (6-1) The Stars rebounded nicely to their 1 loss and are ready for a rematch this week. Mid-season MVP:  Yes, Derrick Henry is the centerpiece, but it is the success of Carson Wentz (11:5 TD:INT and a 93.5 QB rating) that is the difference for the Star offense this year.   4—Seattle (5-2) The Dragons have won 5 in a row and boast on of the league’s best run defenses. Mid-season MVP:  Averaging 4.8 YPC, Knowshon Moreno is keeping the Dragons’ offense in short, makable third down situations.   5—Denver (6-2) Other than a 2-game hiccup, this Gold squad has been racking up yards and points. Mid-season MVP:  No surprise, league MVP candidate Josh Allen, with 2,583 yards, 22 TDs, and a 121.7 QB rating is the key to the Gold’s success.   6—New Jersey (5-3) Generals’ fans will not be happy with this placement, especially since NJ knocked off two unbeatens this year: Philly and Tampa Bay. Mid-season MVP:  Two defenders stand out for New Jersey, MLB Matt Milano (52 Tck) and CB Aqib Talib (45 Tck, 2 Int).   7—Houston (5-2) Colt McCoy has this offense humming, best in the league at 425 yards per game. Mid-season MVP:  No reason to go away from McCoy, who has 2,323 yards, a 98.3 rating, and a14:6 TD:INT ratio.   8--Ohio (5-2) Justin Fields is both the leading passer and leading rusher for the surprising Glory. Mid-season MVP:  His passing stats are not impressive, but Justin Fields is a scary runner from the gun, and he has his team believing at 5-2.   9—Pittsburgh (4-3) From 1-3 to 4-3, thanks to impressive wins over Michigan, Arizona, and Chicago. Mid-season MVP:  The Maulers are winning with team defense, and have no statistical outliers, but the clear leader of that D is MLB Brian Orakpo, who is making the calls and rallying the D when needed.   10—Dallas (4-3) The Roughnecks have 2 key games next, Arizona and Oklahoma, both at home. Mid-season MVP:  A tough call between the team’ s sack leader, Connor Barwin (9) and their best DB, Patrick Peterson (3 picks), but we like that Peterson is also good in the run game, with 42 tackles to Barwin’s 22.   11—Atlanta (5-3) 4-0 in the first quarter turned to 1-3 in the second. Their bye could not come at a better time. Mid-season MVP:  Has to be A. J. Green, who has 9 receiving TDs, 800 yards receiving, and 57 receptions, all team bests.    12—Las Vegas (4-3) Defense and a surprisingly effective run game have the Vipers in the mix. Mid-season MVP:  The first of 2 HB duos we will highlight in this list, the combo of Hunt and Jones has produced 889 yards rushing and 7 TDs, with Hunt averaging 5.2 per carry and Jones a very nice 4.4 as well.   13—Arizona (4-4) The 25 th -ranked defense is far from what we have seen during the dynasty years. Mid-season MVP:  WR DeMarcus Robinson. Cruz may lead the team in yards, but with 36 receptions, 8 for TDs, Robinson is leading both categories for the Wranglers.   14—Baltimore (4-4) Who are the real Blitz? They rank 1 st  in yards allowed and give up only 176 per game against the pass, but still have lost 4 of their last 6. Mid-season MVP:  The good news is that Josh Jacobs currently leads the league with 711 yards rushing, the bad? He has only 1 rushing TD after 8 games.    15—Oakland (4-3) Scoring 9 and 7 in their past 2 games has to be a major concern for the Invaders. Mid-season MVP:  TE Zach Ertz leads the team with 552 receiving yards, and is one of 3 receivers with 4 TDs.   16—Birmingham (4-3) Cam Newton is an MVP candidate, but where is Najee Harris or the defense? Mid-season MVP:  No team is more of a 1-man show than the Stallions, and that man, no surprises, is Cam Newton, with 20 combined passing & rushing TDs.    17—Orlando (4-4) A nice win against the Thunder has Orlando back at .500 midway through their schedule. Mid-season MVP:  The only consistently excellent Renegade is the obvious choice, DE Montez Sweat (13 sacks).    18—Michigan (4-3) Losing 3 in a row is bad, losing 2 of 3 at home is even worse. Mid-season MVP:  We expect Dre Kirkpatrick to lead the Panthers in picks (3), but it is not a good sign that he also leads them with 45 tackles.    19—Los Angeles (3-4) 3 rd in scoring defense but 29 th  in scoring offense is not a combo that will get you a title. Mid-season MVP:  DT Chris Jones leads all at his position with 7 sacks, and he is so good against the run as well, a clear DPOTY candidate.    20—New Orleans (3-4) A much-needed win this week keeps them alive with 2 divisional games up next. Still time to get in the race. Mid-season MVP:  TE Coby Fleener, with 485 yards and 7 TDs has been bailing out both Geno and Tajh Boyd this year.    21—San Diego (3-5) Orlando exposed issues on both sides of the ball for the Thunder, most notably the league’s worst passing offense. Mid-season MVP: No shocker, it is Charles Sims, with 642 yards and 6 rushing TDs, on pace for 1,200 and double digit TDs.    22—San Antonio (3-5) A very nice divisional win over Birmingham, but they have a tough road ahead. Mid-season MVP: We are giving this to the 2-headed HB C.J.-Melvin Procise-Gordon, who have combined for 870 yards and 6 TDs for the Gunslingers.    23—Oklahoma (3-5) A tough road to .500 with trips to Dallas and Denver up after the bye. Mid-season MVP: There are lots of issues in OKC, but 2 nd  year QB Jalen Hurts (2,307 Yds, 19:5 TD:INT ratio) is not one of them.    24—Memphis (3-5) Showboat fans want to know where the 2020 Memphis squad went. This ain’t it. Mid-season MVP:  NFL Import J. J. Watt (13 sacks) has been amazing, but where is the rest of the Rex Reed defense this year?   25—Washington (2-6) A gutsy win in Atlanta, now they need to build on that moving forward. Mid-season MVP:  Rookie HB Travis Etienne (134-509-7) is a legit ROTY candidate on a 2-win team.   26—Portland (2-5) When your only 2 wins are against Jacksonville and Charlotte, you may just be a bottom feeder. Mid-season MVP:  LB Nico Johnson (42 Tck, 3 Sck, 1 Int) is doing a lot of everything. Is that a good thing or a bad sign for the rest of the D?    27—Jacksonville (1-7) Get their first W of the season, but next up is Tampa Bay. Mid-season MVP:  WR Tee Higgins (44-627-7) is Trevor Lawrence’s best weapon and could be All-USFL this year.   28—New England (2-5) Ryan Tannehill is struggling and Eddie Lacy is underperforming for the Rollers. Mid-season MVP:  DT Aaron Donald (45 Tck, 5 Sacks) needs a real edge threat to truly be successful, because he is doing it on his own right now.    29—St. Louis (1-6) Any defense that gives up nearly 250 yards rushing to a QB is in deep trouble. Mid-season MVP:  WR Deionte Johnson (29-505-5) has been the only consistent performer on an offense that has just not found itself.   30—Charlotte (0-8) Murray injured, Garoppolo ineffective, the defense giving up 31.8 PPG. Portrait of a winless club. Mid-season MVP:  LB Rolando McClain (58 Tackles) is the only defender earning his pay this year.   Six teams are on their byes in Week 9, representing the entire Southeast Division, along with Oklahoma, since an even number is needed. So, what will the other 24 teams provide us? How about an Ol’ Muddy River Classic as the Breakers head up the Mississippi to face the Memphis Showboats? With both teams currently under .500, this could be a big step for the winner in their hopes to get back in the hunt in a very muddled and muddy division.   Saturday has 6 games, with the return of an NBC night game, and it will be a good one, with the Stars traveling to New Jersey. The Generals knocked Philly from their unbeaten status and have won 5 in a row. Will they double up on their rivals or will Philadelphia get revenge and rebuild a 2-game lead in the division? The ESPN/EFN game will also be a nice divisional clash, with Arizona traveling to Dallas in a battle of 4-win Southwestern Teams fighting for playoff possibilities.   No regional games with only 10 teams in action on Sunday. We do have some good ones though, with LA heading to Pittsburgh, Houston visiting an old foe in Denver, and San Diego headed up to Oakland, with dreams of .500 or better still in their heads. We finish the week with Seattle, winners of 5 straight, heading into Detroit to face the Michigan Panthers.   FRI @ 8pm ET        New Orleans (3-4) @ Memphis (3-5)              NBC   SAT @ 12pm ET      San Antonio (3-5) @ Baltimore (4-4)                ABC SAT @ 12pm ET       Las Vegas (4-3) @ Birmingham (4-3)                 FOX SAT @ 4pm ET        New England (2-5) @ Chicago (6-1)                 ABC SAT @ 4pm ET         Portland (2-5) @ St. Louis (1-6)                         FOX SAT @ 8pm ET         Philadelphia (6-1) @ New Jersey (5-3)             NBC SAT @ 8pm ET         Arizona (4-4) @ Dallas (4-3)                               ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET     Ohio (5-2) @ Washington (2-6)                        ABC SUN @ 12pm ET      Los Angeles (3-4) @ Pittsburgh (4-3)                 FOX SUN @ 4pm ET        Houston (5-2) @ Denver (6-2)                            ABC SUN @ 4pm ET       San Diego (3-5) @ Oakland (4-3)                      FOX SUN @ 8pm ET       Seattle (5-2) @ Michigan (4-3)                           ESPN/EFN   BYES: Atlanta, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Oklahoma, Orlando, Tampa Bay

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Justin Fields is our POTW, and a well-earned one as the Ohio QB set a new single game rushing record for a QB. Fields ran the ball only 11 times, but gained 243 yards on those 11 carries, including touchdown runs of 2, 62, 67 and 82 yards. The Skyhawk defense time and again completely lost track of the Glory QB as he weaved his way through the line and into open field. Fields's 4 rushing TDs was also a new USFL record for a QB, giving him and the Glory a day that will live on in the annals of USFL history.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Charles Sims has been one of the biggest breakout players of 2021, and his huge game against the Oklahoma Outlaws helped San Diego get their 3rd win of the year. Sims carried the ball 29 times, racking up 144 yards, and putting the ball into the endzone three times as the Thunder improve to 3-4 and are now only 1 game below .500

While Week 6 offered hope to the underdogs, Week 7 felt very much like a time when teams flexed their muscles, and the favorites came out fired up. Lopsided wins by Tampa Bay over Atlanta, New Jersey over New England, Denver over Memphis, Baltimore over Jacksonville and Arizona over Las Vegas very much felt like teams trying to claim their status as frontrunners and favorites. We had a few close calls as well, and one defensive slugfest that ended without either team reaching double digits on the scoreboard. As always, we will run down all the scores, take a look at the performances of the week, and prepare you for Week 8 action, with 8 more teams taking their bye week for another 11-game schedule. But we kick it off with an early peak at the MVP race, with 6 candidates looking like contenders as we approach the mid-point of the season (now solidly in Week 9).   Handicapping the MVP Race as We Approach Midseason With 8 games in the book and the statistical leaderboards feeling somewhat static, we are ready to start looking ahead to the league’s big awards, and we very well may have some shakeup this year, as new players emerge and some of the anticipated frontrunners have struggled, including Dak Prescott, now looking like he will miss games a second time this year, and LeVeon Bell now sitting in 5 th  position in the rushing leaderboard. So, who is stepping up and who might well get some MVP votes come July and August? Here is our look at 6 potential contenders.   QB Josh Allen (DEN)     Right now, the odds-on favorite, having taken a huge step in his 4 th  pro season. Allen has the Gold atop the Southwest Division and has them ranked 2 nd  in passing and in scoring at 33.1 points per game. His individual stats are no less impressive, with 2,285 passing yards, 20 TDs and a 121.7 QB Rating after 8 weeks. He is completing a solid 62.8% of his throws, is averaging nearly 330 yards per game and has a QB Rating 20 points above his prior career best. Most importantly, he is leading a Denver team that many undervalued in the preseason (including our team) to big wins and dominant performances.   QB Cam Newton (BIR)  Birmingham is another team that has exceeded expectations, sitting at 4-2 with a share of 1 st  place in the South, and Cam Newton has certainly been a catalyst for that improvement. Not only has the 11-year vet been outperforming past years, with a career best 107.1 QB Rating after 8 games, but he is proving to be tough to stop. Overplay his rushing (236 yards and 3 TDs) and he will kill you from the pocket. Allow him to scramble and you risk a huge gainer. His passing stats (1,606 Yds, 14 TDs) are not in the stratosphere with some more traditional passers, but it is his impact on defensive game plans that is making the difference for the Stallions.  HB Dalvin Cook (TBY)    Our first of three non-QBs to be considered, we are looking at Cook, not Prescott, as the centerpiece of the 2021 Bandits, who still have yet to taste defeat. A true dual threat, Cook has racked up 596 yards rushing, putting him in the Top 5 in the league, while also catching 14 balls for 333 yards, a stunning 23.8 yards per catch, a top tier number for a wideout, much less a back. Throw in his combined 6 touchdowns (4 rushing, 2 passing) and we have to look at Cook as a possible MVP candidate, especially if he can keep up these numbers with Prescott out of commission.  QB Colt McCoy (HOU) Our third QB to consider has been in this pool before. Colt McCoy has yet to win an MVP, and there is some sentiment that if he can be a league leader this year and the Gamblers rebound to win the division after an off year in 2020, well, that may well get McCoy some points for career stats in addition to his 2021 numbers. Those 2021 stats are looking very good on their own, with 2,161 yards, 13 TDs to only 6 picks, and a very solid 105.4 QBR.   HB Derrick Henry (PHI) The Stars have had a magical run so far, going 6-1 in their first 7 games, and while many are praising the choice of Carson Wentz to come in at QB, we all know who is at the heart of the Stars offense. “King” Henry is the current league leader in rushing with 645 yards, on pace for more than 1,200 yet again. He has 5 total TDs on the year, and there is no doubt that his value to the Stars is irreplaceable.  WR Dez Bryant (TBY) One more MVP candidate from the league’s best offense. Dez Bryant is having himself a career year, and even with B. J. Daniels subbing for Prescott over 2 games (and likely another 2 coming up), Bryant has remained a constant threat. He has 32 receptions in his first 7 games, and with that has 706 yards, an average over 100 per game, which would put him above 1,600 for the year. Throw in 8 TDs (a pace to possibly attain 20 by season’s end) and with 2 different QBs, you have to acknowledge his value to the Bandit offense.   If we were picking right now, our money would be on Josh Allen, but so much lays ahead, and the number of wins and losses for each team will certainly be a huge factor moving forward. The candidate who helps his team reach a Division title, or even a first seed, could get a huge advantage, though we still think that QBs have an edge, as always.   SAN ANTONIO GUNSLINGERS 31   DALLAS ROUGHNECKS 42 The San Antonio Gunslingers are only in their 2 nd  year in the league after the city got an expansion replacement for the departed Outlaws. So it is a bit early to say they have a clear rivalry with anyone. But, while the natural rival should be division opponent Houston, it seems San Antonio is more than game to build a grudge with the league’s other in-state team, the Dallas Roughnecks.   San Antonio came into their game in Dallas with all the focus and energy of a long-time rival, and that made this week’s game with the Roughnecks all that much more entertaining and all that much closer. Despite an eventual 11 point win by the homestanding Roughnecks, this was a tight game until the final minutes, and San Antonio certainly acquitted themselves admirably. The Gunslingers outgained Dallas 373-318, and were much more proficient on the ground, outrushing the Roughnecks 140-87, thanks in large part to 97 yards from NFL import Melvin Gordon. Both teams managed a defensive score, but it was San Antonio’s difficulty containing the Dallas offense that ended up costing them the game in the final 2 minutes.   The game started very well for the visitors as San Antonio stopped Dallas on the opening drive of the game, took over with the ball on their own 17 and drove it down the field before settling on an Evan McPherson field goal. They again stopped Dallas on the Roughnecks’ 2 nd  possession, and this time, with the ball in their hands, they took it all the way for 7, with Joe Flacco finding veteran wideout Marquise Goodwin for a 6-yard TD to build a 10-0 lead late in the 1 st  quarter.   But, Dallas was undeterred by their early struggles, hitting San Antonio’s questionable defense with a big play early in their 3 rd  possession. After moving the ball to the San Antonio 47, where they faced a 2 nd  and 2, Dallas used play action to perfection, with Justin Herbert drawing in the defense with a nice fake before finding 2020 breakout star Sammy Watkins on a 47-yard throw, catch, and run for 7. Watkins used a double move to escape the corner and the safety was late in covering, which allowed Watkins to catch the ball, angle away from safety coverage and outpace the defenders to the endzone.   Dallas had cut the lead to 3, but were still struggling with San Antonio’s offensive balance. Using a mix of Gordon runs and short passes from Flacco to Noah Fant and Jaelen Reagor, the Gunslingers moved the ball quickly down the field. Inside the red zone, Gordan took a couple of downs to rest, so it was C. J. Procise who got the call and the score on a 6-yard off-tackle run to bolster the Gunslinger advantage to 10. Down 17-7, Dallas again turned to their offense, and again they found success with the deep ball, this time a 40-yard completion to Tim Wright put them deep inside Gunslinger territory. Five plays later it was HB Duke Johnson, who has been getting more touches than Samaje Perine the past few games. Johnson dove over the scrum and into the endzone to pull Dallas back to a 3-point deficit with 6 and change left in the half.   Dallas’s defense held on the next drive, but a nice punt by Gunslinger specialist Matt Haak, placed the ball at the Dallas 4. A penalty for illegal motion on 1 st down pushed the ball back to the 2, and the 1 st  down run by Samaje Perine was stuffed, at first looking like a safety before being ruled down at the 1-foot line. Very much looking for the safety on 2 nd  down, San Antonio blitzed three to create a 7-man rush. That rush got to Herbert, producing a fumble which DE Demarcus Lawrence fell on to give San Antonio the defensive TD and once again a 9-point advantage. The missed PAT kept it from being a double-digit advantage, but while Dallas would hold the Gunslingers after the free kick, the Roughnecks still went into the break down two scores, 23-14.   The third quarter very much felt like a reset as the Roughnecks not only shut down the Gunslingers but forced turnovers on every single San Antonio possession. Yes, you heard that right. 4 turnover in one quarter, including 3 lost fumbles and a Flacco interception. It was a nightmare quarter for San Antonio as they simply could not hold onto the ball. Dallas, however, only managed to add 14 points despite 4 possessions going their way in the half. They first added a score on defense as the Flacco pick was returned 30 yards for a score on the quarter’s 1 st  possession. That turned into a feeding frenzy as Dallas forced 3 fumbles in the period, one leading to a 20-yard Herbert to Courtland Sutton TD toss. The swing gave Dallas a 5-point advantage, one many thought should have been more.   San Antonio had survived one of the worst quarters a team could have, and came into the 4 th  down only 5. Unfortunately, they would add 2 more turnovers in the 4 th  for a nasty game total of 6 on the day. The first cam on their next possession, increasing the total to 5 drives in a row. The Gunslinger D held Dallas once again and the fumble ended up not costing San Antonio more points. The offense came out again and the focus was clearly on ball control and avoiding a 6 th  turnover. This drive was mistake free, and after 9 plays, San Antonio was in scoring range. Flacco found Goodwin with a nice pass down to the 3, and after a Gordon run failed to produce a score, it was Flacco to LaFell to once again give the Gunslingers the advantage. They led 31-28 with only 4:40 left to play, but they were not done helping Dallas earn a win.   The Roughnecks did it on their own with their next possession, with Herbert leading the Dallas offense down the field briskly, they were closing in on both the 2-minute warning and the red zone when Herbert saw Tim Wright gain a step on his defender. The Dallas QB put up a perfect pass as Wright glided down the sideline, the veteran catching the ball just as he crossed into the endzone, putting Dallas back on top, 35-31 just as the 2-minute warning was called.   The Dallas score left San Antonio with 2 minutes to score a TD and win the game. A field goal would be no help, down 4. Flacco and the offense took the field, prepping for a 2-minute drill. The veteran QB connected on his first pass, a 13-yarder to TE Noah Fant. Then caught Dallas with a Gordon draw that gained 16. But on their next first down, the mistake that all Gunslinger fans had to be dreading showed up. The 6 th  Dallas takeaway was a clean pick of Flacco. The San Antonio QB simply underestimated Patrick Peterson’s recovery speed, threw the ball with too much air under it, and Peterson not only caught up to LaFell, but pulled the ball away from the Gunslinger receiver for his 2 nd pick.   That turnover clearly broke the Gunslinger spirit, evident as Dallas not only ate some clock, but made very nice gains with their run game in the final drive. Intent on killing the clock, Dallas fed the ball to Johnson and Perine, and on a 2 nd and 8 from the Gunslinger 30, Duke Johnson did more than eat time, he ate up yards, rushing 30 yards before falling backwards into the endzone. It appeared that Johnson tried to stop himself, but instead of sliding, he tried to come to a halt on the 1, but his momentum forced him backwards, into the endzone, producing another TD and Dallas’s eventual 9-point victory.   For San Antonio this game had to feel like a victory lost. The Gunslingers had played so well for a half, only to have 6 second-half turnovers destroy any chance at victory. Dallas, recognizing that they had gotten lucky on a couple of those miscues, also took to heart the idea that playing aggressively could lead to opportunities and taking advantage of those opportunities was often the difference between winning and losing. A valuable lesson for both teams was the final result of this back-and-forth affair.   