USFL Playoffs Round 2 (1985)

Bandits Sail Past Showboats in Soggy Showdown

In a rain-drenched Tampa Stadium, the Tampa Bay Bandits secured a gritty 17-6 victory over the Memphis Showboats in the second round of the 1985 USFL playoffs. Quarterback John Reaves delivered a stellar performance, throwing for 292 yards and two touchdowns while navigating challenging conditions. Tampa Bay’s defense stifled the Showboats’ offense, holding them to just 167 total yards and nine first downs.

The Bandits took control early, with Reaves connecting on a 37-yard strike to Larry Brodsky to cap a nine-play, 90-yard drive late in the first quarter. Reaves continued to dissect the Memphis secondary in the second quarter, finding Eric Truvillion for a 35-yard touchdown that extended the lead to 14-0. Memphis responded just before halftime with a four-yard touchdown run by Harry Sydney, but a missed extra point left them trailing 14-6.

Tampa Bay’s defense took over in the second half, stifling Memphis’ attempts to gain traction. Zenon Andrusyshyn added a 40-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, providing the final points of the game. Memphis threatened with a long drive later in the quarter, but a missed field goal squandered their best chance to close the gap. Despite losing four fumbles, Tampa Bay’s dominance in time of possession and third-down efficiency (10-of-15 conversions) sealed the win. Reaves earned MVP honors for his poised performance under pressure, while Memphis left the field with questions about their offensive execution.