USFL Score, highlights: Tampa Bay Bandits overtake Michigan Panthers, 27-20

By May 13, 2022, 11:41 PM EDT
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Week 5 of USFL action kicked off with the Tampa Bay Bandits defeating the Michigan Panthers, 27-20. Both teams sat outside of second place in their respective divisions entering tonight’s matchup. The top two teams in each division will advance to the playoffs. 

The Panthers and Bandits were tied up through the first and second quarters. Tampa Bay scored a touchdown part way through the third and Michigan was unable to respond, with Shea Patterson throwing an interception. The Bandits entered this week with just one takeaway, last in the USFL. They had two tonight, that interception as well as a fumble recovery on Michigan’s final drive to seal their victory. 

Tampa Bay, who moves to 3-2, had just 273 total yards compared to 409 for Michigan. The Bandits’ touchdown plays accounted for nearly half of their total yardage with three of their four touchdowns coming on 30-plus yard plays, including a 50-yard completion from quarterback Jordan Ta’amu to wide receiver Derrick Dillon. Running back Juwan Washington led the Bandits in rushing, with 48 yards including two rushing touchdowns. Wide receiver John Franklin III had five receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown.

The Bandits’ defense was able to shut down Michigan’s run game and running back Reggie Corbin, who led the league in rushing entering Week 5. Corbin, who averaged 100 yards a game after Week 4, rushed for just 28 yards in 12 carries tonight.

Michigan moves to 1-4 with another close defeat. The Panthers’ four losses have come by a total of 17 points. Quarterback Shea Patterson did seem to find his rhythm in the passing game, completing 23 of 37 attempts for 306 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end La’Michael Pettway. 

Head coaches for Michigan Panthers and Tampa Bay Bandits

The two teams are led by two of the more prominent coaching resumes with 64-year-old Jeff Fisher leading the Panthers and 55-year-old Todd Haley leading the Bandits.

Panther’s head coach Jeff Fisher spent 22 years as an NFL head coach with the Oilers/Titans and Rams. This is his first head coaching job since leaving the Rams during the 2016 season. Meanwhile Tampa Bay’s Todd Haley spent 22 seasons as an NFL coach, including three seasons with the Chiefs. He has worked as the offensive coordinator for the Cardinals,Steelers and Browns. The Cardinals appeared in Super Bowl XLIII during his tenure. Haley also had coaching stints with the Bears and Cowboys.

Fisher and Haley faced each other once as NFL head coaches. In Week 16 of the 2010 season, Haley Chief’s defeated Fisher’s Tennessee Titans, 34-14. The Chiefs went on to officially clinch the AFC West title later that day.

Panthers vs. Bandits score, results, highlights

Final score: Tampa Bay Bandits 27, Michigan Panthers 20

1st quarter, 8:42 (Panthers): J.Walker pass complete to TB 30. Catch made by R.O’Malley at TB 30. Gain of 30 yards. R.O’Malley for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

1st quarter, 8:33 (Bandits): J.Ta’amu pass complete to TB 50. Catch made by D.Dillon at TB 50. Gain of 50 yards. D.Dillon for 50 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

2nd quarter, 10:11 (Panthers): C.Murphy 36 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-S.Griffin, Holder-.

2nd quarter, 4:06 (Bandits): J.Washington rushed to MICH End Zone for 3 yards. J.Washington for 3 yards, TOUCHDOWN. The Replay Official reviewed the runner broke the plane and the play was upheld.

2nd quarter, 0:17 (Panthers): C.Murphy 41 yard field goal attempt is good, Center-S.Griffin, Holder-.

