1984 USFL season

The 1984 USFL season was the second season of the United States Football League.

1984 United States Football League season
Regular season
DurationFebruary 26 – June 25, 1984
Playoffs
Start dateJune 30, 1984
Eastern Conference championsPhiladelphia Stars1984-07-08
Western Conference championsArizona Wranglers1984-07-07
Championship
DateJuly 15, 1984
SiteTampa Stadium, Tampa, Florida
ChampionsPhiladelphia Stars
USFL seasons

Rule changes

  • The USFL added the side judge to the game officials, making a seven-man crew.
  • Teams played preseason games in 1984. There had been no preseason games in 1983.

Franchise changes

  • Boston Breakers are sold and relocate to New Orleans, Louisiana as the New Orleans Breakers on October 18, 1983.
  • Six expansion teams: Houston Gamblers, Jacksonville Bulls, Memphis Showboats, Oklahoma Outlaws, Pittsburgh Maulers and San Antonio Gunslingers
  • Chicago Blitz's owner buys Arizona Wranglers and sells Blitz, all but two the Blitz players are traded to Arizona, all but two the Wranglers players traded to Chicago. The Blitz coaches also go to Arizona, with Chicago acquiring a new coaching staff in 1984. The franchises also trade draft choices. September 30, 1983.

General news

On September 21, 1983, the New Jersey Generals were sold to real estate tycoon and future President of the United States Donald Trump.

On October 19, 1983, the United States Football League awarded the 1984 USFL Champion Game to Tampa Stadium in Tampa, FL and the 1985 USFL Championship Game to the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, MI.

On February 15, the USFL took control of the Chicago Blitz.

The Denver Gold were sold during the 1984 season.

In May 1984, the USFL announced a "new" Chicago franchise would be created for the 1985 season.

Players vote to form a union, United States Football League Players Association, with former Buffalo Bills linebacker Doug Allen serving as executive director.

Philadelphia and Tampa Bay played in a post season exhibition game billed as "The Jetsave Challenge Cup" in Wembley Stadium on July 21. Philadelphia won 24–21.

On August 22, 1984, the owners voted to move to a fall schedule starting in 1986.

On October 19, 1984, the owners reaffirmed the move to the fall.

Regular season

W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against

 y  = Division Champion,  x  = Wild Card

Eastern Conference
Atlantic Division
TeamWLTPCTPFPAStadium1984 CapacityAvg. Att.Avg. % filledCoach
y-Philadelphia Stars 1620.889479225Veterans Stadium72,20428,66840%Jim Mora
x-New Jersey Generals 1440.778430312Giants Stadium76,89137,71649%Walt Michaels
Pittsburgh Maulers 3150.167259379Three Rivers Stadium59,00022,85839%Joe Pendry/Ellis Rainsberger
Washington Federals 3150.167270492RFK Stadium54,7947,69414%Ray Jauch/Dick Bielski
Southern Division
TeamWLTPCTPFPAStadium1984 CapacityAvg. Att.Avg. % filledCoach
y-Birmingham Stallions 1440.778539316Legion Field77,00036,85048%Rollie Dotsch
x-Tampa Bay Bandits 1440.778498347Tampa Stadium72,81246,15863%Steve Spurrier
New Orleans Breakers 8100.444349395Louisiana Superdome72,67530,55742%Dick Coury
Memphis Showboats 7110.389320455Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium50,18027,59955%Pepper Rodgers
Jacksonville Bulls 6120.333327455Gator Bowl Stadium80,10046,73058%Lindy Infante
Western Conference
Pacific Division
TeamWLTPCTPFPAStadium1984 CapacityAvg. Att.Avg. % filledCoach
y-Los Angeles Express 1080.556338373Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum94,00015,36116%John Hadl
x-Arizona Wranglers 1080.556502284Sun Devil Stadium70,03025,56837%George Allen
Denver Gold 990.500356413Mile High Stadium75,12333,95345%Craig Morton
Oakland Invaders 7110.389242348Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum54,61523,64443%John Ralston/Chuck Hutchison
Central Division
TeamWLTPCTPFPAStadium1984 CapacityAvg. Att.Avg. % filledCoach
y-Houston Gamblers 1350.722618400Houston Astrodome47,69528,15259%Jack Pardee
x-Michigan Panthers 1080.556400382Pontiac Silverdome80,63832,45740%Jim Stanley
San Antonio Gunslingers 7110.389309325Alamo Stadium32,00015,44448%Gil Steinke
Oklahoma Outlaws 6120.333251459Skelly Stadium40,23521,03852%Woody Widenhofer
Chicago Blitz 5130.278340466Soldier Field65,7937,45511%Marv Levy

Birmingham won the Southern Division championship over Tampa Bay based on a division record tiebreaker advantage (7-1-0 to 6-2-0). Birmingham and Tampa Bay tied in the first tiebreaking step, head-to-head (1-1-0).

