Week Ten Crystal Ball - Weekend: The Greatest Game NEVER Seen
"If you Ball, you get the call" - Deion Sanders
My friends, THE GURU sees San Fran-Tampa on today’s schedule and thinks of a big-time quarterback. But, no, it’s not Purdy or Mayfield but instead Hall of Famer Steve Young, the former Buc (1985-86) and Niner (1987-99).
Indeed, Young started his pro career in Tampa before Bill Walsh & Co. acquired him for a pair of draft picks1. But, before he landed in the NFL, Young was already a pro, serving as QB of the United States Football League’s Los Angeles Express, which had won a bidding war for his services to make him the richest player in football history.
With his bank account secure, the former Brigham Young star began his second USFL season against another future HOF quarterback, Jim Kelly, and eventual Super Bowl XXII hero Ricky Sanders2. But, despite the firepower and being played in the iconic Los Angeles Coliseum, it was lightly attended and not even televised.
Indeed, it may have been the greatest game never seen.
February 24, 1985, was opening day for the fledgling USFL in its third - and final - season as a spring competitor to the NFL with the Express hosting the Houston Gamblers. Coincidentally, and more importantly, it was the 15th birthday of THE FAIR CLAUDINE aka THE PHILLY FILLY.
The Express were coached by John Hadl, a former University of Kansas star who was a stud QB in the American Football League (1962-72) and NFL (1973-77). And, when he looked at Young in advance of the 1985 season, he salivated like FATBACK HOBBS at a Taco Bell ribbon cutting.
“He runs a 4.5 40-yard dash, and could play running back, receiver or free safety on our team,” Hadl said. “We’ve been working on throwing the ball deep. He was criticized for not doing that last year, but we really didn’t have the time to work on that. We’re working on that every day. He’s throwing the ball very well.”
That was no coach’s bluster as, in 1984, Young became the first quarterback in pro history to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 in the same game. It didn’t hurt that his top offensive tackle was future HOFer Gary Zimmerman, either3.
The Express faced a dynamic Houston outfit led by Kelly, who threw for 5,219 passing yards in 1984 in offensive coordinator Mouse Davis’ Run-and-Shoot offense as the Gamblers posted a 13-6 record and set a USFL mark with 618 points. Putting that in perspective, the current NFL record is 606 points by the 2013 Denver Broncos.
Underscoring Houston’s potency, two of its receivers – Richard Johnson (115) and Sanders (101) – became the first pro duo to reach 100 catches in a year in ‘84 and Kelly’s yardage total set a single-season USFL yardage record that wasn’t topped in the NFL until Drew Brees (5,476) and Tom Brady (5,235) bested it in 2011.
So, it’s safe to say that Houston, coached by former NFL All-Pro linebacker Jack Pardee, was expecting big things in 1985. Of course, they’d be doing it under the radar, beginning with a season opener that wasn’t broadcast to the masses as ABC, the league’s network of record, instead showed Doug Flutie’s professional debut with owner Donald Trump’s New Jersey Generals. In fact, the only available video of LA vs. Houston is the film produced for the coaching staffs.
The game kicked off in the vast Coliseum with just 18,838 in attendance but those fans were in for a treat from the get-go with Kelly quickly hitting Sanders for two one-yard TD passes. It was 13-0, Gamblers, and then the Express took over.
First, kicker Tony Zendejas4 hit field goals from 26 and 48 yards, respectively, shaving the lead to 13-6 at the half. He then added another three-pointer, from 37 yards, in the 3Q, and it was 13-9.
Next, Young hit receiver Jo-Jo Townsell5 for a 64-yard TD and the Express led for the first time, 16-13. Townsell’s college teammate, Kevin Nelson, was next to get into the act, rushing for a two-yard score to make it 23-13 before Zendejas kicked another field goal for a 26-13 lead.
Finally, Troy West, a USC alum who played his college home games at the Coliseum, intercepted Kelly and took it 42 yards to the house. It was West’s second INT of the game, and the score was 33-13, Express, with less than 10 minutes remaining.
But Houston, as you might guess, wasn’t done yet.
