Michigan Panthers head coach Mike Nolan was on the team plane back to Arlington reviewing the film of the 22-9 win over the D.C. Defenders on Sunday when he heard a commotion coming from the team.
The noise was one of celebration from his players as they watched the San Antonio Brahmas take down the Houston Roughnecks on a last-second field goal. San Antonio’s win knocked Houston to 1-6 overall, clinching a playoff spot for Michigan at 5-2 in the USFL conference.
“It was a good hoorah but that only lasted for a good 10 seconds,” Panthers linebacker Javin White said about the plane celebration. “Because at the end of the day, the job’s not done. We already knew we wanted to go to the playoffs but this year isn’t about just playoffs. We want to go to the championship, we want to win it.”
It is the second straight season the Panthers have made the league playoffs since returning in 2022. The Panthers’ playoff opponent is locked in as the Birmingham Stallions, who are in first place in the division at 7-0. Sunday’s win over D.C. guarantees the Panthers will finish with a record of at least .500 for the first time in their three seasons.
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