1983 Week 14 Roundup: We're Talking Playoffs

This is the time of the season where the Playoff Picture page sees its Google Analytics zoom up the charts.

The Week 14 results leave the chase for the six American Conference spots all but over. The National Conference race, however, is definitely going down to the wire.

American Conference

Matthew Eno, Chicago Blitz

The Chicago Blitz served notice to the rest of the American Conference that they could be a force to be reckoned with during the postseason when they knocked off the Denver Gold, 38-30.

Denver took a 30-29 lead with 2:04 to play on Dustin Nichols' 62-yard TD pass to Jose Buford, but Chicago QB Chester Dougherty fired a 62-yard scoring strike to Michael Steffes on fourth-and-10 to put the Blitz on top, 35-30, with 1:42 to go. The Gold turned the ball over on downs on its final two drives and Matthew Eno's 44-yard field goal clinched the win for Chicago.

The Blitz didn't entirely seal a playoff spot. Chicago is two games ahead of Memphis, but finishes with games against Jacksonville (11-3) and Cleveland (9-5).

The Showboats (8-6) are one game behind Cleveland and two games behind the other three clubs. BUT, Memphis finishes with games against New Jersey (13-1) and Los Angeles (10-4). Memphis has defeated Chicago this season, but lost to Cleveland and Detroit.

National Conference

What we have here is four Atlantic Division teams fighting for two playoff spots. The Baltimore Stars (8-6) and Washington Federals (8-6) currently hold a slight edge over the Pittsburgh Maulers (7-7) and Charlotte Hornets (7-7). Here is the remaining schedule for those teams:

• Baltimore: at Washington, vs. Charlotte
• Washington: vs. Baltimore, at Denver
• Pittsburgh: Boston, at Portland
• Charlotte: Philadelphia, at Baltimore

MFN says Philadelphia is eliminated. But, as usual, MFN is wrong. The Bell (6-7-1) could really mess things up with victories against Charlotte and Boston to close the season. If that happens, this could be the third consecutive season the Bell has earned a wild card spot.

Week 14

• The Los Angeles Express clinched the Pacific Division crown with a 20-10 win over the Honolulu Hawaiians. Express MLB Troy Irwin recorded 13 tackles and recovered a fumble and has 99 tackles and 7 INT this season.
• The Washington Federals claimed a wild 20-17 win over New Orleans when VooDoo QB Bruno Wilson was picked off for the fourth time, setting up John Bazile's game-ending 37-yard field goal.
• The Florida Blazers edged the Tampa Bay Bandits, 26-21, behind Eddie Tyler;s 40-yard INT return for a TD. If the Blazers (6-8) can beat Detroit or Michigan, they will end up with more wins than in any season in team history since 1974, the league's first year.
• Robert Kimball had 10 tackles and an interception during the Michigan Panthers; 7-0 shutout of the Orlando Renegades.
• New Oklahoma Outlaws coach CoachNorm earned his first USFL/WFL win, a 21-11 decision over the San Jose SaberCats, behind three TD passes from Shane Falco. San Jose has lost 10 in a row after starting the season 4-0.
• The Detroit Wheels flexed their muscles during a 27-3 thumping of Southeast Division leader Jacksonville. Fumble recoveries by the Wheels set the stage for two short TD drives.
• New Jersey QB Stephan Labelle threw five TD passes during a 48-20 rout of the Pittsburgh Maulers. Labelle has 31 TD passes this season, second only to Denver's Dustin Nichols (33).

Coach's Profile

bedgerly, Oakland Invaders

bedgerly's Invaders trucker hat

Playing MFN Since: 02/16/16
Hometown (town, state): Saint Louis, Missouri
Current residence (town, state): Baytown, Texas
Day job: Truck dispatcher
Favorite teams (all sports): Miami Dolphins, Saint Louis Cardinals, Saint Louis Blues
A real-life sports experience: I played high school football and soccer and ran track. I wish I could go back and play baseball in high school as well
A fantasy sports experience: I've been playing fantasy football and baseball since 2003, and have been breaking even in daily fantasy tournaments since 2014. Cody Parkey will never be forgiven for shanking a field goal and costing me a spot in the Fanduel Championship.
Coach's Corner: (tip for a new MFN coach): Go to the help forums and read pretty much anything written up by Setherick on gameplanning and rule creation. Gameplanning is key, but DO NOT trade draft picks in Rounds 1-3 for current players. Team building begins with picking your own players, and far too many teams have been destroyed by mortgaging the future for a chance to use veterans now. Watch the games of successful players and their teams to see what kind of plays they run.

