THE HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT: LA EXPRESS VS. NEW JERSEY GENERALS

The 1988 USFL Championship Game

It has been building to this since Week 1. The unstoppable force against the immovable object. The 17-1 Los Angeles Express are set to face off against the New Jersey Generals in what promises to be an instant classic.

The Unstoppable Force

The Express have been a machine. They led the league in scoring (33.8 PPG) and total offense (352.6 YPG). Steve Young is coming off an MVP-caliber campaign, throwing for over 4,200 yards and 41 touchdowns. He has weapons everywhere, from the explosive JoJo Townsell to the bruising Eric Dickerson, who rushed for nearly 1,500 yards. They dismantled Houston in the Conference Championship, proving they can win a shootout.

The Immovable Object

But the Generals don’t play shootouts. They play suffocating, punishing football. New Jersey boasted a top 5 defense in the league, allowing an astounding 16.1 points per game. They just held the explosive Birmingham Stallions to 7 points in the Conference Championship. They have ballhawks in the secondary, a ferocious pass rush, and an offense built around Herschel Walker, who is peaking at the exact right time.

The X-Factor: Doug Flutie

Steve Young might be the MVP, but New Jersey’s fate rests on the arm (and legs) of Doug Flutie. When Flutie is good, he’s a magician extending plays and finding open receivers. When he’s bad, he turns the ball over. Against a high-powered LA offense, every possession counts. Flutie cannot afford to give Steve Young extra chances.

The Verdict

The Express are the favorites. They’ve been the best team all year, and Steve Young is playing out of his mind. But there’s an old saying in football: defense wins championships. The Generals have the blueprint to slow this game down, keep Dickerson contained, and let Herschel Walker grind out the clock.

Will the 17-1 juggernaut complete their destiny, or will the defending champs expose them on the biggest stage?

Kickoff is Sunday.