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USFL Power Rankings

by Fran Stuchbury
April 20, 2023 - United States Football League (USFL)


The United States Football League is back as the league completed its first weekend of the 2023 season. In the opening week of action, the Philadelphia Stars held on against the Memphis Showboats, and the Birmingham Stallions scored a commanding victory against the New Jersey Generals Saturday. On Sunday, the Michigan Panthers dominated the Houston Gamblers, and the New Orleans Breakers edged the Pittsburgh Maulers.

Week two begins Saturday in Birmingham where the 0-1 Gamblers take on the 1-0 Breakers and the 0-1 Showboats test the 1-0 Stallions. On Sunday at Canton, Ohio, the 0-1 New Jersey Generals will try to rebound against the 0-1 Pittsburgh Maulers and the 1-0 Panthers face the 1-0 Stars.

The power rankings after the opening week:

1. Philadelphia Stars 1-0

Stars quarterback Case Cookus was impressive in his first game since he broke his leg in the 2022 USFL Championship, passing for 212 yards and three touchdowns against Memphis.

2. Birmingham Stallions 1-0

The Stallions will have to overcome the loss of quarterback J'Mar Smith for the season with a broken finger. Alex McGough will take over as the starting quarterback moving forward. To make his job tougher, wide receiver Marlon Williams is also out for the year with a torn ACL.

3. Michigan Panthers 1-0

Josh Love made a strong case to stay as starting quarterback for the team after completing 90 percent of his passes. The defense did its part with four sacks and four turnovers against the Gamblers.

4. New Orleans Breakers 1-0

Breakers quarterback McCleod Bethel-Thompson had a solid debut, passing for 302 yards, while Matthew Coghlin finished a perfect five-for-five on field goals.

5. Memphis Showboats 0-1

Quarterback Brady White and the offense will have to be more productive if the Showboats want to defeat the wounded Stallions this week.

6. New Jersey Generals 0-1

Whoever is under center, Dakota Prukop or De'Andre Johnson, New Jersey needs to limit turnovers and convert fourth downs until the offense finds its legs.

7. Pittsburgh Maulers 0-1

The Maulers scored touchdowns on defense and special teams, while the Pittsburgh offense was nearly nonexistent.

8. Houston Gamblers 0-1

The Gamblers turned the ball over four times and their defense gave up the most points (29) in week one.

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