Tampa Bay won the tiebreaker over New Jersey for the 3rd seed based on winning the head to head game.

Los Angeles won the Pacific Division championship over Arizona based on a conference record tiebreaker advantage (7-4-0 to 5-6-0). Los Angeles and Arizona tied in the first two tiebreaking steps, head-to-head (1-1-0) and best divisional record (3-3-0).

Michigan won the tiebreaker over Arizona for the 3rd seed based on winning the head to head game.

Pittsburgh finished ahead of Washington based on a head-to-head tiebreaker advantage (2-0-0).

Playoffs

Home team in CAPITALS

Divisional Playoffs June 30 – July 1

  • PHILADELPHIA 28, New Jersey 7
  • LOS ANGELES 27, Michigan 21 (3 OT)
  • BIRMINGHAM 36, Tampa Bay 17
  • Arizona 17, HOUSTON 16

Conference Championships July 7–8

  • ARIZONA 35, Los Angeles 23
  • PHILADELPHIA 20, Birmingham 10

USFL Championship Game July 15 (at Tampa, Florida)

  • PHILADELPHIA 23, Arizona 3

Statistics

1984 regular season stat leaders

1984 Passing Leaders (over 100 pass attempts & 55+ QB rating)
Name, TeamAttComp%yardsYDs/AttTDTD %INTINT %Rating
Chuck Fusina, PHIL46530264.938378.25316.791.9104.7
Fred Mortensen, DENV1006464.09949.9444.022.0101.8
Cliff Stoudt, BIRM36621257.931218.53267.171.9101.6
Jim Kelly, HOU58737063.052198.89447.5264.498.2
Mike Kelley, MEM1208268.310148.4586.765.095.6
Greg Landry, AZ44928363.035347.87265.8153.392.8
John Reaves, TB54431357.540927.52285.1162.986.3
Brian Sipe, NJ32419259.325407.84175.2154.682.3
Walter Lewis, MEM27616158.318626.75155.4103.681.8
Steve Young, LA31017957.723617.62103.292.980.6
Craig Penrose, DENV26215860.319847.57124.6145.376.9
Bobby Hebert, MICH50027254.437587.52244.8224.476.4
Fred Besana, OAK44625757.627926.26143.1122.775.4
Robbie Mahfouz, JACK30918058.321747.04113.6134.274.3
Mike Hohensee, WASH40123157.627666.90174.2205.072.2
Johnnie Walton, NO51228054.735546.94173.3193.772.2
Rick Neuheisel, SA38321155.125426.64143.7153.971.5
Matt Robinson, JACK23512553.216877.1873.0125.165.0
Glenn Carano, PITT35419053.723686.69133.7195.464.6
Alan Risher, AZ1036361.27227.0132.976.863.7
Ron Reeve, DENV1407251.48436.0221.442.962.9
Tom Rozantz, PITT1306348.58786.7543.164.661.6
Doug Williams, OKL52826149.430845.84152.8214.060.5
Vince Evans, CHIC41120048.726246.38143.4225.458.3
1984 Rushing leaders
Name, TeamAttYdsAve.TDs
Joe Cribbs, BIRM29714674.98
Kelvin Bryant, PHIL29714064.713
Herschel Walker, NJ29313394.616
Buford Jordan, NO21412766.08
Tim Spencer, AZ22712125.317
Curtis Bledsoe, WASH24610804.47
Maurice Carthon, NJ23810424.411
Kevin Long, AZ22510104.515
Greg Boone, TB19310095.28
Gary Anderson, TB26710083.819
Todd Fowler, HOU17010035.911
John Williams, MICH1979845.08
Harry Sydney, DENV2309614.210
Larry Canada, CHIC1699155.47
Kevin Nelson, LA2168283.87
Mike Rozier, PITT2237923.63
Leon Perry, BIRM1897744.113
Eric Jordan, OAK1357445.56
Alan Reid, MEM1917233.83
Sam Harrell, HOU1206975.814
Marcus Dupree, NO1456844.79
Mel Gray, LA1336254.73
Tom Newton, OAK1465713.95
Walter Lewis, MEM605529.25
Ken Lacy, MICH1345484.12
Steve Young, LA795156.57
Scott Stamper, SA1235004.13
1984 Receiving Leaders
Name, TeamRecYdsAve.TDs
Richard Johnson, HOU115145512.715
Ricky Sanders, HOU101137813.611
Joey Walters, WASH98141014.413
Trumaine Johnson, AZ90126814.113
Jim Smith, BIRM89148116.68
Eric Truvillion, TB70104414.99
Marvin Harvey, TB7093813.49
Gary Anderson, TB6668210.32
Dan Ross, NO6583312.82
Gordon Banks, OAK6493714.65
Greg Anderson, PITT6399415.86
Derek Holloway, MICH62121919.79
Derrick Crawford, MEM6170311.512
JoJo Townsell, LA5888915.37
Gary Shirk, MEM5760410.62
Willie Collier, PHIL5675713.57
Frank Lockett, NO56119921.48
Gary Clark, JACK5676013.62
Scott Fitzkee, PHIL5589516.39
Mike Cobb, MICH5457310.65
Billy Taylor, WASH513877.61
Jackie Flowers, CHIC/PITT5190417.78
Ron Wheeler, OKL5165112.82
Willie Gillespie, TB5080316.15
Alphonso Williams, OKL50108721.77
Marcus Anderson, CHIC5094018.85
Kelvin Bryant, PHIL484539.41
Paul Bergmann, JACK4864713.53
Larry Canada, CHIC483587.52
Lenny Willis, AZ4881417.07
Steve Folsom, PHIL4648510.56
Tim Spencer, AZ4658912.82
Jerry Gordon, SA4564814.44
Buford Jordan, NO454279.54
Perry Kemp, JACK4473016.62

