Can the Best UFL Team Beat the Worst NFL Team?

Birmingham Stallions vs Carolina Panthers

The Stallions are a budding dynasty in the UFL. They have one of the best and most exciting quarterbacks and can probably compete in the NFL. Yes, we said it. The Panthers, on the other hand, make a strong case for relegation in American pro sports, especially if it continues to stink up the joint.

But we’ll give Carolina the benefit of the doubt and break it down on a head-to-head basis:

Quarterback

If you fused Patrick Mahomes with Lamar Jackson, you get Adrian Martinez. All jokes aside, Martinez leads the UFL in rushing yards and is the favorite to win the MVP. He is most likely heading to the NFL if he keeps it up. Bryce Young, in comparison, had a gang initiation in his rookie season in the NFL. Even with a new coaching staff, it’s hard to pick him over Martinez.

Stallions 1, Panthers 0

Tired: Patrick Mahomes.

Wired: Adrian Martinez.

What in the actual heck just happened? #UFL

pic.twitter.com/64GEsV0Ha9

— Spring Football Zone (@SpringFBZone) May 19, 2024

Receivers, Tight Ends

This is a tight one. But we’re going with the Panthers just based on talent alone. Adam Thielen is a proven veteran with Pro Bowls on his resume. Diontae Johnson, who Carolina acquired in a deal, is also a Pro Bowl-caliber wideout. The Panthers also have several prospects here from Xavier Legette to Jonathan Mingo.

Stallions 1, Panthers 1

Running Backs

Again, the Panthers here present more upside. While C.J. Marable and Larry Rountree III are a solid combo, Carolina has Miles Sanders as its third back. Jonathan Brooks may be a sleeper NFL pick to win Offensive Rookie of the Year while Chuba Hubbard showed flashes the past two seasons. We give the Panthers the edge.

Panthers 2, Stallions 1

Offensive Linemen

The Panthers have consistently had some terrible offensive-line play. Last year was not as bad but it still felt like Young had to get rid of the ball within three seconds. The Stallions have a solid o-line. It’s not the best but they get the job done. That’s enough to give them the nod over Carolina.

Stallions 2, Panthers 2

Edge Defenders

Birmingham wins this one, easily. Dondrea Tillman and Jonathan Garvin form the best edge-rushing tandem in the UFL. Both could sign with NFL teams this coming season. Carolina finished with the fewest sacks and the third-lowest pressure rate in 2023. And this was with Brian Burns, who just signed with the Giants.

We need to have a conversation about @USFLStallions DE Dondrea Tillman. How is this man not in the NFL?

He had another spectacular outing against St. Louis this weekend: 4 tackles, 3 TFL’s, 1 sack. @dondreatillman2 is the top graded D-Lineman in the #UFL, at 92.0!! per @PFF.… pic.twitter.com/7lV9En2t7o

— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) May 13, 2024

Stallions 3, Panthers 2

Interior Defenders

Again, this favors Birmingham. Carlos Davis and Marvin Wilson are a fearsome duo in the middle and have helped Tillman and Garvin feast from the outside. Carolina does not have much to write about in the middle. Shy Tuttle is their starting nose tackle and Pro Football Focus gave him a 52.9 grade, which may be generous.

Stallions 4, Panthers 2

Linebackers

This was the strength of Carolina’s defense last season, which still does not say much. Shaq Thompson is getting up there in age and will be hard-pressed to keep carrying this unit. The Stallions are more promising in this department with the likes of Elijah Sullivan and Kyahva Tezino having big weeks.

Stallions 5, Panthers 2

Secondary

*Sigh*. Noticing a trend? We’d like to give this to Carolina just to make this look like less of a rout. But we can’t. The Panthers’ best defensive back is Jaycee Horn and he’s often injured. The Stallions have more options and are better all around.

Stallions 6, Panthers 2

Coaching

It feels unfair to judge Dave Canales and his staff in Carolina. They’re new and have yet to prove themselves. But unless he transforms the Panthers ala Demeco Ryans in Houston, we have to side with Skip Holtz and the Stallions. They’re undefeated, en route to three straight titles, and have a juggernaut of an offense.

Stallions 7, Panthers 2

Verdict

There you have it. We did our best to give Carolina all the points it could get. Unfortunately, the Panthers are just that bad. So the best NFL bet here is for the Stallions to beat the Panthers if they ever did face off – UFL or NFL rules.

Questions Of The Day

The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.