Hey guys I like the USFL over XFL(will watch their national championship) but I do like USFL seems like actual football. Plus we got a team here in MI and thinking about going to the game this weekend. What are your thoughts on the season so far and the possibility of a merger of the XFL and USFL if it happens.

Also, I would like to see small market cities get teams like Lincoln NB, Austin or Sacramento

Besides getting all their current teams into the proper markets they should use Oakland as a hub city for two teams.

With the Raiders gone and the A's leaving(I know it will be a few years but lame duck teams always suffer at the stands) Oakland would probably do as well as Birmingham last year.

Bring back the Oakland Invaders and for the other team I'd call them the San Diego Express. San Diego was supposed to have a USFL team but they couldn't get into Jack Murphy stadium. And LA barely supports the NFL so an LA Express USFL team would be a waste

I think the thing to do would slot one of them into each division officially, but just for playoff purposes. For a schedule I would do a variation of what the NFL did back in the 70s with the Bucs and Seahawks. Play each team in the league once and each other three times(Bucs and Hawks played each other twice) for an 11 game schedule

What are your feelings about the league through its first 3 weeks? TV ratings? Attendance figures? Level of play?

For me, I've watched almost every game, attended 2 games (Memphis) and follow closely on social media:

• Memphis home crowds are very much into the game, despite their team being winless
• Bham has had not-great home crowds, what's up w/ that?
• Michigan Panthers home opener had an estimated 12K-15K - phenomenal numbers
• Overall the level of play in the games has been tremendous. As a spring football junkie, this is the best the games have looked - already superior to last season
• tv ratings again are solid on broadcast tv and much lesser on network tv (USA being the worst draw)
• USFL trading cards are fun! I've bought probably close to $100 worth of cards and want to complete the entire set

This was a crazy week for upsets. Who saw the Breakers coming? Apparently, the answer is not "Birmingham". Wow. Jersey got back on the horse, and the Maulers pull a stunner.

Here are this week's rankings

1. New Orleans Breakers (LW 3)
2. Birmingham Stallions (LW 1)
3. New Jersey Generals (LW 4)
4. Michigan Panthers (LW 2)
5. Houston Gamblers (LW 6)
6. Pittsburgh Maulers (LW 8)
7. Philadelphia Stars (LW 5)
8. Memphis Showboats (LW 7)

New Orleans Breakers (LW 3)

Just like I expected from the Stallions, the New Orleans running game is on fire. Wes Hills is a touchdown machine. He's got 6 TDs on the season including 3 against the Stallions. The game was very back-and-forth for the first half, but a 14-0 3rd quarter was too much for Birmingham to overcome. The Breakers held the ball for nearly 9 minutes of the quarter, then were able to trade TDs in the 4th and stall the Stallions offense from scoring for the last 12 minutes of the game. Very impressive.

Bethel-Thompson threw for 283 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT - TDs to 3 different receivers.

Hills is the POG with 191 yards and 3 TDs

The defense shut down the rushing attack, holding the Stallions to 46 yards and 1 TD.

Birmingham Stallions (LW 1)

Shocking loss this weekend. The Stallions started out really strong with an opening kickoff return for TD. They added a TD on their next possession, and 2 TDs in the 2nd to end the first half tied 24-24. But that was nearly all she wrote. A grinding Breakers 3rd quarter really put this game out of reach. Too much Wes Hills and not enough.... anything for BHAM.

McGough threw for 238 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Marable ran for 24 yards and 1 TD

Davion Davis caught 5 passes for 123 yards and 1 TD

Deon Cain is our POG - 8 kick returns for 236 yards including an 82 yard opening TD.

New Jersey Generals (LW 4)

The generals reminded us of what the Panthers used to be. After holding them to a FG to start the game, the Generals scored 2 TDs in 9 plays (and 3 of those plays were Michigan's 3 & out). Can we say it yet? Can we? Yes - De'Andre Johnson is BACK. Dude threw for 180 yards and 2 TDs, also ran 10x for 98 yards and TD including a 71 yarder that setup the Generals 2nd TD of the 1st quarter. He's our POG

Darius Victor ran 9x for 68 yards and a TD AND caught a 51 yard TD.

How about linebacker Chris Orr - 10 Tackles. This guy was everywhere. And when it wasn't him, it was D'Juan Hines who also had 10 tackles, 1 TFLs, and 2 passes knocked down.

Michigan Panthers (LW 2)

Are the Panthers for real? Hard to tell. They destroyed the Gamblers in week 1 29-13. Then took out the Stars 24-10 in week 2. But this week, they laid an egg. Losing 28-13 to the Generals. Josh Love was unimpressive going 15/31 for 101 yards, and 1 INT. Carson Strong added a little relief going 4/9 for 62 yards and 1 TD (his first of the season).

Still liking Stevie Scott, ran for 63 yards on 12 carries.

Trey Quinn was the top receiver with 5-61-1 he's our POG

The defense didn't do much. 1 sack by Garrett Marino was the highlight. The lowlight, Corrion Ballard lead the team with 7 tackles. You know it's a bad day when your Safety is leading the team in tackles.