1983 Week 13 Roundup: World Bowl Rematch Even Better Than Expected

It is rare when a game lives up to its pregame hype, but this one proved to be the exception.

Houston RB Mark Lambert dropped an attempted 2-point conversion pass from backup QB Tony Dean with 51 seconds to play, preserving the New Jersey Generals' 32-30 win over the Gamblers in a rematch of World Bowl IX.

Stephan Lebelle, New Jersey

The Gamblers won that World Bowl, 37-20, but trailed, 22-7, entering the fourth quarter of this one. Veteran QB William Trombly fired three TD passes in the final 7 minutes, including a 69-yarder to Chase Miles that preceded the fateful final play.

New Jersey RBs Rudi Johnson and Magic Johnson combined for 143 yards rushing and Stephan Labelle threw a pair of TD passes. Nobody on the Generals defense had more than four tackles.

Trombly, in his 15th pro season, was 17-for-23 and threw four TD passes. Miles and Bruce Edwards both caught two TDs. Gamblers MLB Roderick Carver recorded eight tackles.

The Gamblers (11-2) and Generals (12-1) have both clinched their division titles. New Jersey won its fourth in a row and snapped Houston's nine-game win streak.

In other Week 13 games:

• The Boston Breakers are winless no more. David Schmitt's 80-yard TD pass to William Ramsey early in the third quarter provided Boston with all the points it would need during a 7-3 victory over the New York Stars. The game ended with New York on the Boston 19. Boston ended a 17-game winless streak extending back into last season. Breakers FS Richard Kelly and MLB Joseph Totten both had 11 tackles.
• Birmingham RB Mark Peterson had 58 yards rushing and 11 receptions for 96 yards during a 33-3 dismantling of the Philadelphia Bell. Peterson caught a 75-yard TD pass from Gene Nowlin on the first play from scrimmage.
• Chicago RB Max Howard ran for 135 yards and a TD as the Blitz held off the Florida Blazers, 30-20. Chicago's Joey Walker returned the opening kickoff 102 yards for a score and CB Rodolfo Madden returned an interception 5 yards for another TD. Florida SS Billy Sykes had 11 tackles and an interception.
• The Southern California Sun tied a franchise record with their fifth victory of the season, a 29-13 defeat of the Shreveport Steamer. Martin Greene fired a pair of TD passes to James Wise.
• Los Angeles won its fifth in a row and grabbed a two-game lead in the Pacific Division by shutting down the San Jose SaberCats, 13-3. Roger Ruzich kicked a pair of fourth-quarter field goals for the Express and MLB Troy Irwin recorded 10 tackles.

Week 14 Preview

Division leaders meet with the Chicago Blitz (9-4) host the Denver Gold (12-1), the New Jersey Generals (12-1) host the Pittsburgh Maulers (7-6), and the Detroit Wheels (9-4) host the Jacksonville Bulls (11-2). The Los Angeles Express (9-4) will try to put away the Pacific Division title against the Honolulu Hawaiians (7-6).

Record Book

• New Jersey Generals kicker Lucio Grant needs to boot eight more field goals in his team's final three games to tie the all-time record of 49 in one season, set by Boston's Timothy Riley in 1974. Grant is 41-for-47 this season, including 7-for-10 from 50 yards and beyond.
• Honolulu Hawaiians MLB Douglas Oneal needs two interceptions to tie the single-season record of 13, set by Pittsburgh CB Bradley Martinez in 1978. Oneal is the first LB in league history to intercept more than 10 passes in a season. New Jersey CB Bob Marley still has a shot at the record. He has nine pickoffs this season.

1983 Week 11 Roundup: Rising in the South Again

The Birmingham Stallions suffered their only loss of the season, 24-3, to the New Orleans VooDoo in Week 3. When they faced the VooDoo again in Week 11, they apparently had made some changes.