TAMPA BAY 30  ATLANTA 12 The Fire saw this game as a chance to prove they were a true contender, but after putting up only 4 field goals and giving up 415 yards on defense, it seems that the Fire only showed us that Tampa Bay will be a tough team to knock off as they defend their title. The win was a costly one, however, for the Bandits, as QB Dak Prescott had to leave the game after suffering a hyper-extended knee. That injury could keep Prescott out for 2-3 weeks. But as we have seen before, B. J. Daniels can step in and succeed, evident by his 5 of 7 outing, producing a TD to Jordan Cameron to lock up the W. POTG : Bandit HB Dalvin Cook: 21 Att, 96 Yds, 1 TD, 2 Rec, 35 Yds, 1 TD   NEW ENGLAND 3  NEW JERSEY 26 It was all New Jersey as the Generals won their 4 th  in a row to move over .500. Nick Foles continues to silence the critics by winning games, though this one was all about the New Jersey defense. The Generals’ D held New England to only 83 yards rushing and kept the Steamrollers from rolling into the endzone as the Generals put up 17 to start the game and never trailed. POTG:  New Jersey FS Shamarko Thomas: 4 Tck, 3 PDef, 1 Int, 1 FF   SEATTLE 30  ORLANDO 24 The Renegades held a 24-20 lead after 3, but Seattle got a Hundley to Newhouse TD at the 9-minute mark of the 4 th , added a field goal later, and shut out Orlando in the final period to take the road win as they take a strong hold over the Pacific Division. Russell Wilson continued to struggle, throwing 4 picks in the game. For Seattle, it was Knowshon Moreno with a big game, rushing for 132 yards on 23 carries. POTG:  Seattle LB Josh Allen: 9 Tck, 1 TFL, 1 PDef, 1 Int   LOS ANGELES 9  OAKLAND 7 Two of the league’s best defenses came to play and that meant a very low scoring but hard-hitting game in Oakland. The Express managed only 3 field goals, but that was enough as Oakland’s 2 nd  quarter TD (Brady to Adams) was the only time the Invaders put anything on the board. Despite the solid defensive game by Oakland, LA receiver Hollywood Brown racked up 111 yards while Paul Perkins ground out 79 yards. POTG:  Express CB Jamar Taylor: 7 Tck, 1 PDef, 1 Int   CHARLOTTE 13   PORTLAND 23 The Monarchs drop to 0-7 as Portland finally earns their 2 nd  win. The homestanding Stags got 77 yards from rookie HB Javontae Williams and Mariota found both Josh Gordon and Williams for TD catches. Jimmy Garoppolo found 9 different receivers on the day, but simply did not turn those plays into points, with their first TD coming in garbage time, with Portland up 17. POTG:  Portland QB Marcus Mariota: 24/30, 206 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   DENVER 38  MEMPHIS 6 Staying in the South after last week’s victory over the Breakers paid off for Denver, who dominated this game, outgaining Memphis 413-244, and on the scoreboard, with a 28-0 run in the second half to blow this game wide open. Josh Allen went 16 of 20 for 300 yards and 2 scores, both to Kevin White, who more than subbed for a dinged-up Goldent Tate. Lindsay and former Breaker Fournette also put points on the board as the Gold offense rolled. Meanwhile, Paxton Lynch threw 3 picks as nothing went right for the Showboat offense. POTG:  Gold WR Kevin White: 8 Rec, 152 Yds, 2 TD   BALTIMORE 34  JACKSONVILLE 13 Like the Monarchs, the Bulls also drop to 0-7 as Baltimore sacked rookie Trevor Lawrence 6 times (2 from Campbell) and picked the rattled Bulls QB three times as well. The Baltimore offense took advantage, adding 21 points off the three takeaways, with Michael Pittman Jr. scoring twice and Josh Jacobs diving in for a 3 rd . Jacobs finished with 85 yards on the ground, and another 24 through the air. POTG:  Blitz WR Michael Pittman Jr: 5 Rec, 114 Yds, 2 TD   OKLAHOMA 24   SAN DIEGO 41 Jalen Hurts survived 5 sacks to throw for 348 and 3 TDs, but it was not enough as the Oklahoma defense simply had no answers. San Diego HB Charles Sims rushed the ball 29 times for 144 yards and 3 TDs, with backup David Wilson adding 55 and a score as well. Throw in a Ponder to Nauta TD toss and the Thunder score their 3 rd win as Oklahoma drops to a surprising 2-5. POTG:  Thunder HB Charles Sims: 29 Att,144 Yds, 3 TD   LAS VEGAS 21  ARIZONA 45 The Wranglers get right back into the SW Division race by knocking off Las Vegas in State Farm Stadium. Ka’Deem Carey had 90 yards and a score, Crowell another 79 with a TD as Arizona racked up 170 yards rushing. Vegas ran the ball well also, with Matt Jones rushing for 100 yards and Hunt adding another 62, but when it came to turning yards into points, the Wranglers had the formula and the Vipers did not. POTG:  Wrangler CB A. J. Bouye: 10 Tck, 2 Pdef, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   WASHINGTON 14   PHILADELPHIA 17 Jacoby Brissett got the start for the Feds and looked pretty good too, throwing for 287 and a TD, but with Travis Etienne limited to only 30 yards on 13 carries, Washington could not eke out a win. Carson Wentz hit Randall Cobb for a TD, Marcus Lattimore nabbed a 3 rd , and Eddie Pineiro put the game winning 3 points on the board as Philadelphia rebounds from their first loss of the season, moving their record to 6-1. POTG:  Stars’ WR Randall Cobb: 6 Rec, 91 Yds, 1 TD   Who is Charles Sims? That is the question being asked all across the USFL as the San Diego Thunder have found themselves one of the breakout stars of 2021. The 27-year-old former Mauler and Roughneck is making a huge impression, with 558 yards and 6 TDs already this season. He currently ranks 6 th  in the league, just outside of our leaderboard but ahead of some pretty familiar names, names like Christian McCaffrey, Todd Gurley, Carlos Hyde, and Nick Chubb. But just who is Sims and why is he having himself a belated break out in the USFL this year?   Sims was a solid back in college, splitting his NCAA career between the University of Houston (2009-12) and West Virginia (2013) before coming out in the 2014 draft. He was selected by the Maulers using a Territorial pick, and Pittsburgh outbid the NFL Buccaneers, who selected Sims in the 3 rd  round of their draft. His first year with the Maulers was hardly anything to get excited about, appearing in only 2 games and finishing the season with 1 carry for 3 yards. Yes, that is right, 1 carry.   His 2 nd  year he had only 10 carries, spending most of the year on the practice squad. His first major action was in 2016 when the Maulers, suffering some injuries in the RB room, had Sims active for 5 games, in which he had 43 carries for 172 yards. That offseason, his rookie contract expiring, Sims signed on with the Dallas Roughnecks. In Dallas, Sims saw his touches increase, with 90 in 2019 and 153 in 2020. The Thunder saw something in Sims when he became available this offseason, signing the 7-year veteran to a 3-year deal and setting up a HB competition with David Wilson and two late round rookies (Demetric Felton and David Wilson). Many expected San Diego to go after one of the NFL free agent backs in the February transfer window, but they opted to stand pat, naming Sims the starter just before their regular season opener.   Sims has become the unquestioned lead back for the Thunder, with 139 carries in just the first 7 games, a solid 105 touches more than David Wilson. Averaging 4 yards per carry with 6 TDs this season, Sims has surprised everyone with his solid play, everyone except Dick LeBeau it appears. After a slow opening game (34 yards on 19 carries), Sims exploded against Ohio, rushing for 116 and scoring 3 times (2x rushing, 1 on a swing pass). The following week he topped 100 again, gaining 102 against Seattle. This week he once again crossed the century mark, with another huge game, rushing for 144 and 3 scores against Oklahoma. San Diego sits at 3-4, only 1 game below .500 and only 2 games behind division-leading Denver. With a pair of very winnable games (@ Orlando & @ Oakland) before the break, we could be looking at San Diego (along with Philly) as a rags to riches story this year, and a huge part of that is the back who finally got his shot and is making the most of it.   What can Monarchs & Bulls Do to Improve This Year? It feels very much like Jacksonville has done something to anger the football gods. Maybe they insulted a gypsy woman or made a poorly worded wish on a monkey claw. Why do we say this? Well, the main reason is that they have had so many games where they did enough to win and yet came up just short. That includes a 3-point loss at home to Portland, followed by a 2-point margin against Atlanta, another 2-point loss in New England, and a 1-pointer in Orlando. That is 4 straight games lost by a total of 8 points. The last two weeks have seemed to indicate that their will has been broken, losing by 26 in Atlanta and this week by 21 to Baltimore at home.  So, what could Jacksonville do to turn things around and get a break? Well, it might help that they play Charlotte this week, perhaps the only team in the league with more issues than they have. They then get a bye before starting the 2 nd  half of their season. So, 3 weeks to try to find solutions. And we think they have some solutions that are obtainable. The first is to work on a trade to add some pop to the run game. Devin Singletary is a solid grinder, averaging 4.2 yards per carry, but he has only 1 run in 75 attempts that went over 15 yards. Montario Hardesty has fallen out of favor, so it is time for Jacksonville to look for a real change-of-pace back. That may mean giving rookie Chubba Hubbard more snaps, or it may mean seeking a trade.   The second move we think the Bulls need to make is to put in more 4-3 schemes. They have been running mostly 3-4 all season, and while we know that Coach Moss likes the nimbler 3-4, his LB group just does not have the speed or depth to make it work, especially on early downs. Putting a rotation of Beau Allen and Jimmy Staten in next to Montravious Adams to form a 4-man front would allow Jacksonville to have 3 solid LBs in the game (Lee, Anzelone, and Hicks, and allow them to spread wider so that they can cover the outside and let the D-Line worry about inside runs. The secondary could still be an issue, but if they can force more teams into longer 3 rd  downs, they may just get the D off the field sooner and avoid those close defeats.  In Charlotte, the main issues are too multiple to solve with one big deal. They are averaging only 77 yards per game rushing, despite having 2 backs who have had success in the past. Their line is likely the issue there, and with Jimmy Garoppolo’s erratic passing as well, as the new Charlotte QB is taking a lot of heat in the pocket. But perhaps more troubling is the Monarch defense, which is giving up 30.9 PPG, good enough for 29 th position in a 30-team league. What is worse is that the Monarchs appear to be as inept against the pass (23 rd ) as they are against the run (21 st ). So, what could be done this year to help that situation?   First thing is to try to get some help up front. Rookie Peni Sewell is looking like a keeper, and center Mike Pouncey is an All-USFL player, but the other three positions, including both guards, are not getting the job done. It may not be possible to find 3 new players in mid-season trades, but even 1 interior lineman could help this team be more productive. As for the defense, the 4-man line seems pretty talented, led by DE Chandler Jones and the interior duo of Poona Ford and Leki Fotu, but the linebacker group is not getting the stops that they need to end drives. Rolando McClain is among the league’s best tacklers, evident in his current ranking on the leaderboard, but neither Germaine Pratt nor Randy Gregory is really athletic enough to either cover backs and tight ends or to get to a well-designed exterior run. So, at least 1 outside linebacker would be a big add.   Can any of our recommendations help the Bulls or Monarchs suddenly change their fortunes? Unlikely, but even a few wins over the second half of the season could be a starting point towards growth and improvement for 2022.   Oakland’s Slump Helps Seattle Take Over the Pacific The Invaders were looking like a team in command after 5 weeks, sitting at 4-1 and touting one of the league’s best defenses, but a humbling 33-9 loss in Tampa Bay seems to have shattered the team’s confidence. They followed that game up with this week’s 9-7 loss at home to the LA Express, a game that set back offensive football 10 years. While statistically the Invaders still look very solid, in the Top 10 in points allowed, yards allowed, and rushing yards, while their offense is no worse than 18 th  in any category, this does not look like a team ready to reclaim the division lead.   The good news for Oakland is that they have a bye to interrupt their losing streak. Following the break, they will run a Pacific Division gauntlet that very well could determine their fate, hosting San Diego in Week 9 before road games in Portland and Seattle. That three game stretch will be essential to their hopes for a playoff return or even a division title. With Tom Brady now 45 years old, and his protégé already in the wings in rookie Davis Mills, this year is pivotal. It will either be a swan song for the 5-time USFL and NFL Champion QB or the start of a rebuild, and that all could be determined by the 3-game divisional stretch that Oakland will prepare for this week.   4 Teams over 500 in Southwest Creates a Logjam Perhaps the hardest division to figure this year is the Southwest. We called it before the season, that Arizona may well take a step back towards the rest of the pack, but while we imagined Dallas as the primary rival, some very strong early season results have both Las Vegas and Denver looking very much like potential contenders. The Southwest is currently the only division with 4 of 5 teams sitting above .500. Only 2-5 Oklahoma trails the cluster of 4-3 teams (Arizona, Dallas, and Las Vegas) with Denver still a game up at 5-2.   So, what is fueling the early season success of the Southwestern clubs? It depends who you are looking at. Denver is in 1 st  thanks primarily to a giant leap in production from Josh Allen and the passing game. Allen’s offense is 2 nd in the league in passing, averaging nearly 335 yards per game, with the Gold QB already accounting for 20 TDs. In Arizona, the defense is struggling, ranked 23 rd in points allowed, but offensive balance, which includes a run game averaging over 100 yards per game and David Carr averaging 302 yards per game through the air, is keeping Arizona in games. Winning 3 of 4 divisional games has also helped the Wranglers, who now sit in 2 nd  place.   Third place Dallas is 6 th  in scoring and a solid 11 th  against the run. Their own run game needs some help, but Justin Herbert is helping to keep the Roughnecks in games. The Roughnecks have a bye this week, but return with 4 divisional games in 5 weeks, facing Arizona and Oklahoma at home before a road trip to Las Vegas in Week 12 and a trip to Denver in Week 13. Finally, there are the Vipers, who are a surprise 4-2 thanks in large part to a sweep of Oklahoma. Las Vegas boasts the league’s 3 rd  best defense in yards allowed, mostly due to a lock down pass coverage scheme that has them 2 nd in the league, allowing only 214 yards per game. If they can keep their division foes from finding success in through the air, they could well prove to be a contender. For now it is a logjam with no clear favorite, and we expect to watch all season as the standings switch from one to another until we finally settle on a champion.   Prescott to miss NJ Game, Hopes to Return After Bye This has not been the season that Dak Prescott imagined after winning back-to-back MVP awards. Yes, the Bandits remain unbeaten at 7-0, but for the second time this season Prescott is going to be missing action due to injury. His first was a dislocated big toe on his plant foot, costing him half of Week 2 and all of week 3. Now he is facing a hyper-extended knee which took him out of this week’s victory over Atlanta and will almost certainly cost him the New Jersey game this week. Fortunately, the Bandits have a bye in Week 9, meaning that Tampa Bay’s MVP QB could be back in action for back-to-back in-state division games. The Bandits head to Jacksonville in Week 10, then host Orlando in Week 11. With it looking like Prescott will essentially miss 3-4 games this year, a third straight MVP may be out of the question, but the bigger issue for Prescott and the Bandits is their quest to win the league title back-to-back for only the 2nd time in league history. If Prescott can stay healthy it seems the Bandits have everything else they need to make a serious run at that goal.   Another week without an IR addition has to be good news, but that does not mean that we did not have some issues which will keep some key players, like Viper DE Matthew Judon and Bandit QB Dak Prescott, from the field, potentially for multiple weeks. Others, like Viper WR Rashod Bateman and Steamroller HB Eddie Lacy, could take good advantage of the bye week to avoid missing action. Looks like the Bye Week system could actually help some teams this year.   OUT OT          David Tremblay     DEN      Broken Leg                 4-6 Weeks DE          Matthew Judon       LV           Torn MCL                        2-4 Weeks OT          Gary Gilliam           BAL        Broken Nose                 1-2 Weeks QB         Dak Prescott            TBY        Knee                                1-2 Weeks OT          Jack Conklin            SD          Covid Protocol               1 Week   DOUBTFUL LB           Dont’a Hightower  OKL       Concussion                       G            Chance Warmack    DAL       Knee WR         Rashod Bateman     LV           Hamstring CB          Dale Luong              POR      Toe   QUESTIONABLE HB         Eddie Lacy              NE          Foot WR         Cody Latimer         MGN     Shoulder G            Eric Herman            ORL       Concussion   Chicago Embraces Machine with 2 Upcoming Games Sold Out The Chicago Machine are having themselves a year. First, they take a risk and completely overhaul their look, moving from maroon & grey as the dominant colors to a brighter, more energetic sky blue and scarlet. The new look, complete with a lot of Chicago flag references, is a huge hit, with Chicagoans embracing the look and selling out stores to acquire new gear. Then, leading into the 2021 season, the Machine get offseason help, signing 9 of 10 draft picks and landing one of the best defenders available in free agency, safety Xavier Woods. And now, here they are, sitting at 6-0, having knocked off the Michigan Panthers ahead of their bye. They are looking at a very healthy 2-game lead over the Panthers (and others) in the division, and they are boasting one of the best defenses in the league.   So, it should come as no surprise that fans are jumping on the Machine bandwagon and doing so by buying tickets. The Machine announced this week that their next two home games, Week 8 against the Maulers and Week 9 against New England, are both sold out. That means potential crowds of over 60,000 to see the Machine play, a truly amazing turnaround from recent seasons, when Chicago has been happy to get 30,000 on hand for late season games. A playoff run in 2020 certainly helped, and this year’s outstanding start is another big piece of the puzzle as Chicagoans love to get behind a winner. With the Bears coming off two consecutive 8-8 years, having a team looking like a potential contender, and one that has embraced the city it calls home, seems to be what the doctor ordered, making the Machine a hot ticket.   Charlotte Fans Showing Dissatisfaction by Staying Home On the other end of the fanbase spectrum, things are not going well for the Charlotte Monarchs. After back-to-back losing seasons, now sitting at a miserable 0-7, and with a QB situation that is not making anyone happy, the Monarchs are seeing fans protest their lack of competitiveness with their feet. The Monarchs last played at home in Week 5, and while attendance of 30,474 is not horrible, there were easily 10,000 Bandit fans who made the trip up the coast to root on the unbeaten division leaders and defending champs. Charlotte had absolutely no home field advantage, and by the end of the 37-10 whooping, most of the fans still at Bank of America Stadium were decked out in red and black, not purple and gold.   Now turn the clock forward to the Monarchs’ upcoming home tilt against Jacksonville, a fellow 0-7 squad. It appears that neither Monarch Nation nor Bulls fans are all that eager to watch a battle of winless clubs, as there have only been 4,982 single game tickets sold for this matchup. Pair that with Charlotte’s reduced season-ticket base of only 18,200 and you may well see fewer than 20,000 on hand in Bank of America season for this game, a number that would be a new low for the Monarch organization.   So, what can Charlotte do to turn this around? Well, the obvious answer is to win games. The next best thing would be to make some moves that bring known talent to the team. Fans were happy to see interception-prone Mitch Trubisky traded away, but obtaining Jimmy Garoppolo was hardly the swap they wanted. There had been hope that Charlotte would find a way to wrestle away Jacksonville’s rights to Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, but when the Bulls locked in on Lawrence, that dream quickly faded for the Monarch faithful. So, what options do they have? It is not as if an All-USFL quarterback is going to be cut loose or traded, certainly not midseason and very likely not in the offseason either. The draft in 2022 is not looking like one that will produce top tier QBs, so while Charlotte is on pace for a very early draft pick, they are unlikely to find a Heisman winning QB or a potential fan favorite early in the draft. Their best bet may be a trade, but if that is a trade to get a QB that fans can rally behind, it is likely to cost the Monarchs dearly. It’s a bad situation all around, and we are not sure there is a quick fix here.   Wranglers Update Their Look for 2022 Is the the end of an era, or simply a retooling for a bright future? That is the question as many Arizona Wrangler fans consider what the future holds. Well, this week the Wranglers and Under Armour gave fans a look at what the future will be, revealing the revised look for a team that has represented the Western Conference in 5 of the past 7 Summer Bowls, bringing home 3 trophies. The Wranglers unveiled their 2022 uniform sets, including a retro look and a new alternate that will have Arizona wearing a helmet other than their familiar copper dome for the first time.   The new primaries are up first, and they certainly build on a history of looks for the Wranglers, complete with the familiar metallic copper helmet, now paired with a royal blue facemask. The new look retains the red jersey and copper pants (complete with the familiar flame pattern), but adds a bit more Southwest styling, with ombre effect numbers and sleeve cuffs with a multicolor swatch at the center. Both the white and red jerseys feature these elements, along with a 3-color collar, and the secondary blue “Brand W” logo on each sleeve. The numbers evoke flames as well, blending from copper orange to sun gold on the red jerseys and from deep red to copper orange on the whites. These sets will be worn with both copper and blue pant sets.   The alternates include a 1983 throwback, the first season for the club and the only season in which blue was the dominant color for the team. The 1983 throwbacks include a blue jersey with sun gold numbers, copper pants with a single blue stripe, and a series of red and yellow sleeve stripes. The team’s original branding iron logo will appear on the helmet for a truly authentic throwback look. The other alternate look, dubbed “Iron & Copper” is also a blue-dominant look, with a deep royal blue helmet, pant set, and blue-dominant jerseys. This will be the first time the Wranglers will wear a helmet other than their usual metallic copper. The blue helmet features a logo in metallic copper, combining the outline of the state with the simplified “W” primary. The pants do not have striping but do have the same logo on each hip. The jerseys follow the styling of the primaries, but use blue heavily, with copper as the secondary color. Both the team’s deep scarlet red and sun gold are completely absent from this look.   The Wranglers are hopeful that they will get to debut at least one set of the 2022 uniforms this summer as part of a playoff run. But for most fans, the transition to a new look in 2022 could also mean a transition for the team, as many wonder if the sun is setting on the roster that took Arizona to dominance in the 2010’s and a new age is ready to be built. Week 8 is another heavy bye-week schedule, with 8 teams, including 4 from the Pacific Division, getting their week of rest. That leaves 22 teams and 11 games to be played. We kick the week off with an interconference matchup of 2020 playoff teams as Arizona heads to New Orleans to face the Breakers. The Wranglers have fought their way back over .500 while New Orleans has continued to struggle and sits at 2-4, needing some wins in this part of the season to avoid an early exit from playoff contention.   Saturday brings us two divisional matchups in the Central, with all 4 teams coming off their byes. Pittsburgh heads into Chicago hoping for an upset that will put them above .500, while in St. Louis, the Skyhawks are hoping the bye week gave them time to fix some major issues before facing 4-2 Ohio this week. We also have some interesting interdivisional and interconference matchups, including a battle of 3-4 teams hoping to get back to .500 as San Diego heads across the country to face Orlando. In the other big game, the nightcap on ESPN and EFN, we have a resurgent New Jersey squad facing the juggernaut Bandits in Tampa Bay.   Sunday will feature two more divisional games with Birmingham traveling to San Antonio while we get a battle of winless clubs in Charlotte, as the Bulls and Monarchs try their best not to become the league’s only 0-8 club. In the 4pm slot we have a nice battle of 4-2 clubs as Denver heads to Michigan to face the Panthers, while the weekend’s final game will bring 4-3 Baltimore down to Houston to face the 4-2 Gamblers. Will the extra week of prep help Houston get the win at home or is Baltimore ready to roll the dice and score a road upset?   FRI @ 8pm ET        Arizona (4-3) @ New Orleans (2-4)         NBC   SAT @ 12pm ET      Pittsburgh (3-3) @ Chicago (6-0)              ABC SAT @ 12pm ET      San Diego (3-4) @ Orlando (3-4)              FOX SAT @ 4pm ET        Ohio (4-2) @ St. Louis (1-5)                       ABC SAT @ 4pm ET         Memphis (3-4) @ Oklahoma (2-5)            FOX SAT @ 8pm ET       New Jersey (4-3) @ Tampa Bay (7-0)       ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET     Washington (1-6) @ Atlanta (5-2)              ABC SUN @ 12pm ET      Jacksonville (0-7) @ Charlotte (0-7)          FOX SUN @ 4pm ET        Birmingham (4-2) @ San Antonio (2-5)    ABC SUN @ 4pm ET       Denver (5-2) @ Michigan (4-2)                 FOX SUN @ 8pm ET      Baltimore (4-3) @ Houston (4-2)               ESPN/EFN   BYE: Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New England, Oakland, Philadelphia, Portland, and Seattle.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Two backs played a huge role in Week 6 action, with Todd Gurley putting 2 scores and 178 yards on the board against San Antonio, but we are giving the nod to another back. Las Vegas's Kareem Hunt surprised everyone, including the Oklahoma Outlaws, with 165 yards and 2 TDs as the Vipers upset the Outlaws in OKC to move to 4-2 and securing recognition as a First Half Surprise Team with the divisional win. Averaging nearly 10 yards per carry, Hunt simply ran around and past the Oklahoma defense in his best game ever as a member of the Vipers.

