The 1983 Green Bay Packers - 8-8 (T-2ND-NFC Central Division)
Head Coach: Bart Starr
1983 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (1-3)
OFF DEF
AUGUST (1-3) RESULT RECORD ATT RSH PSS RSH PSS STARTING QB LEADING RUSHER LEADING PASSER LEADING RECEIVER
6 G-CLEVELAND BROWNS L 20-21 0- 1-0 39,202 Lynn Dickey Gerry Ellis (25) Rich Campbell (153) Ron Cassidy (3-51)
12 at Seattle Seahawks L 21-38 0- 2-0 54,443 Rich Campbell Rich Campbell (17) Rich Campbell (183) Jessie Clark (3-25)
20 G-PHILADELPHIA EAGLES L 14-27 0- 3-0 48,867 Lynn Dickey Eddie Lee Ivery (37) Lynn Dickey (196) James Lofton (4-106)
27 at St. Louis Cardinals W 39-27 1- 3-0 33,041 Lynn Dickey Gerry Ellis (63) David Whitehurst (105) James Lofton (3-39)
1983 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS (8-8)
SEPTEMBER (2-2)
4 at Houston Oilers (0-0) W 41-38 * 1- 0-0 44,073 135 344 150 348 Lynn Dickey Eddie Lee Ivery (71) Lynn Dickey (333) James Lofton (8-154)
11 G-PITTSBURGH STEELERS (0-1) L 21-25 1- 1-0 55,154 87 276 285 186 Lynn Dickey Eddie Lee Ivery (53) Lynn Dickey (290) James Lofton (5-169)
18 M-LOS ANGELES RAMS (2-0) W 27-24 2- 1-0 54,037 110 253 93 245 Lynn Dickey Eddie Lee Ivery (54) Lynn Dickey (288) John Jefferson (6-91)
26 at New York Giants (1-2) L 3-27 2- 2-0 75,308 53 272 208 104 Lynn Dickey Eddie Lee Ivery (22) Lynn Dickey (283) John Jefferson (5-67)
OCTOBER (2-3)
2 G-TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (0-4) W 55-14 3- 2-0 54,272 164 355 20 273 Lynn Dickey Jessie Clark (56) Lynn Dickey (267) James Lofton (4-112)
9 at Detroit Lions (1-4) L 14-38 3- 3-0 67,738 87 201 171 225 Lynn Dickey Eddie Lee Ivery (43) Lynn Dickey (214) Paul Coffman (4-58)
17 G-WASHINGTON REDSKINS (5-1) W 48-47 4- 3-0 55,255 70 403 184 368 Lynn Dickey Gerry Ellis (41) Lynn Dickey (387) Paul Coffman (6-124)
23 G-MINNESOTA VIKINGS (5-2) L 17-20 * 4- 4-0 55,236 87 327 211 199 Lynn Dickey Eddie Lee Ivery (46) Lynn Dickey (383) Gerry Ellis (6-81)
30 at Cincinnati Bengals (2-6) L 14-34 4- 5-0 53,349 73 210 223 241 Lynn Dickey Gerry Ellis (60) Lynn Dickey (231) Gerry Ellis (6-70)
NOVEMBER (2-2)
6 M-CLEVELAND BROWNS (5-4) W 35-21 5- 5-0 54,089 154 216 119 337 Lynn Dickey Gerry Ellis (86) Lynn Dickey (228) John Jefferson (7-102)
13 at Minnesota Vikings (6-4) W 29-21 6- 5-0 60,113 163 180 158 261 Lynn Dickey Jessie Clark (79) Lynn Dickey (180) John Jefferson (5-60)
20 M-DETROIT LIONS (5-6) L 20-23 * 6- 6-0 50,050 95 144 254 129 Lynn Dickey Gerry Ellis (87) Lynn Dickey (123) Paul Coffman (4-42)
27 at Atlanta Falcons (5-7) L 41-47 * 6- 7-0 35,688 152 293 134 366 Lynn Dickey Gerry Ellis (63) Lynn Dickey (366) James Lofton (7-161)
DECEMBER (2-1)
4 G-CHICAGO BEARS (6-7) W 31-28 7- 7-0 51,147 184 328 84 274 Lynn Dickey Gerry Ellis (141) Lynn Dickey (345) James Lofton (6-120)
12 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-12) W 12- 9 * 8- 7-0 50,763 95 268 93 146 Lynn Dickey Jessie Clark (35) Lynn Dickey (278) Paul Coffman (4-53)
18 at Chicago Bears (7-8) L 21-23 8- 8-0 35,807 116 222 236 133 Lynn Dickey Jessie Clark (61) Lynn Dickey (262) Paul Coffman (4-122)
G - Green Bay M - Milwaukee * - Overtime
1983 IN REVIEW
The Green Bay Packer offense in 1983 was running on high octane fuel all season. But the defense broke down on more than enough occastions to leave the Packers a .500 team at 8-8. The step back from the playoffs in 1982 meant the end of the Bart Starr era in Green Bay. Lynn Dickey, Gerry Eillis, James Lofton, Paul Coffman and John Jefferson led an offense which rang up 52 touchdowns, 429 points and 6,172 yards. Ellis became the first Packer to have more than 500 yards rushing and receiving in a season. Dickey cracked the 4,000-yard mark with 4,458 yards and 32 touchdowns. The defensive numbers were equally as large - 50 touchdowns, 439 points and 6,403 yards. The defense gave up more than 300 yards in 14 games and 400 yards in 8 contests. Facing a must win the season finale to win the a wildcard berth, Green Bay saw Chicago defeat them 23-21 on a Bob Thomas field goal with 10 seconds left. Bart Starr was fired as head coach the next day.
BART STARR AND THE ARIZONA FIREBIRDS
It was the final game of the 1983 season and the Bart Starr era. The Packers led for most of the contest in one of the coldest games ever played at Soldier Field. With less than a minute remaining, Jim McMahon drove Chicago down the field against one of the worst defenses in the NFL and Bob Thomas kicked the winning field goal, while Starr sat on his timeouts and watched his team out of the playoffs. The Packer legend was was fired the next day. Starr would never return to the NFL in a coaching capacity, but he did not walk away from football. In fact, he tried to come back with a team that did not even exist when he was fired. Arizona NFL Expansion Limited was formed in 1980, and included such supporters as former AFL Commissioner Joe Foss. The group spent more than $2 million trying to convince the NFL to place an expansion team in Phoenix. In February 1983, the group signed a lease with the Gila Indian Community for 500 acres on the Gila River Reservation, 15 miles south of Phoenix. Organizer Bob Whitlow said his group had hopes to construct a privately financed domed stadium, seating 72,000. On January 13, 1984, less than three weeks after he was fired in Green Bay, Starr was named the head coach and director of operations for the Firebirds. In March 1984, Firebirds officials flew to Hawaii, hoping to have a chance to press their case to the NFL. Businessman Tom Stone, who wanted a majority interest in the proposed franchise, joined the group, while Starr stayed behind to deal with other business interests. The Firebirds were nearly driven to extinction in the fall of 1984, when Eagles owner Leonard Tose flirted with the idea of moving his team to Phoenix. Faced with $42 million in debts, Tose had a deal in place to sell part of the team in return for a $45 million loan and a move to the desert. Commissioner Pete Rozelle stepped in and arranged financing for Tose and the team stayed. By 1987, it appeared there was a chance the NFL would consider the Firebirds' bid, although there were two other groups also bidding for a team. Starr's group hosted a nearly sold-out exhibition game in August 1987 between the Packers
and the Denver Broncos at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe. The dream died for good on January 15, 1988, when St. Louis Cardinals owner Bill Bidwell announced he was moving the team to Phoenix. In February 1988, it was mentioned in some media reports that the Bart Starr-John Colbrunn-Joe Foss group was not dead yet, and could turn up in another city, but it was never to be. That July, the younger of Bart's two sons, Bret, then age 24, was living in Tampa, recovering from a cocaine addiction. After not hearing from him for several days, Bart flew to Florida and found his son dead on the dining room floor. Police said that Bret had died three or four days earlier from cardiac arrhythmia, a complication from his addiction.
NAME NO POS HGT WGT COLLEGE YR PR AG G HOW ACQUIRED
John Anderson 59 LB 6- 3 229 Michigan 6 6 27 16 1978 Draft-1st round
Greg Boyd 72 DE 6- 6 280 San Diego State 1 6 29 12 1983 Trade-Denver
Byron Braggs 73 NT 6- 4 270 Alabama 3 3 23 16 1981 Draft-5th round
Robert Brown 93 DE 6- 2 250 Virginia Tech 2 2 23 16 1982 Draft-4th round
Rich Campbell 19 QB 6- 4 219 California 3 3 24 1 1981 Draft-1st round
Ron Cassidy 88 WR 6- 0 180 Utah State 4 4 26 16 1979 Draft-8th round
Jessie Clark 33 FB 6- 0 233 Arkansas 1 1 23 16 1983 Draft-7th round
Paul Coffman 82 TE 6- 3 225 Kansas State 6 6 27 16 1978 FA
George Cumby 52 LB 6- 0 224 Oklahoma 4 4 27 15 1980 Draft-1st round
Mike Curcio 57 LB 6- 1 232 Temple 1 3 26 14 1983 FA- Philadelphia
Lynn Dickey 12 QB 6- 4 203 Kansas State 7 11 32 16 1976 Trade-Houston
Mike Douglass 53 LB 6- 0 214 San Diego State 6 6 28 15 1978 Draft-5th round
Dave Dreschler 61 G 6- 3 264 North Carolina 1 1 23 16 1983 Draft-2nd round
Gerry Ellis 31 FB 5-11 225 Missouri 4 4 25 15 1980 FA
Phillip Epps 85 WR 5-10 165 TCU 2 2 24 16 1982 Draft-12th round
Eddie Garcia 11 K 5- 8 178 SMU 1 1 24 12 1982 Draft-10th round
Charlie Getty 77 T 6- 4 270 Penn State 1 10 31 16 1983 Trade-Kan City
Johnnie Gray 24 S 5-11 202 Cal St-Fullerton 9 9 30 16 1975 FA
Ron Hallstrom 65 G 6- 6 283 Iowa 2 2 24 16 1982 Draft-1st round
Leotis Harris 69 G 6- 1 265 Arkansas 6 6 28 6 1978 Draft-6th round
Maurice Harvey 23 S 5-10 190 Ball State 3 5 27 4 1981 FA-Denver (1980)
Estus Hood 38 CB 5-11 189 Illinois State 6 6 27 16 1978 Draft-3rd round
Harlan Huckleby 25 HB 6- 1 201 Michigan 4 4 25 16 1980 FA
Tim Huffman 74 T 6- 5 282 Notre Dame 3 3 24 15 1981 Draft-9th round
Eddie Lee Ivery 40 RB 6- 1 214 Georgia Tech 5 5 26 8 1979 Draft-1st round
John Jefferson 83 WR 6- 1 204 Arizona State 3 6 27 16 1981 Trade-San Diego
Charles Johnson 99 DT 6- 1 265 Maryland 3 3 27 15 1979 Draft-2nd round
Ezra Johnson 90 DE 6- 4 259 Morris Brown 7 7 27 16 1977 Draft-1st round
Mike Jolly 21 S 6- 3 185 Michigan 3 3 24 12 1980 FA
Terry Jones 63 DT 6- 2 265 Alabama 6 6 26 1 1978 Draft-11th round
Syd Kitson 64 G 6- 4 264 Wake Forest 3 3 24 14 1980 Draft-3rd round
Greg Koch 68 T 6- 4 276 Arkansas 7 7 28 15 1977 Draft-2nd round
Jim Laughlin 62 LB 6- 1 222 Ohio State 1 4 25 15 1983 FA-Atlanta (1982)
Mark Lee 22 CB 5-11 188 Washington 4 4 25 16 1980 Draft-2nd round
Cliff Lewis 56 LB 6- 1 224 S. Mississippi 3 3 23 16 1981 Draft-12th round
Gary Lewis 81 TE 6- 5 234 Texas-Arlington 3 3 23 16 1981 Draft-2nd round
Tim Lewis 26 CB 5-11 188 Pittsburgh 1 1 21 16 1983 Draft-1st round
James Lofton 80 WR 6- 3 197 Stanford 6 6 27 16 1978 Draft-1st round
Larry McCarren 54 C 6- 3 251 Illinois 11 11 31 16 1973 Draft-12th round
NAME NO POS HGT WGT COLLEGE YR PR AG G HOW ACQUIRED
Mike C. McCoy 29 CB 5-11 190 Colorado 8 8 30 9 1976 Draft-3rd round
Mike Meade 39 RB 5-10 224 Penn State 2 2 23 16 1982 Draft-5th round
Casey Merrill 78 DE 6- 4 255 Cal-Davis 5 5 26 5 1979 FA
Mark Murphy 37 S 6- 2 201 West Liberty St 4 4 25 16 1980 FA
Dwayne O'Steen 44 CB 6- 1 195 San Jose State 1 6 28 7 1983 FA-Tampa Bay
Chet Parlavecchio 57 LB 6- 2 225 Penn State 1 1 23 3 1982 Draft-6th round
Guy Prather 51 LB 6- 2 229 Grambling 3 3 25 16 1981 FA
Larry Rubens 58 C 6- 1 250 Montana State 2 2 29 16 1982 FA
Ron Sams 70 G 6- 3 269 Pittsburgh 1 1 22 5 1983 Draft-6th round
Randy Scott 55 LB 6- 1 222 Alabama 3 3 24 6 1981 FA
Bucky Scribner 13 P 6- 0 202 Kansas 1 1 23 16 1983 Draft-11th round
Daryle Skaugstad 91 NT 6- 5 268 California 1 3 26 9 1983 FA-San Francisco
Ron Spears 79 DE 6- 6 255 San Diego State 1 2 23 13 1983 FA-New England
Jan Stenerud 10 K 6- 2 190 Montana State 4 17 39 16 1980 FA-KC (1979)
Karl Swanke 67 T 6- 6 261 Boston College 4 4 25 16 1980 Draft-6th round
Rich Turner 75 NT 6- 2 261 Oklahoma 3 3 24 6 1981 Draft-4th round
David Whitehurst 17 QB 6- 2 205 Furman 7 7 28 4 1977 Draft-8th round
Rich Wingo 50 LB 6- 1 227 Alabama 4 4 27 16 1979 Draft-7th round
Chet Winters 20 RB 5-11 204 Oklahoma 1 1 21 4 1983 FA
NO - Jersey Number POS - Position HGT - Height WGT - Weight YR - Years with Packers PR - Years of Professional Football AGE - Age on September 1 G - Games Played FA - Free Agent
1983 PACKERS DRAFT (April 26-27, 1983)
RND-PCK NAME POS COLLEGE NOTES
1a 11 Tim Lewis DB Pittsburgh (A)
1b 20 Traded to San Diego in John Jefferson trade
2 48 Dave Drechsler G N. Carolina
3 58 Traded to Houston in Angelo Fields trade
4 104 Mike Miller WR Tennessee
5 132 Bryan Thomas RB Pittsburgh
6 160 Ron Sams G Pittsburgh
7 188 Jessie Clark FB Arkansas
8 216 Carlton Briscoe DB McNeese St
9 243 Robin Ham C West Texas St
10a 253 Byron Williams WR TX-Arlington (B)
10b 271 Jimmy Thomas DB Indiana
11 299 Bucky Scribner P Kansas
12 327 John Harvey LB USC
A-From New Orleans for Bruce Clark B-From Houston in Mark Koncar trade
1983 PACKER TRADES - TRANSACTIONS
JUL 28 - Traded OG Derrel Gofourth to SAN DIEGO for a 1984 12th-round draft choice (WR Lenny Taylor)
AUG 17 - Traded a 1984 8th-round draft choice to DENVER for DE Greg Boyd
AUG 28 - Traded a 1984 9th-round draft choice to KANSAS CITY for OT Charlie Getty
Washington Redskins (14-2)
Head Coach: Joe Gibbs
Passing Leader: Joe Theismann (3714)
Rushing Leader: John Riggins (1347)
Receiving Leader: Charlie Brown (78-1225)
Dallas Cowboys (12-4)
Head Coach: Tom Landry
Passing Leader: Danny White (3980)
Rushing Leader: Tony Dorsett (1321)
Receiving Leader: Ron Springs (73-589)
St. Louis Cardinals (8-7-1)
Head Coach: Jim Hanifan
Passing Leader: Neil Lomax (2636)
Rushing Leader: Otis Anderson (1270)
Receiving Leader: Roy Green (78-1227)
Philadelphia Eagles (5-11)
Head Coach: Marion Campbell
Passing Leader: Ron Jaworski (3315)
Rushing Leader: Hubie Oliver (434)
Receiving Leader: Mike Quick (69-1409)
New York Giants (3-12-1)
Head Coach: Bill Parcells
Passing Leader: Scott Brunner (2516)
Rushing Leader: Butch Woolfolk (857)
Receiving Leader: Earnest Gray (78-1139)
Detroit Lions (9-7)
Head Coach: Monte Clark
Passing Leader: Eric Hipple (2577)
Rushing Leader: Billy Sims (1040)
Receiving Leader: James Jones (46-467)
Green Bay Packers (8-8)
Head Coach: Bart Starr
Passing Leader: Lynn Dickey (4458)
Rushing Leader: Gerry Ellis (696)
Receiving Leader: James Lofton (58-1300)
Chicago Bears (8-8)
Head Coach: Mike Ditka
Passing Leader: Jim McMahon (2184)
Rushing Leader: Walter Payton (1421)
Receiving Leader: Walter Payton (53-607)
Minnesota Vikings (7-9)
Head Coach: Bud Grant
Passing Leader: Steve Dils (2840)
Rushing Leader: Darrin Nelson (642)
Receiving Leader: Darrin Nelson (51-618)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)
Head Coach: John McKay
Passing Leader: Jack Thompson (2906)
Rushing Leader: James Wilder (640)
Receiving Leader: James Wilder (57-380)
San Francisco 49ers (10-6)
Head Coach: Bill Walsh
Passing Leader: Joe Montana (3910)
Rushing Leader: Wendell Tyler (856)
Receiving Leader: Dwight Clark (70-840)
Los Angeles Rams (9-7)
Head Coach: John Robinson
Passing Leader: Vince Ferragamo (3276)
Rushing Leader: Eric Dickerson (1808)
Receiving Leader: Mike Barber (55-657)
New Orleans Saints (8-8)
Head Coach: Bum Phillips
Passing Leader: Ken Stabler (1988)
Rushing Leader: George Rogers (1144)
Receiving Leader: Jeff Groth (49-585)
Atlanta Falcons (7-9)
Head Coach: Dan Henning
Passing Leader: Steve Bartkowski (3167)
Rushing Leader: William Andrews (1567)
Receiving Leader: Billy Johnson (64-709)
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 3
Philadelphia 22, SAN FRANCISCO 17
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 4
Green Bay 41, HOUSTON 38 (OT) Atlanta 20, CHICAGO 17
Detroit 11, TAMPA BAY 0 Denver 14, PITTSBURGH 10
Baltimore 29, NEW ENGLAND 23 (OT) Miami 12, BUFFALO 0
NY Jets 41, SAN DIEGO 29 LA Raiders 20, CINCINNATI 10
KANSAS CITY 17, Seattle 13 Minnesota 27, CLEVELAND 21
NEW ORLEANS 28, St. Louis 17 LA Rams 16, NY GIANTS 6
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 6
Dallas 31, WASHINGTON 30
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Dallas 1 0 0 1.000 31 30 Miami 1 0 0 1.000 12 0
Philadelphia 1 0 0 1.000 22 17 Baltimore 1 0 0 1.000 29 23
NY Giants 0 1 0 .000 6 16 NY Jets 1 0 0 1.000 41 29
Washington 0 1 0 .000 30 31 New England 0 1 0 .000 23 29
St. Louis 0 1 0 .000 17 28 Buffalo 0 1 0 .000 0 12
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
GREEN BAY 1 0 0 1.000 41 38 Cincinnati 0 1 0 .000 10 20
Detroit 1 0 0 1.000 11 0 Houston 0 1 0 .000 38 41
Minnesota 1 0 0 1.000 27 21 Pittsburgh 0 1 0 .000 10 14
Chicago 0 1 0 .000 17 20 Cleveland 0 1 0 .000 21 27
Tampa Bay 0 1 0 .000 0 11 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION LA Raiders 1 0 0 1.000 20 10
Atlanta 1 0 0 1.000 20 17 Denver 1 0 0 1.000 14 10
LA Rams 1 0 0 1.000 16 6 Kansas City 1 0 0 1.000 17 13
New Orleans 1 0 0 1.000 28 17 San Diego 0 1 0 .000 29 41
San Francisco 0 1 0 .000 17 22 Seattle 0 1 0 .000 13 17
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 8
San Francisco 48, MINNESOTA 17
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 10
LA RAIDERS 20, Houston 6 Buffalo 10, CINCINNATI 6
Pittsburgh 25, GREEN BAY 21 Cleveland 31, DETROIT 26
NY Giants 16, ATLANTA 13 (OT) Dallas 34, ST. LOUIS 17
Seattle 17, NY JETS 10 Denver 17, BALTIMORE 10
CHICAGO 17, Tampa Bay 10 MIAMI 34, New England 24
Washington 23, PHILADELPHIA 13 LA RAMS 30, New Orleans 27
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 11
San Diego 17, KANSAS CITY 14
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Dallas 2 0 0 1.000 65 47 Miami 2 0 0 1.000 46 24
Washington 1 1 0 .500 53 44 Baltimore 1 1 0 .500 39 40
NY Giants 1 1 0 .500 22 29 NY Jets 1 1 0 .500 51 46
Philadelphia 1 1 0 .500 35 40 Buffalo 1 1 0 .500 10 18
St. Louis 0 2 0 .000 34 62 New England 0 2 0 .000 47 63
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
GREEN BAY 1 1 0 .500 62 63 Pittsburgh 1 1 0 .500 35 35
Detroit 1 1 0 .500 37 31 Cleveland 1 1 0 .500 52 53
Minnesota 1 1 0 .500 44 69 Cincinnati 0 2 0 .000 16 30
Chicago 1 1 0 .500 34 30 Houston 0 2 0 .000 44 61
Tampa Bay 0 2 0 .000 10 28 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION LA Raiders 2 0 0 1.000 40 16
LA Rams 2 0 0 1.000 46 33 Denver 2 0 0 1.000 31 20
Atlanta 1 1 0 .500 33 33 Kansas City 1 1 0 .500 31 30
New Orleans 1 1 0 .500 55 47 San Diego 1 1 0 .500 46 55
San Francisco 1 1 0 .500 65 39 Seattle 1 1 0 .500 30 27
THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 15
CLEVELAND 17, Cincinnati 7
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 18
Green Bay 27, LA Rams 24 @ Milwaukee NEW ORLEANS 34, Chicago 31 (OT)
WASHINGTON 27, Kansas City 12 Pittsburgh 40, HOUSTON 28
BUFFALO 28, Baltimore 23 Minnesota 19, TAMPA BAY 16 (OT)
Atlanta 30, DETROIT 14 SEATTLE 34, San Diego 31
DALLAS 28, NY Giants 13 San Francisco 42, ST. LOUIS 27
Philadelphia 13, DENVER 10 NEW ENGLAND 23, NY Jets 13
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 19
LA RAIDERS 27, Miami 14
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Dallas 3 0 0 1.000 93 60 Miami 2 1 0 .667 60 51
Washington 2 1 0 .667 80 66 Buffalo 2 1 0 .667 38 41
Philadelphia 2 1 0 .667 48 50 NY Jets 1 2 0 .333 64 69
NY Giants 1 2 0 .333 35 57 Baltimore 1 2 0 .333 62 68
St. Louis 0 3 0 .000 61 104 New England 1 2 0 .333 70 76
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
GREEN BAY 2 1 0 .667 89 87 Pittsburgh 2 1 0 .667 75 63
Minnesota 2 1 0 .667 63 85 Cleveland 2 1 0 .667 69 60
Detroit 1 2 0 .333 51 61 Cincinnati 0 3 0 .000 23 47
Chicago 1 2 0 .333 65 64 Houston 0 3 0 .000 72 101
Tampa Bay 0 3 0 .000 26 47 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION LA Raiders 3 0 0 1.000 67 30
LA Rams 2 1 0 .667 70 60 Denver 2 1 0 .667 41 33
Atlanta 2 1 0 .667 63 47 Seattle 2 1 0 .667 64 58
New Orleans 2 1 0 .667 89 78 San Diego 1 2 0 .333 77 89
San Francisco 2 1 0 .667 107 66 Kansas City 1 2 0 .333 43 57
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 25
MIAMI 14, Kansas City 6 BUFFALO 30, Houston 13
NY JETS 27, LA Rams 24 (OT) SAN FRANCISCO 24, Atlanta 20
St. Louis 14, PHILADELPHIA 11 BALTIMORE 22, Chicago 19 (OT)
New England 28, PITTSBURGH 23 Cincinnati 23, TAMPA BAY 17
DALLAS 21, New Orleans 20 Cleveland 30, SAN DIEGO 24 (OT)
Washington 27, SEATTLE 17 MINNESOTA 20, Detroit 17
LA Raiders 22, DENVER 7
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 26
NY GIANTS 27, Green Bay 3
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Dallas 4 0 0 1.000 114 80 Miami 3 1 0 .750 74 57
Washington 3 1 0 .750 107 83 Buffalo 3 1 0 .750 68 54
Philadelphia 2 2 0 .500 59 64 NY Jets 2 2 0 .500 81 93
NY Giants 2 2 0 .500 62 60 Baltimore 2 2 0 .500 84 87
St. Louis 1 3 0 .250 75 115 New England 2 2 0 .500 98 99
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
Minnesota 3 1 0 .750 83 102 Cleveland 3 1 0 .750 99 84
GREEN BAY 2 2 0 .500 92 114 Pittsburgh 2 2 0 .500 98 91
Detroit 1 3 0 .333 68 81 Cincinnati 1 3 0 .250 46 64
Chicago 1 3 0 .333 84 86 Houston 0 4 0 .000 85 131
Tampa Bay 0 4 0 .000 43 70 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION LA Raiders 4 0 0 1.000 89 37
San Francisco 3 1 0 .750 131 86 Denver 2 2 0 .500 48 55
Atlanta 2 2 0 .500 83 71 Seattle 2 2 0 .500 81 85
New Orleans 2 2 0 .500 109 99 San Diego 1 3 0 .250 101 119
LA Rams 2 2 0 .500 94 87 Kansas City 1 3 0 .250 49 71
SUNDAY OCTOBER 2
NEW ORLEANS 17, Miami 7 Baltimore 34, CINCINNATI 31
LA RAMS 21, Detroit 10 Philadelphia 28, ATLANTA 24
PITTSBURGH 17, Houston 10 Seattle 24, CLEVELAND 9
WASHINGTON 37, LA Raiders 35 KANSAS CITY 38, St. Louis 14
San Diego 41, NY GIANTS 34 Dallas 37, MINNESOTA 24
San Fran 33, NEW ENGLAND 13 CHICAGO 31, Denver 14
GREEN BAY 55, Tampa Bay 14
MONDAY OCTOBER 3
NY Jets 34, BUFFALO 10
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Dallas 5 0 0 1.000 151 104 Miami 3 2 0 .600 81 74
Washington 4 1 0 .800 144 118 Buffalo 3 2 0 .600 78 88
Philadelphia 3 2 0 .600 87 88 NY Jets 3 2 0 .600 115 103