Lee Rice, WR, Birmingham

Birmingham rallied from a 21-10 deficit to edge New Orleans, 23-21. The Stallions won their eighth in a row to claim a two-game lead over the VooDoo in the South Division.

A 14-play drive culminated in Robert Moulton's 29-yard field goal that gave Birmingham the lead with 5 minutes to play. New Orleans' final two possessions ended in disaster, as Brian Johnson missed a 39-yard field goal attempt and veteran CB Carlos Turner intercepted Bruno Wilson's pass with 42 seconds to go, Turner's second pickoff of the game.

Birmingham WR/RB Lee Rice ran for 166 yards on 12 carries (13.83 per carry) and caught six passes for 68 yards. James Sheckler caught five passes for 198 yards and two TDs for New Orleans.

In other Week 11 games:

• The Houston Gamblers (10-1) haven't missed a beat under new head coach OffensiveTaco, winning eight in a row since a Week 3 loss to the Hawaiians. The most recent win was 24-15 over Cleveland, snapping the Thunderbolts' five-game win streak. Gamblers QB William Trombly continues to put up nice numbers during his 15th pro season, passing for 265 yards and a pair of TDs (127.83 QBR) and CB Philip King made 11 tackles.
• The Thunderbolts are still in a three-way tie for first place in the Midwest Division, thanks to the Oakland Invaders' 16-10 surprise ambush of the Detroit Wheels. The Wheels drove to the Oakland 23 in the final 2 minutes, but three of Detroit's final four pass attempts were dropped by the intended receiver. Les Lacy's 12-yard TD pass to Stephen Demmer in the first quarter accounted for Oakland's only TD. Detroit SLB Danny Simon had 11 tackles and an interception.
• The old Pittsburgh Maulers were back, for at least a day, during their 39-6 pounding of the Washington Federals. Ryan Tate fired three TD passes to Charles Holt, who had six catches for 193 yards. Washington, Pittsburgh, and Charlotte are now tied for first place in the Atlantic Division—one game ahead of Baltimore.
• The Charlotte Hornets' first two games against the Portland Storm were both lopsided losses—32-0 in 1975 and 45-10 in 1979. This time around, the Hornets surprised the Storm, 27-23, behind three TD passes from Stanley Snyder. Charlotte (6-5) is one win away from equaling the franchise record for victories in a season.
• New Jersey Generals QB Stephan Labelle threw for 421 yards and five TDs during a 51-7 rout of the San Antonio Gunslingers.

Week 12 Preview

Division leaders meet when the Los Angeles Express (7-4) travel to Birmingham to face the Stallions (10-1). The Denver Gold (10-1) will try to knock the Pittsburgh Maulers (6-5) out of their share of first place in the Atlantic Division. The Cleveland Thunderbolts (7-4) at Jacksonville Bulls (9-2) looks to be entertaining. The Michigan Panthers (5-6) host the Memphis Showboats (5-6), with both teams badly needing a win to stay in the playoff chase.

Coach's Profile

CrimsonWolfZ, Chicago Blitz
Playing MFN Since: June 6, 2016

CrimsonWolfZ, Chicago Blitz

Hometown (town, state): Romeoville, Illinois
Current residence (town, state): Macomb, Illinois
Day job: Law enforcement student
Favorite teams (all sports): Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls. Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks, Illinois Fighting Illini, and Western Illinois Leathernecks
A real-life sports experience: Played recreational basketball from 5th grade to 8th grade. Won the championship for my first and only time in my 8th grade season as well as being selected to the all-star team that year.
A fantasy sports experience: Went undefeated in my fantasy football league in 2013 thanks to Matt Forte and LeSean McCoy.
Coach's Corner: (tip for a new MFN coach): Always manually resign players. It's the best way to keep your salary cap down. Give players you wish to keep for multiple seasons high bonuses and lower the base salary to match the lowest bonus offer the player will take.

1983 Week 10 Roundup: Generally Better

It's easy to take the New Jersey Generals for granted.

The Generals don't generally roll up eye-popping stats because their starters spend the entire fourth quarter on the bench, watching lopsided victories. They win their division every year, spending most of the season trying to stifle a yawn along the way. New Jersey is 20-1 in its last 21 division games.

