While much of the football world is focused on this weekend's NFL draft, fans can also catch some playoff action. The 2023 XFL playoffs kick off this weekend,…
XFL 2023 Playoff Schedule, Bracket and Predictions
Apr 24, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Cole McDonald #14 of the Houston Roughnecks looks to pass against the DC Defenders during the second half of the XFL game at Audi Field on March 27, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The final week of the 2023 XFL regular season is final, and the playoff picture had some knots to sort out.
Yesterday's action saw one team, the San Antonio Brahmas, get officially eliminated. The team's tight 29-28 point loss to the DC Defenders dropped its record to 3-7 and locked it into third place in the XFL South Division.
This had major implications on Sunday's opening game, as it clinched the second playoff spot in the South Division for the Arlington Renegades. This meant that the team's game against the Houston Roughnecks had no effect on the playoff race, as Houston had already clinched the division.
In the nightcap, it is a completely different story. The St. Louis Battlehawks and the Seattle Sea Dragons both entered the final week with identical 6-3 records. The season series was also tied after Seattle took home lastweek's must-win game and kept its playoff hopes alive.
Both St. Louis and Seattle were able to take home victories in the final week, but it is the Sea Dragons who will be moving on to face the DC Defenders in the playoffs.
Here is a look at the updated XFL playoff bracket following Saturday's games, as well as a recap of the Week 10 action.
Sunday
Houston Roughnecks def. Arlington Renegades 25-9
Seattle Sea Dragons def. Vegas Vipers 28-9
Updated XFL Playoff Bracket
XFL North Championship Game
(1) DC Defenders vs. (2) Seattle Sea Dragons
XFL South Championship Game
(1) Houston Roughnecks vs. (2) Arlington Renegades
XFL Week 10 Sunday Recap
Roughnecks 25, Renegades 9
The South Division champions took a lead early and never gave it up, although Arlington was able to get it to a three-point deficit at halftime. A 13-0 run in the second half put the game away and gave the Roughnecks a 7-3 record to end the season.
Cole McDonald passed for 120 yards, completing 10 of 11 passes for the victors, and added 66 yards and a touchdowns on the ground. Jeremy Cox exploded for 120 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, while Justin Smith contributed 51 yards on three catches. Tavante Beckett notably had a pick-six on defense.
Luis Perez threw for 205 yards and an interception for the Renegades, while Leddie Brown had 29 yards on 14 carries. Brian Herrien led all Renegade receivers with 47 yards off of five catches.
▶️ Arlington Renegades will face the Houston Roughnecks (6-3) in the XFL South Division Championship game next Saturday, April 29 at TDECU Stadium in Houston. #XFL2023
The teams will met again in the first round of the XFL playoffs. The game is scheduled for Saturday in Houston. The Roughnecks defeated the Renegades 23-14 in the other matchup between the two this season.
Seattle Sea Dragons 28, Vegas Vipers 9
Seattle essentially had a win-and-in situation going into this game, and that is precisely what the Sea Dragons did against the Vipers. It took a long time for either team to get on the board, but a clutch touchdown from Ben DiNucci in the final two minutes of the first half set the tone for a dominant third quarter.
DiNucci went 26-of-41 for 339 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He also added 41 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Josh Gordon was a breakout star for Seattle in the receiving game, getting 115 yards off of nine catches. Juwan Green was also a major factor, having 88 yards and a touchdown on four catches.
Jalen McClendon was 6-of-21 for 201 yards and an interception for the Vipers, while Matthew Sexton had two catches for 119 yards.
The Seattle Sea Dragons have secured a spot in the North Division Championship game with their Tiebreaker #5 advantage over the St. Louis Battlehawks.
The North Division Championship will be played at Audi Field in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, April 30 at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN.
— UFL Communications Department (@UFL_PR) April 24, 2023
The win sets up a playoff match between Seattle and the Defenders on Sunday. DC took both of the team's regular-season matchups, but the games were decided by a combined five points.
Predictions
It feels like Sunday was a pretty good indicator for how the Roughnecks-Renegades playoff matchup will go. Arlington is the only playoff team with a sub-.500 record and was beaten pretty easily by Houston in both matchups. Still it is hard to beat a team three times in one season, and it is likely that the Renegades did not play every card in a game that was borderline meaningless.
