1983: Last-Minute Field Goal Propels Panthers Past Federals

The Michigan Panthers were fighting for a playoff spot in the inaugural United States Football League season as they hosted the Washington Federals on June 20, 1983. The Federals had defeated Michigan early in the season, but the Panthers had undergone changes that improved their fortunes since then.

Coached by Jim Stanley, Michigan got off to a 1-4 start (including the loss at Washington) before veteran additions to the offensive line helped fuel a turnaround that had the club at 9-6 and a game behind Chicago and Tampa Bay in the USFL’s Central Division. Unheralded rookie QB Bobby Hebert was fast developing into a star and WR Anthony Carter (pictured above), the high-priced first year player out of Michigan, had overcome a slow start to become a potent deep threat. The running game was sound and the defense formidable.

The Federals, under Head Coach Ray Jauch, were far less successful and had won only one other contest thus far to linger at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a league-worst 2-13 record. There was an outstanding rookie in RB Craig James and first-year QB Mike Hohensee was able when healthy, but he was out for the rematch with the Panthers and veteran NFL backup Kim McQuilken was filling in. 

There were 26,418 fans in attendance for the Monday night game at the Pontiac Silverdome. Early in the first quarter, the Panthers advanced into Washington territory and Bobby Hebert threw to Anthony Carter, who split two defenders on the way to a 37-yard touchdown. Novo Bojovic added the extra point.

On their next possession, the Panthers again moved well. Hebert completed passes to Carter for 20 and 10 yards, but after gaining a first down inside the Washington 10, the Federals were able to keep them out of the end zone thanks to good plays by LB Joe Harris and CB Jeff Brown. Michigan had to settle for a 19-yard Bojovic field goal.

Down 10-0, the Federals put together a good drive. McQuilken tossed passes to WR Mike Harris, Craig James, and RB Billy Taylor and, facing third-and-one at the Michigan four, he faked a handoff and threw to a wide-open Taylor in the end zone for a TD. Sandro Vitiello missed the point after but the score was narrowed to 10-6.

Washington’s next series resulted in a punt from deep in its own territory. DE Ronnie Paggett partially blocked the kick and Carter returned it to the Federals’ 14. A pass interference call and throw from Hebert to Carter that covered 10 yards set up a one-yard touchdown carry by RB John Williams. Bojovic converted and the Panthers were ahead by 17-6 with 1:12 remaining in the half. The second quarter scoring was not yet over, however, as the Federals were able to get past midfield and, on the final play before halftime, Vitiello booted a field goal from 51 yards that made it 17-9.

Early in the third quarter, Washington got a break on defense when TE Mike Cobb fumbled after catching a pass from Hebert and SS Doug Greene recovered the loose ball and ran 35 unmolested yards for a TD. A try for a two-point conversion that would have tied the score failed, but Michigan’s lead was narrowed to 17-15.

The Federals pulled off a successful onside kick but turned the ball over on a Taylor fumble three plays later. Michigan took advantage, driving to a one-yard run for a TD by RB Ken Lacy, and Bojovic added the extra point. Washington responded with a 74-yard possession that featured the running of James and RB Curtis Bledsoe and resulted in a one-yard scoring carry by James with 6:48 to go in the period. This time Vitiello made good on the point after to again make it a two-point contest at 24-22.

That was it for the scoring until the fourth quarter when Vitiello came through on a 45-yard field goal that gave the visitors a narrow 25-24 advantage. But with their backs to the wall, the Panthers put together a 73-yard drive. With 18 seconds left on the clock, Bojovic kicked an 18-yard field goal that provided the final margin in Michigan’s 27-25 win.

The Panthers led in total yards (335 to 285) while Washington had the edge in first downs (17 to 16) and time of possession (31:13 to 28:47). Each team turned the ball over twice while Michigan recorded four sacks, to none by the Federals.

Bobby Hebert completed 13 of 21 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown as well as an interception. Anthony Carter had 5 catches for 94 yards and a TD. Ken Lacy rushed for 81 yards on 22 carries that included a touchdown and John Williams added 59 yards on 16 attempts that also included a score.

For the Federals, Kim McQuilken was successful on 19 of 27 throws for 158 yards and a TD without giving up an interception. Craig James (pictured above) gained 89 yards on 13 rushing attempts and also had 7 pass receptions for 63 yards.

The win kept the Panthers even with the Bandits, who lost, and they ultimately finished atop the Central Division at 12-6 (Chicago ended up with the lone Wild Card spot and Tampa Bay finished third and missed the postseason). Michigan handily defeated the Oakland Invaders in the Semifinal playoff round and then edged the Philadelphia Stars to win the initial USFL Championship. The hard-luck Federals managed to win twice more and were 4-14.

1984: Gamblers Rally but Panthers Win in Overtime

The Michigan Panthers hosted the Central Division-rival Houston Gamblers in a United States Football League game on May 6, 1984 with hopes of ending a four-game losing streak.

The Panthers were the defending USFL Champions under Head Coach Jim Stanley and had started the season fast with six straight wins before going into the swoon to stand at 6-4 and in a three-way battle for the division lead. QB Bobby Hebert (pictured at right) was hampered by a bad knee and the losses had begun when star WR Anthony Carter went down for the year with a broken arm. The offensive line, a strength coming into the season, was injury-ridden as well, but the defense remained one of the league’s better units.

Houston, a first-year club coached by Jack Pardee, was also at 6-4 and was coming off a tough overtime loss the previous week. Rookie QB Jim Kelly had been outstanding in operating the run-and-shoot passing offense, although he had taken many sacks. The Gamblers had lost starting RB Sam Harrell to injury and Todd Fowler, a lightly-regarded rookie out of Stephen F. Austin, was taking his place.

There were 29,068 fans in attendance at the Astrodome. The first quarter was scoreless until, following an interception by LB John Corker that gave the Panthers the ball at the Houston 39, the home team advanced in four plays to a touchdown on a 13-yard pass from Bobby Hebert to a wide-open RB Ken Lacy. Novo Bojovic added the extra point for the 7-0 lead.

With the Michigan defense keeping the Gamblers in check, the Panthers moved methodically in a 12-play, 61-yard series that extended into the second quarter and ended with another Hebert TD pass, this time to WR Walter Broughton from four yards out. Bojovic converted and Michigan was up by 14-0.

The next possession by the Panthers ended with Hebert being picked off by CB Mike Mitchell and the Gamblers capitalized when Kelly completed a third down pass to WR Ricky Sanders for a 37-yard touchdown. Toni Fritsch added the extra point to narrow the score to 14-7.

A short Michigan possession led to a punt and Bojovic, normally just the placekicker but forced to do double duty due to an injury to SS/P David Greenwood, boomed a 59-yard kick that pinned the Gamblers inside their 10 yard line. The teams traded punts for the remainder of the half and the score remained unchanged.

The Panthers had first possession in the third quarter and, with Hebert passing effectively and RB John Williams picking up 17 yards on a key carry, they drove 72 yards in nine plays to a TD on a seven-yard run by Williams. Bojovic converted to put Michigan ahead by 14 points at 21-7.

Todd Fowler ran effectively on Houston’s next series that ended with Kelly firing long to Sanders for a 44-yard touchdown. Fritsch’s point after narrowed Michigan’s lead to seven points once more. But it didn’t take long for the Panthers to respond as, on their third play of the next series, Williams took off down the right sideline for a 68-yard TD. Bojovic booted the extra point and the score was 28-14 in favor of the home team.

WR Clarence Verdin returned the ensuing kickoff 39 yards and the Gamblers again interspersed draw plays by Fowler to good effect. With the game now early in the fourth quarter, they scored on a five-yard bootleg by Kelly to complete the six-play, 61-yard drive. Fritsch successfully converted to make the score 28-21.

An onside kick by Houston was recovered by the Panthers and, while they were unable to capitalize, Bojovic’s punt was downed at the Gamblers’ seven yard line. Fowler immediately took off for a 20-yard run and caught a third-and-10 screen pass for a first down, but the visitors were ultimately forced to punt. However, they got the ball back at the Michigan 14 when Hebert fumbled while being sacked and FS Tommy Myers recovered. Fowler hit the line repeatedly, the last time for a touchdown from less than a yard out. Fritsch’s kick tied the score at 28-28 with 4:37 remaining in regulation. Neither team was able to get into scoring position the rest of the way and the contest headed into overtime.

