Former Lions quarterbacks in battle for final USFL playoff spot in Week 9

It’s a matchup of former Detroit Lions quarterbacks in Week 9 with the final 2022 USFL playoff spot at stake.

In Week 9 of the USFL schedule, the New Orleans Breakers (5-3) can clinch the final playoff spot with a win over the Tampa Bay Bandits (4-4). The Bandits must beat New Orleans Sunday afternoon, then defeat the South Division leader Birmingham Stallions (8-0) in the Week 10 season finale.

This Week 9 game could be labeled “Kyle Sloter vs. Jordan Ta’amu–Round 2”, since the two former Lions quarterbacks met earlier this season in a Week 2 game won by the Sloter and Breakers, 34-3. That game was the lowlight of the Bandits’ season. Tampa Bay seemingly had every conceivable mistake, as they also put up just 194 yards of offense.

Kyle Sloter and Jordan Ta’amu are USFL MVP candidates

Sloter leads the USFL with 1,750 passing yards and is No. 3 in touchdown passes with nine. He threw two touchdown passes in the Week 2 victory over the Bandits. If not for his 10 interceptions, which gives him a negative touchdown-to-interception ratio (9:10), he might have league MVP all but locked up already.

Tampa Bay quarterback Jordan Ta’amu probably needs victory over New Orleans, and to play a key role in said victory, to solidify serious consideration for 2022 USFL MVP. He is second in the league in passing yards with 1,502 yards, and leads the league n passing touchdowns with 11. His 120.6 QBR is better than Sloter’s 114.7 for the season, and he is also ranks No. 2 in QBR among quarterbacks with at least five starts this season.

The defense that contains the opposing quarterback the best is lined to be the team that wins on Sunday afternoon. For Tampa Bay, that will rooted in pressuring Sloter into mistakes. And for New Orleans, the biggest key will be limiting Ta’amu as a dual threat (257 rushing yards this season).

The Bandits and Breakers are scheduled to kickoff at 4 p.m. ET on Sunday (June 12). The game will be broadcast on FOX.