Ex-Lion Kyle Sloter leads game-winning drive as USFL’s Breakers beat Houston

Former Detroit Lions quarterback Kyle Sloter led New Orleans on a last-minute, game-winning drive as the Breakers beat Houston 23-16 in USFL Week 4.

In a game that featured four turnovers and seven field goal attempts, the New Orleans Breakers defeated the Houston Gamblers 23-16 in USFL Week 4. Former Lions quarterback Kyle Sloter led the game-winning drive, capped by a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jonathan Adams.

Everyone involved in the game expected Sloter to attempt one final pass before bringing in placekicker Taylor Bertolet to kick the winning field goal. But a strange and entertaining game, full of unexpected plays and strategies, finished with a touchdown pass instead.

Houston led the game 13-10 when the fourth quarter started but had mounted very little offense against New Orleans.  The Gamblers finished the game with 127 yards passing and 28 yards rushing. Houston quarterback Clayton Thorson completed 14 out of 26 passes and one touchdown for a quarterback rating of 80.1.

Kyle Sloter overcame turnover-filled performance to come through in the clutch

New Orleans’ mental errors and a poor performance by Sloter until the last drive permitted Houston to establish their advantage.  Three interceptions and one recovery of a Sloter fumble particularly helped the Gamblers’ cause.

The end of the first half should have given us a clue on the game’s ending.  After kicking a field goal to tie the score at 10, New Orleans kicked the ball short and Houston returned the kick to excellent field position that enabled them to set up for the final play of the first half.  It was a 41-yard field goal by kicker Nick Vogel. Vogel also made field goals of 52 and 53 yards in the game.

Sloter’s passer rating for the game was 71.2 due to the three picks, but he did complete 26 of 42 passes for 397 yards and he came through when it mattered most. The Breakers are now 3-1 on the season, and they’ll take on the also 3-1 New Jersey Generals next Saturday in USFL Week 5 in a game that’ll be televised on Fox.