Week 15 Recap: High-Scoring Showdowns and Tight Finishes Define USFL Action
Week 15 of the 1985 USFL season delivered a mix of dominant performances and nail-biting finishes as teams fought for playoff positioning. The Washington Federals made a statement with a 44-27 victory over the Philadelphia Stars on Saturday, fueled by an explosive offense and a defense that stymied Philadelphia’s attempts to mount a comeback. Meanwhile, the Michigan Panthers showcased a balanced attack in their 27-10 win over the Oklahoma Outlaws, solidifying their reputation as one of the league’s most disciplined squads. The Chicago Blitz capped Saturday’s action with a commanding 37-10 rout of the Las Vegas Ace, leveraging a relentless defensive effort that kept Las Vegas off the scoreboard for most of the game.
Sunday featured an array of intriguing contests, including the Pittsburgh Maulers’ thrilling 28-21 win over the New Jersey Generals. The Maulers executed a clutch drive in the final minutes to secure the victory and keep their postseason hopes alive. In Tampa Bay, the Bandits rolled past the Jacksonville Bulls 38-7, with their dynamic offense firing on all cylinders. Houston’s Jim Kelly added another standout performance to his MVP campaign, guiding the Gamblers to a 30-13 triumph over the San Antonio Gunslingers. Elsewhere, the New Orleans Brass edged the Memphis Showboats 34-26 in a back-and-forth affair that highlighted the Brass’s explosive playmaking ability.
The day also saw some heart-stopping finishes in the West. The Denver Gold dismantled the Los Angeles Express 38-21 behind a powerful rushing attack and a suffocating defense. The Arizona Wranglers narrowly escaped with a 16-15 victory over the Oakland Invaders, holding their opponents scoreless in the fourth quarter to seal the win. Finally, the Birmingham Stallions continued their dominance, defeating the Boston Breakers 35-21 in a game where they leaned on their ground game and opportunistic defense. As the season winds down, Week 15 further intensified the race for playoff positioning, setting up a dramatic finish to the 1985 campaign.
USFL Stat Leaders After Week 16 (1985)
Games
Saturday
Washington Federals 44, Philadelphia Stars 27
Michigan Panthers 27, Oklahoma Outlaws 10
Chicago Blitz 37, Las Vegas Ace 10
Sunday
Pittsburgh Maulers 28, New Jersey Generals 21
Jacksonville Bulls 7, Tampa Bay Bandits 38
San Antonio Gunslingers 13, Houston Gamblers 30
Memphis Showboats 26, New Orleans Brass 34
Los Angeles Express 21, Denver Gold 38
Oakland Invaders 15, Arizona Wranglers 16
Boston Breakers 21, Birmingham Stallions 35
Standings
Players of the Week
Offense: Reggie Collier, QB, Washington Federals. Collier lit up the Stars defense for 5 passing touchdowns en route to a 44-27 victory for the Federals. The win puts them half a game ahead of New Jersey for the division lead.
Defense: John Lee, DL, Chicago Blitz. The Blitz defense terrorized Las Vegas all day on Sunday. Among the players, John Lee intercepted a pass, sacked the QB, made 3 tackles, and forced a fumble.
Special Teams: Stan Talley, P, Oakland Invaders. Talley helped keep the game close with his kicking game. He punted 6 times for 297 yards, a 49.5 average and a long punt of 53 yards.