The Gamblers won the toss for the overtime period but the squibbed kick hit a Houston player and was recovered by Michigan center Max Gill at the Houston 49. However, Hebert was sacked on first down and two passes fell incomplete to force a punt. The Gamblers drove into Michigan territory, converting two third downs along the way, and appeared set to win until Fritsch’s 30-yard field goal attempt was partially deflected by John Corker and missed to the left. Granted a reprieve, the Panthers drove methodically in 12 plays with Williams running well and Hebert hitting key passes. Bojovic kicked a 29-yard field goal and Michigan won by a final score of 31-28 with 59 seconds remaining in the extra period.   

Both teams rolled up significant yardage, with the Panthers coming out ahead (420 to 405) and also holding the edge in first downs (24 to 21) and time of possession (40:54 to 33:07). Michigan gained 246 yards on the ground to 181 for the normally air-oriented Gamblers. The Panthers accumulated five sacks, to three for Houston and the Gamblers turned the ball over three times, to two by the home team.

Bobby Hebert completed 20 of 36 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown while giving up an interception. John Williams had a big day with 165 yards on 22 carries that included two TDs. WR Derek Holloway and Walter Broughton each caught five passes, for 61 and 46 yards, respectively, and Broughton scored a touchdown. On defense, DE Larry Bethea accounted for three of Michigan’s sacks.

For the Gamblers, Jim Kelly was successful on 23 of 36 throws for 249 yards and two TDs, along with two interceptions. Todd Fowler (pictured at left) rushed for 140 yards on 22 attempts with a touchdown, his best outing to date. Ricky Sanders had 9 pass receptions for 120 yards and two TDs and Richard Johnson also caught 9, for 67 yards.

The win put the Panthers alone in first place in the Central Division, but they lost their next three games and had to rally to finish second and grab a wild card playoff slot with a 10-8 record. They lost an epic First Round playoff game to the Los Angeles Express in the third overtime period. Houston, having now lost two straight games in overtime, reeled off seven consecutive wins to close out the season in first place at 13-5. However, the Gamblers then fell to Arizona in a close First Round contest.

Both John Williams and Todd Fowler remained productive on the ground. Williams rushed for 984 yards on 194 carries for a 5.0 average and scored eight touchdowns. Fowler, barely a footnote during the first half of the season, ended up gaining 1003 yards on 170 attempts (5.9 avg.), including 208 in a single game, and compiled 11 TDs.  

1985: Campbell Runs for 160 Yards as Saints Defeat Vikings

RB Earl Campbell (pictured at right) was nearing the end of his Hall of Fame NFL career as the New Orleans Saints played the Minnesota Vikings on November 24, 1985. Once the league’s premier running back with the Houston Oilers, he had been dealt to New Orleans midway through the 1984 season, which reunited him with Head Coach O.A. “Bum” Phillips, who had coached Campbell during his best years with the Oilers. It had not brought a turnaround for the worn-down 30-year-old power runner who had last run for a hundred yards in a game during the ’83 season, which was also the last time he reached a thousand yards and gained Pro Bowl recognition.

The Saints were having plenty of other difficulties. After starting out at 3-2, they were in the midst of a six-game-losing streak that had them at 3-8. Ex-USFL star QB Bobby Hebert started for the first time in the previous week’s loss at Green Bay, replacing the mediocre Dave Wilson. The defense, which had been an asset during most of Phillips’ coaching reign, was performing badly.

Minnesota had a 5-6 record, attempting to bounce back after a disastrous 3-13 campaign with Les Steckel as head coach in ’84. His predecessor, Bud Grant, had come out of retirement to try and right the ship.   

There were 54,117 fans in attendance at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. The Vikings had the first possession, went three-and-out, and punted. Earl Campbell carried on each of New Orleans’ first four plays, gaining a total of 29 yards. Faking a pitch to Campbell on the fifth play, Bobby Hebert instead handed off to FB Wayne Wilson, who ran 41 yards down the right sideline for a touchdown. Morten Anderson added the extra point.

WR Buster Rhymes returned the ensuing kickoff 38 yards to the Minnesota 42 and the Vikings struck quickly as, two plays later, QB Tommy Kramer threw to RB Arthur Anderson for a 54-yard TD. Jan Stenerud converted to tie the score at 7-7.

The Saints got good starting field position for their next series thanks to a 45-yard kickoff return by CB Willie Tullis to the Minnesota 46. It was Campbell running three times for 25 yards to start it off. Wilson netted a one-yard loss on two carries and, facing third-and-11, Hebert tossed his first pass of the game to WR Eugene Goodlow for a pickup of 17 yards to the five yard line. Two plays later, Campbell ran for a four-yard touchdown and, adding Andersen’s conversion, the visitors were on top by 14-7.

The Vikings responded strongly as Kramer connected with TE Steve Jordan for 18 yards and RB Ted Brown broke loose for a 21-yard run. But another running play lost yardage and Kramer’s next pass was intercepted by LB Glen Redd, who returned it 25 yards to the Minnesota 38. It was Campbell again carrying the load as the Saints reached the nine yard line at the end of the period and, two plays into the second quarter, Andersen booted a 26-yard field goal to extend the lead to 17-7.

A short Minnesota possession resulted in a punt and the Saints advanced 48 yards in seven plays to score again. Campbell continued to run effectively and a pass interference penalty on CB Carl Lee picked up 34 yards. The drive stalled but Andersen kicked another field goal, this time from 47 yards, to make it a 20-7 game with less than eight minutes to go in the first half.

The teams exchanged punts until, just after the two-minute warning, New Orleans TE Hoby Brenner fumbled when hit by CB Willie Teal after catching a pass for 26 yards to midfield, and Teal recovered. Kramer completed three straight passes, the longest to Rhymes for 27 yards to the New Orleans five. The Vikings couldn’t penetrate the end zone, but Stenerud kicked a 22-yard field goal to narrow the margin to 20-10 at halftime.

The Saints had the ball first in the third quarter and advanced 33 yards in eight plays that culminated in a 45-yard Andersen field goal. New Orleans was up by 23-10. The Vikings punted following their possession and it looked promising for the Saints as Campbell ran the ball four times for 25 yards and Hebert completed a pass to Brenner for 14. However, after reaching the Minnesota 30, Lee intercepted an Hebert pass and returned it 33 yards to the New Orleans 39. Kramer completed four consecutive throws, the longest to WR Mike Jones for 17 yards, but after achieving a first-and-goal at the 10, the home team once again couldn’t score a touchdown and settled for a 22-yard Stenerud field goal. The spread was once again ten points as the game headed into the fourth quarter.

Following a punt by the Saints early in the period, the Vikings again drove into New Orleans territory. Facing third-and-ten at the 43, Minnesota got a break when the Saints were called for defensive holding, giving them another first down, and Kramer immediately passed to WR Anthony Carter for a pickup of 19 yards. The drive bogged down at the 20, but Stenerud chipped away further at the New Orleans lead with a 37-yard field goal that made the tally 23-16.

WR Eric Martin returned the kickoff 48 yards and the Saints started their next series off at the Minnesota 49, but Wilson fumbled on a third-down carry and DE Keith Millard recovered for the Vikings at the 38. Kramer had completions to Carter for 25 yards and RB Allen Rice for six as Minnesota advanced to the New Orleans 26, but a long pass by Kramer was picked off by CB Dave Waymer and returned 15 yards to the 18.

The Saints managed to reach their 42 before having to punt. Minnesota was quickly back in business when a first down pass intended for Carter drew a pass interference call on Waymer that picked up 45 yards to the New Orleans 30. This time the Vikings didn’t come up empty as a third-down pass from Kramer to Jones was good for a six-yard touchdown. Stenerud added the extra point to tie the score at 23-23 with 1:47 left in regulation.

The ensuing kickoff went out of bounds and the next, squibbed kick was returned 23 yards by RB Bobby Fowler to the 50. Campbell carried twice for 11 yards before Hebert threw to TE John Tice for a 39-yard TD. Andersen added the point after and New Orleans held on to win by a final score of 30-23.

The Saints had the edge in total yards (371 to 284) and first downs (19 to 17). Of the yardage total for New Orleans, 234 came on the ground. Each team turned the ball over three times.

Earl Campbell rushed for 160 yards on a team-record 35 carries that included one touchdown.  Wayne Wilson (pictured at left) contributed 65 yards and a TD on his 12 attempts. Bobby Hebert completed 10 of 14 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown, his first in the NFL, while being intercepted once. Hoby Brenner topped the Saints with three pass receptions for 51 yards.

