Stallions Stampede Past Bandits in Playoff Thriller
By Ryan “Data Dynamo” Anderson, USA Today Sports Analyst
In a thrilling showdown that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final whistle, the Birmingham Stallions emerged victorious over the Tampa Bay Bandits in a playoff clash that will go down in USFL history. With both teams leaving it all on the field, it was Birmingham’s resilience and determination that ultimately secured their ticket to the next round.
From the opening kickoff, it was clear that this matchup would be nothing short of electrifying. Tampa Bay came out swinging, capitalizing on early opportunities to take a commanding lead. Led by their dynamic quarterback Reaves and fueled by Anderson’s relentless rushing attack, the Bandits raced to a 20-7 advantage in the first quarter, sending shockwaves through the stadium.
However, Birmingham refused to back down. With veteran signal-caller Stoudt at the helm, the Stallions mounted a ferocious comeback, chipping away at Tampa Bay’s lead with precise passing and gritty determination. Stoudt’s connection with Cribbs and Smith ignited Birmingham’s offense, narrowing the gap to 20-17 by halftime.
The second half saw both teams trading blows in a back-and-forth battle for supremacy. Each drive became a test of wills as the Bandits and Stallions fought tooth and nail for every yard. Reaves continued to showcase his prowess, delivering clutch passes to Harvey and Boone to keep Tampa Bay’s hopes alive.
But Birmingham’s resilience proved to be the difference-maker. With Stoudt leading the charge, the Stallions’ offense clicked into high gear, finding success through the air with precision passing to Jones and relentless ground attacks led by Cribbs and Perry. Norwood’s accurate kicking added crucial points on the board, including a game-winning field goal in the final seconds to seal Birmingham’s victory at 30-27.
Defensively, both teams showcased their tenacity, with hard hits, interceptions, and crucial stops defining the intensity of the contest. The Stallions’ defense, anchored by standouts like Clanton and Woodberry, rose to the occasion, stifling Tampa Bay’s potent offense and forcing critical turnovers that swung the momentum in Birmingham’s favor.
In the end, it was Birmingham’s unwavering resolve and collective effort that propelled them to victory, advancing them one step closer to USFL glory. As the dust settles on this epic playoff clash, both teams can hold their heads high, knowing they left everything on the field in a game that will be remembered for years to come.
The USFL witnessed an action-packed Week 14, featuring intense battles and pivotal moments that left a mark on the league standings. Let’s dive into the highlights of this week’s matchups and see how the teams fared.
Atlantic Division
Philadelphia Stars (12-2) The Stars continued their impressive run, securing a 34-10 victory over the Michigan Panthers. With a dominant performance, Philadelphia showcased both offensive and defensive prowess, maintaining their top spot in the Atlantic Division.
New Jersey Generals (8-6) The Generals extended their winning streak to seven games with a convincing 35-21 triumph over the Chicago Blitz. Quarterback Brian Sipe and the Generals’ offense orchestrated a well-balanced attack, contributing to their climb in the division standings.
Washington Federals (6-9) Washington faced a setback in Week 15, succumbing to the Pittsburgh Maulers with a final score of 38-21. Despite the loss, the Federals remain in contention within the division.
Boston Breakers (5-9) and Pittsburgh Maulers (4-10) In a clash between the Breakers and Maulers, Pittsburgh emerged victorious with a 38-21 win. The Maulers’ triumph adds a twist to the division standings, with Boston facing challenges as they seek to rebound.
Southern Division
Birmingham Stallions (10-4) and Tampa Bay Bandits (10-4) Birmingham and Tampa Bay maintained their strong performances, each securing wins in Week 15. The Stallions triumphed over the Boston Breakers with a narrow 20-17 victory, while the Bandits edged past the Memphis Showboats with a 20-17 score. The Southern Division remains highly competitive with these two teams leading the way.
Memphis Showboats (6-8) and Jacksonville Bulls (4-10) Memphis faced a tough challenge against the Tampa Bay Bandits, resulting in a 20-17 loss. Meanwhile, Jacksonville put up a fight but fell short against the Houston Gamblers, concluding the week with a 38-41 defeat.
