How Memphis Showboats, a week after being USFL’s hottest team, could miss playoffs
Like a flash of lightning, all of a sudden things aren’t shaping too well for the Memphis Showboats' playoff hopes.
Their Week 9 game was delayed for more than three hours because of rain and thunderstorm warnings that began late in the first quarter. The Showboats, trailing 10-0 to the New Orleans Breakers before Mother Nature made her call, never recovered, losing 31-3.
In the USFL, playoff contention ultimately boils down to one factor — finish as one of the top two seeds in your division. The two top seeds in each division will compete in the semifinals, then the winners of those matchups will play in the championship game.
With one game remaining in the regular season, the Showboats (5-4) are in fourth place in the South Division and need to leapfrog two teams — the Houston Gamblers (5-4) and the Breakers (6-3) -- to earn a playoff berth.
Per USFL rules, there are as many as six tiebreakers used to determine the playoff berth. Tiebreakers are determined by head-to-head matchups, the best win-loss percentage in games played within the division, strength of victory, best net points in all games, best net touchdowns in all games and last but certainly not least — the coin toss.
Ultimately, the Showboats will need a victory against the division-leading Birmingham Stallions (7-2) this Saturday, a Gamblers win against the Breakers and to emerge from a three-team tie among the Showboats, Gamblers and the Breakers, who would all be 6-4.
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The Showboats, entering their game against the Breakers, were riding a five-game win streak and seemed to have turned around their season after an 0-3 start.
Mostly thanks to quarterback Cole Kelley, the Showboats made an impressive run to playoff contention. Prior to Week 9’s game, the Showboats were locking it down defensively, allowing an average of 11.2 points and leading the USFL in turnover margin with +5.
Special teams were contributing as well. Derrick Dillon made history with a USFL record 109-yard return in the Showboats' win over Pittsburgh in Week 4.
But, because of their poor showing against the Breakers in a must-win game, the Showboats may have sunk their chance for playoff contention. The only guaranteed outcome after the conclusion of Week 9 is that the No. 1 seed will go to Birmingham after its win over the Gamblers.
The Showboats' hope for the playoffs now rests in the hands of others.
Reach sports writer Jerry Jiang at JJiang@gannett.com or on Twitter @j_jiang30
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why Memphis Showboats' bid for USFL playoffs suddenly is a lot tougher