For the Vikings, Tommy Kramer was successful on 19 of 45 throws for 240 yards and two TDs with three interceptions. Ted Brown ran for 40 yards on 8 attempts and also topped the club with 8 catches for 54 yards. Alfred Anderson also gained 54 yards on his one long scoring reception. Greg Coleman averaged 51.6 yards on his five punts.

The 160-yard outing against the Vikings was Earl Campbell’s fortieth, and last, career hundred-yard performance. He ended up with 643 yards on 158 carries (4.1 avg.) and his TD at Minnesota was the only one he scored in what was his last season.  

The game against the Vikings was also the last for Coach Phillips, who resigned and was replaced by his son, Wade, the defensive coordinator. The Saints won again the next week but lost their last three contests to end up with a 5-11 record and placed third in the NFC West. Minnesota bounced back to split the remaining four games and finished at 7-9, which ranked third in the NFC Central and was considered a respectable outcome after the debacle of ‘84. Bud Grant retired for good and offensive coordinator Jerry Burns was elevated to head coach.

1984: Panthers Edge Blitz on Last-Second Field Goal

On February 27, 1984 the Michigan Panthers began the defense of their United States Football League Championship in a Monday night home game against the Chicago Blitz. Head Coach Jim Stanley’s team still had the key performers that fueled the 12-6 title-winning squad of 1983. WR Anthony Carter provided big-play ability as a receiver and kick returner and RB Ken Lacy had been the league’s third-leading rusher. QB Bobby Hebert was back behind center, although he held out and had only ten days of practice coming into the opening game. On defense, LB John Corker was coming off of a year in which he topped the USFL with 28 sacks, nearly twice as many as the runner-up.

The Blitz was a very different club from the one that had also gone 12-6 under Head Coach George Allen in the inaugural season.  The franchise was effectively traded, with Allen and the bulk of his veteran-laden roster heading to Arizona while the 1983 Wranglers were transplanted to the Windy City. Many of the former Arizona players were jettisoned, however. The new coach was Marv Levy and there were several NFL veterans that were acquired, most notably QB Vince Evans of the Bears. The state of the defense was a major concern coming into the opener against the Panthers. 

The Pontiac Silverdome was covered, but a blizzard outside held attendance down to 22,428 and caused many in the crowd to be late in arriving. The Blitz had the first possession and converted a third-and-five situation as Vince Evans threw to TE Mark Keel to advance to the Michigan 44. RB Larry Canada ran effectively and Kevin Seibel kicked a 41-yard field goal to give Chicago the early lead.

The Panthers struck quickly in response. Following two strong carries by Ken Lacy, Bobby Hebert went deep to a streaking WR Derek Holloway, who got beyond the coverage and hauled the pass in for a 49-yard touchdown. Novo Bojovic added the extra point.

Chicago responded with a drive of 80 yards in 10 plays that included key passes to WR Keith MaGee and another good run by Canada. It concluded with Evans leaping into the end zone from a yard out. Seibel kicked the point after and the Blitz was back in front by 10-7.

The Panthers were driving as the opening period ended and, on the first play of the second quarter, Hebert threw to Anthony Carter for a 16-yard touchdown. Bojovic’s extra point put the home team ahead by four.

The teams traded punts, with the Blitz getting the better of the field position and driving 59 yards in eight plays that culminated in a two-yard carry for a TD by Canada. However, an errant snap on the try for extra point kept the score at 16-14 in favor of Chicago.  So it remained until the final seconds of the first half as the Panthers drove into scoring territory and Bojovic kicked a 39-yard field goal. Michigan led the back-and-forth game by 17-16 at halftime.

The Panthers took the second half kickoff and again advanced into Chicago territory, but came up empty when Bojovic was wide to the left on a 33-yard field goal attempt. They got the ball back a short time later thanks to a fumble by the Blitz at their 31 yard line, but a holding penalty wiped out a good gain on a swing pass and Hebert was sacked on third down to take Michigan out of field goal range.

The score remained unchanged as the contest moved into the fourth quarter. A punt by the Panthers that was downed inside the Chicago five yard line was negated by an illegal procedure penalty and the re-kick was blocked by RB Jim Stone. MaGee was unable to grab the bouncing ball as it skittered through the Michigan end zone, but the play still resulted in a safety that put the Blitz back in the lead by an 18-17 score.

Chicago got good field position near midfield on the resulting free kick, but an Evans pass was intercepted by CB Oliver Davis, who returned it 23 yards. The Panthers moved backward rather than forward due to a holding penalty and a sack, forcing another punt.

Two dropped passes caused the Blitz to have to punt with less than three minutes remaining to play and Carter returned Jeff Gossett’s 57-yard kick 13 yards. Hebert threw to Lacy for a 28-yard gain that nearly went the distance and Michigan then pounded straight away on the ground until a throw to RB Cleo Miller put the ball on the Chicago three with the clock down to 18 seconds. After one run into the line, Bojovic came in to kick a 20-yard field goal with no time remaining and the Panthers won by a final score of 20-18.

Michigan led in total yards (397 to 275) and first downs (22 to 17), although time of possession was almost even. Both clubs ran the ball well, with the Blitz gaining 144 yards to 124 for the Panthers, but Michigan was much more successful through the air (273 to 131). Chicago turned the ball over twice, to none suffered by the Panthers, but Michigan was hurt by 12 penalties, at a cost of 79 yards, to seven flags thrown on the visitors.

Bobby Hebert completed 20 of 34 passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns while giving up no interceptions. Ken Lacy rushed for 98 yards on 16 carries and caught four passes for another 58 yards. Anthony Carter had 7 pass receptions for 108 yards.

For the Blitz, Vince Evans was successful on 16 of 32 throws for 134 yards and was picked off once. Larry Canada gained 84 yards on 12 rushing attempts and RB Glenn Ford contributed 41 yards on 8 carries. Mark Keel and WR Marcus Anderson each had five catches, for 61 and 40 yards, respectively.

“Sometimes I didn’t feel right out there, and sometimes I felt 100 percent as good as I did last year,” said Bobby Hebert. “My lack of practice time hurt. My timing wasn’t always right and I threw some bad passes.”

“I thought we were fortunate to win,” summed up Jim Stanley of his team’s rusty performance. “I feel like we dodged a bullet tonight.”

Following the successful, if unsteady, start, the Panthers won their next five games before disaster struck when Anthony Carter was lost for the year with a broken arm, the first of several key injuries. Michigan promptly dropped four straight contests and barely made it into the postseason as a second place Wild Card with a 10-8 record, losing in the first round to the Los Angeles Express in triple overtime. Chicago never got on track, struggling to a 5-13 tally and placing last in the Central Division.

1989: Johnson Gains 248 Receiving Yards as Lions Defeat Saints

WR Richard Johnson (pictured above) had been a star for two seasons with the Houston Gamblers of the United States Football League, twice leading the Spring league in pass receptions, but, other than a brief stint with the Washington Redskins, drew little interest from the NFL after the USFL folded.  There were concerns about his lack of size (5’7”, 172) and speed, but the Detroit Lions finally gave him a tryout in 1989 thanks to the arrival of Darrel “Mouse” Davis as offensive coordinator, who had held the same post in Houston. Johnson made the team and, on December 3, 1989, had an especially noteworthy performance against the New Orleans Saints.

The Lions were struggling at 2-9 under Head Coach Wayne Fontes. Another, more heralded newcomer, rookie RB Barry Sanders, was outstanding, and NT Jerry Ball and LB Chris Spielman were having an impact on defense. But QB Rodney Peete was suffering through an injury-plagued season and, while journeyman Bob Gagliano was familiar with Davis’ run-and-shoot offense, but was no better than a fill-in. Johnson was the best of a receiving corps that was less than exceptional.  

New Orleans had a 6-6 record and was trying to remain in the playoff hunt. Coached by Jim Mora, the Saints had gotten off to a 1-4 start before winning five of six games, but had lost in overtime the previous week. QB Bobby Hebert was going through a rough patch, although RB Dalton Hilliard was filling in well for the injured Reuben Mayes. On defense, the corps of linebackers was outstanding and the Saints had the NFL’s number one rushing defense, but defending against the pass was problematic.

There were 38,550 fans in attendance at the Pontiac Silverdome. The teams exchanged punts until the Lions put together a nine-play, 70-yard drive. Rodney Peete completed passes to Richard Johnson for 27 yards and WR Walter Stanley for 37, and it was the quarterback keeping the ball and running six yards to score a touchdown. Ed Murray added the extra point.

