USFL Power Rankings
by Fran Stuchbury
May 27, 2022 - United States Football League (USFL)
The United States Football League season hits week seven this weekend, and time is quickly running out for three teams to turn around their seasons.
Week seven's best matchup features the 5-1 New Jersey Generals against the 3-3 Tampa Bay Bandits. Other games include the 4-2 New Orleans Breakers against the 1-5 Michigan Panthers, the 6-0 Birmingham Stallions against the 1-5 Pittsburgh Maulers and the 3-3 Philadelphia Stars against the 1-5 Houston Gamblers.
The power rankings after week five:
1. Birmingham Stallions 6-0
The undefeated Stallions pulled away late in their victory over the Michigan Panthers. Running back Bo Scarbrough proved a great, in-season signing for the Stallions, giving Birmingham depth in the backfield.
2. New Jersey Generals 5-1
The Generals won on the final play in their victory over the Houston Gamblers last weekend. Luis Perez is more than capable of leading the team if De'Andre Johnson is unable to play this week. New Jersey claimed quarterback Kyle Lauletta off waivers from the Pittsburgh Maulers.
3. New Orleans Breakers 4-2
The Breakers feature hobbled veteran Kyle Sloter at quarterback, and though his numbers have been solid, New Orleans focused more on running the football last week against the Pittsburgh Maulers. The strategy paid off as the team cut down on turnovers and ground out yardage ... and the clock. Look for the same game plan to be employed against the Michigan Panthers this week. The Breakers added former Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson to the roster to provide depth behind center.
4. Philadelphia Stars 3-3
A win over Tampa Bay and losses by the Michigan Panthers and Pittsburgh Maulers has given Philadelphia a two-game lead for second place in the North Division with only four games remaining. A suddenly reinvigorated running game took some pressure off the passing attack.
5. Tampa Bay Bandits 3-3
Bandits quarterback Jordan Ta'amu showed flashes of his talent with 333 yards, four touchdowns and another 61 yards rushing in their loss to the Philadelphia Stars. With New Orleans and Birmingham ahead of them in the division, the Bandits will need their signal caller to be at his best down the stretch.
6. Houston Gamblers 1-5
Houston has held a halftime lead in all six games and only has a 1-5 record to show for it. They seem to find different ways to lose games every week. Missing the postseason is almost assured.
7. Michigan Panthers 1-5
Coming off perhaps his best game, the Panthers released number one pick in the USFL Draft QB Shea Patterson this week. Patterson passed for 973 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions and added 171 rushing yards and two scores. Former Mauler Jordan Love is most likely to start at quarterback. The defense, the strength of the team to begin the year, has not helped, giving up an average of 30 points the last two weeks.
8. Pittsburgh Maulers 1-5
Pittsburgh did not build on the momentum it gained from its first win two weeks ago. Instead, Vad Lee struggled, throwing two interceptions in the Maulers' loss to New Orleans. Pittsburgh recently signed another quarterback, Roland Rivers from Slippery Rock, while releasing Kyle Lauletta, marking a complete reset at the position.
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United States Football League Stories from May 27, 2022
- USFL Week 7: What to Know About Each Game - USFL
- USFL Power Rankings - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- USFL Power Rankings - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
- USFL Power Rankings - OSC Original by Fran Stuchbury
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