USFL WEEK 2: BEST PLAYS, FIRST-EVER 3-POINT CONVERSION

| American Football | 04/26/2022

Week 2 of the USFL season certainly had its share of excitement.

Three teams topped the 30-point mark, two of which were one-score games, and the New Orleans Breakers capped the week off with the most dominant showing of the season so far — a 34-3 blowout of the Tampa Bay Bandits.

But through all the fun, a handful of plays stood above the rest.

Let’s take a look.

Catch of the Weekend: Jonathan Adams, New Orleans Breakers

Why use two hands when all you need is one? For Adams, it also helps to be 6-3, 220 with great leaping ability, and he brought all of that to bear on this grab against the Bandits.

Said Chris Broussard on “First Things First“: “Look at this. This is one of his five catches for 92 yards, none more spectacular than that. Breakers roll, 34-3, over the Bandits.”

Said Skip Bayless on “Undisputed“: “Usually when you see a DB ripping straight down on the ball, it’s gonna go straight to the ground, and he managed to cup it … before it hit the ground, which is shocking to me.”

Escape of the Weekend: Clayton Thorson, Houston Gamblers

Not only did Thorson narrowly escape a sack on this play against the Birmingham Stallions, not only did he manage to unleash a pass while rolling to his weak side, but he turned it into a long touchdown pass to Tyler Simmons.

Said Shannon Sharpe on “Undisputed”: “I like this throw a lot because you see the guy escape, and normally guys wanna escape to their dominant hand, … but he goes the opposite direction. … That’s two weeks in a row this guy has made some big-time throws.”

Best Strategy of the Weekend: Philadelphia Stars go for three!

The Stars scored a touchdown late against the Pittsburgh Maulers to take a 27-23 lead. It was a perfect opportunity to test the USFL’s rule allowing 3-point conversions, and coach Bart Andrus took it.

Best Interception of the Weekend: Jaylon McClain-Sapp, Maulers

Adams had a great, leaping, one-handed catch on the offensive end, McClain-Sapp produced the defensive version of that play, rising up to thwart a pass attempt by Stars QB Bryan Scott.

Said Shannon Sharpe on “Undisputed”: “Normally [defensive backs] play that position [because] they can’t catch and here’s a guy getting a one-handed interception. You don’t see that too often from the defensive side of the ball. … This was a big-time play.”