Kelly, showing resiliency he would display throughout his career, rebounded from the pick six with a 52-yard strike to Johnson on the second play of the ensuing drive and the score was 33-20. The Gamblers got the ball back with 4:05 left and again Kelly struck quickly, hitting Vince Courville on the fifth play for a 20-yard TD. Kicker Toni Fritsch - a future Houston Oiler - added his third extra point of the day, and it was a one-score game at 33-27.
Young and the Express were unable to run the clock out on their next possession and Kelly took over with just under two minutes left, immediately finding Sanders for a 39-yard score to knot the game at 33. The victim on the play was West, the Express safety who intercepted two passes on the day, including the pick six.
The decisive point was delivered by Fritsch, a future 12-year NFL veteran and Super Bowl VI champion, and, after Houston’s Mike Hawkins intercepted a Young pass, the unlikeliest of comebacks was complete. Final score: 34-33, Gamblers.
Pardee’s team left staggering numbers in its wake with Kelly throwing for a U.S. pro football record 574 yards6 and tying a USFL mark with five TDs. And three of his teammates surpassed 100 yards receiving – Johnson (174), Sanders (108) and Sam Harrell (105).
Kelly, of course, continued his magnificent career arc in the NFL, leading the Bills to four Super Bowl appearances. He retired after the 1996 season and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2002. And his receivers had some success in the League too.
Johnson registered excellent back-to-back seasons with the Lions in 1989-90, catching 134 passes for 1,818 yards and 14 touchdowns. Clarence “Choo” Verdin played nine years with Washington, the Colts and Atlanta, earning two Pro Bowl berths as a punt returner.
Most notably, Sanders starred in Washington for eight years, setting a Super Bowl record for receiving yards (193) and teaming with Art Monk and Gary Clark to form “The Posse,” which became the second NFL trio to reach 1,000 receiving yards apiece in a single season (1989).
Meanwhile, the Express finished the 1985 season with a 3-15 record and, like many of his teammates, Young had a year to forget, throwing for 1,741 yards with six scoring passes. And one prominent rival owner didn’t mince words when talking about the QB.
To be fair, the Express operated for much of 1985 without an owner7 and didn’t have funds to replace injured players, making Hadl’s job nearly impossible. He was let go at season’s end and later called taking the LA job a “career blunder,” sensible words from a man who went from coaching John Elway to last place in the USFL.
As for the LA faithful, at least they departed the Houston loss with something nice: the first 10,000 fans received Steve Young posters.
Young isn’t walking through that door for the Niners today, but he doesn’t need to as his old team is just fine with Purdy. I’ll take the young quarterback and San Fran (4-4, 1-2 away) at injury-riddled Tampa (4-5, 2-3 home), losers of three straight. Call it 27-23, Niners, and catch the action at 1 pm ET on Fox.
Hopefully you caught the game on Thursday night as Baltimore’s big win against Cincinnati pushed my season record to 82-55 (.599). The Browns (2-7), Packers (6-3), Raiders (2-7) and Seahawks (4-5) are on the bye this week and, with apologies for missing this morning’s Carolina-Giants tilt8, let’s check the rest of the action…
1 PM, FOX
The Bears (4-4, 4-0) beat New England (2-7, 1-4 away) to remain unbeaten at home…
…Atlanta (6-3, 3-0 away) keeps rolling in New Orleans (2-7, 1-3 home). With a win today, the Falcons equal their 2023 win total and Kirk Cousins burnishes his resume as a legitimate MVP candidate…
…the Vikings (6-2, 2-1 away) topple Jacksonville (2-7, 2-2 home) and Mac Jones with Trevor Lawrence on the shelf with a left shoulder injury. It’s getting ugly for the Jags.
1 PM, CBS
Buffalo (7-2, 3-2 away) wins a road game against the Colts (4-5, 3-1 home) and new starting quarterback Joe Flacco, he of the nine lives…
…Denver (5-4, 3-2 away) springs the upset in Kansas City (8-0, 4-0 home). The Chiefs have been playing with fire lately and, unless you’re tailgating, that’s bad news…
…My Beloved Commies (7-2, 4-0 home) host the surging Steelers (6-2, 3-1 away) and it’s a heck of a challenge. I’ll honor my pal PIGHEART JEFF by picking DC, but this game makes me as uncomfortable as a vegan road tripping with CHEF WYLIE.
