With week 8 in the books, some things are starting to take shape in the league. Boston is, by far, the best team in the league at this point and looks to continue winning in an effort to shore up that number one seed in the playoffs. Not to be outdone, Birmingham and Michigan both sit with only one loss on the season. Close behind them are New Jersey, Jacksonville, Houston, Los Angeles, and Denver with 2 losses.

All of those teams have shown strengths and reasons to be considered dangerous 8 weeks into the season. The next tier of the league is a bit of a step down from these elite teams. But, there are some decent names in there if they start to get hot. Philadelphia, Chicago, and Tampa Bay can all make noise and sneak back into the playoff picture.

1986 USFL Week 8 Stats Leaders

Week 8 Games

Friday

Boston Breakers 62, Las Vegas Ace 38

Saturday

Birmingham Stallions 26, Pittsburgh Maulers 9

Oakland Invaders 12, Philadelphia Stars 24

Sunday

Arizona Wranglers 13, New Jersey Generals 23

Chicago Blitz 28, Washington Federals 19

Memphis Showboats 26, Michigan Panthers 45

Tampa Bay Bandits 23, San Antonio Gunslingers 7

New Orleans Brass 34, Los Angeles Express 52

Monday

Houston Gamblers 10, Jacksonville Bulls 27

Standings

Players of the Week

Offense: Matt Dunigan, QB, Boston Breakers. Dunigan put on another show Friday evening in Vegas. He threw for 30/40 passing for 541 yards and 6 touchdowns. Boston just may join Michigan as an undefeated regular season team if someone doesn’t stop them soon.

Defense: David Greenwood, S, Michigan Panthers. Greenwood was a huge reason for Michigan’s big win over Memphis. He recorded 14 tackles and returned an interception 42 yards for a Michigan’s first touchdown.

Special Teams: Jerry Parrish, KR, New Orleans. While both Parrish and Bentley returned kicks for touchdowns this week, Parrish gets the edge. His return went 96 vs. Bentley’s 85. He also gained 240 yards in returns for an overall 34.3 average on the game.

Week 7 started with some close games. Oklahoma edged San Antonio on Friday. Then Birmingham and Oakland both won their games by 10 on Saturday. Sunday brought the usual mix of blowouts and close games.

By far, the most entertaining game of the year came on Sunday evening in Las Vegas. The Gold and the Ace combined for 118 points, over 1400 yards, 17 touchdowns, no field goals, and only 6 punts. The game came on the heels of last week’s wild loss for Vegas.

Then, on Monday, Michigan defeated Chicago behind another strong performance by their young quarterback, Jim Harbaugh. The Michigan native takes his role as savior of the team seriously and is sure to bring the Panthers to the USFL championship sooner or later.

1987 Week 7 Stat Leaders

Week 7 Games

Friday

Oklahoma Outlaws 34, San Antonio Gunslingers 31

Saturday

Tampa Bay Bandits 10, Birmingham Stallions 20

New Jersey Generals 31, Oakland Invaders 41

Sunday

Pittsburgh Maulers 28, Boston Breakers 59

Washington Federals 16, Philadelphia Stars 19

New Orleans Brass 27, Jacksonville Bulls 36

Memphis Showboats 23, Houston Gamblers 41

Los Angeles Express 27, Arizona Wranglers 17

Denver Gold 56, Las Vegas Ace 62

Monday

Chicago Blitz 21, Michigan Panthers 44

Standings

Players of the Week

Offense: Randall Cunningham, QB, Las Vegas Ace. Cunningham continued his “Superman” routine. This time, he threw for 390 yards and 3 touchdowns. He added another 121 on the ground for 3 touchdowns as well. The performance led Vegas to a win in a crazy game over the Denver Gold.

Defense: Vito McKeever, DB, Oakland Invaders. McKeever intercepted a pass and recorded a sack to help the Oakland Invaders defeat the dangerous New Jersey Generals to stay tied for first in the Pacific Division.

Special Teams: Mel Gray, KR, Oklahoma Outlaws. Reduced in his role as a running back due to the team trading for Fowler, Gray shined this week as a kick returner. He returned 5 kicks for an incredible 189 yards, including a 91 yard touchdown.

Friday night, Tampa and Vegas got a wild week 6 started with a shootout in Florida. That was one of 5 one score games this weekend, including a thrilling overtime win for the Gold at home in Denver and New Jersey beating fellow contender Los Angeles on Monday night.

The other games for the week went as expected with teams cruising to easy wins over clearly outmatched opponents. Week 7 promises to bring more exciting USFL action with several games between closely matched teams. Stay with us always for all your USFL action!