Prediction: Houston 26, Arlington 12
The North game is a bit more intriguing. DC has been the team to beat all season, with the only blemish coming against the Orlando Guardians in Week 7. Still, the Defenders appear to be slumping as they exited the regular season, while Seattle is peaking. The Sea Dragons finished the year on a 7-1 run, and the only loss was a one-point defeat by the Defenders. Seattle is hot and had to play with fire to reach this point.
Prediction: Seattle 32, DC 30
Josh Gordon, Ben DiNucci Thrill Fans as Sea Dragons Clinch 2023 XFL Playoff Berth
Apr 24, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Ben DiNucci #6 of the Seattle Sea Dragons flips a pass for a touchdown to Josh Gordon #0 during the first half of the XFL game against the DC Defenders at Audi Field on February 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
With the Seattle Sea Dragons' XFL postseason on the line, quarterback Ben DiNucci and wide receiver Josh Gordon came through.
DiNucci recorded four total touchdowns, and Gordon made nine receptions for 115 yards as the Seahawks downed the Vegas Vipers, 28-9, at home to clinch the last playoff spot in the XFL.
DiNucci, the ex-Cowboys signal caller, impressed fans in the first three quarters by throwing for three TDs and adding one more on the ground.
Ben DiNucci is a damn magician. He’s definitely a strong contender for XFL MVP
Sea Dragons fans knew Seattle needed a minimum of 34 points to, without a doubt, clinch a playoff spot.
In the final minutes of the game, with the Sea Dragons leading 28-3 and just six points from that magic total, DiNucci threw an interception in the end zone from the 8-yard line.
Thanks to strong defense, Seattle held the Vipers to a low enough total that tiebreakers favor the Sea Dragons for the playoff spot despite two late interceptions from DiNucci.
Meanwhile, Gordon was solid for Seattle throughout the game. He showed off the hands that helped him lead the NFL in receiving yards for the Cleveland Browns 10 years ago by catching a 40-yard pass in the fourth quarter.
Seattle began the game by honoring defensive end Chris Smith with a moment of silence. Smith, aged 31, died on Monday. He spent eight years in the NFL and last played for the Sea Dragons on April 9, when he recorded two tackles against the D.C. Defenders.
The Seattle players finished out the victory while wearing a No. 42 decal on their helmets in Smith's memory.
Having secured a postseason berth, DiNucci, Gordon and the Sea Dragons will now prepare to face the D.C. Defenders in the XFL North Championship Game on Sunday, April 30, at 3 p.m. ET.
XFL 2023: Updated Playoff Bracket After Saturday
Apr 22, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 05: A.J. McCarron #10 of the St Louis Battlehawks attempts a pass before the XFL game against the DC Defenders at Audi Field on March 5, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The first two games of the 10th and final week of the 2023 XFL season were played Saturday, and they had a major impact on the XFL playoff picture.
In the opening game, the St. Louis Battlehawks defeated the Orlando Guardians 53-28 to improve to 7-3 and keep their playoff hopes alive depending on what the Seattle Sea Dragons do Sunday night against the Vegas Vipers.
The DC Defenders ended the San Antonio Brahmas' playoff hopes in the second game, as a missed field goal by San Antonio in the closing seconds gave DC a 29-28 win and a 9-1 record on the year.
Here is a look at the updated XFL playoff bracket following Saturday's games, as well as a recap of the Week 10 action thus far.
XFL Week 10 Saturday Results
St. Louis Battlehawks def. Orlando Guardians, 53-28
DC Defenders def. San Antonio Brahmas, 29-28
Updated XFL Playoff Bracket
XFL North Championship Game
(1) DC Defenders vs. (2) St. Louis Battlehawks OR Seattle Sea Dragons
XFL South Championship Game
(1) Houston Roughnecks vs. (2) Arlington Renegades
XFL Week 10 Saturday Recap
Battlehawks 53, Guardians 28
In what was a must-win situation, Battlehawks quarterback AJ McCarron turned in his best performance of the season to keep St. Louis' playoff chances alive and strengthen his own XFL MVP case in the process.