Six weeks into the new season and just when we think we know what to expect we get a week of upsets to throw our perception of the league into question. Six favorites fell to defeat this week, including a stunning blowout of the previously unbeaten Philadelphia Stars. Los Angeles, Arizona, Dallas, and New Orleans also fell to underdogs in Week 6 action. We also saw Chicago stay unbeaten by defeating the Panthers at Ford Field. All in all a very topsy turvy week. We will break it all down, highlight the two trades from the past week that have opened up the trading block, and take a look ahead at the first bye weeks in USFL history. All that, but first we have to break down the week’s rash of upsets, our Big Story of the week.   Upsets Abound in Wild Week 6 Action You have to feel bad this week for the inveterate gamblers, the guys who play the odds, parlay games, and expect to come out on top. Why? Because this week may have given us some long shot winners, but most who put money on the games probably came out pretty badly. Seven upsets of note, including two big home favorites, fell to the underdog this week. Not what anyone who is laying multiple bets wants to see.   The biggest shocker of the week had to be New Jersey’s dismantling of the unbeaten Philadelphia Stars. The Generals, who have now won 3 in a row, went down the highway to the Linc and just demolished the 5-0 Stars. They outgained them 472-240, outrushed them 165-49, and outscored them 47-9 in one of the worst losses in Philadelphia Star history. When Delone Carter more than doubles Derrick Henry’s production (101 yards to 46) and the combination of Beckham and Sanu rack up 229 yards, you know something very wrong happened to the home favorite. But with only 1 turnover and only 3 penalties for the Stars, it may take a while for Coach Quinn to figure out just what went wrong.   The other home favorite to choke in front of their fans was New Orleans, who at least kept it close. The Breakers had a 31-28 lead over Josh Allen and the Denver Gold, but could not hold it, with Allen connecting with Darnell Mooney for the game winner. At least New Orleans can look at Denver’s 4-2 mark and say they lost to a good team, but the problem is that at 3-3, they are losing to too many teams. Denver, on the other hand, snaps a 2-game losing streak in style, with Allentossing 3 TDs and the defense picking off Geno Smith twice.   Each of the other upsets were home dogs who decided to bite instead of barking. St. Louis was 0-5 before they headed into Foxboro and doubled up the Steamrollers 20-10. Three New England turnovers certainly helped the Skyhawks’ cause, as did the return, even if only for half a game, of Lamar Jackson, taken out as a precautionary move after a rough first half that saw him take too many hits to an already-injured shoulder and neck.   In Los Angeles, our Game of the Week, San Diego used a balanced attack and a lot of QB pressure to edge the Express with a late field goal, while in Pittsburgh, the Maulers were a 5-point underdog to the Wranglers, but pulled out the win even with Andy Dalton knocked out early. Five sacks for the Mauler D, paired with 3 Arizona Wranglers offset a 402-yard output for the visitors and helped Pittsburgh score the upset to move to 3-3 on the year.   In Chicago, Michigan was a 2-point favorite despite the Machine being 5-0 to Michigan’s 4-1 record. That lack of respect for the home team helped fire up the Machine, who shut out Michigan in the second half, turning a 14-10 advantage into a dominant 27-10 victory. And our last outing saw Ohio, a 4-point home underdog to the Dallas Roughnecks, also take offense to the lack of respect for their 3-2 record. In a defensive slugfest, the Glory held Dallas out of the endzone until the final 3 minutes of the game, taking a 13-3 lead before the visitors made it close with a late TD. What is even more interesting is that Ohio won without their offense ever reaching paydirt, their lone touchdown coming on a pick-six from veteran safety LaRon Landry.   So, a weekend that tightened the standings, left us with only 2 remaining unbeatens (Tampa Bay and Chicago), and only 2 winless clubs (Jacksonville and Charlotte in the very bipolar Southeast Division). It was a week that proved the adage about Any Given Sunday, but one that also proved that football is a tough sport to predict, and perhaps a dangerous one to bet the deed to the ranch on.                   LOS ANGELES EXPRESS 17   SAN DIEGO THUNDER 20 One of our celebrated upsets this week, and one that does not bode well for the 2020 Division Champs as LA now find themselves one game out of the basement at 2-4, sharing the same record with the San Diego Thunder after 6 weeks and 2 games back of both the Dragons and Invaders who sit at 4-2.   San Diego, who had lost 3 in a row, all three by double digits, kept the game close and found an answer at the end to upend the Express, while LA missed opportunities to put the game away, and just let their foe stay in the game for far too long, long enough for it to bite them. It was a game that started slowly, with neither team able to do much for nearly 20 minutes of game time, but once it got started, it provided plenty of drama. It was also a game with a lot of balance, from total yards (308 for LA, 310 for San Diego), passing and rushing yards (211 and 97 for LA, 205 and 105 for San Diego), penalties (5 for LA, 4 for San Diego), and on the scoreboard, where we saw ties at 10 and 17 before a winner emerged.   LA was the first to put points on the board, with a Murray to Brown TD on their 4 th possession. It was the first time either team crossed midfield after a first quarter that saw both teams limited to two 3-and-outs and 1 short drive each. On their 4 th  drive, LA finally saw the run game start to produce results, with Paul Perkins breaking a 17-yard run before Murray found Brown. Perkins would finish with 90 yards on 14 carries to lead all rushers, but the combo of Sims and David Wilson would produce more overall yards for the Thunder.   San Diego responded to LA’s first score by putting together back-to-back scoring drives. The first saw Ponder connect with Ronald Johnson on a 36-yard pass to get San Diego into field goal range. When the drive fizzled, Caleb Sturgis, the former Breaker, put the ball between the uprights and San Diego was on the board. They would get the ball back only 5 plays later, when a 3 rd down toss from Murray was tipped at the line by DT Dexter Lawrence, with CB Damontae Kazee snapping the ball out of the air for the game’s only turnover. The pick gave San Diego the ball on the LA 41, and in 7 plays they made LA pay, with Ponder hitting Ronald Johnson for a go-ahead score. The game would go to the 3 rd  with San Diego holding that modest 10-7 lead. The only points of the third quarter came on a Dan Bailey field goal, but it was hardly a quarter without drama. On their first possession of the half, LA got stuffed on a 3 rd  and 1 deep in their own territory when DE Jonathan Newsome stood up Paul Perkins and drove him backwards in a bone-crunching hit. On their next possession, LA moved the ball well but had to settle for 3 when San Diego held them on three consecutive plays from inside the 10. After getting as close as the 2, the Express got called for a false start, putting them at the 7 for a 3 rd  and goal, and on that 3 rd down Kyler Murray was flushed from the pocket and had to throw the ball away, much to the delight of the Thunder fans.   LA settled for the field goal to tie the score, and that is how the 4 th quarter began, with the game knotted up. But LA would get a chance to retake the lead on their next possession. Following a poor punt by San Diego kicker Jesse Slade, LA got the ball at their own 44 and proceeded to drive the ball the remaining 56 yards. This time, when confronted with a goal-to-go situation, the Express did not flinch. On three consecutive plays, Paul Perkins gained, 4, 4, and 2 yards, the third run putting him in the endzone and giving LA a 17-10 advantage with 10:31 left to play.   But this was a game where San Diego saw a legitimate chance to earn a W. They took over on their own 20 after the LA kick and marched their way right down the field on 9 plays to equalize the score. The Thunder drive included two big third down conversions, the first an 18-yard completion to Arrelious Benn on a 3 rd  and 12, and the second a 36-yard completion to Ronald Johnson that took the ball to the LA 3 yard line. With LA expecting San Diego to go for a mid-range pass to convert on a 3 rd  and 6, Johnson used a double move to fake out the corner and QB Christian Ponder laid up a perfect pass to the sideline to convert and drive the ball inside the 5. From there it was Ponder to TE Luke Wilson for 6, and a PAT brought us to 17-17 with only 5:15 left to play.   LA moved the ball well on the initial plays of the next drive, but on back-to-back plays they lost yardage once in Thunder territory. The first was a run by Ty Montgomery that lost 3 yards, and the second was a sack of Murray by rookie DE Chris Rumph that forced a tough decision from Express coach Marvin Lewis. The veteran coach opted to trust his kicker and set up for a 54-yarder instead of punting the ball deep. Bailey’s kick sliced wide left, and the Thunder were in business close to midfield with 2:44 left to play.   The Thunder fed the ball to Wilson and Sims, eating up clock while also moving the ball into Express territory. Christian Ponder used play action to get the ball into range for Sturgis, finding TE Luke Wilson for his 4 th  reception on the day. Then, after a pair of Sims runs, San Diego also failed on 3 rd down, setting up a 51-yard attempt for Caleb Sturgis. With the clock stopped at 13 seconds, just before a delay of game call, Coach LeBeau sent Sturgis out, and the 8-year veteran put it through the uprights from the 41 yard line to give San Diego the upset win and their first in April.   ARIZONA 21  PITTSBURGH 33 The Maulers climb back to .500 thanks to a nice relief appearance from QB Nathan Peterman. The former Pitt Panther was thrust into the game in the 2 nd quarter when Andy Dalton suffered an ankle injury. Peterman would throw for 207 yards and 2 scores, including the game winner to Brian Quick in the 4 th . He got a lot of help from his defense, which sacked David Carr 5 times and picked off the former MVP twice in the upset win. Former Mauler Victor Cruz hauled in 4 for 89 and a TD, but it was his old team that got the last laugh with the home victory. POTG:  Mauler CB Rasul Douglas: 7 Tck, 3 PDef, 1 Int   BIRMINGHAM 14   HOUSTON 30 The Houston D was ready for Cam Newton, limiting him to only 2 yards rushing and 203 in the air. It was a team effort, with no player recording more than 5 tackles, but multiple players getting some tackles for loss with a swarming, aggressive gameplan. Meanwhile, the Gambler offense built up a 13-0 lead and never trailed, with TDs coming from Carlos Hyde, Gerald Everett, and Denzel Mims. The Gambler home win gives them a share of first with the Stallions at 4-2. POTG:  Gambler HB Carlos Hyde: 16 Att, 47 Yds, 2 TD, 4 Rec, 118 Yds   SAN ANTONIO 14   MEMPHIS 27 Memphis gets themselves into the Southern Division mix with a nice home win over the Gunslingers. Todd Gurley had himself a field day against the Gunslinger D, averaging 12.4 yards per rush as he totaled 173 yards on only 14 attempts. His 37-yard TD run gave Memphis a 17-7 lead at the half and he added a 2 nd in the 3 rd  to put the game solidly in Memphis’s hands. C. J. Procise had a great first half for the Gunslingers, with 87 yards in the half, but was used sparingly in the 2 nd  half as San Antonio turned to the pass after falling behind by 17 points. He finished with 110 yards and a TD on the day. POTG:  Showboat HB Todd Gurley: 14 Att, 173 Yds, 2 TD   DALLAS 10 OHIO 13 Ohio improved to 4-2 with a mild upset over the visiting Dallas Roughnecks. The star of the game was Glory safety LaRon Landry, whose pick-six was the lone TD on the day for the home team. The entire D played lights out throughout, limiting Dallas to only 3 points until the final minutes of action. Despite 3 receivers going over 100 yards in this game (Ohio’s Terry McLaurin with 118, and Dallas’s Courtland Sutton, 114, and Sammy Watkins, 108), neither team managed a passing touchdown. POTG:  Ohio FS LaRon Landry: 1 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   DENVER 35  NEW ORLEANS 31 The Gold and the Breakers got into a shootout, but it was Josh Allen, with his 3 rd TD on the day, who got the win. Allen was sacked 5 times, threw two picks, but late in the game led an 83-yard drive and finished with a TD to Darnell Mooney to get the road win and move to 4-2 on the year. New Orleans had a shot late, but were thwarted when Gold safety Marqui Christian wrestled the ball out of the hands of TE Coby Fleener in the game’s final minute for the win-clinching pick. POTG:  Denver CB Bryce Hall: 6 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD   PORTLAND 20   SEATTLE 28 One of the better Cascade Clash matchups in recent years as the Dragons sweep the back-to-back series thanks to 117 yards and 2 TDs from Knowshon Moreno. Brett Hundley also found Kyle Rudolph and Marshall Newhouse with scoring tosses as the Dragons built up a 28-13 lead in the 4 th . Alate Brandin Cooks TD made it closer, but still too far as the Seattle D locked up the game with Taron Johnson picking off Marcus Mariota in the endzone on Portland’s final drive. POTG:  Seattle HB Knowshon Moreno: 18 Att, 117 Yds, 2 TD   BALTIMORE 30  WASHINGTON 10 The Blitz returned to .500 with a thorough dismantling of the Federals. Ryan Nassib completed only 19 of 42 passing, leading to a post-game switch for the Feds going into Week 7. For Baltimore, Jake Locker had a mixed game, throwing 2 picks but also hitting Brian Hartline and Michael Pittman Jr. with scoring throws. Th Blitz gave up the first 10 points of the game, but then turned up the pressure, putting up the next 30 points unanswered, including a Brandon Jenkins pick-six of Nassib that put the game out of range. POTG:  Blitz WR Brian Hartline: 7 Rec, 96 Yds, 1 TD   MICHIGAN 10   CHICAGO 27 The Machine got the statement win they were hoping for, dominating the 2 nd half to turn a 14-10 lead into a 17-point victory. Hill and Mack each scored on the day, combining for 90 yards rushing, while Sam Bradford found TE Druham Smythe for a TD as Chicago gifted themselves a 2-game division lead and a key tiebreaker over the Panthers. Michigan’s LeVeon Bell rushed for 83 and caught 5 for 31 more, but it was not enough as the Panthers were held scoreless in the 2 nd half. POTG:  Chicago CB Josh Norman: 11 Tck, 1 FF, 1 FR   ST. LOUIS 20  NEW ENGLAND 10 The Skyhawks score their first W of the season, thanks in large part to a defense that forced 3 takeaways and held the Steamrollers out of the endzone on 3 red zone drives. A pick-six and a 1-yard TD run from Lamar Jackson helped the Skyhawk cause as they gave up yards (150 rushing, 363 overall) but turned away the Steamrollers when they got down close. POTG:  Skyhawk LB Cody Glenn: 7 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int   CHARLOTTE 24   ORLANDO 30  OVERTIME The Monarchs played this one tough but fall to 0-6 when Russell Wilson finds Jeremy Maclin for a 50-yard scoring strike in overtime. The dramatic TD was Wilson’s 2 nd on the day as Orlando also got a strong game from HB Chris Carson, who rushed for 101 and 2 scores. Charlotte stayed in it with 3 TDs between Nyheim Hines and Latavius Murray. In overtime Charlotte went 3-and-out before the Renegades connected on their game winning play, a tough loss for a team with a lot of them this year. POTG:  Orlando HB Chris Carson: 19 Att, 101 Yds, 2 TD   JACKSONVILLE 15   ATLANTA 41 The Bulls join Charlotte as the last two winless clubs as they fall hard in Atlanta. Aaron Murray went 26 of 34 for 282 yards and 3 scores (all to A. J. Green) as the Fire dominated from the start. Add in TDs from both Nick Chubb and Kenyan Drake and this one got ugly early and stayed that way. Trevor Lawrence was sacked 5 times and roughed up by the Fire front 7 while Murray had little trouble connecting with his receivers and making big plays on 3 rd down. POTG:  Fire WR A. J. Green: 9 Rec, 88 Yds, 3 TD   NEW JERSEY 47  PHILADELPHIA 9 An absolute stunner as the Generals take it to the Stars, causing many to wonder if Philadelphia was a paper lion. New Jersey had a 100-yard rusher in Delone Carter, a 135-yard day from Odell Beckham Jr., and scored on 9 of 11 possessions as the Stars looked far more like their 2020 record of 3-13 than like a 5-0 division leader. The defense in particular is going to need a hard looking to afte this one, but no accolades for a lifeless offense either as Philadelphia simply does not come out focused or fired up against a team they should always be up to play. POTG:  New Jersey HB Delone Carter: 22 Att, 101 Yds, 1 TD   LAS VEGAS 33  OKLAHOMA 14 Another good outing from the Vipers puts them at 4-2 after 6 weeks as they run over and through the Outlaws in OKC. Kareem Hunt had a POTW game, racking up 165 yards and 2 scores on only 17 carries. Throw in another 65 from Matt Jones and this was a ground game that simply overran the Oklahoma defense. We even got a Gardner Minshew sighting as starter Matt McGloin went 18 of 21 before being rested in the 4 th  quarter. POTG:  Viper HB Kareem Hunt: 17 Att, 165 Yds, 2 TD   OAKLAND 9   TAMPA BAY 33 The Bandits remain unbeaten and unrivaled among offensive attacks as Dak Prescott throws for 329 and 3 scores against the Invader defense. With TDs to Jordan Cameron, Dez Bryant, and Deebo Samuel, as well as a 20-yard Matt Breida TD run, the Bandits showed the league just how tough it is going to be to slow down the 2020 Champs. POTG:  Bandit QB Dak Prescott: 13/24, 329 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int   Stars Fall Hard to Rival Generals Don’t ask us what happened in Philadelphia this week. We were all ready to get on the Stars bandwagon after their 5-0 start, but their outing this week against archrival New Jersey felt a lot more like the 2020 sad sack Stars than this year’s hot-out-of-the-gate group. So, what do we see as we analyze this surprising result?   Well, first off, the Generals held Derrick Henry in check, limiting him to only 2.4 yards per carry. That removed most of the misdirection of Carson Wentz’s play-action game. Secondly, the secondary of Talib, Robinson, Hill, and Thomas simply did not give the Star receivers any room. There were contested throws throughout the game, and when a Star receiver brought in the ball, there just was not room for yards after the catch.   That combination produced 15 third downs, with an average of nearly 8 yards per play for a conversion. It was a brilliant defensive game plan and a well-executed one that limited Philadelphia to 2 field goals, all the while the New Jersey offense just put on a clinic with a performance that is likely to keep Nick Foles from hearing many boo birds when the Generals return to the Meadowlands to face New England this week.   Bandits Stun Invaders to Reach 6-0 Tampa Bay got another statement win this week, taking the Pacific-leading Invaders to task and proving they have an offense that few can contain. Bandit Ball produced 452 yards of offense, including 329 through the air and 123 on the ground. As good as Oakland’s defense has been playing this year, they seemed entirely out of their depth in this one. And while Dez Bryant had the biggest numbers (3 for 132 and a TD) the Bandits kept the D guessing, tossing the ball to Cameron, Samuel, Grant, Cook and even FB Roger Gregory.   After taking a 7-3 advantage into the 2 nd quarter, Oakland simply could do nothing more. Tampa Bay outscored them 30-2, with the only Oakland points coming on a flubbed shotgun snap that sent Dak Prescott into the endzone. Meanwhile the Bandits got TDs from Bryant, Cameron, Samuel, and Matt Breida to turn a close game into a blowout, and yet another example of just how deadly Bandit Ball can be.   Chicago Claiming Central at 6-0 With a 2-game lead over both Michigan and upstart Ohio, the Chicago Machine have to be feeling pretty good right about now. Dressed in their brand new sky blue, white and red unis it does feel like a whole new team. Their defense is allowing 12.8 points per game, their offense is doubling that with nearly 25 per outing, and they are doing it with balance.   Sam Bradford is having one of his best starts ever, completing over 70% of his throws and averaging nearly 300 yards per game. The two-headed HB combo of Jeremy Hill and Maron Mack has produced 7 touchdowns and nearly 600 yards rushing over the first six weeks, and Chicago is even diversifying their passing game, with 4 receivers over 20 receptions, including 2 tight ends. Chase Claypool is having a breakout sophomore campaign and Tyler Eifert is looking like a potential All-USFL tight end. All this, plus a defense that is solid at all 3 levels. No wonder Chicago is unbeaten and looking very much like a Summer Bowl favorite.   Feds to Start Brissett in Week 7 The start of the 2021 season has not been as bright for the Washington Federals. In a Northeast Division that seems a bit topsy turvy, Washington has been squarely in the basement, now sitting at 1-5 and having lost both divisional games on their early schedule. That includes a 33-20 loss to the Stars, the team they will face again this week. Well, enough seems to have been enough for Head Coach Kevin Gilbride. Despite there being issues on both offense and defense, Gilbride went for the obvious first option to “create a spark”. He named a new starter at QB for Week 7.   We cannot say we are surprised. When the Feds traded for former Dragon QB Jacoby Brissett, we all knew that we were likely to see a season-long QB controversy and competition. With a 1-5 start, even with Ryan Nassib not playing particularly poorly, something had to change. So Brissett will get his first start as the Federal QB. The hope, of course, is that he can find ways to get the ball to a pretty solid receiver group of Keenan Allen, Tyreek Hill, and Jarvis Landry. With Rob Housler expected out for at least a month, expect Washington to use a lot of 3-receiver sets, which could suit the more-agile Brissett well. But, when it comes to the new Federal QB, it feels like a question of when he will get hurt, not if he gets hurt.   Maulers send Lazard to Oklahoma Ahead of Week 6 Two trades over the past week remind us that we are reaching the “fish or cut bait” part of the schedule, when teams make deals to either make a push at midseason or to start looking at 2022. The Outlaws, sitting at 2-3, and having place DeDe Westbrook on IR, were looking for WR help prior to Week 6’s games. Pittsburgh, sitting at 2-3, but also sitting on a pretty deep receiver group, decided to oblige the Outlaws. The Maulers sent wideout Alan Lazard off to OK City and snagged 2 draft picks for their efforts, a 5 and a 7 in this year’s draft.   Pittsburgh, which had dropped Lazard to a 4 th option after lucking upon an impressive rookie in USC’s Amon-Ra St. Brown in the draft, felt that the veteran wideout was not going to be a big loss, and adding draft capital was a priority. Lazard, who had only 19 receptions in 2020, after a 47-reception, 427-yard 2019, was happy to move to a team that could use him. And Oklahoma wasted no time in putting Lazard into action. The wideout, who had only 2 days with the team prior to this week’s game, had 20 snaps with the first team against Las Vegas, though he did only see 2 targets and 1 reception. Expect that workload to increase as Lazard splits time with unheralded Donte Moncrief opposite Nick Toon in the Outlaw attack.   Ohio Seeks Speed, Birmingham Stopping Power in 3 Player Trade The second big deal came after this week’s action, as Tuesday we got news of a 3-player deal that would see Birmingham send WR Dontrelle Inman off to Ohio in exchange for safety David McCarter, WR Cobi Hamilton and a 5 th  round pick. For Ohio the need was obvious. Putting a more athletic (and faster) option opposite Terry McLaurin makes the Ohio attack that much more dangerous, giving rookie Justin Fields two outstanding deep ball receives as well as a nice inside and underneath option in Curtis Samuel. For Birmingham, this deal was all about their secondary. The Stallions had been playing strong safety Darnell Savage at the free safety position, and it was clear that he was not well suited for it. In McCarter, Birmingham brings in a solid option who is a natural free safety. We expect to see a lot of McCarter when the Stallions face off against San Antonio in 2 weeks. With a bye in Week 7, Birmingham has the advantage of getting McCarter up to speed for 2 weeks before he takes the field. For Ohio, a similar situation, as they too have a bye this week before facing 1-5 St. Louis in St. Louis in Week 8.   A very light week for new injury declarations, which is what everyone wants to see. No new Injury Reserve listings and several key players returning to action this week, including Dallas HB Samaje Perine, New Jersey TE Jonnu Smith, Chicago DT Eddie Coleman, and Arizona safety Nate Allen.   