1986 Week 6 Stat Leaders

Transactions: Houston traded RB Jeremy Fowler to Oklahoma for a 1st and a 5th round pick in the 1987 draft.

Week 6 Games

Friday

Las Vegas Ace 41, Tampa Bay Bandits 45

Saturday

Chicago Blitz 21, Philadelphia Stars 17

Jacksonville Bulls 45, Oklahoma Outlaws 24

Sunday

Pittsburgh Maulers 10, Memphis Showboats 42

Michigan Panthers 33, New Orleans Brass 26

Washington Federals 24, Houston Gamblers 34

Birmingham Stallions 34, Denver Gold 37

Boston Breakers 45, Arizona Wranglers 24

San Antonio Gunslingers 25, Oakland Invaders 42

Monday

Los Angeles Express 28, New Jersey Generals 31

Standings

Players of the Week

Offense: Bill Happel, WR, New Orleans Brass. A tough week to pick a winner in this category. Many players had great weeks. But, Happel caught 13 passes for a staggering 232 yards and 2 touchdowns to help the Brass keep pace with a red hot Michigan team.

Defense: Nate Creer, DB, Arizona Wranglers. In a tough game against a tough Boston team, Creer did all he could in the Arizona sun. He recorded 13 tackles, and one interception returned 34 yards for a touchdown.

Special Teams: Bruce Hill, KR, Oakland Invaders. In his teams Sunday afternoon win over the Gunslingers, Hill returned 2 kicks, one of them 88 yards for a touchdown after a San Antonio field goal to pull within 11.

Week 5 brought close games (4 decided by one score) and blowouts (4 decided by 2 touchdowns or more). Las Vegas kicked off the week with their first win of the year against Arizona Wranglers. Randall Cunningham continued to carry the Ace on his back. New Jersey and Washington both won games on Saturday to keep their playoff chances alive. Yes, we’re already talking playoffs.

Meanwhile on Sunday, the early games brough two close games decided by only 2 points each. New Orleans pulled to 2-2 in a shocker and the Birmingham Stallions stayed unbeaten and in first place in the South division. The other games featured some drama but all ultimately ended in lopsided scores .

Then, on Monday, Los Angeles outlasted Chicago on the strength of two Eric Dickerson touchdowns. All in all, the leagues is starting to take shape and we look forward to another 15 weeks of exciting football this year. Be sure to come with us for the ride.

1986 Week 5 Stat Leaders

1986 Week 5 Transactions – Oklahoma Outlaws signed two offensive linemen; Mark Cochran and Wilbur Strozier

Week 5 Games

Friday

Arizona Wranglers 17, Las Vegas Ace 41

Saturday

Pittsburgh Maulers 21, New Jersey Generals 38

Tampa Bay Bandits 24, Washington Federals 27

Sunday

Philadelphia Stars 35, Boston Breakers 62

Birmingham Stallions 33, Jacksonville Bulls 31

New Orleans Brass 30, Memphis Showboats 28

Michigan Panthers 51, San Antonio Gunslingers 37

Oklahoma Outlaws 14, Houston Gamblers 39

Denver Gold 55, Oakland Invaders 27

Monday

Chicago Blitz 21, Los Angeles Express 28

Week 5 Standings

Players of the Week

Offense: Randall Cunningham, QB, Las Vegas Ace. Cunningham willed the Ace to their first victory of the season over the Arizona Wranglers. Cunningham completed 21 of 30 passes for 263 yards and 3 touchdowns. He also ran for 134 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Defense: Charles Armstead, San Antonio Gunslingers. In spite of the final score, Armstead kept the Gunslingers in the game until Michigan pulled away late in the 4th quarter. He recorded a game high 7 tackles, 1 pass defended, 1 stuff, and 2 interceptions (1 for a touchdown).

Special Teams: George Taylor, KR, Washington Federals. Taylor got the Federals on the board with an 89 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. For the game, he recorded 5 returns for 177 yards and that touchdown that sparked Washington to a win over the Bandits.

Week 4 started with two upsets, Arizona knocking off Oakland and Philadelphia beating previously unbeaten New Jersey. Saturday night’s other game was another blowout loss for the Maulers. They’ve made some big moves in free agency to help shore up the defense. Keep an eye on them over the next couple of weeks.

Sunday offered easy wins for Jacksonville, Birmingham, and Chicago. The other games were all one score with Boston outlasting Washington to remain one of two unbeaten teams with Birmingham. Houston got back on the winning side with a shootout vs. rookie QB Jim Harbaugh and the Panthers. Finally, New Orleans pulled to 2-2 with a wild win over the Oklahoma Outlaws.

