This week’s USFL action was packed with dramatic games and high-scoring affairs. The weekend kicked off with the New Jersey Generals securing a 24-18 victory over the Philadelphia Stars, thanks to a strong defensive effort. Meanwhile, Memphis dominated the Birmingham Stallions with a 28-14 win, showcasing a balanced offense. San Antonio outgunned Los Angeles in a thrilling 41-31 contest, where both teams traded big plays, but the Gunslingers pulled away late.
Sunday’s matchups brought more intensity, with the Boston Breakers edging out the Washington Federals 13-10 in a defensive battle, while the Tampa Bay Bandits crushed the New Orleans Brass 42-14, maintaining their dominance. In a high-scoring shootout, Jacksonville topped Pittsburgh 45-35, fueled by an explosive offensive display. Houston’s Jim Kelly led the Gamblers to a 56-35 victory over Oklahoma, throwing for five touchdowns as part of a stellar performance.
Elsewhere, the Chicago Blitz secured a 21-14 win over Michigan, and Arizona snatched a one-point victory over Denver, 24-23, in a nail-biting finish. Oakland’s offense was unstoppable in a 61-13 rout of Las Vegas, with Fred Besana’s five touchdown passes leading the charge. This week highlighted dynamic offenses and critical wins as teams fight to gain ground in the standings.
USFL Stat Leaders After Week 6 (1985)
Games
Saturday
Philadelphia Stars 18, New Jersey Generals 24
Birmingham Stallions 14, Memphis Showboats 28
San Antonio Gunslingers 41, Los Angeles Express 31
Sunday
Boston Breakers 13, Washington Federals 10
New Orleans Brass 14, Tampa Bay 42
Pittsburgh Maulers 35, Jacksonville Bulls 45
Oklahoma Outlaws35, Houston Gamblers 56
Chicago Blitz 21, Michigan Panthers 14
Arizona Wranglers 24, Denver Gold 23
Las Vegas Ace 13, Oakland Invaders 61
Standings
Players of the Week
Offense: 3 QBs shared (Brian Sipe from Pittsburgh, Jim Kelly from Houston, and Fred Besana from Oakland). In an extraordinary display of quarterback excellence, Brian Sipe of Pittsburgh, Jim Kelly of Houston, and Fred Besana of Oakland each threw for five touchdowns, earning them a shared Offensive Player of the Week honor for Week 6 in the 1985 USFL replay league. This rare triple-recognition highlights the remarkable talent in the league, with each quarterback not only putting up numbers but leading their teams with poise and confidence. Their shared achievement speaks to a week filled with electrifying offense and impressive quarterbacking.
Defense: Derek Batiste, Jacksonville Bulls. Batiste earned Defensive Player of the Week honors with a stellar performance, recording 7 tackles, 2 pass deflections, and a crucial interception returned for a 29-yard touchdown. His defensive prowess was instrumental in his team’s success, making a huge impact on both ends of the field. This standout performance solidifies his role as a key playmaker.
Special Teams: Ralph Giacomarro, the punter for Las Vegas, earned Special Teams Player of the Week honors thanks to his outstanding punting performance. He punted 8 times for 348 yards, averaging an impressive 43.5 yards per punt. He pinned 3 punts inside the 20-yard line and boomed a long of 49 yards, giving his team crucial field position throughout the game. Despite missing a field goal and only getting two chances to kick an extra point, his consistent punting was pivotal, making him the clear choice for the week’s top special teams player.