OUT CB          Nate Hairston         WSH   Broken Jaw              4-6 Weeks FS           Julian Blackmon     LV           Covid Protocol        1 Week   DOUBTFUL WR         Cody Latimer           MGN     Dislocated Shoulder     FS           Micah Hyde             BAL        Collarbone DE          Yetur Gross-Matos   NJ           Ribs DE          Taylor Hart                DAL       Miniscus WR         Allen Robinson       STL         Concussion HB         Nyheim Hines          CHA      Hamstring   QUESTIONABLE G            Brandon Brooks      OHI       Migraines DE          Montez Sweat         ORL       Concussion WR         Golden Tate            DEN      Back OT          Jonah Williams       SD          Scratched Cornea   Five Players Whose 2021 Has Not Started as Planned We pretty regularly report on the breakout stars of a new season, but for every player whose year is producing surprising success there are others from whom much was expected but whose production has not lived up to the preseason hype. We are not talking about players who have dealt with injuries which have limited their time, but those players who have had every opportunity to make hay, but are somehow stuck in neutral, or in some cases reverse. Here are five names who had a lot of attention in the preseason but who have simply not been living up to our expectations for them.   QB Russell Wilson (ORL) After a pair of very solid seasons, many looked at Wilson and expected even more in 2021, but the numbers (and the wins) have just not been there. Wilson is a solid 10 points below his 2020 QB Rating, and with 8 TDs to 11 picks, he is upside down on one of the most important stats for a passer. His receiving group is solid (Perriman, Maclin and Njoku), but the line has been an issue. But even with that being a concern, the real issue is Wilson’s choices as he reads the field, a mental issue which Wilson absolutely needs to address.   HB Phillip Lindsay (DEN) Last season the Gold opted to trade away DeMarco Murray, putting their full confidence in Phillip Lindsay to be the lead back in Denver. After 6 games, that is looking like it might have been premature. Lindsay has struggled to take on the mantle, averaging only 3.3 yards per carry. He is averaging just over 60 yards per game, which is not a number that will scare a defensive coordinator. With Leonard Fournette only averaging 2.5 yards on his carries, it seems clear Lindsay will remain the starter, but Denver needs to find a way to get him more yards before defenders are on him.   WR Nelson Agholor (LA) Once a primary target in LA, Agholor has seen his production steadily drop since 2018. He finished that year with 62 catches and 662 yards, both career highs. Each year since his numbers have been smaller, with only 28 catches last year (though he did miss several games to injury). In 2021, he has been active for all 6 games but has only 17 catches for 182 yards in 6 weeks. As he loses more and more snaps to Marqise Lee, it seems Coach Lewis is just not feeling that Agholor can get it done.   DE Sam Acho (MEM) 2020 was a career year for Acho, who finished with 7 sacks and 65 tackles. 2020 is not going to top that. Six games in and Acho has yet to record a sack, he has only 3 sacks, and more often than not we are seeing Coach Ryan take him off the field in key pass rush situations, replaced by Chase Winovich. Yes, the arrival of J. J. Watt was going to disrupt the 2020 D-Line rotation, but Acho is more and more the odd man out among the 4 ends on the roster.   LB Vontez Burfict (OKL) Last year Burfict had 55 tackles in only 11 games during an injury-shortened season. He also had 4 forced fumbles and 5 sacks. So far in 2020, Burfict has yet to record a sack or a forced fumble and is averaging fewer than 2 tackles per game. With Odell Thurman coming over from Michigan, and the development of Ken Muray and Ronnie Perkins, it feels like Burfict, and all the drama he tends to bring with him, is no longer being tolerated or highlighted.   Bye Weeks Begin in USFL Week 7 It’s a whole new world for the USFL as the impact of their new 17-week, 1-bye schedule starts to take shape this week. We will have bye week teams from Week 7 through 11, shaking up the weekly schedule and giving teams a chance to heal, to refocus, and to add some wrinkles before they hit the season’s home stretch. So, how do the byes work out? Here is our guide to each of the bye weeks.   Week 7:  The entire Central Division, plus 3 Southern teams. A big bye week with 8 teams off on their break, including Birmingham, New Orleans, Houston, and the entire Central Division. That means 2 weeks for St. Louis and Ohio to prepare for a Week 8 meeting and 2 weeks for Chicago and Pittsburgh to prepare for their clash in Soldier Field. The 3 Southern teams will all be out of division when they come back into action.   Week 8:  Another 8-team bye week, but this time there is no real rhyme or reason to the combination, with 2 Southwestern teams (Dallas & Las Vegas), 4 Pacific Teams ( Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, and Seattle) and 2 Northeastern teams (New England, Philadelphia) getting their byes. Of the 8 teams getting the bye this week, only one, the Oakland Invaders will get a divisional opponent, hosting the San Diego Thunder, who don’t get their bye until Week 10.   Week 9:  Back to a divisional day of rest, with all 5 Southeastern teams getting a bye in Week 9, along with 1 more, the Oklahoma Outlaws. So, the Southeast will all take a break together, and in Week 10, when they hit the field again we will see Tampa Bay at Jacksonville and Orlando at Atlanta. Charlotte is the odd man out, as they will get 2 weeks to prepare for a visit from the Philadelphia Stars.   Week 10:  Six teams will rest in Week 11, representing 3 divisions and including Arizona, Baltimore, Denver, New Jersey, San Diego, and Washington. At least for these 6, they will have a very clear “home stretch” coming ahead in Weeks 11-17.   Week 11:  The two who drew the short straw and must wait for Week 11 before they get their week off, Memphis and San Antonio, the last two Southern squads. Will a late bye be a curse or a blessing? We won’t know until Week 12 and beyond.   Our first reduced schedule, with only 11 games on tap and the entire Central Division (along with Birmingham, Houston, and New Orleans) on their bye. So, what does that do to our TV schedule? Well, ESPN & EFN lose a Friday night game. NBC loses their Saturday night game, and both ABC and Fox remove regional coverage from Sunday to have only national games at the 12pm and 4pm slots.   So, what is on tap this week? Some really huge matchups, actually. It does not get much bigger than our Friday Night Lights game on NBC, when 6-0 Tampa Bay heads to 5-1 Atlanta for a battle at the top of the Southern Division. If Atlanta wants to be seen as a real challenger to the defending league champs, this is their best chance to prove it.   On Saturday, the best game looks to be 4-2 Seattle heading across the country to play Orlando at Camping World Stadium. The Renegades are 3-3 and really have not shown us much. They face a very tough Dragon squad who want to retain their spot atop the Pacific. Then, on Sunday, we have some more interdivisional fun when Denver heads to Memphis to face the Showboats. The Gold opted to stay in the region all week after knocking off New Orleans, practicing up in Shreveport at Louisiana Tech. They now head into Memphis hoping to get another win on their Southern swing.   Another good one on Sunday has 4-2 Las Vegas still looking for respect, heading to Glendale to face the Arizona Wranglers. Arizona dropped to 3-3 this week, and you know they want nothing more than to reassert themselves as the favorite in a very tight Southwest Division. Expect that one to get heated, and not just because the Wranglers plan to open the roof at State Farm Arena for the first time this season.   FRI @ 8pm ET         Tampa Bay (6-0) @ Atlanta (5-1)                      NBC   SAT @ 12pm ET       New England (2-4) @ New Jersey (3-3)          ABC SAT @ 12pm ET       Seattle (4-2) @ Orlando (3-3)                             FOX SAT @ 4pm ET         Los Angeles (2-4) @ Oakland (4-2)                   ABC SAT @ 4pm ET        Charlotte (0-6) @ Portland (1-5)                     FOX SAT @ 8pm ET         San Antonio (2-4) @ Dallas (3-3)                      EFN/ESPN    SUN @ 12pm ET     Denver (4-2) @ Memphis (3-3)                         ABC SUN @ 12pm ET      Baltimore (3-3) @ Jacksonville (0-6)                  FOX SUN @ 4pm ET        Oklahoma (2-4) @ San Diego (2-4)                  ABC SUN @ 4pm ET        Las Vegas (4-2) @ Arizona (3-3)                         FOX SUN @ 8pm ET       Washington (1-5) @ Philadelphia (5-1)            ESPN/EFN   BYES: Birmingham, Chicago, Houston, Michigan, New Orleans, Ohio, Pittsburgh, and St.Louis

Another week of nail biters across the USFL as 9 of 15 games were settled by a single score, including our Game of the Week between the Skyhawks and Machine. It was also a week when we saw one of our unbeatens fall on the road and several teams that started the year slowly regain their footing and return to .500 for the year. We will, of course, run through all 15 USFL games this week, preview the week ahead, and take a look at the injuries that could impact the games ahead. We also have the return of a fan favorite as New Jersey addresses a need, and we take a look at 6 players who may be on the trading block this year as we hit prime trade territory. All that, but first, our Story of the Week, the statement game put up by Houston QB Colt McCoy.   McCoy Silences the Murmurs Against New Orleans When Houston QB Colt McCoy opened the year with a 494-yard, 4-TD game, we commented on how a rough 2020 had folks questioning his future, asking whether the 31-year-old had lost some zip on the ball, or had hit “the cliff” for QBs. McCoy followed up that huge game with some more modest outings (for Houston’s standards), with 220 yards and 1 TD in Week 2 and 281 Yds with no TDs in Week 3. Even a Week 4 game with 325 yards was not enough, as McCoy threw 2 picks and only 1 TD. Once again, the whispers about McCoy’s output started up again. Well, this week should quiet those voices for a while.   McCoy’s outing against New Orleans, a perennial rival of the Gamblers, was the kind of outing that the Houston QB can hang his hat on to dispel the rumors of a decline. McCoy completed 22 of 33 passes, averaging over 12.2 Yards per Attempt, and connecting for 404 yards and 5 touchdowns. It was a master class in QB efficiency and deadly accuracy. After falling behind New Orleans 14-0 on two early Geno Smith to Coby Fleener scores, McCoy took over. He hit Mike Evans on a 20-yard strike to get the Gamblers on the scoreboard. Early in the 2 nd he orchestrated an 82-yard drive that produced a second TD (Carlos Hyde run), then proceeded to put points on the board in 5 consecutive drives, starting with a 32-yard dagger to TE Gerald Everett, followed by a 2 nd  Mike Evans TD, a short TD toss to his other TE, Tony Moeaki, and a third Evans TD early in the 4 th  quarter. The Breakers simply did not have an answer as McCoy hit on big play after big play, with Evans getting the 3 scores, but JuJu Smith-Schuster actually outgaining Evans 138-104. Everett, Moeaki, Carlos Hyde also had big days as McCoy spread the ball to 8 different receivers. Throw in 89 yards form Hyde on the ground and you ended the game with the Gamblers putting up 494 yards of offense and 45 points against a pretty solid Breaker defense, well, solid most weeks.  McCoy was all smiles after a big game this week. McCoy has been very dismissive of the questions about 2020 and his prospects for 2021. With the win over New Orleans, he has the Gamblers at 3-2, sitting 1 game behind 4-1 Birmingham, who they will face next week, and that means that they are right where they need to be for a run at the division title. After finishing a disappointing 3 rd , behind both the Breakers and Showboats, last year, even with a Wild Card Game victory, Houston felt more was possible. And now, with Wade Phillips hinting that this may be his last season at the helm of the Gamblers after 20 years as their Head Coach, the pressure is certainly on for McCoy and the team to make this a year to remember. Well, with two 400-yard games already this year, and with a 3:1 TD:INT ratio and a QB Rating over 100, McCoy is certainly doing his part to make it a good year for his coach, his teammates and for Gambler Nation.   ST. LOUIS SKYHAWKS 27  CHICAGO MACHINE 30 Few expected the Chicago Machine, 4-0 and looking like a defensive juggernaut, to have much difficulty with the St. Louis Skyhawks, including Chicago themselves. After all, the Skyhawks were sitting at 0-4, had not scored more than 10 points in their past two games, had one of the worst rush defenses in the league, and were averaging barely 15 points per game. Going up against a Machine defense that was allowing 10 points per game, and fewer than 275 yards per game in total offense, even Las Vegas had this as a double-digit win for the sky-and-red clad Machine. But rivalries can be a whole different thing, and St. Louis certainly had some motivation to take it to the Machine.   And so, what we got was a strong game from the Skyhawks, and a bit of a scare for the unbeaten Machine. St. Louis would hold a 27-19 lead with only 3:44 left, but Chicago would show us just why they were unbeaten and a Summer Bowl favorite, scoring 10 points in just over 1 minute’s time to take the win, keeping themselves unblemished and the Skyhawks winless. It was a scare for the Machine, but also a validation that they were not just a defensive power, but a well-rounded team that could face adversity and prevail. The game started tentatively, with both defenses faring well in the opening minutes of the game. The fans, many still making their way to their seats at Soldier Field, saw 4 consecutive 3-and-outs by the two offenses before Chicago finally converted a 3 rd  down and started to move the ball. Chicago’s 3 rd drive would prove to be a scoring drive, as Marion Mack, who finished the day as the game’s lead rusher, had two nice runs on the drive. Sam Bradford started to find receivers, including sophomore star Chase Claypool, who he found for a short TD catch on a quick slant to put the first points on the board. But then, things started to go significantly against the predicted script.   St. Louis took over with 3 minutes left in the quarter and held the ball for the next 8 minutes, driving the ball slowly but steadily down the field on their way to a Deionte Johnson TD. With Lamar Jackson out due to a deep thigh bruise suffered in Week 4, Tyrod Taylor was under center and the lack of familiarity with his game seemed to give Chicago some problems as Taylor moved out of the pocket, but with an intention to throw, not run, a distinct difference from Jackson’s game.   What was even more surprising was that St. Louis’s defense was playing well, holding Chicago to short runs on first down, something they had struggled with in their previous 4 games. After forcing the Machine’s 3 rd  punt of the first half, St. Louis again put up points, this time a Zane Gonzalez field goal. By the time the two teams headed into the locker rooms, it was St. Louis up 10-7 and looking more confident than they had all season.   Chicago came out of the break intent on breaking that confidence. They put together a quick-strike drive that went 68 yards in only 7 plays before Bradford hit on his second TD throw of the game, a crossing route to Michael Floyd that retook the lead for the homestanding Machine. Bradford and the Machine would rack up yards in this game, outpacing St. Louis 496-287, but they just could not shake the Skyhawks. After retaking the lead 14-10, Chicago watched as Tyrod Taylor again moved the ball well, this time aided by a huge mistake on 3 rd and 4 by the Machine. Taylor used a hard count and got overeager DE Charles Harris to jump, giving the Skyhawks an easy 1 st  Down on the encroachment call. 4 plays later it was Taylor to Jerome Felton for another score and another lead change.   Chicago would equalize the score on a Carlson field goal as the 3 rd  quarter wound down, but going into the final period knotted up at 17 was not the plan for anyone in Soldier Field that day, no one except perhaps St. Louis head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who was pumping up his team during the TV timeout between quarters. That exaltation seemed to lift the Skyhawks, who opened the final period with their third TD drive of the game, a very nicely orchestrated 10-play drive that took the team 64 yards from their own 36 to the endzone once again, with Taylor hitting on a 3 rd  TD for the game, this time to veteran Allen Robinson from 15 yards out.   When that drive was followed by a Chicago punt after only 5 plays, the fans in Soldier Field started to get antsy, wondering what was happening to their unbeaten Machine club. The good news for Chicago was that Marquette King’s punt was a beauty, backing the Skyhawks to their own 7 yard line. A false start moved them even further back, and on 2 nd  and 13, the Machine D finally got to Taylor. DT Arik Armstead took advantage of the St. Louis guard sliding out to deal with a blitzing Manti Te’o, swam past the center and caught Tyrod Taylor just as he drew back to throw. Taylor managed to hold onto the ball, but it was a safety, drawing Chicago back to 24-19 and giving them the free kick.   But all was not turning Chicago’s way, not yet at least. On their first play after the free kick, normally reliable back Jeremy Hill got hit on his way through the line, and the ball popped out, dribbling forwards and eventually jumped on by St. Louis safety Tyree Gillespie for the first (and only) turnover of the game. St. Louis took advantage, driving into field goal range and wiping out the safety’s 2 points with a Zane Gonzalez field goal to give St. Louis an 8-point lead at 27-19 with 3:44 left to play. This was a position Chicago had not been in all year.   The Machine took the ball at their own 23 after a short return from Willie Snead. Sam Bradford went to work in a no huddle, 2-minute look despite there being nearly 4 minutes on the clock. Hill recovered from his fumble to give Chicago a nice 12-yard run on the opening play, followed by strikes from Bradford to Claypool and HB Marion Mack. Within 6 plays and only 1:22 off the clock, they had the ball inside the 20. A defensive PI call against St. Louis prevented a touchdown but gave Chicago the ball at the 1. From there Bradford found Tyler Eifert and the game was a 2-point affair. Bradford went back to Eifert on the 2-point PAT try, and when the talented TE brought in the low pass, the score was tied. This quick strike equalizer seemed to suck all the air and all the confidence out of the Skyhawks. Chicago kicked the ball deep instead of attempting the onside kick, likely expecting to go to overtime tied at 27. But, after using timeouts after 1 st  and 2 nd  down runs by James Conner produced only 1 yard, the Machine prepared for St. Louis to throw on 3 rd and 9. They did, and a nicely timed swat from SS Jordan Poyer, a converted corner, produced a 4 th  down with over 50 seconds still on the clock, Chicago shifted gears, hoping to get one last score in regulation to end the game without extra time.   They got some help in that attempt as the kick coverage team was cited when gunner Roderick Teamer did not catch that Snead had made the fair catch signal at the 32, giving Chicago 15 yards to the 47 and putting them that much closer to a possible Daniel Carlson game winning kick. With 44 seconds and 1 time out left, Chicago geared up to move the ball into Carlson’s range. A quick out to Floyd got them 8 yards, a dump down to FB Jakob Johnson got them a first down and 5 more yards. After a Bradford miss on another out route, the Machine QB connected on a nice rub route, finding Claypool over the middle, and, even more damaging, the Machine Receiver was able to work his way to the sideline, going out at the St. Louis 39 with 23 seconds left.   Bradford missed on his next throw, but on 2 nd  and 10, the Machine hit on a draw play to Mack, moving the ball to the St. Louis 33 and using their last time out to stop the clock. On 3 rd  down, Chicago went for a deep out to Floyd, but the receiver was unable to bring down the high throw. They sent out Carlson to attempt the 50-yarder, and the Chicago kicker, who was 2 of 4 on kicks over 50 yards on the season, lined up for a potential game winner. After a St. Louis timeout, Carlson reset himself and drilled the ball right down the middle to give Chicago the win.   Certainly, a crushing defeat for a St. Louis team that had put everything into this game, and certainly a satisfying win for the still-unbeaten Machine, this one was a game that had drama, surprises, and some late game heroics, just what we all want in a Game of the Week. So, Chicago now gets ready to face archrival Michigan next week in what could be a very important mid-season game, while St. Louis has to regroup, remotivate themselves, and get ready to fly to Boston to face the New England Steamrollers in Week 6.     