1984 USFL regular season sortable offensive team statistics

Team Pts. Ave. Rank Total
Yards
Ave. Rank Rush.
Yards
Ave. Rank Pass.
Yards
Ave. Rank
Houston 618 34.3 1 7684 427 1 2373 132 7 5311 295 1
Birmingham 539 29.9 2 6714 373 2 3313 184 1 3401 189 9
Arizona 502 27.9 3 6709 373 3 2719 151 4 3990 222 3
Tampa Bay 498 27.7 4 6634 369 4 2341 130 8 4293 239 2
Philadelphia 479 26.6 5 6426 357 5 2820 157 3 3606 200 8
New Jersey 430 23.9 6 5553 309 9 2848 158 2 2705 150 16
Michigan 400 22.2 7 6030 335 7 2194 122 11 3836 213 4
Denver 356 19.8 8 5325 296 12 2056 114 14 3269 182 11
New Orleans 349 19.4 9 6400 356 6 2589 144 5 3811 212 5
Chicago 340 18.9 10 5361 298 11 2230 124 9 3131 174 13
Los Angeles 338 18.8 11 5671 315 8 2464 137 6 3207 178 12
Jacksonville 327 18.2 12 5390 299 10 1731 96 17 3659 203 6
Memphis 320 17.8 13 4895 272 16 2163 120 12 2732 152 15
San Antonio 309 17.2 14 4808 267 17 2205 123 10 2603 145 17
Washington 270 15.0 15 5324 296 13 2002 111 16 3322 185 10
Pittsburgh 259 14.4 16 4909 273 15 2011 112 15 2898 161 14
Oklahoma 251 13.9 17 5152 286 14 1537 85 18 3615 201 7
Oakland 242 13.4 18 4592 255 18 2150 119 13 2442 136 18

1984 USFL regular season sortable defensive team statistics

Team Pts. Ave. Rank Total
Yards
Ave. Rank Rush.
Yards
Ave. Rank Pass.
Yards
Ave. Rank
Philadelphia 225 12.5 1 4863 270 2 1859 103 1 3004 167 2
Arizona 284 15.8 2 4517 251 1 2061 115 6 2456 136 1
New Jersey 312 17.3 3 5341 297 4 1992 111 4 3349 186 8
Birmingham 316 17.6 4 5541 308 6 1869 104 2 3672 204 14
San Antonio 325 18.1 5 5752 320 11 1910 106 3 3842 213 17
Tampa Bay 347 19.3 6 5583 310 8 2009 112 5 3574 199 10
Oakland 348 19.3 7 5911 328 13 2590 144 13 3321 185 7
Pittsburgh 373 20.7 8 5742 319 10 2633 146 15 3109 173 4
Los Angeles 379 21.1 9 5508 306 5 2207 123 8 3301 183 6
Michigan 382 21.2 10 5299 294 3 2268 126 9 3031 168 3
New Orleans 395 21.9 11 5573 310 7 2277 127 10 3296 183 5
Houston 400 22.2 12 5793 322 12 2136 119 7 3657 203 13
Denver 413 22.9 13 6196 344 15 2617 145 14 3579 199 11
Jacksonville 455 25.3 14 6328 352 16 2721 151 16 3607 200 12
Memphis 455 25.3 15 6116 340 14 2289 127 11 3827 213 15
Oklahoma 459 25.5 16 5704 317 9 2296 128 12 3408 189 9
Chicago 466 25.9 17 6877 382 17 3037 169 18 3840 213 16
Washington 492 27.3 18 6933 385 18 2975 165 17 3958 220 18

Awards

See also

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