On the first play following the ensuing kickoff, Bobby Hebert threw to TE Hoby Brenner, who fumbled and LB Dennis Gibson recovered for the Lions. But two plays later, a high pass by Peete was intercepted by CB Robert Massey, who returned it 22 yards to the New Orleans 47. It led to a three-and-out series followed by a punt, but the Saints again quickly regained possession when Peete fumbled a snap and LB Pat Swilling recovered at the Detroit 34. As the opening period came to an end, New Orleans was moving methodically down the field and, two plays into the second quarter Dalton Hilliard ran for a one-yard TD. Morten Andersen tied the score with the PAT.

The Lions moved swiftly down the field on their next series, advancing 82 yards in five plays as Peete completed passes to Johnson that covered 46 and 36 yards. Barry Sanders broke three tackles on the way to a three-yard touchdown and, with Murray’s conversion, Detroit was back in the lead by 14-7. But RB Bobby Morse returned the kickoff 99 yards, Andersen kicked the extra point, and once again the score was knotted at 14-14.

After the swift exchange of scores, the teams reverted to trading punts. The Saints reached the Detroit 31 with 18 seconds remaining in the first half, but Andersen was wide to the right on a 48-yard field goal attempt and the tally remained unchanged at halftime.

Peete suffered a knee injury when sacked on the second play of the third quarter and Bob Gagliano replaced him. Neither team was able to move the ball as they exchanged punts until, with the ball at their 25, the Lions came through with a big play. Gagliano threw short to Johnson at the left sideline, and he ran the distance for a 75-yard touchdown. Murray again converted and the home team was back in the lead by seven points.

There was another exchange of punts before the Saints advanced into Detroit territory. Hilliard started off with a ten-yard carry that had another 15 yards added to it due to an unnecessary roughness penalty. Hilliard continued to run well and Hebert completed two passes, New Orleans having reached the Detroit 14 as the period ended. But after getting to the seven in the early moments of the fourth quarter, Hebert had a pass batted away in the end zone by CB Jerry Holmes, who nearly picked it off, and on the next throw Holmes succeeded, just keeping his feet inbounds as he came down with the ball.

Gagliano threw to Johnson for 33 yards on the next play, but the Lions had to punt after reaching their 47. Once again the teams kicked punts back and forth. John Fourcade replaced Hebert at quarterback for the Saints, and while he completed his first two passes to Brenner for 20 yards and Hilliard for nine, the result was the same as New Orleans couldn’t get out of its end of the field.

Tommy Barnhardt’s punt gave the ball to the Lions at their 32 with 4:11 remaining in regulation. They never gave the ball up as Gagliano completed passes of 11 and 19 yards to WR Jason Phillips for first downs and, in a third-and-eight situation with still over a minute remaining, Sanders took a handoff, started to his left, changed direction, and ran 27 yards to effectively seal the 21-14 win for Detroit.      

The Lions led significantly in total yards (401 to 169) and first downs (17 to 11), although New Orleans had the longer time of possession (33:47 to 26:13). Both teams turned the ball over twice, but Detroit was penalized 10 times, at a cost of 75 yards, while just three flags were thrown on the Saints. New Orleans also recorded four sacks, to three by the Lions.

Richard Johnson had a huge performance with 8 catches for 248 yards that included the one long touchdown. Barry Sanders rushed for 72 yards on 20 carries that included a TD. Rodney Peete completed 8 of 18 passes for 177 yards and was intercepted once while Bob Gagliano was 6-of-13 for 166 yards and a touchdown while giving up no interceptions. On defense, Jerry Holmes intercepted a pass for the fourth straight game.

For the Saints, Bobby Hebert was successful on 16 of 26 throws, but for just 99 yards with no TDs and one interception. Dalton Hilliard (pictured at right) gained 67 yards on 18 rushing attempts that included a score and also caught 6 passes for 31 yards. Hoby Brenner gained 48 yards on his four pass receptions.

“It seemed like a dream,” said Richard Johnson of his performance. “I’m just so excited it happened to me. I knew I had the ability to play in this league. I just had to get the opportunity.”

The win for Detroit was the second of five straight to close out the season. The Lions ended up third in the NFC Central with a 7-9 record. For the Saints, the loss effectively ended their hopes for a Wild Card playoff spot, although with John Fourcade starting at quarterback, they won their last three games to end up at 9-7 and in third place in the NFC West.

Richard Johnson led the Lions with 70 catches for 1091 yards (15.6 avg.) and eight touchdowns. Barry Sanders received the greater acclaim for his NFC-leading 1470 yards on 280 carries (5.3 avg.) and 14 TDs. He was not only a consensus Rookie of the Year but a first-team All-NFL and Pro Bowl selection as well.

Dalton Hilliard went over a thousand yards rushing for the season with his performance against the Lions, and he finished with 1262 yards on 344 attempts (3.7 avg.) and caught 52 passes for 514 more yards (9.9 avg.). He led the NFL in touchdowns (18) and the NFC in yards from scrimmage (1776) and was named to the Pro Bowl.

1985: Last-Second FG Propels Invaders to Playoff Win Over Bandits

The United States Football League Quarterfinal playoff game in Oakland on June 30, 1985 featured the Oakland Invaders, who had topped the Western Conference with a league-best 13-4-1 record, against the Tampa Bay Bandits, fifth place finishers in the Eastern Conference at 10-8.

The Invaders, coached by Charlie Sumner, benefited greatly from the merger with the Michigan Panthers that brought several key players to the roster, most notably QB Bobby Hebert (pictured above) and wide receivers Anthony Carter and Derek Holloway. In combination with holdover WR Gordon Banks, Oakland had the league’s most dynamic trio of receivers and the running game, paced by ex-Panthers John Williams and Albert Bentley, was also productive. Oakland was a ten-point favorite entering the contest against the Bandits.

Tampa Bay was coached by the offensive-minded Steve Spurrier and had overcome many injuries to reach the playoffs. 35-year-old QB John Reaves passed for 4193 yards and 25 touchdowns while RB Gary Anderson was outstanding both as a runner (1207 yards) and pass receiver out of the backfield (72 catches, 678 yards) as he compiled 20 TDs.

There were 19,344 fans in attendance on a sunny afternoon at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. In their first series of the game, the Bandits were penalized for illegal motion, nullifying what would have been a successful fourth down conversion, and then Zenon Andrusyshyn suffered only the second blocked punt of his career to give Oakland the ball at the Tampa Bay 25. However, on the next play, LB James Harrell intercepted a Hebert pass to give the Bandits the ball again at their two yard line. After reaching the 12, Gary Anderson fumbled and CB Vito McKeever recovered for Oakland. Although an unnecessary roughness penalty at the end of the play backed the Invaders up, the result of the turnover was a 37-yard Novo Bojovic field goal for the first points of the game.

Tampa Bay drove to the Oakland 21 on the next series, but Reaves was then intercepted by safety Oliver Davis and the first quarter ended with the score still 3-0.

The Invaders, who were experiencing difficulty moving the ball, punted early in the second quarter and the Bandits, helped by the running of Anderson, drove down the field to a touchdown on a five-yard pass from Reaves to WR Spencer Jackson.  Tampa Bay struck quickly for another TD, this time on a fake reverse in which Reaves threw to a streaking Anderson on a play that covered 73 yards. Andrusyshyn successfully converted following both touchdowns.

Down by 14-3, the Invaders went 80 yards in eight plays and scored on a 25-yard pass completion from Hebert to Derek Holloway. In response, the Bandits again moved into scoring territory. Anderson caught a pass and tightroped to the end zone, but was called out of bounds at the Oakland 14. Coach Spurrier’s request for a review was for naught due to the television network having pulled away to cover a news event, making a replay unavailable. The Bandits came up empty when Andrusyshyn missed a 28-yard field goal attempt and the score remained 14-10 at the half, although Tampa Bay had dominated statistically.

Less than three minutes into the third quarter, and following a 40-yard third-and-13 completion to Gordon Banks, Oakland scored again, this time on a throw from Hebert to Anthony Carter that covered 40 yards. Bojovic added the extra point and, in stunning fashion, the Invaders were in front by 17-14.

It seemed as though Oakland might take control of the game on the next series when Vito McKeever intercepted a Reaves pass in Tampa Bay territory, but the Invaders came up empty when Hebert threw into the end zone and was in turn picked off by CB Mike Thurman. However, the reprieve was short-lived when another interception again gave the Invaders the ball in Tampa Bay territory, and this time they came away with a 52-yard field goal by Bojovic.

