The Houston football program has been NASA-like lighting up the skies. The Gamblers, once the worst football team in Houston, now may be the best. What’s the competition? The Texans of the NFL and the Roughnecks of the XFL. The Gamblers are soaring at the top of the power rankings. Showboats end the Breakers’ undefeated season. We have 5 teams with 2-3 records halfway through season two of the USFL. We sort it all out with week six power rankings.

WEEK SIX USFL POWER RANKINGS

#1. HOUSTON GAMBLERS (3-2) MOVED UP THREE SPOTS FROM LAST WEEK

We have a new king of the hill for the USFL power rankings.

The Houston Gamblers have won three games in a row as last weekend they upended the Stallions, last year’s champions. The Gamblers offense is on the verge of being the best in the league. The Gamblers defense which started out of the gates slow has picked up their game. As a team the Gamblers has won three games in a row and has been in every game including the two losses opening up the season. The Gamblers running back, Mark Thompson, continues to run through opposing defenses like a subway turnstile.

Gamblers wide receiver Justin Hall leads the league in receiving touchdowns. Kengi Bahar has upped his game level as one of the best quarterbacks in the USFL. Who is Anthony Ratliffe-Williams? Willimas had a 50 yard touchdown catch in between three Stallions defenders last weekend. That’s another Gambler weapon on that high powered offense Houston has.

#2. NEW ORLEANS BREAKERS (4-1) DROPPED ONE SPOT FROM LAST WEEK

It will be interesting to see what happens to the Breakers after their first loss of the season. The Showboats drew blood on the Breakers & then pounced on them to end New Orleans 4 game winning streak. The Breakers offense comes back to earth as the Showboats forced three turnovers. In his first loss ever in the USFL, McLeaod-Bethel Thompson had two interceptions and a fumble. The Breakers running back, Wes Hills, had big games that came to an end only able to run for 30 yards on the ground. The Breakers have played two tight games the last two weeks in low scoring games as well. Has the league figured out what the Breakers are doing?

The Breakers hope this punch in week 5 does not tail spin their season like Rocky’s first good punch to Ivan Drago. The Breakers defense is playing better as the season goes along which is a good thing as you expect the New Orleans offense will get their act together at some point with the talented players they have on that side of the ball.

#3. BIRMINGHAM STALLIONS (3-2) DROPPED ONE SPOT FROM LAST WEEK

The injuries are catching up to last year’s champions as they lost another game. This time from the Houston Gamblers. The Stallions have lost 2 of their last three games. After 5 games, Birmingham has doubled the losses from last year’s championship year when they only suffered one loss in ten games of regular season. The Stallions have lost players each week of the season, but still the roster has plenty of depth to keep them in the game as it was a close one versus Houston. The Stallions don’t have the horse power like they did last year. The team is running on fumes and hope they can get their walking wounded to heal fast and back in action.

The Stallions are hopeful that CJ Marable can start heating up as he had a touchdown reception versus the Gamblers last week. Marable was a key play maker of the Stallion stampede from last season.

#4. PITTSBURGH MAULERS (2-3) MOVED UP TWO SPOTS FROM LAST WEEK

The Maulers have the best defense in the USFL as they gave up the opening touchdown drive to the Panthers & then gut punched this Michigan team the rest of the way. The Panthers would not score any more points the rest of the way. Another star on that Mauler defense, Christopher Okoye, had 4 tackles that resulted in loss of yards for the Panthers offense. Suddenly the Mauler offense has been finding the end zone. Instead of settling for field goals, the team has been converting down in the red zone.

Maulers quarterback Troy Williams fed Mason Stokke a shovel pass down in the red zone for a score. Williams is emerging as one of the best quarterbacks in the USFL as he went 15-19 for 184 yards & two touchdown passes. Williams also had 59 yards with his legs and another Mauler touchdown. Wide Receiver Isiah Hennie becoming a play maker at the wide receiver position catching six balls for 62 yards. Williams’ security blanket, Bailey Gaither, led all Mauler receivers with 89 yards.

#5. MEMPHIS SHOWBOATS (2-3) MOVED UP TWO SPOTS FROM LAST WEEK

The Showboats fishing trip went well last weekend as they caught themselves the biggest fish in the waters, a New Orleans style Breaker. Memphis gives the Breakers their first loss of the season and now the Showboats have suddenly won two games in a row.

Memphis head coach had to pull out his crusty old horseshoe out of his rear after the team started off 0-3 for the season. That crusty old horse shoe is Cole Kelley who has taken the starting job behind center and has won two starts in a row for the Showboats. The Showboats needed great defense to take down a high-powered Breaker offense. The Showboats have thrived on pressuring the quarterback and forcing turnovers, which they did against New Orleans last weekend. You have to give credit to defensive coordinator former Pittsburgh Steeler, Carnell Lake, turning his unit around after the first three weeks looked like a lost cause.

#6. NEW JERSEY GENERALS (2-3) DROPPED 3 SPOTS FROM LAST WEEK

The Generals defense held the Stars last week to 166 yards and still lost to the Stars. The Generals star running back, Darius Victor, fumbled the ball three times to give the Stars opportunities to rack up points. It was Victor’s worst game of his professional career. Last season, Victor was the league’s offensive player of the year. The Generals don’t have the quarterback this year to go along with De’Andre Johnson. Last year the Generals racked up many victories with Johnson and Luis Perez who recently helped the Arlington Renegades in the XFL win the championship. The Generals last week used former NFL cast away and USFL journey man, Kyle Lauletta, who did well but is not the long term answer as the Generals offense is very predictable.

#7. PHILADELPHIA STARS (2-3) MOVED UP ONE SPOT FROM LAST WEEK

The Stars used the leg of their kicker to snap a three game losing streak and upset the Generals. Luis Aguilar sets a new record in a single game in the USFL with 8 field goals in one game. Aguilar went 8-8 including drilling three 50 yard field goals. The winner was a 55 yarder.

Aguilar’s impressive day would tie former Tennessee Titan kicker Rob Bironas for most kicks in one game in professional football. Aguilar hit on 22, 42, 56, (longest of the day), 36, 27, 51, 49, and then the 55 yarder. The Stars last year were the best offensive team in the league. This year the Stars have had problems with their offensive line. The worst defense in the league came up with some key turnovers to help the Stars stay afloat for the season.

#8.MICHIGAN PANTHERS (2-3) DROPPED THREE SPOTS FROM LAST WEEK

The Panthers have hit the biggest slide in the board game of Chutes and Ladders. Once upon a time ago, the Panthers were a promising 2-0 winning two games on the road. Then home cooking caused this team to collapse as they suddenly lost three games in a row and the offense is MIA. Last week the Panthers drew first blood versus the Maulers. After that touchdown, the Panthers’ dueling quarterbacks, Josh Love & Carson Strong, could not get anything going as the Panthers averaged 2.6 yards per play as Eric Marty’s Panther offense throughout the game only gained 152 yards. That is not going to get the job done.

Head coach of the Panthers, Mike Nolan, in his first season in the USFL now can feel what Jeff Fisher did last year when he only mustard up two victories. Panthers have a good defense. Panthers have a good running game. Panthers are still in the thick of things half way through regular season.