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USFL 1988 – Prove It

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1988 USFL PLAYOFF POWER POLL

1. Los Angeles Express (17–1)

The Verdict: The Goliath. The Express have the #1 offense in the league, an MVP-caliber season from Steve Young (41 TDs), and a defense that allowed the fewest points in the league. They’ve been the best team wire-to-wire. Now they just have to prove they can finish the job.

2. New Jersey Generals (14–4)

The Verdict: The Generals are back, led by Herschel Walker and a suffocating defense. They know how to win in the playoffs, and they are the biggest threat to an LA coronation.

3. Houston Gamblers (14–4)

The Verdict: The Perennial Contender. Jim Kelly had another stellar year, but the Central Division was an absolute gauntlet. The Gamblers are hungry to get back to the title game and erase the memory of past playoff heartbreaks.

4. Birmingham Stallions (13–5)

The Verdict: The South's Alpha and defending champs. Birmingham caught Jacksonville down the stretch to steal the division. They are physical, battle-tested, and riding a wave of momentum into the postseason.

5. Michigan Panthers (13–5)

The Verdict: The Scariest Wild Card. Michigan won 13 games and is arguably the most complete team in the league, but they were edged out by Houston. They are walking into the playoffs with a massive chip on their shoulder.

6. Jacksonville Bulls (12–5–1)

The Verdict: The Fading Favorite. The Bulls looked like the class of the South for most of the year, but stumbled late. They have the talent to make a run, but they need to snap out of their slump fast.

7. Las Vegas Ace (12–6)

The Verdict: The Cinderella Story. Nobody expected the Ace to win 12 games after Randall Cunningham left for the NFL. Reggie Collier has been a revelation, and this team has nothing to lose.

8. Denver Gold (11–7)

The Verdict: The Dangerous Underdog. The Gold are a flashy run and shoot team that plays good defense. They are the type of team nobody wants to face in a single-elimination format.

9. Oklahoma Outlaws (10–8)

The Verdict: The Wild Card. A 10-win season and a trip to the playoffs. They have the firepower to score, but they’ll need their defense to step up if they want to pull an upset.

10. Memphis Showboats (9–9)

The Verdict: The One-Man Army. Brent Fullwood just put up one of the greatest rushing seasons in league history (2,285 yards). If he gets rolling, Memphis can control the clock and keep the ball out of the other team's hands.

11. Boston Breakers (9–9)

The Verdict: The Survivor. They clawed their way to .500 and a Wild Card spot. They are heavy underdogs, but they have a puncher's chance to shock the world.

12. Washington Federals (8–9–1)

The Verdict: The Long Shot. They backed into the playoffs at under .500, but in a single-elimination game, anything can happen. They'll need a miracle to make a run.

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