Trailing by six points, the visitors put together a seven-play, 58-yard series that was capped when Reaves ran for a six-yard touchdown (his first rushing TD in ten years). Andrusyshyn added the PAT and the Bandits were back in front by 21-20.

Early in the fourth quarter, Oakland was on the move and, after Hebert connected with Holloway for a 41-yard gain to the Tampa Bay one, FB Tom Newton bulled in for a TD. A pass for two points was nullified by a penalty, but Bojovic then kicked the extra point that made the tally 27-21.

Tampa Bay came back to tie the score when Reaves threw to WR Willie Gillespie for a 15-yard touchdown and appeared ready to move back in front once more in what had now turned into a back-and-forth contest. However, following two penalties on successive extra point attempts, Andrusyshyn failed to convert from 35 yards and the game remained knotted at 27-27.

The Invaders responded by driving into Tampa Bay territory, but failed to regain the lead when Bojovic missed a 31-yard field goal with 5:14 left on the clock. However, Oakland’s defense rose up and twice sacked Reaves on Tampa Bay’s next three-and-out possession and, with Andrusyshyn punting out of his end zone, the Invaders had good field position at the Bandits’ 40.

Oakland made the most of the opportunity, methodically moving down the field. On the last play of the game, Bojovic kicked a 23-yard field goal and the Invaders won by a final score of 30-27.

The Bandits led in total yards (418 to 344) and first downs (19 to 17). However, Tampa Bay also turned the ball over four times, to two suffered by the Invaders. Oakland, in turn, was penalized 11 times at a cost of 105 yards, to six flags for 45 yards on the visitors. Each team recorded two sacks apiece.

Bobby Hebert completed 15 of 27 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns while giving up two interceptions. Albert Bentley led the team in rushing with 38 yards on seven carries and also in pass receiving with four catches, for 37 yards. Derek Holloway gained 75 yards on his three receptions that included a TD and Gordon Banks was right behind with 73 yards on two catches.

For the Bandits, John Reaves was successful on 18 of 30 throws for 315 yards and three TDs, but also tossed three interceptions. Gary Anderson ran for 90 yards on 13 attempts and also topped the club with 111 yards on his five pass receptions that included the long touchdown, although most of his production came in the first half. Spencer Jackson contributed five catches as well, gaining 87 yards.

"The defense played great and so did the offense, which gave me the chance to make the kick,” said Novo Bojovic, who had missed three field goals in a losing playoff game while with Michigan the previous year. “It was a great game for everybody and I didn’t want to let them down.”

“We played our hearts out,” said a disappointed John Reaves in defeat. “But we just came up a little short.”

The Invaders went on to defeat the Memphis Southmen in the Semifinal round the following week to advance to the USFL Championship game, where they lost a close contest to the Baltimore Stars. It would prove to be the league’s last game, but several of the Invaders, including Bobby Hebert, Anthony Carter, and Albert Bentley, went on to play in the NFL, as did Tampa Bay’s Gary Anderson. 

1983: Stallions Beat Panthers in Overtime for Fifth Straight Win

The United States Football League game on May 23, 1983, a Monday night, featured two teams with winning streaks on the line and trying to remain in contention in the competitive Central Division.

The visiting Birmingham Stallions, coached by Rollie Dotsch, had won four straight after getting off to a 2-5 start. They were the USFL’s top rushing team, but the passing attack, utilizing two rookie quarterbacks in Bob Lane (pictured at right) and Reggie Collier, was less successful, although ex-Steeler Jim Smith was a capable wide receiver. The defense was effective, especially when rushing opposing passers.

The Michigan Panthers had also gotten off to a slow start, sporting a lowly 1-4 tally at one point, with the only win coming against the Stallions in the opening week. But Head Coach Jim Stanley’s team was now at 7-4 after winning six consecutive games. Rookie QB Bobby Hebert was a pleasant surprise, more-heralded (and high-priced) rookie WR Anthony Carter was displaying the anticipated big-play ability after getting off to a quiet start, and the addition of some veteran offensive linemen was making a difference. On defense, the Panthers topped the league in sacks with OLB John Corker leading the way.

A somewhat disappointing crowd of 20,042 was on hand at the Pontiac Silverdome. The opening period was scoreless but the Stallions were driving after recovering a Michigan fumble as the game moved into second quarter and the series ended when QB Bob Lane connected with TE Steve Stephens for a one-yard touchdown on a fourth down gamble. Scott Norwood added the extra point.

The visitors then took advantage of an interception by LB Larry McPherson to add to their lead. The Stallions again moved the ball inside the Michigan five, going 29 yards in eight plays, but settled for a 23-yard Norwood field goal and a 10-0 score.

Down by ten points, the Panthers came through with a big play when a scrambling Bobby Hebert went long for Anthony Carter, who grabbed the ball after it was tipped by a defender and raced to the end zone for an 81-yard touchdown. Bojovic kicked the PAT.

The Stallions got another break inside the last two minutes of the half when Carter muffed a punt and RB Lonnie Johnson recovered at the Michigan 17. Five plays later, WR Greg Anderson caught a pass for a 15-yard touchdown with 27 seconds remaining on the clock and, having capitalized on three turnovers, the score was 17-7 in favor of Birmingham at the half.

The Stallions added to their lead with the first series of the third quarter, putting together a methodical drive that ended with Norwood booting a 25-yard field goal. Michigan finally was able to get back into the game with a fumble recovery late in the period in Birmingham territory. After driving down to the one, RB John Williams was stopped short on successive carries but scored on the first play of the fourth quarter. Bojovic added the extra point that made it a six-point contest.

Ahead by 20-14, the Stallions attempted to extend their lead with 7:24 left on the clock, but Norwood’s 49-yard field goal try was short. The Panthers responded by driving 68 yards in nine plays, and it seemed as though they would prevail when Williams again scored a touchdown from a yard out with 2:52 remaining in regulation. However, Birmingham LB Herb Spencer was able to get a hand on Bojovic’s extra point kick and block it, keeping the contest tied at 20-20.

Birmingham nearly won in regulation when DB Fred Logan intercepted a long pass intended for WR Ron Frederick at the Michigan one and rolled into the end zone, losing the ball as he attempted to spike it. TE Darryl Mason fell on the loose football in the end zone and one official signaled a touchdown for the Stallions, but after a long conference it was ruled that the Panthers had possession at the one, and they ran out the clock.

Michigan won the toss and had the first possession in overtime, but the Panthers were forced to punt after six plays. The Stallions then got a huge break when a bad snap sailed over punter Rick Partridge’s head and Birmingham got the ball at the Michigan 34. After two running plays and an incomplete pass, Norwood kicked a 46-yard field goal at 4:22 into the overtime period to win the game by a final score of 23-20.

Total yards were nearly even, with Michigan holding a 341 to 340 edge, although the Stallions had more first downs (22 to 17) and were well ahead in time of possession (38:03 to 26:29). Both teams were penalized seven times and there were no sacks. But the Panthers turned the ball over three times, with all of them leading to Birmingham scores, while the visitors turned it over twice.

Bob Lane completed 16 of 28 passes for 171 yards and two touchdowns while giving up one interception. RB Ken Talton rushed for 103 yards on 27 carries. Jim Smith topped the Stallions with 5 catches for 62 yards.

For the Panthers, Bobby Hebert was successful on 13 of 20 throws for 198 yards and had a TD and an interception. Ken Lacy gained 106 yards on 15 rushing attempts and added another 40 yards on three pass receptions. John Williams ran for just 27 yards on 13 carries, but two were good for touchdowns. Anthony Carter caught 6 passes for 136 yards that included the one long score.

“I think the key was the blocked extra point try,” said a disappointed Coach Jim Stanley. “If we make it, we win the game. Those little things come back to haunt you.”

The win for Birmingham left both teams tied at 7-5 in the Central Division race with the Chicago Blitz a game ahead. It proved to be the high point of the season for the Stallions, who lost their next two games and ended up fourth with a 9-9 record. Ultimately, the Panthers prevailed by winning five of their last six contests, topping the division at 12-6 on the way to winning the first USFL Championship. 

1983: Federals Defeat Panthers for First Win

The Washington Federals had endured tough going in the first three weeks of the inaugural United States Football League season, losing all three of their games, including the most recent thanks to a late field goal. On March 27, 1983 they hosted the Michigan Panthers, who came into the contest at 1-2.

The Federals, coached by Ray Jauch, had a good rookie running back in Craig James, but he was already sidelined with an injury. WR Joey Walters was a dependable receiver, but quarterback was unsettled with another promising first-year play, Mike Hohensee, injured and veteran NFL backup Kim McQuilken taking his place.

