Week 13 of the 1985 USFL season delivered drama, standout performances, and crucial victories as the playoff picture continued to take shape. Saturday’s slate set the tone with decisive wins across the board. The Jacksonville Bulls dominated the Memphis Showboats in a 27-7 affair, capitalizing on a stifling defense. Meanwhile, the Chicago Blitz cruised past the Oklahoma Outlaws, 36-13, thanks to their explosive offense and a standout day from quarterback Vince Evans. The Birmingham Stallions secured a critical road win over the New Orleans Brass, pulling away late for a 27-13 victory behind their relentless rushing attack.
Sunday’s action was nothing short of spectacular, starting with a nail-biter in Philadelphia where the Boston Breakers edged the Stars 32-28 in a game highlighted by multiple lead changes and a late-game heroics from quarterback Johnny Walton. The Michigan Panthers dismantled the San Antonio Gunslingers 32-14, reasserting their dominance behind the stellar play of Anthony Carter. The Tampa Bay Bandits pulled off a stunning upset, defeating the red-hot Houston Gamblers 27-24, with their defense stepping up to stifle Jim Kelly’s high-powered passing attack. The Arizona Wranglers eked out a 9-6 victory over the Las Vegas Ace in a defensive slugfest, while the New Jersey Generals’ Doug Flutie orchestrated a thrilling 31-28 comeback win against the Denver Gold.
The week closed with fireworks as the Oakland Invaders obliterated the Los Angeles Express 57-28, showcasing one of the season’s most dominant offensive displays. Lastly, the Washington Federals outlasted the Pittsburgh Maulers 30-27 in an overtime thriller, a testament to the league’s parity and unpredictability. With Week 14 on the horizon, teams are gearing up for the final stretch of the season, where every play could define postseason destinies.
USFL Stat Leaders After Week 13 (1985)
Games
Saturday
Memphis Showboats 7, Jacksonville Bulls 27
Chicago Blitz 36, Oklahoma Outlaws 13
Birmingham Stallions 27, New Orleans Brass 13
Sunday
Boston Breakers 32, Philadelphia Stars 28
Michigan Panthers 32, San Antonio Gunslingers 14
Tampa Bay Bandits 27, Houston Gamblers 24
Las Vegas Ace 6, Arizona Wranglers 9
New Jersey Generals 31, Denver Gold 28
Oakland Invaders 57, Los Angeles Express 28
Washington Federals 30, Pittsburgh Maulers 27
Standings
Players of the Week
Offense: Craig Sundberg, QB, Oakland Invaders. Sundberg came up big for the Invaders in their rivalry game against Los Angeles. He threw for 385 yards on 27-37 passing with 4 touchdowns. He also added a touchdown on the ground to help rout the cross state Express.
Defense: John Nevens, LB, Denvef Gold. Nevens played well in spite of the Gold loss to the Generals. He made 15 tackles, forced a fumble, and intercepted Generals QB Doug Flutie once.
Special Teams: Greg Cater and Case DeBruijn, P, Las Vegas Ace and Arizona Wranglers. In a game with only 15 points, both punters put on a show in Arizona on Sunday afternoon. DeBruijn punted 11 times for 490 yards (a 44.5 average). Not to be outdone, Cater punted 13 times for 641 yards (49.3 average) and an astounding 83 yard long.