Introduction – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly for all 24 teams

Jack Elliot, our USFL Insider, gave us a overview of what to watch for in his preview article. Today, we gathered four of the leading football voices from across the country to give us a more in depth view of the upcoming 1987 USFL regular season. Because our editor is a huge fan of old Clint Eastwood movies, he asked them to frame the team previews in the form of “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly”. Something to look forward to, something to worry about, and something that may completely derail the season if it comes true.

ATLANTIC DIVISION

By Mark Thompson, Eastern Bureau

Boston Breakers (3-1 preseason)

The Good:
Dunigan is still Dunigan. 75% completion, 10 touchdowns, 1,173 yards in four games. The offense didn’t lose a step from 1986. He’s the reason this team is in every game.

The Bad:
The defense allowed 29 points per game in the preseason. That’s not a blip—that’s a pattern. If they can’t get stops, Boston is going to be in shootouts every week.

The Ugly:
The schedule opens with Michigan, then Oklahoma, then San Antonio. No warm-up games. If they stumble out of the gate, the confidence that carried them through 1986 evaporates fast.

New Jersey Generals (3-1 preseason)

The Good:
Herschel Walker ran for 707 yards in four games. That’s 176.8 yards per game. The offensive line is opening holes big enough to drive a truck through. If he stays healthy, he’s your MVP frontrunner.

The Bad:
The passing game is a question mark. Flutie completed 72% of his passes, but only threw 6 touchdowns. If Walker gets bottled up, can this offense win through the air?

The Ugly: Walker misses time. There’s no Plan B. The entire offense runs through one man. If he goes down, this team goes with him.

Philadelphia Stars (2-2 preseason)

The Good: Fusina was efficient—71%, 1,138 yards, 5 touchdowns. The machine still hums. The offensive line is intact. The system works.

The Bad: The defense wasn’t the same swarming unit. Only 2 interceptions in four games. The stars of 1986 looked ordinary.

The Ugly:
The Stars went 2-2 against a soft preseason schedule. If that’s a sign of decline rather than just preseason boredom, this is the year Philadelphia falls out of contention.

Pittsburgh Maulers *(2-2 preseason)*

The Good: Karsatos showed flashes. The running game is there. There’s talent on this roster—more than the record showed last year.

The Bad: Nine interceptions in four games. Karsatos is still a gunslinger, and gunslingers get you beat as often as they win.

The Ugly:
The defense forced only 3 turnovers in the preseason. The 1986 ball-hawking unit disappeared. If they don’t find it again, Pittsburgh is looking at 6-10.

Toronto Titans (0-4 preseason)

The Good: Ham threw for 1,132 yards. There’s a pulse. For an expansion team, that’s something to build on.

The Bad: 0-4, minus-14.8 point differential. Expansion is hard. The preseason was a reminder of how far they have to go.

The Ugly: The offensive line allowed 13 sacks in four games. If Ham doesn’t get protection, he won’t make it to Week 9.

Washington Federals (2-2 preseason)

The Good: The running game is legit. Roberts had a 51-yard touchdown run. There’s balance here.

The Bad: The quarterback situation is unsettled. Honensee and Robinson both played. Neither grabbed the job.

The Ugly:
The defense allowed 95 points in four games. Dick Bieski built his reputation on defense. If that doesn’t turn around, this season gets ugly fast.

SOUTH DIVISION

By Linda Castillo, Southern Correspondent

Birmingham Stallions (4-0 preseason)

The Good: Business as usual. Plus-19 point differential. Balanced offense. Defense forced 5 interceptions. They didn’t miss a beat.

The Bad: Nothing. That’s the bad news for everyone else. Birmingham is boringly perfect.

The Ugly:
The rest of the division is chasing them. Again. At some point, the pressure of being the hunted every single year has to weigh on them. Right?

Carolina T-Birds (0-4 preseason)

The Good: There’s a franchise? Somewhere? They exist.

The Bad: Forty points scored. One hundred fifty-five allowed. Minus-28.8 differential. That’s historically bad.

The Ugly:
They open with Las Vegas. Cunningham vs. this defense. Week 1 could be a national emergency. If they lose by 40, what’s left of this team’s spirit?

Jacksonville Bulls (3-1 preseason)

The Good: Luther threw 14 touchdowns in four games. The offense scored 39.3 points per game. When they’re on, they’re electric.

The Bad: Seven interceptions from Luther. When he’s off, it’s ugly. And when he’s off, he’s really off.

The Ugly: They hung 70 on Carolina. Is that impressive, or is Carolina just that bad? We’ll find out Week 1 against Los Angeles.

Memphis Showboats (2-2 preseason)

The Good: Fullwood ran for 6.7 yards per carry. The run game is there. There’s a foundation.

The Bad: Two touchdown passes. Five interceptions. The passing game is broken.

The Ugly: They’re 2-2 but feel like a 0-4 team that got lucky. If the passing game doesn’t improve, that luck runs out fast.

New Orleans Brass (1-3 preseason)

The Good: Hilger threw 142 passes. They’re airing it out. The commitment to the pass is real.

The Bad: 1-3. Something’s not clicking. You can’t throw that much and score only 20 points per game.

The Ugly:
The schedule opens with Houston, then Las Vegas, then Birmingham. That’s a murderer’s row. They could be 0-4 before anyone notices.

Tampa Bay Bandits (2-2 preseason)

The Good: Spurrier’s offense is still fun. McGee, Rice, Anderson—they all made plays. The band is still playing.

