Week 11 of the fictional 1985 USFL replay league brought thrilling action and key victories across the board. On Saturday, the Michigan Panthers snapped a two-game losing streak with a gritty 19-13 win over the San Antonio Gunslingers, thanks to a late defensive stand. Meanwhile, the Chicago Blitz continued their dominance with a 31-17 victory over the Oklahoma Outlaws, controlling the pace of the game with a balanced offense and strong defensive pressure.
Sunday’s games kicked off with a nail-biter in Pittsburgh, where the Maulers narrowly edged out the Washington Federals 26-20 in overtime. Pittsburgh’s defense came up big, forcing a fumble in extra time to set up the game-winning score. In a stark contrast, the Birmingham Stallions demolished the New Orleans Brass 59-7, marking one of the most lopsided victories of the season. Birmingham’s offense fired on all cylinders, led by a five-touchdown day from quarterback Cliff Stoudt, while their defense kept New Orleans scoreless until a late-game touchdown.
Elsewhere, the Houston Gamblers dominated the New Jersey Generals 28-7 behind Jim Kelly’s precise passing and relentless defense. The Tampa Bay Bandits eked out a 24-21 win over the Denver Gold in a hard-fought battle that came down to a late field goal. The Memphis Showboats’ defense shone in a 20-3 victory over the Jacksonville Bulls, while the Oakland Invaders secured a 27-17 win over the Los Angeles Express. Finally, the Arizona Wranglers recorded their first shutout of the season, crushing the Las Vegas Ace 31-0, while the Philadelphia Stars took down the Boston Breakers 27-17 in a key divisional clash.
USFL Stat Leaders After Week 11 (1985)
Games
Saturday
San Antonio Gunslingers 13, Michigan Panthers 19
Oklahoma Outlaws 17, Chicago Blitz 31
Sunday
Pittsburgh Maulers 26, Washington Federals 20
New Orleans Brass 7, Birmingham Stallions 59
Denver Gold 21, Tampa Bay Bandits 24
Houston Gamblers 28, New Jersey Generals 7
Jacksonville Bulls 3, Memphis Showboats 20
Los Angeles Express 17, Oakland Invaders 27
Arizona Wranglers 31, Las Vegas Ace 0
Philadelphia Stars 27, Boston Breakers 17
Standings
Players of the Week
Offense: Tim Spencer, RB, Chicago Blitz. Spencer ran for 221 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also caught 5 passes for 49 yards, providing the Blitz with all the offense they needed to defeat the Outlaws and keep pace with division leading Houston.
Defense: Will Lewis, DB, Houston Gamblers. Lewis picked off Doug Flutie twice, returning both for touchdowns. Usually known for their offense, the Gamblers rode those two interceptions and just enough from their offense to maintain their league leading record.
Special Teams: Punters in San Antonio/Michigan. In a game dominated by the defenses, the two punters Nick Mike-Mayers and Skip Johnston carried the load. They combined for 18 punts (9 each) for 354 and 371 yards respectively. Those performances helped the defenses keep the scores low and game close.