NY Giants 2 3 0 .400 96 101 Baltimore 3 2 0 .600 118 118
St. Louis 1 4 0 .200 89 153 New England 2 3 0 .400 112 132
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
Minnesota 3 2 0 .600 107 139 Cleveland 3 2 0 .600 108 108
GREEN BAY 3 2 0 .600 147 128 Pittsburgh 3 2 0 .600 115 101
Chicago 2 3 0 .400 115 100 Cincinnati 1 4 0 .200 77 98
Detroit 1 4 0 .200 78 102 Houston 0 5 0 .000 95 148
Tampa Bay 0 5 0 .000 57 125 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION LA Raiders 4 1 0 .800 124 74
San Francisco 4 1 0 .800 164 99 Seattle 3 2 0 .600 105 94
LA Rams 3 2 0 .600 115 97 Denver 2 3 0 .400 62 86
New Orleans 3 2 0 .600 126 106 San Diego 2 3 0 .400 142 153
Atlanta 2 3 0 .400 107 99 Kansas City 2 3 0 .400 87 85
SUNDAY OCTOBER 9
New Orleans 19, ATLANTA 17 BALTIMORE 12, New England 7
Denver 26, HOUSTON 14 Buffalo 38, MIAMI 35 (OT)
Minnesota 23, CHICAGO 14 DETROIT 38, Green Bay 14
Philadelphia 17, NY GIANTS 13 LA RAIDERS 21, Kansas City 20
LA Rams 10, SAN FRANCISCO 7 CLEVELAND 10, NY Jets 7
DALLAS 27, Tampa Bay 24 (OT) SAN DIEGO 28, Seattle 21
Washington 38, ST. LOUIS 14
MONDAY OCTOBER 10
Pittsburgh 24, CINCINNATI 14
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Dallas 6 0 0 1.000 178 128 Buffalo 4 2 0 .667 116 123
Washington 5 1 0 .833 182 132 Baltimore 4 2 0 .667 130 125
Philadelphia 4 2 0 .667 104 101 NY Jets 3 3 0 .500 122 113
NY Giants 2 4 0 .333 109 118 Miami 3 3 0 .500 116 112
St. Louis 1 5 0 .167 103 191 New England 2 4 0 .333 119 144
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
Minnesota 4 2 0 .667 130 153 Cleveland 4 2 0 .667 118 115
GREEN BAY 3 3 0 .500 161 166 Pittsburgh 4 2 0 .667 139 115
Chicago 2 4 0 .333 119 123 Cincinnati 1 5 0 .167 91 122
Detroit 2 4 0 .333 116 116 Houston 0 6 0 .000 109 174
Tampa Bay 0 6 0 .000 81 152 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION LA Raiders 5 1 0 .833 145 94
San Francisco 4 2 0 .667 171 109 Seattle 3 3 0 .500 126 122
LA Rams 4 2 0 .667 125 102 Denver 3 3 0 .500 88 100
New Orleans 4 2 0 .667 145 123 San Diego 3 3 0 .500 170 174
Atlanta 2 4 0 .333 124 118 Kansas City 2 4 0 .333 107 106
SUNDAY OCTOBER 16
NEW ENGLAND 37, San Diego 21 MINNESOTA 34, Houston 14
DETROIT 31, Chicago 17 LA RAMS 27, Atlanta 21
DENVER 24, Cincinnati 17 Buffalo 30, BALTIMORE 7
Miami 32, NY JETS 14 San Francisco 32, NEW ORLEANS 13
KANSAS CITY 38, NY Giants 17 St. Louis 34, TAMPA BAY 27
SEATTLE 38, LA Raiders 36 DALLAS 37, Philadelphia 7
PITTSBURGH 44, Cleveland 17
MONDAY OCTOBER 18
GREEN BAY 48, Washington 47
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Dallas 7 0 0 1.000 215 135 Buffalo 5 2 0 .714 146 130
Washington 5 2 0 .714 229 180 Baltimore 4 3 0 .571 137 155
Philadelphia 4 3 0 .571 111 138 Miami 4 3 0 .571 148 126
St. Louis 2 5 0 .286 137 218 NY Jets 3 4 0 .429 136 145
NY Giants 2 5 0 .286 126 156 New England 3 4 0 .429 156 165
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
Minnesota 5 2 0 .714 164 167 Pittsburgh 5 2 0 .714 183 132
GREEN BAY 4 3 0 .571 209 213 Cleveland 4 3 0 .571 135 159
Detroit 3 4 0 .429 147 133 Cincinnati 1 6 0 .143 108 146
Chicago 2 5 0 .286 136 154 Houston 0 7 0 .000 123 208
Tampa Bay 0 7 0 .000 108 186 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION LA Raiders 5 2 0 .714 181 132
San Francisco 5 2 0 .714 203 122 Seattle 4 3 0 .571 164 158
LA Rams 5 2 0 .714 152 123 Denver 4 3 0 .571 112 117
New Orleans 4 3 0 .571 158 155 San Diego 3 4 0 .429 191 211
Atlanta 2 5 0 .286 145 145 Kansas City 3 4 0 .429 145 123
SUNDAY OCTOBER 23
Chicago 7, PHILADELPHIA 6 Miami 21, BALTIMORE 7
WASHINGTON 38, Detroit 17 CINCINNATI 28, Cleveland 21
Minnesota 20, GREEN BAY 17 (OT) Kansas City 13, HOUSTON 10 (OT)
New Orleans 24, TAMPA BAY 21 New England 31, BUFFALO 0
Pittsburgh 27, SEATTLE 21 Atlanta 27, NY JETS 21
DENVER 14, San Diego 6 San Francisco 45, LA RAMS 35
LA Raiders 40, DALLAS 38
MONDAY OCTOBER 24
ST. LOUIS 20, NY Giants 20 (T)
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Dallas 7 1 0 .875 253 175 Miami 5 3 0 .625 169 133
Washington 6 2 0 .750 267 197 Buffalo 5 3 0 .625 146 161
Philadelphia 4 4 0 .500 117 145 Baltimore 4 4 0 .500 144 176
St. Louis 2 5 1 .313 157 238 New England 4 4 0 .500 187 165
NY Giants 2 5 1 .313 146 176 NY Jets 3 5 0 .375 157 172
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
Minnesota 6 2 0 .750 184 184 Pittsburgh 6 2 0 .750 210 153
GREEN BAY 4 4 0 .500 226 233 Cleveland 4 4 0 .500 156 187
Detroit 3 5 0 .375 164 171 Cincinnati 2 6 0 .250 136 167
Chicago 3 5 0 .375 143 160 Houston 0 8 0 .000 133 221
Tampa Bay 0 8 0 .000 129 210 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION LA Raiders 6 2 0 .750 221 170
San Francisco 6 2 0 .750 248 157 Denver 5 3 0 .625 126 123
LA Rams 5 3 0 .625 187 168 Seattle 4 4 0 .500 185 185
New Orleans 5 3 0 .625 182 176 Kansas City 4 4 0 .500 158 133
Atlanta 3 5 0 .375 172 166 San Diego 3 5 0 .375 197 225
SUNDAY OCTOBER 30
Detroit 38, CHICAGO 17 Baltimore 22, PHILADELPHIA 21
CINCINNATI 34, Green Bay 14 DENVER 27, Kansas City 24
CLEVELAND 25, Houston 19 (OT) Dallas 38, NY GIANTS 20
ATLANTA 24, New England 13 MIAMI 30, LA Rams 14
BUFFALO 27, New Orleans 21 ST. LOUIS 41, Minnesota 31
NY Jets 27, SAN FRANCISCO 13 Seattle 34, LA RAIDERS 21
PITTSBURGH 17, Tampa Bay 12
MONDAY OCTOBER 31
Washington 27, SAN DIEGO 24
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Dallas 8 1 0 .889 291 195 Miami 6 3 0 .667 199 147
Washington 7 2 0 .778 294 221 Buffalo 6 3 0 .667 173 182
Philadelphia 4 5 0 .444 138 167 Baltimore 5 4 0 .556 166 197
St. Louis 3 5 1 .389 198 269 New England 4 5 0 .444 200 189
NY Giants 2 6 1 .278 166 214 NY Jets 4 5 0 .444 184 185
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
Minnesota 6 3 0 .667 215 225 Pittsburgh 7 2 0 .778 227 165
GREEN BAY 4 5 0 .444 240 267 Cleveland 5 4 0 .556 181 206
Detroit 4 5 0 .444 202 188 Cincinnati 3 6 0 .333 170 181
Chicago 3 6 0 .333 160 198 Houston 0 9 0 .000 152 246
Tampa Bay 0 9 0 .000 141 227 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION LA Raiders 6 3 0 .667 242 204
San Francisco 6 3 0 .667 261 184 Denver 6 3 0 .667 153 147
LA Rams 5 4 0 .556 201 198 Seattle 5 4 0 .556 219 206
New Orleans 5 4 0 .556 203 203 Kansas City 4 5 0 .444 182 160
Atlanta 4 5 0 .444 196 179 San Diego 3 6 0 .333 221 252
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 6
Green Bay 35, Cleveland 21 @ Mil Baltimore 17, NY JETS 14
NEW ORLEANS 27, Atlanta 10 Dallas 27, PHILADELPHIA 20
NEW ENGLAND 21, Buffalo 7 PITTSBURGH 26, San Diego 3
LA RAMS 21, Chicago 14 SEATTLE 27, Denver 19
Cincinnati 55, HOUSTON 14 LA Raiders 28, KANSAS CITY 20
Miami 20, SAN FRANCISCO 17 Tampa Bay 17, MINNESOTA 12
WASHINGTON 45, St. Louis 7
MONDAY NOVEMBER 7
DETROIT 15, NY Giants 9
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Dallas 9 1 0 .900 318 215 Miami 7 3 0 .700 219 164
Washington 8 2 0 .800 339 228 Buffalo 6 4 0 .600 180 203
Philadelphia 4 6 0 .400 158 194 Baltimore 6 4 0 .600 183 211
St. Louis 3 6 1 .350 205 314 New England 5 5 0 .500 221 196
NY Giants 2 7 1 .250 175 229 NY Jets 4 6 0 .400 198 202
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
Minnesota 6 4 0 .600 227 242 Pittsburgh 8 2 0 .800 253 168
GREEN BAY 5 5 0 .500 275 288 Cleveland 5 5 0 .500 202 241
Detroit 5 5 0 .500 217 197 Cincinnati 4 6 0 .400 225 195
Chicago 3 7 0 .300 174 219 Houston 0 10 0 .000 166 301
Tampa Bay 1 9 0 .100 158 239 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION LA Raiders 7 3 0 .700 270 224
San Francisco 6 4 0 .600 278 204 Seattle 6 4 0 .600 246 225
LA Rams 6 4 0 .600 222 212 Denver 6 4 0 .600 172 174
New Orleans 6 4 0 .600 230 213 Kansas City 4 6 0 .400 202 188
Atlanta 4 6 0 .400 206 206 San Diego 3 7 0 .300 224 278
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 13
Buffalo 24, NY JETS 17 Green Bay 29, MINNESOTA 21
HOUSTON 27, Detroit 17 KANSAS CITY 20, Cincinnati 15
ST. LOUIS 33, Seattle 28 SAN DIEGO 24, Dallas 23
SAN FRANCISCO 27, New Orleans 0 LA RAIDERS 22, Denver 20
CHICAGO 17, Philadelphia 14 Pittsburgh 24, BALTIMORE 13
CLEVELAND 20, Tampa Bay 0 NEW ENGLAND 17, Miami 6
Washington 33, NY GIANTS 17
MONDAY NOVEMBER 14
LA Rams 36, ATLANTA 13
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Washington 9 2 0 .818 372 245 Miami 7 4 0 .636 225 181
Dallas 9 2 0 .818 341 239 Buffalo 7 4 0 .636 204 220
St. Louis 4 6 1 .409 238 342 Baltimore 6 5 0 .545 196 235
Philadelphia 4 7 0 .364 172 211 New England 6 5 0 .545 238 202
NY Giants 2 8 1 .227 192 262 NY Jets 4 7 0 .364 215 226
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
Minnesota 6 5 0 .545 248 271 Pittsburgh 9 2 0 .818 277 181
GREEN BAY 6 5 0 .545 304 309 Cleveland 6 5 0 .545 222 241
Detroit 5 6 0 .455 234 224 Cincinnati 4 7 0 .364 240 215
Chicago 4 7 0 .364 191 233 Houston 1 10 0 .091 193 318
Tampa Bay 1 10 0 .091 158 259 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION LA Raiders 8 3 0 .727 292 244
San Francisco 7 4 0 .636 305 204 Seattle 6 5 0 .545 274 258
LA Rams 7 4 0 .636 258 225 Denver 6 5 0 .545 192 196
New Orleans 6 5 0 .545 230 240 Kansas City 5 6 0 .455 222 203
Atlanta 4 7 0 .364 219 242 San Diego 4 7 0 .364 248 301
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20
Detroit 23, Green Bay 20 (OT) @ Mil Chicago 27, TAMPA BAY 0
DALLAS 41, Kansas City 21 MIAMI 37, Baltimore 0
ATLANTA 28, San Francisco 24 Cleveland 30, NEW ENGLAND 0
DENVER 38, Seattle 27 Minnesota 17, PITTSBURGH 14
CINCINNATI 38, Houston 10 ST. LOUIS 44, San Diego 14
NY Giants 23, PHILADELPHIA 0 Washington 42, LA RAMS 20
LA Raiders 27, BUFFALO 24
MONDAY NOVEMBER 21
NY Jets 31, NEW ORLEANS 28
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Washington 10 2 0 .833 414 265 Miami 8 4 0 .667 262 181
Dallas 10 2 0 .833 382 260 Buffalo 7 5 0 .583 228 247
St. Louis 5 6 1 .458 282 356 Baltimore 6 6 0 .500 196 272
Philadelphia 4 8 0 .333 172 234 New England 6 6 0 .500 238 232
NY Giants 3 8 1 .292 215 262 NY Jets 5 7 0 .417 246 254
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
Minnesota 7 5 0 .583 265 283 Pittsburgh 9 3 0 .750 291 198
GREEN BAY 6 6 0 .500 324 332 Cleveland 7 5 0 .583 252 241
Detroit 6 6 0 .500 257 244 Cincinnati 5 7 0 .417 267 215
Chicago 5 7 0 .417 218 233 Houston 1 11 0 .083 203 356
Tampa Bay 1 11 0 .083 158 286 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION LA Raiders 9 3 0 .750 319 268
San Francisco 7 5 0 .583 329 232 Denver 7 5 0 .583 230 223
LA Rams 7 5 0 .583 278 267 Seattle 6 6 0 .500 301 296
New Orleans 6 6 0 .500 258 271 Kansas City 5 7 0 .417 243 244
Atlanta 5 7 0 .417 247 266 San Diego 4 8 0 .333 262 345
THURSDAY NOVEMBER 24
DALLAS 35, St. Louis 17 DETROIT 45, Pittsburgh 3
SUNDAY NOVEMBER 27
CLEVELAND 41, Baltimore 23 SAN DIEGO 31, Denver 7
ATLANTA 47, Green Bay 41 (OT) LA RAMS 41, Buffalo 17
SEATTLE 51, Kansas City 48 (OT) NY JETS 26, New England 3
LA RAIDERS 27, NY Giants 12 TAMPA BAY 33, Houston 24
CHICAGO 13, San Francisco 3 NEW ORLEANS 17, Minnesota 16
WASHINGTON 28, Philadelphia 24
MONDAY NOVEMBER 28
MIAMI 38, Cincinnati 14
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Y-Washington 11 2 0 .846 442 289 Miami 9 4 0 .692 300 195
Y-Dallas 11 2 0 .846 417 277 Buffalo 7 6 0 .538 245 288
St. Louis 5 7 1 .423 299 391 Baltimore 6 7 0 .462 219 313
Philadelphia 4 9 0 .308 196 262 New England 6 7 0 .462 241 258
NY Giants 3 9 1 .269 227 289 NY Jets 6 7 0 .462 272 257
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
Detroit 7 6 0 .538 369 247 Pittsburgh 9 4 0 .692 294 243
Minnesota 7 6 0 .538 281 300 Cleveland 8 5 0 .615 293 264
GREEN BAY 6 7 0 .462 365 379 Cincinnati 5 8 0 .385 281 253
Chicago 6 7 0 .462 231 236 Houston 1 12 0 .077 227 389
Tampa Bay 2 11 0 .154 191 310 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION LA Raiders 10 3 0 .769 346 280
LA Rams 8 5 0 .615 319 284 Denver 7 6 0 .538 237 254
San Francisco 7 6 0 .538 332 245 Seattle 7 6 0 .538 352 344
New Orleans 7 6 0 .538 275 287 Kansas City 5 8 0 .385 291 295
Atlanta 6 7 0 .463 294 307 San Diego 5 8 0 .385 293 352
Y-Clinched Playoff Berth
THURSDAY DECEMBER 1
LA Raiders 42, SAN DIEGO 10
SUNDAY DECEMBER 4
NY Jets 10, BALTIMORE 6 WASHINGTON 37, Atlanta 21
DENVER 27, Cleveland 6 Buffalo 14, KANSAS CITY 9
Dallas 35, SEATTLE 10 GREEN BAY 31, Chicago 28
NEW ENGLAND 7, New Orleans 0 Cincinnati 23, PITTSBURGH 10
St. Louis 10, NY GIANTS 6 Miami 24, HOUSTON 17
SAN FRANCISCO 35, Tampa Bay 21 PHILADELPHIA 13, LA Rams 9
MONDAY DECEMBER 5
DETROIT 13, Minnesota 3
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Y-Washington 12 2 0 .857 479 310 Miami 10 4 0 .714 324 212
Y-Dallas 12 2 0 .857 452 287 Buffalo 8 6 0 .571 259 297
St. Louis 6 7 1 .464 309 397 New England 7 7 0 .500 248 258
Philadelphia 5 9 0 .357 209 271 NY Jets 7 7 0 .500 282 263
NY Giants 3 10 1 .250 233 299 Baltimore 6 8 0 .429 225 323
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
Detroit 8 6 0 .571 382 250 Pittsburgh 9 5 0 .643 304 266
Minnesota 7 7 0 .500 284 313 Cleveland 8 6 0 .571 299 291
GREEN BAY 7 7 0 .500 396 407 Cincinnati 6 8 0 .429 304 263
Chicago 6 8 0 .429 259 267 Houston 1 13 0 .071 244 413
Tampa Bay 2 12 0 .143 212 345 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION X-LA Raiders 11 3 0 .786 388 290
San Francisco 8 6 0 .571 367 266 Denver 8 6 0 .571 264 260
LA Rams 8 6 0 .571 328 297 Seattle 7 7 0 .500 362 379
New Orleans 7 7 0 .500 275 294 Kansas City 5 9 0 .357 300 309
Atlanta 6 8 0 .429 315 344 San Diego 5 9 0 .357 303 394
X-Clinched Division Title Y-Clinched Playoff Berth
SATURDAY DECEMBER 10
Pittsburgh 34, NY JETS 7 MIAMI 31, Atlanta 24
SUNDAY DECEMBER 11
Chicago 19, MINNESOTA 13 HOUSTON 34, Cleveland 27
SAN DIEGO 41, Kansas City 38 DENVER 21, Baltimore 19
New Orleans 20, PHILADELPHIA 17 CINCINNATI 17, Detroit 9
Seattle 17, NY GIANTS 12 New England 21, LA RAMS 7
St. Louis 34, LA RAIDERS 24 San Francisco 23, BUFFALO 10
Washington 31, DALLAS 10
MONDAY DECEMBER 12
Green Bay 12, TAMPA BAY 9 (OT)
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
Y-Washington 13 2 0 .867 510 320 X-Miami 11 4 0 .733 355 236
Y-Dallas 12 3 0 .800 462 318 New England 8 7 0 .533 269 265
St. Louis 7 7 1 .500 343 421 Buffalo 8 7 0 .533 269 320
Philadelphia 5 10 0 .333 226 291 NY Jets 7 8 0 .467 289 297
NY Giants 3 11 1 .233 245 316 Baltimore 6 9 0 .400 244 344
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
Detroit 8 7 0 .533 391 267 X-Pittsburgh 10 5 0 .667 338 273
GREEN BAY 8 7 0 .533 408 416 Cleveland 8 7 0 .533 326 325
Minnesota 7 8 0 .467 297 332 Cincinnati 7 8 0 .467 321 272
Chicago 7 8 0 .467 278 280 Houston 2 13 0 .133 278 440
Tampa Bay 2 13 0 .133 221 357 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION X-LA Raiders 11 4 0 .733 412 324
San Francisco 9 6 0 .600 390 276 Denver 9 6 0 .600 285 279
LA Rams 8 7 0 .533 335 318 Seattle 8 7 0 .533 379 391
New Orleans 8 7 0 .533 295 311 San Diego 6 9 0 .400 344 432
Atlanta 6 9 0 .400 339 375 Kansas City 5 10 0 .333 338 350
X-Clinched Division Title Y-Clinched Playoff Berth
Miami Dolphins (12-4)
Head Coach: Don Shula
Passing Leader: Dan Marino (2210)
Rushing Leader: Andra Franklin (746)
Receiving Leader: Tony Nathan (52-461)
New England Patriots (8-8)
Head Coach: Ron Meyer
Passing Leader: Steve Grogan (2411)
Rushing Leader: Tony Collins (1049)
Receiving Leader: Stanley Morgan (58-863)
Buffalo Bills (8-8)
Head Coach: Kay Stephenson
Passing Leader: Joe Ferguson (2995)
Rushing Leader: Joe Cribbs (1131)
Receiving Leader: Joe Cribbs (57-524)
Baltimore Colts (7-9)
Head Coach: Frank Kush
Passing Leader: Mike Pagel (2353)
Rushing Leader: Curtis Dickey (1122)
Rec. Leader: Bernard Henry (30-416)
New York Jets (7-9)
Head Coach: Joe Walton
Passing Leader: Richard Todd (3478)
Rushing Leader: Freeman McNeil (654)
Receiving Leader: Wesley Walker (61-868)
Pittsburgh Steelers (10-6)
Head Coach: Chuck Noll
Passing Leader: Cliff Stoudt (2553)
Rushing Leader: Franco Harris (1007)
Receiving Leader: Calvin Sweeney (39-577)
Cleveland Browns (9-7)
Head Coach: Sam Rutigliano
Passing Leader: Brian Sipe (3566)
Rushing Leader: Mike Pruitt (1184)
Receiving Leader: Ozzie Newsome (89-970)
Cincinnati Bengals (7-9)
Head Coach: Forrest Gregg
Passing Leader: Ken Anderson (2333)
Rushing Leader: Pete Johnson (763)
Receiving Leader: Cris Collinsworth (66-1130)
Houston Oilers (2-14)
Head Coach: Ed Biles (0-6)/Chuck Studley (2-8)
Passing Leader: Oliver Luck (1375)
Rushing Leader: Earl Campbell (1301)
Receiving Leader: Tim Smith (83-1176)
Los Angeles Raiders (12-4)
Head Coach: Tom Flores
Passing Leader: Jim Plunkett (2935)
Rushing Leader: Marcus Allen (1014)
Receiving Leader: Todd Christensen (92-1247)
Seattle Seahawks (9-7)
Head Coach: Chuck Knox
Passing Leader: Dave Krieg (2139)
Rushing Leader: Curt Warner (1449)
Receiving Leader: Steve Largent (72-1074)
Denver Broncos (9-7)
Head Coach: Dan Reeves
Passing Leader: John Elway (1663)
Rushing Leader: Sammy Winder (757)
Receiving Leader: Steve Watson (59-1133)
San Diego Chargers (6-10)
Head Coach: Don Coryell
Passing Leader: Dan Fouts (2975)
Rushing Leader: Chuck Muncie (886)
Receiving Leader: Kellen Winslow (88-1172)
Kansas City Chiefs (6-10)
Head Coach: John Mackovic
Passing Leader: Bill Kenney (4348)
Rushing Leader: Billy Jackson (499)
Receiving Leader: Carlos Carson (80-1351)
FRIDAY DECEMBER 16
MIAMI 34, NY Jets 14
SATURDAY DECEMBER 17
WASHINGTON 31, NY Giants 22 MINNESOTA 20, Cincinnati 14
SUNDAY DECEMBER 18
ST. LOUIS 31, Philadelphia 7 ATLANTA 31, Buffalo 14
BALTIMORE 20, Houston 10 CHICAGO 23, Green Bay 21
CLEVELAND 30, Pittsburgh 17 SEATTLE 24, New England 6
LA RAIDERS 30, San Diego 14 KANSAS CITY 48, Denver 17
DETROIT 23, Tampa Bay 20 LA Rams 26, NEW ORLEANS 24
MONDAY DECEMBER 19
SAN FRANCISCO 42, Dallas 17
NFC EASTERN DIVISION AFC EASTERN DIVISION
X-Washington 14 2 0 .875 541 332 X-Miami 12 4 0 .750 389 250
Y-Dallas 12 4 0 .750 479 360 Buffalo 8 8 0 .500 283 351
St. Louis 8 7 1 .531 374 428 New England 8 8 0 .500 274 289
Philadelphia 5 11 0 .313 233 322 Baltimore 7 9 0 .438 264 354
NY Giants 3 12 1 .219 267 347 NY Jets 7 9 0 .438 313 331
NFC CENTRAL DIVISION AFC CENTRAL DIVISION
X-Detroit 9 7 0 .563 347 286 X-Pittsburgh 10 6 0 .625 355 303
Chicago 8 8 0 .500 311 301 Cleveland 9 7 0 .563 356 342
GREEN BAY 8 8 0 .500 429 439 Cincinnati 7 9 0 .438 346 302
Minnesota 8 8 0 .500 316 346 Houston 2 14 0 .125 288 460
Tampa Bay 2 14 0 .125 241 380 AFC WESTERN DIVISION
NFC WESTERN DIVISION X-LA Raiders 12 4 0 .750 442 338
X-San Franc 10 6 0 .625 432 293 Y-Seattle 9 7 0 .563 403 397
Y-LA Rams 9 7 0 .563 361 344 Y-Denver 9 7 0 .563 302 327
New Orleans 8 8 0 .500 319 337 Kansas City 6 10 0 .375 386 367
Atlanta 7 9 0 .438 370 389 San Diego 6 10 0 .375 358 462
X-Clinched Division Title Y-Clinched Wild Card Berth
1983 PLAYOFFS - AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
Wildcard (December 24) - SEATTLE (9-7) 31, Denver (9-7) 7
Divisional (December 31) - Seattle (10-7) 27, MIAMI (12-4) 20
Divisional (January 1) - LA RAIDERS (12-4) 38, Pittsburgh (10-6) 10
Conference (January 8) - LA RAIDERS (13-4) 30, Seattle (11-7) 14
NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
Wildcard (December 26) - LA Rams (9-7) 24, DALLAS (12-4) 17
Divisional (December 31) - SAN FRANCISCO (10-6) 24, Detroit (9-7) 23
Divisional (January 1) - WASHINGTON (14-2) 51, LA Rams (10-7) 7
Conference (January 8) - WASHINGTON (15-2) 24, San Fran (11-6) 21
SUPER BOWL 18 (January 22, 1984 at Tampa)
LOS ANGELES RAIDERS (14-4) 38, WASHINGTON REDSKINS (16-2) 9 - The Los Angeles Raiders dominated the Washington Redskins from the beginning in Super Bowl XVIII and achieved the most lopsided victory in Super Bowl history, surpassing Green Bay's 35-10 win over Kansas City in Super Bowl I. The Raiders took a 7-0 lead 4:52 into the game when Derrick Jensen blocked Jeff Hayes's punt and recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. With 9:14 remaining in the first half, Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett fired a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Cliff Branch to complete a three-play, 65-yard drive. Washington cut the Raiders' lead to 14-3 on a 24-yard field goal by Mark Moseley. With seven seconds left in the first half, Raiders linebacker Jack Squirek intercepted Joe Theismann's pass at the Redskins' 5-yard line and ran it in for a touchdown to give Los Angeles a 21-3 halftime lead. In the third period, running back Marcus Allen, who rushed for a Super Bowl-record 191 yards on 20 carries, increased the Raiders' lead to 35-9 on touchdown runs of five and 74 yards, the latter erasing the Super Bowl record of 58 yards set by Baltimore's Tom Matte in Game III. Allen was named the game's most valuable player. The victory over Washington raised Raiders coach Tom Flores' playoff record to 8-1, including a 27-10 win against Philadelphia in Super Bowl XV. The 38 points scored by the Raiders were the highest total by a Super Bowl team. The previous high was 35 points by Green Bay in Game I.
INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE - The league was announced in July 1983, with plans to kick off in the spring of 1984, with plans for expansion to Japan and Australia and a best-of-three championship series. Former WHA and WFL founder Dennis Murphy was introduced as one of the founders. Original franchises were identified as Canton (Ohio Bulldogs), New York, Charlotte, Miami, Chicago, Milwaukee, Nebraska-Iowa, Tennessee (Memphis or Nashville), Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Honolulu. Three more franchises were announced soon after - Indianapolis, Seattle and Portland. In August, the league announced a 5-year TV contract with the William Tanner company. The contract would pay each team $1.8 million in the first year. Ray Malavasi, former Rams head coach, was named head coach of the Southern California franchise, while Roman Gabriel was tabbed to lead the Carolina Storm. The IFL quickly fell apart, with commissioner Jerry Saperstein resigning in October, amid reports employees weren't being paid. News about the league dried up after that.
Philadelphia Stars (15-3)
Head Coach: Jim Mora
Passing Leader: Chuck Fusina (2718)
Rushing Leader: Kelvin Bryant (1442)
Receiving Leader: Scott Fitzkee (55-731)
Attendance: 18,650 (9th)
Boston Breakers (11-7)
Head Coach: Dick Coury
Passing Leader: John Walton (3772)
Rushing Leader: Richard Crump (990)
Receiving Leader: Nolan Franz (62-848)
Attendance: 12,817 (12th)
New Jersey Generals (6-12)
Head Coach: Chuck Fairbanks
Passing Leader: Bobby Scott (2174)
Rushing Leader: Herschel Walker (1812)
Receiving Leader: Herschel Walker (53-489)
Attendance: 35,004 (3rd)
Washington Federals (4-14)
Head Coach: Ray Jauch
Passing Leader: Kim McQuilken (1912)
Rushing Leader: Craig James (823)
Receiving Leader: Billy Taylor (64-523)
Attendance: 13,850 (11th)
Michigan Panthers (12-6)
Head Coach: Jim Stanley
Passing Leader: Bobby Hebert (3568)
Rushing Leader: Ken Lacy (1180)
Receiving Leader: Mike Cobb (61-746)
Attendance: 22,250 (6th)
Chicago Blitz (12-6)
Head Coach: George Allen
Passing Leader: Greg Landry (2383)
Rushing Leader: Tim Spencer (1157)
Receiving Leader: Trumaine Johnson (81-1322)
Attendance: 18,133 (10th)
Tampa Bay Bandits (11-7)
Head Coach: Steve Spurrier
Passing Leader: Jimmy Jordan (1831)
Rushing Leader: Greg Boone (694)
Receiving Leader: Danny Buggs (76-1146)
Attendance: 39,896 (2nd)
Birmingham Stallions (9-9)
Head Coach: Rollie Dotsch
Passing Leader: Bob Lane (2264)
Rushing Leader: Ken Talton (907)
Receiving Leader: Jim Smith (51-756)
Attendance: 22,046 (7th)
Oakland Invaders (9-9)
Head Coach: John Ralston
Passing Leader: Fred Besana (3980)
Rushing Leader: Arthur Whittington (1043)
Receiving Leader: Raymond Chester (68-951)
Attendance: 31,211 (4th)
Los Angeles Express (8-10)
Head Coach: Hugh Campbell
Passing Leader: Tom Ramsey (1975)
Rushing Leader: LaRue Harrington (547)
Receiving Leader: Ricky Ellis (69-716)
Attendance: 19,002 (8th)
Denver Gold (7-11)
Head Coach: Red Miller (4-7)/Charlie Armey (0-1)/Craig Morton (3-3)
Passing Leader: Ken Johnson (1115)
Rushing Leader: Harry Sydney (801)
Receiving Leader: Larry Canada (42-242)
Attendance: 41,736 (1st)
Arizona Wranglers (4-14)
Head Coach: Doug Shively
Passing Leader: Alan Risher (2672)
Rushing Leader: Calvin Murray (699)
Receiving Leader: Mark Keel (65-802)
Attendance: 25,776 (5th)
FRANCHISES: Arizona (Phoenix) Wranglers, Birmingham Stallions, Boston Breakers, Chicago Blitz, Denver Gold, Los Angeles Express, Michigan (Detroit) Panthers, New Jersey Generals, Oakland Invaders, Philadelphia Stars, Tampa Bay Bandits, Washington Federals BACKGROUND: Founded by David Dixon, the USFL announced its formation on May 11, 1982 in New York. Judge Peter Spivak, part owner of one of twelve teams, was announced as the president, until full-time commissioner could be found. The USFL hooked up with ESPN and ABC Sports to broadcast games. New Jersey ignored the salary cap, and signed Heisman Trophy winner Hershel Walker, who left college a year early, to a huge contract. Denver led the league in attendance while Boston was at bottom. The league averaged 25,031 fans a game for total of 2.073 million fans.
SUNDAY MARCH 6
TAMPA BAY 21, Boston 17 (42437) - John Reaves passed for 358 yards and three TDs, including a winning strike to Willie Gillespie, to lead the Bandits. Reaves completed 28 of 39 passes. The game-winning toss capped a drive that came after Boston had taken the lead on Tony Davis TD run, set up by Terry Love's 102-yard interception return. Reaves' first TD pass to RB Ricky Williams in the second was credited as the first USFL TD.
Boston - 3 7 7 0 - 17
Tampa Bay - 0 7 7 7 - 21
1st - BOS - Tim Mazzetti, 30-yard field goal BOST 3-0 2nd - TB - Ricky Williams, 6-yard pass from John Reaves (Zenon Andrusyshyn kick) TB 7-3 2nd - BOS - Anthony Steels, 5-yard pass from Johnnie Walton (Mazzetti kick) BOST 10-7 3rd - TB - Eric Truvillion, 6-yard pass from Reaves (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 14-10 3rd - BOS - Tony Davis, 1-yard run (Mazzetti kick) BOST 17-14 4th - TB - Willie Gillespie, 33-yard pass from Reaves (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 21-17
Oakland 24, ARIZONA 0 (45167) - Fred Besana fired two TD passes to Wyatt Henderson, including a 53-yard bomb in the first quarter, as the Invaders won a sloppy opener. Arthur Whittington's two-yard TD run capped a four-play 59-yard Invader drive with 12:47 left in the game, which was watched by 45,167 at 70,300-seat Sun Devil Stadium, lured in part by a pre-game concert by the Beach Boys.
Oakland - 7 0 0 17 — 24
Arizona - 0 0 0 0 — 0
1st - OAK - Wyatt Henderson, 53 pass from Fred Besana (Kevin Shea kick) OAK 7-0 4th - OAK - Arthur Whittington, 2-yard run (Shea kick) OAK 14-0 4th - OAK - Shea, 45-yard field goal OAK 17-0 4th - OAK - Henderson, 19-yard pass from Besana (Shea kick) OAK 24-0
CHICAGO 28, Washington 7 (38010) - Trumaine Johnson caught one TD pass and set up a second to lead the Blitz and give Coach George Allen a triumphant return to the nation's capital. Chicago QB Greg Landry repeatedly found the seams in the Federal secondary, completing 17 of 27 for 251 yards and two TDs. Allen, who was fired in 1977 after leading the Redskins for seven years, was greeted warmly by the fans who ignored a steady drizzle.
Chicago - 7 14 0 7 — 28
Washington - 0 0 0 7 — 7
1st - CHI - Danny Buggs, fumble recovery in end zone (Frank Corral kick) CHI 7-0 2nd - CHI - Kevin Long, 4-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 14-0 2nd - CHI - Trumaine Johnson, 23-yard pass from Greg Landry (Corral kick) CHI 21-0 4th - CHI - Paul Ricker, 10-yard pass from Landry (Corral kick) CHI 28-0 4th - WASH - Walker Lee, 19-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Obed Ariri kick) CHI 28-7
Philadelphia 13, DENVER 7 (45102) - Chuck Fusina quarterbacked the Stars to their first win, as he scored the first and only TD for Philadelphia in the first quarter and David Trout kicked two FGs. Meanwhile, the Stars, whose defense had been pronounced suspect before the season, put on a last-minute, goal-line stand to hold off what the 45,000 fans in Mile High Stadium thought was going to be a winning Gold touchdown.
Philadelphia - 7 3 3 0 — 13
Denver - 0 0 0 7 — 7
1st - PHIL - Chuck Fusina, 2-yard run (David Trout kick) PHIL 7-0 2nd - PHIL - Trout, 50-yard field goal PHIL 10-0 3rd - PHIL - Trout, 29-yard field goal PHIL 13-0 4th - DEN - Ken Johnson, 1-yard run (Brian Speelman kick) PHIL 13-7
LOS ANGELES 20, New Jersey 15 (34002) - It was supposed to be the Herschel Walker Show. Instead, it was the triumphant return of Tom Ramsey. Walker gained only 65 yards on 16 carries, with his longest gain being nine yards. Tony Boddie rushed for 77 yards on 13 carries and caught five passes for 49 yards and a TD to lead the Express. Ramsey, who attended UCLA, was the star of the game, passing for two TDs.
New Jersey - 9 0 0 6 — 15
Los Angeles - 3 10 7 0 — 20
1st - LA - Vince Abbott, 23-yard field goal LA 3-0 1st - NJ - Herschel Walker, 5-yard run (Kick failed) NJ 6-3 1st - NJ - Dave Jacobs, 38-yard field goal NJ 9-3 2nd - LA - Abbott, 27-yard field goal NJ 9-6 2nd - LA - Tony Boddie, 11-yard pass from Tom Ramsey (Abbott kick) LA 13-9 3rd - LA - Vister Hayes, 24-yard pass from Ramsey (Abbott kick) LA 20-9 4th - NY - Tom McConnaughey 10 pass from Bobby Scott (Pass fail) LA 20-15
MONDAY MARCH 7
Michigan 9, BIRMINGHAM 7 (38352) - Novo Bojovic kicked three near identical field goals to give the Panthers the win. The home-town fans had only one chance to cheer, when Birmingham QB Reggie Collier skirted right end on a bootleg keeper for the game's only touchdown. Collier led the Stallions in rushing with 76 yards on 13 carries. LB Ray Bentley intercepted two passes and led Michigan in tackles with 10.
Michigan - 6 3 0 0 - 9
Birmingham - 0 7 0 0 - 7
1st - MICH - Novo Bojovic, 49-yard field goal MICH 3-0 1st - MICH - Bojovic, 49-yard field goal MICH 6-0 2nd - BIRM - Reggie Collier, 3-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) BIRM 7-6 2nd - MICH - Bojovic, 48-yard field goal MICH 9-7
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
Philadelphia 1 0 0 1.000 13 7 Chicago 1 0 0 1.000 28 7
Boston 0 1 0 .000 17 21 Tampa Bay 1 0 0 1.000 21 17
New Jersey 0 1 0 .000 15 20 Michigan 1 0 0 1.000 9 7
Washington 0 1 0 .000 7 28 Birmingham 0 1 0 .000 7 9
PACIFIC DIVISION
Oakland 1 0 0 1.000 24 0 Denver 0 1 0 .000 7 13
Los Angeles 1 0 0 1.000 20 15 Arizona 0 1 0 .000 0 24
SATURDAY MARCH 12
ARIZONA 30, Chicago 29 (28434) - George Allen and the Blitz were two TD favorites, but Alan Risher and Jim Asmus threw that line out the window and hung the Blitz out to dry. Allen's team looked every bit as good as that line, building a 29-12 lead on Greg Landry's three TD passes. Then Risher, who also threw three TD passes, took command. He guided the Wranglers into position for Asmus' winning FG with one second remaining.
Chicago - 7 3 13 6 - 29
Arizona - 3 3 6 18 - 30
1st - ARZ - Jim Asmus, 22-yard field goal ARI 3-0 1st - CHI - Lenny Willis, 15-yard pass from Greg Landry (Frank Corral kick ) CHI 7-3 2nd - CHI - Corral, 25-yard field goal CHI 10-3 2nd - ARZ - Asmus, 35-yard field goal CHI 10-6 3rd - CHI - Paul Ricker, 12-yard pass from Landry (Kick failed) CHI 16-6 2nd - ARZ - Mike Smith, 6-yard pass from Alan Risher (Kick blocked) CHI 16-12 3rd - CHI - Kevin Long, 1-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 23-12 4th - CHI - Ricker, 15-yard pass from Landry (Kick failed) CHI 29-12 4th - ARZ - Jackie Flowers, 10-yard pass from Risher (Mark Keel pass from Risher) CHI 29-20 4th - ARZ - Neil Balholm, 9-yard pass from Risher (Asmus kick) CHI 29-27 4th - CHI - Asmus, 33-yard field goal ARI 30-29
TAMPA BAY 19, Michigan 7 (38789) - The Panthers were expecting a passing barrage from Tampa Bay's John Reaves. Instead, they ran into Greg Boone, who rolled up 157 yards on 31 carries including a 7-yard touchdown for the Bandits. The teams traded second-period TDs, Reaves passing 6 yards to Eric Truvillion - Bobby Hebert throwing 3 yards to Mike Cobb. The game attracted 38,789 compared to last week's 42,437.
Michigan - 0 7 0 0 - 7
Tampa Bay - 0 7 9 3 - 19
2nd - TB - Eric Truvillion, 6-yard pass from John Reaves (Zenon Andrusyshyn kick) TB 7-0 2nd - MICH - Mike Cobb, 3-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Novo Bojovic kick) TIED 7-7 3rd - TB - Andrusyshyn, 32-yard field goal TB 10-7 3rd - TB - Greg Boone, 7-yard run (Kick failed) TB 16-7 4th - TB - Andrusyshyn, 33-yard field goal TB 19-7
SUNDAY MARCH 13
Boston 21, DENVER 7 (41926) - Johnnie Walton's TD passes of 39 yards to Nolan Franz on a flea-flicker play and 14 yards to Tony Davis and LB Ben Needham's 68-yard jaunt with a blocked FG attempt for another TD evened Boston's record at 1-1 and kept the Gold winless. Denver's only TD came after Ken Johnson replaced starter Jeff Knapple, and pitched a 5-yard scoring pass to tight end Darryl Goosby.
Boston - 0 14 7 0 - 21
Denver - 0 0 7 0 - 7
2nd - BOST - Ben Needham, 68-yard blocked field goal return (Tim Mazzetti kick ) BOS 7-0 2nd - BOST - Nolan Franz, 39-yard pass from Johnnie Walton (Mazzetti kick) BOS 14-0 3rd - BOST - Tony Davis, 14-yard pass from Walton (Mazzetti kick) BOS 21-0 3rd - DEN - Darryl Goosby, 5-yard pass from Ken Johnson (Brian Speelman kick) BOS 21-7
PHILADELPHIA 25, New Jersey 0 (38205) - Herschel Walker had his second mediocre game as the Generals lost for the second time. Walker gained 60 yards against the Stars and fumbled twice, two of New Jersey's seven turnovers. Chuck Fusina ran for one TD and passed 8 yards to Scott Fitzkee for another and Kelvin Bryant outshone Walker with 114 yards and a touchdown.
New Jersey - 0 0 0 0 - 0
Philadelphia - 0 12 3 10 - 25
2nd - PHIL - Scott Fitzkee, 8-yard pass from Chuck Fusina (Kick failed) PHIL 6-0 2nd - PHIL - Kelvin Bryant, 2-yard run (Pass failed) PHIL 12-0 3rd - PHIL - David Trout, 26-yard field goal PHIL 15-0 3rd - PHIL - Trout, 31-yard field goal PHIL 18-0 4th - PHIL - Fusina, 1-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 25-0
Birmingham 20, OAKLAND 14 (OT) (47344) - There were 47,344 fans in the Oakland Coliseum to watch the Invaders in the ballpark's first pro game since the NFL's Raiders fled south to Los Angeles. But Bob Lane, Birmingham's quarterback, cut short the celebrating when he dived into the end zone from the 1-yard line 5:54 into overtime to give the Stallions their victory.
Birmingham - 0 0 14 0 6 - 20
Oakland - 7 0 0 7 0 - 14
1st - OAK - Ted Torosian, 1-yard run (Kevin Shea kick) OAKLAND 7-0 3rd - BIRM - Ron Frederick, 46-yard pass from Reggie Collier (Scott Norwood kick) TIED 7-7 3rd - BIRM - Ken Talton, 1-yard run (Norwood kick) BIRM 14-7 4th - OAK - Wyatt Henderson, 26-yard pass from Fred Besana (Shea kick) TIED 14-14 OT - BIRM - Bob Lane, 1-yard run BIRM 20-14
MONDAY MARCH 14
LOS ANGELES 20, Washington 3 (22453) - The Express, featuring a solid defense and two TD passes from Mike Rae to Ricky Ellis, remained perfect. Spearheading the LA defense were S Alvin Burleson, who logged seven solo tackles, one assist and one quarterback sack; and LB Ron Seawell, who was in on six tackles, deflected two passes and intercepted another. The game at the L.A. Coliseum drew the smallest for a USFL game thus far.
Washington - 3 0 0 0 - 3
Los Angeles - 3 14 3 0 - 20
1st - WASH - Obed Ariri, 28-yard field goal WASH 3-0 1st - LA - Vince Abbott, 30-yard field goal TIED 3-3 2nd - LA - Ricky Ellis, 17-yard pass from Mike Rae (Abbott kick) LA 10-3 2nd - LA - Ellis, 18-yard pass from Rae (Abbott Kick) LA 17-3 3rd - LA - Abbott, 28-yard field goal LA 20-3
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
Philadelphia 2 0 0 1.000 38 7 Tampa Bay 2 0 0 1.000 40 24
Boston 1 1 0 .500 38 28 Chicago 1 1 0 .500 57 37
New Jersey 0 2 0 .000 15 45 Michigan 1 1 0 .500 16 26
Washington 0 2 0 .000 10 48 Birmingham 1 1 0 .500 27 23
PACIFIC DIVISION
Los Angeles 2 0 0 1.000 40 18 Arizona 1 1 0 .500 30 53
Oakland 1 1 0 .500 38 20 Denver 0 2 0 .000 14 34
SATURDAY MARCH 19
ARIZONA 21, Los Angeles 14 (29335) - Jim Asmus kicked two FGs, including a record 57-yarder, as Arizona beat the previously undefeated Express. Alan Risher also fired a TD pass for the Wranglers. Los Angeles mustered its only points on a TD pass from Mike Rae to flanker Kevin Williams in the second quarter and Tom Ramsey's 3-yard scoring strike to Williams with 49 seconds to go in the game.
Los Angeles - 0 7 0 7 - 14
Arizona - 7 11 0 3 - 21
1st - ARZ - Darryl Clark, 1-yard run (Jim Asmus kick) ARI 7-0 2nd - ARZ - Asmus, 57-yard field goal ARI 10-0 2nd - LA - Kevin Williams, 61-yard pass from Mike Rae (Vince Abbott kick) ARI 10-7 2nd - ARZ - Jackie Flowers, 45-yard pass from Alan Risher (Steve Howell run) ARI 18-7 4th - ARZ - Asmus, 41-yard field goal ARI 21-7 4th - LA - Williams, 3-yard pass from Tom Ramsey (Abbott kick) ARI 21-14
Oakland 33, MICHIGAN 27 (28952) - Fred Besana hit 23 of 29 passes for 338 yards and three TDs, including a pair to WR Wyatt Henderson to ruin Michigan's home opener. It also overshadowed a comeback engineered by Bobby Hebert, the Panthers' QB, who was benched early. Hebert returned late in the third period and threw three TD passes to Derek Holloway. Besana entered the contest as the USFL's top rated passer.