Michigan had a big-name rookie of its own, WR Anthony Carter, who was off to a slow start and a less-heralded first-year quarterback in Bobby Hebert. LB John Corker already had five sacks, but Head Coach Jim Stanley’s team was still coming together and, following a low-scoring opening win, was struggling.

There was an extremely disappointing crowd of 11,414 fans in attendance on a rainy day at RFK Stadium. The Federals got on the board first, just three minutes into the contest, with a 32-yard field goal by Obed Ariri.

That was it until midway through the second quarter when Washington extended its lead on a pass from Kim McQuilken to WR Mike Holmes that was good for a 40-yard touchdown. The Panthers responded by driving 81 yards in 12 plays, culminating in a TD pass from Bobby Hebert to Anthony Carter that covered 33 yards. It was Carter’s first pro touchdown and, with Novo Bojovic adding the extra point, Washington’s lead was narrowed to 10-7.

In the waning seconds of the first half, the Federals scored another touchdown on an eight-yard McQuilken toss to Joey Walters. Ariri missed the extra point, but the home team took a 16-7 lead into halftime.

Late in the third quarter, the Panthers came through with a big play to once again cut into Washington’s lead. Hebert connected with WR Derek Holloway for a 69-yard TD, although Bojovic also failed to convert the extra point. Still, it was a three-point contest heading into the fourth quarter. It was almost enough for the Federals, but Bojovic tied the game with a 43-yard field goal as time expired in regulation.

The Federals had the first possession in overtime and drove 72 yards in six plays, the last of which was a pass from McQuilken to Walters, who outdistanced the coverage on a down-and-in pattern for a game-winning 23-yard touchdown at 2:43 into the extra period. Washington finally broke into the win column by a final score of 22-16.

The Panthers had the edge in total yards (326 to 314) and each team recorded 20 first downs. Most of the yards came through the air as neither club mounted much of a ground attack (the Federals had the edge at 48 yards to 42). Michigan recorded six sacks (five of them by John Corker, on his way to leading the USFL in that category) but also turned the ball over seven times (six on fumbles) to just one turnover suffered by Washington.

Kim McQuilken had a big day as he completed 24 of 48 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Mike Holmes caught 6 passes for 124 yards and a TD while Joey Walters also contributed 6 receptions, gaining 99 yards and scoring twice. RB James Mayberry was Washington’s leading ground gainer with 25 yards on 10 carries while RB Eric Robinson was held to just 22 yards on 17 attempts, although he caught 5 passes for 37 yards.

For the Panthers, Bobby Hebert was successful on 22 of 44 throws for 292 yards and two TDs, tossing one interception. WR Frank McClain led the receivers with 6 catches for 76 yards and Anthony Carter added three receptions and 51 yards, including a touchdown. RB Ken Lacy ran for 35 yards on 7 attempts.

The win for the Federals did not signal a turnaround. They were thrashed by the powerful Philadelphia Stars the next week and went on to finish at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with a 4-14 record. Michigan’s fortunes did improve dramatically, however. The Panthers lost again to drop into a 1-4 hole before reeling off six straight wins on the way to a 12-6 tally, best in the Central Division. They went on to win the first USFL Championship.

Kim McQuilken saw most of the action at quarterback for the Federals, throwing for 1912 yards with seven touchdowns against 14 interceptions in what would be his last pro season. Joey Walters remained productive as he caught 63 passes for 959 yards (15.2 avg.) and six TDs. 

1996: Jaguars Edge Falcons to Clinch Playoff Berth

The second-year Jacksonville Jaguars came into their 1996 season finale on December 22 needing a win to gain a playoff spot. Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s team had been at 4-7 after eleven games and seemed to be going nowhere, but the Jaguars had reeled off four straight wins to climb to 8-7. 26-year-old QB Mark Brunell  (pictured at right) started off unevenly but was playing well during the late-season surge. Most significantly, RB Natrone Means was running the ball effectively and taking pressure off the young quarterback. WR Keenan McCardell was joined by Jimmy Smith, who took over for veteran WR Andre Rison with outstanding results. Two rookies, DE Tony Brackens and LB Kevin Hardy, were upgrades to the defense and 11th-year veteran DE Clyde Simmons added his savvy play to the mix. They had to beat Atlanta to make the postseason in just their second year.

The Falcons, meanwhile, were 3-12 after having been in the playoffs in ’95. Atlanta’s season was marred by controversy, most notably a sideline confrontation between Head Coach June Jones and QB Jeff George that caused the talented but immature quarterback to be suspended and replaced by veteran backup Bobby Hebert. RB Jamal Anderson and WR Bert Emanuel had emerged as good players on offense, but the offensive line was ordinary and the defensive backfield atrocious.

The game was at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium with 71,449 fans in attendance. The Falcons had the game’s first possession and punted. Jacksonville put together a 77-yard drive in 10 plays. Mark Brunell completed all three of his passes including one to Keenan McCardell for 17 yards in a second-and-11 situation. Natrone Means (pictured below) pounded away for 17 yards on four straight carries and Brunell finished the series off by scrambling for 11 yards for a touchdown. Mike Hollis added the extra point.

The teams exchanged punts for the rest of the first quarter, but the Falcons were at the Jacksonville 41 at the end of the period and reached the 27 before QB Bobby Hebert was sacked by CB Aaron Beasley on a third-and-four play. Morten Andersen kicked a 46-yard field goal to narrow the score to 7-3.

The Jaguars responded with a 12-play, 70-yard drive of their own. Brunell connected with TE Pete Mitchell for 16 yards in a third-and-six situation and Means had a 17-yard run to the Atlanta 14. The series ended with Hollis booting a field goal from 23 yards to make it a 10-3 game.

Following a three-and-out series by the Falcons, Jacksonville put together another long scoring drive of 78 yards in 13 plays. Brunell completed three passes and had a 16-yard run and, with 46 seconds remaining in the half, Hollis added another field goal, this time from 26 yards. The Jaguars led by ten points at the intermission.

The home team started off the third quarter with yet another long possession. The biggest gain was a Brunell pass to Jimmy Smith for 29 yards as the Jaguars advanced 76 yards in 13 plays culminating in a third Hollis field goal, this time from 22 yards.

The Falcons had been quiet on offense, but now they responded with a 10-play, 72-yard series. Hebert (pictured at left) started off with a pass to RB Richard Huntley for 14 yards, RB Craig Heyward ran for 11 yards, and then Hebert scrambled for 15 yards around end. Continuing to chip away, Atlanta finally scored when Hebert connected with WR Eric Metcalf for a four-yard TD. Andersen added the extra point and the Jacksonville lead was narrowed to 16-10.

In a series that extended into the fourth quarter, the Jaguars went 51 yards in 10 plays. Hollis attempted a field goal from 42 yards that hit the left upright but caromed over the crossbar and was good. In a game of long possessions, the Falcons responded by using 12 plays to go 77 yards. Hebert had a pass to Bert Emanuel for 17 yards and converted a third-and-eight with another toss to Emanuel that was good for 12 yards. Heyward went up the middle for the last two yards and a TD. Andersen’s extra point made it a two-point contest with 5:39 remaining.

The Jaguars went three-and-out and had to punt. With Jamal Anderson running to good effect and Hebert connecting with WR Tyrone Brown on a screen pass for 23 yards, Atlanta reached the Jacksonville 13 with eight seconds left on the clock. But just as it seemed that Jacksonville’s season was about to end in disappointment, the usually reliable Morten Andersen missed a 30-yard field goal attempt. Andersen appeared to slip as he kicked the ball and it sailed wide to the left as the Jaguars came away with a 19-17 win.

Jacksonville led in total yards (357 to 309) while each club had 21 first downs. Rushing yards were nearly even as well, with the Falcons holding a 146 to 143 edge. However, the Jaguars were nearly undone by having to settle for field goals too often when inside the Atlanta ten yard line. There were no turnovers.

Mark Brunell completed 18 of 29 passes for 222 yards with no touchdowns, although he ran for one TD on one of his four carries for 28 yards. Natrone Means rushed for 110 yards on 27 attempts and Jimmy Smith caught 5 passes for 75 yards. Mike Hollis (pictured below) was successful on all four of his field goal attempts, which ultimately proved crucial to Jacksonville’s success.