Central Division
Chicago Blitz (10-4) and Houston Gamblers (10-4) In a crucial showdown, the Chicago Blitz faced the New Jersey Generals and suffered a 35-21 defeat. This loss creates a tie for the top spot in the Central Division with the Houston Gamblers, who secured a 41-38 victory over the Jacksonville Bulls.
Michigan Panthers (7-7) and San Antonio Gunslingers (5-9) The Michigan Panthers faced a challenging matchup against the Philadelphia Stars, resulting in a 10-34 defeat. On the other hand, San Antonio Gunslingers battled the Denver Gold and secured a close 27-24 win, showcasing their resilience.
Oklahoma Outlaws (1-14): Oklahoma is in trouble and so is their coach. Look for him to maybe be the first fired.
Pacific Division
Los Angeles Express (10-4) and Oakland Invaders (10-4) In a noteworthy clash, the Los Angeles Express faced the Arizona Wranglers and secured a decisive 31-10 victory. Simultaneously, the Oakland Invaders triumphed over the Oklahoma Outlaws with a 35-16 score. The Pacific Division remains fiercely competitive with both Los Angeles and Oakland at the forefront.
Denver Gold (5-9) and Arizona Wranglers (4-10) Denver Gold’s 35-16 victory over the Oklahoma Outlaws contributed to their positive momentum, while the Arizona Wranglers faced a tough defeat against the Los Angeles Express.
As the regular season progresses, teams are jockeying for playoff positions, and every game becomes crucial in determining their fate. Stay tuned for more thrilling USFL action as the competition heats up in the coming weeks.
Offense: Ricky Sanders, WR, Houston Gamblers. Ricky Sanders has been named the Offensive Player of the Week for his exceptional performance in Week 14. The wide receiver’s outstanding skills were on full display as he secured 13 receptions for an impressive 189 yards, averaging 14.5 yards per catch. Sanders proved to be a reliable force in moving the chains, notching nine crucial first downs. His ability to turn receptions into explosive plays, including a 68-yard gain, underscored his playmaking prowess. With three touchdowns to his name, Sanders played a pivotal role in his team’s victory, solidifying his status as a standout performer in the league. Congratulations to Ricky Sanders on this well-deserved recognition!
Defense: Garcia Lane, CB, Philadelphia Stars. Garcia Lane, the talented cornerback from the Philadelphia Stars, has earned the title of Defensive Player of the Week for his stellar Week 14 performance. Lane showcased his playmaking abilities with a remarkable interception, covering an impressive 50 yards and culminating in a touchdown. His defensive impact extended beyond interceptions, contributing significantly with three tackles and a key pass defended. Lane’s ability to read the game, coupled with his knack for turning turnovers into scoring opportunities, makes him a standout player in the league. This recognition is a testament to Lane’s exceptional skills and his crucial role in the Philadelphia Stars’ defensive success. Congratulations to Garcia Lane on a well-deserved honor!
Special Teams: In Week 14, the Birmingham Stallions’ punter, Bob Parsons, emerged as the Special Teams Player of the Week, playing a pivotal role in his team’s narrow 20-17 victory. Parsons showcased his precision and skill, delivering six punts with an impressive average of 42.3 yards per punt. His ability to consistently flip the field and contribute to favorable field position undoubtedly played a crucial part in the Stallions’ success. In a close contest, Parsons’ proficiency in the punting game demonstrated the valuable impact that special teams can have on the outcome of a match. Congratulations to Bob Parsons on a standout performance and his well-deserved recognition as the Special Teams Player of the Week.
Chicago defeated Oakland in the first ever USFL Championship game Sunday night in Denver. They rushed out to a 14-0 first half lead on two touchdown passes by quarterback Greg Landry. Then, they leaned on a defense that showed up in a big way in the playoffs. Only a week after sacking Michigan quarterback Bobby Hebert 11 times, they put the Oakland quarterback down on the ground 11 times.
Oakland managed only two field goals for the entire game. Chicago kept their potent offense off kilter for much of the game. They gained less than 200 net yards of offense and turned the ball over 4 times. MVP Jim Fahnhorst led the defense with 8 tackles and 3 sacks. Many contend that he could contend for a spot on a roster in the NFL and he certainly played that way this year. They look to have him on the roster for next year, but after that all bets might be off. See him while you have the chance, USFL fans!