They have played in the World Bowl the last two seasons—a loss to the Houston Gamblers in World Bowl IX was preceded by a victory in World Bowl VIII. Head coach raidergreg69's career record is 113-41 (.734).

So, we know what to expect from the Generals every year. And, every year they deliver.

Roy Sullivan, RDE, New Jersey

New Jersey delivered again in Week 10, a 27-10 victory over the Baltimore Stars. New Jersey (9-1) is tied for the best record in the league with Houston, the Denver Gold, and the Birmingham Stallions.

RBs Magic Johnson and Rudi Johnson combined for 110 yards rushing and three TDs vs. Baltimore. Because they split time with Robert Kistler, Johnson and Johnson don't have great individual stats. Neither are in the top 10 in the league in rushing. But, combined, it looks pretty good—130 yards rushing per game.

WRs Justin Timberlake and Chad Ochocinco have combined for 70 catches, but neither is in the top 15 in receptions or reception yardage. Stephen Labelle looks about as good as a QB can look in version 0.4.5—89.98 QBR, 19 TDs, 13 INT. He threw for 215 yards against the Stars.

WLB Indiana Jones had seven tackles against Baltimore and leads the team with 42. MLB Dustin Diamond is not far behind (39). DT James Lockette has six sacks, RDE Roy Sullivan 10 hurries. Lockette, who is tied for second in sacks, is the only General in the league's top 10 in those categories.

If you look at the team stats, however, the situation comes into focus. New Jersey is in the league's top 10 in passing yardage, passing yardage allowed, rushing yardage (first), rushing yardage allowed (first), yards from scrimmage (second) and yards from scrimmage allowed (fourth) and turnover margin.

The Generals will have a couple opportunities to stay awake during the final weeks of the regular season with a home game against Houston and an away game against the New Orleans VooDoo.

In other Week 10 games:

• Oakland RDE Christopher Taylor had 3 tackles, 3 sacks, 5 hurries, and an interception as the Invaders rallied for a 22-14 win over San Jose, the SaberCats' sixth consecutive loss after a 4-0 start. Both QBs, Oakland's Les Lacy and San Jose's Gregory Skidmore, were intercepted five times.
• Charlotte WLB Thomas Allums recorded nine tackles and intercepted two passes. during a 27-10 win over the New York Stars. New York QB Eric Roberge had six passes picked off.
• Pittsburgh QB Ryan Tate threw TD passes of 38, 72, 60, and 80 yards to WR Ryan Holt during a 35-16 triumph over their in-state rivals, the Philadelphia Bell. Holt finished with six receptions for 270 yards.
• The Denver Gold extended their West Division lead to three games by beating the Portland Storm, 29-13. Gold QB Dustin Nichols completed TD passes of 63 and 59 yards to Corey True and WLB Blaine Hernandez recorded seven tackles for Denver.

Week 11 Preview

The New Orleans VooDoo (8-2) will try to pull into a first-place tie atop the South Division with a victory against the Birmingham Stallions (9-1). The Cleveland Thunderbolts (7-3), who have quietly pulled into a first-place tie with Detroit in the Midwest Division, travel to Houston to face the Gamblers (9-1). The Pittsburgh Maulers (5-5) host the Washington Federals (6-4) in a key Atlantic Division game.

Coach's Profile

OffensiveTaco, Houston Gamblers

Playing MFN Since: January 20, 2018
Hometown (town, state): Hamilton, Ontario
Current residence (town, state): Same
Day job: Truck driver
Favorite teams (all sports): Chicago Cubs, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, Alabama Crimson Tide.
Coach's Corner: (tip for a new MFN coach): Learn by reading the forums. Know your team’s strengths/weaknesses. Study your opponents in depth.

1983 All-First Half Team

Max Howard, RB, Chicago Blitz

Just for fun, here is the commissioner's All-First Half Team for the 1983 season (totals are actually for nine games because I got really busy over the weekend). This is not a scientific statistical study; it is just for fun and conversation.