NEW JERSEY 27   NEW ENGLAND 10 Fans in the Tri-State Area may not be overjoyed with Nick Foles as their QB, but he has produced back-to-back wins for the Generals as they knock off the Steamrollers in Foxboro. In the classic NY-BOS rivalry, Foles went 21 of 27 and opened scoring by hitting Muhamed Sanu for a 27-yard TD in the 2 nd quarter. Sanu finished as the team’s leading receiver with 77 yards on the day, while Delone Carter added 60 more, and 2 scores, on the ground. The New Jersey D also came up big, forcing 2 takeaways and holding New England to only 2 scores in 10 drives. POTG:  New Jersey CB Aqib Talib: 5 Tck, 4 PDef, 1 Int   ATLANTA 32  OAKLAND 35 The first of several really close, back and forth games, this one saw Oakland turn a 24-21 deficit into a 35-24 lead with two scoring drives in the 4 th , the first saw Brady hit Jerrel Jernigan for the go ahead score, and then he followed it up with a 33-yard pitch & catch to Zach Ertz for the eventual game winner. Atlanta got a late O. J. Howard TD, Aaron Murray’s 3 rd TD pass (along with 3 picks), but it was too little for Atlanta to avoid their first loss on the season. POTG:  Invader QB Tom Brady: 26/28, 269 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   TAMPA BAY 37  CHARLOTTE 10 The Monarchs drop to 0-5 after their offense was outgained 412-296 as Tampa Bay scored on 7 of 9 possessions on the day, including 2 Dez Bryant TD catches and a Dalvin Cook TD run to go with his 124 yards rushing. Jimmy G was booed after throwing his 2 nd  pick of the day as fans have quickly turned against the former Invader QB and with Monarch management as well. POTG:  Bandit HB Dalvin Cook: 17 Att, 124 Yds, 7.3 YPC, 1 TD   BALTIMORE 7   PHILADELPHIA 20 The Blitz have now lost 3 in a row after a 2-0 start, and Philadelphia is looking very much like a real threat as they move to 5-0. It was the Derrick Henry show at the Linc this week, with the big back rushing for 151 yards on only 17 carries, a very healthy 8.9 YPC average. He also scored the first two TDs of the game, a pair of power runs for 36 and 25 yards that took Baltimore out of the game. The Stars’ improved D sacked Jake Locker only twice but pressured him all game, leading to 2 picks and multiple missed throws. CB Amani Oruwarije had both picks for Philly, along with 5 passes defended. POTG:  Stars’ HB Derrick Henry: 17 Att, 151 Yds, 8.9 YPC, 2 TD   DENVER 24   OKLAHOMA 27 Denver drops their 2 nd  in a row as Josh Allen is picked twice and sacked 4 times by the Outlaw D. Jalen Hurts also saw a lot of pressure, sacked 5 times with two picks as well, but with the game tied at 24, he had a game winning drive, moving the Outlaws into position for Kai Forbath to win it on a long 56-yarder at the whistle. Pacman Jones contributed a pick-six on a deep ball over the middle that Allen should not have attempted, while Denver got TDs from Phillip Lindsay and T. J. Hockenson. POTG:  Oklahoma TE Mark Andrews: 6 Rec, 63 Yds, 1 TD   NEW ORLEANS 31   HOUSTON 45 As we chronicled earlier, Colt McCoy had himself a day against the Breakers, throwing for 5 TDs. Geno Smith tried to keep up with 4 of his own, but Houston pulled away in the 2 nd  half and never looked back. Mike Evans (5-104-3TD) and JuJu Smith-Schuster (4-138) both went over 100 yards and Carlos Hyde had 85 rushing and 34 receiving as the Gamblers move back over .500 while pushing the Breakers to 2-3 on the year. POTG:  Gambler QB Colt McCoy: 22/33, 404 Yds, 5 TD, 0 Int   SEATTLE 16   PORTLAND 13 Both the Dragons and Stags struggled to convert on 3 rd  down and points were scarce in this Cascade Clash. Mariota hit Brandin Cooks for a short TD toss in the first half, but the PAT was no good. Down 7 in the 4 th , Doug Martin evened the score with a 3-yard TD run, but a final drive from Brett Hundley and the Dragons got them the game winning field goal, another long one, as Jeffrey Harris connected from 57 yards out to give Seattle the win. POTG:  Seattle CB Richard Sherman: 9 Tck, 1 Int   JACKSONVILLE 20   ORLANDO 21 Close once again, but again no cigar for Jacksonville as Orlando wins the game on a Brashad Perriman TD catch in the 3 rd  quarter. A scoreless 4 th proved frustrating as Trevor Lawrence and the Bulls’ offense fizzled late. Russell Wilson survived 3 picks by the Bulls to get the win, finishing the game with 358 yards and 3 touchdowns as Orlando gets their 2 nd  win and the Bulls drop to 0-5. POTG:  Orlando WR Brashad Perriman: 9 Rec, 166 Yds, 2 TD   BIRMINGHAM 28  WASHINGTON 21 The Stallions are another team beginning to earn some respect as they move to 4-1 with a solid win over the Federals. Cam Newton was again a major weapon, throwing for 177 and 2 scores while rushing for 94 yards and a TD in this one. With Najee Harris nursing a hamstring strain, Ben Tate got most of the carries and finished with 83 yards and a TD as well. Washington got TDs from Tyreek Hill and Kellen Winslow Jr but could not respond after a 4 th  quarter Newton-Edelman TD gave Birmingham a 7-point lead. POTG:  Stallion QB Cam Newton: 14/21, 177 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Int, 6 Att, 94 Yds, 1 TD   MEMPHIS 31  SAN ANTONIO 28 The Showboats earn their second win, but it was not easy as San Antonio held a 28-24 lead on a Marquise Goodwin TD with only 5 minutes left to play. But 5 minutes is an eternity in the USFL and the Showboats found a way back, led by NFL import Blake Bortles for the final three quarters, after Lynch cracked his throwing hand on a lineman’s helmet in the 1 st . Bortles hit Jamison Crowder for the winning score with 1:24 left on the clock, his 3 rd TD throw of the game. Flacco and the Gunslingers could not respond, and Memphis moved to 2-3 with the win. POTG:  Memphis QB Blake Bortles: 17/21, 207 Yds, 3 TD, 0 Int   PITTSBURGH 29   MICHIGAN 26 The Maulers rise up and stun the Panthers in Ford Field, outpacing Michigan 13-3 in the final period to turn a 23-16 deficit into an upset win. Pittsburgh got a 4 th quarter gift when safety Kyzir White slipped and fell while covering Rob Gronkowsi, leading the big TE to a 58-yard TD with 8 minutes left in the game. That gave Pittsburgh a 3-point lead, which Michigan equaled on their next drive, but the Maulers had time to get into position, and in line with other games this week, their kicker, Andrew Franks, connected on a long field goal (51 yards) to seal the upset win for Pittsburgh, knocking Michigan from the ranks of the unbeaten. POTG:  Mauler TE Rob Gronkowski: 6 Rec, 145 Yds, 1 TD   DALLAS 24  ARIZONA 33 Arizona’s 0-2 start is all but forgotten after a third straight win, especially when that win knocks Dallas to 3-2 and raises Arizona to that same record. David Carr threw 2 TDs, and the defense sacked Justin Herbert 5 times, with Jerry Hughes securing a sack-fumble-touchdown in the first minute of game action to set the tone for the day. Herbert threw 3 TDs, but Dallas could not put points on the board in the 4 th , while Arizona used 3 Elliott Parson field goals to turn a 24-24 tie into a 9-point win. POTG:  Wrangler DE Bud DuPree: 6 Tck, 3 Sck   SAN DIEGO 3   LOS ANGELES 23 The Express D held San Diego to only 202 total yards, and only 41 on the ground as they dominated the line of scrimmage. The offense relied on the run game with Perkins (78) and Montgomery (33) combining for 111 yards. Kyler Murray’s 1 st quarter TD to Hollywood Brown proved to be the only points needed, but the Express added 16 more for good measure. POTG:  Express WR Hollywood Brown: 4 Rec, 56 Yds, 1 TD   OHIO 7   LAS VEGAS 15 The Vipers remain perfect at home, knocking off a 3-1 Ohio squad at Wynn Arena. The Viper D held Ohio to only 9 first downa and 3 of 10 on third down. On offense, Aaron Dobson caught 8 for 116 and the combo of Matt Jones and Kareem Hunt combined for 95 yards and the game’s only TD. Justin Fields struggled all game, throwing 3 picks and rushing the ball 9 times for only negative 1 yards as Las Vegas implemented an effective spy system to contain the Glory rookie. POTG:  Viper WR Aaron Dobson: 8 Rec, 116 Yds   Henry Blasts Blitz The Stars did not ask much of NFL import QB Carson Wentz in their win over Baltimore. The lanky QB threw for only 119 yards. The offense instead rested their attack on the broad shoulders of HB Derrick Henry, and “King Henry” replied with 151 yards and 2 scores. His day included both a 36-yard bowling-ball run through the Baltimore pins, and an equally devastating 25-yarder later in the game.   Henry now leads all USFL rushers with 532 yards, averaging 106 per game. His YPC improved thanks to this game, jumping well above the “Mendoza line” of 4.0 YPC to a nice 4.3 per carry. But, what has to worry Philly fans a bit is that Henry, with 125 carries, is averaging 25 per game, a number that could lead to fatigue and decline later in the year. For now, however, they will gladly take his big offensive output and the team’s 5-0 record as they now sit 3 game ahead of the cluster of competitors in the division.   Bortles Blindsides Gunslingers With Paxton Lynch going out of the game early, thanks to a follow-through motion that sent his throwing hand directly into the helmet of his own right tackle, Gunslinger fans in Alamo Stadium may have thought their club had an improved chance to go over .500, but they did not account for backup, and recent NFL import, Blake Bortles. After being somewhat unceremoniously drummed out of Jacksonville by Jaguar fans and ownership, Bortles arrived in Memphis happy to take a 2 nd string gig, and to learn the new system behind the clear starter, Lynch. Called into action 5 weeks into the season, it is clear the former Jaguar has something to contribute. Bortles finished his first USFL action with a pretty nice stat line: 17 of 21 passing, a very healthy 81% completion rate, with 207 yards, and, most importantly, 3 touchdowns with no picks. Bortles even responded late, when the Gunslingers took a 28-24 lead in the 4 th . He wasted no time, went 3 of 4 passing on the final drive and found Jamison Crowder in the endzone for the slot receiver’s 2 nd  TD on the day. Memphis earned their 2 nd win, and while Paxton Lynch is expected to be back for Week 6, it seems clear that the Showboats can feel good about their backup situation.   Oakland Getting it Done with D & Takeaways No mystery about how Oakland has made it to 4-1 this season. It is all about that defense. Up until this week, the Invaders have been a true shut down defense, allowing 10, 7, 17, and 14 points in their first four games. This week they were faced with a very dangerous Atlanta offense, and while they did give up an uncharacteristic 32 points, they also forced 3 turnovers, another trademark of the 2020 Invader squad.   In this game, it was the secondary, with SS Marquestan Huff snagging two poor throws by Aaron Murray and CB Jaylen Watkins nabbing the third. But this was not a one game anomaly. Oakland leads the league with 13 takeaways in 5 games, including a league best 9 picks. The Invader D also sits 6 th  in the league with 18 sacks on the year, led by Michael Bennett’s 6 QB captures. Yes, there have been some offensive highlights for Oakland, whether from 5 Time Pro Champion QB (2 USFL, 3 NFL) Tom Brady, or dual threat tailback Christian McCaffrey, but it seems pretty clear that the squad that is getting this team in a position to win week in and week out is that D.   Hughes & DuPree Rough Up the Roughnecks The POTG this week for Arizona’s 33-24 win over division rival Dallas came down to two players, both edge rushers, as Bud DuPree, the current USFL league leader with 10 sacks on the year, reached that plateau with 3 in the game. Meanwhile, Jerry Hughes, the veteran replacement for the departed Calais Campbell, had the play of the game, not only sacking Justin Herbert on his 2 nd  pass attempt of the game, but stripping the ball, picking it up, and rolling his way into the endzone for a very early defensive TD.   It was a big game all around for the Wrangler D, as newly acquired CB A. J. Bouye got his first pick as a Wrangler, and the LB group of Malik Jefferson, A. J. Klien, and Scooby Wright held the Roughnecks to only 48 yards on 19 attempts. The Wranglers also held Arizona without a 3 rd  down conversion all game (0 for 9). Arizona is now 3-2, having fully recovered from a rough 0-2 start, and the defense is a big reason why they seem to be on the rebound and now share a portion of 1 st  place in the Southwest with 3-2 Denver, Las, Vegas, and Dallas.   Outlaws Lose Westbrook to Achilles Injury A big loss for Oklahoma in their win over Denver as WR DeDe Westbrook is lost for the season after rupturing his Achilles tendon midway through the game. Westbrook, who has 16 receptions, 298 yards and 2 scores on the season, left the game after crumpling to the ground mid-route in a non-contact injury. He was helped to the sideline by 2 teammates, but then carted to the locker room. With Westbrook out, Nick Toon assumed the Flanker position, with slot receiver Justin Hunter sliding into Toon’s position and Donte Moncrief and K. J. Osborn also getting rotational snaps.   The Oklahoma passing game has been an early success story, with QB Jalen Hurts throwing for 1,398 yards and earning the 2 nd  slot in the current QB rankings, but without Westbrook, the Outlaws certainly lose some of their field-stretching ability. The veteran wideout averaged 14.9 YPC in his career and was at 18.6 this year before the injury. Don’t be surprised if Oklahoma looks for a trade that might bring a speed receiver to a squad that was very heavily relying on TE Mark Andrews this week, when Westbrook went out.   Generals Sign Familiar Name at QB With former Bull Teddy Bridgewater out for the year after a Week 4 injury, New Jersey needed help. They had their starter in Nick Foles, but the thought was that Brett Rypien was not going to be enough as a backup. So, who do you call when you need a veteran presence and a steady hand at the helm should Foles go down? How about a player who has 13 years of USFL experience with 4 different teams? A player your own team first signed out of college, and who has over 140 career touchdowns and a lifetime QB Rating over 85.  Fitz-Magic is back in the USFL and back in NJ. That’s right, folks, he is back. Fitz-magic returns to the team that first signed him to a USFL deal after a few years as an NFL backup. Fitzie is a General again, back for a 14 th  year at age 38. The veteran QB, who has served as a starter for the Generals, Stags, Machine, and who somewhat reluctantly retired after 3 years as a backup in Memphis, is back in the league, with an eager smile and a wealth of QB know-how. Will the Generals give him a chance to start once again? Or is Fitzpatrick in place as an emergency option only? We won’t know right away as the 16-year pro veteran was initially placed on the Generals’ practice squad, a common action for this type of signing. We suspect he will soon switch places with Brett Rypien, but will a poor Foles outing mean that Fitz-magic will come onto the field in Generals red and royal once again? Plenty of fans in New Jersey hope so.   A pretty light week for major injuries, outside of the Westbrook IR situation, as we see a few COVID cases and an oddly specific rash of injuries to free safeties across the league, but largely short-term, low impact injuries compared to the spate of IR placements in Weeks 3 and 4.   OUT WR      DeDe Westbrook    OKL       Ruptured Achilles            IR FS           Derek Jordan         NE          Back                                  2-4 Weeks G            Brandon Brooks    OHI       Shoulder                           1-2 Weeks FS           Micah Hyde             BAL        Covid Protocol                 1 Week C             Tyler Biadasz           OAK      Covid Protocol                  1 Week   DOUBTFUL FS           Robert Sands         PIT         Wrist FS           Michael Carter        SAN       Concussion HB         Samaje Perine        DAL       Pinched Nerve   QUESTIONABLE WR         Mike Evans             HOU     Concussion DT          Derrick Nnadi          SD          Hand   Six Potential Mid-Season Trade Candidates As we prepare for Week 6 of the season, we recognize that we are now entering the sweet spot for teams to make deals and move players. Typically, we see the greatest number of midseason trades following weeks 6, 7 and 8, with a small surge just before the Week 10 deadline as well. So, as we look around the league, there are players who may well be on the block, made available by their current teams either due to a desperate need elsewhere on the roster or a reduced role for the player on their current team. It is not quite early enough to see teams giving up on the 2021 season and selling off players for future considerations, but we are at a point where we can see which players may be expendable thanks to a reduction in their workload, the presence of a rising talent at their position, or a simple reconsideration of priorities. Here are six such players who we see as possible mid-season movers who could be part of a deal in the next 2-4 weeks.   Birmingham HB Rex Burkhead A former starter and a very solid 3 rd  down option, Burkhead has fallen out of favor in Birmingham, and with the arrival of rookie Najee Harris, despite his slow start, there seems not to be much of a role for Burkhead in Birmingham. After 5 weeks, Burkhead, who has seen his carries steadily on the decline since 2017, has only 6 rushing attempts for 16 yards. A solid receiver out of the backfield, we could see the 8-year veteran being a good fit for a team with more of a power back offense, one needing a good blocker and receiver for those third and long situations.   Jacksonville HB Montario Hardesty Another back who has seemingly been displaced this season, Hardesty has seen his load reduced as Jacksonville gives Devin Singletary a larger role as the lead back. Hardesty has only 16 attempts in the first 5 games of the year, compared to 62 for Singletary. In his 12 th season and at age 31, Hardesty is in a contract year, and may find it difficult to get a new deal, but as a midseason replacement or a potential backup, we could see Hardesty finding a new home as part of a multiplayer swap.   New Jersey WR Odell Beckham Jr. Without a doubt the biggest talent on this list, OBJ has already made it clear that he is not happy with the Generals, that he feels undervalued, despite having 33 receptions this season. He also cannot be pleased by the QB issues in New Jersey. At 31 he still likely has one good contract left in him, and he is in a contract year, so if New Jersey is feeling like they need to build towards the future, we could certainly see them trading away their top receiver as a way to get something for him, because all indications are that Beckham will walk come free agency this August.   New England WR Doug Baldwin Baldwin, a 34-year-old, 10-year vet, had his first and only 1,000-yard season in 2020 with the expansion Steamrollers. But this year, with Zay Jones and Davante Parker getting more snaps and more targets, Baldwin is looking very much like a veteran being put out to pasture. With only 12 receptions on 33 targets, it seems that Ryan Tannehill and the Steamroller offense, is certainly looking elsewhere this season. Baldwin ranks 4 th on the team in receptions, behind both speedy young wideouts and TE Dennis Pitta. We think the time is now if New England wants to move Baldwin, as he certainly has skills that many teams could use, particularly in a possession receiver role.   Portland DE Dion Jordan While not entirely accurate to call Dion Jordan a draft bust, the 8-year veteran of the Stags has never truly met the potential we all saw when he was an Oregon Duck. He came out with 10 sacks his rookie year, but has never met that total in the years since. With 5 games down in 2021 he has only 1 sack, largely displaced from the starting gig by Bruce Irvin, with whom he rotates downs, Jordan is looking very much like a player who could be moved as a way to open more opportunities for Irvin and rookie Randy Champion, an undrafted rookie out of Valdosta State who has shown some flashes.   Seattle SS Taylor Rapp Another very talented player who may just be the victim of a numbers game. Rapp has shown us some real skill, primarily in nickel and dime formations, and we think there certainly will be a market for a talented safety who already has 18 tackles and a sack in limited snaps. The issue is that it seems very unlikely that Rapp will get many opportunities to play a larger role as he sits behind potential All-USFL candidate Terrell Edmunds. Edmunds is on the ascent and is getting a lot of attention after a strong 2020 campaign, and that could make Rapp expendable, especially if a deal is possible to bring Seattle some help at DE, where they look noticeably short staffed.   Orlando Reveals Uni Update for 2022 The final 6 clubs to receive branding and uniform “refreshes” from Under Armour are on deck, and we got our first of the six revealed this week in Orlando. The Renegades, along with Arizona, Las Vegas, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Tampa Bay, are expected to be the final revamps for Under Armour as they wrap up their 5-year deal to provide uniforms and fan gear to the USFL. This week, the Renegades, coming off a 1-point win over rival Jacksonville, felt the time was right to build some enthusiasm for their club by revealing a look that they hope will be on the field in the 2021 playoffs, but which will certainly be on display in 2022, the USFL’s 40 th  season. The New Raging Renegades "R" monogram. The new look follows up on the club’s major branding revision back in 2017, when fans chose a shark-themed design over options which included a wild hog and a mammoth as possible replacements as the team looked to remove its tomahawk-themed look. With the new UA look, the new blacktip shark logo remains unchanged from the original design, but the team did reveal a new package of secondary logos, with the monogram “O” updated, the static shark fin replaced with a segment of the primary logo featuring the black-tipped fin of the primary shark logo. Also added was a stylized “R” monogram featuring sharp angles. This logo will play a prominent role in the team’s alternate look but does not appear on the primary uniforms.   The primaries retain the team’s ocean blue as the principle color, but introduce a new feature, a yoke and sleeve treatment that provides more black to the home uniform and increases the presence of blue in the road whites. The shoulder and sleeve yoke runs from the collar to mid-sleeve, where it shifts to a second color, separated by the same shark fin theme as the secondary “O” monogram. On the home blues, the shift is from a black collar and yoke to a short white segment at the sleeve cuff. On the road whites (often used at home in midsummer), the jersey has a blue yoke, transitioning to a black cuff. The pants feature a similar motif, with the white set featuring a thick black stripe, the “O” monogram at the hip, and a short blue segment at the beltline. The same pattern is repeated in blue and white on the team’s black pant set.   The team also released two alternates. The throwback alternate was a topic of much speculation since the team recently opted to remove all tomahawk imagery from their identity after legal actions taken by several Florida-based Native American nations. The compromise look revealed by Under Armour is unlikely to make those fans who wish to see the tomahawk restored very happy. The uniforms return to the 1987 look, complete with old school jersey and pant striping in blue and silver, but the helmet does not return the tomahawk logo. What it does instead is bring back the script “Renegades” in red and the small blue “Orlando” in block font, just as on the original look, but without the accompanying image of the tomahawk. The overall look feels very incomplete and certainly not as engaging as the original. The use of the original red script, without any other red present in the look, seems out of place, and we are sure there will be many who think that the entire concept is illogical without the original imagery. As for the “new” alternate, which Under Armour had dubbed the “Blacktip Alt”, the focus certainly is the inclusion of black as a team color. In a true “unitard” look, the team will wear black from helmet to socks, a color swap that retains most of the elements of the new primaries. The helmet, instead of featuring the leaping shark logo, will feature the new Renegade “R” logo in metallic silver with black and ocean blue piping. The helmet features a striping similar to the primary, in blue with a silver rear bumper. The jerseys have silver and blue yokes and the same angular font numbers as the primaries, while the pant set, still in black, features silver and white striping and the team’s “O” monogram logo. We are not exactly certain when the Renegades, who often play in very hot and sunny conditions, will bring out the all-black look, but based on USFL gameday conditions, we might recommend some road games in domes, maybe when they visit Atlanta, St. Louis, Houston, or San Antonio, rather then their home stadium in Florida.   Week six is an interesting mix of divisional and inter-divisional games, starting with two competing games on Friday night. NBC will air the 3-2 Wranglers against the 2-3 Maulers, hot off their upset in Michigan. Meanwhile, on ESPN and EFN it will be a Southern showdown as the surprising Birmingham Stallions, sitting at 4-2, head down to NRG Stadium to face the Houston Gamblers. It will be Newton vs. McCoy in a game that could come down to the team that holds the ball last.   Saturday is something of a showcase of 3-2 and 2-3 teams as these clubs try to either reach or avoid .500 as their 6-week record. The noon window features San Antonio and Memphis in another Southern Division game, the winner moving up to .500 at 3-3. It also has 3-2 Dallas at 3-2 Ohio in a battle of teams hoping to put some space between themselves and that .500 record. At 4pm Denver will try to break their 2-game losing streak as they head down to low altitude, high humidity New Orleans to face the 2-3 Breakers. FOX has a Cascade clash (the first of two back-to-back games between these two) as Seattle hosts the Stags.   The Saturday night game on NBC may be the Game of the Week as unbeaten Chicago plays host to archrival Michigan, surprising vulnerable at 4-2. A win by Chicago will be an unmistakable shot across the bow of Michigan’s division dominance these past few years. We follow up that game with a Sunday lineup that features a classic rivalry between New Jersey and unbeaten Philadelphia, a Southwest Showdown between 3-2 Las Vegas and 2-3 Oklahoma, and a California Derby as struggling San Diego (1-4) tries to get the edge on a surprising 2-3 LA Express squad. Oh, and we should also mention a huge game on ESPN and the ESPN Football Network as the unbeaten and largely unphased Tampa Bay Bandits take on the 4-1 Oakland Invaders, with a defense that could actually test Bandit Ball for once. Not a bad week of action at all, so set your calendars and get your hot wings ready.   FRI @ 8pm ET       Arizona (3-2) @ Pittsburgh (2-3)                         NBC FRI @ 8pm ET        Birmingham (4-1) @ Houston (3-2)                   ESPN/EFN   SAT @ 12pm ET      San Antonio (2-3) @ Memphis (2-3)                 ABC SAT @ 12pm ET       Dallas (3-2) @ Ohio (3-2)                                    FOX SAT @ 4pm ET         Denver (3-2) @ New Orleans (2-3)                    ABC SAT @ 4pm ET        Portland (1-4) @ Seattle (3-2)                           FOX SAT @ 8pm ET         Baltimore (2-3) @ Washington (1-4)               ESPN/EFN SAT @ 8pm ET        Michigan (4-1) @ Chicago (5-0)                NBC   SUN @ 12pm ET     St. Louis (0-5) @ New England (2-3)                ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET      Charlotte (0-5) @ Orlando (2-3)                        ABC Regional SUN @ 12pm ET      Jacksonville (0-5) @ Atlanta (4-1)                    FOX SUN @ 4pm ET        New Jersey (2-3) @ Philadelphia (5-0)             ABC SUN @ 4pm ET        Las Vegas (3-2) @ Oklahoma (2-3)                   FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET        Los Angeles (2-3) @ San Diego (1-4)                FOX Regional SUN @ 8pm ET      Oakland (4-1) @ Tampa Bay (5-0)                      ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Houston QB Colt McCoy had had enough. After back-to-back losses to the Showboats and Wranglers, it was time to get back to Gambler football, and back to winning. Against New Orleans, McCoy made it happen, completing 22 of 33, passing for 404 yards, but, most importantly, throwing 5 TDs against the Breakers to move Houston back over .500 in Week 5.