Knowing that points scored and allowed could come into play as a tiebreaker if both the Battlehawks and Sea Dragons win this week, St. Louis poured it on throughout Saturday's win over the 1-9 Guardians.
McCarron was the biggest reason for the Battlehawks' offensive success, as he went off for 420 passing yards and six touchdowns in the crucial victory.
The former NFL and University of Alabama signal-caller put together an impressive catalog of throws Saturday with perhaps none better than his 66-yard scoring strike to Hakeem Butler in the third quarter:
Like McCarron, Butler enjoyed his best game of the season in a hugely important spot, recording nine receptions for 164 yards and two touchdowns.
Both McCarron and Butler received a ton of praise on social media for their play, including some talk that they should both be considered for an NFL return:
Now, the Battlehawks must sit and wait to see if they did enough to secure the No. 2 seed in the XFL North Division.
A Seattle loss to Vegas will ensure St. Louis reaches the playoffs, but a Seattle win would bring some complicated tiebreaker scenarios into play.
That is why the Battlehawks did all they could to score at will against the Guardians, and because of McCarron's play, they have a shot to play postseason football.
Defenders 29, Brahmas 28
The Brahmas entered Saturday knowing they needed to win in order to still have a shot at the playoffs, but the Defenders dashed their dreams in heartbreaking fashion.
Despite already having the top seed in the XFL North locked up, DC played all of its starters and pushed until the final whistle, resulting in a 29-28 victory.
Had San Antonio won, the Arlington Renegades would have had to have beaten the Houston Roughnecks on Sunday, but with the Brahmas losing, the Renegades clinched a playoff spot.
The decisive play of the game came in the closing seconds when Brahmas kicker John Parker Romo missed a 53-yard field-goal attempt just barely to the right, marking only his second missed field goal of the season.
San Antonio took a six-point lead with 5:15 remaining on a two-yard touchdown run by Jacques Patrick, but the Defenders struck right back thanks largely to quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, who scored on a four-yard touchdown run and then converted a one-point try with his legs as well:
Ta'amu had another big game for the 9-1 Defenders, throwing for 271 yards, two touchdowns and one interceptions, while also rushing for 45 yards and a score.
As a result, Ta'amu got his proverbial flowers from many on Twitter during the latter stages of the game:
The DC offense is often predicated on a strong running back, but XFL leading rusher Abram Smith had only 44 yards, meaning the game was largely in Ta'amu's hands.
As has been the case throughout the season, Ta'amu was up to the task and helped the Defenders enter the playoffs on a high note.
DC will now wait to see whether it will face St. Louis or Seattle in the XFL North Championship Game, while the XFL South Championship Game is Houston vs. Arlington regardless of the result of their game Sunday.
It's almost playoff time, spring football fans! The final week of the 2023 XFL regular season is this weekend, and the postseason slate is nearly set. The…
Ben DiNucci Impresses Twitter as Josh Gordon, Sea Dragons Beat Battlehawks
Apr 16, 2023
ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 31: Seattle Sea Dragons quarterback Ben DiNucci (6) takes the snap and looks downfield for an open receiver during the game between the Arlington Renegades and the Seattle Seadragons on March 31, 2023 at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
With their playoff hopes at stake, Ben Dinucci, Josh Gordon and the Seattle Sea Dragons needed a big showing against the St. Louis Battlehawks.
A lot at stake in this Sea Dragons-Battlehawks game.
A St. Louis win locks them into the second seed and a trip to DC. Seattle needs to win out to have a chance at the postseason.
If Seattle and St. Louis tie at 7-3 then it will come down to the points scored/allowed tiebreak! pic.twitter.com/QKRZmuzE6W
The Sea Dragons showed up and took down the Battlehawks 30-12, keeping their postseason dreams alive and avenging a loss from earlier in the season.
DiNucci was a star in the game, going 21-of-31 for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Gordon didn't get a ton of action, making two catches for 46 yards, but his second catch was praised on Twitter.