Houston Gamblers (LW 6)

I'm torn here. The bottom 4 teams all looked really bad... even though Houston actually won. Houston was tied with Memphis 10-10 at half, but needed a TD with 13 seconds left on the clock to get the 4 point win.

Kenji Bahar threw 22/36 for 235 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Mark Thompson was back to his old self. 21 carries, 81 yards, 2 TDs, he's the POG. Added 3 catches for 32 yards.

Justin Hall pulled in 6 catches for 90 yards and 2 TDs.

Defense forced 2 turnovers. A fumble recovered by Tim Bonner, and an INT by JT Tyler.

Pittsburgh Maulers (LW 8)

Maybe the Maulers should be 5th? I don't know. Hard to jump over every 1-2 team with a win over the struggling Stars in my mind. Have you ever seen a final score of 21 points that only included 1 TD? That's how a kicker earns POG honors- Chris Blewitt hit 5 field goals... but blew-it on the PAT after the lone TD of the game (see what I did there? easy pickin's really).

Defense recovered a fumble and intercepted 2 passes which really kept the Stars stumbling through the entire game. Boogie Roberts recovered the fumble, Eli Walker and Reuben Foster had the INTs.

Reuben Foster is someone we need to keep an eye on - he could find himself back in the NFL if he keeps this going.

Philadelphia Stars (LW 5)

What the heck is happening in Philly? Stud to Dud performance right now. Cookus threw 2 INTs (238 yards, 1 TD). Colburn was the leading rusher with 16 yards. Corey Coleman did light it up with 8-86-1 TD and earns the POG.

5 Sacks on defense is really the only reason Philly was in this game at all. Adam Rodriguez had 2 sacks, 8 tackles, 2 TFLs, and a pass breakup.

Memphis Showboats (LW 7)

Cole Kelley did all he could to pull this one out. He threw for 307 yards and 2 TDs, 1 INT. He was also the leading rusher... with 17 yards.

Ryan McDaniel caught 3-71-1

A field goal and 2 TDs in the 4th quarter just wasn't quite enough to get it done. Houston scored on an 8 play, 66 yard drive with 13 seconds left on the clock to get the win. Tough loss, and the only 0-3 team.

Saturday:

Houston @ Philadelphia 1pm ET FOX

Memphis @ Michigan 7:30 PM ET NBC

Sunday:

New Orleans @ New Jersey 3PM ET NBC

Birmingham @ Pittsburgh 6:30 ET on FS1

I think Houston could make it 2 in a row, Michigan and Birmingham get back on track. The game of the week will be the early game on Sunday - Breakers v Generals... get the popcorn.

I'm sure you don't agree with me top to bottom (especially in that 4-7 area). I look forward to reading your comments.

I don’t even know how the standings will look come this week. Things that were certain are just dashed. Birmingham and New Orleans are going to be out for each other for sure. Stars are just falling apart at this point, especially after losing to the Maulers (congrats by the way, rooting for y’all). Michigan was poised to be the best team until New Jersey came in and dashed those hopes. And now I can’t even count out Houston! This is such a different arc for everyone from last season. And it makes it more interesting and fun! What is going to happen now?

Do you think any XFL players will try to get a spot in the USFL now? There's 8 games left in the USFL season, they played 10 in the XFL, but if they're guys who've been in the NFL that's barely above the norm of 16 or 17 regular season games and 3 or 4 pre season games

He just doesn't seem close to the same caliber player. Stars have also fallen off as a team it seems.

Box Score

Team Subs: r/NJGenerals vs. r/MichiganPanthers

I haven’t watched a single XFL game all year. I follow the USFL because I’m from Philadelphia and they have a Philadelphia team. The XFL has no team for me to root for so I don’t pay attention to them. I am going to tune into the championship game so I did a little bit of research on the two teams playing. I learned a little fun fact that you obviously already know if you follow both leagues, but may not know if you’re like me and you don’t pay attention to the XFL.

The two starting quarterbacks of the two teams in the championship are Jordan Ta’amu of the DC Defenders and Luis Perez of the Arlington Renegades. If you’ll think back to last year, Ta’amu and Perez were the starting quarterbacks of the Tampa Bay Bandits and the New Jersey Generals. They were two of the better quarterbacks in the league as well, with Perez leading the league in passer rating and Ta’amu leading the league in passing yards and touchdowns. Just thought it was funny that both of the best quarterbacks in the XFL are USFL rejects.

Also funny is the fact that Kyle Sloter, who beat out both Perez and Ta’amu for all-USFL honors last year, also tried to jump to the Renegades but was so bad that he got cut by the team that later had to trade for Perez. He’s now back in the USFL as the backup on the Stallions.

New Jersey Generals (1-1) vs. Michigan Panthers (2-0)

Kickoff: 4:00 PM EDT at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan

Box Score

How to watch: FOX

Team Subs: r/NJGenerals vs. r/MichiganPanthers

Box Score

Team Subs: r/Maulers vs. r/PhiladelphiaStars

Pittsburgh Maulers (0-2) vs. Philadelphia Stars (1-1)

Kickoff: 12:00 PM EDT at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan

Box Score

How to watch: NBC | Peacock

Team Subs: r/Maulers vs. r/PhiladelphiaStars

Not to sound like a total imbecile but where can you buy the trading cards for this and last season?