Four weeks into the 2021 USFL season and what do we know? We know Tampa Bay, Michigan, Chicago and Atlanta are really good, but we suspected that already. We may know that Philadelphia is ready to hit us with an amazing rags to riches story as they too are unblemished one month into the year. We know Charlotte, St. Louis, and Jacksonville are struggling, the Bulls yet to win a game despite some very good play from rookie QB Trevor Lawrence. We know Josh Allen is taking it to a new level, that LeVeon Bell has some competition this year, as does Calais Campbell, and we know that the first quarter is not the entire season and a lot can change over the next 12 weeks. We will break it all down, and give you the latest news, including a season-ending injury for a QB who switched teams this offseason. We will also provide the quarterly Power Rankings and highlight some players you may want to add to your fantasy team. It’s all right here. Where else would you even look?   Ten 1st Quarter Surprises Four weeks done, a quarter of the USFL season, and this year, like every year, has offered us some surprises already. Here are ten that we think have added some flavor (maybe even some spice) to the 2021 season already.   10—Charles Sims leading Chubb, Moreno, Lindsay and McCaffrey Be honest. You did not see this coming. When you saw that San Diego’s HB room consisted of Charles Sims, David Wilson and Demetric Felton, you thought for sure that the Thunder would be among the worst rushing teams in the league. Well, you weren’t alone, but here they are with Sims close to 300 yards after 4 weeks and a pretty solid ranking as a rushing team. As we cited above, Sims has more yards than some big-name rushers, including Atlanta’s Nick Chubb and Seattle’s Knowshon Moreno. But don’t try to tell us you knew that would happen. Because you didn’t.   9—Ohio at 3-1 with a rookie QB Another surprise has to be the early season success of the Ohio Glory and QB Justin Fields. Standard football logic says that Ohio might be better this year, but with a new coach, new quarterback, and new system, they would need time to come together, and the results would likely not come until the second half of the year. Apparently, no one told Justin Fields or Jay Gruden, who have the Glory sitting at 3-1 after 4 weeks.  8—San Diego’s Week 2 Anomaly Win For a team that struggled to score 14, 17, and 13 points in 3 of 4 weeks this year, it is hard to figure out how they pulled off a 44-7 win against Ohio in Week 2. That result, including 3 rushing TDs and TD passes from both Christian Ponder and Case Keenum, feels very much like an episode of the Twilight Zone. The fact that they went right back to their low-scoring, sluggish offense the week after makes it feel even more surreal.   7—Russell Wilson struggling With a QB Rating 20 points below his average of the past 3 years, it is clear that Russell Wilson is not cooking, he is burning the pancakes. With 5 picks to only 3 touchdowns and a per game average of only 206 yards, Wilson is struggling. He has some solid targets in Perriman, Maclin, and Njoku, he has an NFL Import at halfback in Chris Carson who should force teams to keep their coverage honest, but nothing is clicking for Wilson or for the 1-3 Renegades.   6—QB Injuries testing teams early It has been one of the stories of the early season, with multiple All-USFL and locked-in starting quarterbacks missing action to injury. That includes David Carr (ARZ), Joe Flacco (SAN), Justin Herbert (DAL), Geno Smith (NOR), Dak Prescott (TBY) and Ryan Tannehill (NE). You can see it in the QB Rankings, where several of the league’s big stars don’t yet have enough attempts to even register in the rankings. So, what is the issue? We are seeing issues with concussions, but it has not been solely the head injury that has taken out the league’s QBs. Some are back already, others should be in play next week, but no one gets excited when the best in the game are not on the field, so we hope the trend fades quickly.   5—The Machine defense dominating Chicago was improving on defense last year, but few saw the kind of dominance we have seen from the 4-0 Machine so far in 2021. In 4 games no team has topped 13 points, and the Machine currently find themselves in the top 10 in every major defensive statistic. And it is a true team effort, with no Chicago player in the Top 20 for tackles or sacks, and with only Josh Norman among the league leaders with 3 picks. It is true team defense, and it is proving very effective for a Machine club that has eyes on a division title and more.   4—Memphis mired at 1-3 Last year’s darlings, rising from mediocrity to a 13-3 record, have already matched their loss total from all of 2020 in just the first 4 weeks of 2021. Everything that worked for the Showboats last year is falling short this year. The defense is giving up over 23 points per game, the run game is not forcing teams to adjust their depth, and the passing game is only able to average 228 yards per game. Memphis has only a lone win against Houston on their resume. Can they turn it around? A back-to-back series with San Antonio may tell us if they are going to get this right or continue to struggle.  3—Henry on pace for 400 carries No one is really shocked that the Stars are handing the ball off to Derrick Henry, but with 108 carries in the opening 4 games of the year, we are looking at very rare air here. Only 1 player in the 38-season history of the USFL has ever rushed the ball 400 times in a season, Michael Turner for the 2008 Chicago Machine. Not Herschel (396 in his league record-setting year), not MJD, Frank Gore, or Marshawn Lynch. LeVeon Bell hit 377 in 2015, and not again since then. But the Stars are 4-0 and Henry is leading the league in rushing despite a 3.5 YPC average, so maybe this is the way they get it done, assuming King Henry can stay healthy with such a heavy workload.   2—Josh Allen playing MVP ball for Denver. The Denver Gold have started the year with a surprising 3-1 mark, and every indication is that they are there thanks to the play of their 4 th  year QB, Josh Allen. Allen’s early season numbers have been eye-opening. He is on pace for 49 touchdowns and over 5,000 yards. He is averaging over 333 yards per game, and he is making far fewer errant throws and forced balls. If this is the level of play we can expect from the Wyoming product over the full season, this could be a very good year for the Gold.  1—The 4-0 Philadelphia Stars Nothing has been a bigger surprise in 2021 so far as the 4-0 start by last year’s worst team. The 3-13 Stars already have topped their win total from 2020,and they seem poised to be a factor the entire year, with the league’s best run game, a new NFL import QB who boasts a 10:3 TD:INT ratio and a rating of 112.2 after 4 games, and a defense that is proving tough to throw against. The Stars could be the turnaround story of the year, much like when Tampa went from 3-13 in 2018 to 10-6 in 2019 and a title this year. We have seen rags to riches stories in this league before, so it is not unprecedented, but to say it was not expected in Coach Dan Quinn’s first year would be an understatement. JACKSONVILLE BULLS 20 NEW ENGLAND STEAMROLLERS 22 A game that showcases the frustration in Jacksonville, where the Bulls fall to 0-4 and have lost their last 3 games by a combined 5 points (27-24 to Portland, 24-22 to Atlanta, and now 22-20 to New England.) For the Steamrollers, a 2 nd consecutive win pulls them up to 2-2 in the Northeastern Division as C. J. Beathard successfully subs in for Ryan Tannehill.   The game was anyone’s to win throughout, with the game winning score not coming until the 59 th  minute of play. With 5 lead changes and some pretty good play by both teams, this game may not have been a highlighted matchup of the weekend, but it proved to be a highly entertaining and dramatic game for fans of both teams. For a second straight week the Steamrollers had a big crowd on hand, an estimated 51,028 in Gillette Stadium on a sunny April afternoon, and they got to watch their newest pro sports franchise notch a second win in dramatic fashion.   The game began well for the Steamroller defense, which held Trevor Lawrence and the Bulls to only 1 first down in the opening period. The New England offense fared a bit better, crossing into Jacksonville territory twice but coming away with 2 Brett Maher field goals. That advantage soon dissipated when Jacksonville found some lanes for HB Devin Singletary. The Bull back, who would finish the game with an impressive 147 yards on only 14 carries, had a 27-yard run and a 10-yard scoring run on Jacksonville’s first drive of the 2 nd  quarter and the Bulls would take that 7-6 advantage into the half.   The third quarter, however, belonged to New England. With the defense frustrating Trevor Lawrence, earning 4 of their 7 sacks for the game in that one quarter, the Steamrollers had two successful drives. The first saw Beathard connect with Will Fuller for a 23-yard scoring strike. New England tried to go up 7 with a 2-point play, but failed on the attempt, giving them a 12-7 advantage. That advantage increased to 12 points when the next Steamroller possession produced a 2 nd  TD toss from Beathard, this time finding Zay Jones on a short slant route in the red zone.   New England, which still has not been able to get Eddie Lacy much running room, managed to do enough to control possession in the 3 rd  quarter, but Jacksonville found their stride once again in the 4 th . It began when Lawrence scrambled on a 3 rd  and 7, picking up a first down with a nice run to the sideline. He then found Tee Higgins for a 16-yard completion and finished the drive by finding Higgins a 2 nd  time, this time on a fade route in the endzone. The Bulls were now 5 points down at 19-14. After forcing a 3-and-out, Lawrence and the Bulls were back in business for a second drive.   The next Bulls drive was another strong one for Singletary, who ripped off runs of 7, 12, and 9 yards, all producing first downs. The threat of a Singletary run from the 2 led to TE Taysom Hill being uncovered in the endzone and Lawrence found him for his 2 nd  TD toss of the game. Again, Jacksonville went for 2, and again they failed, leaving them with only a 1-point lead with 1:27 left to play. The Bulls led 20-19, but New England had 2 time outs left and would need only a field goal to earn the win.   Taking the touchback on the kick, they were 75 yards from the endzone, but only 45 yards away from Brett Maher’s range. It would be on backup QB C. J. Beathard to get them there. Cheered on by the large Foxboro crowd, Beathard started strong, connecting with Zay Jones for a 1 st  play completion and moving the chains on the next play with a short completion to TE Dennis Pitta. Pitta would catch only his 2 nd  pass on the day on the very next play, a 13-yarder that produced another first down and got the Steamrollers out to midfield. After a nice run by T. J. Yeldon on a draw call, New England used their first time out, followed by a completion from Beathard to Will Fuller, taking the ball to the Jacksonville 39. They needed only 4 more yards to get in range for Maher, and with 31 seconds left and a time out to spare, they ran the ball. Lacy was stopped after a 2-yard gain. On 2 nd  down, Beathard missed on a sideline pass to Zay Jones, leaving 3 rd  and 8 on the 37.   New England, needing only 3 to win the game, had the advantage. They spread the Jacksonville defense out, with the Bulls needing to protect the whole field due to New England’s remaining timeout. The secondary had no choice but to cover the outside of the field, which made the draw a good call. Yeldon rushed for 4 yards, tripped up by DT Montravious Adams as he tried to split the gap. But those 4 yards meant it would be a 48-yard attempt by Brett Maher. Not automatic by any means, but this was within a comfortable range for the New England kicker.   Maher was iced by the Bulls but came out after the timeout to win the game, and when his kick went right down the middle, the fans in Gillette Stadium let out a roar. Their Steamrollers had won both home games on the season and now sat at 2-2. Sure, a win over a now 0-4 Bulls team was not exactly proof that the Steamrollers were ready to compete in the Northeast Division, but sitting at 2-2 after 4 weeks was a good start. For the Bulls it was another heartbreaking defeat and another long trip home after being close, but not good enough to pull out the win.   TAMPA BAY 38 ORLANDO 9 A very bad outing for the Renegades as Tampa Bay dominated their in-state rival from the opening drive. It was 21-0 before the Renegades put their first points on the board, and they never got closer than 18 points after that. Dak Prescott returned to action, throwing 2 TD passes while Dalvin Cook rushed for 107 and both Bobby Rainey and Matt Breida had TD runs. The only Renegade to have a good day was DE Montez Sweat, who sacked Prescott twice and B. J. Daniels once (in garbage time) to claim the lead on the sack totals for the year. POTG:  Bandit QB Dak Prescott: 14/19, 225 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   HOUSTON 20 ARIZONA 44 David Carr returned to action and guided the Wranglers to a dominant win over the Gamblers, throwing 2 TDs and completing 73% of his passes. The Wrangles also had success on the ground, where Ka’Deem Carey went 18 for 100 and a TD, while Isaiah Crowell contributed two short TD runs. Houston’s Colt McCoy was picked off twice and Carlos Hyde managed only 47 yards on 14 carries as the Wranglers flexed their muscle and reached .500 for the first time all season. POTG:  Wrangler HB Ka’Deem Carey: 18 Att, 100 Yds, 1 TD   CHARLOTTE 17 ATLANTA 25 Charlotte played better but still fell to 0-4 thanks largely to a 19-0 scoring run by the Fire in the 1 st  and 2 nd  quarters. It began with a safety when William Gholston caught Jimmy Garoppolo in the endzone, then included a Murray to Benjamin TD pass, a John Bounds field goal, and a Shaquile Griffin pick-six of the beleaguered Garoppolo. A. J. Green also had a big day, catching 8 Murray passes for 120 yards and a score as Atlanta improved to 4-0. POTG:  Atlanta QB Aaron Murray: 29/43, 346 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Int   OHIO 48 PITTSBURGH 10 A huge divisional win for the Glory as Justin Fields earned POTW honors with a true dual-threat attack. Fields passed for 147 and 2 scores, but also rushed for the same numbers, 147 and 2 scores. The Ohio D also had a strong game, holding the Mauler run game to only 47 total yards, while Fields and Pead combined for 234 for the Glory. Ohio is now 3-1 and one of the early season surprises in the league while the Maulers drop to 1-3 and have to be seen as a first quarter disappointment. POTG:  Glory QB Justin Fields: 8/14, 147 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int, 14 Att, 147 Yds, 2 TD   DENVER 28 DALLAS 31 The Gold looked to have this one after a safety of Justin Herbert put them up 28-24, but the Roughnecks rallied in the final 2 minutes, with Herbert finding Pharaoh Brown for a 31-yard TD strike to grab back the lead and the win in this battle of Southwest contenders. Allen had another huge game, throwing for 385 and 2 scores for Denver, but Herbert one-upped him with 375 yards and 4 scoring tosses as Denver falls from the ranks of the unbeaten, with both teams now sitting at 3-1. POTG:  Dallas QB Justin Herbert: 17/32, 375 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int   SAN ANTONIO 24 NEW ORLEANS 21 The Gunslingers reach .500 at the ¼ mark of the season with an upset win in New Orleans. Joe Flacco threw for 3 scores and NFL import Melvin Gordon had his first USFL 100-yard gain as he rushed for 106 on 18 carries to help San Antonio pull off the upset. Breaker QB Tajh Boyd threw for 3 scores but could not rally the Breakers in the 4 th  after San Antonio used a Brandon LaFell TD to take the lead for the first time in the game. POTG:  Gunslinger QB Joe Flacco: 31/47, 254 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int   BIRMINGHAM 35 MEMPHIS 23 The Stallions move to 3-1, downing their archrival and sending Memphis to a 1-3 start, thanks largely to Cam Newton’s 343-yard, 5-TD outing. Both Henry Ruggs and Dontrell Inman went over 100 yards receiving with 2 TDs each as the Memphis defense looked completely out of position all game. Newton only rushed for 5 yards but picked apart the Showboat secondary all game long in the big divisional win. POTG:  Stallion QB Cam Newton: 16/22, 343 Yds, 5 TD, 0 Int   PORTLAND 14 OAKLAND 37 Oakland got a statement win to improve to 3-1 as Christian McCaffrey rushed for 117 and Tom Brady threw for 3 scores against a beleaguered Portland defense. The Stags only recorded one sack, 6 short of Oakland’s total of 7 against Marcus Mariota. DE Michael Bennett was all over Mariota all game, recording 3 sacks and multiple hits and hurries. TDs from Taylor Gabriel (2) and Zach Ertz helped Portland build a 27-7 lead after 3 and they did not take the foot off the gas even with rookie Davis Mills coming in for his first pro action in the 4 th . POTG:  Invader HB Christian McCaffrey: 19 Att, 117 Yds, 1 TD   PHILADELPHIA 33 WASHINGTON 20 The Stars finish the first quarter of the year perfect at 4-0 after outpacing the Federals 23-7 in the second half to pull away and capture the division win. Carson Wentz had a huge game, completing 28 of 38 passing for 333 yards and 4 TDs, despite suffering 4 sacks in the game. TE Travis Kelce brought in 2 of those touchdowns as part of his 6-reception, 111-yard day. The Stars’ D also picked off Ryan Nassib twice and held Travis Etienne to only 37 yards on 16 carries as Philly stays unbeaten. POTG:  Stars QB Carson Wentz: 28/38, 333 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   NEW JERSEY 18 ST. LOUIS 9 The Generals win the battle of winless 0-3 clubs but pay a price in doing so. QB Teddy Bridgewater suffered a nasty leg injury, his knee all but reversing directions, on a scramble in the 2 nd  quarter. Carted off the field, Bridgewater’s season is now over after an MCL/ACL, and Quad tear was diagnosed. That injury put Nick Foles back under center, where he struggled, but the New Jersey defense came up big, shutting down the Skyhawk offense and knocking Lamar Jackson out of the game with a possible concussion. A win, but a costly one for the Generals. POTG:  New Jersey DE Kony Ealy: 4 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty   OKLAHOMA 17 LAS VEGAS 20 A good win for the Vipers to pull them to 2-2, but a rough loss for an Oklahoma team that did not expect to be 1-3 after a season opening win against Arizona. Outlaw QB Jalen Hurts completed only 9 of 21 and was sacked 7 times by the Vipers, including 2 from DE Matthew Judon. Matt Jones led the way for the Vipers on offense, rushing for 66 yards on 15 touches, while Matt McGloin connected with Aaron Dobson for a TD as Las Vegas held off the Outlaws late to reach .500 after 4 weeks. POTG:  Viper DE Matthew Judon: 6 Tck, 4 TFL, 2 Sck   SAN DIEGO 13 CHICAGO 45 The “new look” Machine ran away with this one thanks to 3 Marion Mack TD runs and a defense that picked off Christian Ponder 3 times on the day. Chicago improves to 4-0 by outscoring Las Vegas 38-7 after a tight first quarter. Even backup Mike Kafka got into the act, playing most of the 4 th  quarter and finding Jermaine Kearse for a score as Chicago continues to impress. POTG:  Chicago CB Josh Norman: 5 Tck, 5 PDef, 2 Int   LOS ANGELES 10   SEATTLE 17 The 2020 Pacific Champions drop to 1-3 after falling to the Dragons at a rainy Lumen Field. The Express struggled to reach the red zone or the endzone, keeping Seattle in the game 10-9 beofre a Khalil Mack pick-six and a 2-point conversion put the Dragons on top. Mack tipped a Murray pass straight up, snatched it on the rebound and ran it back 31 yards in what could be an early play of the year. With the win, Seattle moves to 2-2 and knocks LA into a 3-way tie at the bottom of the division at 1-3. POTG:  Seattle LB Khalil Mack: 7 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD, 1 FF, 1 FR   MICHIGAN 27 BALTIMORE 17 The Panthers stay unbeaten and send Baltimore to 2-2 after 4 weeks by slowing down Josh Jacobs and playing solid zone coverage against Jake Locker. A DeVonte Hollman pick-six of Locker and a strong 109-yard day from LeVeon Bell helped Michigan pull ahead early and stay ahead, never giving up the lead once they established it. Jake Locker attempted 51 passes and did gain 317 yards, but he could not get Baltimore into the endzone when it counted and the Blitz drop back to 2-2, now 2 games behind the surprising Philadelphia Stars in the division. POTG:  Michigan HB LeVeon Bell: 19 Att, 109 Yds, 1 TD   Watt, Wentz, and Darby Lead NFL Import Success Stories Over the years we have gotten used to the NFL Transfer Window providing pretty mixed results. The physical and psychological strain of playing back-to-back seasons, following an NFL season with the USFL season with only about 6-8 weeks between the two (less for players from NFL playoff teams) just does not give players a lot of recovery time after a grueling season. As a result, we have seen a fair share of injuries, and a good number of players who just wear down. Many USFL GMs insist that their NFL imports are kept off active status for 2-4 weeks, but it is very much a case-by-case situation. This year, we have seen several big name NFL imports not only start right away, but find immediate success. It does not take long to see that QB Carson Wentz has had a huge impact on the Philadelphia Stars. After a 3-13 season in 2020, they have raced out to a 4-0 start in 2021, with Wentz accounting for over 1,000 yards passing and 10 TDs in the opening month of the season. But Wentz is not the only early success story out of the inter-league transfers. In Memphis a 1-3 start has dampened the enthusiasm for the team, but certainly not for their new defensive end, former Houston Oiler J. J. Watt. The former Wisconsin Badger has 7 sacks in his first 4 USFL games and has already become a vocal member of the defensive squad. Following a major injury in 2019, Watt returned strong in 2020 and now in the USFL he is continuing that impressive recovery. The third highly successful NFL import was not a big-name player in the NFL but is proving he has some big skills in his first month as a USFL player. The former Bill, Eagle, and Redskin has taken over the CB2 spot, allowing KeiVarae Rusell to return to a more natural role as a nickel corner. In his new role, opposite Dre Kirkpatrick, Darby has already snagged his first USFL pick and has also accounted for 21 tackles and 5 pass defenses and a forced fumble. Not too bad considering he has had such a short turnaround from his time in D.C. The same could be said for all 3 players, each of them proving that it is not impossible for an NFL import to have an immediate impact.   Missed Games Creates Surprising QB Leaderboard With so many high caliber USFL QBs sidelined by injury, mostly short term, but still game absences, we have seen some interesting names atop the USFL stat boards. While no one is shocked to see Josh Allen atop the QBR leaderboard, not with the way he has performed this season, few expected the board to highlight 2 nd year QB Jalen Hurts, rookie Trevor Lawrence, or NFL import Carson Wentz, and yet, there they are among the top QB ratings in the league.   Part of this, of course, is the result of some All-USFL quarterbacks currently under the league minimum of 70 pass attempts needed to be ranked after 4 weeks. That includes Dak Prescott, after missing Week 3 (and a chunk of Week 2); David Carr, who missed 2 full games and half of a third; and Geno Smith, who also missed more than 2 games due to his injury. Justin Herbert is in the same boat, as is Ryan Tannehill, both having missed significant action already this season. And so, we have a leaderboard that could change quite a bit with the return of several starters to action. It may take a few weeks, and maybe some of the newcomers will hold their positions if they continue to play well, but we suspect the Week 16 final rankings will have far more familiar names atop the QB Ratings.   Jackson Frustrated by Skyhawk Offensive Issues It is quite understandable that Lamar Jackson would be expressing frustration with his team’s offensive production. After 4 weeks, the Skyhawks are not only 0-4, but are ranked near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories. HB James Conner, another NFL import, has yet to top 65 yards in any game, and is averaging only 3.8 YPC. Jackson’s top receiver, Deionte Johnson, has only topped 80 yards once, and 1 st  round rookie pick, TE Kyle Pitts, has not even eclipsed 40 yards and to date has no touchdowns since joining the team.   The lack of production is clearly bothering Jackson, who tried to do it all himself back in Week 2, rushing for 126 yards but still losing to the Philadelphia Stars. Since then, his number has been called less frequently, particularly after Michigan showed how you can shadow the dual threat QB with a nickel corner, holding Jackson to only 5 yards on 12 rushes (9 of them designed plays). Jackson cannot do it all himself, and while we see flashes of his potential, there are real doubts that St. Louis has done enough to surround Jackson with an offense that can complement his unique talents or which can lead the way if Jackson needs more support. With Jackson coming up on a contract year in 2022, the continued frustration of his situation in St. Louis could well be a factor as he looks at options that would be available to him in little over a year’s time.   Generals Lose Bridgewater to Shoulder Injury After 4 consecutive playoff seasons, 2020 left New Jersey fans feeling snakebit, and if that is the feeling they brought to the season, the recent injury to their newly signed QB Teddy Bridgewater, certainly helped reinforce their sense of neurotic worry. Bridgewater was named the starter for Week 3, after two lackluster starts for Nick Foles, the incumbent. Bridgewater struggled a bit in his first action for the Generals, throwing 2 picks and falling to expansion San Antonio 19-10. He started the game well against St. Louis this week, finding Pharaoh Cooper for a 24-yard score in the first quarter and going 5 of 9 to open the game, but then it all came to a crashing halt.   It happened on a Delone Carter run. The back started off heading to the left of the line but cut back towards the right. Bridgewater tried to take on LB Trey Henderson, providing a block for his back, but in so doing, he took the hit with his throwing shoulder, not a good choice for a QB, but certainly not what you want your newly crowned starter to do. The hit by Hendrickson produced immediate results. The New Jersey QB went to the sideline, his arm hanging limply at his side. He would soon be escorted to the locker room, and then to the local hospital, where imagine showed what the QB and his new team clearly did not want to see, a shoulder separation that would require season-ending surgery. This is the first major injury of Bridgewater’s short USFL career. He was quite resilient and steady in Jacksonville, starting 25 of 28 games the past two years and throwing for over 3,000 yards in each, but he gets 2 games into a new start in New Jersey, and he is now lost for the year. The Generals, who spent a good bit of energy trying to find a possible competitor with, or replacement for, 2020 starter Nick Foles, now find themselves back to their much-maligned incumbent QB. The team also has young 2 nd  year QB Brett Rypien on the roster, and will likely look to sign a veteran backup, but for now, it looks like Foles is the starter once again, and fans in New Jersey are already gearing up to boo as soon as games start going south.     