Offense

QB Dustin Nichols, Denver Gold: Highest QB rating in the league (102.07) and leads league in passing yardage (2,407)
RB Max Howard, Chicago Blitz: Leads the league with more than 1,300 combined yards (778 rushing, 435 receiving).
RB/WR James Connelly, Houston Gamblers: 616 yards rushing (No. 3 USFL) and 523 receiving)
WR James Sheckler, New Orleans VooDoo: 900 yards receiving leads the league, 8 TDs is second in the league.
WR Jose Buford, Denver Gold: His 9 TDs lead all receivers.
TE Mario Burton, Birmingham Stallions: Last year's All-Pro TE leads all TE with 581 receiving yards and his 51 receptions is second to New York's Carmen Nelson (55).
OL Andre Adkins, Pittsburgh Maulers: 842 snaps, 0 sacks allowed
OL Richard Mosley, San Jose SaberCats: 767 snaps, 0 sacks allowed
OL Randy Squires, Portland Storm: 756 snaps, 1 sack allowed
OL Wesley Griffin, Washington Federals: 741 snaps, 0 sacks allowed
OL Antonio Shook, Oklahoma Outlaws: 737 snaps, 0 sacks allowed

Defense

DT Chad Brown, Detroit Wheels: Among the league DL leaders in tackles (25), sacks (6) and hurries (9).
DT Joseph Gerald, Birmingham Stallions: 19 tackles, 6 sacks, 4 hurries
DE Morris Burbach, Florida Blazer: Leads all DL with 33 tackles.
DE John Broussard, Washington Federals: 25 hurries leads the league
MLB Douglas Oneal Honolulu Hawaiians: Leads the league with 83 tackles and is second with six INT
MLB Troy Irwin, Los Angeles Express: 63 tackles and 6 INT
SLB Jim Grisby, Tampa Bay Bandits: Tied for third in the league with 71 tackles.
WLB Abel Jackson, New York Stars: Leads all WLB with 68 tackles
CB Charles Bowles, Boston Breakers: Second in the league with 78 tackles
CB Larry Ackman, New Orleans VooDoo: Leads league with 7 INT
SS Philip Shurtz, Oakland Invaders: Tied for third in the league with 71 tackles

Offensive First Half MVP: Dustin Nichols, QB, Denver
Defensive First Half MVP: Douglas Oneal, MLB, Honolulu
Offensive Rookie of the First Half: Oliver Thomas, RB, Oakland Invaders (534 rushing, 232 receiving, 426 returns, 3 TDs)
Defensive Rookie of the First Half: Robert Swafford, WLB, Philadelphia Bell (61 tackles, 1 INT)
Coach of the First Half: Wolveraider, Birmingham Stallions. Check out the year-by-year for the last four seasons: 3-13 to 6-10 to 9-7 to 8-1. This guy could become the first coach ever to be named Coach of the Year with two different USFL/WFL teams). Honorable mention: AlexanDragon, Denver  Gold; OffensiveTaco, Houston Gamblers; raidergreg69, New Jersey Generals.

1983 Week 7 Roundup: Gotta Love Parity

To The Commissioner, there's nothing that looks quite as good as parity. The perfect league is one where there are no sure things every week, no unbeatable teams, and no weak sisters.

Take a look at the Week 7 standings. Some divisions are pretty close to perfect.

• Midwest Division: The Detroit Wheels at 5-2 and the Michigan Panthers, Chicago Blitz, and Cleveland Thunderbolts at 4-3.
• Atlantic Division: A four-way tie at 3-4 between the Charlotte Hornets, Washington Federals, Baltimore Stars, and Pittsburgh Maulers.
• Pacific Division: Two teams at 4-3 (Los Angeles Express, San Jose SaberCats) and two teams at 3-4 (Honolulu Hawaiians, Southern California Sun).

Fred Murphy, QB, Cleveland

The Thunderbolts struck the biggest blow for parity in Week 7, knocking off Detroit, 37-26. Detroit had beaten Cleveland, 24-6, in Week .

Cleveland QB Fred Murphy threw TD passes of 57 and 46 yards to WR Jose Beamon in the fourth quarter as the 'Bolts rallied from a 26-23 deficit. Murphy also found Beamon for a TD from 53 yards away in the third quarter. So, Beamon ended the day with four catches for 166 yards (41 per catch) and three TDs. Nice.