The final game of the week on Monday night featured a divisional battle between Vegas and the Express. Randall Cunningham put the Ace on his back and held the ball on the Express 13 with a chance to win with about a minute on the clock. But, LA held strong and forced a turnover on downs to move to 3-1 and tied with Denver for the division lead.

1986 Week 4 Stat Leaders

1986 Week 4 Transactions

Week 4 Games

Friday

Arizona Wranglers 31, Oakland Invaders 21

Saturday

Philadelphia Stars 37, New Jersey Generals 27

Denver Gold 38, Pittsburgh Maulers 14

Sunday

Boston Breakers 42, Washington Federals 39

Jacksonville Bulls 27, Tampa Bay Bandits 17

Michigan Panthers 48, Houston Gamblers 52

Birmingham Stallions 31, Memphis Showboats 7

San Antonio Gunslinger 14, Chicago Blitz 28

Oklahoma Outlaws 41, New Orleans Brass 43

Monday

Las Vegas Ace 24, Los Angeles Express 30

Standings

Players of the Week

Offense: Matt Dunigan, QB, Boston Breakers. Dunigan continued his impressive romp through the league on 16/19 passing with 266 yards and 4 TDs. He also ran 8 times for 28 yards and a touchdwon.

Defense: Howard Carson, LB, Los Angeles Express. Carson lifted the Express on his shoulders recording 11 tackles, a fored fumble and an interception return for a touchdown to help the Express top the Ace.

Special Teams: David Trout, K, Philadelphia Stars. Trout was perfect on the day with 3 field goals and 4 extra points to contribute 13 of Philadelphia’s 37 points against the previously unbeaten New Jersey Generals.

Week 3 USFL Recap: Offensive Explosions and Statement Wins Highlight Wild Weekend

The USFL’s third week delivered fireworks across the league, headlined by the Houston Gamblers’ 50-48 Monday night thriller over the Los Angeles Express in a game that set offensive records. Quarterback Jim Kelly efficiently managed Houston’s explosive run game (306 yards, 4 TDs), while LA’s Frank Seurer threw for a staggering 541 yards and 6 touchdowns in a losing effort. Other high-scoring affairs included Oakland’s 52-21 demolition of New Orleans behind John Williams’ 206 rushing yards, and New Jersey’s 39-13 rout of Chicago where Herschel Walker dominated with 188 rushing yards and 3 TDs. The weekend proved particularly brutal for winless teams, as Memphis (0-3), Chicago (0-3), and Las Vegas (0-3) all suffered double-digit losses while being outscored by a combined 92-40 margin.

Several contenders made strong statements, with Boston improving to 3-0 behind Matt Dunigan’s 4-touchdown performance against Memphis, and Birmingham remaining perfect (3-0) thanks to Joe Cribbs’ 210-yard rushing day in a 29-17 win over Washington. The Michigan Panthers announced their arrival as a Central Division force with a 44-17 thrashing of Denver, showcasing a balanced attack that racked up 456 total yards. Perhaps most impressive was Oakland’s complete dismantling of New Orleans, as the Invaders scored touchdowns on all six red zone trips while limiting the Brass to just 45 rushing yards. The week also featured surprising defensive stands, including Philadelphia’s 20-17 road win over Las Vegas where the Stars intercepted Cunningham twice despite being outgained 325-293.

As the season reaches its quarter pole, clear divisions are emerging between contenders and pretenders. Birmingham, Boston, New Jersey, and Oakland all sit at 3-0 with legitimate championship aspirations, while Houston (2-1) and Michigan (2-1) have shown explosive potential. At the other end of the spectrum, Memphis, Chicago, and Las Vegas remain winless with mounting concerns on both sides of the ball. Week 3’s offensive explosion – seven teams scored 30+ points – suggests the USFL’s pass-happy, high-scoring identity is taking hold, setting up intriguing matchups in Week 4 as the playoff picture begins to take shape. The Gamblers-Express shootout may have stolen headlines, but several teams made statements that could reverberate throughout the season.