3rd quarter, 8:44 (Bandits): J.Ta’amu pass complete to MICH 43. Catch made by J.Franklin at MICH 43. Gain of 43 yards. J.Franklin for 43 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

4th quarter, 6:08 (Panthers): S.Patterson pass complete to TB 25. Catch made by L.Pettway at TB 25. Gain of 25 yards. L.Pettway for 25 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

4th quarter, 3:46 (Bandits): J.Washington rushed to MICH End Zone for 30 yards. J.Washington for 30 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

Panthers vs. Bandits reaction and coverage

11:21 p.m. EST: Time runs down and that’s the ball game. Final score: Tampa Bay 27, Michigan 20.

11:16 p.m. EST: The Bandits recover another Michigan fumble! Tampa Bay will take over at the 50-yard line with 1:55 to play.

11:11 p.m. EST: Michigan converts on fourth-and-1 to keep their drive alive as we hit the 2:00 warning in Birmingham.

11:05 p.m. EST: Touchdown Bandits! Juwan Washington rushes 30 yards into the end zone to give Tampa Bay the lead once more. Rausa’s extra point is good.

Tampa Bay 27, Michigan 20 with 3:41 left to play.

10:58 p.m. EST: Patterson to Pettway for a 25-yard Panthers touchdown! Murphy’s extra point is good and we’re tied at 20 with 6:00 left to play.

10:34 p.m. EST: That’ll bring us to the end of the third. The Michigan Panthers will have the ball at their own 13-yard line to start the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay leads 20-13.

10:24 p.m. EST: Shea Patterson’s pass is intercepted by Christian Sam. The Bandits will take over at their own 18-yard line.

10:12 p.m. EST: Ta’amu launches the ball and finds John Franklin for a 43-yard Bandits touchdown!

Tyler Rausa’s extra point is good. Tampa Bay 20, Michigan 13 with 8:36 remaining in the third quarter.

10:01 p.m. EST: Tampa Bay has the ball at their own 25-yard line to start the second half.

9:47 p.m. EST: And that’s the half! We’re tied up at 13 in Birmingham.

9:42 p.m. EST: Cole Murphy’s 41-yard field goal attempt is good to tie it back up with 0:17 on the clock.

Michigan 13, Tampa Bay 13

9:39 p.m. EST: It’s Patterson to Lenoir for a gain of 41 to put the Panthers down at the Tampa Bay 23-yard line with 0:35 left in the half.

9:20 p.m. EST: Juwan Washington rushes into the end zone. The play is reviewed and confirmed for a Tampa Bay touchdown.

Tyler Rausa’s extra point attempt is no good. Bandits 13, Panthers 10 with 4:01 left in the half.

9:18 p.m. EST: A pass interference call on Michigan’s Terry Myrick puts Tampa Bay at the Panthers 1-yard line.

9:02 p.m. EST: Cole Murphy’s 36-yard field attempt is good to give the Panthers the lead with 10:07 left in the second.

Michigan 10, Tampa Bay 7.

8:55 p.m. EST: The Panthers fake the punt, as kicker Cole Murphy completes to Cameron Scarlett to successfully convert on fourth-and-six.

8:49 p.m. EST: The first quarter comes to a close from Protective Stadium. Michigan 7, Tampa Bay 7.

8:27 p.m. EST: Tampa Bay responds! Ta’amu finds Derrick Dillon for a 50-yard touchdown and it’s just 7-7 in Birmingham with 8:22 in the first.

8:22 p.m. EST: Touchdown Panthers! It’s Shea Patterson to Joe Walker to Ryan O’Malley for the Michigan TD. It’s the first time we’ve seen the USFL’s two forward pass rule in play this season.

RELATED: 2022 USFL Rules: Overtime changes, 3-point conversions, forward passes and more

Cole Murphy’s extra point is good. Panthers 7, Bandits 0 with 8:33 left in the first quarter.

8:21 p.m. EST: Reggie Corbin rushes for 19 yards to put Michigan at the Tampa Bay 30-yard line.

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What time and channel is the Panthers vs Bandits on?

RELATED: How to watch the Michigan Panthers vs Tampa Bay Bandits

  • When: Friday, May 13 at 8:00 p.m. ET on USA Network
  • Where: Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama