USFL Score, highlights: New Orleans Breakers narrowly defeat Houston Gamblers, overcoming turnover troubles for the win

By May 8, 2022, 6:22 PM EDT
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The New Orleans Breakers put together a final scoring drive late in the fourth quarter to defeat the Houston Gamblers. The Breakers, who move to 3-1, had four turnovers, including three interceptions for quarterback Kyle Sloter. Sloter completed 26 of 21 attempts for 397 yards, including the game-winning touchdown pass to Jonathan Adams.

New Orleans was led on the ground by Jordan Ellis, who had his first 100-yard rushing game of the season with 19 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown. Kicker Taylor Bertolet, who is new to the team, made three of four field goal attempts, including a 50-yard attempt in the first quarter. 

Instrumental to New Orleans’ defense was stopping Houston’s run game and Mark Thompson, who led the league in rushing entering this week. The Breakers did just that as Thompson had 14 carries for only 10 yards and the Gamblers had just 28 total yards on the ground.

While Houston had only 155 yards compared to 506 yards for New Orleans, the Gamblers, now 1-3, capitalized on turnovers to stay in the game until the very end.

Micah Abernathy, Will Likely and Beniquez Brown each had an interception while Chris Odom had a sack to force a fumble, which was recovered by Donald Payne. Houston kicker Nick Vogel was perfect on the day, making three of three field goal attempts, including two over 50 yards.

Head coaches for Houston Gamblers and New Orleans Breakers

Houston is led by 57-year-old Kevin Sumlin while New Orleans is coached by 59-year-old Larry Fedora. Both coaches have taken a similar path to the USFL, dating back to 2008 when they were both hired in Conference USA; Sumlin at Houston and Fedora at Southern Miss. The two were at each school for exactly four years before taking jobs at Power Five schools. Sumlin went to Texas A&M while Fedora moved to North Carolina.

The two faced each other three times in Conference USA. Fedora won two of those matchups including in their final meeting in the 2011 conference title game where his Golden Eagles handed Sumlin’s Cougars their only loss of the season.

Gamblers vs. Breakers score, results, highlights

Final Score: New Orleans Breakers 23, Houston Gamblers 16

1st quarter, 8:50 (Breakers): T.Bertolet 50 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-T.Bernard, Holder-M.White.

2nd quarter, 11:39 (Gamblers): C.Thorson pass short right complete to NO 22. Catch made by J.Ward at NO 22. Gain of 30 yards. J.Ward for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

2nd quarter, 7:16 (Gamblers): N.Vogel 52 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-T.Addington, Holder-A.Galitz.

2nd quarter, 0:36 (Breakers): J.Ellis rushed right tackle to HOU End Zone for 12 yards. J.Ellis for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

2nd quarter, 0:00 (Gamblers): N.Vogel 41 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-T.Addington, Holder-A.Galitz.

3rd quarter, 5:49 (Breakers): T.Bertolet 28 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-T.Bernard, Holder-M.White.

4th quarter, 3:07 (Gamblers): N.Vogel 53 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-T.Addington, Holder-A.Galitz.

4th quarter, 2:00 (Breakers): T.Bertolet 45 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-T.Bernard, Holder-M.White

4th quarter, 0:10 (Breakers): K.Sloter pass complete to HOU 29. Catch made by J.Adams at HOU 29. Gain of 29 yards. J.Adams for 29 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Gamblers vs. Breakers reaction and coverage

6:02 p.m. EST: The clock hits 0:00 and the Breakers have won 23-16 in Birmingham.

5:58 p.m. EST: Touchdown New Orleans! Sloter throws it deep to Jonathan Adams in the end zone and the Breakers take the lead.

New Orleans 23, Breakers 16 with 0:10 on the clock.

 

5:55 p.m. EST: Kyle Sloter connects with Sal Cannella for a gain of 25 yards. New Orleans is at the Houston 31-yard line with 0:35 left to play and a tie game.

5:48 p.m. EST: We’re all tied up! Taylor Bertolet makes a 45-yard field goal and it’s 16-16 with 1:56 left to play.

5:42 p.m. EST: Kyle Sloter launches it downfield to Taywan Taylor for a gain of 43 yards. New Orleans is at the Houston 27-yard line, down by three with 2:12 remaining.

5:38 p.m. EST: Nick Vogel knocks down a 53-yard attempt to give Houston a three-point lead. 3:01 left to play in Birmingham.

5:25 p.m. EST: New Orleans goes for it on fourth-and-eight. The Breakers are unable to convert and turn it over on downs with 9:18 left to play.

5:12 p.m. EST: The third quarter comes to an end and we’re tied up at 13 from Protective Stadium. Houston will have the ball to start the fourth.

5:08 p.m. EST: Micah Abernathy intercepts Sloter’s shot at the end zone for a touchback.

This is New Orleans’ fourth turnover of the game.

4:56 p.m. EST: Houston holds New Orleans to a field goal as Taylor Bertolet makes a 28-yard attempt to tie it up at 13 apiece.

4:27 p.m. EST: Nick Vogel makes a 41-yard field goal to give the Gamblers a 13-10 lead as the first half comes to a close.

