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.
・ one-handed grab by Jay Adams 🔥
・ Clayton Thorson's escape & TD throw to Tyler Simmons 🤯
・ football history with first-ever 3-point play 👀— @Chris_Broussard, @kevinwildes & @getnickwright break down the @USFL's best plays of Week 2! pic.twitter.com/6yX6JlcWyR
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) April 25, 2022
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.
ADAMS WITH THE ONE-HANDED GRAB 🔥@ItsJayAdams is feelin' it today pic.twitter.com/zQfIIlaLvo
— New Orleans Breakers (@USFLBreakers) April 24, 2022
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.
Clayton Thorson just fought off a defender and threw and absolute DIME to bring the @USFLGamblers right back in it 🔥😤
📺: @FOXSports pic.twitter.com/01bqO56DUn
— USFL (@USFL) April 24, 2022
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.
The first-ever 3-POINT conversion in @USFL history belongs to the @USFLStars!
📺: @FOXSports
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) April 23, 2022
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.
What a pick by Jaylon McClain-Sapp for the @USFLMaulers 🤯🤯 pic.twitter.com/ssuJUCpQIK
— USFL (@USFL) April 23, 2022
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.”