Chicago and Michigan played another exciting playoff game on Sunday evening. Chicago finally beat their division rival, a team that went 18-0 in the regular season and looked destined to finish the job. Chicago rode their defense in the game, sacking quarterback Bobby Hebert 11 times. Their patented two back offense proved enough with both running backs scoring a touchdown in the game.
For their part, Michigan’s defense and special teams kept them in the game. They sacked Chicago QB Greg Landry 9 times, and intercepted him twice. Robert Penny well returned one for a touchdown. Michigan scored their other touchdown on a blocked punt return. But Landry tossed a touchdown with 4 and a half minutes left in the game to pull ahead. Michigan got 3 more chances to take the lead, but Chicago never let them beyond their own 38 yard line. The win matches the Blitz up with the Invaders in next week’s championship in Denver.
Oakland and Boston got the USFL playoffs off to an exciting start on Saturday evening. Oakland rushed out to a 13-0 lead before Boston pulled within a touchdown. Oakland extended the lead to 10 points before Boston came roaring back to tie it with less than a minute left in the game.
Oakland quarterback, Fred Besana marched the team down the field 6 minutes into the overtime period to throw the game winning touchdown. In spite of 6 sacks, he outplayed his Boston counterpart and proved to be the difference in the game. Oakland now waits the outcome of the Chicago-Michigan game to see who they face next week in the championship in Denver.
No Saturday games this week, but Denver cooled off a hot Stallions team at home, shutting them out 14-0 on Friday evening. The win helped them keep pace with an equally hot Oakland team. Oakland just kept winning this week behind a 5 touchdown performance by their quarterback Fred Besana.
In the other Sunday games, Washington defeated New Jersey and Boston kept their distance from Philadelphia, all but taking the division unless the Stars find their fortunes turning quickly. The two best teams in the league, record wise, dispatched easily with their opponents and proved to be the class of the league once again.
Offense: Quarterback Fred Besana, Oakland Invaders. Besana torched the Express defense, going 28-33 for 438 yards and 5 touchdowns. His red hot play recently vaulted Oakland into first in the West and they look primed to run away with the division and make the playoffs.
Defense: CB Jeff Brown, Washington Federals. Jeff Brown led the Federals defense with 8 tackles and 2 interceptions. His play went a long way to leading Washington over New Jersey and possibly turning their fortunes with 5 weeks left in the season.
Special Teams: Thomas Lott, KR, New Jersey Generals. Lott returned 6 kickoffs for 157 yards. While he scored no touchdowns, his returns helped New Jersey to maintain decent field position the entire game.
You may have heard that due to a technical glitch, all stat leaders from week 3 have been lost. We worked hard at the USFL main offices to ensure that this does not happen again going forward. As a result, we are including the weeks scores and links to box scores on this page. Thank you for your understanding.
Offense: Bobby Hebert, QB, Michigan Panthers. Hebert exploded for 341 yards passing and 4 touchdowns through the air as the Panthers defeated the Invaders 35-14. Michigan kept pace with the red hot Blitz and Hebert showed that Blitz QB Greg Landry isn’t the only one in the division with MVP potential.
Defense: Eric Scoggins, OLB, Los Angeles Express. Scoggins was a one man wrecking crew and a big part of the reason that LA leads the Western division early in the season. He recorded 6 tackles, 3 sacks, and one interception in their victory over Arizona.
Special Teams: Frank Corral, P/K, Chicago Blitz. Corral did everything in the kicking game, literally, for the victorious blitz. He we 5-6 on field goals, 3-3 on extra points, and added 3 punts with an average of 48.7 yards.
While too early to identify trends, Week 2 definitely left fans with some narratives to watch out for through the rest of the season. Chicago, Michigan, Los Angeles, and Oakland all won their first two games and put themselves in a good position early in the season.
New Jersey served notice to those who thought that Philadelphia might run off with the division this year by pulling off a wild win in the City of Brotherly Love. Meanwhile, on the other end, Washington, Denver, Birmingham, and Arizona are all left wondering how long they might have to wait to get their first win.
