Looks like the USFL is going to go the distance and do what the XFL or the AAF in the last few years could not do, and conclude regular season play. The USFL playoff picture is cemented in before the final week of action kicks off.

Yes, Jim Mora’s former team, the Stars, are in. The Stallions are no longer perfect. You will be spitting teeth after you read this edition of the USFL power rankings. For the final week of the 2022 USFL Power Rankings we are going from bottom to top. Save the best for last.

THE BAD HALF OF THE LEAGUE

#8.

PITTSBURGH MAULERS (1-8) The hit on Maulers wide receiver Isiah Hennie last week versus the Stars, explains Pittsburgh’s entire season.

The Maulers have been the red-headed step child this year, everyone’s doormat. Isiah Hennie spitting out his tooth after the collision. Maulers could have won their second game of the season last week versus the Stars. The Stars’ Ahmed Dixon came waltzing in through the turnstile Maulers offensive line and pretty much took the hand-off himself, forcing a fumble as Philadelphia gets the ball back late in the game. Maulers could have closed this game out with a win. Stars then score a touchdown to steal the game away. All the trick plays the Maulers used to muster up those 16 points, now the team playbook looks light versus the Panthers in the last game of the season. It’s a game they could coin the toilet bowl of the USFL.

#7.

MICHIGAN PANTHERS (1-8) Jeff Fisher makes more noise in the NFL than the USFL this week. Fisher chimed in on the Washington Commander soap opera between Head Coach Ron Rivera and his Defensive Coach Jack Del Rio. From the peanut gallery Fisher told his former teammate Ron Rivera to shut up.

Jack Del Rio made some comments about the Capital uprising with the trials going on. Rivera rubbed his Defensive Coordinator’s nose in it like a dog pooping on the rug. Fisher was basically saying leave politics out of the game. Fisher’s Panthers played well and almost derailed the hottest team in the USFL, the Generals, blowing a lead late in this contest. Generals knocked out Panthers Quarterback Josh Love late in the game as Michigan suddenly became stone walled.

In the loss, it wasted a great performance out of Wide Receiver Joe Walker who had 7 catches for 129 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers.

#6.

TAMPA BAY BANDITS (4-5) Bandits playoff hopes were crushed in a loss to the Breakers last week. If the Bandits would have won, they would be alive & still kicking in week ten action with hopes to sneak through the back door of the USFL post-season. Bandits only muster up 6 points versus the Breakers. Which was more than their first meeting, when these two teams met it was three points in a rout by the Breakers. Jordan Ta’amu was the top quarterback in the XFL in 2020. Many thought the Bandits would be one of the top teams in the league. Playoffs hopes on the line and Ta’amu can’t even even pass for 100 yards. Bandits won all their games against the worst teams in the league.

If I was a Bandits fan, I would not want Todd Haley in my city during Spring Break or any time of the year in 2023 when teams will play in their own cities. Haley and Maulers Head Coach Kirby Wilson should be fired at the end of year one of the USFL. The Bandits offense was dreadful. Haley’s coaching decisions are the same word… DREADFUL!!!

#5.

HOUSTON GAMBLERS (2-7) The old saying, “A day late and a dollar short,” explains the Houston Gamblers season. Gamblers upset the undefeated Stallions last Sunday. I’m not shocked. The Gamblers have a ton of talent on their roster and can probably beat anybody in this league on any given Sunday. The Gamblers problem is they could not close out games. They had blown the lead in multiple games during the regular season. Beating the Stallions came down to the Gamblers’ bend but don’t break defense. Gamblers were out-gained by the Stallions in this one with 329 yards to 129 yards. Gamblers only had 29 yards on the ground. Gamblers won this game despite having their second string quarterback under center. The Gamblers defense made the plays to stall long Stallion drives where they got nothing in return.

Return man Jo Jo Ward had a 58 yard kick off return that set up a field goal as Gamblers Special teams played a big part in giving the Stallions their first blemish of the season.

THE GOOD HALF

#4.

PHILADELPHIA STARS (6-3) The Philadelphia Stars for the last few weeks looked like a scary team to deal with in the post-season as their offense was rising high. Stars had nothing to play for in week 9 as they had their spot in playoffs cemented. I think fans would have liked to see a little more as starting quarterback Case Cookus did not look good against a bad Mauler team. Cookus did not play in the second half as the team will rest him for the post-season. Stars defense, which is a concern going into post-season, played well and Ahmed Dixon made the defensive play that turned the game around for the Stars.

Dixon forced the fumble as Maulers were looking to close out the game. The Stars offense took over and scored the winning touchdown. Stars defense is not best unit in the league, but find a way to make an important play in every game to help turn things around. Maulers scored all of their points from special teams last Sunday night versus the Stars.

#3.

NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (6-3) The Breakers’ win over the Bandits clinched the final playoff spot for the upcoming USFL post-season. Kyle Sloter looked horrible early on in last week’s contest by causing two turnovers for the Breakers. Sloter was benched. Breakers found a burst of energy from their back up quarterback, Zack Smith.

Smith orchestrated a key drive using his legs most of the time and then slings a perfect pass to the Breakers Tight End, Sal Cannella, for a touchdown. Sloter did return in the second half. Breakers defense as usual came up big. The Breakers to me have all the components to be the best team in the league. Kyle Sloter has to play a clean game. Sloter leads the league with turnovers. When Sloter plays well with that great Breaker defense, they will be hard to beat.

#2

BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (8-1) Stallions season will not be perfect after all as they suffered their first loss of the season by the Houston Gamblers. Last few weeks, the Stallions to me have been bored and trying some different things they usually don’t do. I thought the Stallions originally were going to finish the regular season perfect with the way they were going with the home crowd always behind them. I thought when the USFL moved their playoff games to Canton, Ohio leaving Alabama for the first time, the Stallions were going to falter not having their fans. Maybe this loss by the Gamblers is what the Stallions need at this time. Get the eye of the tiger back.

Stallions need a little pep in their step before post-season.

#1.

NEW JERSEY GENERALS (8-1) Meanwhile……

Head Coach Mike Riley’s team, the Generals, are the hottest team in the league winning 8 straight only losing a close one on opening night to the Stallions in the first game. Riley was in the stands watching the other games after his team took care of the Panthers last week in the first game of week 9. Riley was scouting the other teams and sharpening up his play book like Freddie Krueger with his claws.

Who will be Mike Riley’s starting quarterback in post-season?

This is interesting because Riley used both Luis Perez and De’Andre Johnson in a platoon situation earlier this season. Then Johnson took over as the starting quarterback for several weeks until he got injured. That left the starting duties lately going to Perez. Johnson is back & healthy. Does Riley go with the two-headed monster? Platooning quarterbacks in the post-season can be a challenge. It will be interesting to see who QB number one will be.