UNITED STATES FOOTBALL LEAGUE
1983
Playoff - Chicago Blitz (38) @ (44) Philadelphia Stars - In the 1st ever USFL playoff game, the Stars stunned the Blitz with an improbable comeback win in overtime. Chicago led 38-17 early in the 4th quarter before Philadelphia suddenly caught fire on both sides of the ball and scored 21 unanswered points to level the game with 50 seconds left. The Stars got the ball 1st in overtime and ran the ball down the field and won on a 1 yard TD run to advance to the USFL Championship game. The stars for Philadelphia were QB Chuck Fusina (22-33-254-3 + 1 TD catch), RB's Allen Harvin (20-87-? + 1 TD pass) and Kelvin Bryant (24-142-1) + LB's Sam Mills and John Bunting. The Chicago Blitz were led by QB Bobby Scott and WR Trumaine Johnson and a Defense that forced 7 turnovers (8, 2 Discs, ABC - Jackson/Swann, NTSC)
Championship Game - Michigan Panthers (24) v (22) Philadelphia Stars - The Panthers claimed the inaugural USFL Championship with a tight win in the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit. Led by QB Bobby Hebert (20-39-314-3) and WR's Anthony Carter (9-171-1) and Derek Holloway (2 TD catches), the Panthers took a 17-3 lead into the 4th quarter only for the Stars to come back to 17-14. But the Panthers ended the game as a contest when Hebert passed to Carter for a 48 yard TD pass with 3:11 left that proved to be the game-winner. The Stars scored a late TD to make the score closer but the Panthers took the title. Philadelphia featured QB Chuck Fusina, RB Kelvin Bryant (13-89-0) and LB Sam Mills (8, 3 Discs, ABC - Jackson/Swann, NTSC)
1984
Regular Season - Houston Gamblers (35) @ (7) San Antonio Gunslingers - In the first ever televised game for the Houston Gamblers, they went into San Antonio for an all-Texas match-up and came away with their first ever win. After a slow start, Houston QB Jim Kelly (28-44-315-1 + 6-41-2) got the Offense going and went in at the half up 21-7. A 3rd quarter stadium power failure couldn't even slow them down as they scored 2 more TD's and shut-out the Gunslingers to win the game. The Gamblers also featured WR Rickey Sanders and RB Sam Harrell. The Gunslingers were led by QB Rick Neuheisel, who threw a 76 yard TD pass in the 1st quarter for their only points, before leaving the game with a hand injury in the 2nd half. San Antonio also featured WR Danny Buggs, QB Mike Ford, DL Mike St.Clair and DB Peter Raeford (8, Missing last 2:58 of 3rd quarter + start of 4th quarter inc. 1 Gamblers TD, 2 Discs, ESPN - Simpson/Maguire, NTSC)
Regular Season - Los Angeles Express (27) @ (24) Houston Gamblers - An expected shoot-out between 2 of the top QB's in the league didn't disappoint as the Express ended a losing streak with a big Overtime win. The Gamblers were led by QB Jim Kelly (37-50-381-2) who had a big game but was hassled all game by the Express defense. The Express were led by QB Steve Young (17-27-212-2) who had the benefit of a good ground game led by RB's Kevin Nelson and Mel Gray. Down by 3 with under a minute to go, Young led the Express to the tieing FG and, after a Kelly interception in OT, led the Express to the winning 42 yard FG by Tony Zendajas. The Gamblers also featured RB Todd Fowler and WR's Gerald McNeil and Rickey Sanders. The Express also featured WR's Freddie Scott and JoJo Townsell + DB Wymon Henderson (8, 2 Discs, ESPN - Simpson/Maguire, PAL)
Western Conference Semi-Final - Michigan Panthers (21) @ (27) Los Angeles Express - In the longest ever professional football game , the Express out-lasted the defending champions through 3 overtimes and advanced to the Western Conference Final. The Express were behind 21-13 in the 4th quarter when LA QB Steve Young led the team to a 1 yard TD run by RB Kevin Nelson with 52 seconds left then ran in the tieing 2 point conversion to force overtime. The Panthers then missed 2 FG attempts in the 1st and 2nd overtimes that would have ended the game before Express RB Mel Gray settled it in the 3rd overtime with a 24 yard run. On the play, as he was tackled in the end-zone, he broke his arm. The Panthers were led by QB Bobby Hebert, RB John Williams and LB Ray Bentley but were missing star WR Anthony Carter. The Express also featured WR Jo Jo Townsell (8, 2 Discs, ABC - Brant/Grosscup, NTSC)
1985
Regular Season - Houston Gamblers (34) @ (33) Los Angeles Express - In a wild shootout, the Gamblers fought back from a 33-13 deficit in the 4th quarter on the arm of QB Jim Kelly (574 yards + 5 TD's), to beat the Express led by QB Steve Young (8, Colour Silent Game Film, 2 Discs, NTSC)
Regular Season - Houston Gamblers (25) @ (31) New Jersey Generals - In a battle of the heavyweights, it was the Generals that won the game with a stout defense and an explosive Offense. The Generals opened the game with a stunning 88 yard TD run by star RB Herschel Walker (34-233-1), the run putting him on his way to setting the USFL single game rushing record. The Generals then increased their lead to 24-9 at the break behind another rushing TD for Walker and the game management of QB Doug Flutie (6-13-82-0). The Gamblers regrouped after the break but lost QB Jim Kelly (28-46-333-2) briefly to a dislocated finger. He did return to pull the Gamblers within 6 points but the Generals ran out the clock for the win. The Generals also featured RB Maurice Carthon. The Gamblers featured WR's Gerald McNeil and Clarence Verdin (8, Slight jitter and colour bars in 1st half only, 2 Discs, ABC - Jackson/Swann/Brant, NTSC)