In other Week 7 games:

• The Oklahoma Outlaws pulled off the upset of the week, getting their first victory of the season by surprising the Memphis Showboats, 24-19. Oklahoma won despite being outgained 352 yards to 167. Juan Bonnett intercepted a pass and returned it to the Memphis 10, setting up the clinching TD for the Outlaws.
• New Jersey and Denver are 7-0, but the Birmingham Stallions are right behind them at 6-1 after a 29-10 victory over the Florida Blazers. LDE Joseph Gerald had two sacks and CB Kelly Acosta recorded his fifth interception of the season (and 15th over the last two seasons). Only Jacksonville CB Gordon Wong has more pickoffs this season (6).
• In a potential playoff preview, the New Orleans VooDoo edged the Jacksonville Bulls, 10-7. The VooDoo got the ball back with 6:23 to play and ran off a 13-play drive that left Jacksonville only 1:42 to try to force a tie. Four incomplete passes later, it was all over. CB Juan Jacobson had two interceptions for New Orleans.

Week 8 Preview

Division leaders meet when the Detroit Wheels (5-2) host the Houston Gamblers (6-1). The Pittsburgh Maulers (3-4) and Washington Federals (3-4) will stage a tie-breaker for the top of the Atlantic Division. Second place in the East Division is on the line when the New York Stars (3-4) travel to Philadelphia to face the Bell (3-3-1).

Record Book

• Former Oklahoma Outlaws WR Dusty Heckman, now with Portland, and Arizona Wranglers WR Cory Robinzine continue to sit at No. 1 and No. 2 atop the league's all-time leader list in TD receptions. Heckman has 96, Robinzine 95. Neither has caught a TD this season.
• Bruce Kester of the New York Stars has punted the ball more times (1,084) than any punter in league history. Kester spent his first two seasons with the Houston Gamblers. He is in his 10th season, but not contemplating retirement any time soon.
• Denver Gold DT Nathan Branch, who spent his first eight seasons with Memphis, remains the league's all-time leader in sacks (131). New Jersey's James Lockette is second at 128 and is first in hurries (396).
• Florida Blazers CB Shelby Kemp has three career interception returns for TDs, most among any USFL/WFL player past or present.

1983 Week 6 Roundup: Are the Bandits Back?

At least for a day, the Bandits were back.

Edward Conner WR, Tampa Bay (82)

Tampa Bay QB William Watts threw for 326 yards and three TDs and WR Edward Conner caught four passes for 139 yards and TDs of 20, 19, and 87 yards as Tampa Bay knocked off previously unbeaten Jacksonville, 24-17.

The Bulls' loss left the Denver Gold (6-0) and New Jersey Generals (6-0) as the only remaining unbeaten teams in the USFL/WFL.

Tampa Bay was one of the league's perennial powers for half of its 10-season existence, making the postseason for five consecutive seasons and playing in World Bowls IV and V. Jacksonville, seeking its third consecutive Southeast Division championship, had beaten the Bandits, 36-13, at home two weeks earlier.

In other Week 6 games:

• San Antonio Gunslingers CB Jim Morrison made 11 tackles and intercepted two passes during a 23-16 win over the New York Stars.
• Hawaiians CB Eugene Holland and MLB Douglas Oneal combined for three interceptions during Honolulu's 14-13 win over the New Orleans VooDoo. New Orleans kicker Brian Johnson missed on a 50-yard field goal attempt with 3:40 to play.
• Undefeated Denver trailed the Arizona Wranglers, 20-17, in the third quarter before rallying for a 38-23 victory. Gold QB Dustin Nichols threw four TD passes and has 15 TDs vs. 4 INT this season.
• The Southern California Sun have put together the first three-game win streak in franchise history after stopping the Los Angeles Express, 16-6. SoCal was 1-17 all-time against their neighborhood rivals entering the 1983 season. MLB Edward Standley had 7 tackles, a sack, and a fumble recovery for the Sun.

Week 7 Preview

New Orleans VooDoo (4-2) at Jacksonville Bulls (5-1) could be a playoff preview. So could Birmingham Stallions (5-1) at Florida Blazers (4-2) and Michigan Panthers (4-2) at Houston Gamblers (5-1). The Charlotte Hornets (3-3) take their Atlantic Division-leading club to Washington to face the Federals (2-4).