Title: USFL 1984 Mid-Season Recap: Teams Battle for Dominance

As the USFL 1984 season reaches its two-thirds mark, the competition is fierce, with teams vying for playoff berths and striving to make their mark in the league. With six expansion teams added to the mix and memories of Chicago’s triumph over Oakland in the previous championship, the league’s landscape is dynamic and filled with exciting matchups. Let’s delve into the standings and key developments across the divisions.

Atlantic Division:

1. Philadelphia Stars (10-2-0, .833): The Philadelphia Stars lead the Atlantic Division, boasting an impressive record of 10 wins and 2 losses. With a potent offense averaging 30.5 points per game and a solid defense allowing only 16.9 points against per game, the Stars are well-positioned for a playoff run.
2. New Jersey Generals (6-6-0, .500): Despite a slow start, the New Jersey Generals have surged with a five-game winning streak, bringing them to a .500 record. The Generals’ offense, averaging 25.9 points per game, and their defense, allowing 18.7 points against per game, will be key factors in their playoff push.
3. Boston Breakers (5-7-0, .417): The Boston Breakers face challenges in a competitive division, holding a record of 5 wins and 7 losses. Despite a negative point differential, the Breakers will look to regroup and make a push for a playoff spot.
4. Washington Federals (5-7-0, .417): The Washington Federals share the same record as the Boston Breakers but are on a four-game losing streak. The team will need to address defensive vulnerabilities to stay in contention for the playoffs.
5. Pittsburgh (3-9-0, .250): Pittsburgh faces an uphill battle with a record of 3 wins and 9 losses. Despite a challenging start, the team will aim to finish the season on a positive note and build for the future.

Southern Division:

1. Birmingham Stallions (9-3-0, .750): The Birmingham Stallions lead the Southern Division with an impressive record of 9 wins and 3 losses. Boasting a powerful offense and a defense allowing 21.4 points against per game, the Stallions are setting the pace in their pursuit of a playoff berth.
2. Tampa Bay Bandits (9-3-0, .750): The Tampa Bay Bandits are right on the Stallions’ heels, sharing the same record and boasting a high-scoring offense. The battle for division supremacy is shaping up to be intense, with both teams eyeing playoff success.
3. Memphis Showboats (4-8-0, .333): The Memphis Showboats, with a record of 4 wins and 8 losses, have shown promise with a recent winning streak. As they aim to climb the standings, offensive consistency will be crucial.
4. Jacksonville Bulls (4-8-0, .333): Jacksonville faces a challenging season with a record of 5 wins and 9 losses. The team will need to regroup and find ways to secure victories in the remaining games.

Central Division:

1. Chicago Blitz (9-3-0, .750): The defending champions, Chicago Blitz, lead the Central Division with a record of 9 wins and 3 losses. With a potent offense and a strong defense, the Blitz are poised to make another playoff run and defend their title.
2. Houston Gamblers (8-4-0, .667): The Houston Gamblers are in a solid position with a record of 8 wins and 4 losses. With a dynamic offense and a positive point differential, the Gamblers are contenders in a competitive division.
3. Michigan Panthers (7-5-0, .583): The Michigan Panthers face a mid-season challenge with a record of 7 wins and 5 losses. Despite a recent losing streak, the Panthers have shown resilience and will aim to bounce back.
4. San Antonio Gunslingers (5-7-0, .417): The San Antonio Gunslingers face difficulties with a record of 5 wins and 7 losses. Defensive improvements will be crucial as the team strives to make an impact in the latter part of the season.
5. Oklahoma (1-12-0, .077): Oklahoma faces a tough inaugural season with a record of 1 win and 12 losses. The team will focus on development and gaining experience as they build for the future.

Pacific Division:

1. Los Angeles Express (9-3-0, .750): The Los Angeles Express lead the Pacific Division with a record of 9 wins and 3 losses. Despite a recent loss, the Express have shown consistency on both sides of the ball and are contenders for the division title.
2. Oakland Invaders (8-4-0, .667): Oakland, seeking redemption after last year’s championship loss, is in a strong position with a record of 8 wins and 4 losses. The team’s balanced performance makes them a formidable force in the division.
3. Denver Gold (3-9-0, .250): The Denver Gold face challenges with a record of 3 wins and 9 losses. The team will focus on finishing the season on a positive note and addressing areas for improvement.
4. Arizona Wranglers (3-9-0, .250): The Arizona Wranglers share the same record as the Denver Gold and face similar challenges. As the season progresses, both teams will aim to make improvements and set the foundation for future success.

As the USFL 1984 season unfolds, the battle for playoff berths intensifies, promising fans exciting matchups and thrilling moments on the road to the championship. The top two teams from each division will secure playoff spots, setting the stage for a highly competitive postseason. Stay tuned for more action and drama as teams vie for USFL glory!

We already went through the records and expectations of the teams after Week 6. While some things are settling in and others have changed and are worth keeping an eye on, for the most part things remain the same from 3 weeks ago. We will update the teams again after week 15 when it hits two-thirds of the way through the season. What did we say? We love math and fractions around here.

Instead, we will spend our time in this article focusing on individual awards. Offensive, defensive, and special teams MVPs plus some of the notable rookie performances so far this year. Celebrate another half year of great USFL football with us. Here’s to many more!

Notable Special Teams Players

Derrick Crawford of the Memphis Showboats leads the league in kick return yardage with an average of 27.1. Clarence Verdin of the surprise Houston Gamblers joins him at the top with the same yardage. On the kicker side of the ball, Jeff Gossett of the Arizona Wranglers is one of the bright spots on the team with a 43.6 (39.1 net) average per punt. Last, but not least, Zenon Andrushyshyn helped Tampa surge into first place by leading the league in scoring and trailing only one other player with an 81.8 percent field goal rate.

Notable Defensive Players

While nobody is running away with the sack title like last year, there are still some players worth mentioning on the defense. Birmingham’s Chuck Clanton leads the league with 8 interceptions after only half a season. Jermaine Copeland of the Oakland Invaders comes in first with 76 tackles. Both lead by only one, so plenty of time for the others to catch them. Even though the Memphis Showboats struggled so far this year, their rookie defensive lineman Reggie White stands out with 16 hurries and 3 sacks, leading both categories.

Notable Offensive Players

Chuck Fusina from Philadelphia and Greg Landry from Chicago are both in the top five in passer rating, leading their respective teams to first place and a possible meeting in the playoffs. Familiar faces Joe Cribbs from Baltimore and Herschel Walker of the New Jersey Generals are 1 and 2 in the rushing race. Cribbs already has over 1000 yards. Walker lags a bit behind, but he showed last year that he comes on strong in the second half of the season. Young Houston Gamblers receivers Richard Johnson and Ricky Sanders join fellow rookie quarterback Jim Kelly at the top of their leader boards.