1986 USFL Week 3 Stat Leaders

1986 USFL Week 3 Signings

Week 3 Games

Friday

Oklahoma Outlaws 30, Arizona Wranglers 26

Saturday

Washington Federals 17, Birmingham Stallions 29

New Jersey Generals 39, Chicago Blitz 13

Sunday

Memphis Showboats 10, Boston Breakers 35

Michigan Panthers 44, Denver Gold 17

Pittsburgh Maulers 16, San Antonio Gunslingers 38

Philadelphia Stars 20, Las Vegas Ace 17

New Orleans Brass 21, Oakland Invaders 52

Monday

Houston Gamblers 50, Los Angeles Express 48

Standings

Players of the Week

Offense: Herschel Walker, RB, New Jersey Generals. Herschel powered the Generals to another big win with 27 rushes for 188 yards and another 3 touchdowns. He also caught 3 passes for 66 yards.

Defense: Charles Armstead, CB, San Antonio Gunslingers. Armstead intercepted a pass, forced a fumble and recorded 8 tackles in the Gunslingers win over teh Maulers.

Special Teams: This week saw three kickoffs returned for touchdowns (Albert Bentley, Michigan, 4-169 with a long of 95), Bruce Hill (91 yards), and George Taylor (2-113 with along of 89).

Explosive Offenses and Statement Wins Highlight USFL’s Opening Fortnight

The 1986 USFL season kicked off with fireworks as high-powered offenses and dramatic finishes dominated the first two weeks. The New Jersey Generals emerged as early favorites, racking up 75 total points behind Herschel Walker’s historic Week 1 performance (6 TDs vs. Jacksonville) and a clutch Monday Night win over Houston. Other offensive juggernauts like Boston (45 points vs. Pittsburgh) and Jacksonville (42 vs. New Orleans) showcased revamped attacks, while Tampa Bay’s defense stifled Oklahoma in a Week 1 road win. The Birmingham Stallions made their presence known with a physical 24-12 victory over the Bandits, establishing themselves as Southern Division contenders behind Joe Cribbs’ 197-yard outburst.

Week 2 saw Denver’s Bill Johnson (202 rushing yards) overpowering Las Vegas and Los Angeles edging Arizona 27-24 on Gordon Hudson’s two touchdown catches. Defensive battles also emerged, as Washington grinded out a 13-6 win over Philadelphia despite four turnovers, and Oakland’s relentless pass rush (5 sacks) contained Memphis. The league’s quarterback carousel produced mixed results: veterans like Jim Kelly (391 yards vs. New Jersey) shined, while newcomers like Boston’s Matt Dunigan (5 TDs) and LA’s Frank Seurer (338 yards) delivered breakout performances.

USFL 1986 Week 2 Stat Leaders

Results

1986 USFL Kickoff Weekend (Week 1 – Sunday Febrary 2, 1986 )

New Jersey Generals 44, Jacksonville Bulls 35

Tampa Bay Bandits 26, Oklahoma Outlaws 17

Week 2 (Friday February 7, 1986)

San Antonio Gunslingers 17, Oklahoma Outlaws 27

Week 2 (Saturday Februrary 8 1986)

Birmingham Stallions 24, Tampa Bay Bandits 12

Michigan Panthers 17, Chicago Blitz 10

Week 2 (Sunday Febrary 9, 1986)

Boston Breakers 45, Pittsburgh Maulers 20

Philadelphia Stars 6, Washington Federals 13

Jacksonville Bulls 42, New Orleans Brass 30

Las Vegas Ace 17, Denver Gold 27

Arizona Wranglers 24, Los Angeless Express 27

Memphis Showboats 13, Oakland Invaders 22

Week 2 (Monday February 10 1986)

New Jersey Generals 31, Houston Gamblers 28

Standings

Players of the Week

Offense: Herschel Walker, RB, New Jersey Generals (Week 1); Matt Dunigan, QB, Boston Breakers (Week 2). Matt Dunigan (Boston) carved up Pittsburgh with surgical precision, completing 17 of 21 passes for 328 yards and a perfect 5 TDs (158.3 rating), while Herschel Walker (New Jersey) bulldozed Jacksonville for 254 rushing yards (8.5 avg) and a jaw-dropping 6 touchdowns, cementing his early MVP candidacy.

Defense: Tommy Taylor, LB, New Jersey Generals (Week 1); Jack Del Rio, LB, Oklahoma Outlaws (Week 2). Taylor provided a spark on defense with 2 sacks, a forced fumble and 7 tackles. Meanwhile, Del Rio put up a similar stat line with 2 sacks and 10 tackles to push him near the league lead in both categories.

Special Teams: Lupe Sanchez, Kick Returner, Chicago Blitz. Sanchez kept Chicago alive by returning 4 kicks for 146 yards, a 36.5 average and along of 63. Keep an eye on him this season, fans. He’s bound to break at least one for a TD.