Phillip Lindsay, formerly of the Denver Broncos and numerous other NFL teams, had 17 yards on 10 carries and scored a two-point conversion.
DiNucci's performance was still the biggest talking point of the day, with football fans praising his versatility.
The difference between Josh Gordon and the guys trying to cover him in the XFL is hilarious. I don't think Gordon really cares that much or is trying very hard but he still makes a mockery of XFL secondaries when he wants to.
The win improves the Sea Dragons to 6-3, which ties them with the Battlehawks for the final playoff spot in the North Division. The tiebreaker would currently go to St. Louis, as they have higher offensive and defensive rankings.
Still, next week is a must-win for each team to keep pace. The Battlehawks will take on the Orlando Guardians (1-8) on Saturday, while the Sea Dragons will take on the Vegas Vipers (2-7) on Sunday night.
XFL 2023 Results: Week 9 Scores and Best Twitter Reaction from Sunday
Kristopher Knox
Apr 16, 2023
Defenders QB Jordan Ta'amu
The XFL regular season is nearly at its end. and the postseason picture is shaping up. Week 9 got underway on Saturday, with the Houston Roughnecks and San Antonio Brahmas picking up wins over the Vegas Vipers and Orlando Guardians, respectively.
Houston won 28-21, while San Antonio claimed a 25-23 victory.
Defenders 28, Renegades 26
The action continued on Sunday afternoon, and plenty of playoff implications were involved. First up was a contest between the D.C. Defenders—who have already locked up a playoff spot—and the Arlington Renegades. At 4-4, Arlington was looking to punch its ticket t the postseason.
With a win, D.C. could clinch home-field advantage in the XFL North.
Arlington got on the board first but was forced to settle for a field goal after being stopped at the goal line twice. D.C. responded with a quick touchdown drive capped by Jordan Ta'amu's nine-yard strike to Jordan Hammond.
The Defenders' two-point try was no good, but D.C. still opened up a three-point lead and showed that its offense was firmly in playoff form.
Jordan Ta'amu is on a roll already... 4/4 and a TD to Josh Hammond! @XFLDefenders on top of the @XFLRenegades 6-3
The Renegades mounted a promising drive after the touchdown, alternating quarterbacks Luis Perez and Kelly Bryant to great effect. However, Taylor Russolino missed on his second field-goal attempt of the afternoon, a 44-yard try.
Arlington called on Bryant as a runner during the drive because standout running back De'Veon Smith was on the sideline with an ankle injury.
Looks like De’Veon Smith might be done for the day.
He’s standing on the sideline with a trainer shaking his head.
D.C.'s three-point lead held into the second quarter. The Defenders added to it on their next drive.
The series was highlighted by a fantastic over-the-shoulder sideline catch by Brandon Smith and a 14-yard touchdown strike from Ta'amu to Lucky Jackson.
For the second time, D.C.'s two-point try was unsuccessful.
Arlington answered right back with a touchdown drive that featured plenty of receiver Caleb Vander Esch. The South Dakota product had a nine-yard run and a five-yard reception on the drive before catching a 25-yard touchdown pass from Perez.
Like D.C., the Renegades failed to add extra points after the score.
While Arlington seemed to grab a little momentum on its touchdown drive, the Defenders wasted little time in taking it back. D.C. went 77 yards with D'Eriq King at quarterback, finishing the series with another touchdown and giving the ball back to Arlington with less than a minute remaining in the half.
Jackson caught his second touchdown pass of the afternoon, this one from King, and D.C.'s third two-point was successful.
D.C. carried a commanding 20-9 lead into the intermission.
Perez looks good, Arlington leads time of possession, DC's run game looks bad and they're getting penalized more than usual. If you told me those things pregame, I'd say we're winning.
We're not built to come from behind, and we haven't forced a turnover. Big 3Q here. #XFL2023
The Defenders got the ball to open the third quarter but went three-and-out. However, they got into the end zone once again on the ensuing series.
Arlington moved into D.C. territory, but Perez was picked off by defensive back D.J. Swearinger. The former NFL standout—who last played for the New Orleans Saints in 2020—was a new addition for the Defenders, having signed a contract on April 5.