4:05 PM, FOX
The Titans (2-6, 1-3 away) take the L at the Chargers (5-3, 2-1 home). LA is beat up, but Harbaugh is doing a masterful job with his squad, already equaling last season’s win total.
4:25 PM, CBS
Dallas (3-5, 0-3 home) hosting the Eagles (6-2, 3-1 away) is usually something to get excited about, but this Cowboys squad is tough to watch and is now sans Dak. Cooper Rush will play well but it’ll be all Philly today…
…the host Cardinals (5-4, 3-2 home) beat the Jets (3-6, 1-4 away) in a matchup of former Boomer Esiason employers. How about Coach Gannon and Arizona, eh? Winners of just four games last season, they’re one of the NFL’s most pleasant surprises.
8:20 PM, NBC
Dee-troit (7-1, 4-0 away) rolls into Houston (6-3, 4-0 home) and wins. I’m tempted to take the Texans given their spotless home record, but I think the Lions are the NFL’s best team and expect them to prove it tonight.
MONDAY, 8:15 PM, ESPN
The Rams (4-4, 3-1 home) outlast the visiting Dolphins (2-6, 1-3 away) in a battle of two of Wes Welker’s former teams. I love what McVay & Co. have done in winning their past three games.
That’s it for this week, folks. Enjoy your Sunday and God bless!
Second- and fourth-rounders that turned into Winston Moss and Bruce Hill, respectively.
The USFL went after big time players in the draft as its three #1 overall picks were Dan Marino (1983), Mike Rozier (1984) and Jerry Rice (1985). Only Rozier played for the upstarts but USFL teams were successful in signing the 1982, 1983 and 1984 Heisman Trophy winners – Herschel Walker, Rozier and Doug Flutie.
There were also four future Hall of Famers that called the spring league home – quarterbacks Jim Kelly and Steve Young, defensive end Reggie White, and offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman. Then there were future NFL stars like wide receivers Anthony Carter and Gary Clark, defensive tackle Keith Millard, and defensive back/kick returner Mel Gray. And don’t forget Super Bowl XXII stars Doug Williams and his Washington teammate Ricky Sanders.
The coaches and front office personnel weren’t exactly chopped liver, either. Future Hall of Famers George Allen (2002) and Marv Levy (2001) coached in the league and the innovative Sid Gillman, a 1983 HOF inductee, and Bill Polian (2015) were in front offices.
Zimmerman played 12 seasons with the Vikings and Broncos and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1980s and 1990s. He retired after the 1997 season and, somehow, didn’t enter the Hall until 2008.
His linemate, Mark Adickes, played six seasons in the NFL, winning Super Bowl XXVI with Washington but his post-football work is more interesting. He is now a noted surgeon who has treated athletes like Robert Griffin III and Yao Ming and regularly appears on television and in print to talk about player injuries.
The Express had a future coaching star too with John Fox as its defensive backs coach. Fox, of course, led both Denver and Carolina to the Super Bowl.
One of the umpteen members of the Zendejas family to kick in pro football.
Townsell, a future New York Jet (1985-90), was certainly at home playing in LA, having spent his college years at UCLA. H/T Pro Football Reference.
Kelly’s yardage total bested the 554-yard performance by Rams quarterback Norm Van Brocklin in a 1951 rout of the New York Yanks, still an NFL record. It wasn’t a world record, though – that mark was then owned by Canadian Football League legend Sam “The Rifle” Etcheverry, who threw for 586 yards in a 1954 win over Hamilton, a mark that has since been eclipsed twice. The current record holder, if you’re wondering: former Winnipeg Blue Bombers QB Matt Dunigan, who threw for an unfathomable 713 yards in a 1994 win over Edmonton.
You read that right. H/T Paul Reeths.
Was there anyone who didn’t love the Panthers? This Jints squad is really struggling.