Week one for the United States Football League will go down as a success. Certainly, the first game in league history was an instant classic, with the Birmingham Stallions scoring a 28-24 comeback win over the New Jersey Generals in front of an estimated three million TV viewers. Easter Sunday featured a couple of close games, with the Houston Gamblers hanging on to a 17-12 win over the Michigan Panthers. So too did the New Orleans Breakers stave off the Philadelphia Stars 23-17. And then, on Monday night, in a rescheduled Sunday game that was postponed due to poor weather, the Tampa Bay Bandits dominated the Pittsburgh Maulers 17-3.
The football quality was rated from above average to quite good. Some quarterbacks struggled, but others were sharp and looked the part. The officiating was good in that it was not intrusive or annoying. And the broadcasts were quite interesting, with plenty of sound mixes that included players and coaches interacting and calling plays, along with on-field collisions and audibles.
The USFL heads into Week-2 with plenty of momentum and more interest than anticipated.
Week 2 USFL Matchups (ET)
Friday, April 22, 2022
Michigan Panthers at New Jersey Generals – 8 p.m. – USA Network
Michigan was disappointing in their 17-12 loss to the Houston Gamblers. The offense struggled to finish, and quarterback Shea Patterson made many mistakes. Michigan fumbled three times in the second quarter. And that is where the game was lost.
New Jersey was victimized by terrible kicking and a defense that failed to hold a late lead in their 28-24 loss to the Birmingham Stallions. Nick Rose missed two field goals for the Generals, including a 23-yarder. Birmingham drove 59 yards for the game-winning touchdown.
Saturday, April 23, 2022
Pittsburgh Maulers at Philadelphia Stars – 12 p.m. – FOX
In an ugly 17-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Bandits, the Maulers were the worst looking team of the first week. The offense never got going, but the defense held its own after a bad start.
The Stars failed to capitalize on numerous opportunities to beat the New Orleans Breakers in a 23-17 loss. Philadelphia killed themselves with two missed field goals and a blocked punt that turned into a New Orleans safety
Birmingham Stallions at Houston Gamblers – 7 p.m. – FS1
Houston got off to a quick start and held on for their 17-12 win over mistake-prone Michigan. The Gamblers led the game 17-0 at halftime but didn’t do much in the second half. Houston forced nine Michigan fumbles.
Houston quarterbacks Clayton Thorson and Kenji Bahar will not remind anyone of original Gamblers’ quarterback Jim Kelly. Thorson saw most of the action and was 9/17 for just 73 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Thorson averaged just 4.3 yards per attempt. On the defensive side of the line, defensive end Ahmad Gooden had nine tackles and two sacks for Houston.
J’Mar Smith was the hero for Birmingham in their thrilling comeback against the Generals. Smith engineered the late game-winning drive and finished with 156 yards passing and the game-winning touchdown.
Sunday, April 24, 2022
New Orleans Breakers at Tampa Bay Bandits – 3 p.m. – NBC
Tampa Bay may have been the most impressive first-week team as they dominated the Maulers. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu threw for 164 yards, completing 18 of 30 passes with a TD.
Odds Analysis
Gamblers now have something to go with after the first week of play. But the oddsmakers also have that advantage and will be able to set better lines.
BookMaker Week-2 Free Pick
Tampa Bay should have their way against a New Orleans team that benefited from a mistake-prone Philadelphia Stars club that shot itself in the foot.
BookMmaker Best Bet Pick: Tampa Bay Bandits
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