On his first big XFL play, Swearinger returned the interception 62 yards for the touchdown.
Former Gamecock D.J. Swearinger with a pick 6 to the house.
Arlington appeared to have its own pick-six on D.C.'s next drive, but the return was negated by a low-blocking penalty. Safety Joe Powell didn't get credit for the touchdown, but the Renegades did get the ball at the D.C. 31-yard line just before the end of the third quarter.
The Defenders held a 17-point lead at the start of the final quarter, but Powell's play gave Arlington a scoring opportunity and some life.
Arlington cashed in with a one-yard touchdown run from Smith, but with an unsuccessful two-point play, D.C. still held an 11-point advantage. The Defenders did a nice job of chewing up some clock on their ensuing drive, but King was picked off on Arlington's side of the field, giving the Renegades a chance to trim their deficit.
The Renegades did just that inside the two-minute warning. A defensive penalty gave Arlington another opportunity after a failed 4th-and-goal attempt, and the Renegades got both the touchdown and the two-point conversion.
This set up a 4th-and-15 opportunity—which is the XFL's alternative to an onside kick. Perez found tight end Sal Cannella at the last second to convert the 4th-and-15, setting up a potentially thrilling finish.
The Renegades on the verge of pulling a HUGE upset against the DC Defenders! #XFL2023
Arlington couldn't convert a first down but used its challenge-anything opportunity on 4th down to argue that there was defensive holding on the play. The challenge was successful, giving Arlington a fresh set of downs and one final opportunity.
The Renegades moved into field-goal range and tied it up with just five seconds remaining. The game then went into overtime, which in the XFL, is a series of alternating two-point attempts in a best-of-three shootout series.
Despite putting together an epic comeback attempt, Arlington fell short. D.C. was the only team to find the end zone during the shootout and managed to escape with the victory and the top seed in the XFL North.
Fans on social media seemed to really enjoy both the action on the field and the lively D.C. home crowd.
D.C. will wrap its season against the Brahmas in a game that means nothing for D.C. The Renegades will be at home against the Roughnecks.
Sea Dragons 30, Battlehawks 12
Sunday's finale between the St. Louis Battlehawks and Seattle Sea Dragons was just as important to the playoff race as the first. The 6-2 Battlehawks held a one-game lead for the XFL North's second playoff spot and the first head-to-head tiebreaker.
Seattle desperately needed a win to keep its playoff hopes alive. The Sea Dragons got off to a tremendous start, mounting a 74-yard drive that was capped by a T.J. Hammonds touchdown run and a Phillip Lindsay two-point conversion carry
St. Louis responded with a 45-yard field goal from Donald Hageman.
The Sea Dragons appeared to have a second touchdown on their next drive, but a scoring strike from Ben DiNucci was erased by a personal foul penalty. Instead of a score and at least an 11-point lead, Seattle was forced to punt.
Seattle's struggles continued on St. Louis' next drive, as the Sea Dragons' defense was repeatedly gashed by big plays. The Battlehawks finished their drive with a 42-yard touchdown pass from AJ McCarron to Darrius Shepherd.
Sea Dragons allow two huge busted plays on a 91 yard drive, including the scoring catch.
St. Louis' two-point try was unsuccessful, leaving the Battlehawks with a mere one-point lead.
Seattle found the end zone for the second time with just over three minutes remaining following a gutsy 4th-down call. The Sea Dragons went for it on 4th-and-1, and DiNucci found former NFL star Josh Gordon for a 42-yard completion. DiNucci then found Jordan Veasy for a two-yard touchdown pass on the following play.
Seattle failed to convert the two-point attempt, but the score put the Sea Dragons back on top.
The Sea Dragons got another big play before the intermission, picking off McCarron and returning it near midfield. Seattle couldn't put points on the board before halftime, but it did carry its 14-9 lead into the break.
St. Louis got the ball first after halftime, but it went three-and-out. Seattle was much more successful on its first drive of the second half.
On 3rd-and-15, DiNucci found Jahcour Pearson for a stunning 68-yard touchdown strike. The two-point try was no good, but the Sea Dragons opened up a two-score lead.
