USFFL week three is in the books. Let’s talk about some outstanding performances through the first three games. Coach Rich Peers has his San Francisco 49ers defense in top shape. The Niners have given up only 32 points so far this season. Close behind is Coach Denis Ljung whose Patriots have given up only 40 through three games. On the other side of the ball, Jon Shoemaker and the Baltimore Ravens are hitting all the gears and leading the league with 124 points scored. Commissioner Tim Ervin is close behind with 121 scored through three.
Five teams remain undefeated with the Patriots and Ravens in the AFC and the Cowboys, Rams, and Niners in the NFC carrying unblemished records. A USFFL shout out to some coaches leading their teams to records greater than their NFL counterparts:
Donnie Hastings – New York Jets 2-1 (vs. 0-3 in the NFL)
Jeff Wendlant – Cincinnati Bengals 2-1 (vs. 0-3 in the NFL)
David Kukafka – Denver Broncos 2-1 (vs. 0-3 in the NFL)
Tim Hay – Arizona Cardinals 2-1 (vs 0-2-1 in the NFL)
Game of the Week
Baltimore Ravens vs Kansas City Chiefs
Week 3 of the USFFL saw the Baltimore Ravens traveled to Kansas City to play the defending Super Bowl Champion Chiefs in a battle of undefeated teams. There was a lot of hype surrounding this game as both teams were considered Super Bowl contenders. The hype was not overblown as the teams combined for 88 points and over 850 yards of offense.
First Quarter: The Ravens won the toss and deferred to the second half. Following the opening kickoff Kansas City moved from their 24 yard line to their 39. Facing 3rd and 8 Patrick Mahomes attempted to connect with RB Damien Williams on a short pass out of the backfield but Raven’s LB Jaylon Ferguson stepped in from of Williams for the INT and returned it 55 yards for a pick six. The XP gave the Raven’s a quick 7-0 lead. The Chiefs next drive started at the 23 and they put together a 12 play, 77 yard drive capped off by an 11 yard TD pass to Damarcus Robinson. The Ravens were playing a 3-3-5 nickel defense the entire drive, so Kansas City countered with eight consecutive Damien Williams runs. The score tied the game at 7-7. Baltimore went three and out on their next possession and following a 43 yard punt and a 19 yard return the Chiefs had the ball in good field position at their 45 yard line. Damien William’s first down run was stuffed for no gain and LeSean McCoy followed that up with a 6 yard run. Facing 3rd and 4 Mahomes went deep to Travis Kelce who hauled in the pass for a 42 yard gain to the Raven’s 7. Mahomes went right back to Kelce on the next play for a 7 yard TD pass and a 14-7 Kansas City lead. The Raven’s countered with a 6 play, 75 yard TD drive. A 17 yard Jackson run was followed by a 7 yard pass to TE Mark Andrews and a 14 yard pass to the other TE Nick Boyle. These plays moved the ball to the Chiefs 37. Consecutive Gus Edwards runs of 14 and 19 yards set the Raven’s up with a 1st and goal at the Chiefs 4. Justice Hill finished the drive off with a 4 yard off tackle run. The XP tied the score at 14-14 with 36 seconds left in the first quarter. The ensuing kickoff and a 15 yard LeSean McCoy run ended the first quarter with the Chiefs at their 37 yard line. Score at the end of One Quarter: Baltimore Ravens 14 – Kansas City Chiefs 14
Second Quarter: The Chiefs started the 2nd quarter with three consecutive Patrick Mahomes incompletions. A punt of 46 yards and a fair catch left the Ravens with the ball at their 18. From there the Ravens went on a 13 play, 82 yard TD drive. The drive was well balanced, consisting of seven runs and six passes, with the TD coming on a 16 yard pass from Lamar Jackson to Mark Ingram. The score was the third lead change with the Ravens up 21-14. The Chiefs stormed right back. A poor kick return left Chiefs starting their next drive at the 12. A 15 yard completion followed by a 13 yard completion moved the ball to the Chiefs’ 40 yard line. Patrick Mahomes again went deep, connecting with Tyreek Hll for 40 yards to the Ravens’ 20. Two plays later Mahomes threw his third TD pass, this one to TE Blake Bell. The score tied the game at 21-21 with 6:30 left in the half. The Ravens went three and out on their drive and following a 38 yard punt and 16 yard return Kansas City took over on the Ravens’ 35 yard line. Kansas City could not fully capitalize on the good field position as the drive stalled at the Ravens’ 9. Harrison Butker’s chip shot field goal put the Chiefs back on top at 24-21. Baltimore started on another drive, moving from their 17 to the Kansas City 35 in six plays. Facing a fourth and one with under a minute left in the half Baltimore decided to go for it. Lamar Jackson’s QB sneak was stuffed for a one yard loss and Kansas City took over at their 36 yard line with 45 seconds left in the half. An incomplete pass set up 2nd and 10. Mahomes went deep even though the Ravens were playing a two deep zone. It didn’t matter as Mahomes hit Sammy Watkins in stride for a 64 yard TD strike and a 31-21 Kansas City lead. Baltimore took a knee to run out the half. Score at halftime: Kansas City Chiefs 31 – Baltimore Ravens 21.
