The 1984 season was the second season for the Los Angeles Express in the United States Football League. The Express were led by new head coach John Hadl and finished with a 10–8 record, clinching the Pacific division and qualifying for the playoffs and improving on their record from the previous season by two games. The Express faced and defeated the Michigan Panthers, the Central division wildcard team, 27-21, at home in the divisional playoff game. They then faced their division rivals, the Arizona Wranglers, whom had upset the heavily favored Central division champion Houston Gamblers in a divisional playoff matchup, in the Western Conference title game. The Express had finished the regular season tied with the Wranglers with a record of 10-8 before winning the Pacific division on a tie breaker. The Express lost the game, which was played in Sun Devil Stadium, 35-25.
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 Denver Gold L 10–27 0–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 32,082 2 Birmingham Stallions L 14-21 0-2 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 14,789 3 at Oakland Invaders W 10–0 1-2 Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum 23,479 4 March 17 at San Antonio Gunslingers W 13-12 2–2 Alamo Stadium 9,821 5 March 25 Jacksonville Bulls L 7-13 2-3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 8,000 6 April 1 New Jersey Generals L 10–26 2-4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 19,853 7 at Denver Gold L 27–35 2–5 Mile High Stadium 19,115 8 Memphis Showboats W 23–17 (OT) 3–5 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 10,049 9 April 20 at Chicago Blitz L 29–49 3–6 Soldier Field 11,713 10 at Houston Gamblers W 27–24 (OT) 4–6 Astrodome 30,727 11 Pittsburgh Maulers W 20–12 5–6 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 16,789 12 May 13 at Philadelphia Stars L 14–18 5–7 Veterans Stadium 22,391 13 May 20 Michigan Panthers W 24–17 6–7 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 10,193 14 May 26 Arizona Wranglers W 24-17 7–7 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 11,702 15 June 3 at Washington Federals W 35–21 8-7 RFK Stadium 5,263 16 at Oklahoma Outlaws W 17–10 9-7 Skelly Stadium 22,017 17 June 15 Oakland Invaders W 24–19 10-17 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 14,794 18 July 3 Arizona Wranglers L 10–35 10–8 Sun Devil Stadium 35,258 Sourcesstatscrew.com 1984 Los Angeles Express Game-by-Game Resultsusflsite.com 1984 USFL Seasonprofootballarchives.com 1984 Los Angeles Express (USFL)
Playoff schedule Round Date Opponent Result Record Location Divisional Playoffs Michigan Panthers W 27–21 1–0 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Western Conference Championship July 17 Arizona Wranglers L 25–35 1–1 Sun Devil Stadium
Standings
Rosters
Opening Day roster 1984 Los Angeles Express Opening Day roster Quarterbacks
Frank Seurer
Running backs
Reggie Brown FB David Hersey RB/TE
Wide receivers
Duane Gunn
Tight ends Ricky Ellis RB/TE Mike Sherrod WR/TE Darren Long Offensive linemen Derrick Kennard G
/TE/LB Greg Loberg OL
Defensive linemen Eddie Weaver DT/DE
Dewey Forte DT /DT Ivan Lesnik DT James Robinson DT Charles Ussery RDT Lee Williams RDE Linebackers John Truitt LB Danny Rich LLB Greg Williams MLB
Dan Lute LB Jerome Franey LB Rickey Orange LB
Defensive backs
Tyrone Justin RCB Mike Fox FS
Gary Lowell CB/WR Darrell Patillo CB Ed Scott DB Troy West S
Special teams
Jeff Partridge P Developmental squad Sam Norris LB Wayne Jones G Doug West LB
Injured reserve
Final roster
1984 Los Angeles Express final roster Quarterbacks
Frank Seurer
Running backs
Reggie Brown FB David Hersey RB/TE
Wide receivers
Duane Gunn
Tight ends Ricky Ellis RB/TE Mike Sherrod WR/TE Darren Long Offensive linemen Derrick Kennard G
/TE/LB Greg Loberg OL
Defensive linemen Eddie Weaver DT/DE
Dewey Forte DT /DT Ivan Lesnik DT James Robinson DT Lee Williams RDE Linebackers John Truitt LB Danny Rich LLB
Defensive backs
Tyrone Justin RCB Mike Fox FS David Rackley DB
Gary Lowell CB/WR Darrell Patillo CB Ed Scott DB Troy West S
Special teams
Jeff Partridge P Developmental squad John Barnett RB Kirby Warren RB Sam Norris LB Wayne Jones G Greg Williams MLB Doug West LB Timmy White WR / RB
Dann Lute LB Injured reserve None - N/A
rookies in italics50 Active, 11 Developmental
References