Oakland - 0 10 13 10 - 33
Michigan - 3 3 7 14 - 27
1st - MICH - Novo Bojovic, 44-yard field goal MICH 3-0 2nd - OAK - Wyatt Henderson, 45-yard pass from Fred Besana (Kevin Shea kick) OAK 7-3 2nd - MICH - Bojovic, 44-yard field goal OAK 7-6 2nd - OAK - Shea, 32-yard field goal OAK 10-6 3rd - OAK - Henderson, 22-yard pass from Besana (Shea kick) OAK 17-6 3rd - OAK - Arthur Whittington, 14-yard run (Kick failed) OAK 23-6 3rd - MICH - Derek Holloway, 48-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Bojovic kick) OAK 23-13 4th - OAK - Raymond Chester, 32-yard pass from Besana (Shea kick) OAK 30-13 4th - MICH - Holloway, 22-yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) OAK 30-20 4th - OAK - Shea, 24-yard field goal OAK 33-20 4th - MICH - Holloway, 38-yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) OAK 33-27
SUNDAY MARCH 20
Denver 16, CHICAGO 13 (22600) - QB Ken Johnson's keeper across a snow-covered goal line with 22 seconds left gave the Gold the upset in Chicago's home debut. The touchdown capped the Gold's only sustained drive of the game and overcame a 13-10 lead Chicago took after John Roveto's 38-yard FG at 11:50 of the final quarter. Denver mounted the final drive from its own 30-yard line after an exchange of punts.
Denver - 3 7 0 6 - 16
Chicago - 10 0 0 3 - 13
1st - CHI - John Roveto, 27-yard field goal CHI 3-0 1st - CHI - Lenny Willis, 42-yard pass from Greg Landry (Roveto kick) CHI 10-0 1st - DEN - Brian Speelman, 39-yard field goal CHI 10-3 2nd - DEN - Harry Sydney, 30-yard run (Speelman kick) TIED 10-10 4th - CHI - Roveto, 38-yard field goal CHI 13-10 4th - DEN - Ken Johnson, 1-yard run (Kick failed) DEN 16-13
BOSTON 19, Washington 16 (18430) - Tim Mazzetti's fourth FG, a 29-yarder with 27 seconds to play, as the Breakers capitalized on two bad snaps by Washington in the final five minutes to triumph in Boston's first pro football game since 1966. Boston had taken over on the Federal 35 after a bungled FG attempt by the Feds. Obed Ariri lined up for a 42-yard attempt, but the snap sailed over his head and he raced back to fall on it.
Washington - 3 7 6 0 - 16
Boston - 3 6 0 10 - 19
1st - WASH - Obed Ariri, 38-yard field goal WASH 3-0 1st - BOST - Tim Mazzetti, 20-yard field goal TIED 3-3 2nd - BOST - Mazzetti, 47-yard field goal BOS 6-3 2nd - WASH - Joey Walters, 17-yard pass from Kim McQuilken (Ariri kick) WASH 10-6 2nd - BOST - Mazzetti, 21-yard field goal WASH 10-9 3rd - WASH - James Mayberry, 1-yard run (Kick failed) WASH 16-9 4th - BOST - Richard Crump, 1-yard run (Mazzetti kick) TIED 16-16 4th - BOST - Mazzetti, 29-yard field goal BOS 19-16
Tampa Bay 32, NEW JERSEY 9 (53507) - John Reaves threw for three TDs as the unbeaten Bandits routed the winless Generals. Reaves took the spotlight away from Herschel Walker in the former Georgia star's home debut. Walker gained only 39 yards of New Jersey's 67 rushing yards on his 19 carries. Meanwhile, Reaves completed 19 of 29 passes for 255 yards, while RB Greg Boone scored twice.
Tampa Bay - 11 7 7 7 - 32
New Jersey - 0 3 0 6 - 9
1st - TB - Zenon Andruyshyn, 20-yard field goal TB 3-0 1st - TB - Greg Boone, 3-yard pass from John Reaves (Mike Goedecker run) TB 11-0 2nd - TB - Eric Truvillion, 25-yard pass from Reaves (Andruyshyn kick) TB 18-0 2nd - NJ - Dave Jacobs, 30-yard field goal TB 18-3 3rd - TB - Boone, 1-yard run (Andruyshyn kick) TB 25-3 4th - TB - Lewis Gilbert, 10-yard pass from Reaves (Andruyshyn kick) TB 32-3 4th - NJ - Victor Hicks, 10-yard pass from Dave Boisture (Pass failed) TB 32-9
MONDAY MARCH 21
Philadelphia 17, BIRMINGHAM 10 (12850) - Kelvin Bryant ran 27 times for 177 yards, and one TD as the Stars remained perfect. Bryant scored the Stars' second TD on a 1-yard run with 12:23 to play in the third quarter. He carried all five plays in the drive that was set up by a 67-yard return by Allen Harvin of the second-half kickoff. The Stars rushed 30 times for 200 yards.
Philadelphia - 7 3 7 0 — 17
Birmingham - 7 0 3 0 — 10
1st - PHIL - Allen Harvin, 2-yard run (David Trout kick) PHIL 7-0 1st - BIRM - Reggie Collier, 4-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) TIED 7-7 2nd - PHIL - Trout, 23-yard field goal PHIL 10-7 3rd - PHIL - Kelvin Bryant, 1-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 17-7 3rd - BIRM - Norwood, 19-yard field goal PHIL 17-10
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
Philadelphia 3 0 0 1.000 55 17 Tampa Bay 3 0 0 1.000 72 33
Boston 2 1 0 .667 57 44 Chicago 1 2 0 .333 70 53
New Jersey 0 3 0 .000 24 77 Michigan 1 2 0 .333 43 59
Washington 0 3 0 .000 26 67 Birmingham 1 2 0 .333 37 40
PACIFIC DIVISION
Los Angeles 2 1 0 .667 54 39 Arizona 2 1 0 .667 51 67
Oakland 2 1 0 .667 71 47 Denver 1 2 0 .333 30 47
SATURDAY MARCH 26
BIRMINGHAM 16, Arizona 7 (5,000) - Scott Norwood kicked three first half FGs to lead the Stallions to their first home win before the smallest crowd of the season in the USFL. The Stallions have sought consistent kicking this season and may have found it in Norwood, who booted FGs of 48, 36 and 32 yards for a 9-0 halftime lead. Arizona came back in the third quarter, but on 4th and 1 with 1:35 left, Cornelius Quarles ran 39 yards to seal the victory.
Arizona - 0 0 7 0 — 7
Birmingham - 6 3 0 7 — 16
1st - BIRM - Scott Norwood, 48-yard field goal BIRM 3-0 1st - BIRM - Norwood, 34-yard field goal BIRM 6-0 2nd - BIRM - Norwood, 32-yard field goal BIRM 9-0 3rd - ARZ - Jackie Flowers, 15-yard pass from Alan Risher (Jim Asmus kick) BIRM 9-7 4th - BIRM - Cornelius Quarles, 39-yard run (Norwood kick) BIRM 16-7
SUNDAY MARCH 27
CHICAGO 20, Los Angeles 14 (10,936) - George Allen has always preached defense. The Blitz practiced it, recovering a fumble and intercepting two Tom Ramsey passes in the final 6 1/2 minutes to preserve the victory and end a 2-game losing streak. John Roveto's second FG of the game, a 24-yard chip shot with 2:07 left, clinched Chicago's victory before 10,936 compared with 21,949 at last week's snowy home opener.
Los Angeles - 0 0 14 0 — 14
Chicago - 0 10 7 3 — 20
2nd - CHI - John Roveto, 38-yard field goal CHI 3-0 2nd - CHI - Kevin Long, 1-yard run (Roveto kick) CHI 10-0 3rd - LA - Tony Boddie, 40-yard pass from Tom Ramsey (Vince Abbott kick) CHI 10-7 3rd - CHI - Doug Cozen, 5-yard pass from Greg Landry (Roveto kick) CHI 17-7 3rd - LA - Ricky Ellis, 18-yard pass from Ramsey (Abbott kick) CHI 17-14 4th - CHI - Roveto, 24-yard field goal CHI 20-14
Boston 31, NEW JERSEY 21 (41218) - Herschel Walker has lost more games in a month as a General than he lost in his entire three-year career as Georgia's star tailback. He rushed for 97 yards and a TD against Boston and added 62 yards receiving. But his fumble gave the Breakers' Tim Mazzetti the chance to kick a tie-breaking 45-yard FG with 2:39 to play. The Generals fumbled eight times, five recovered by the Breakers.
Boston - 7 3 3 18 - 31
New Jersey - 0 21 0 0 - 21
1st - BOST - Johnnie Walton, 1-yard run (Tim Mazzetti kick) BOS 7-0 2nd - NJ - Herschel Walker, 1-yard run (Dave Jacobs kick) TIED 7-7 2nd - NJ - Maurice Carthon, 2-yard run (Jacobs kick) NJ 14-7 2nd - NJ - Victor Hicks, 10-yard pass from Bobby Scott (Jacobs kick) NJ 21-7 2nd - BOST - Mazzetti, 33-yard field goal NJ 21-10 3rd - BOST - Mazzetti, 26-yard field goal NJ 21-13 4th - BOST - Richard Crump, 1-yard run (Charles Smith pass from Walton) TIED 21-21 4th - BOST - Mazzetti, 45-yard field goal BOS 24-21 4th - BOST - Tony Davis, 10-yard run (Mazzetti kick) BOS 31-21
WASHINGTON 22, Michigan 16 (OT) (11414) - Kim McQuilken's third TD pass and second to Joey Walters, a 23-yarder 2:43 into OT, gave Washington its first victory of the season. The victory came before 11,243 rain-soaked fans at RFK Stadium, less than one-third the 38,010 who attended their opener. There were 10,396 no-shows Sunday. Novo Bojovic's 43-yard FG for Michigan, had tied it 16-16 as regulation time expired.
Michigan - 0 7 6 3 0 - 16
Washington - 3 13 0 0 6 - 22
1st - WASH - Obed Ariri, 32-yard field goal WASH 3-0 2nd - WASH - Mike Holmes, 40-yard pass from Kim McQuilken (Ariri kick) WASH 10-0 2nd - MICH - Anthony Carter, 33-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Novo Bojovic kick) WASH 10-7 2nd - WASH - Joey Walters, 8-yard pass from McQuilken (Kick failed) WASH 16-7 3rd - MICH - Derek Holloway, 69-yard pass from Hebert (Kick failed) WASH 16-13 4th - MICH - Bojovic, 43-yard field goal TIED 16-16 OT - WASH - Walters, 22-yard pass from McQuilken WASH 22-16
Tampa Bay 27, PHILADELPHIA 22 (18718) - CB Jeff George's fumble recovery set up a TD pass by John Reaves, then George sprinted 22 yards with an interception for another TD to key the Bandits' rainy victory. The crowd of 18,718 was less than half who came to see the Stars' home opener. Reaves, who played with the Eagles from 1972-75, threw for 269 yards, all but 21 of them in the first half.
Tampa Bay - 14 13 0 0 — 27
Philadelphia - 7 6 3 6 — 22
1st - TB - Eric Truvillion, 33-yard pass from John Reaves (Zenon Andrusyshyn kick) TB 7-0 1st - PHIL - Kelvin Bryant, 35-yard run (David Trout kick ) TIED 7-7 1st - TB - Jeff George, 22-yard interception return Andrusyshyn kick) TB 14-7 2nd - PHIL - Trout, 35-yard field goal TB 14-10 2nd - TB - Andrusyshyn, 43-yard field goal TB 17-10 2nd - TB - Sam Platt, 1-yard run {Andrusyshyn kick) TB 24-10 2nd - TB - Andrusyshyn, 38-yard field goal TB 27-10 2nd - PHIL - Trout, 37-yard field goal TB 27-13 3rd - PHIL - Trout ,27-yard field goal TB 27-16 4th - PHIL - Bryant, 33-yard pass from Jim Krohn (Pass failed) TB 27-22
MONDAY MARCH 28
DENVER 22, Oakland 12 (38720) - Ken Johnson passed for two TDs and Harry Sydney rushed for 83 yards and another TD, powering the Gold in the rain and snow in a penalty-plagued game that produced a four-way tie for the lead in the Pacific. The teams combined for 22 penalties worth 207 yards, including six personal fouls and an unsportsmanlike conduct. Oakland got the worst of it, being assessed 13 penalties for 207 yards.
Oakland - 0 0 0 12 - 12
Denver - 8 7 0 7 - 22
1st - DEN - Bob Niziolek, 10-yard pass from Ken Johnson (Larry Canada pass from Jeff Knapple) DEN 8-0 2nd - DEN - Vic James, 5-yard pass from Johnson (Brian Speelman kick) DEN 15-0 3rd - DEN - Harry Sydney, 1-yard run (Speelman kick) DEN 22-0 4th - OAK - Arthur Wittington, 1-yard pass from Fred Besana (Pass failed) DEN 22-6 4th - OAK - Raymond Chester, 16-yard pass from Besana (Pass failed) DEN 22-12
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
Philadelphia 3 1 0 .750 77 44 Tampa Bay 4 0 0 1.000 99 55
Boston 3 1 0 .750 88 65 Chicago 2 2 0 .500 90 67
Washington 1 3 0 .250 48 83 Birmingham 2 2 0 .500 53 47
New Jersey 0 4 0 .000 45 106 Michigan 1 3 0 .500 59 81
PACIFIC DIVISION
Oakland 2 2 0 .500 83 69 Arizona 2 2 0 .500 58 83
Los Angeles 2 2 0 .500 68 59 Denver 2 2 0 .500 52 59
SATURDAY APRIL 2
BOSTON 27, Birmingham 16 (10976) - Johnnie Walton threw two TD passes in the first five minutes and Tim Mazzetti kicked two FGs as the Breakers rolled to their fourth straight win. The game drew about half of Nickerson Field's capacity on a sunny, 50-degree day. Two Scott Norwood FGs cut Boston's lead to 20-16 with 9:50 left. But Walton led the Breakers on a 10-play, 75-yard march capped by a TD run by Tony Davis.
Birmingham - 0 10 3 3 — 16
Boston - 14 6 0 7 — 27
1st - BOST - Nolan Franz, 26-yard pass from Johnnie Walton (Tim Mazzetti kick) BOS 7-0 1st - BOST - Richard Crump, 12-yard pass from Walton (Mazzetti kick) BOS 14-0 2nd - BIRM - Cornelius Quarles, 2-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) BOS 14-7 2nd - BIRM -Norwood, 22-yard field goal BOS 14-10 2nd - BOST - Mazzetti, 42-yard field goal BOS 17-10 2nd - BOST - Mazzetti, 23-yard field goal BOS 20-10 3rd - BIRM - Norwood, 47-yard field goal BOS 20-13 4th - BIRM -Norwood, 29-yard field goal BOS 20-16 4th - BOST - Tony Davis, 2-yard run (Mazzetti kick) BOS 27-16
Chicago 42, TAMPA BAY 3 (46585) - Greg Landry tossed a pair of TD passes to Trumaine Johnson and Luther Bradley returned one of his pro football-record six interceptions 93 yards for another TD for Chicago, who knocked off the last unbeaten. There were only 3,414 no shows despite heavy rain that continued until kickoff. Landry completed 19 of 26 passes for 277 yards, as Chicago blew the game open with a 21-point third.
Chicago - 7 7 21 7 — 42
Tampa Bay - 0 3 0 0 — 3
1st - CHI - Trumaine Johnson, 45-yard pass from Greg Landry (John Roveto kick) CHI 7-0 2nd - TB - Zenon Andrusyshyn, 32-yard field goal CHI 7-3 2nd - CHI - Kevin Long, 1-yard run (Roveto kick) CHI 14-3 3rd - CHI - Johnson, 5-yard pass from Landry (Roveto kick) CHI 21-3 3rd - CHI - Luther Bradley, 93-yard interception return (Roveto kick) CHI 28-3 3rd - CHI - Landry, 4-yard run (Roveto kick) CHI 35-3 4th - CHI - Jim Stone, 8-yard run (Roveto kick) CHI 42-3
SUNDAY APRIL 3
PHILADELPHIA 34, Washington 3 (10802) - Allen Harvin took over for teammate Kelvin Bryant, the USFL rushing leader, in the second half and scored two TDs for Philadelphia in just over two minutes of the third quarter. Bryant, who has been bothered with minor injuries, played only in the first half as the Stars took a 13-3 lead. Harvin carried the load and finished with 119 yards. The victory put the Stars back into a tie for first.
Washington - 3 0 0 0 - 3
Philadelphia - 6 7 14 7 - 34
1st - PHIL - Kelvin Bryant, 3-yard run (Kick failed) PHIL 6-0 1st - WASH - Dana Moore, 39-yard field goal PHIL 6-3 2nd - PHIL - Steve Folsom, 8-yard pass from Chuck Fusina (David Trout kick) PHIL 13-3 3rd - PHIL - Allen Harvin, 18-yard pass from Fusina (Trout kick) PHIL 20-3 3rd- PHIL - Harvin, 11-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 27-3 4th - PHIL - Jeff Rodenberger, 5-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 34-3
LOS ANGELES 10, Oakland 7 (17139) - Vince Abbott kicked a 19-yard FG with 47 seconds left to give LA the win. The Express scored first with a 17-yard pass from Mike Rae to Ricky Ellis after a fumble by Oakland RB Arthur Whittington, and Abbott converted the extra point giving Los Angeles an early 7-0 lead. The Express drove 85 yards in 17 plays before the winning kick, with John Barnett carrying 8 times for 37 yards.
Oakland - 0 0 7 0 - 7
Los Angeles - 7 0 0 3 - 10
1st - LA - Ricky Ellis, 17-yard pass from Mike Rae (Vince Abbott kick) LA 7-0 3rd - OAK - Arthur Whittlngton, 2-yard run (Kevin Shea kick) TIED 7-7 4th - LA - Abbott, 19-yard field goal LA 10-7
New Jersey 35, ARIZONA 21 (31382) - Hershel Walker broke loose for 177 yards on 33 carries and three TDs as the Generals won their first game. Walker had just 261 yards through the first four games. His 19-yard scoring run midway through the third quarter erased a 14-13 halftime deficit and put New Jersey ahead for good. Arizona QB Alan Risher threw three TD passes, but was intercepted three times
New Jersey - 3 10 15 7 - 35
Arizona - 7 7 0 7 - 21
1st - NJ - Dave Jacobs, 38-yard field goal NJ 3-0 1st - ARZ - Jackie Flowers, 35-yard pass from Alan Risher (Jim Asmus kick) ARI 7-3 2nd - NJ - Larry Brodsky, 31-yard pass from Bobby Scott (Jacobs kick) NJ 10-7 2nd - NJ - Jacobs, 51-yard field goal NJ 13-7 2nd - ARZ - Flowers, 7-yard pass from Risher (Asmus kick) ARI 14-13 3rd - NJ - Herschel Walker, 19-yard run (Maurice Carthon pass from Scott) NJ 21-14 3rd - NJ - Walker, 4-yard run (Jacobs kick) NJ 28-14 4th - ARZ - Flowers, 62-yard pass from Risher (Asmus kick) NJ 28-21 4th - NJ - Walker, 1-yard run (Jacobs kick) NJ 35-21
MONDAY APRIL 4
Denver 29, MICHIGAN 21 (11279) - Reserve QB Jeff Knapple ran for two points on a fake kick conversion attempt with 2:42 left to lift the Gold. A 2-yard TD run by Harry Sydney set up the winning play. Knapple lined up as the holder following Sydney's scoring run but took the snap and ran for seven yards into the end zone for the winning points, offsetting a three-TD night by Michigan QB Bobby Hebert, two rushing.
Denver - 7 0 7 15 — 29
Michigan - 0 6 8 7 — 21
1st - DEN - Putt Choate, 58-yard run (Brian Speelman kick) DEN 7-0 2nd - MICH - Bobby Hebert, 1-yard run (Kick failed) DEN 7-6 3rd - MICH - Hebert, 1-yard run (Hebert run) MICH 14-7 3rd - DEN - Victor James, 11-yard pass from Ken Johnson (Speelman kick) TIED 14-14 4th - MICH - Derek Holloway, 36-yard pass from Hebert (Novo Bojovic kick) MICH 21-14 4th - DEN - Harry Sydney, 2-yard run (Jeff Knapple run) DEN 22-21 4th - DEN - Sydney, 2-yard run (Speelman kick) DEN 29-21
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
Philadelphia 4 1 0 .800 111 47 Tampa Bay 4 1 0 .800 102 97
Boston 4 1 0 .800 115 81 Chicago 3 2 0 .600 132 70
New Jersey 1 4 0 .200 80 127 Birmingham 2 3 0 .400 69 74
Washington 1 4 0 .200 51 117 Michigan 1 4 0 .200 80 110
PACIFIC DIVISION
Los Angeles 3 2 0 .600 78 66 Oakland 2 3 0 .400 90 79
Denver 3 2 0 .600 81 80 Arizona 2 3 0 .400 79 118
SATURDAY APRIL 9
Tampa Bay 22, DENVER 16 (OT) (46848) - RB Greg Boone's 11-yard touchdown run to cap a 73-yard overtime drive gave the Bandits the win. Denver saw its three-game winning streak snapped, as Bandits QB John Reaves completed 38 of 63 passes for 357 yards. He engineered two long second-half scoring drives that enabled Tampa Bay to erase a 13-3 halftime deficit and take a 16-13 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Tampa Bay - 3 0 6 7 6 - 22
Denver - 0 13 0 3 0 — 16
1st - TB - Zenon Andrusyshyn, 36-yard field goal TB 3-0 2nd - DEN - Brian Speelman, 26-yard field goal TIED 3-3 2nd - DEN - Harry Sydney, 56-yard pass from Ken Johnson (Speelman kick) DEN 10-3 2nd - DEN - Speelman, 29-yard field goal DEN 13-3 3rd - TB - Danny Buggs, 6-yard pass from John Reaves (Kick failed) DEN 13-9 4th - TB - Sam Platt, 1-yard run (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 16-13 4th - DEN - Speelman, 33-yard field goal TIED 16-16 OT - TB - Greg Boone, 11-yard run TB 22-16
SUNDAY APRIL 10
Michigan 21, NEW JERSEY 6 (17648) - Herschel Walker ran for 133 yards, but the Panthers and the weather rained on the Generals' parade. LB John Corker had six sacks and Ira Albright fell on a blocked punt in the end zone to offset Walker's rushing performance as Michigan broke a four-game skid. The Panthers, who sacked QB Bobby Scott eight times boosted their league-leading total to 29.
Michigan - 0 0 14 7 - 21
New Jersey - 0 0 6 0 - 6
3rd - MICH - Ira Albright recovered blocked punt in end zone (Novo Bojovic kick) MICH 7-0 3rd - NJ - Dwight Sullivan, 1-yard run (Kick failed) MICH 7-6 3rd - MICH - Derek Holloway, 25-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH 14-6 4th - MICH - Ken Lacy, 10-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 21-6
Philadelphia 17, LOS ANGELES 3 (18671) - Chuck Fusina completed 21 of 37 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown Sunday, leading the Stars to their fifth win in six games. Kelvin Bryant, the USFL's leading rusher, gained 81 yards on 21 carries and scored Philadelphia's first TD to give the Stars a 10-3 lead. Fusina hit wide receiver Scott Fitzkee with a 19-yard scoring throw midway through the final period.
Philadelphia - 0 10 0 7 — 17
Los Angeles - 3 0 0 0 — 3
1st - LA - Vince Abbott, 42-yard field goal LA 3-0 2nd - PHIL - David Trout, 44-yard field goal TIED 3-32nd - PHIL - Kelvin Bryant, 2-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 10-3 4th - PHIL - Scott Fitzkee, 19-yard pass from Chuck Fusina (Trout kick) PHIL 17-3
Oakland 26, BOSTON 7 (7984) - Ted Torosian rambled for two TDs through the wind and rain after an interception and fumble recovery by Oakland as the Invaders snapped the Breakers' four-game win streak. Terry Love stopped Fred Besana's string of 135 passes without an interception. But Love fumbled and Steve Houston recovered for the Invaders. Torosian scored two plays later to end Oakland's hopes.
Oakland - 0 9 14 3 - 26
Boston - 0 7 0 0 - 7
1st - BOST - Richard Crump, 1-yard run (Tim Mazzetti kick) BOS 7-0 2nd - OAK - Ted Torosian, 2-yard run (Kick failed) BOS 7-6 2nd - OAK - Kevin Shea, 28-yard field goal OAK 9-7 3rd - OAK - Arthur Whittington, 1-yard run (Shea kick) OAK 16-7 3rd - OAK - Torosian, 12-yard run (Shea kick) OAK 23-7 4th - OAK - Shea, 44 -yard field goal OAK 26-7
CHICAGO 22, Birmingham 11 (13859) - Kevin Long's TD run capped an 83-yard drive with 1:57 to play for the Blitz, whose win was their third straight. Chicago led 13-11 when they put together its final drive, sparked by a 31-yard pass from Greg Landry to Doug Dennison. Stallions QB Reggie Collier was sacked six times. The Blitz took a 6-0 lead on FGs by Frank Corral.
Birmingham - 0 6 0 5 - 11
Chicago - 3 3 7 9 — 22
1st - CHI - Frank Corral, 20-yard field goal CHI 3-0 2nd - CHI - Corral, 42-yard field goal CHI 6-0 2nd - BIRM - Reggie Collier, 11-yard run (Kick failed) TIED 6-6 3rd - CHI - Tim Spencer, 2-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 13-6 4th - BIRM - Safety, Greg Landry tackled in end zone CHI 13-8 4th - BIRM - Scott Norwood, 34-yard field goal CHI 13-11 4th - CHI - Kevin Long, 1-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 20-11 4th - CHI - Safety, Collier tackled in end zone CHI 22-11
MONDAY APRIL 11
Arizona 22, WASHINGTON 21 (13936) - Alan Risher passed for 310 yards and three TDs to help the Wranglers win a thriller. Risher and Jackie Flowers combined on a USFL-record 98-yard TD pass as Arizona rallied from a 21-13 halftime deficit. Washington had a first down at the Arizona 1. But the Wranglers stopped the Federals and after gaining a yard, Risher hit Flowers at midfield after he had slipped in the end zone.