For the Falcons, Bobby Hebert was successful on 17 of 25 throws for 172 yards and a TD. Craig Heyward ran for 69 yards on 16 carries that included a touchdown and Jamal Anderson contributed 55 yards on 11 attempts. Bert Emanuel and Tyrone Brown caught six passes apiece, for 67 and 60 yards, respectively.

“It almost renders me speechless,” said Coach Tom Coughlin, who had almost comically avoided making references to the postseason in his press conferences down the stretch. “We’re in the playoffs.”

Jacksonville’s surprising run gave them a 9-7 record, second in the AFC Central, and continued in the postseason all the way to the AFC Championship game, including wins over Buffalo in the Wild Card round and Denver at the Divisional level. With the other 1995 expansion team, the Carolina Panthers, reaching the NFC title game, it marked an unprecedented ascendancy by two second-year clubs. However, each fell a game short of the Super Bowl. The Jaguars lost to the Patriots by a decisive 20-6 score, but it marked the first of four straight postseason appearances for the young franchise.

Atlanta, ending up 3-13 and fourth in the NFC West, underwent a housecleaning during the offseason that ended the coaching tenure of June Jones after three years. He was replaced by Dan Reeves, formerly of the Broncos and Giants. The game also marked the end of the line for Bobby Hebert (pictured at left), whose career started in the USFL and led to the Saints before moving on to Atlanta for four years.

Mark Brunell led the NFL in passing yards (4367) and yards per attempt (7.8), although also in times sacked (50). He was selected to the Pro Bowl. Natrone Means, who performed so well down the stretch, rushed for 507 yards on 152 carries (3.3 avg.), but 325 of those yards came in the last four games. He would come up bigger in the two playoff wins. 

1991: Saints Rally to Beat Seahawks in Fourth Quarter

The New Orleans Saints had a familiar face returning to the quarterback position following a one-year absence as they hosted the Seattle Seahawks in their season-opening game on September 1, 1991. Entering their sixth season under Head Coach Jim Mora, the Saints were coming off a year in ’90 in which their 8-8 record had been enough to qualify them for the playoffs as a Wild Card entry. However, the play of the defense had far more to do with any success the club had than the offense, which dropped from fifth in scoring in 1989 to 25^th in the league. A key factor was the season-long contract holdout by QB Bobby Hebert (pictured above), who had been with the Saints for five years after coming over from the USFL. In addition, the running game was hampered by RB Dalton Hilliard missing 10 games with a knee injury.

Both Hebert and Hilliard were back for 1991. Hebert had beaten out Steve Walsh, the Dallas castoff who had taken over as the starting quarterback in his absence during the ’90 season, in an intense competition during the preseason.

As for the Seahawks, coached by Chuck Knox, they barely missed the postseason in ’90 although they had a 9-7 record. QB Dave Krieg had his limitations but was an outstanding leader and the tough defense stood to benefit from the improvement of second-year DT Cortez Kennedy.

There was a crowd of 68,492 present at the Louisiana Superdome. Following a short Seattle series that ended with a punt, the Saints went 61 yards in four plays for a score. Bobby Hebert threw to RB Gill Fenerty (pictured below) who went all the way for a 50-yard touchdown. That was it for the first quarter scoring as each team turned the ball over once and the Seahawks again had to punt. However, New Orleans was driving as the period ended and early in the second quarter Morten Andersen kicked a 47-yard field goal to make it 10-0.

The home team’s lead became 17-0 in short order when, on Seattle’s first play from scrimmage following the kickoff, Dave Krieg’s pass was intercepted by LB Pat Swilling who proceeded to return it 39 yards for a TD.

Now in a deep hole, Seattle came back with an eight-play, 85-yard drive. Krieg hit on all six of his passes, including a completion to RB John L. Williams that gained 35 yards into New Orleans territory and to WR Brian Blades for a 10-yard touchdown. Rookie John Kasay’s successful extra point made it a 17-7 game.

The Saints came right back as Hebert threw a screen pass to Dalton Hilliard that gained 13 yards and followed up with a 21-yard completion to TE John Tice to get the ball to the Seattle 29. They advanced as far as the six yard line before Hebert was sacked by DE Jacob Green for a seven-yard loss on a third-and-four play and New Orleans settled for a 31-yard field goal by Andersen.

Krieg passed the Seahawks down the field on the ensuing series but, after getting to the New Orleans 14, Blades fumbled when hit after making a catch and the Saints recovered to end the threat. The score stood at 20-7 at the half.

The third quarter belonged to Seattle. The Saints had the initial possession of the second half and moved backward from their 21 all the way back to their one yard line. Penalties were the primary reason, including an illegal procedure call that wiped out what would have been a 22-yard gain on a pass play. Backed into a third-and-20 situation, Hebert was sacked for a 10-yard loss by Cortez Kennedy that forced the Saints to punt from their own end zone.

Tommy Barnhardt’s 41-yard kick was returned 17 yards by RB Chris Warren to give the Seahawks outstanding field position at the New Orleans 25. Three plays later – and after LB Sam Mills almost intercepted a pass – Krieg threw to Blades, who caught the ball over his shoulder at the goal line for a 25-yard touchdown. Kasay’s extra point made it a six-point game.

Three plays after the ensuing kickoff, a long Hebert pass was picked off by CB Dwayne Harper and was returned to the New Orleans 42. Once again starting off with good field position, Seattle advanced to the 19 yard line in five plays that ended with Kasay kicking a 37-yard field goal.

With their lead whittled down to 20-17 the Saints made it to midfield on their next series before punting. With the breaks continuing to go Seattle’s way, the punt that was downed at the Seahawks’ 11 had to be kicked over again due to an ineligible man downfield penalty on New Orleans. This time Warren returned the punt 16 yards and, with the help of a facemask penalty, the Seahawks started off at their 30.

Krieg threw to Blades for 18 yards and Seattle advanced into New Orleans territory until RB Derrick Fenner fumbled when hit after catching a pass and FS Gene Atkins recovered for the Saints at his own 35. Once again the home team found itself losing ground due to penalties and, on a third-and-19 play, Hebert’s pass was tipped and intercepted by CB Brian Davis, who returned it 40 yards for a TD. The Seahawks took a 24-20 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Saints were forced to punt early in the final period but it was Seattle’s turn to run into trouble with penalties. Furthermore, Krieg suffered a broken right thumb while scrambling and, after completing a pass, was replaced by backup QB Jeff Kemp.

The Seahawks punted and New Orleans followed up with a long, 14-play scoring drive that covered 68 yards. Along the way, Hebert converted a third-and-11 situation with a completion to WR Eric Martin for 17 yards to the Seattle 34. The Cajun quarterback also ran for nine yards and, on a third-and-one play, gained two yards on a quarterback sneak and another first down. Finally, facing fourth-and-goal at the 10 yard line, Hebert threw to WR Floyd Turner in the middle of the end zone for a touchdown. It was his fifth completion in eight pass attempts during the series that used up some six minutes. Andersen’s extra point made it a three-point lead for the Saints with the remaining time down to 1:11.

The Seahawks weren’t done, however, and Kemp threw to Blades for a 31-yard gain to the New Orleans 42 with 39 seconds left on the clock. A pass interference call gained another 34 yards for Seattle down to the eight. While a false start moved the ball back five yards, following an incompletion Kemp connected with Blades for nine yards to the four. However, a pass initially caught by WR Tommy Kane in the end zone was ruled out of bounds and the Seahawks were then penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct when Krieg strayed too far down the sideline while vehemently protesting the call. Facing a fourth down with 18 seconds remaining, overtime still appeared likely, but Kasay’s 37-yard field goal attempt sailed wide to the left. New Orleans came away with a 27-24 win. 

Seattle significantly outgained the Saints (348 yards to 244) and had more first downs (19 to 13). Neither team was able to run effectively, with the Seahawks compiling 46 yards on 15 carries and New Orleans gaining 43 yards on 20 attempts. Seattle also sacked Hebert four times, with Jacob Green accounting for two of them. The Seahawks turned the ball over four times, to three suffered by New Orleans, and both teams hurt themselves with penalties, with 10 called on the Saints at a cost of 85 yards and 9 on Seattle for 66 yards.

Bobby Hebert completed 18 of 29 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns as well as two interceptions, and was at his best in the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter. Eric Martin and Floyd Turner each caught four passes, for 49 and 37 yards, respectively, although Gill Fenerty, who ran the ball five times for 14 yards had the most receiving yards for the Saints with 66 on his three catches that included a TD. Dalton Hilliard was the team’s top rusher with just 18 yards on 9 attempts.

