Week 1 of USFL The second season is already in the books and the campaign is off to a great start.
There’s still a lot to be decided in the next nine weeks of the regular season, but we’ll dive in and take a look at the context surrounding the league.
This is our first edition of the 2023 USFL strength rankings.
first. Birmingham Stallions (1-0)
The reigning Stallions champions have resumed where they left off last year, proving the USFL’s class after Week 1.
Birmingham sent New Jersey generals, 27-10in front of more than 20,000 home spectators, demonstrating the midfielder’s outstanding effort Alex McGoughwho occupied a total of 119 yards.
The Stallions were by far the best second-half team in the league last season – 65 points ahead of their opponents (next closest is +18). They continued that trend into Week 1 of 2023, beating the Generals 10-0 at half-time.
Skip Holtz’s lineup is 12-1 since the start of last season, and defensive coordinator John Chavis continues to use one of the best defenses in the league.
2. Philadelphia Star (1-0)
midfielder The Cookus . case completed 20 of 29 passes for 212 yards and three TDs in the Stars’ win 27-23 against the Memphis Showboats, with victory coming at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium in Memphis in front of a crowd of more than 30,000 mostly Showboats fans.
Before Cincinnati widen grey led the All Stars receiver with nine catches from 77 yards. Extend Chris Rowland, Corey Coleman And Jordan Suel help solve what appears to be a grisly offense for Philly.
After finding their attacking groove midway through last season, the Stars are averaging 30.5 points per game in their last six regular games – five points ahead of the nearest team.
3. Michigan newspaper (1-0)
The Panthers are based on the USFL Attacker of the week and products of the State of San Jose Josh love in a 29-13 comeback win over the Houston Gamblers in Memphis. He completed a USFL record 90% of his passes (18-20) in 215 yards and three touchdowns.
After strangling a game of chess that led to TD for Gamblers, Michigan Open Joe Walker ended with six catches for 105 yards of receiving, including a TD touchdown.
The Panthers overcame the Gamblers 20-0 in the second half on Sunday, and that +20 point difference is the highest of any inning since the league resumes in 2022.
Mike Nolan’s Panthers won half as many games as last year’s Panthers, and they’re 1-0.
4. New Orleans Cutter (1-0)
player breaking midfield McLeod Bethel-Thompson became the league’s first 300-yard passer this season while the New Orleans defense failed to surrender a single touch in a game. win 22-15 via Pittsburgh.
The Breakers had the best scoring defense in the league last year and caught up to where they had stopped this weekend, holding the Maulers to just three attacking points and 156 yards in total. They also found a big time kicker in Matt Coghlinwho won 5 to 5 in his first match at the tournament.
Despite a rough start to the game, John DeFilippo’s breakers look capable of challenging the Stallions for Southern supremacy.
5. The Memphis . Showcase (0-1)
While Showboats coach Todd Haley still had a quarterback situation to sort out, defensive coordinator Carnell Lake’s unit demonstrated the ability to consistently infiltrate the Stars’ backstage area. The Showboats’ defense fired Cookus five times – twice each time on the defensive jordan Williams and linebacker Greg Reaves.
The Showboats didn’t win Week 1, but the foul moved the ball – hitting the ball only once in nine possessions. A few mistakes cost them, including a spin inside goal, a miss on target, a missed extra point and a goal in the Stars’ territory in the minute. Final.
6. Houston Gambler (0-1)
QB Houston Kenji Bahar looked good at times against the Panthers, finishing with 109 yards of passing. But the bright spot in the attack is the rush of the former Wyoming And Oklahoma State run again Mortgage TJwho scored two touchdowns and finished with 41 javelins.
The wheels hit Houston’s second-half foul against Michigan, when the Gamblers only went 85 yards in total and overturned it four times.
7. General of New Jersey (0-1)
This year’s season started like last year: losing in the first week to Birmingham. Champions fans will be hoping this year’s team will also win 9-0 for the rest of the regular season.
Mike Riley’s Champions have a midfield situation to deal with, as neither of them Dakota Prukop or De’Andre Johnson controlled work. However, they can still run the ball well. Behind the reigning USFL Offensive Player of the Year Darius VictorThe Champions rushed 197 yards in front of the defending champion Stallions.
8. Pittsburgh Maulers (0-1)
Ray Horton’s team scored TDs for defensive teams and the first special of the season at the USFL, but an anemic foul kept them from winning over the Breakers.
Despite several runs in the red zone, the Maulers failed to get into the final zone, including stopping at 4th and 1st off the line.
midfielder James Morgan (58 yards) and Troy Williams (23 yards) combined with just 81 yards of passing before New Orleans, and none of the Maulers’ fast runners occupied more than 34 yards of the ground.
On the bright side, before 49ers choose round one Reuben Foster made a total of 12 tackles in his first professional game since 2018 – that total was the league’s highest in Week 1. He also scored with a forced fumble. is returned for a touch of the ball.
RJ Young is the national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast “Number one college football program.“Follow him on Twitter at @RJ_Young And subscribe to “The Number One College Football Show” on YouTube.
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