A bad week across the league, with 5 new players added to injured reserve, including NJ quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. San Diego loses one of their leaders on defense as LB Kyle Van Noy suffered a back injury, as did Birmingham OT Greg Robinson. Ohio CB Kevin Seymour is also out for the year after breaking his tibia, while Oklahoma DE Jordan Willis suffered a significant tear to his hamstring, costing him the rest of 2021.   OUT OT        Greg Robinson          BIR         Back                   IR DE          Jordan Willis               OKL       Hamstring         IR QB         Teddy Bridgewater         NJ           Shoulder             IR LB           Kyle Van Noy                SD          Back                     IR CB          Kevin Seymour                OHI       Leg                        IR TE           Rob Housler              WSH     Ribs                       6-8 Weeks FS           Deion Bush                    NE          Hand                    1-2 Weeks G            Larry Warford                   DEN      Neck                     1-2 Weeks DE          Adrian Clayborn              JAX         Covid Protocol   1 Week   DOUBTFUL G            Trevor Canfield                PHI        Neck                     TE           Jonnu Smith                    NJ           Pinched Nerve HB         Rhamondre Stevenson    SAN       Concussion HB         Samaje Perine                DAL       Pinched Nerve   QUESTIONABLE FS           Nate Allen              ARZ       Foot DE          Calais Campbell           BAL        Shoulder DT          Dontari Poe                  MGN     Concussion HB         Rico Dowdle               PIT         Toe QB         Lamar Jackson             STL         Deep Thigh Bruise     Ten Players to Add to your USFL Fantasy Roster OK, Fantasy players, you are 4 weeks into your season, you need to make some changes. Who are some players that may not have been valued very highly in the draft, who may even be free agents now, and who are good value additions to your team? We are giving you 10 players who you need to either trade to add or sign from the pool. They aren’t the superstars who are going to form the core of your team, but these are players who are putting up enough points, yards, and big plays to help you get over the hump.   Blitz QB Jake Locker With so many QBs missing games, Locker’s 1,108 yards and 8 TDs is better than many of the league’s preseason QB picks.   Stags QB Marcus Mariota If your league is about yards, without penalties for picks, Mariota is a good choice (1,154 yards), but if you lose points for picks, his 6 in 4 games is not what you want.   Thunder HB Charles Sims We doubt anyone drafted Sims before the 10 th  round, but right now, with 297 yards and 3 scores, if you can get him, do it. He is proving to be a value signing for the Thunder.   Express HB Paul Perkins He has only 1 TD so far, for an anemic scoring offense in LA, but if your league lives and dies with yards, his 290 in 4 games is not nothing.   Bulls HB Devin Singletary He has had a pair of very nice games, including going over 140 yards this week. He may be a hot-and-cold player, but when he is on, he can help you win some games.   Blitz WR Michael Pittman Jr A top 8 receiver in targets and receptions, Pittman is your perfect PPR selection. Expect him to be regularly in the 7-10 reception range, a poor man’s Aaron Dobson.   Glory WR Terry McLaurin Few people invested in the Glory offense, but rookie Justin Fields is proving a quick learner, which puts McLaurin in a position to be a solid guy, especially if YPC is a factor for you.   Gold WR Darnell Mooney With 5 TDs in 4 games, Mooney has come out of nowhere to become a major factor in the Denver offense. He won’t have the PPR impact of Golden Tate, but in leagues where TDs produce big points, he is a guy to add to your lineup.   Bulls TE Taysom Hill Hill, a former QB himself, has become a real safety valve for Trevor Lawrence. And, with coach Moss giving him time in the backfield as well, the potential is there for rushing and passing yards too.   Stags TE Trey Burton Surprisingly ahead of Julius Thomas, Martellus Bennett, and Brandon Pettigrew in both targets and catches, Trey Burton could be a nice sleeper if your league has a mandated TE slot.   First Quarter Power Rankings 1—Tampa Bay (4-0) No Surprise Here, the Bandits are looking every bit like a league champion once again. In the Top 5 in points, yards, points allowed, and yardage allowed, it is hard to find a flaw they need to address. Their punt average is pretty poor (28 th ), but they so rarely punt.   2—Michigan (4-0) Another very much anticipated strong start as Michigan combines a strong run game (110.5 YPG) and a very solid overall defense (286.5 YPG) to stay unbeaten. If they want to improve on their current performance, it would be finding a true number two receiver. Calvin Ridley has only 15 receptions after 4 weeks, well behind both Cody Latimer and TE Martellus Bennett.   3—Atlanta (4-0) Ready to give Tampa Bay a run for their money, Atlanta is averaging 377.5 YPG on offense, and their D is keeping teams under 18 points per game. They could improve on their middle-of-the-pack average of 86.8 YPG rushing, and that means giving Nick Chubb more touches and more lanes to run through.   4—Chicago (4-0) With a pretty easy opening schedule (Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, Portland, and San Diego so far), few are surprised that the Machine are 4-0, but that defense has looked even better than expected. 1 st  in points per game (10.0) and 2 nd  in yards (263.8) is pretty strong. To improve, they need to do more in the run game, helping Sam Bradford avoid big hits when he drops back. 5—Philadelphia (4-0) The biggest surprise of the entire season, the 4-0 Stars are light years from where they were last year. They have the league’s top rushing attack, despite a pretty mediocre per carry average for “King” Henry. They are also surprisingly strong against the pass on defense. To stay atop the Northeast, they are going to need to tighten up against the run however, after giving up 114 yards per game over the opening quarter.   6—Dallas (3-1) The Roughnecks have started strong, ranked 5 th in points per game and 6 th  in passing behind Justin Herbert. Where do they need to be concerned even at 3-1? How about the 21 st  rated scoring defense or giving up 304 yards per game through the air, or even more troubling, averaging only 75.2 yards per game on the ground. If they can tighten up their pass coverage and get some production from the backfield, they have a chance to go far, but those issues worry us right now and should worry Coach Kingsbury as well.   7—Denver (3-1) Yes, we are surprised to see Denver at 3-1, and that win over Arizona was impressive, but they cannot be happy that it has almost entirely been on Josh Allen to get them there. He is averaging 333 yards per game passing, but with the run game stuck in neutral, he has to. The Gold need to get more than 74.2 yards per game out of their backs, and they need that defense to hold leads when they get them.   8—Oakland (3-1) The Invaders have been a bit of a surprise as well, though, when you have Tom Brady at QB, maybe we should expect more from them, not less. But make no mistake about it, this team is lead by their 2 nd ranked scoring defense, best in the league against the run, allowing only 53 yards per game. To improve they need more out of their run game, and that means more pressure on Christian McCaffrey.   9—Ohio (3-1) That blow out loss, their only one so far, was ugly, and it was to San Diego, who has not shown that quality in any other game. So, what do we make of the Glory. We love the big play ability of Justin Fields, who leads the team in both passing and rushing, but is that a sustainable model. The Glory need more out of their backs, especially Isaiah Pead. They also need to tighten up against the run, currently 23 rd  in the league.   10—Birmingham (3-1) After an opening week loss to Houston, the Stallions have rattled off three quality wins and have scored 34 or more points in each. That is impressive, but also necessary for a team that ranks 27 th  in points allowed and gives up over 400 yards per game. Coach Haley needs some defensive help if the Stallions are going to keep winning.   11—Arizona (2-2) After back-to-back division losses to Oklahoma and Denver, they have come back with two solid outings, knocking out the Outlaws in OKC and then crushing the Houston Gamblers this week. To stay at or above .500 they need to keep their offense balanced (4 th  in passing, 6 th in rushing after 4 weeks) and they need to create more takeaways and more QB pressure.   12—Seattle (2-2) Another team that started slowly but turned it around with 2 straight wins. They are doing it with defense (giving up only 14.2 PPG) and when they can run the ball, their offense can be very solid, but that run game has not been strong enough. They need more 1 st  down runs to set up easier 2 nd  and 3 rd  down options for Brett Hundley.   13—Baltimore (2-2) The Blitz won their first two games by a combined 51-7 score but have since lost both matchups against Central Division teams (Ohio & Michigan). The defense is still ranked 2 nd  for yards allowed and 3 rd  for points allowed, but the offense has struggled for consistency. The Blitz need to focus more on Josh Jacobs and allow Jake Locker to play off of the run game.   14—New Orleans (2-2) The Breakers, like Baltimore, started out 2-0, but have not looked right the past two weeks. We can blame that on Geno Smith being out, but we should also look to that 24 th  ranked run defense. They have a tough run at Houston and home to Denver before their bye, but the Breakers have too much talent to stay at .500 all year.   15—Houston (2-2) Averaging 430 yards of offense per game (2 nd in the league) and 330 per game passing (also 2 nd ) it has been the offense carrying the Gamblers. They need more out of their 29 th ranked defense, which gave up 30 to Memphis and 44 to Arizona the past 2 weeks. Coach Phillips is not going to be happy about that, but if anyone can fix it, it will be Phillips.   16—New England (2-2) A nice 2-game stretch for the Steamrollers, both at home, have them at .500. They are struggling to put points up (28 th in the league at 14.8 PPG) but the defense has been solid, especially against the pass. With their next 3 games against teams with a combined 2-10 record (NJ, STL, NJ), the Steamrollers need to make a push before their Week 8 bye.   17—San Antonio (2-2) Our other 2020 expansion team also sits at .500, thanks to a very nice win in New Orleans this week. Melvin Gordon had his first 100-yard game in that matchup, and the Gunslingers certainly need him to do that regularly. Getting Gordon on track will help Joe Flacco stay upright and keep the offense balanced.   18—Las Vegas (2-2) The Vipers have two good home wins (Memphis and Oklahoma) but also two big losses, on the road to Denver and Chicago. You won’t make the playoffs without road wins, so the Vipers need to figure out how to do that. They will have a chance when they visit Oklahoma and Arizona in weeks 6 and 7.   19—Memphis (1-3) Not the start that Rex Ryan and the Showboat Navy wanted or expected this year. What worked for them last year is not working this year, with their passing game ranked 20 th  in the league and their pass defense equally troubled. They have to wait until Week 11 before they get the bye, so they need to start making changes on the fly, and quickly before the season gets away from them.   20—Los Angeles (1-3) Another 2020 division winner who is not looking like they have the same juice this year. No surprise for Coach Lewis that it is the offense causing issues. LA is dead last in the league in yards per game at only 272. They are 29 th  in passing yards, and many are saying that the time to bench Kyler Murray has more than arrived. Will LA fare better if they bring in former Stars’ QB Matt Gutierrez. Ask Philly fans and they will laugh at that idea.   21—Portland (1-3) It seems pretty simple to diagnose the issues in Portland. Their one win was their lone game above 20 points. Their three losses saw them score 11, 10, and 14. No points, no W’s. It’s a pretty simple formula. This is a team that is gaining yards, 14 th  overall, 11 th in passing, but they are only averaging 15.5 points per game. That needs to improve.   22—Washington (1-3) The Feds love what they are getting from rookie Travis Etienne, and their run game is Top 10 in the league, but the defense, oh, that defense. They average 30.2 points allowed and 433 yards allowed after 4 weeks and have yet to hold a team below 20 points in any game. That has to improve if Washington is going to compete in a very hard division to figure out.   23—Oklahoma (1-3) The Outlaws opened the season with a statement win in Arizona, but since then the wheels have fallen off, giving up 40 to Dallas, losing to the Wranglers in the rematch, and this week to Las Vegas. If you are looking for what the issue is, how about a defense that is ranked 28 th against the run and 24 th  against the pass. Hard to hold the score down when teams just march up and down the field against your D.   24—Pittsburgh (1-3) The Maulers are averaging only 11.5 points per game, dead last in the league. They are struggling to run the ball (only 70.2 YPG) and to pass it (208.8 YPG), which basically means they cannot get into range to put points on the board. But, you say, they have the top-rated pass defense in all of the USFL. Yes, because they have the 30 th  ranked run defense. When you give up nearly 160 yards per game on the ground, your opponent does not need to pass.   25—Orlando (1-3) Three straight losses show us a team that is struggling on both sides of the ball, giving up 26.2 YPG and scoring only 16.2, that’s a 10-point margin of defeat, not a sign of a team ready to make a run. They face two winless teams in the next two weeks (JAX & CHA), but we are not sure they can beat either of them if they don’t start to figure some things out.   26—New Jersey (1-3) Week 4 got the Generals their first win of the season but cost them QB Teddy Bridgewater. That is a problem, especially with 4 division games in the next 5 weeks (NE and unbeaten Philly twice each), oh and the 5 th  game, how about the 4-0 Bandits. This season is feeling lost already for the Generals.   27—San Diego (1-3) We are still trying to figure out the Thunder’s 44-7 win over Ohio. Why? Well, because in their other 3 games they have scored 14, 17, and 13 points. How can they recapture the magic of that one win? Keep giving the ball to Charles Sims, an early season breakout player for the Thunder.   28—Jacksonville (0-4) The Bulls feel like a team that should be 2-2, not 0-4. They need to find a way to close out games, but they also need to get off the field on 3 rd  down. They are dead last in the league in 3 rd down stops and in yards allowed, two factors that explain their current status as an 0-4 club.   29—St. Louis (0-4) Don’t blame Lamar Jackson. He leads the Skyhawks in both passing and rushing. And for a change, we probably should not blame the D. They are not half bad, allowing only 74.2 on the ground each week (12 th in the league) and 259.2 through the air (18 th ), but the offense, despite Jackson’s efforts, is putting up only 15 points per game. That is not going to win you a lot of games.   30—Charlotte (0-4) When you are dead last in the league at stopping your opponent from scoring, giving up 31.5 PPG, and your offense averages only 15.5 PPG, you are not only losing a lot of games, but you are also losing them big. Their 4 losses to open the year include 10 points to Atlanta, 22 to Oakland, 24 to Tampa Bay, and a reasonable 8 to Atlanta the 2 nd  time around. A lot of issues to address in Charlotte, and not much time to do so before the Monarchs are running out a very rough string.   Wow, we are getting a lot of divisional games early this season. It makes me wonder what will be left for the playoff stretch. That said, it is great for viewing this week once again, with 12 divisional games all in the same week. Despite that, Friday’s best game is likely to be one of the non-divisional games, when the Oakland Invaders, sitting at 3-1 with one of the league’s best defenses, hosts the unbeaten Atlanta Fire, and their powerful offense.   On Saturday there are wall-to-wall divisional games, kicking off at noon with Tampa Bay-Charlotte, and a really key game in the Northeast when Baltimore travels to the 4-0 Philadelphia Stars. Can the Blitz get back in the hunt and take down the upstart Stars? At 4pm it is Denver v. Oklahoma in the Southwest and New Orleans heading to Houston in the South, with the loser dropping below .500. The night games on Saturday include Seattle visiting Portland in a Cascade Clash on NBC and the winless Bulls hoping to get that first W against in-state rival Orlando.   Sunday gives us 5 more divisional games, including Memphis at San Antonio, Pittsburgh at Michigan, San Diego at Los Angeles, and St. Louis at Chicago, but the one we are most psyched about is definitely 3-1 Dallas heading to Glendale to face the Arizona Wranglers, sitting at 2-2 and hoping to get into the mix in the division they have dominated. We also have Birmingham hoping they can move to 4-1 with a win in Washington, a game that will feature two of the best rookie backs in the league, Travis Etienne for the Feds and Najee Harris for the Stallions. Finally, we have two surprising clubs as the 3-1 Ohio Glory head to Las Vegas, where the Vipers have yet to lose a game.   FRI @ 8pm ET         New Jersey (1-3) @ New England (2-2)        NBC FRI @ 8pm ET         Atlanta (4-0) @ Oakland (3-1)                        ESPN/EFN   SAT @ 12pm ET      Tampa Bay (4-0) @ Charlotte (0-4)                   ABC SAT @ 12pm ET      Baltimore (2-2) @ Philadelphia (4-0)               FOX SAT @ 4pm ET         Denver (3-1) @ Oklahoma (1-3)                        ABC SAT @ 4pm ET        New Orleans (2-2) @ Houston (2-2)                  FOX SAT @ 8pm ET        Seattle (2-2) @ Portland (1-3)                            NBC SAT @ 8pm ET         Jacksonville (0-4) @ Orlando (1-3)                 ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET     Birmingham (3-1) @ Washington (1-3)           ABC SUN @ 12pm ET      Memphis (1-3) @ San Antonio (2-2)                  FOX Regional SUN @ 12pm ET      Pittsburgh (1-3) @ Michigan (4-0)                      FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET       Ohio (3-1) @ Las Vegas (2-2)                          ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET       San Diego (1-3) @ Los Angeles (1-3)               ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET      Dallas (3-1) @ Arizona (2-2)                               FOX SUN @ 8pm ET      St. Louis (0-4) @ Chicago (4-0)                         ESPN/EFN

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Despite big weeks from Cam Newton and Justin Herbert, we have to give the POTW to Ohio rookie Justin Fields. Fields was a true dual threat this week, throwing for 2 scores while running for 2 more. His modest 8 of 14 passing for 147 is deceptive because it is paired with 147 yards rushing, absolutely equal balance, for nearly 300 yards of offense to go with the 4 TDs in the Ohio victory.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: We had a pair of big QB performances this week, with Tajh Boyd showing up as a 1-week replacement in New Orleans, but we are going to give the POTW to Josh Allen, who has the Gold at 3-0 and has once again thrown for 4 scores. In three weeks, Allen has over 900 yards passing and 11 TDs, no wonder he is currently the highest rated QB in the league.

Week 3 saw Arizona, New England, San Antonio, Washington, Memphis, and Seattle all earn their first wins of the season, but we also saw Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Michigan, Chicago, and surprising Denver and Philadelphia all move to 3-0, while New Jersey, St. Louis, Jacksonville, and Charlotte have yet to find the right formula to get their first W. It was a week with more big passing games, some solid rushing performances, and some huge plays from both the offenses and the defenses across the league. We will run through every game, look at the players making a splash. We will also reveal the 10 semi-finalists for the USFL’s Hall of Fame Class of 2021, but we start it all off with the two most surprising unbeatens after 3 weeks, the Denver Gold and the Philadelphia Stars. Stars & Gold Shining at 3-0 Three weeks into the USFL season and we have 6 teams still unbeaten. Of those six, four are not a huge surprise, with Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Chicago, and Michigan all predicted to be playoff, if not Summer Bowl contenders. But the other two, well, those two are unexpected. The Denver Gold, who finished 2020 at 6-10 and who many predicted to finish either 4 th  or 5 th  in the Southwest Division, have emerged as a far more dynamic and explosive team than anyone anticipated. But perhaps even more surprising are the Philadelphia Stars, who were the worst team in the league last year, earning the top pick in the 2021 Draft with a 3-13 record.  The Stars have done it with an infusion of new talent, starting at QB, where former Eagle Carson Wentz switched leagues and seems to have recovered the form that had him in the NFL Pro Bowl in 2017. Add in rookie LB Micah Parsons, free agent CB Dwayne Gratz, and former Orlando LB Jonathan Bostic, and you have a roster with a whole new attitude. Of course, not everyone on the squad is new, but the influx of new talent and enthusiasm has impacted the returning players as well. Halfback Derrick Henry has rebounded from a rough 2020 and is again looking like a contender for a rushing title. Rookie WR Elijah Moore and 2 nd year receiver K. J. Hamler are providing explosiveness, while veteran Randall Cobb is looking like a man on a mission, especially after a 106 yard outing in Week 2. Coach Dan Quinn, who had success in the NFL before being released and signed by the Stars, is bringing a new attitude, and a lot of accountability to the team, and it has led to the Stars surprising us all with 3 consecutive wins.  Denver has also been a huge surprise, not only knocking off two questionable squads (San Diego in the opener and Las Vegas this week), but also the 6-time division champion Wranglers (though without David Carr, it should be noted). And they have done it with a newly-recalibrated offense that centers not on the run, as it has in past years, but on the talents of QB Josh Allen. Allen, now in his 4 th year, has started this season absolutely on fire, opening the season with a 322-yard, 4-TD game, then racking up 7 more touchdowns the past two weeks, with another 626 yards passing. Allen, who sits as the leauge’s top-rated passer is going deep far more often, finding receivers in space, and making plays with his legs, avoiding pressure to extend plays.   Veteran Golden Tate has had 3 huge games, racking up 112, 91, and 125 yards in his three season-opening games, and has 5 TDs after only 3 weeks. Second year receiver Darnell Mooney, acquired in trade with the Bandits, has brought a bit of Bandit Ball with him, averaging nearly 20 yards per catch after 3 weeks and already with 4 touchdowns, 3 more than he had as a rookie with the Bandits. The newfound aggressiveness of the Gold passing game has helped Denver begin the year with 28, 38, and 41 points. That was not expected from a team that rarely topped 25 in any game last year, and it has the Gold thinking that the pundits had it all wrong. Coach Hufnagel, who had led Denver to 4 straight winning seasons before last year’s 6-10 slump, made a choice to change things up and refocus his offense, and if the first 3 weeks of the season show us anything, it may be that “Huff Knows Football” as the local commercials in Colorado love to say.   MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS 30  HOUSTON GAMBLERS 29 A huge game in the South as the 2-0 Gamblers hosted the 0-2 Memphis Showboats. The defending division champs could not afford a drop to 0-3, while Houston has started quickly with Colt McCoy putting up impressive numbers in the season’s first two games. This had all the makings of an early desperation game, and Rex Ryan’s team certainly came into it with a sense of urgency.   Despite the urgency for Memphis, it was Houston that had their way in the first half. The Gamblers would take a 20-7 lead at the half thanks to a combination of offensive firepower and defensive muscle. Memphis had two bad turnovers in the first half that helped Houston rack up points. Leading 7-3 early in the 2 nd quarter, Memphis back Kenneth Gainwell had the ball pop out of his hands on his very first carry, giving Houston the ball on the Showboat 22 yard line. It would take the Gamblers only 4 plays to punch the ball in, with Clyde Edwards-Helaire taking it off tackle on from the 1 to give Houston a 10-7 lead. They would add to that lead only 5 plays later, when a poorly targeted Paxton Lynch pass was snagged by Camalei Correa, who returned the pass 49 yards for another Houston TD, giving them a 17-7 lead. They would add a field goal at the end of the half and went into the break feeling very confident, up 13 points.   But Memphis was not done fighting. The Showboats got the ball first in the 2 nd half, and their initial possession produced a 13-play, 74-yard drive and a touchdown. Paxton Lynch went 4 of 6 on the drive, and when David Williams took the ball at the 6 and found the edge to reach the endzone, it was down to only a 6-point lead for the Gamblers. Houston would add a field goal on their next drive, boosting the lead to 9 points, but they were about to have their own turnover issue. After stopping Memphis’s offense on the ensuing possession, Colt McCoy got a bit cocky on the first play of the next Houston possession. A play action throw to Mike Evans was short, and with Evans in double coverage, it was primed for Memphis to take the ball away. Cornerback Rashaan Gaulden turned just in time to see the underthrown ball coming his way. He spun, caught the ball, and with safety Calvin Pryor taking Evans out of the play, Gaulden was able to return the ball 37 yards for a Memphis pick-six. That score pulled Memphis within 2 at 21-23. The Showboats would add to that score, flipping the lead on the first drive of the final period, adding a Lewis Ward field goal to take a slim 24-23 lead. But after a pair of defensive stands, Houston finally got their offense back in gear. This time it was the run game that helped them move the ball against Rex Ryan’s defense. Carlos Hyde had a 16-yarder and a 9-yarder to help move the chains, but it was Edwards-Helaire who put the ball over the goal line once again, building on his role as a short yardage specialist. Up 5, Coach Phillips went for 2, but when McCoy’s pass to TE Gerald Everett came in too low, the Gamblers were stuck with only a 5-point lead at 29-24.   Memphis would get the ball back with just over 7 minutes left to play. They would slowly work the ball down the field, using 15 plays, and getting a bit of help from a well-executed hard count by Lynch, causing a Houston offsides call on 3 rd and 2. Memphis drove the ball slowly into Houston territory, and when Todd Gurley plunged into the endzone from the 2, there was only 1;40 left to play. Memphis too went for the 2-pointer, and they too failed, which gave them a 1-point lead at 30-29. But with 1:40 left, Houston would have a shot.   