4:23 p.m. EST: New Orleans touchdown! Jordan Ellis rushes into the end zone for the Breakers to tie the game up 10-10 with 0:28 left to play in the half.

4:09 p.m. EST: Another New Orleans interception as Will Likely snags Kyle Sloter’s pass. This is the third Breakers turnover of the game.

The Gamblers are unable to capitalize on the turnover and punt it away.

4:02 p.m. EST: Nick Vogel is GOOD on a 52-yard field attempt and Houston extends their lead to 10-3.

3:59 p.m. EST: Taylor Bertolet’s field goal attempt for New Orleans is blocked by Chris Odom. Houston’s special teams recover and the Gamblers take over.

3:52 p.m. EST: Houston touchdown! After facing second-and-32 and third-and-22, JoJo Ward finds the end zone for the Gamblers.

Houston 7, New Orleans 3 with 11:30 left in the half.

3:45 p.m. EST: Another Breakers turnover as Beniquez Brown intercepts Kyle Sloter’s pass. Houston will take over at the New Orleans 19-yard line.

3:40 p.m. EST: At the end of the first, New Orleans leads 3-0 in Birmingham.

3:32 p.m. EST: It’s Houston ball! Chris Odom sacks Breakers QB Kyle Sloter to force a fumble and Donald Payne recovers for the Gamblers.

Houston will takeover at their own 36-yard line.

3:18 p.m. EST: New Orleans is first on the board as Taylor Bertolet’s 50-yard field goal attempt is good.

Breakers 3, Gamblers 0 with 8:45 remaining in the first quarter.

Everything you need to know about the USFL:

What time and channel is the Gamblers vs Breakers on?

RELATED: How to watch the Houston Gamblers vs New Orleans Breakers

  • When:Sunday, May 8 at 3:00 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock
  • Where: Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama
  • Live Stream: Peacock

2023 USFL Week 8 Schedule: How to watch Gamblers vs Maulers, Stars vs Stallions start times, live stream info

By May 31, 2023, 6:10 PM EDT
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Week 8 of the 2023 USFL season  features four games you don’t want to miss. First, on Saturday, June 3 it’s the Houston Gamblers (4-3) vs Pittsburgh Maulers (2-5) at 12:00 PM ET on USA Network and Peacock. Then at 3:00 PM, the Philadelphia Stars (4-3) will go head-to-head with the Birmingham Stallions (5-2) on NBC and Peacock.

RELATED: Control what you can control – How journey through the fire led Generals RB Darius Victor to the USFL

On Sunday, June 4, the USFL excitement starts at 1:00 PM with a Memphis Showboats (4-3) vs New Jersey Generals match up. Then, at 4:00 PM the Michigan Panthers (3-4) face the the New Orleans Breakers (4-3) to cap off the night. See below for additional information on how to watch/live stream each game this weekend.

RELATED: 2023 USFL Season Schedule – Dates, times, locations, new teams, playoff format, scores and more

Saturday, June 3:

Houston Gamblers at Pittsburgh Maulers – 12 p.m. (USA and Peacock)

Philadelphia Stars at Birmingham Stallions – 3 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)

Sunday, June 4:

Memphis Showboats at New Jersey Generals – 1 p.m. (FOX)

Michigan Panthers at New Orleans Breakers – 4 p.m. (FOX)

Where are the new locations for the 2023 USFL Season?

The 2023 USFL season will feature four host cities: Detroit, Memphis, Canton, Ohio and Birmingham, Alabama.

  • The New Jersey Generals and Pittsburgh Maulers will be hosted in Canton, Ohio at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
  • The Birmingham Stallions and New Orleans Breakers will be hosted in Birmingham at Protective Stadium.
  • The Michigan Panthers and Philadelphia Stars will be hosted in Detroit, Michigan at Ford Field.
  • The Memphis Showboats and Houston Gamblers will be hosted in Memphis, Tennessee at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

RELATED: 2023 USFL Season –  Who are this year’s USFL head coaches?

How can I watch USFL games on Peacock?

Sign up here to watch all of our LIVE sports, sports shows, documentaries, classic matches, and more. You’ll also get tons of new & hit movies and TV shows, including Peacock Originals and current hits from NBC and Bravo. There’s always something new to discover.

What devices does Peacock support?

You can enjoy Peacock on a variety of devices. View the full list of supported devices here.

Check out these stories from NBC Sports’ Road to the USFL Kickoff Series:

USFL Week 8 Playoff Clinching Scenarios

2023 USFL Season Schedule: Dates, times, locations, new teams, playoff format, scores, and more

By May 31, 2023, 8:00 AM EDT
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The 2023 USFL Season kicks off on Saturday, April 15 and Sunday, April 16 with four thrilling games. First, the Philadelphia Stars will take on the Memphis Showboats at 4:30 PM ET followed by a New Jersey Generals vs Birmingham Stallions match up at 7:30 PM ET. On Sunday, the Michigan Panthers will go head-to-head with the Houston Gamblers at noon, followed by a Pittsburgh Maulers vs New Orleans Breakers match up at 6:30 PM.

