With six weeks in the USFL’s inaugural season behind us, three teams currently sit at 1-5 in their respective divisions. Those include the Houston Gamblers in the South, alongside the Michigan Panthers and Pittsburgh Maulers in the North.
The @USFLGenerals continue to sit on top of the North Division 🎖🔝
Which two teams will finish 1 & 2 in the division? pic.twitter.com/0qtO5hYfCu
— USFL (@USFL) May 24, 2022
Here’s where things stand in the South Division through Week 6 👀
Who will be the top 2 teams at the end of the season? pic.twitter.com/00Qh63W0LT
— USFL (@USFL) May 24, 2022
Heading into week seven, it’s basically do or die for each team. They haven’t been eliminated from playoff contention quite yet – but the writing is on the wall.
We have some fun matchups on tap this week 🔥
Which game are you most excited to watch? pic.twitter.com/DnNVk8UQHI
— USFL (@USFL) May 24, 2022
Let’s take a look at where each team currently stands, and what their chances are of making a postseason push.
Houston Gamblers
The Houston Gamblers probably have the hardest path to the playoffs out of all of these teams, despite being the most talented. The Gamblers will face off against: Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Birmingham, and New Orleans in the final four weeks.
While it isn’t impossible, Houston needs everything to go their way down the stretch. New Orleans would have to lose out, while Tampa Bay would have to go 2-2 at best – and preferably 1-3. Not to mention, Houston themselves would have to win all four games.
Clayton Thorson finds @Teo_Redding WIDE OPEN for the touchdown 🎲
📺: @FOXSports pic.twitter.com/DNG83mmZ7h
— Houston Gamblers (@USFLGamblers) May 22, 2022
The Gambler’s biggest issue is the strength of the South Division. If you put them in the North, they would actually have a decent shot at making it to the postseason. However, since the South is already stacked with three excellent teams, it’s safe to say that Houston’s season is likely over. Unless Clayton Thorson turns into Tom Brady, the Gamblers will probably end up with that fourth and final seed.
Pittsburgh Maulers
Pittsburgh is in an interesting situation. The team is clearly the worst in the USFL, yet they still have a chance to make the playoffs when all is said and done. With the Philadelphia Stars sitting at just 3-3, the Maulers could technically overcome them if they do everything right.
That being said, Pittsburgh has done almost everything wrong this season. Kirby Wilson has not put the team in a winning position most of the time, suffocating his offense with poor schemes and game plans that simply do not work. While Vad Lee has performed decently well since his arrival, the odds of him taking this team to the postseason are pretty low given the circumstances.
Vad Lee had only been with the Maulers for 5 days before leading them to their first victory 🔥🔨
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