Third Quarter: Following a touchback the Ravens started the 2nd half at the 25 yard line. They need a score to keep pace, so they responded by putting together a 12 play drive capped off with a Jackson to Andrews 5 yard TD pass. The key play was a 12 yard pass to Seth Roberts on 3rd and 9. The XP pulled the Ravens to within three at 31-28. The Chiefs started their next drive at their 22 where the Ravens got a huge break. LeSean McCoy lost control of the ball and Patrick Omwuasor recovered the ball for the Ravens at the Chiefs 23. Four plays late Lamar Jackson ran around the left end for 14 yards, giving the Ravens the lead at 35-31. It was the fifth lead change of the game. The ensuing kickoff and return left the Chiefs starting from their 20. On the first play Mahomes again went deep, but Baltimore’s Anthony Levine wrestled the ball away from Mecole Hardman and returned it to the Chiefs’ 38 yard line. Baltimore put together an 8 play drive covering the 38 yards, finishing it off with a 10 yard pass from Jackson to Andrews. The extra point gave the Ravens the biggest lead of the game at 42-31. The third quarter ended with the defenses stepping it up a bit, forcing four consecutive punts. Score at the end of three quarters: Baltimore Ravens 42 – Kansas City Chiefs 31.
Fourth Quarter: After each team traded punts twice Kansas City found itself in possession of the ball at their own 19 yard line with 11:42 remaining in the game. A Damien Williams run of six yards and a LeSean McCoy run of three yards set up a 3rd and 1 at the 28. Patrick Mahomes went deep to Tyreek Hill who took the pass in stride and streaked 72 yards untouched for Mahomes fifth TD pass. A successful two point conversion pulled the Chiefs to within three at 42-39. The Ravens did not panic. After a touchback they proceeded to put together an eight play, 75 yard TD drive. The score came on a Gus Edwards one yard run. The drive ate almost five minutes off the clock and gave Baltimore a 49-39 lead. A touchback on the kickoff put KC at their 25. Facing a nickel defense Mahomes decided to try another deep pass, this one to Sammy Watkins. Mahomes went to the well once to often. Anthony Levine, subbing for an injured Earl Thomas, made his second interception of the game and returned the ball to the Chiefs 32. Four consecutive runs netted one first down and moved the ball to the Kansas City 19. On 4th down the normally sure footed Justin Tucker came on and shanked a 36 yard field goal. The Chiefs were still alive with 2:24 to play. They were able to make two first downs and get to the Baltimore 40 before turning the ball over on downs with 1:07 to play. Two Lamar Jackson kneel downs ended the game. Final score: Baltimore Ravens 49 – Kansas City Chiefs 39
Tim called a great game, but a 4-0 turnover ratio is hard to overcome. It was a fun and exciting game. Thanks Tim.
Notes of interest. Patrick Mahomes only completed 19 of 41 passes, but they were for 375 yards with 5 TDs.
In three games Lamar Jackson has been involved in 11 of Baltimore’s 16 TDs. Eight passing TDs and three rushing TDs.
Next up:
Baltimore (3-0) hosts Cleveland
Kansas City (2-1) travels to Detroit (edited)
League Leaders
Quarterbacks
For the second week in a row, QB Patrick “Mama Says Don’t Call Me Pat” Mahomes led the league in TD’s with 5 thrown against the tough Raven defense. Tom Brady and dak Prescot were each credited with 4 TD’s. Gardner Minshew threw for 350 yards, second only to Mahomes 375.
Receivers
Julio Jones pulled in 13 receptions for 111 yards. Stefon Diggs led all receivers with 140 yards on only 5 receptions for an incredible 28 YPC average.
Running Backs
Saquon Barkley led the league with 231 yards rushing. Derrick Henry had his second 200+ yard game of the season finishing with 213 for the day. Carlos Hyde led all rushers with 3 TDs.
Odds and Ends
Kicker Matt Gay scored 19 points for the Bucks on 6 for 6 kicking with 1 XP. Anthony Levine had two picks for Baltimore, and Vic “the Beast” Beasley had 3 sacks.