The Gamblers would move the ball somewhat erratically, but by the time they spiked the ball with 6 seconds left, they were in the outer range of Younghoe Koo’s range, with the ball sitting at the Memphis 36, setting up a 53-yard attempt. Koo came on for what would be the final play of the game, a 53-yard attempt to win the game for the homestanding Gamblers. The snap was good, the hold good, but Koo’s kick sliced left, pushing past the outside of the upright. Memphis got the win they desperately needed, Houston dropped from the unbeatens, and the Southern Division once again provided USFL fans with a great game and a lot of drama.   PITTSBURGH 3   NEW ENGLAND 16 It was a celebratory atmosphere in Foxboro, MA when the Steamrollers took to the field at Gillette Stadium for the first time in franchise history. An estimated 52,500 were on hand and the home team did not disappoint. Despite Andy Dalton returning to action for the Maulers, the Steamroller D dominated the game, limiting Pittsburgh to one late field goal. The offense, led by backup C. J. Beathard, was a bit plodding, but did enough, including setting up Eddie Lacy for a 1 st  quarter TD that was the game winner. First win of the year and New England is now unbeaten all time in Foxboro. POTG:  New England DT Aaron Donald: 6 Tck, 2 TFL   CHICAGO 13  PORTLAND 10 The Machine move to 3-0 thanks again to their defense. After falling behind 10-7 in the 2 nd  quarter, the Machine D held Portland scoreless in the final 30 minutes, allowing only 4 first downs in the entire half. The Portland defense also played a good game but gave up one huge play in the 4 th that gave Chicago the win, a 52-yard toss from Sam Bradford to Chase Claypool that turned a 10-7 deficit into a 13-7 win (missed PAT). POTG:  Chicago LB Manti Te’o: 9 Tck, 2 TFL, 2 Sck   BALTIMORE 16   OHIO 23 A stunner in Columbus as the Glory, 10-point underdogs at home, stunned the Baltimore Blitz, thanks to a momentum-shifting sack, scoop & score from DE Robert Quinn. The 17-yard fumble return shifted a 6-3 Blitz advantage to a 10-6 Ohio lead. Baltimore would tie the game two more times, at 13 and 16, but with 4:37 left to play Ohio got a TD from Isaiah Pead and the D held Baltimore out of scoring range in the final minutes to move Ohio to a 2-1 mark. POTG:  Ohio DE Robert Quinn: 3 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Def TD, 1 FF, 1 FR   ATLANTA 24  JACKSONVILLE 22 “So close and yet so far” seems to be the theme for Trevor Lawrence and the Bulls. They again fall in a tight game where they had some chances. Atlanta got 162 yards from their 2 backs (Chubb with 92 and Drake with 70) and Aaron Murray hit the game-winner, a12 yard toss to A. J. Green, as the Fire improve to 3-0 and Jacksonville drops their third straight to start the year despite a nice 152-yard game from receiver Tee Higgins. POTG:  Fire HB Nick Chubb: 17Att, 92 Yds, 1 TD, 3 Rec, 29 Yds   LAS VEGAS 19   DENVER 41 The Gold move to 3-0 with another dominant offensive performance. Patrick Lindsay rushed for 78 yards and a TD, but it was once again Josh Allen at the center of the action, throwing for 341 yards and 4 TDs, including 2 to Golden Tate as the Ageless One racked up 125 yards on 7 receptions. Las Vegas receiver Aaron Dobson got 10 receptions for 102 yards, but the Vipers just could not put enough points on the board against the Gold. POTG:  Gold QB Josh Allen: 17/24, 341 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   WASHINGTON 37 NEW ORLEANS 31 Rookie Travis Etienne helped drive a strong offensive day for the Feds as they upset the Breakers in New Orleans. Etienne finished with 130 yards on 20 carries. That helped set up the play action pass, which produced all 3 of Ryan Nassib’s touchdown throws, including a nice 37-yarder to TE Kellen Winslow II as the Feds outlast the Breakers in a shootout despite a huge game from Tajh Boyd (443 Yds, 3 TDs). POTG:  Federals WR Keenan Allen: 8 Rec, 101 Yds, 2 TD   DALLAS 27   BIRMINGHAM 34 Despite a solid return to action for Justin Herbert (251 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Int), the Stallions won this one with a combination nof balanced offense (Tate & Harris combine for 101 yards) and Dallas turnovers (both Herbert picks). Tashaun Gipson returned one Herbert throw 67 yards for a pick-six, while the D held Dallas without a converted 3 rd  down all game long (0 for 11). POTG:  Birmingham CB E. J. Biggers: 2 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int   OAKLAND 21  LOS ANGELES 17  The Express defense held Christian McCaffrey in check but got burnt by Tom Brady’s 32 of 44 day, with the veteran QB throwing for 345 yards and all 3 Oakland TDs. Zach Ertz again led all Oakland receivers with 109 yards and a score, but Davante Adams and Taylor Gabriel also got into the act. It was Adams’s TD in the final minute that gave Oakland the road victory and moved them to 2-1 on the year. POTG:  Oakland QB Tom Brady: 32/44, 345 Yds, 3 TD, 2 Int   ORLANDO 20   PHILADELPHIA 23  OVERTIME It took them an extra period, but the Stars moved to a surprising 3-0 mark by knocking off the Renegades in front of nearly 50,000 happy Philadelphians (a rare sight). The hero of the day for Philly was HB Derrick Henry, who had a whopping 35 carries for 148 yards. The defense also came up big, holding Orlando out of field goal range in overtime before Carson Wentz engineered a drive to get the ball in range for Eddie Pineiro’s game winning kick. POTG:  Stars’ HB Derrick Henry: 35 Att, 148 Yds, 1 TD   CHARLOTTE 20   TAMPA BAY 44 No doubt in this one as it was 17-0 Bandits after 1 and 27-3 at the half. B. J. Daniels did his best Dak Prescott impression, throwing for 307 yards and 4 scores as the Bandit Ball offense did not miss a beat. Dez Bryant finished with 111 yards and 2 scores, while both Dalvin Cook and Jordan Cameron also scored for the 3-0 Bandits. POTG:  Tampa Bay WR Dez Bryant: 5 Rec, 111 Yds, 2 TD   MICHIGAN 27  ST. LOUIS 7 The Panthers had an answer for the dual threat of Lamar Jackson, sacking the QB 4 times and limiting him to only 5 yards on 12 rushes thanks to the alternating spy coverage of LB Sean Porter and SS Jabril Peppers. Throw in a turnover-free outing from Kirk Cousins and you get a comfortable win for the 3-0 Michiganders. POTG:  Panther CB Ronald Darby: 4 Tck, 2 PDef, 1 Int   ARIZONA 30  OKLAHOMA 24  OVERTIME Mark Andrews scored twice in the final 10 minutes to pull Oklahoma back from a 24-10 deficit, but it was all for naught when Arizona TE Maxx Williams broke 3 tackles on his way to a jaw-dropping 75-yard TD in overtime. It was a huge play for the winless Wranglers and for QB Brock Osweiler, again in for David Carr. Osweiler had a great game, completing 14 of 30 for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns by the time it was done, spoiling a 3-TD day for Oklahoma’s Andrews. POTG:  Arizona QB Brock Osweiler: 14/30, 316 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int   NEW JERSEY 10   SAN ANTONIO 19 Both expansion teams win at home as the Gunslingers used a 2-TD third quarter to get past the Generals and new QB Teddy Bridgewater. The former Bull QB had a rough opening outing, sacked 3 times and throwing 3 picks, one of them leading to a Flacco to Goodwin TD toss in the 3 rd . Goodwin had both Gunslinger scores while Brandon LaFell led the team with 7 catches for 129 yards. POTG:  Gunslinger QB Joe Flacco: 22/34, 331 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int   SEATTLE 27  SAN DIEGO 17 The Dragons notch their first win of the season thanks to a balanced attack that saw Hundley throw for 232 and 2 scores, Moreno and Smallwood combine for 104 yards rushing, and Amari Cooper cross the century mark with 109 yard and a score. Chris Sims impressed again for San Diego, rushing for 102 on 22 carries, but the Thunder could not take advantage, with 2 turnovers in Seattle territory. POTG:  Seattle LB Khalil Mack: 4 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 FF, 1 FR   Machine D a Thing to Behold Three games in and the Machine have yet to give up more than 10 points in any game. While Sam Bradford and the offense have been a bit plodding (42 points over 3 weeks), they don’t seem to need to do much with a defense that is averaging only 9 points allowed per game. Chicago currently ranks 1 st  in points allowed, as you would expect with that average, but they are also top 5 in both yards allowed and passing yards, allowing a meager 187.7 passing yards each game.   They are doing it with a variable approach, sometimes a 3-4 alignment, others adding Eddie Goldman to the line and taking Tony Fields out for a 4-3 look. It is a flexible approach that seems to be forcing teams to prepare for both formations but never knowing which will be in use on any given play. At the heart of the scheme are the Chicago linebackers, with Kevin Minter leading the team with 21 tackles, while Manti Te’o is only 1 back at 20. It is also a defense that brings blitzers in from everywhere on obvious passing downs. That is why when you look at the Machine’s 13 sacks over 3 weeks, you see they come from 7 different players, with LB Manti Te’o and DE Jason Pierre-Paul currently leading the club with 3 apiece.   Chicago needs to push a bit more on offense, where they rank 27 th  in scoring and 24 th  in total yards, but with their defense working this well, they certainly don’t need to be a 30-point-per-game squad to find success. They will face San Diego this week, then the 0-3 Skyhawks before a huge home game against Michigan in Week 6, just before their early bye in Week 7.   Osweiler Wrangles a Big Win for Arizona There were some snickers around Phoenix when the Wranglers settled on Brock Osweiler as their backup for David Carr. After failing to sign NDSU’s Trey Lance in the draft, there was not a lot of support given to Coach Tomsula and the Wranglers when they brought in Osweiler. After all, the former Express and Glory QB had started only 2 games the prior two years, and he had struggled in the games where he had seen action. But Coach Tomsula saw something he liked in Osweiler, and when Carr went down in the season opener, the big, somewhat immobile QB got a chance to show the rest of us.   In his first full game (Week 2 vs. Denver), Osweiler threw for 322 yards and 4 TDs, but still could not bring a W. This week, it took overtime, but Osweiler got the win, and in the process threw for another 4 scores. That gives him 9 TDs to 2 picks in his 3 games of action this season. And while Arizona may be expecting David Carr’s return in Week 4, they have to be happy that their gambit on a backup seems to have produced a solid option and a player who can win games.   Daniels Works the System in Bandits Win With Dak Prescott still in concussion protocol after a Week 2 blow to the head, the big question for the Bandits was whether their offense, so explosive the past year, would come to a grinding halt with B. J. Daniels at the helm. Well, after putting up 307 yards and 4 TDs it is pretty safe to say that those fears were unwarranted. Daniels had himself a brilliant game, averaging 18.1 yards per completion as he turned 14 of 17 into more than 300 yards passing. While he only connected with 4 different receivers on the day (Bryant, Grant, Cook, and Cameron), he hit each multiple times, with Bryant leading all receivers with 5 for 111 and 2 touchdowns. Cook had a 53-yard touchdown on a simple swing pass, Jordan Cameron a 34-yarder on a seam route, and Dez Bryant was the red zone specialist with 2 TDs within the 20.   Tampa Bay also got help on special teams, where slot receiver Deebo Samuel, who was not targeted all game on offense, still found a way to make an impact, returning a 2 nd  quarter kickoff 105 yards for a score. So, for those who feel that two-time defending MVP Dak Prescott is essential to the operation of Bandit Ball, you now have to recognize that the Bandits will be just fine even if you manage to remove Prescott from the equation.   OBJ Not OK with 0-3 Never one to keep quiet when he is displeased, New Jersey receiver Odell Beckham Jr. let loose after the Generals fell to 0-3 with a lackluster 10-19 outing in San Antonoi. Beckham, who, earlier in the week, seemed excited to have Teddy Bridgewater under center, seemed less than enthused by the team he sees around him. And, we hate to side with a diva wideout, but he may well be right.   New Jersey is currently ranked 29 th  in the league in scoring, averaging only 12 points per game. They also rank 26 th  in passing and 25 th in overall yards per game. Perhaps surprising, the run game is their best offensive component, at least statistically. DeLone Carter returned to the team after spending the past 3 seasons in Ohio and he has been something of a pleasant surprise, rushing for 199 yards in his first 3 games back. Tony Pollard, who has only had 23 carries in 3 games is averaging 4.6 YPC and has over 100 yards. The problem appears to be in the passing game, where Nick Foles struggled to 2 TDs and 5 picks in the first two weeks. Teddy Bridgewater got the start this week and managed only 187 yards with 2 picks of his own.   Beckham did not name names, but it is clear that he is upset with pretty much everyone from Coach Saleh down to his own receiver group. After himself, with 23 catches in 3 games, there is a huge dropoff before you find Muhamed Sanu with 12 and TE Jonnu Smith with 11. All three top receivers are averaging less than 12 yards per catch, meaning that New Jersey is not getting vertical. That may be the result of an offensive line that is struggling to maintain a clean pocket. It is not just the sacks given up (8 in 3 games), but the pressure both Foles and Bridgewater have faced. OBJ may not be the most tactful voice in the Generals’ locker room, but he is not wrong when he claims “This team ain’t goin’ nowhere unless we can put some goddam points on the goddam board!”   Denver loses LB Houston for the Season The big injury news this week comes from the Gold, who will lose LOLB Justin Houston for the year after the 10-year vet suffered a torn hamstring in Denver’s victory over Las Vegas. Houston, was 2 nd  on the team with 15 tackles after week 2, was in pursuit of Vegas HB Kareem Hunt when he suddenly hopped to a stop mid-play. It was a clear sign of a hamstring injury. Houston went to the sideline, was evaluated and then carted back to the locker room. In the post-game presser, Coach John Hufnagel confirmed that it was a hamstring tear. The next day the severity of the tear was confirmed and Houston was placed on IR.   Houston has been a stalwart on the Gold defense since coming over from Atlanta in 2018, averaging 80 tackles per year. He was named an alternate on the ALL-USFL team last year, his second such accolade. He will be replaced temporarily by 4 th year linebacker Harold Landry, but the Gold have not ruled out seeking an option through a trade or free agency. With a pretty thin LB pool in free agency after both the USFL and NFL picked the pool clean during the recent transfer window, trade may be the only option left to the Gold if Landry struggles.   In addition to the Justin Houston injury, the main story this week was the loss of two quality tight ends across the league, with both Washington’s Rob Housler and Oklahoma’s James Casey looking to be out over a month after their injuries. Washington will likely have Kellen Winslow II step into the starting slot, while Oklahoma still has Mark Andrews as the starter, and with the season Andrews is having, they are certainly solid there. Rumors have them in discussions with veteran Andrew Quarless for a possible 1-year deal as a potential 2 nd  option.   OUT LB       Justin Houston         DEN      Torn Hamstring              IR TE           Rob Housler             WSH     Broken Ribs                    6-8 Weeks TE           James Casey           OKL       Torn Biceps                   6-8 Weeks CB          Donte Jackson        OHI       Wrist                              4-6 Weeks LB           Dont’a Hightower   OKL       Broken Jaw                   2-4 Weeks CB          Zach Bowman          CHA      Shoulder                      2-4 Weeks G            Trevor Canfield        PHI        Neck                             1-2 Weeks TE           Jonnu Smith             NJ           Pinched Nerve                 1-2 Weeks HB         Samaje Perine         DAL       Hip                                    1-2 Weeks FS           Nate Allen              ARZ       Toe                                   1-2 Weeks DE          Eddie Goldman       CHI        Covid Protocol               1 Week   QUESTIONABLE G            David Griggs         HOU     Hand                                    FB          Arthur O’Dell         PIT         Foot WR         Doug Baldwin         NE          Hip DE          Porter Gustin           LV           Wrist CB          Germaine Kelly       DAL       Hernia FS           Tre Boston                CHA      Concussion   2021 Hall of Fame Semifinalists Named The names came out this week, the 10 former USFL stars who will be in consideration for only 5 slots in the Hall of Fame Class of 2021. It was a year with a heavy predominance of first-year nominees, with the newly eligible players taking 7 of the 10 slots, but with a retiring group back in 2016 as deep as that group was, it is no surprise that 7 of those players found themselves in the running this year. So, who are the nominees? Here you go, the full list, along with our handicapping of each candidate’s chances to be given the gold jacket and the bronze bust in Canton this October.  QB Matt Hasselbeck (DEN 1998, HOU 1999-2016) One of the favorites to earn a gold jacket in his first year of eligibility, Hasselbeck was a 4-time All-USFL quarterback whose 2010 season not only led to a league title for the Gamblers, but saw Hasselbeck earn both the league MVP title and the playoff MVP for his role in the Gambler title run. Hasselbeck played 19 seasons in the USFL, retiring in 2016 with over 55,000 passing yards, 394 career touchdowns, and a lifetime QB Rating of 93.7. Expect the former Gambler QB to join fellow Houston HOFer Jim Kelly in Canton.   QB Byron Leftwich (SEA 2003-16) The starter in Seattle for nearly 15 years, Byron Leftwich was the 2003 Rookie of the Year, a 6-time All-USFL quarterback, and the 2005 USFL Playoff MVP in that wild year when a 6-8 Dragon club ran the table, winning all 3 playoff games on the road and taking home a league title in true Cinderella fashion. With numbers that are certainly strong (43,862 yards, 306 TD and a 95.8 QBR) but not quite as eye-popping as Hasselbeck’s, we could see Leftwich viewed as the 2 nd  best QB and that could mean that being a 2021 finalist could be a big ask.  HB Deuce McCallister (WSH 2001-16) A no-brainer if ever there was one. The career Federal rushed for over 19,000 yards in his 16-year career, winning 3 rushing titles and the 2011 Offensive Player of the Year along the way. A dual threat back, McCallister had 33 receiving TDs to go with his 105 on the ground. The only thing missing from his portfolio is a league title, but we just don’t think anyone will dock him for that failing. McCallister is one of the greats in USFL history and we expect he will be making a speech in Canton this October.  TE Antonio Gates (BAL 2003-16) A converted basketball player, Gates was a revelation at the tight end position, essentially creating the “box out” play where his sheer size blocked the defender from making plays. Gates won a title with the Blitz, the franchise’s lone championship, in 2014. He was a 3-time All-USFLselection, retiring with nearly 9,000 yards and 750 receptions. While not a slam dunk to get in as a first-year candidate, we would not be surprised if Gates was awarded this year.  C Jeff Faine (MGN 2000-16) It is always tough for offensive linemen to get the recognition they deserve. There just are not enough stats to impress the voters who are not intimately aware of what makes an lineman great. What stats there are, Faine has. Just think about this number: 182 starts and 18 career sacks given up. That means that the Michigan center gave up a sack roughly once every 10 games, less than 2 per year. Now, centers are not the most likely linemen to give up sacks (sorry to all the tackles out there) but even for a center, that is an impressive number. Throw in 703 career pancakes and a league title in 2008 and we think Faine is a Hall of Famer. Is he a first ballot guy? Hard to say. Again, O-linemen tend to get overlooked when there is a big first year group, as we have this year.  DE Reynaldo Wynn (NJ 2008, TEX/OKL 2009-16) A classic speed rusher, Wynn retired in 2016 with 137 career sacks, but the former Outlaw was also a very solid run-defender, with 90 career tackles for loss and a total of 459 career tackles. Wynn also had a penchant for forcing the ball out, with 24 forced fumbles in his short 8-year USFL career. And it is that short career that could be an issue. Wynn was forced to retire early in his 30’s so his numbers are not what we have seen with other edge rushers, but when you look at his production in only 8 seasons, there is an argument to make.  LB Brian Urlacher (CHI 2000-16) Do you want to argue with Urlacher about his qualifications? We thought not. We see the former Chicago MLB as a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer. A former safety at New Mexico, the Machine moved Urlacher to MLB and that move worked out about as well as any we have ever seen in the league. With 10 All-USFL accolades, 3 Defensive Players of the Game, and career numbers that likely make offensive coordinators queasy, Urlacher was the total package at linebacker. Those numbers? How about 1,904 tackles (182 for a loss), 51 forced fumbles, 36 sacks, and 18 picks. Urlacher could do it all, and this October we expect him to be the most intimidating man on the podium in Canton.  WR Steve Smith (PHI 2001-10, OHI 2011-15) 2 nd  Year of Eligibility Back on our list for a 2 nd  year, if you want to know why Steve Smith should get a bust in Canton, just ask him. He will not be shy about it. The wideout for the Stars and Glory has the numbers—5 All-USFL seasons, the 2013 OPOTY, 1,136 receptions, 15,000 yards, and 94 career touchdowns. Smith could go deep, could shake loose early, and was not afraid to go over the middle. He missed out last year, when Hines Ward got the nod, but we think this year could be his year. DT Shaun Rogers (POR/LV 2001-15) 2 nd  Year of Eligibility Another 2 nd  year candidate, Rogers was a 4-time All-USFL player and a stalwart of the Thunder defense for 14 seasons. His numbers overall, however, could be an issue. Defensive tackles tend to have lower totals in key categories (tackles, sacks) than positions like LB or DE, and that has made it tough for many to make the cut. Rogers, with 655 tackles and 35 sacks, has good numbers for a DT, but will that be enough?  LB Antonio Pierce (WSH (06-14) 3 rd  Year of Eligibility Federals fans are still shocked that Pierce has not made the hall yet. This is his 3 rd  of 4 years of eligibility, and we are not sure he can make the cut yet again, especially with Urlacher clearly a first-time nominee. Pierce played only 8 years in Washington, and, as we said for Wynn, that can make it a bit tougher to get recognition. In those 8 years he had 3 All-USFL seasons, winning the 2010 DPOTY honor, and retired with 862 tackles, 110 for a loss (nearly 1 in 8, 32 sacks and 33 forced fumbles, all really strong on a per year basis, but is 8 years enough to get the gold jacket?   Coach Phillips Hints at 2021 Being a Swan Song Season In his 21 st  season with the Gamblers, Wade Phillips has the longest tenure of any coach by no small margin (Arizona’s Jim Tomsula is 8 years behind at 13 seasons), but is the 2021 campaign his last? That is the question being asked after some enigmatic comments by the Houston Gambler coach during this week’s post-game interview. Phillips spoke about the loss to Memphis, about some of his, decisions, but also about feeling he had to make good calls and smart decisions “at this stage of my career.” That perked up some ears in the press room, as did his comments about wanting to be present and engaged all season, a desire he expressed by saying “I want to be here for these guys, but also for myself, because every game, every practice, every moment with this team is a gift and you never know when those moments will pass.” Phillips, who turns 74 this year, has been coaching since 1969. Think about that. Phillips started coaching as a grad assistant at the U. of Houston while his father was still coaching in the NFL and a full 14 years before the USFL even existed. He has been the head coach of the Gamblers since 2001, and with 186 wins to his name, including 2 league titles and 4 Summer Bowl appearances, he will certainly be a Hall of Fame nominee 5 years after he does step away. But, as all Gambler fans want to know, with that moment be coming this July or August?   Week 4 is another divisional monster week, with 10 rivalry games, including every single matchup on Saturday, on tap. It kicks off on Monday, when the Bandits head down to Orlando to face the Renegades. We also have a really intriguing inter-conference game when former division rivals Houston and Arizona face off in the desert. David Carr is expected back for the Wranglers. Can he lead them to .500 with a home win on Friday Night?   Saturday has 6 games, all divisional matchups, including Charlotte @ Atlanta and Ohio @ Pittsburgh at 1pm, a pair of border war rivalries right there. At 4pm it is Denver @ Dallas in a huge SW Division battle, along with San Antonio traveling to Memphis in the South. The night games feature America’s Favorite BBQ Battle as the Stallions head up the road to Memphis to face the Showboats. Portland is also in a huge game against Oakland as the two face off at the site of this year’s Summer Bowl.   Sunday brings us 3 more divisional games, starting with the unbeaten Philadelphia Stars heading down I-95 to face the Washington Federals. At 4pm it is Oklahoma at Las Vegas, with the winner climbing back to .500 at the ¼ mark of the season. We also have a Pacific matchup on Fox national coverage at 4pm as the LA Express, who have dropped 2 straight, head up the coast to Seattle to take on the Dragons, who earned their first win of the year this week. The Sunday night game should also be a big one as 3-0 Michigan heads into Baltimore to face the Blitz, who were upset this week in Ohio. FRI @ 8pm ET          Tampa Bay (3-0) @ Orlando (1-2)                    NBC FRI @ 8pm ET          Houston (2-1) @ Arizona (1-2)                         ESPN/EFN   SAT @ 12pm ET     Charlotte (0-3) @ Atlanta (3-0)                       ABC SAT @ 12pm ET       Ohio (2-1) @ Pittsburgh (1-2)                           FOX SAT @ 4pm ET         Denver (3-0) @ Dallas (2-1)                               ABC SAT @ 4pm ET         San Antonio (1-2) @ New Orleans (2-1)            FOX SAT @ 8pm ET        Birmingham (2-1) @ Memphis (1-2)                  NBC SAT @ 8pm ET         Portland (1-2) @ Oakland (2-1)                         ESPN/EFN   SUN @ 12pm ET      Philadelphia (3-0) @ Washington (1-2)             ABC SUN @ 12pm ET      Jacksonville (0-3) @ New England (1-2)        FOX Regional SUN @ 12pm ET      New Jersey (0-3) @ St. Louis (0-3)                    FOX Regional SUN @ 4pm ET       Oklahoma (1-2) @ Las Vegas (1-2)                   ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET       San Diego (1-2) @ Chicago (3-0)                       ABC Regional SUN @ 4pm ET       Los Angeles (1-2) @ Seattle (1-2)                   FOX SUN @ 8pm ET       Michigan (3-0) @ Baltimore (2-1)                     ESPN/EFN