The Bad: 2-2 against a manageable schedule. Should they be better?

The Ugly:
They open with Minnesota, then Arizona, then Los Angeles. All winnable. If they come out flat, the Fun ‘n’ Gun becomes the Frustrated ‘n’ Done.

CENTRAL DIVISION

By Dave Chen, Midwest Analyst

Chicago Blitz (1-3 preseason)

The Good: Willis caught 30 balls. There’s a weapon in the passing game. Someone can make plays.

The Bad: Long threw 13 interceptions in four games. That’s not a slump—that’s a crisis. You can’t win turning the ball over that much.

The Ugly: The defense allowed 97 points. Vince Tobin built this unit to be aggressive. Aggressive is one thing. Exploitable is another.

Houston Gamblers (3-1 preseason)

The Good: Kelly threw 12 touchdowns, only 5 interceptions. The Run & Shoot is humming. When it works, it’s beautiful.

The Bad: They allowed 78 points. The defense is suspect. In a division with this much offensive firepower, that’s a problem.

The Ugly: The schedule is brutal early. We’ll know exactly what Houston is by Week 4.

Michigan Panthers (3-1 preseason)

The Good: Balanced. Bentley ran for 468 yards. Harbaugh threw efficiently. No glaring weaknesses.

The Bad:
Nothing stands out. Good but not great. In a division with Houston’s firepower and Oklahoma’s swagger, is “good enough” good enough?

The Ugly: They open at Boston. That’s a statement game. Win it, and they’re a contender. Lose it, and they’re chasing from behind.

Minnesota Norsemen (0-4 preseason)

The Good: Monte Kiffin is building something. It just hasn’t arrived yet.

The Bad: Thirty-seven points in four games. The offense is broken. There’s no other way to say it.

The Ugly:
They open with Tampa Bay. That’s a winnable game. If they lose that,
0-5 is real, and Kiffin’s first season becomes a survival test.

Oklahoma Outlaws (3-1 preseason)

The Good: Switzer has them playing with swagger. 3-1. Plus-9.5 differential. The Sooner magic is real.

The Bad: The offense is still finding itself. 23.8 points per game is fine, but not great. In this division, “fine” might not cut it.

The Ugly: They open with Memphis. If they lose, the hype train derails before it leaves the station.

San Antonio Gunslingers (2-2 preseason)

The Good: Glanville won as many games this preseason as all of last year. He’s already called a press conference.

The Bad:
2-2. Minus-1.5 differential. The chaos is real but not consistent. One week they look like contenders. The next, they look lost.

The Ugly:
They open at Cascadia. If they lose to an expansion team, the Glanville hype dies in Week 1. And he’ll still call a press conference.

PACIFIC DIVISION

By Ryan “Scoop” Harrison, West Coast Insider

Arizona Wranglers (1-3 preseason)

The Good: Kush still has them playing hard. 98 points scored is respectable. They’re not quitting.

The Bad: One hundred thirty-three points allowed. The defense is a problem. In a division with Denver and Las Vegas, that’s a crisis.

The Ugly: They open with Philadelphia, then Tampa Bay, then Washington. Could be 0-3 quickly. Kush’s old-school ways might not survive the new game.

Cascadia Evergreen (0-4 preseason)

The Good: The option offense showed flashes. The future is bright. Maybe.

The Bad: Fifty points in four games. The option isn’t clicking. At all.

The Ugly:
They open with San Antonio. A winnable game at home. If they lose, 0-5 looms. Expansion is hard. This could be historically hard.

Denver Gold (4-0 preseason)

The Good: Mouse Davis. Run & Shoot. 4-0. Plus-13 differential. Boringly good. The machine is oiled.

The Bad: Nothing. They’re the Pacific’s Birmingham. That’s both a compliment and a warning.

The Ugly:
Moose Johnston is their punter. If he gets hurt, the whole experiment falls apart. And the special teams unit loses its identity.

Los Angeles Express (2-2 preseason)

The Good: 2-2. Plus-1.3 differential. Competent. There are worse things to be.

The Bad: Nothing stands out. They’re just there. In a division with Denver and Las Vegas, “just there” means fourth place.

The Ugly: They open with Jacksonville. If they lose, they’re chasing Denver from Week 1. And in this division, you can’t afford to chase.

Las Vegas Ace (3-1 preseason)

The Good: Cunningham. 78%. 16 touchdowns. 146.5 rating. He might be the best player in football. He might be unstoppable.

The Bad: The defense allowed 105 points. They’re going to be in shootouts every week. Can Cunningham outscore everyone?

The Ugly:
They open with Carolina. If Cunningham hangs 50 on them, the hype train leaves the station. If he struggles against the worst defense in the league, what does that say?

Oakland Invaders (2-2 preseason)

The Good: Norton Jr. had 4 sacks. The defense is aggressive. They’ll hit you.

The Bad: 2-2. Minus-3.3 differential. They’re mid. In this division, mid gets you nowhere.

The Ugly: They open with Pittsburgh. Winnable. If they lose, the division might run away from them before the first month is over.

THE FIRST HALF STORYLINES

ONE LAST THING

Jack Elliott will be back at midseason to tell us if the Directive worked, if Cunningham is the new Dunigan, and if Glanville’s guarantee is still alive.

Until then, settle in. Week 1 is coming.

1987 USFL. A New Game.