Arizona - 7 6 3 6 - 22
Washington - 7 14 0 0 - 21
1st - ARZ - Calvin Murray, 79-yard pass from Alan Risher (Jim Asmus kick) ARI 7-0 1st - WASH - James Mayberry, 2-yard run (Ken Olson kick) TIED 7-7 2nd - WASH - Joey Walters, 22-yard pass from Joe Gilliam (Olson kick) WASH 14-7 2nd - ARZ - Jackie Flowers, 2-yard pass from Risher (Run failed) WASH 14-13 2nd - WASH - Walters, 17-yard pass from Gilliam (Olson kick) WASH 21-13 3rd - ARZ - Asmus, 49-yard field goal WASH 21-16 4th - ARZ - Flowers, 98-yard pass from Risher (Pass failed) ARI 22-21
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
Philadelphia 5 1 0 .833 128 50 Tampa Bay 5 1 0 .833 124 113
Boston 4 2 0 .667 122 107 Chicago 4 2 0 .667 154 81
New Jersey 1 5 0 .167 86 148 Michigan 2 4 0 .333 101 116
Washington 1 5 0 .167 72 139 Birmingham 2 4 0 .333 80 96
PACIFIC DIVISION
Los Angeles 3 3 0 .500 81 83 Denver 3 3 0 .500 97 102
Oakland 3 3 0 .500 116 86 Arizona 3 3 0 .500 101 139
SATURDAY APRIL 16
Philadelphia 17, OAKLAND 7 (34901) - Kelvin Bryant, the USFL's leading rusher, gained 118 yards and scored one TD for the Stars' third straight win. FB Jairo Penaranda fumbled in the end zone on a two-yard plunge and Kevin Shea missed on two FGs attempts. Philadelphia had held its opponents scoreless for 12 consecutive quarters until Oakland's Wyatt Henderson scored in the third.
Philadelphia - 0 10 0 7 - 17
Oakland - 0 0 7 0 - 7
2nd - PHIL - David Trout, 39-yard field goal PHIL 3-0 2nd - PHIL - Kelvin Bryant, 37-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 10-0 3rd - OAK - Wyatt Henderson, 8-yard pass from Fred Besana (Kevin Shea kick) PHIL 10-7 4th - PHIL - Tom Donovan, 18-yard pass from Chuck Fusina (Trout kick) PHIL 17-7
SUNDAY APRIL 17
Denver 9, BIRMINGHAM 7 (26250) - Denver won on Brian Speelman's 50-yard FG with six seconds left. The drive was prolonged by a roughing penalty after Speelman had failed from 52 yards. The points were the first scored since early in the second quarter when Birmingham took a 7-6 lead. Denver scored in the opening period on a 15-yard pass from Ken Johnson to Bo Matthews but failed on a two-point conversion.
Denver - 6 0 0 3 — 9
Birmingham - 0 7 0 0 — 7
1st - DEN - Bo Matthews, 15-yard pass from Ken Johnson (Pass failed) DEN 6-0 2nd - BIRM - Earl Gant, 4-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) BIRM 7-6 4th - DEN - Brian Speelman, 50-yard field goal DEN 9-7
Boston 44, ARIZONA 23 (20911) - Richard Crump ran for two TDs and caught a pass for another score to lead Boston. Breakers K Tim Mazzetti kicked three FGs to run his consecutive streak to 12. Crump had two 4-yard TD runs in Boston's 21-point fourth as they handed the Wranglers their fourth loss in seven games.
Boston - 10 3 10 21 — 44
Arizona - 0 7 8 8 — 23
1st - BOST - Richard Crump, 2-yard pass from Johnnie Walton (Tim Mazzetti kick) BOS 7-0 1st - BOST - Mazzetti, 38-yard field goal BOS 10-0 2nd - ARZ - Jackie Flowers, 4-yard pass from Alan Risher (Jim Asmus kick) BOS 10-7 2nd - BOST - Mazzetti, 20-yard field goal BOS 13-7 3rd - BOST - Tony Davis, 6-yard run (Mazzetti kick) BOS 20-7 3rd - BOST - Mazzetti, 50-yard field goal BOS 23-7 3rd - ARZ - Calvin Murray, 1-yard run (Neil Balholm pass from Risher) BOS 23-15 4th - BOST - Crump, 4-yard run (Mazzetti kick) BOS 30-15 4th - BOST - Crump, 4-yard run (Mazzetti kick) BOS 37-15 4th - BOST - Frank Lockett fumble recovery in end zone (Mazzetti kick) BOS 44-15 4th - ARZ - Balholm, 2-yard pass from Todd Krueger (Balholm pass from Krueger) BOS 44-23
MICHIGAN 17, Chicago 12 (11634) - John Williams gained 133 yards in 19 carries to lead Michigan. The Panthers trailed 6-3 at the half. But they went 72 yards in four plays for a touchdown on the first drive of the second half, with Williams first running for 24 yards, then bursting 31 yards up the middle for a touchdown that put them ahead to stay. The crowd was the second straight in Michigan that was slightly more than 11,000.
Chicago - 3 3 0 6 — 12
Michigan - 0 3 14 0 — 17
1st - CHI - Frank Corral, 25-yard field goal CHI 3-0 2nd - CHI - Corral, 45-yard field goal CHI 6-0 2nd - MICH - Novo Bojovic, 20-yard field goal CHI 6-3 3rd - MICH - John Williams, 31-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 10-6 3rd - MICH - Ken Lacy, 9-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 17-6 4th - CHI - Kevin Long, 1-yard run (Pass failed) MICH 17-12
NEW JERSEY 23, Washington 22 (35381) - Herschel Walker, after scoring two TDs and rushing for 142 yards on 28 carries, had to watch with eight seconds left as Ken Olson's 33-yard FG attempt faded to the right. Joe Gilliam came off the bench in the second quarter with the Federals trailing 14-2 to guide their comeback bid. Gilliam closed the gap to 23-22 but missed the two-point conversion when Gilliam's pass was batted down.
Washington - 2 6 0 14 - 22
New Jersey - 0 17 0 6 - 23
1st - WASH - Safety, Dave Jacobs ran out of end zone WASH 2-0 2nd - NJ - Victor Hicks, 40-yard pass from Bobby Scott (Pass failed) NJ 6-2 2nd - NJ - Herschel Walker, 2-yard run (Maurice Carthon pass from Scott) NJ 14-2 2nd - WASH - Mike Holmes, 18-yard pass from Joe Gilliam (Kick failed) NJ 14-8 2nd - NJ - Jacobs, 32-yard field goal NJ 17-8 4th - NJ - Walker, 8-yard run (Kick failed) NJ 23-8 4th - WASH - Joey Walters, 9-yard pass from Gilliam (Walters pass from Gilliam) NJ 23-16 4th - WASH - Craig James, 52-yard pass from Gilliam (Pass failed) NJ 23-22
MONDAY APRIL 18
Los Angeles 18, TAMPA BAY 13 (32223) - Vince Abbott kicked three first-half FGs and Los Angeles used a second-half fumble recovery to set up John Barnett's TD run as the Express stayed in a first-place tie in the Pacific. QB Jimmy Jordan brought the Bandits back from a 16-6 deficit, after replacing John Reaves late in the fourth quarter after the Bandits' starter had thrown four interceptions and fumbled to set up Barnett's TD.
Los Angeles - 3 6 0 9 — 18
Tampa Bay - 3 3 0 7 — 13
1st - TB - Zenon Andrusyshyn, 40-yard field goal TB 3-0 1st - LA - Vince Abbott, 35-yard field goal TIED 3-3 2nd - TB - Andrusyshyn, 29-yard field goal TB 6-3 2nd - LA - Abbott, 36-yard field goal TIED 6-6 3rd - LA - Abbott, 24-yard field goal LA 9-6 4th - LA - John Barnett, 1-yard run (Abbott kick) LA 16-6 4th - TB - Danny Buggs, 23-yard pass from Jimmy Jordan (Andrusyshyn kick) LA 16-13 4th - LA - Safety, Jordan tackled in end zone LA 18-13
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
Philadelphia 6 1 0 .857 145 57 Tampa Bay 5 2 0 .714 136 131
Boston 5 2 0 .714 166 130 Chicago 4 3 0 .571 166 98
New Jersey 2 5 0 .286 109 170 Michigan 3 4 0 .429 118 128
Washington 1 6 0 .143 94 162 Birmingham 2 5 0 .286 87 105
PACIFIC DIVISION
Los Angeles 4 3 0 .571 99 96 Oakland 3 4 0 .429 123 103
Denver 4 3 0 .571 106 109 Arizona 3 4 0 .429 124 183
SATURDAY APRIL 23
MICHIGAN 34, Los Angeles 24 (13184) - Bobby Hebert threw TD passes to Anthony Carter and to Mike Cobb, and Novo Bojoyic kicked a team-record four FGs to help ice the Panthers' victory, their third in a row. Los Angeles led 3-0 with 4:32 left in the first quarter when Hebert, who entered the game as the sixth-best passer, found Carter alone at the 6-yard line, and he sidestepped a tackier to give the Panthers a 7-3 lead.
Los Angeles - 10 7 0 7 — 24
Michigan - 7 6 18 3 — 34
1st - LA - Vince Abbott, 27-yard field goal LA 3-0 1st - MICH - Anthony Carter, 26-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Novo Bojovic kick) MICH 7-3 1st - LA - Tony Boddie, 2-yard run (Abbott kick) LA 10-7 2nd - MICH - Bojovic, 29-yard field goal TIED 10-10 2nd - MICH - Bojovic, 24-yard field goal MICH 13-10 2nd - LA - Kris Haines, 22-yard pass from Mike Rae (Abbott kick) LA 17-13 3rd - MICH - Bojovic, 22-yard field goal LA 17-16 3rd - MICH - John Williams, 1-yard run (Derek Holloway pass from Hebert) MICH 24-17 3rd - MICH - Mike Cobb, 1-yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH 31-17 4th - MICH - Bojovic, 34-yard field goal MICH 34-17 4th - LA - Ricky Ellis, 27-yard pass from Tom Ramsey (Abbott kick) MICH 34-24
ARIZONA 24, Denver 3 (21557) - Alan Risher fired three second-half TD passes to give the Wranglers a share of first place in the Pacific. Arizona, with the league's worst defense, intercepted five passes. With the score tied 3-3 and 5:38 left in the third, Risher and RB Calvin Murray hooked up on a 54-yard pass play for the winning TD. Murray finished with 125 yards rushing on 22 carries.
Denver - 0 3 0 0 — 3
Arizona - 0 3 14 7 — 24
2nd - DEN - Brian Speelman, 43-yard field goal DEN 3-0 2nd - ARZ - Jim Asmus, 22-yard field goal TIED 3-3 3rd - ARZ - Calvin Murray, 54-yard pass from Alan Risher (Asmus kick) ARI 10-3 3rd - ARZ - Jackie Flowers, 4-yard pass from Risher (Asmus kick) ARI 17-3 4th - ARZ - Neil Balholm, 4-yard pass from Risher (Asmus kick) ARI 24-3
SUNDAY APRIL 24
PHILADELPHIA 23, Boston 17 (10257) - Kelvin Bryant ran for 110 yards and a TD for Philadelphia, but the key play came late when Stars P Sean Landeta ran out of his own end zone to make the score 20-16. On the ensuing kickoff, Boston's Ira Matthews fumbled at his 30 and John Sutton recovered for the Stars. With 1:49 left, David Trout kicked a 42-yard FG. Boston QB Johnnie Walton passed for 367 yards.
Boston - 0 0 7 9 — 16
Philadelphia - 7 10 3 3 - 23
1st - PHIL - Willie Collier 14 pass from Chuck Fusina (David Trout kick) PHIL 7-0 2nd - PHIL - Kelvin Bryant, 21-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 14-0 2nd - PHIL - Trout, 34-yard field goal PHIL 17-0 2nd - PHIL - Trout, 26-yard field goal PHIL 20-0 3rd - BOST - Frank Lockett, 86-yard pass from Johnnie Walton (Tim Mazzetti kick) PHIL 20-7 4th - BOST - Richard Crump, 8-yard pass from Walton (Mazzetti kick) PHIL 20-14 4th - BOST - Safety, Sean Landeta runs out of end zone PHIL 20-16 4th - PHIL - Trout, 42-yard field goal PHIL 23-16
Tampa Bay 30, WASHINGTON 23 (9070) - Carl Franks' 18-yard TD run with 2:25 remaining lifted the Bandits. Jimmy Jordan threw three TD passes to Eric Truvillion and finished with 29 completions in 45 attempts for 345 yards. It was Jordan's first start at QB. He replaced John Reaves, who broke his wrist last week. Franks did not report to Tampa Bay until last Thursday because he is completing undergraduate requirements.
Tampa Bay - 13 7 0 10 — 30
Washington - 6 0 14 3 — 23
1st - TB - Eric Truvillion, 28-yard pass from Jimmie Jordan (Kick failed) TB 6-0 1st - WASH - Eric Robinson, 94-yard kickoff return (Kick failed) TIED 6-6 1st - TB - Truvillion, 15-yard pass from Jordan (Zenon Andrusyshyn kick) TB 13-6 2nd - TB - Truvillion, 6-yard pass from Jordan (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 20-6 3rd - WASH - Craig James, 19-yard run (Dale Castro kick) TB 20-13 3rd - WASH - Mike Holmes, 11-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Castro kick) TIED 20-20 4th - WASH - Castro, 23-yard field goal WASH 23-20 4th - TB - Andrusyshyn, 31-yard field goal TIED 23-23 4th - TB - Carl Franks, 18-yard run (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 30-23
BIRMINGHAM 21, Oakland 9 (18500) - Reggie Collier and Cornelius Quarles found big scoring holes up the middle to lead the Stallions to the win. Collier scored on a 17-yard quarterback draw, and Quarles sealed the decision with a 25-yard run. Earl Gant got Birmingham's other TD on a 5-yard run to give the Stallions a 14-0 halftime lead before the Invaders made it 14-7 on Art Whittington's TD run in the third.
Oakland - 0 0 7 2 — 9
Birmingham - 7 7 0 7 — 21
1st - BIRM - Reggie Collier, 17-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) BIRM 7-0 2nd - BIRM - Earl Gant, 5-yard run (Norwood kick) BIRM 14-0 3rd- OAK - Arthur Whittington, 2-yard run (Kevin Shea kick) BIRM 14-7 4th - BIRM - Cornelius Quarles, 25-yard run (Norwood kick) BIRM 21-7 4th - OAK - Safety, Jairo Penaranda blocked punt out of end zone BIRM 21-9
MONDAY APRIL 25
CHICAGO 17, New Jersey 14 (OT) (32182) - Frank Corral kicked a 27-yard FG with 2:47 left in OT to give the Blitz the win. Corral had missed a 35-yard FG earlier in the overtime. New Jersey lost a chance at victory with 17 seconds to go in regulation when Dave Jacobs' 45-yard field goal attempt veered wide right. New Jersey's Herschel Walker gained 138 yards in 36 carries to take the league lead in rushing with 851 yards.
New Jersey - 0 6 0 8 0 - 14
Chicago - 0 7 0 7 3 - 17
2nd - NJ - Herschel Walker, 3-yard run (Kick failed) NJ 6-0 2nd - CHI - Lenny Willis, 12-yard pass from Greg Landry (Frank Corral kick) CHI 7-6 4th - NJ - John Joyce, 13-yard return of blocked punt (Victor Hicks pass from Dave Boisture) NJ 14-7 4th - CHI - Kevin Long, 1-yard run (Corral kick) TIED 14-14 OT - CHI - Corral, 35-yard field goal CHI 17-14
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
Philadelphia 7 1 0 .875 168 74 Tampa Bay 6 2 0 .750 166 154
Boston 5 3 0 .625 183 173 Chicago 5 3 0 .625 183 112
New Jersey 2 6 0 .250 123 187 Michigan 4 4 0 .500 152 152
Washington 1 7 0 .125 117 192 Birmingham 3 5 0 .375 108 114
PACIFIC DIVISION
Denver 4 4 0 .500 109 133 Arizona 4 4 0 .500 148 186
Los Angeles 4 4 0 .500 123 130 Oakland 3 5 0 .375 132 124
APR 28 - Pittsburgh was granted a 1984 franchise in the USFL, but the new team's owners refused to confirm reports it will be sold before the first kickoff. Edward J. DeBartolo Sr., whose son Edward owns the San Francisco 49ers, was granted the franchise for the first of up to eight USFL expansion teams, according to Commissioner Chet Simmons. Paul Martha, DeBartolo's vice president and general counsel, insisted DeBartolo intends to "build a franchise" in Pittsburgh despite opposition from NFL owners. Martha refused comment on reports in both of Pittsburgh's daily newspapers that DeBartolo wants to sell the unnamed USFL franchise to investors led by James Roddey, a Pittsburgh businessman. Roddey, former president of Turner Communications, also refused to confirm a sale agreement.
SATURDAY APRIL 30
Philadelphia 24, TAMPA BAY 10 (41559) - Kelvin Bryant took over the USFL rushing lead by running for 106 yards and two TDs as the Stars avenged their only loss. Bryant scored the first TD on a 10-yard run in the first quarter, and the last in the third period on a 3-yard run. Tampa Bay scored its only TD in the second quarter when Jimmy Jordan passed 2 yards to WR Eric Truvillion.
Philadelphia - 10 0 14 0 — 24
Tampa Bay - 0 7 3 0 — 10
1st - PHIL - Kelvin Bryant, 10-yard run (David Trout kick) PHIL 7-0 1st - PHIL - Trout, 44-yard field goal PHIL 10-0 2nd - TB - Eric Truvillion, 2-yard pass from Jimmie Jordan (Zenon Andrusyshyn kick) PHIL 10-7 3rd - PHIL - Allen Harvin, 20-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 17-7 3rd - TB - Andrusyshyn, 25-yard field goal PHIL 17-10 3rd - PHIL - Bryant, 3-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 24-10
SUNDAY MAY 1
Michigan 28, BOSTON 24 (10971) - John Williams put Michigan ahead on a 1-yard plunge with 83 seconds left to play, and then the Panthers held off a final Boston drive. Boston's Johnnie Walton completed 37 of 49 passes for 422 yards. The Panthers took advantage of a 17-yard punt by Boston's Dario Casarino to drive 43 yards for Williams' TD. Walton fired 10 straight passes, hitting six and drove to the Michigan 3 as time ran out.
Michigan - 7 7 0 14 - 28
Boston - 0 10 0 14 - 24
1st - MICH - Don Echols fumble recovery in end zone (Novo Bojovic kick) MICH 7-0 2nd - BOST - Nolan Franz, 44-yard pass from Johnnie Walton (Tim Mazzetti kick) TIED 7-7 2nd - BOST - Mazzetti, 38-yard field goal BOSTON 10-7 2nd - MICH - Mike Cobb, 5-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH 14-10 4th - MICH - Anthony Carter, 47-yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH 21-10 4th - BOST - Anthony Steels, 1-yard pass from Walton (Pass failed) MICH 21-16 4th - BOST - Steels, 13-yard pass from Walton (Richard Crump pass from Walton) BOSTON 24-21 4th - MICH - John Williams, 1-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 28-24
Chicago 38, LOS ANGELES 17 (21123) - Greg Landry threw three TD passes as Chicago made Coach George Allen's homecoming, who formerly had coached the LA Rams, a triumphant one. Two of Landry's touchdown passes, both to TE Paul Ricker, came in the opening half as the Blitz shot out to a 24-3 lead at the half. His other TD pass was to Doug Dennison in the final period.
Chicago - 14 10 7 7 — 38
Los Angeles - 0 3 7 7 — 17
1st - CHI - Paul Ricker, 18-yard pass from Greg Landry (Frank Corral kick) CHI 7-0 1st - CHI - Kevin Long, 1-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 14-0 2nd - CHI - Corral, 28-yard field goal CHI 17-0 2nd - CHI - Ricker, 1-yard pass from Landry (Corral kick) CHI 24-0 2nd - LA - Vince Abbott, 42-yard field goal CHI 24-3 3rd - LA - Kevin Williams, 53-yard pass from Tom Ramsey (Abbott kick) CHI 24-10 3rd - CHI - Lance Shields, 44-yard interception return (Corral kick) CHI 31-10 4th - LA - Kris Haines, 40-yard pass from Ramsey (Abbott kick) CHI 31-17 4th - CHI - Doug Dennison, 9-yard pass from Landry (Corral kick) CHI 38-17
New Jersey 34, DENVER 29 (47940) - Herschel Walker is the first USFL player to rush for more than 1,000 yards. What is surprising is that it took him eight games to make a long, tackle breaking, crowd-pleasing run. Walker lifted his rushing total to 1,023 yards, but it took an 80-yard gallop in the fourth quarter to put him over that milestone and give the Generals just their third win of the season.
New Jersey - 0 13 14 7 - 34
Denver - 7 8 0 14 - 29
1st - DEN - Harry Sydney, 1-yard run (Brian Speelman kick) DEN 7-0 2nd - NJ - Maurice Carthon, 2-yard run (Dave Jacobs kick) TIED 7-7 2nd - DEN - Glenn Ford, 75-yard pass from Steve Gortz (Larry Canada pass from Dave Knapple) DEN 15-7 2nd - NJ - Tom McConnaughey, 2-yard pass from Bobby Scott (Pass failed) DEN 15-13 3rd - NJ - Carthon, 1-yard run (Carthon pass from Scott) NJ 21-15 3rd - NJ - Eric Johnson, 43-yard fumble recovery (Pass failed) NJ 27-15 4th - DEN - Canada, 11-yard run (Speelman kick) NJ 27-22 4th - NJ - Herschel Walker, 80-yard run (Jacobs kick) NJ 34-22 4th - DEN - Ken Johnson, 1-yard run (Speelman kick) NJ 34-29
Birmingham 35, WASHINGTON 3 (12818) - Bob Lane passed for two TDs and ran for another as Birmingham handed Washington its fifth straight loss. Replacing injured regular Reggie Collier, Lane connected on 13 of 29 passes for 192 yards. One of Lane's TDs came with four seconds left in the first half as he threw a 44-yard pass into the end zone. The ball bounced off Johnny Dirden's helmet into the hands of Ron Frederick.
Birmingham - 7 7 14 7 — 35
Washington - 0 0 3 0 — 3
1st - BIRM - Billy White, 1-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) BIRM 7-0 2nd - BIRM - Ron Frederick, 44-yard pass from Bob Lane (Norwood kick) BIRM 14-0 3rd - BIRM - Greg Anderson, 20-yard pass from Lane (Norwood kick) BIRM 21-0 3rd - WASH - Dale Castro, 47-yard field goal BIRM 21-3 3rd - BIRM - Lane, 4-yard run (Norwood kick) BIRM 28-3 4th - BIRM - Earl Gant, 3-yard run on fumble recovery (Norwood kick) BIRM 35-3
MONDAY MAY 2
OAKLAND 34, Arizona 20 (27460) - Oakland's Fred Besana and Arizona's Alan Risher did some impressive passing, for a total of 555 yards, but it was a 3-yard QB sneak that caused a fuss. Besana scored on a short run with 27 seconds left, as he surprised the Arizona defense and enraged Wrangler Coach Doug Shively. Invaders coach John Ralston said he was forced to go for the TD because of the USFL's tie-breaker rule.
Arizona - 0 14 6 0 — 20
Oakland - 17 7 0 10 — 34
1st - OAK - Gordon Banks, 30-yard pass from Fred Besana (Kevin Shea kick) OAK 7-0 1st - OAK - Shea, 42-yard field goal OAK 10-0 1st - OAK - Arthur Whittington, 6-yard run (Shea kick) OAK 17-0 2nd - ARZ - Mark Keel, 24-yard pass from Alan Risher (Jim Asmus kick) OAK 17-7 2nd - OAK - Raymond Chester, 42-yard pass from Besana (Shea kick) OAK 24-7 2nd - ARZ - Calvin Murray, 13-yard pass from Risher (Asmus kick) OAK 24-14 3rd - ARZ - Asmus, 36-yard field goal OAK 24-17 3rd - ARZ - Asmus, 43-yard field goal OAK 24-20 4th - OAK - Shea, 35-yard field goal OAK 27-20 4th - OAK - Besana, 3-yard run (Shea kick) OAK 34-20
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
Philadelphia 8 1 0 .889 192 84 Tampa Bay 6 3 0 .667 176 178
Boston 5 4 0 .556 207 181 Chicago 6 3 0 .667 221 129
New Jersey 3 6 0 .333 157 216 Michigan 5 4 0 .556 180 176
Washington 1 8 0 .111 120 227 Birmingham 4 5 0 .444 143 117
PACIFIC DIVISION
Denver 4 5 0 .444 138 167 Los Angeles 4 5 0 .444 140 168
Arizona 4 5 0 .444 168 220 Oakland 4 5 0 .444 166 144
SATURDAY MAY 7
Michigan 21, ARIZONA 10 (20423) - Whitt Taylor, a backup QB, replaced injured starter Bobby Hebert in the second half and led Michigan to two third-quarter scoring drives and their fifth straight win. Both drives were set up by long pass plays to Anthony Carter, the high-priced WR. Taylor, who had completed five of 12 passes for 60 yards prior to the game, hit on five of eight attempts for 198 yards and one TD.