For the Seahawks, Dave Krieg was successful on 26 of 35 throws for 274 yards and two TDs while also tossing two interceptions before he had to leave. Jeff Kemp completed four of six passes for 53 yards in relief. Brian Blades (pictured at right) had a noteworthy performance as he accumulated 12 catches for 160 yards and two touchdowns. John L. Williams was the leading rusher with 22 yards on 6 carries but also caught 8 passes for 80 yards.

The Saints went on to win their first seven games on the way to topping the NFC West with an 11-5 record (the franchise’s first division title). They again failed to win in the postseason. Bobby Hebert’s return to the team paid off, but when he was lost for six weeks with a shoulder injury the Saints slumped. He ended up completing 60.1 percent of his passes for 1676 yards and 9 touchdowns. The running game remained a chronic problem as Dalton Hilliard again struggled with injuries.

Seattle lost three of its first four games and ended up fourth in the AFC West with a disappointing 7-9 record. Dave Krieg missed six weeks due to the injury sustained in the opening contest. Brian Blades went on to catch 70 passes for 1003 yards and John L. Williams had a Pro Bowl year as he rushed for 741 yards and caught 61 passes for 499 more yards. John Kasay recovered from his game-ending missed field goal attempt against the Saints to connect on 80.6 percent of his three-point tries (25 of 31) in his first of four seasons with the Seahawks and 20 in the NFL. 

1983: Panthers Edge Stars for First USFL Championship

The inaugural season of the United States Football League culminated in the Spring league’s first Championship game on July 17, 1983 at Denver’s Mile High Stadium. Participants were the Michigan Panthers, winners of the Central Division title at 12-6, and the Philadelphia Stars, who finished atop the Atlantic Division with a league-best 15-3 record.

Head Coach Jim Stanley’s Panthers had started off slowly at 1-4 before catching fire. Rookie QB Bobby Hebert (pictured above) developed rapidly into a star and ended up topping the league’s passers. Heralded first-year WR Anthony Carter got off to a slow start but, along with WR Derek Holloway, added an explosive element to the offense as the season progressed. Ken Lacy and John Williams were steady running backs. All were helped by improved line play as the club signed veteran guards Tyrone McGriff and Thom Dornbrook plus OT Ray Pinney. The defense was keyed by LB John Corker, who led the USFL with 28 sacks and the team with 116.5 tackles. NT Dave Tipton was a standout on the line and another heralded rookie, SS David Greenwood, led a fine backfield.

The Stars, coached by Jim Mora, were a less explosive club than the Panthers but had been steady all year. QB Chuck Fusina directed a ball-control offense that featured rookie RB Kelvin Bryant. The defense was rugged and opportunistic, having given up a league-lowest 11.3 points per game during the course of the season while compiling a +35 turnover ratio, also the USFL’s best. It included undersized but highly effective LB Sam Mills, who led a solid unit, and another All-League player in SS Scott Woerner.

The Panthers had easily won their Semifinal playoff game over the Oakland Invaders while the Stars had to stage a dramatic late comeback to defeat the Chicago Blitz in overtime to reach the Championship contest.

The game was played before a crowd of 50,906 in 80-degree heat. The low-scoring first half was filled with mistakes by both teams. Late in the first quarter, Bobby Hebert ran 20 yards for a first down in a third-and-15 situation to spark a drive that ended in the game’s first score, a 33-yard field goal by Novo Bojovic.

The Stars evened the score with a 30-yard David Trout field goal that ended a 13-play, 64-yard drive midway through the second quarter. Late in the first half, the Panthers put together an 80-yard scoring drive. In a third-and-20 situation at the Michigan 10, Hebert threw to Anthony Carter for a 27-yard gain. Ken Lacy ran the ball twice for 11 yards and then Hebert connected with Carter for 12 yards to the Philadelphia 40. A pass interference call on CB Jonathan Sutton moved the Panthers to the 25 and once again the Cajun quarterback found Carter at the sideline for a 13-yard gain. Forced out of the pocket on the next play, Hebert threw across to field for Derek Holloway, who scored a 12-yard touchdown. Although Michigan had outgained the Stars by 251 yards to 69, the score was only 10-3 in favor of the Panthers.

Following the second half kickoff, the Panthers put together an 80-yard drive in 15 plays that consumed over seven minutes, converting five third downs along the way. The key play was Hebert’s throw to Lacy that picked up 28 yards to the Philadelphia 31. Holloway scored a second TD, this on a 14-yard pass play, and with the successful extra point Michigan was up by 17-3.

The Stars had a chance to put some points on the board later in the period. Kelvin Bryant ran for a 22-yard gain after seemingly being bottled up in his own backfield. Chuck Fusina threw to WR Scott Fitzkee for gains of 20 and 17 yards. However, the drive stalled and, following an incomplete pass by Fusina on a third-and-four play, David Trout missed on a 34-yard field goal attempt.

Philadelphia finally scored again on its next possession, although the Stars had to settle for a 28-yard Trout field goal after having a first down at the Michigan eight. The big play of the series was an option pass by RB Allen Harvin to WR Rodney Parker that picked up 44 yards. Bryant again had big runs along the way. However, John Corker sacked Fusina for a crucial six-yard loss that set up the field goal.

The Stars got a big break when FS Mike Lush intercepted a Hebert pass and, after lateraling to Scott Woerner, Philadelphia had the ball at its own 41. Utilizing an efficient short passing game, the Stars moved down the field. Fusina threw to Harvin for eight yards, ran two yards for another first down, and then passed to Fitzkee for ten. A defensive holding penalty gave Philadelphia another first down. In a fourth-and-four situation, Fusina threw to WR Willie Collier for a first down at the Michigan 24. Two plays later, Fusina connected with Collier again, who made a diving catch in the end zone for a TD. The Stars went for a two-point conversion and Fusina, rolling to his right, hit Collier once more to make it a three-point game at 17-14.

There was still plenty of time, with 8:49 left on the clock. The Panthers got a first down on their next possession but moved no further and punted. However, David Greenwood’s wobbly kick bounced past Woerner and the Stars were pinned back at their five yard line. They couldn’t move either and Sean Landeta boomed a 52-yard punt that Carter fumbled but recovered.

Again the Panthers got a first down, to the Philadelphia 48. Ken Lacy was injured on a play that gained no yardage and, after the running back was helped off the field, the Stars called a timeout to try and conserve more time. On the ensuing second-and-10 play, the Stars blitzed but Hebert got the pass off to Carter, who had beaten CB Antonio Gibson and cruised into the end zone for what proved to be the game-clinching touchdown (pictured below). There were just over three minutes remaining in the game.

The Stars fought back but ran out of time. They scored a TD on the last play of the game, on a two-yard pass from Fusina to Parker, with fans already beginning to swarm the field. Michigan came away the winner by a final score of 24-22.

The Panthers, who dominated on offense for most of the contest, outgained Philadelphia (447 yards to 324) and had the edge in first downs (25 to 24). However, Michigan suffered the only two turnovers of the game. Each team recorded four sacks.

Bobby Hebert, the game’s MVP, completed 20 of 39 passes for 314 yards and three touchdowns with one interception. Anthony Carter had a big day, catching 9 passes for 179 yards and the game-clinching TD, but also dropped three passes and mishandled two punts. Derek Holloway had three catches for 39 yards, two of which were good for scores. RB Cleo Miller led the club with 80 rushing yards on 12 carries and Ken Lacy, who left the game with an injury, gained 56 yards on 15 attempts.

For the Stars, Kelvin Bryant was, as usual, the key producer on offense with 89 yards on 13 carries and four pass receptions for another 15 yards. Chuck Fusina was successful on 25 of 47 throws for 192 yards and two TDs with none intercepted. Scott Fitzkee and WR Tom Donovan each caught 5 passes, for 58 and 36 yards, respectively.

“This is the greatest feeling I’ve ever had,” said a happy Bobby Hebert. “To be so young and able to accomplish this is something I can’t put into words. I just hope I can continue to live up to everyone’s expectations.”

“I’ll tell you this, I could fly to Detroit without a plane tonight,” said an elated Coach Jim Stanley. “That’s how high off the ground I feel right now.”

Michigan came back strong in 1984, winning its first six games before injuries, most notably to Anthony Carter and David Greenwood, caused the team to sputter the rest of the way. The Panthers made it to the playoffs as a Wild Card team but lost in an epic overtime game at Los Angeles in the first round. The Stars, playing like a team on a mission, were again dominant during the regular season and once more advanced to the league title game, which they won in less dramatic fashion over the Arizona Wranglers.