RELATED: 2023 USFL Draft order – Complete list of every pick from Round 1 through Round 10

Season 2 of the USFL features four host cities–Detroit, Memphis, Canton, and Birmingham. This is a significant change from last year when all 10-regular season games were contested in Birmingham, Alabama and playoff games took place in Canton, Ohio. Additionally, the 2023 season will also feature a new team. The Tampa Bay Bandits will now be called the Memphis Showboats. Memphis was one of the original teams featured in the first edition of the USFL.

See below for the full 2023 USFL Season Schedule as well as answers to any questions you may have before the upcoming season. Be sure to check back for the latest updates to the schedule.

RELATED: Control what you can control – How journey through the fire led Generals RB Darius Victor to the USFL

How many teams are in the USFL?

There are a total of 8 teams in the USFL that make up two divisions:

North Division:

  • Michigan Panthers
  • New Jersey Generals
  • Philadelphia Stars
  • Pittsburgh Maulers

South Division:

  • Birmingham Stallions
  • Houston Gamblers
  • New Orleans Breakers
  • Memphis Showboats

Where will games be contested during the 2023 USFL Season?

The 2023 USFL season will feature four host cities: Detroit, Memphis, Canton, Ohio and Birmingham, Alabama.

  • The New Jersey Generals and Pittsburgh Maulers will be hosted in Canton, Ohio at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
  • The Birmingham Stallions and New Orleans Breakers will be hosted in Birmingham at Protective Stadium.
  • The Michigan Panthers and Philadelphia Stars will be hosted in Detroit, Michigan at Ford Field.
  • The Memphis Showboats and Houston Gamblers will be hosted in Memphis, Tennessee at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.

RELATED: Just Keep Going – Stallions RB CJ Marable makes a policy of perseverance

How many weeks are in the USFL’s regular season?

There are 10 weeks in the regular season. Each team will go head-to-head with division rivals twice and face off against teams of the opposite division once.

How will 2023 USFL playoffs work?

After the 10 week regular season comes to a close, the top two teams from each division will go head-to-head in two playoff games in late June, with the winners advancing to the USFL Championship game at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.

2023 USFL Season Schedule:

*All times are listed as ET

WEEK 1

Saturday, April 15
Philadelphia Stars 27, Memphis Showboats 23
Birmingham Stallions 27, New Jersey Generals 10

Sunday, April 16
Michigan Panthers 29, Houston Gamblers 13 
New Orleans Breakers 22, Pittsburgh Maulers 15

WEEK 2

Saturday, April 22
New Orleans Breakers 38, Houston Gamblers 31 
Birmingham Stallions 42, Memphis Showboats 2

Sunday, April 23
New Jersey Generals 20, Pittsburgh Maulers 3 
Michigan Panthers 24, Philadelphia Stars 10

WEEK 3

Saturday, April 29
New Orleans Breakers 45, Birmingham Stallions 31
Houston Gamblers 30, Memphis Showboats 26 

Sunday, April 30
Pittsburgh Maulers 21, Philadelphia Stars 13
New Jersey Generals 28, Michigan Panthers 13 

WEEK 4

Saturday, May 6

Houston Gamblers 41, Philadelphia Stars 16
Memphis Showboats 29,  Michigan Panthers 10

Saturday, May 7

New Orleans Breakers 20, New Jersey Generals 17
Birmingham Stallions 24, Pittsburgh Maulers 20

WEEK 5

Saturday, May 13
Pittsburgh Maulers 23,  Michigan Panthers 7
Houston Gamblers 27, Birmingham Stallions 20

Sunday, May 14
Philadelphia Stars 24, New Jersey Generals 21 
Memphis Showboats 17,  New Orleans Breakers 10

WEEK 6

Saturday, May 20
Memphis Showboats 22, Pittsburgh Maulers 0
Birmingham Stallions 27, Michigan Panthers 13

Sunday, May 21
Philadelphia Stars 16, New Orleans Breakers 10
Houston Gamblers 16, New Jersey Generals 10

WEEK 7

Saturday, May 27
Birmingham Stallions 24, New Orleans 20
Philadelphia Stars 37, Pittsburgh Maulers 31

Sunday, May 28
Memphis Showboats 23, Houston Gamblers 20
Michigan Panthers 25, New Jersey Generals 22

WEEK 8

Saturday, June 3
Houston at Pittsburgh – 12 p.m. (USA and Peacock)
Philadelphia at Birmingham – 3 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)

Sunday, June 4
Memphis at New Jersey – 1 p.m. (FOX)
Michigan at New Orleans – 4 p.m. (FOX)

WEEK 9

Saturday, June 10
Michigan at Pittsburgh – 12 p.m. (FOX)
New Orleans at Memphis – 3 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)

Sunday, June 11
Birmingham at Houston – 2 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)
Philadelphia at New Jersey – 7 p.m. (FOX)

WEEK 10

Saturday, June 17
Pittsburgh at New Jersey – 1 p.m. (USA and Peacock)
Birmingham at Memphis – 4 p.m. (FOX)

Sunday, June 18
New Orleans at Houston – 4 p.m. (FS1)
Philadelphia at Michigan – 7 p.m. (FOX)

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