Michigan - 0 7 14 0 — 21
Arizona - 7 0 3 0 — 10
1st - ARZ - Jackie Flowers, 8-yard pass from Alan Risher (Jim Asmus kick) ARI 7-0 2nd - MICH - John Williams, 1-yard run (Novo Bojovic kick) TIED 7-7 3rd - ARZ - Asmus, 25-yard field goal ARI 10-7 3rd - MICH - Ken Lacy, 12-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 14-10 3rd - MICH - Derek Holloway, 51-yard pass from Whitt Taylor (Bojovic kick) MICH 21-10
LOS ANGELES 23, Boston 20 (16307) - Mike Rae connected with Kris Haines for a 6-yard TD with 18 seconds left to give Los Angeles to the win. The score capped a six-play, 80-yard drive for Haines' second TD of the game. Rae, relieving an injured Tom Ramsey, completed nine of 12 passes for 104 yards. The Breakers' John Walton, the league's top passer, completed 19 of 33 attempts for 196 yards and three interceptions.
Boston - 10 7 0 3 — 20
Los Angeles - 6 3 7 7 — 23
1st - LA - Kris Haines, 8-yard pass from Tom Ramsey (Kick failed) LA 6-0 1st - BOST - Tim Mazzetti, 44-yard field goal LA 6-3 1st - BOST - Tony Davis, 6-yard run (Mazzetti kick) BOS 10-6 2nd - LA - Vince Abbott, 22-yard field goal BOS 10-9 2nd - BOST - Richard Crump, 1-yard run (Mazzetti kick) BOS 17-9 3rd - LA - Wymon Henderson, 30-yard fumble return (Abbott kick) BOS 17-16 4th - BOST - Mazzetti, 24-yard field goal BOS 20-16 4th - LA - Haines, 8-yard pass from Mike Rae (Abbott kick) LA 23-20
SUNDAY MAY 8
Tampa Bay 17, OAKLAND 10 (26989) - The Bandits survived a furious Oakland rally to remain in a tie for first in the Central. Jimmy Jordan, who later left the game with a separated shoulder, fired TD passes to Eric Truvillion and Danny Buggs. About 10,000 of the 26,989 ticketholders were no-shows for the nationally televised game at Oakland, where the Invaders trailed 17-0 after three quarters.
Tampa Bay - 3 7 7 0 - 17
Oakland - 0 0 0 10 - 10
1st - TB - Zenon Andrusyshyn, 22-yard field goal TB 3-0 2nd - TB - Danny Buggs, 9-yard pass from Jimmy Jordon (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 10-0 3rd - TB - Eric Truvillion, 18-yard pass from Jordon (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 17-0 4th - OAK - Fred Besana, 3-yard run (Kevin Shea kick) TB 17-7 4th - OAK - Shea, 30-yard field goal TB 17-10
PHILADELPHIA 6, Denver 3 (14306) - The Stars, topping the USFL with a 9-1 record, had to rely on David Trout's strong right foot to squeeze out a win. Trout converted field goals of 53, the longest of his career, and 18 yards for the Stars, sending Denver to its sixth defeat in 10 games. The Gold had an opportunity to tie the game with 2:07 remaining. However, Brian Speelman never got the 23-yard FG attempt off because the ball was snapped wide.
Denver - 0 3 0 0 - 3
Philadelphia - 0 3 0 3 - 6
2nd - DEN - Brian Speelman, 23-yard field goal DEN 3-0 2nd - PHIL - David Trout, 53-yard field goal TIED 3-3 4th - PHIL - Trout, 18-yard field goal PHIL 6-3
CHICAGO 31, Washington 3 (11030) - Tim Spencer and Kevin Long each scored two TDs for the Blitz. The Federals have now lost six straight, but they averted a shutout when Dale Castro booted a 21-yard FG in the third period following a 55-yard pass from Kim McQuilken to Billy Taylor. McQuilken started in place of Mike Hohensee, who was hospitalized moments before the game with what doctors diagnosed as an appendicitis attack.
Washington - 0 0 3 0 - 3
Chicago - 14 7 0 10 - 31
1st - CHI - Kevin Long, 2-yard run (Frank Corral kick) CHI 7-0 1st - CHI - Tim Spencer, 4-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 14-0 2nd - CHI - Spencer, 3-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 21-0 3rd - WASH - Dale Castro, 21-yard field goal CHI 21-3 4th - CHI - Long, 5-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 28-3 4th - CHI - Corral, 36-yard field goal CHI 31-3
MONDAY MAY 9
Birmingham 22, NEW JERSEY 7 (38734) - Stallions K Scott Norwood kicked a USFL-record five FGs, while the defense held rushing leader Herschel Walker to a career-low 28 yards on 11 carries. Norwood recovered a fumbled kickoff return by Thomas Lott to set up his fourth FG and missed a 41-yarder in the fourth quarter. The Stallions' offense also shined, holding the ball for 43:28 of the game and outrushed the Generals 242-38.
Birmingham - 7 6 6 3 - 22
New Jersey - 7 0 0 0 - 7
1st - NJ - Tom McConnaughey, 37-yard pass from Bobby Scott (Dave Jacobs kick) NJ 7-0 1st - BIRM - Billy White, 1-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) TIED 7-7 2nd - BIRM - Norwood, 39-yard field goal BIRM10-7 2nd - BIRM - Norwood, 28-yard field goal BIRM 13-7 3rd - BIRM - Norwood, 31-yard field goal BIRM 16-7 3rd - BIRM - Norwood, 37-yard field goal BIRM 19-7 4th - BIRM - Norwood, 25-yard field goal BIRM 22-7
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
Philadelphia 9 1 0 .900 198 87 Tampa Bay 7 3 0 .700 193 188
Boston 5 5 0 .500 227 204 Chicago 7 3 0 .700 252 132
New Jersey 3 7 0 .300 164 238 Michigan 6 4 0 .600 201 186
Washington 1 9 0 .100 123 258 Birmingham 5 5 0 .500 165 124
PACIFIC DIVISION
Los Angeles 5 5 0 .500 163 188 Oakland 4 6 0 .400 176 161
Arizona 4 6 0 .400 178 241 Denver 4 6 0 .400 141 173
SATURDAY MAY 14
BIRMINGHAM 35, Los Angeles 20 (42212) - Bob Lane passed for three TDs and set up two others as the Stallions moved over .500. Lane connected on scoring passes to Earl Gant, Jim Smith and Lonnie Johnson. He hit on 13 of 24 for 268 yards, while Ken Talton ran for 147 yards. The victory was the fourth straight for the Stallions, before its largest home crowd after averaging 18,581 for the five previous home games.
Los Angeles - 0 7 0 13 — 20
Birmingham - 14 14 7 0 — 35
1st - BIRM - Ken Talton, 11-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) BIRM 7-0 1st - BIRM - Earl Gant, 27-yard pass from Bob Lane (Norwood kick) BIRM 14-0 2nd - BIRM - Jim Smith, 22-yard pass from Lane (Norwood kick) BIRM 21-0 2nd - BIRM - Talton, 4-yard run (Norwood kick) BIRM 28-0 2nd - LA - Ricky Ellis, 10-yard pass from Mike Rae (Vince Abbott kick) BIRM 28-7 3rd - BIRM - Lonnie Johnson, 16-yard pass from Lane (Norwood kick) BIRM 35-7 4th - LA - Kris Haines, 5 pass from Rae (Abbott kick) BIRM 35-14 4th - LA - Ellis, 33-yard pass from Tom Ramsey (Kick failed) BIRM 35-20
SUNDAY MAY 15
TAMPA BAY 20, Arizona 14 (32327) - Gary Anderson, playing with only four days of practice, gained 99 yards in 18 carries, scored a TD and caught four passes for 54 yards to lead the Bandits to first place in the Central Division. Anderson was a first-round draft choice of New Jersey in January, but the Bandits traded a draft choice to New Jersey for the rights to him. Bandits QB Mike Kelley completed 21 of 39 passes for 249 yards.
Arizona - 0 7 0 7 — 14
Tampa Bay - 3 7 3 7 — 20
1st - TB - Zenon Andrusyshyn, 49-yard field goal TB 3-0 2nd - ARZ - Harold Blue, 25-yard run (Phil Denfeld kick) ARI 7-3 2nd - TB - Eric Truvillion, 4-yard pass from Mike Kelley (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 10-7 3rd - TB - Andrusyshyn, 46-yard field goal TB 13-7 4th - TB - Gary Anderson, 12-yard run (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 20-7 4th - ARZ - Neil Balholm, 8-yard pass from Alan Risher (Denfeld kick) TB 20-14
PHILADELPHIA 31, Chicago 24 (20931) - Kelvin Bryant ran for two TDs and Chuck Fusina scored another in a 21-point fourth-quarter explosion as the Stars won their 10th game. The Blitz led 24-10 entering the final period. But Bryant scored early in the quarter on a 3-yard run. Then Chicago QB Greg Landry, who threw two TD passes, fumbled twice inside the Blitz 20 to set up a TD run by Bryant and a 17-yard scamper by Fusina.
Chicago - 7 7 10 0 — 24
Philadelphia - 3 7 0 21 — 31
1st - CHI - Lenny Willis, 24-yard pass from Greg Landry (Frank Corral kick) CHI 7-0 1st - PHIL - David Trout, 46-yard field goal CHI 7-3 2nd - PHIL - Tom Donovan, 12-yard pass from Chuck Fusina (Trout kick) PHIL 10-7 2nd - CHI - Kevin Long, 7-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 14-10 3rd - CHI - Trumaine Johnson, 9-yard pass from Greg Landry (Corral kick) CHI 21-10 3rd - CHI - Corral, 37-yard field goal CHI 24-10 4th - PHIL - Kelvin Bryant, 3-yard run (David Trout kick) CHI 24-17 4th - PHIL - Bryant, 5-yard run (Trout kick) TIED 24-24 4th - PHIL - Fusina, 17-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 31-24
MONDAY MAY 16
MICHIGAN 31, New Jersey 24 (32862) - While Herschel Walker ran for 87 yards, and caught passes for 105 more, it was Ken Lacy who won the hearts of the Panther fans, chalking up 156 yards and a TD as Michigan came back from a 17-3 half time deficit to win its sixth straight with an explosive third quarter. John Williams also made the crowd take notice with a fine second-half performance, scoring two of the three Michigan TDs.
New Jersey - 10 7 0 7 - 24
Michigan - 0 3 21 7 - 31
1st - NJ - Dave Jacobs, 44-yard field goal NJ 3-0 1st - NJ - Herschel Walker, 2-yard run (Jacobs kick) NJ 10-0 2nd - MICH - Novo Bojovic, 23-yard field goal NJ 10-3 2nd - NJ - Dwight Sullivan, 4-yard run (jacobs kick) NJ 17-3 3rd - MICH - John Williams, 10-yard run (Bojovic kick) NJ 17-10 3rd - MICH - Ken Lacy, 2-yard run (Bojovic kick) TIED 17-17 3rd - MICH - Williams, 3-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 24-17 4th - NJ - Walker, 65-yard pass from Bobby Scott (Jacobs kick) TIED 24-24 4th - MICH - Williams, 1-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 31-24
OAKLAND 34, Washington 27 (25900) - Fred Besana threw four TD passes to lead Oakland and raised his season TD total to 15. He hit Wyatt Henderson twice and Gordon Banks and Jerry Aldridge once apiece. The Feds drove to the Oakland 2 in the closing minutes, were pushed back to the 7 by a damaging delay-of-game penalty, and Washington QB Mike Hohensee was stopped at the 1 as he tried to score with 1:22 left.
Washington - 7 10 10 0 - 27
Oakland - 7 20 7 0 - 34
1st - OAK - Wyatt Henderson, 7-yard pass from Fred Besana (Kevin Shea kick) OAK 7-0 1st - WASH - Mike Holmes, 6-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Sandro Vitiello kick) TIED 7-7 2nd - OAK - Jerry Aldridge, 1-yard run (Kick failed) OAK 13-7 2nd - WASH - Vitiello, 37-yard field goal OAK 13-10 2nd - OAK - Aldridge, 5-yard pass from Besana (Shea kick) OAK 20-10 2nd - WASH - Holmes, 80-yard pass from Hohensee (Vitiello kick) OAK 20-17 2nd - OAK -Henderson, 11-yard pass from Besana (Shea kick) OAK 27-17 3rd - OAK - Gordon Banks, 6-yard pass from Besana (Shea kick) OAK 34-17 3rd - WASH - Vitiello, 32-yard field goal OAK 34-20 3rd - WASH - Holmes, 21-yard pass from Hohensee (Vitiello kick) OAK 34-27
BOSTON 17, Denver 9 (4173) - Marcus Marek raced 85 yards with a recovered fumble for a TD midway through the first quarter, and Tony Davis scored on a one-yard burst late in the fourth period as Boston won in a game played entirely in a heavy rain. The announced attendance was 4,173 out of 8,759 tickets sold. The Gold cut the lead to 10-9 on a TD run by Harry Sydney early in the fourth, but Brian Speelman's extra-point attempt sailed wide.
Denver - 0 0 3 6 — 9
Boston - 7 3 0 7 — 17
1st - BOST - Marcus Marek, 85-yard fumble return (Tim Mazzetti kick) BOST 7-0 2nd - BOST - Mazzetti, 36-yard field goal BOST 10-0 3rd - DEN - Brian Speelman, 40-yard field goal BOST 10-3 4th - DEN - Harry Sydney, 1-yard run (Kick failed) BOST 10-9 4th - BOST - Tony Davis, 1-yard run (Mazzetti kick) BOST 17-9
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
Philadelphia 10 1 0 .909 229 111 Tampa Bay 8 3 0 .727 213 202
Boston 6 5 0 .545 244 213 Chicago 7 4 0 .636 276 163
New Jersey 3 8 0 .273 188 269 Michigan 7 4 0 .636 232 210
Washington 1 10 0 .091 150 292 Birmingham 6 5 0 .545 200 144
PACIFIC DIVISION
Oakland 5 6 0 .455 210 188 Denver 4 7 0 .364 150 190
Los Angeles 5 6 0 .455 183 223 Arizona 4 7 0 .364 192 261
MAY 16 - USFL commissioner Chet Simmons announced the league's 14th franchise will begin play in San Diego next March. The majority owner of the franchise is William Tatham, a banking and real estate investor who is a minority owner of the Utah Jazz of the NBA. He owned the Portland Thunder in the defunct WFL from 1974 to 1975. Simmons said Tatham gave the fledgling league a $2.5 million check as down payment on financial arrangements for the new club.
MAY 19 - The USFL formally awarded a Houston franchise, for $6 million, to sports agent Jerry Argovitz and a group of partners including singer Kenny Rogers. Argovitz, a dentist who has made a career of extracting money from team owners for a stable of clients including Buffalo Bills' running back Joe Cribbs, will be trying an owner's role for a change. He wants to call the team the Gamblers, after one of Rogers' hit records but the idea has stirred some controversy over the propriety of such a name for a sports team.
SATURDAY MAY 21
TAMPA BAY 29, Oakland 9 (43389) - Mike Kelley, making his first pro start, passed for 307 yards and 2 TDs to lead the Bandits. Kelley, who started at quarterback because of injuries to John Reaves and Jimmy Jordan, completed 21 of 40 passes. His touchdown passes were for 21 yards to Eric Truvillion and 16 yards to Willie Gillespie. QB Fred Besana scored the Invaders' only TD on a one-yard keeper in the fourth.
Oakland - 3 0 0 6 — 9
Tampa Bay - 7 10 6 6 — 29
1st - TB - Eric Truvillion, 21-yard pass from Mike Kelley (Zenon Andrusyshyn kick) TB 7-0 1st - OAK - Kevin Shea, 43-yard field goal TB 7-3 2nd - TB - Andrusyshyn, 25-yard field goal TB 10-3 2nd - TB - Willie Gillespie, 16-yard pass from Kelley (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 17-3 3rd - TB - Andrusyshyn, 26-yard field goal TB 20-3 3rd - TB - Andrusyshyn, 38-yard field goal TB 23-3 4th - OAK - Fred Besana, 1-yard run (Kick failed) TB 23-9 4th - TB - Greg Boone, 12-yard run (Kick blocked) TB 29-9
SUNDAY MAY 22
CHICAGO 19, New Jersey 13 (OT) (33812) - The Blitz tied the game 13-13 with 2:58 left on a Frank Corral FG. The score came after the Blitz recovered a fumble by Herschel Walker, who had rushed for 141 yards. Blitz QB Tim Koegal scored the winning TD at 3:53 of overtime on a fake field goal. Koegal had replaced Greg Landry after the starter suffered a broken ankle 11 seconds into the fourth quarter and will be lost for the rest of the season.
Chicago - 0 0 7 6 6 — 19
New Jersey - 7 0 0 6 0 — 13
1st - NJ - Herschel Walker, 1-yard run (Dave Jacobs kick) NJ 7-0 3rd - CHI - Lenny Willis, 36-yard pass from Greg Landry (Frank Corral kick) TIED 7-7 4th - CHI - Corral, 20-yard field goal CHI 10-7 4th - NJ - Walker, 25-yard run (Kick failed) NJ 13-10 4th - CHI - Corral, 35-yard field goal TIED 13-13 OT - CHI - Tim Koegel, 5-yard run CHI 19-13
Los Angeles 14, DENVER 10 (32963) - Rookie John Barnett paced the Express with two TDs, including the winner on a 1-yard plunge with 3:32 left in the game. The loss spoiled the debut of Denver interim head coach Charley Armey. A number of Gold fans protested when owner Ron Blanding fired the popular Red Miller. The team sold 39,040 tickets for the game, about 8,000 fewer than usual, and there were 6,000 no-shows.
Los Angeles - 0 0 7 7 — 14
Denver - 0 7 3 0 — 10
2nd - DEN - Harry Sydney, 31-yard pass from Alvin White (Brian Speelman kick) DEN 7-0 3rd - LA - John Barnett, 19-yard pass from Mike Rae (Vince Abbott kick) TIED 7-7 3rd - DEN - Speelman, 50-yard field goal DEN 10-7 4th - LA - Barnett, 1-yard run (Abbott kick) LA 14-10
Boston 21, WASHINGTON 14 (7303) - Johnnie Walton, who completed 27 of 46 passes for 326 yards, tossed a TD pass to Charlie Smith with 7:07 left to rally Boston over the hapless Federals, losers of eight straight. Washington led 14-7 at the half on Mike Hohensee's TD passes to Billy Taylor and Mike Holmes. Taylor turned in a 104-yard effort on the ground, the first Washington player to go over the 100-yard mark.
Boston - 7 0 6 8 - 21
Washington - 0 14 0 0 - 14
1st - BOST - Frank Lockett, 14-yard pass from Johnnie Walton (Tim Mazzetti kick) BOS 7-0 2nd - WASH - Billy Taylor, 46-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Sandro Vitiello kick) TIED 7-7 2nd - WASH - Mike Holmes,34-yard pass from Hohensee (Vitiello kick) WASH 14-7 3rd - BOST - Mazzetti, 19-yard field goal WASH 14-10 3rd - BOST - Mazzetti, 27-yard field goal WASH 14-13 4th - BOST - Charlie Smith, 39-yard pass from Walton (Dennis Johnson pass from Walton) BOS 21-14
Philadelphia 24, ARIZONA 7 (18151) - Kelvin Bryant rushed for two touchdowns and 106 yards to lead Philadelphia to its eighth straight victory. Bryant leads the USFL with 14 touchdowns and ranks second in rushing with 1,229 yards. Stars QB Chuck Fusina also fired a 20-yard touchdown pass to Tom Donovan. Arizona, losing its fourth straight game, got its only TD on Calvin Murray's 2-yard run in the second quarter.
Philadelphia - 7 7 10 0 — 24
Arizona - 0 7 0 0 — 7
1st - PHIL - Kelvin Bryant, 5-yard run (David Trout kick) PHIL 7-0 2nd - PHIL - Tom Donovan, 20-yard pass from Chuck Fusina (Trout kick) PHIL14-0 2nd - ARZ - Calvin Murray, 2-yard run (Phil Denfeld kick) PHIL 14-7 3rd - PHIL - Bryant, 1-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 21-7 3rd - PHIL - Trout, 47-yard field goal PHIL 24-7
MONDAY MAY 23
Birmingham 23, MICHIGAN 20 (OT) (20042) - Scott Norwood's 46-yard field goal at 4:32 of overtime boosted the Stallions, who almost won on a freak play at the end of regulation. Michigan's Fred Logan intercepted a pass on the Birmingham 1, rolled into the end zone and lost the ball trying to spike it. Darryl Mason fell on the ball and one official signaled a Birmingham TD, but the ball was given back to Michigan and the Panthers ran out the clock.
Birmingham - 0 17 3 0 3 — 23
Michigan - 0 7 0 13 0 — 20
2nd - BIRM - Steve Stephens, 1-yard pass from Bob Lane (Scott Norwood kick) BIRM 7-0 2nd - BIRM - Norwood, 23-yard field goal BIRM 10-0 2nd - MICH - Anthony Carter, 81-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Novo Bojovic kick) BIRM 10-7 2nd - BIRM - Greg Anderson, 15-yard pass from Lane (Norwood kick) BIRM 17-7 3rd - BIRM - Norwood, 25-yard field goal BIRM 20-7 4th - MICH - John Williams, 1-yard run (Bojovic kick) BIRM 20-14 4th - MICH - Williams, 1-yard run (Kick failed) TIED 20-20 OT - BIRM - Norwood, 46-yard field goal BIRM 23-20
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
Philadelphia 11 1 0 .917 253 118 Tampa Bay 9 3 0 .750 248 206
Boston 7 5 0 .583 265 227 Chicago 8 4 0 .667 295 176
New Jersey 3 9 0 .250 201 288 Michigan 7 5 0 .583 252 233
Washington 1 11 0 .083 164 313 Birmingham 7 5 0 .583 223 164
PACIFIC DIVISION
Los Angeles 6 6 0 .500 197 233 Denver 4 8 0 .333 160 204
Oakland 5 7 0 .417 219 217 Arizona 4 8 0 .333 199 285
FRIDAY MAY 27
DENVER 21, Birmingham 19 (38829) - Fred Mortensen ran for two TDs and SS David Dumars returned an interception 78 yards for another TD to lead Denver. The victory marked the coaching debut of former Broncos QB Craig Morton and snapped a five-game losing streak for Denver. Birmingham had its five-game winning streak ended. The crowd of 38,829 was about 4,000 below Denver's season average.
Birmingham - 7 3 3 6 — 19
Denver - 0 7 14 0 — 21
1st - BIRM - Jim Smith, 15-yard pass from Bob Lane (Scott Norwood kick) BIRM 7-0 2nd - DEN - Fred Mortensen, 3-yard run (Brian Speelman kick) TIED 7-7 2nd - BIRM - Norwood, 42-yard field goal BIRM 10-7 3rd - BIRM - Norwood, 42-yard field goal BIRM 13-7 3rd - DEN - Mortensen, 5-yard run (Speelman kick) DENVER 14-13 3rd - DEN - David Dumars, 78-yard pass interception (Speelman kick) DENVER 21-13 4th - BIRM - Daryl Mason, 3-yard pass from Lane (Pass failed) DENVER 21-19
SUNDAY MAY 29
BOSTON 21, Philadelphia 17 (15668) - The Stars saw their eight-game winning streak snapped when Frank Lockett, on fourth-and-10 at the Philadelphia 14 with four seconds to go, grabbed QB Johnnie Walton's 14-yard pass after it was deflected by Charlie Smith, the intended receiver. When much of the crowd raced onto the field, preventing Boston from attempting the XP, the officials awarded Boston a two-point conversion.
Philadelphia - 0 10 0 7 — 17
Boston - 0 0 6 15 — 21
2nd - PHIL - David Trout, 35-yard field goal PHIL 3-0 2nd - PHIL - Willie Collier, 8-yard pass from Chuck Fusina (Trout kick) PHIL 10-0 3rd - BOST - Tim Mazzetti, 33-yard field goal PHIL 10-3 3rd - BOST - Mazzetti, 19-yard field goal PHIL 10-6 4th - BOST - Charlie Smith, 16-yard pass from Johnnie Walton (Mazzetti kick) BOST 13-10 4th - PHIL - Collier, 5-yard pass from Fusina (Trout kick) PHIL 17-13 4th - BOST - Frank Lockett, 14-yard pass from Walton (Walton awarded two points by officials) BOST 21-17
OAKLAND 20, Los Angeles 10 (28697) - Oakland's Raymond Chester fell on his own fumble in the end zone for a TD. Fred Besana threw a pass from the LA 38 that Chester caught at the 5. He fell and fumbled on the 2 but recovered the ball in the end zone to give Oakland a 14-7 lead in the third. Both teams tied for first in the Pacific Division. Oakland also scored on Jack Holmes' 3-yard run and two FGs by Kevin Shea.
Los Angeles - 0 7 0 3 — 10
Oakland - 7 0 7 6 — 20
1st - OAK - Jack Holmes, 3-yard run (Kevin Shea kick) OAK 7-0 2nd - LA - Wilbert Haslip, 1-yard run (Vince Abbott kick) TIED 7-7 3rd - OAK - Raymond Chester, 38-yard pass from Fred Besana (Shea kick) OAK 14-7 4th - OAK - Shea, 27-yard field goal OAK 17-7 4th - LA - Abbott, 27-yard field goal OAK 17-10 4th - OAK - Shea, 40-yard field goal OAK 20-10
New Jersey 32, WASHINGTON 29 (11264) - New Jersey's Herschel Walker had an 83-yard run on the first play from scrimmage, the longest TD run in USFL history, and 194 yards rushing, another league mark, while QB Jeff Knapple passed for his first two TDs as a pro. But it took a 50-yard FG by Dave Betz, signed the previous week, as time ran out. Mike Hohensee passed for two TDs for the Federals, losers of nine straight.
