Things really can’t get much worse for the Houston Gamblers this season.
Entering Saturday’s showdown against the undefeated Birmingham Stallions riding a seven-game skid, it’s imperative the Gamblers find a way to win again in 2022.
Regardless if the team’s season is all but over at 1-7 and buried in the North division cellar with merely two games remaining.
All in.
Houston’s offense hobbles into today’s battle averaging 148.5 passing yards per game (league-worst) with 11 passing touchdowns on the season (actually tied for second in the league with the Tampa Bay Bandits and the Stallions) and 98.3 rushing yards per game (sixth in the league) with just three rushing touchdowns on the season (league-worst).
The Gamblers defense, meanwhile, stumbles into the game and leads the United States Football League (USFL) in categories they don’t want to be league-leaders in, giving up an average 22.8 points per game (leads the league), 206.9 passing yards per game (first in the league), 141.1 rushing yards per game (tied for second in the league) and 348 total yards per game (league leaders once again).
The one main category where Houston is at the top of the league is in sacks (20 on the year; good for third in the USFL in 2022).
I digress.
Let’s discuss something other than the Gamblers for a moment and take a look at the opposite end of the spectrum in Houston’s opponent, the 8-0 Stallions.
Birmingham’s offense enters the ninth game of the USFL season averaging 172 passing yards per game (fifth in the league) with 11 passing touchdowns (tied for second in the league with the Bandits and the Gamblers) and 144.9 rushing yards per game (third in the league) with 10 rushing touchdowns (fourth in the league).
The Stallions defense, meanwhile, remains stingy and gives up only 16 points per game (tied for best in the league with the New Jersey Generals), 169.9 passing yards per game (fifth in the league), 107.3 rushing yards per game (second-best in the league) and 277.1 total yards per game (second-best in the USFL this season).
They also are tied for the league-lead (with the Philadelphia Stars) in sacks on the season with 21.
Unfortunately for Houston fans, Saturday’s game may not be much of a game at all.
But only time will tell.
If Houston’s inconsistent defense decides to show up in style this evening against the Stallions, it may actually be an entertaining game.
However, if not…
Well, you know the story.
Kickoff is slated for 5 p.m. Central Time on USA.
Until then, GO GAMBLERS!