New Jersey - 7 10 3 12 - 32
Washington - 6 3 14 6 - 29
1st - NJ - Herschel Walker, 83-yard run (Dave Betz kick) NJ 7-0 1st - WASH - Sandro Vitiello, 42-yard field goal NJ 7-3 1st - WASH - Sandro Vitiello, 45-yard field goal NJ 7-6 2nd - NJ - Mike Friede, 27-yard pass from Jeff Knapple (Betz kick) NJ 14-6 2nd - NJ - Betz, 28-yard field goal NJ 17-6 2nd - WASH - Vitiello, 28-yard field goal NJ 17-9 3rd - WASH - Billy Taylor, 32-yard run (Vitiello kick) NJ 17-16 3rd - WASH - Craig James, 11-yard pass from Mike Hohensee (Vitiello kick) WASH 23-17 3rd - NJ - Betz, 45-yard field goal WASH 23-20 4th - NJ - Betz, 19-yard field goal TIED 23-23 4th - WASH - Mike Harris, 19-yard pass from Hohensee (Kick failed) WASH 29-23 4th - NJ - Sam Bowers, 28-yard pass from Knapple (Kick failed) TIED 29-29 4th - NJ - Betz, 50-yard field goal NJ 32-29
MONDAY MAY 30
CHICAGO 36, Arizona 11 (13952) - Frank Corral kicked four FGs and Lenny Willis returned a punt 40 yards for a TD to lead the Blitz. Chicago rookie QB Tim Koegel, making his first start, hit on 12 of 29 passes for 202 yards. WR Trumaine Johnson had four receptions for 117 yards, including a 36-yarder for a TD. The Wranglers scored on their first possession when Tom Risher connected on a 21-yard pass to Neil Balholm.
Arizona - 8 0 3 0 — 11
Chicago - 3 21 7 5 — 36
1st - ARZ - Neil Balholm, 21-yard pass from Alan Risher (Harold Blue pass from Dan Manucci) ARI 8-0 1st - CHI - Frank Corral, 40-yard field goal ARI 8-3 2nd - CHI - Corral, 36-yard field goal ARI 8-6 2nd - CHI - Trumaine Johnson, 36-yard pass from Tim Koegel (Corral kick) CHI 13-8 2nd - CHI - Lenny Willis, 40-yard punt return (Corral pass from Tom Rozantz) CHI 21-8 2nd - CHI - Corral, 47-yard field goal CHI 24-8 3rd - ARZ - Phil Denfeld, 39-yard field goal CHI 24-11 3rd - CHI - Tim Spencer, 1-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 31-11 4th - CHI - Corral, 18-yard field goal CHI 34-11 4th - CHI - Safety, Manucci fumbled out of end zone CHI 36-11
MICHIGAN 43, Tampa Bay 7 (23976) - Terry Miller, acquired from Denver last week, rushed for 55 yards on 12 carries with TD runs of 5 and 10 yards to lead Michigan to a rout. Michigan's 43 points was the highest of any team so far. The Panthers also got a boost from QB Bobby Hebert, who completed 13 of 23 passes for 166 yards and one TD, and a fired-up defense that forced four fumbles, blocked a punt and recorded six sacks.
Tampa Bay - 0 0 7 0 — 7
Michigan - 7 12 21 3 — 43
1st - MICH - Mike Cobb, 27-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Novo Bojovic kick) MICH 7-0 2nd - MICH - Terry Miller, 10-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICHIGAN 14-0 2nd - MICH - Safety, Greg Boone tackled in end zone MICH 16-0 2nd - MICH - Bojovic, 42-yard field goal MICH 19-0 3rd - MICH - Anthony Carter, 57-yard punt return (Bojovic kick) MICH 26-0 3rd - MICH - John Williams, 4-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 33-0 3rd - MICH - Miller, 5-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 40-0 3rd - TB - Eric Truvillion, 37-yard pass from Jimmy Jordan (Zenon Andrusyshyn kick) MICH 40-7 4th - MICH - Bojovic, 35-yard field goal MICH 43-7
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
Philadelphia 11 2 0 .846 270 139 Tampa Bay 9 4 0 .692 255 249
Boston 8 5 0 .615 286 244 Chicago 9 4 0 .692 331 187
New Jersey 4 9 0 .308 233 317 Michigan 8 5 0 .615 295 240
Washington 1 12 0 .077 193 345 Birmingham 7 6 0 .538 242 185
PACIFIC DIVISION
Los Angeles 6 7 0 .462 207 253 Denver 5 8 0 .385 181 223
Oakland 6 7 0 .462 239 227 Arizona 4 9 0 .308 210 321
FRIDAY JUNE 3
DENVER 24, Washington 12 (40671) - Larry Canada powered up the middle for two fourth-quarter TDs and gained 115 yards in leading the Gold. Washington suffered its 10th straight loss. Denver converted two Federal turnovers into 10 points en route to a 17-6 advantage midway through the fourth. Washington's first crucial turnover came on the first play, when Craig James fumbled and Denver's Greg Gerken recovered.
Washington - 0 3 3 6 - 12
Denver - 3 7 0 14 - 24
1st - DEN - Brian Speelman, 24-yard field goal DEN 3-0 2nd - WASH - Sandro Vitiello, 24-yard field goal TIED 3-3 2nd - DEN - Harry Sydney, 3-yard run (Speelman kick) DEN 10-3 3rd - WASH - Vitiello, 21-yard field goal DEN 10-6 4th - DEN - Larry Canada, 5-yard run (Speelman kick) DEN 17-6 4th - WASH - Mike Matocha recoved blocked punt in end zone (Pass failed) DEN 17-12 4th - DEN - Canada, 24-yard run (Speelman kick) DEN 24-12
SATURDAY JUNE 4
OAKLAND 34, New Jersey 21 (32908) - Fred Besana, leading passer in the USFL, got the best of No. 1 rusher Herschel Walker by firing three TD passes as Oakland took the Pacific Division lead. Walker took the league scoring lead, raising his season point total to 98 with two TD plunges and a 2-point conversion run. Besana completed 10 of his first 11 passes including TD tosses to Arthur Whittington and Raymond Chester.
New Jersey - 6 0 8 7 - 21
Oakland - 7 13 7 7 - 34
1st - OAK - Arthur Whittington, 8-yard pass from Fred Besana (Kevin Shea kick) OAK 7-0 1st - NJ - Herschel Walker, 2-yard run (Kick failed) OAK 7-6 2nd - OAK - Raymond Chester, 24-yard pass from Besana (Shea kick) OAK 14-6 2nd - OAK - Shea, 37-yard field goal OAK 17-6 2nd - OAK - Shea, 30-yard field goal OAK 20-6 3rd - NJ - Walker, 1-yard run (Walker run) OAK 20-14 3rd - OAK - Wyatt Henderson, 8-yard pass from Besana (Shea kick) OAK 27-14 4th - NJ - Mark Slawson, 11-yard pass from Gene Bradley (Betz kick) OAK 27-21 4th - OAK - Derrick Martin, 72-yard interception return (Shea kick) OAK 34-21
SUNDAY JUNE 5
TAMPA BAY 45, Birmingham 17 (35623) - Jimmy Jordan passed for 223 yards and four TDs and Gary Anderson had his first 100-yard rushing performance as a pro, as the Bandits scored the most points so far in the USFL. Jordan, making his first start in a month, completed 16 of 31 passes. Tampa Bay also got 146 yards and a TD from Anderson, who was playing in his fourth USFL game.
Birmingham - 3 7 0 7 — 17
Tampa Bay - 3 21 14 7 — 45
1st - TB - Zenon Andrusyshyn, 41-yard field goal TB 3-0 1st - BIRM - Scott Norwood, 24-yard field goal TIED 3-3 1st - BIRM - Ken Talton, 1-yard run (Norwood kick) BIRM 10-3 2nd - TB - Danny Buggs, 26-yard pass from Jimmy Jordan (Andrusyshyn kick) TIED 10-10 2nd - TB - Gary Anderson, 1-yard run (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 17-10 2nd - TB - Eric Truvillion, 29-yard pass from Jordan (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 24-10 3rd - TB - Buggs, 11-yard pass from Jordan (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 31-10 3rd - TB - Willie Gillespie, 25-yard pass from Jordan (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 38-10 4th - BIRM - Talton, 2-yard run (Norwood kick) TB 38-17 4th - TB - Greg Boone, 7-yard run (Andrusyshyn kick) TB 45-17
LOS ANGELES 17, Arizona 13 (13826) - JoJo Townsell, who joined the Express last week, caught a TD pass from Tom Ramsey with 2:38 left to keep Los Angeles in a tie for the lead with Oakland in the Pacific Division. The Express defense had nine sacks. Arizona QB Alan Risher was knocked out of the game with a rib injury in the first half after completing 12 of 15 passes for 154 yards.
Arizona - 3 0 7 3 — 13
Los Angeles - 0 7 3 7 — 17
1st - ARZ - Phil Denfeld, 25-yard field goal ARI 3-0 2nd - LA - Mike Rae, 1-yard run (Vince Abbott kick) LA 7-3 3rd - ARZ - Allan Clark, 13-yard run (Denfeld kick) ARI 10-7 3rd - LA - Abbott, 33-yard field goal TIED 10-10 4th - ARZ - Denfeld, 34-yard field goal ARI 13-10 4th - LA - JoJo Townsell, 26-yard pass from Tom Ramsey (Abbott kick) LA 17-13
PHILADELPHIA 29, Michigan 20 (19727) - Chuck Fusina threw three TD passes in the second half as the Stars moved a step closer to a playoff berth. The Stars overcame a 14-9 halftime deficit as Fusina hit Scott Fitzkee with a TD pass to give the Stars a 22-14 advantage. Michigan came back quickly as John Williams scored with 1:37 left in the third. Fusina sealed the victory on a 5-yard toss to David Riley with 1:55 left
Michigan - 0 14 6 0 — 20
Philadelphia - 9 0 13 7 — 29
1st - PHIL - David Trout, 38-yard field goal PHIL 3-0 1st - PHIL - Kelvin Bryant, 15-yard run (Kick failed) PHIL 9-0 2nd - MICH - Mike Cobb, pass from Bobby Hebert (Bojovic kick) PHIL 9-7 2nd - MICH - Hebert, 1-yard run (Bojovic run) MICH 14-9 3rd - PHIL - Booker Russell, 39-yard pass from Chuck Fusina (Pass failed) PHIL 15-14 3rd - PHIL - Scott Fitzkee, 5-yard pass from Fusina (Trout kick) PHIL 22-14 4th - MICH - John Williams, 53-yard pass from Hebert (Pass failed) PHIL 22-20 4th - PHIL - David Riley, 5-yard pass from Fusina (Trout kick) PHIL 29-20
MONDAY JUNE 6
BOSTON 21, Chicago 15 (15087) - The Breakers moved into enviable position for the league's wild card berth. The victory, Boston's fourth straight, improved their record to 9-5, the same as Chicago, and one game better than Michigan, the third prime contender for a wild card berth. Boston, which trailed 13-0 at one point, managed only eight first downs, 141 total yards and had to punt 11 times.
Chicago - 3 10 0 2 - 15
Boston - 0 7 7 7 - 21
1st - CHI - Frank Corral, 33-yard field goal CHI 3-0 2nd - CHI - Trumaine Johnson, 29-yard pass from Tim Koegel (Corral kick) CHI 10-0 2nd - CHI - Corral, 29-yard field goal CHI 13-0 2nd - BOST - Johnnie Walton, 10-yard run (Tim Mazzetti kick) CHI 13-7 3rd - BOST - Richard Crump, 6-yard run (Mazzetti kick) BOS 14-13 4th - BOST - Crump, 9-yard pass from Walton (Mazzetti kick) BOS 21-13 4th - CHI - Safety, Joe Restic tackled in end zone BOS 21-15
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
Philadelphia 12 2 0 .857 299 159 Tampa Bay 10 4 0 .714 300 266
Boston 9 5 0 .643 307 259 Chicago 9 5 0 .643 346 208
New Jersey 4 10 0 .286 254 351 Michigan 8 6 0 .571 315 269
Washington 1 13 0 .071 205 369 Birmingham 7 7 0 .500 259 230
PACIFIC DIVISION
Los Angeles 7 7 0 .500 224 266 Denver 6 8 0 .429 205 235
Oakland 7 7 0 .500 273 248 Arizona 4 10 0 .286 223 338
SATURDAY JUNE 11
BIRMINGHAM 31, Boston 19 (20500) - Bob Lane and Lonnie Johnson accounted for two TD each for the Stallions. Lane ran for the game's first score and Johnson scored the Stallions' final two TDs on short plunges. The attendance of 20,500 gave Birmingham an average of 22,231 for its seven home games. The loss, Boston's first after four straight victories, hurt their hopes for the wild-card spot in the playoffs.
Boston - 7 0 0 12 — 19
Birmingham - 14 3 0 14 — 31
1st - BIRM - Bob Lane, 6-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) BIRM 7-0 1st - BIRM - Greg Anderson, 25-yard pass from Lane (Norwood kick) BIRM 14-0 1st - BOST - Louie Giammona, 16-yard pass from Johnnie Walton (Tim Mazzetti kick) BIRM 14-7 2nd - BIRM - Norwood, 26-yard field goal BIRM 17-7 4th - BIRM - Lonnie Johnson, 3-yard run (Norwood kick) BIRM 24-7 4th - BIRM - Lonnie Johnson, 2-yard run (Norwood kick) BIRM 31-7 4th - BOST - Charlie Smith, 28-yard pass from Walton (Pass failed). BIRM 31-13 4th - BOST - Smith, 11-yard pass from Doug Woodward (Pass failed) BIRM 31-19
Washington 18, ARIZONA 11 (16656) - Craig James and Billy Taylor each scored a TD and Sandro Vitiello kicked a 48-yard FG as the Federals scored all their points in the second half to snap a 10-game skid. Arizona lost for the seventh straight time before a small crowd. James put Washington ahead to stay on a 3-yard TD run with 9:24 left. It was set up by safety Mike Guess' 17-yard return of an interception to the Wranglers 31.
Washington - 0 0 7 11 - 18
Arizona - 8 3 0 0 - 11
1st - ARZ - Calvin Murray, 1-yard run (Harold Blue pass from Dan Manucci) ARI 8-0 2nd - ARZ - Phil Denfeld, 27-yard field goal ARI 11-0 3rd - WASH - Billy Taylor, 6-yard run (Sandro Vitiello kick) ARI 11-7 4th - WASH - Vitiello, 48-yard field goal ARI 11-10 4th - WASH - Craig James, 3-yard run (Taylor pass from Kim McQuilken) WASH 18-11
SUNDAY JUNE 12
CHICAGO 31, Tampa Bay 8 (21249) - Tim Koegel threw three TD passes to help Chicago tie Tampa Bay for first place in the Central in 86-degree temperatures and 129-degree field conditions. Kevin Long took a 6-yard pass for one score and Tim Spencer caught two for 43 and 2 yards and rushed three yards for another TD. Tampa Bay's only score came on a 23-yard TD pass from backup quarterback Mike Kelley to Willie Gillespie.
Tampa Bay - 0 0 8 0 — 8
Chicago - 14 7 3 7 — 31
1st - CHI - Kevin Long, 6-yard pass from Tim Koegel (Frank Corral kick) CHI 7-0 1st - CHI - Tim Spencer, 43-yard pass from Koegel (Corral kick) CHI 14-0 2nd - CHI - Spencer, 3-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 21-0 3rd - CHI - Corral, 48-yard field goal CHI 24-0 3rd - TB - Willie Gillespie, 23-yard pass from Mike Kelley (Greg Boone run) CHI 24-8 4th - CHI - Spencer, 2-yard pass from Koegel (Corral kick) CHI 31-8
Michigan 42, LOS ANGELES 17 (16023) - Playing with a cracked rib, Bobby Hebert passed for four Michigan TDs and completed 16 of 25 passes for 147 yards in an aerial duel with Tom Ramsay, who set a club-passing record with 281 yards. The Express QB also threw a pair of TD passes while completing 23 of 35 passes. The game drew 16,023 and there were 7,131 no-shows at the Coliseum.
Michigan - 21 0 7 14 — 42
Los Angeles - 6 11 0 0 — 17
1st - MICH - Ken Lacy, 31-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Novo Bojovic kick) MICH 7-0 1st - MICH - Derek Holloway, 52-yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH 14-0 1st - LA - JoJo Townsell, 82-yard pass from Tom Ramsey (Kick failed) MICH 14-6 1st - MICH - Terry Miller, 14-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 21-6 2nd - LA - Anthony Allen, 29-yard pass from Ramsey (John Barnett run) MICH 21-14 2nd - LA - Vince Abbott, 27-yard field goal MICH 21-17 3rd - MICH - Anthony Carter, 16-yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH 28-17 4th - MICH - Ray Pinney, 2-yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH 35-17 4th - MICH - John Corker, 85-yard fumble return (Bojovic kick) MICH 42-17
Philadelphia 23, NEW JERSEY 9 (32521) - The Stars, who scored on five straight possessions, got TD runs by Allen Harvin and Kelvin Bryant and FGs by David Trout to clinch the Atlantic Division title. Herschel Walker carried the ball 25 times against the league's best defense against the run in the 90-degree heat as New Jersey took a 9-0 lead. Bryant was held to a season-low 24 rushing yards.
Philadelphia - 0 3 17 3 - 23
New Jersey - 9 0 0 0 - 9
1st - NJ - Safety, Kelvin Bryant tackled in end zone NJ 2-0 1st - NJ - Walter Tullis, 11-yard run (Dave Betz kick) NJ 8-0 2nd - PHIL - David Trout, 25-yard field goal NJ 8-3 3rd - PHIL - Bryant, 1-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 10-8 3rd - PHIL - Trout, 39-yard field goal PHIL 13-8 3rd - PHIL - Allen Harvin, 7-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 20-8 4th - PHIL - Trout, 49-yard field goal PHIL 23-8
MONDAY JUNE 13
OAKLAND 16, Denver 10 (26840) - Kevin Shea booted a team-record three FGs and Jerry Aldridge sprinted down the sidelines 80 yards for a TD to lead the Invaders. With a little over two minutes to go, Denver drove from its own 23 to the Oakland five, but halfback Harry Sydney fumbled the ball, and it was recovered by Dupre Marshall. The Invaders then killed the clock to take a one-game lead over Los Angeles in the Pacific.
Denver - 0 3 0 7 — 10
Oakland - 0 13 3 0 — 16
2nd - OAK - Jerry Aldridge, 80-yard pass from Fred Besana (Kevin Shea kick) OAK 7-0 2nd - DEN - Brian Speelman, 48-yard field goal OAK 7-3 2nd - OAK - Shea, 28-yard field goal OAK 10-3 2nd - OAK - Shea, 27-yard field goal OAK 13-3 3rd - OAK - Shea, 43-yard field goal OAK 16-3 4th - DEN - Johnnie Dirden, 16-yard pass from Craig Penrose (Speelman kick) OAK 16-10
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
X-Philadelphia 13 2 0 .867 322 168 Tampa Bay 10 5 0 .667 308 297
Boston 9 6 0 .600 326 290 Chicago 10 5 0 .667 377 216
New Jersey 4 11 0 .267 263 374 Michigan 9 6 0 .600 357 286
Washington 2 13 0 .133 223 380 Birmingham 8 7 0 .533 290 249
PACIFIC DIVISION
Oakland 8 7 0 .533 289 258 Denver 6 9 0 .400 215 251
Los Angeles 7 8 0 .467 241 308 Arizona 4 11 0 .267 234 356
X-Clinched Division Title
JUN 14 - Jacksonville will get its first big league football team when it becomes the home for a new USFL franchise, the second USFL team in Florida, league and team officials have announced. Commissioner Chet Simmons was on hand at the Gator Bowl, leased to businessman Fred Bullard as the home of the team. He said the USFL needs a mix of the top 15 markets and smaller cities such as Jacksonville. Jacksonville is the fourth expansion franchise of the fledgling league, following Houston, Pittsburgh and San Diego. It is the 16th USFL team. San Antonio and Minneapolis are franchise considerations. The USFL's San Diego franchise owners say they are looking for a new home, said Bill Tatham Jr. after City Council, by a 5-3 vote, denied the team a lease at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium. Tatham indicated that the franchise could be moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
FRIDAY JUNE 17
DENVER 32, Arizona 6 (42621) - Craig Penrose fired three TD passes and Vincent White rushed for a team-record 159 yards to lead Denver. The Gold jumped to a 15-0 halftime lead and extended the margin to 25-0 after three quarters before Arizona finally scored early in the fourth. White, whose best rushing performance as a collegian at Stanford was 112 yards, broke loose for gains of 29, 25, 18 and 24 yards.
Arizona - 0 0 0 6 - 6
Denver - 7 8 10 7 - 32
1st - DEN - Johnnie Dirden, 75-yard pass from Craig Penrose (Brian Speelman kick) DEN 7-0 2nd - DEN - Bob Niziolek, 12-yard pass from Fred Mortensen (Bo Matthews pass from Mortensen) DEN 15-0 3rd - DEN - Darryl Goosby, 3-yard pass from Penrose (Speelman kick) DEN 22-0 3rd - DEN - Speelman, 33-yard field goal DEN 25-0 4th - ARZ - Mark Keel, 9-yard pass from Dan Manucci (Pass failed) DEN 25-6 4th - DEN - Victor James, 7-yard pass from Penrose (Speelman kick) DEN 32-6
NEW JERSEY 20, Los Angeles 13 (31807) - Herschel Walker scored on an 11-yard run while increasing his league-leading rushing total to 1,705 yards and the league's worst defense had four interceptions, four sacks and two fumble recoveries in New Jersey's win. Sam Sopp had two interceptions for New Jersey, including one in the end zone that ended a Los Angeles drive that reached the 8-yard line with 6:32 left to play.
Los Angeles - 0 10 3 0 - 13
New Jersey - 7 10 0 3 - 20
1st - NJ - Dwight Sullivan, 3-yard run (John Roveto kick) NJ 7-0 2nd - LA - LaRue Harrington, 1-yard run (Vince Abbott kick) TIED 7-7 2nd - NJ - Herschel Walker, 11-yard run (Roveto kick) NJ 14-7 2nd - NJ - Roveto, 34-yard field goal NJ 17-7 2nd - LA - Abbott, 22-yard field goal NJ 17-10 3rd - LA - Abbott, 34-yard field goal NJ 17-13 4th - NJ - Roveto, 46-yard field goal NJ 20-13
Chicago 29, BIRMINGHAM 14 (22500) - A change of uniforms didn't work for the Stallions, but a change of scene did for Bobby Scott. Thinking his players would be cooler by wearing white in the rainy, 75-degree weather, Birmingham Coach Rollie Dotsch had them switch uniforms, but the plan backfired when Scott, acquired from the Generals earlier this season, hit Trumaine Johnson for three TDs.
Chicago - 0 12 3 14 — 29
Birmingham - 0 14 0 0 — 14
2nd - CHI - Trumaine Johnson, 12-yard pass from Bobby Scott (Kick failed) CHI 6-0 2nd - BIRM - Scott Norwood, 33-yard field goal CHI 6-3 2nd - BIRM - Safety, Eddie Brown tackled in end zone CHI 6-5 2nd - BIRM - Darryl Mason, 20-yard pass from Bob Lane (Run failed) BIRM 11-6 2nd - CHI - Johnson, 19-yard pass from Scott (Pass failed) CHI 12-11 2nd - BIRM - Norwood, 32-yard field goal BIRM 14-12 3rd - CHI - Frank Corral, 30-yard field goal CHI 15-14 4th - CHI - Johnson, 10-yard pass from Scott (Corral kick) CHI 22-14 4th - CHI - Mack Boatner, 15-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 29-14
SUNDAY JUNE 19
BOSTON 24, Tampa Bay 17 (15530) - Johnnie Walton was sidelined with a strained left knee, so inexperienced Doug Woodward got his first start and directed Boston to the win. The Breakers led 7-0 less than two minutes into the game and 14-3 after the first quarter as Woodward completed 12 of 17 passes for two TDs but only 80 yards. The Bandits held a 355-222 advantage in yards and ran 73 plays to Boston's 46.
Tampa Bay - 3 11 0 3 — 17
Boston - 14 3 0 7 — 24
1st - BOST - Dennis Johnson, 11-yard pass from Doug Woodward (Tim Mazzetti kick) BOS 7-0 1st - TB - Zenon Andrusyshyn, 35-yard field goal BOS 7-3 1st - BOST - Johnson, 2-yard run (Mazzetti kick) BOS 14-3 2nd - TB - Sam Platt, 20-yard run (Eric Truvillion pass from Mike Kelley) BOS 14-11 2nd - BOST - Mazzetti, 22-yard field goal BOS 17-11 2nd - TB - Andrusyshyn, 51-yard field goal BOS 17-14 4th - BOST - Nolan Franz, 7-yard pass from Woodward (Mazzetti kick) BOS 24-14 4th - TB - Andrusyshyn, 35-yard field goal BOS 24-17
MONDAY JUNE 20
PHILADELPHIA 12, Oakland 6 (16933) - David Trout booted four FGs, set up by three Oakland fumbles and an interception, as the Stars won a rain-soaked game. Oakland lost a chance to clinch the Pacific Division title. Trout kicked a 23-yarder with 9:52 left to break a 6-6 tie after tackle John Alford recovered a fumble on the Oakland 24. An interception by Stars LB Sam Mills three minutes later set up the final FG with 1:43 left.
Oakland - 0 3 3 0 - 6
Philadelphia - 3 3 0 6 - 12
1st - PHIL - David Trout, 34-yard field goal PHILA 3-0 2nd - OAK - Kevin Shea, 24-yard field goal TIED 3-3 2nd - PHIL - Trout, 28-yard field goal PHIL 6-3 3rd - OAK - Shea, 47-yard field goal TIED 6-6 4th - PHIL - Trout, 23-yard field goal PHIL 9-6 4th - PHIL - Trout, 30-yard field goal PHIL 12-6
MICHIGAN 27, Washington 25 (26418) - Novo Bojovic kicked his second FG of the game with 52 seconds left to keep Michigan in the playoff hunt. Bojovic, who earlier missed a 27-yard attempt, connected from 18 yards out to cap a 53-yard drive. Michigan led 17-9 at halftime, but Washington bounced back on Billy Taylor's 1-yard run and a 40-yard field goal by Sandro Vitiello to take a 25-24 lead with 9:38 left in the game.
Washington - 0 9 13 3 - 25
Michigan - 7 10 7 3 - 27
1st - MICH - Anthony Carter, 37-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Novo Bojovic kick) MICH 7-0 2nd - MICH - Bojovic, 19-yard field goal MICH 10-0 2nd - WASH - Billy Taylor, 4-yard pass from Kim McQuilken (Kick failed) MICH 10-6 2nd - MICH - John Williams, 1-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 17-6 2nd - WASH - Sandro Vitiello, 51-yard field goal MICH 17-9 3rd - WASH - Doug Greene, 35-yard interception return (Run failed) MICH 17-15 3rd - MICH - Ken Lacy, 1-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 24-15 3rd - WASH - Taylor, 1-yard run (Vitiello kick) MICH 24-22 4th - WASH - Vitiello, 45-yard field goal WASH 25-22 4th - MICH - Bojovic, 18-yard field goal MICH 27-25
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
X-Philadelphia 14 2 0 .875 334 174 Chicago 11 5 0 .688 306 230
Boston 10 6 0 .625 350 307 Michigan 10 6 0 .625 384 311
New Jersey 5 11 0 .313 283 387 Tampa Bay 10 6 0 .625 325 321
Washington 2 14 0 .125 248 407 Birmingham 8 8 0 .500 304 278
PACIFIC DIVISION
Oakland 8 8 0 .500 295 270 Denver 7 9 0 .438 247 257
Los Angeles 7 9 0 .438 254 328 Arizona 4 12 0 .250 240 388
X-Clinched Division Title
SATURDAY JUNE 25
NEW JERSEY 21, Arizona 14 (30612) - TE Sam Bowers snared eight passes for 139 yards and Thomas Lott, playing because Herschel Walker had blurred vision, ran for 110 yards and a TD to lead the Generals in their home finale. Walker returned early in the fourth to score his 18th TD of the season. New Jersey won two straight games for the first time this season, while Arizona lost its ninth straight to fall to 4-13.
Arizona - 0 7 0 7 - 14
New Jersey - 7 7 0 7 - 21
1st - NJ - Thomas Lott, 3-yard run (John Roveto kick) NJ 7-0 2nd - NJ - Dwight Sullivan, 20-yard run (Roveto kick) NJ 14-0 2nd - ARZ - Calvin Murray, 1-yard run (Phil Denfeld kick) NJ 14-7 4th - NJ - Herschel Walker, 1-yard run (Roveto kick) NJ 21-7 4th - ARZ - Darryl Clark, 1-yard run (Denfeld kick) NJ 21-14
OAKLAND 17, Boston 16 (30396) - Fred Besana passed for 227 yards and a TD as the Invaders capitalized on Boston blunders to win the Pacific Division. Boston, which got 122 yards rushing from Richard Crump, crumbled from its own mistakes in the third period. The Invaders recovered a fumble on their own 48 and drove down the field to take the lead on a Ted Torosian TD. Boston later had a TD nullified by a holding penalty.
Boston - 0 10 3 3 - 16
Oakland - 7 3 0 7 - 17
1st - OAK - Louis Jackson, 8-yard pass from Fred Besana (Kevin Shea kick) OAK 7-0 2nd - BOST - Tim Mazzetti, 35-yard field goal OAK 7-3 2nd - BOST - Ben Needham, 75-yard return of blocked field goal (Mazzetti kick) BOS 10-7 2nd - OAK - Shea, 22-yard field goal TIED 10-10 3rd - BOST - Mazzetti, 20-yard field goal BOS 13-10 4th - OAK - Ted Torosian, 1-yard run (Shea kick) OAK 17-13 4th - BOST - Mazzetti, 24-yard field goal OAK 17-16
SUNDAY JUNE 26
PHILADELPHIA 31, Birmingham 10 (17973) - Allen Harvin ran for TDs of 1 and 19 yards and set up a score by Kelvin Bryant with a 44-yard option pass as Philadelphia built a 24-0 cushion and hung on to improve their league-leading record to 15-2. The Stars, who clinched the Atlantic title two weeks ago, played to a crowd of 15,585 at Veterans Stadium. David Trout booted his eighth straight FG, a 31-yarder, to put the Stars up 17-0.
Birmingham - 0 3 0 7 — 10
Philadelphia - 14 10 0 7 — 31
1st - PHIL - Booker Russell, 7-yard run (David Trout kick) PHIL 7-0 1st - PHIL - Allen Harvin, 19-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 14-0 2nd - PHIL - Trout, 31-yard field goal PHIL 17-0 2nd - PHIL - Kelvin Bryant, 2-yard run (Trout kick) PHIL 24-0 2nd - BIRM - Scott Norwood, 34-yard field goal PHIL 24-3 4th - PHIL - Harvin, 1-yard run (Trout kick) PH 31-3 4th - BIRM - Greg Anderson, 18-yard pass from Bob Lane (Norwood kick) PH 31-10
WASHINGTON 28, Los Angeles 21 (9782) - Craig James, benched early in the game after his seventh fumble of the season, came back to score two TDs to pace Washington to only its third victory. James scored the winning TD with 6:28 to play before 9,792 at RFK Stadium. There were 12,160 no shows. After the benching, James returned to match his high for the season, gaming 90 yards rushing on 14 attempts.
Los Angeles - 7 7 0 7 — 21
Washington - 0 7 14 7 — 28
1st - LA - John Barnett, 1-yard run (Vince Abbott kick) LA 7-0 2nd - LA - Tom Ramsey, 1-yard run (Abbott kick) LA 14-0 2nd - WASH - Billy Taylor, 2-yard run (Sandro Vitiello kick) LA 14-7 3rd - WASH - Craig James, 5-yard run (Vitiello kick) TIED 14-14 3rd - WASH - Mike Harris, 32-yard pass from Kim McQuilken (Vitiello kick) WASH 21-14 4th - LA - Tony Boddie, 6-yard run (Abbott kick) TIED 21-21 4th - WASH - James, 18-yard run (Vitiello kick) WASH 28-21
Michigan 34, CHICAGO 19 (25041) - Five of Bobby Hebert's passes fell into the arms of Anthony Carter, Derek Holloway and Ken Lacy as Hebert set a USFL record for TD passes in a game and increased his league lead to 26. Hebert defied the heat in Soldier Field, where temperatures reached 99 degrees in the stands and zoomed to an estimated 134 degrees on the turf, to pull Michigan into a tie for the division lead.
Michigan - 7 14 6 7 — 34
Chicago - 0 3 0 16 — 19
1st - MICH - Ken Lacy, 39-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Novo Bojovic kick) MICH 7-0 2nd - MICH - Anthony Carter, 35-yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH 14-0 2nd - CHI - Frank Corral, 34-yard field goal MICH 14-3 2nd - MICH - Derek Holloway, 42-yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH 21-3 3rd - MICH - Holloway, 15-yard pass from Hebert (Kick failed) MICH 27-3 4th - CHI - Kevin Long, 4-yard run (Pass failed) MICH 27-9 4th - CHI - Corral, 40-yard field goal MICH 27-12 4th - CHI - Trumaine Johnson, 9-yard pass from Bobby Scott (Corral kick) MICH 27-19 4th - MICH - Carter, 32-yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH 34-19
MONDAY JUNE 27
TAMPA BAY 26, Denver 23 (46128) - Eric Truvillion, who leads the USFL in TD receptions, ran his total to 14 with a 44-yard catch from Jimmy Jordan and gave the Bandits a come-from-behind win, forcing a three-way tie for the Central lead. Truvillion's winning TD came on the second play after the game was resumed following a 50-minute delay because a severe thunderstorm. The teams went to their locker rooms with 8:31 left.
Denver - 0 16 0 7 - 23
Tampa Bay - 15 0 0 11 - 26
1st - TB - Fred Nordgren, 23-yard interception return (Mike Goedeker run) TB 8-0 1st - TB - Gary Anderson, 2-yard run (Zenon Andrusyshyn kick) TB 15-0 2nd - DEN - Bob Niziolek, 2-yard pass from Craig Penrose (Brian Speelman kick) TB 15-7 2nd - DEN - Harry Sydney, 1-yard run (Pass failed) TB 15-13 2nd - DEN - Speelman, 41-yard field goal DEN 16-15 3rd - DEN - Sydney, 2-yard run (Speelman kick) DEN 23-16 4th - TB - Andrusyshyn, 47-yard field goal DEN 23-19 4th - TB - Eric Truvillion, 44-yard pass from Jimmy Jordan (Greg Boone run) TB 26-23
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
X-Philadelphia 15 2 0 .882 365 184 Michigan 11 6 0 .647 418 330
Boston 10 7 0 .588 356 334 Chicago 11 6 0 .647 325 264
New Jersey 6 11 0 .353 314 393 Tampa Bay 11 6 0 .647 351 344
Washington 3 14 0 .176 276 428 Birmingham 8 9 0 .471 314 309
PACIFIC DIVISION
X-Oakland 9 8 0 .529 312 286 Denver 7 10 0 .412 270 283
Los Angeles 7 10 0 .412 275 356 Arizona 4 13 0 .235 254 409
X-Clinched Division Title
SATURDAY JULY 2
BIRMINGHAM 29, Tampa Bay 17 (20300) - Bob Lane passed for two TDs and set up another to lead the Stallions to a .500 finish and ended the Bandits' chance for the playoffs. Birmingham averaged 22,052 for its nine home games. Lane's TD passes went to Greg Anderson and Jim Smith. The win capped a perfect day for Birmingham, in which the Stallions signed Bills' RB Joe Cribbs for the 1984 season at halftime.
Tampa Bay - 7 3 0 7 — 17
Birmingham - 14 9 3 3 — 29
1st - BIRM - Lonnie Johnson, 3-yard run (Scott Norwood kick) BIRM 7-0 1st - TB - Gary Anderson, 2-yard run (Zenon Andrusyshyn kick) TIED 7-7 1st - BIRM - Greg Anderson, 50-yard pass from Bob Lane (Norwood kick) BIRM 14-7 2nd - BIRM - Safety, Jimmy Jordan tackled in end zone by Herb Spencer BIRM 16-7 2nd - BIRM - Jim Smith, 9-yard pass from Lane (Norwood kick) BIRM 23-7 2nd - TB - Andrusyshyn, 39-yard field goal BIRM 23-10 3rd - BIRM - Norwood, 50-yard field goal BIRM 26-10 4th - BIRM - Norwood, 29-yard field goal BIRM 29-10 4th - TB - Eric Truvillion, 1-yard pass from Jordan (Andrusyshyn kick) BIRM 29-17
SUNDAY JULY 3
CHICAGO 31, Oakland 7 (12346) - S Don Schwartz returned a third-quarter interception 45 yards for one TD and teammate Eddie Brown ran 29 yards with another as the Blitz made it into the playoffs. A crowd of only 12,346, 6,463 below the average home attendance, watched in 80-degree weather while the field temperature reached 116. Chicago's top-rated defense held the Invaders to less than 180 net yards.
Oakland - 0 0 0 7 — 7
Chicago - 10 0 14 7 — 31
1st - CHI - Tim Spencer, 4-yard run (Frank Corral kick) CHI 7-0 1st - CHI - Corral, 52-yard field goal CHI 10-0 3rd - CHI - Don Schwartz, 45-yard interception return (Corral kick) CHI 17-0 3rd - CHI - Eddie Brown, 34-yard interception return (Corral kick) CHI 24-0 4th - OAK - Ted Torosian, 2-yard run (Kevin Shea kick) CHI 24-7 4th - CHI - Walter Easley, 1-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 31-7
WASHINGTON 21, Philadelphia 14 (11039) - Philadelphia, with the league's best record, played without Kelvin Bryant, the USFL's second-leading rusher. The Stars said Bryant was suffering from an ankle injury but would play next week. Kim McQuilken completed 18 of 27 passes, including 10 in a row in the second half, passed for 208 yards and ran 1-yard for the winning touchdown as the Federals finished 4-14.
Philadelphia - 7 7 0 0 — 14
Washington - 0 6 8 7 — 21
1st - PHIL - Allen Harvin, 17-yard run (David Trout kick) PHIL 7-0 2nd - PHIL - Willie Collier, 11-yard pass from Chuck Fusina (Trout kick) PHIL 14-0 2nd - WASH - Stan Rome, 11-yard pass from Kim McQuilken (Kick failed) PHIL 14-6 3rd - WASH - Billy Taylor, 6-yard run (Mike Fisher pass from McQuilken) TIED 14-14 4th - WASH - McQuilken, 1-yard run (Sandro Vitiello kick) WASH 21-14
BOSTON 34, New Jersey 10 (15798) - Johnnie Walton fired two TD passes as Boston crushed error-prone New Jersey. Generals RB Herschel Walker won the league's first rushing title with 1,812 yards. The crowd was Boston's second largest home crowd, but the Breakers said they don't want to play at 21,000-seat Nickerson Field again next season and may move out of the state.
New Jersey - 3 0 0 7 — 10
Boston - 7 17 3 7 — 34
1st - NJ - John Roveto, 36-yard field goal NJ 3-0 1st - BOST - Beau Coash, 10-yard pass from Johnnie Walton (Tim Mazzetti kick) BOS 7-3 2nd - BOST - Richard Crump, 20-yard run (Mazzetti kick) BOS 14-3 2nd - BOST - Mazzetti, 35-yard field goal BOS 17-3 2nd - BOST - Anthony Steels, 1-yard run (Mazzetti kick) BOS 24-3 3rd - BOST - Mazzetti, 44-yard field goal BOS 27-3 4th - BOST - Charlie Smith, 58-yard pass from Walton (Mazzetti kick) BOS 34-3 4th - NJ - Vicky Ray Anderson, 4-yard pass from Jeff Knapple (Roveto kick) BOS 34-10
MICHIGAN 33, Arizona 7 (31905) - Ken Lacy threw for one TD and ran for another in the first quarter as Michigan clinched the Central title. Arizona matched the Federals for the league's worst record. Lacy, who finished the game with 92 yards, took a pitchout from Bobby Hebert, rolled right and flipped a TD pass to Derek Holloway 2:24 into the game to start the rout.
Arizona - 0 0 0 7 — 7
Michigan - 14 10 3 6 — 33
1st - MICH - Derek Holloway, 38-yard pass from Ken Lacy (Novo Bojovic kick) MICH 7-0 1st - MICH - Lacy, 9-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 14-0 2nd - MICH - Bojovic, 42-yard field goal MICH 17-0 2nd - MICH - Anthony Carter, 68-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH 24-0 3rd - MICH - Bojovic, 27-yard field goal MICH 27-0 4th - MICH - John Williams, 15-yard run (Kick failed) MICH 33-0 4th - ARZ - Wally Henry, 48-yard pass from Dan Manucci (Phil Denefeld kick) MICH 33-7
LOS ANGELES 21, Denver 14 (11471) - Mike Rae passed for two first half TDs as Los Angeles intercepted six passes, five against Craig Penrose, to tie a USFL record Chicago set against Tampa Bay. Before its smallest crowd, the Express lost three of its last four games. And games weren't all they lost. Owner Alan Harmon candidly admitted his financial losses, expected to be around $1.5 million, will be closer to $3 million.
Denver - 0 0 0 14 - 14
Los Angeles - 14 7 0 0 - 21
1st - LA - JoJo Townsell, 13-yard pass from Mike Rae (Vince Abbott kick) LA 7-0 1st - LA - Tony Boddie, 1-yard run (Abbott kick) LA 14-0 2nd - LA - Anthony Allen, 9-yard pass from Rae (Abbott kick) LA 21-0 4th - DEN - Fred Mortensen, 4-yard run (Brian Speelman kick) LA 21-7 4th - DEN - Victor James, 4-yard pass from Mortensen (Speelman kick) LA 21-14
ATLANTIC DIVISION CENTRAL DIVISION
X-Philadelphia 15 3 0 .833 379 204 X-Michigan 12 6 0 .667 451 337
Boston 11 7 0 .611 399 344 Y-Chicago 12 6 0 .667 456 271
New Jersey 6 12 0 .333 314 437 Tampa Bay 11 7 0 .611 363 378
Washington 4 14 0 .222 297 442 Birmingham 9 9 0 .500 343 326
PACIFIC DIVISION
X-Oakland 9 9 0 .500 319 317 Denver 7 11 0 .389 284 304
Los Angeles 8 10 0 .444 296 370 Arizona 4 14 0 .222 261 442
X-Clinched Division Title Y-Clinched Wild Card Berth
JUL 2 - The USFL has agreed to issue an expansion franchise for Tulsa, beginning with the 1984 season, franchise co-owner Bill Tatham said Saturday. Tatham said a formal announcement from the league probably would not be made for several more days, although arrangements were completed during a meeting of league owners Friday in Chicago. Tatham and his father, William Tatham Sr. of Fresno, Calif., announced last month they had decided to locate the team in Tulsa after they were unable to contract stadium rights in San Diego. Both father and son met recently with University of Tulsa officials to arrange use of Skelly Stadium, and with Tulsa government and business leaders. They said then the only major factor remaining in locating the team in Tulsa was league approval. Technically, Tatham said, a new franchise was being issued for Tulsa rather than the old franchise being transferred, but the $2.5 million deposit he and his father had made with the league for the San Diego franchise was being transferred to the new franchise.
JUL 5 - The USFL will add two more expansion franchises in the next few days, giving the fledgling league six new teams in 1984, Commissioner Chet Simmons says. The USFL ended its first regular season Sunday and Simmons said the average attendance at 108 games was 24,824. He revealed that the Boston Breakers might move to another city if they are unable to find a larger stadium than Boston University's 20,000-seat Nickerson Field. The Breakers have been turned down in their attempts to rent Harvard Stadium, which has a capacity of 37,289. Although Simmons declined to identify the new cities, they reportedly will come from among Memphis, Seattle, New Orleans and San Antonio. Houston, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and San Diego already have been granted franchises for 1984, but the San Diego franchise is expected to relocate in Tulsa because it was refused the use of San Diego-Jack Murphy Stadium.
SEMI-FINALS
Sat July 9 - PHILADELPHIA (15-3) 44, Chicago (12-6) 38 (OT) (15,684) - The Stars had come from behind before, but never so dramatically. Philadelphia overcame four first-half turnovers with three Chuck Fusina TD passes in the last nine minutes to tie the Blitz, then went on to win in OT. Kelvin Bryant rushed for 142 yards and two TDs, including the game winner 7:02 into the OT. The Blitz took a 21-7 halftime lead after intercepting Fusina three times and recovering his fumble in the second quarter. They led 38-17 with 12:04 left.
Chicago - 7 14 10 7 0 — 38
Philadelphia - 0 14 0 24 6 — 44
1st - CHI - Kevin Long, 1-yard run (Frank Corral kick) CHI 7-0 2nd - CHI - Bobby Scott, 3-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 14-0 2nd - PHIL - Kelvin Bryant, 10-yard run (David Trout kick) CHI 14-7 2nd - CHI - Trumaine Johnson, 12-yard pass from Scott (Corral kick) CHI 21-7 2nd - PHIL - Chuck Fusina, 12-yard pass from Allen Harvin (Trout kick) CHI 21-14 3rd - CHI - Mack Boatner, 12-yard pass from Scott (Corral kick) CHI 28-14 3rd - CHI - Corral, 32-yard field goal CHI 31-14 4th - PHIL - Trout, 42-yard field goal CHI 31-17 4th - CHI - Tim Spencer, 1-yard run (Corral kick) CHI 38-17 4th - PHIL - Scott Fitzkee, 17-yard pass from Fusina (Trout kick) CHI 38-24 4th - PHIL - Jeff Rodenberger, 2-yard pass from Fusina (Trout kick) CHI 38-31 4th - PHIL - Tom Donovan, 11-yard pass from Fusina (Trout kick) TIED 38-38 OT - PHIL - Bryant, 1-yard run PHIL 44-38
Sun July 10 - MICHIGAN (12-6) 37, Oakland (9-9) 21 (60,237) - Bobby Hebert passed for one TD and ran for one to lead the Panthers to the championship game. The Panthers have now won 12 of their past 14. With 25 seconds to play, after Oakland got its final TD, thousands of fans swarmed onto the field and tore down both goalposts, and minutes later USFL officials ruled the game complete at 14:35. The Panthers, who averaged 22,251 during the season, drew a USFL-record 60,237, thanks to reduced ticket prices and free parking.
Oakland - 7 0 7 7 — 21
Michigan - 0 17 14 6 — 37
1st - OAK - Fred Besana, 1-yard run (Kevin Shea kick) OAK 7-0 2nd - MICH - John Williams, 5-yard run (Novo Bojovic kick) TIED 7-7 2nd - MICH - Bojovic, 38-yard field goal MICH 10-7 2nd - MICH - Anthony Carter, 3-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH 17-7 3rd - OAK - David Shaw, 19-yard interception return (Shea kick) MICH 17-14 3rd - MICH - Hebert, 1-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 24-14 3rd - MICH - Ken Lacy, 18-yard run (Bojovic kick) MICH 31-14 4th - MICH - Terry Miller, 3-yard run (Kick failed) MICH 37-14 4th - OAK - Marc Lewis, 5-yard pass from Besana (Shea kick) MICH 37-21
JUL 11 - After two months of hemming, hawing and backpedaling, it's official. San Antonio has been awarded the fifth USFL expansion franchise team, which will start play in 1984. South Texas rancher Clinton Manges put up $6 million to become the principal owner of the as-yet-unnamed team, which will play its games in an as-yet unmodified Alamo Stadium under an as-yet unnamed coach.
1983 USFL CHAMPIONSHIP (July 17 at Denver)
MICHIGAN PANTHERS (13-6) 24, PHILADELPHIA STARS (16-3) 22 (46,535) - Anthony Carter and Derek Holloway are big enough to be enough for Bobby Hebert and definitely big enough for the Michigan Panthers, who got big plays and big days from their little guys to win the first USFL championship. Hebert found them 12 times and was named the game's MVP with his 314-yard passing night, giving the Detroit area its first pro football championship since the Detroit Lions copped the NFL title in 1957. The majority of the 46,535 who came out to 75,000-seat Mile High Stadium were rooting for Michigan. With six seconds to play, moments before Philadelphia's Chuck Fusina hit Rodney Parker with a two-yard touchdown that made the final score close, thousands of boisterous Michigan fans surged onto the field. Some 50 police officers were forced to use chemicals, clubs and dogs to control the crowd, which bent one goal post. A dozen persons were arrested, with police estimating half from Michigan. Carter caught a career-best nine passes for 179 yards while Holloway grabbed three for 39. Hebert threw 39 times, completing 20. Carter delivered the touchdown that gave Michigan a 24-14 lead with 3:01 to play. Stars QB Chuck Fusina, who had only seven completions in his first 22 passes yet wound up 25-for-47 for 192 yards, got hot in the fourth quarter and almost brought his team back.
MICHIGAN - 3 7 7 7 — 24
PHILADELPHIA - 0 3 0 19 — 22
1st - MICH - Novo Bojovic, 33-yard field goal MICH 3-0 2nd - PHIL - David Trout, 30-yard field goal TIED 3-3 2nd - MICH - Derek Holloway, 12-yard pass from Bobby Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH 10-3 3rd - MICH - Holloway, 14-yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH 17-3 4th - PHIL - Trout, 28-yard field goal MICH 17-6 4th - PHIL - Willie Collier, 21-yard pass from Chuck Fusina (Collier pass from Fusina) MICH 17-14 4th - MICH - Anthony Carter, 48-yard pass from Hebert (Bojovic kick) MICH24-14 4th - PHIL - Rodney Parker, 2-yard pass from Fusina (Scott Fitzkee pass from Fusina) MICH 24-22
JUL 17 - The USFL awarded its sixth expansion franchise to Memphis, boosting the league's membership for the 1984 season to 18 teams. The franchise was awarded to Logan Young of Memphis and the new team will play in the 50,000-seat Liberty Bowl. The last time Memphis had professional football was in 1974-75, when the Southmen of the World Football League played in the Liberty Bowl, averaging 25,000 fans. Memphis joins Pittsburgh, Houston, Tulsa, Jacksonville and San Antonio as new teams that will begin USFL operations in 1984.