The teams traded punts after Seattle's third-quarter score before St. Louis managed to get back on the board. The Battlehawks managed to cut the deficit to eight points after a 54-yard field goal by Hageman.
However, Seattle had the ball and was driving to open the final period. The Sea Dragons appeared to have a field goal, but a false-start penalty forced Dominik Eberle to attempt a second kick, and he was unsuccessful from 52 yards.
Battlehawks catch yet another break. False start penalty leads to Eberle's missed FG from 52 yards. #XFL
St. Louis moved past the 50 on its ensuing drive, but Marcell Ateman was tackled just a bit short on a 4th-and-5 attempt, which gave the ball back to Seattle. Incredibly, the Sea Dragons and Battlehawks then exchanged interceptions on back-to-back plays.
DiNucci was picked off by Lukas Denis, who returned it to the St. Louis 10-yard line. McCarron was picked by Bryce Thompson at the Battlehawks' 17-yard line.
Three plays later, DiNucci scrambled eight yards for what proved to be a game-sealing score.
Lindsay tacked on a one-point run, giving Seattle a 27-12 lead with only four minutes remaining. That proved to be too much for the Battlehawks to overcome. Seattle got the ball back and did enough to run out the clock.
While Sunday's second game didn't feature a finish quite as exciting as the first, fans enjoyed both the game and the Sea Dragons' victory.
Couldn’t think of a better Birthday Gift then my Seattle Sea Dragons winning today. #BreatheFire
— Sir Jabari Rice Super Fan (@SirJabari4Life) April 16, 2023
St. Louis will finish the regular season at home against the lowly Guardians, while the Sea Dragons will host the Vipers.
Week 10 is slated to begin on Saturday afternoon with the Guardians-Battlehawks matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+.
XFL 2023 Results: Week 9 Scores and Best Twitter Reaction from Saturday
Apr 15, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 27: Brandon Silvers #12 of the Houston Roughnecks attempts a pass against the DC Defenders during the first half of the XFL game at Audi Field on March 27, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
The penultimate week of the 2023 XFL season kicked off Saturday with a pair of games that had playoff implications.
In the first contest, the Houston Roughnecks clinched the No. 1 seed in the South Division and home field in the South Division Championship Game with a come-from-behind win over the Vegas Vipers.
The San Antonio Brahmas were then set to battle for their playoff lives when hosting the Orlando Guardians in the late game.
Here is a rundown of Saturday's XFL scores and results, plus a recap of all of the gridiron action.
XFL Week 9 Saturday Scores
Houston Roughnecks def. Vegas Vipers, 28-21
San Antonio Brahmas def. Orlando Guardians, 25-23
Roughnecks 28, Vipers 21
Houston had already clinched a playoff berth entering Saturday, and while home-field advantage was likely as well, it eliminated all doubt with a 28-21 win over a pesky Vipers team.
The Roughnecks trailed 12-0 in the second quarter before the defense provided a spark late in the half, as linebacker Deandre Johnson sacked Vegas quarterback Jalan McClendon and stripped him of the ball, allowing Tavante Beckett to scoop it up and score a touchdown:
Houston's defense struck again in the third quarter when defensive back Ajene Harris stripped former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant of the ball and returned it for another touchdown.
With a one-point conversion, the Roughnecks took a 13-12 lead, and they never looked back, as they scored 19 unanswered points after the Vipers' initial 12-0 lead.
During the early part of the season, Houston boasted one of the most explosive offenses in the XFL, as quarterback Brandon Silvers led the way, along with wide receivers Jontre Kirklin and Deontay Burnett, as well as running back Max Borghi.
Losing Kirklin to a season-ending injury undoubtedly hurt the offense, but the defense has stepped up, which is right in line with Roughnecks head coach Wade Phillips' background, as he spent many years in the NFL as a head coach and defensive coordinator.
With the Houston defense being primarily responsible for the comeback win, that side of the ball received a ton of praise on Twitter:
BEST DEFENSE IN THE LEAGUE! AJENE HARRIS WITH THE STRIP TOUCHDOWN!!
The Roughnecks defense is carrying this team on its back! Ajene Harris strips it from Martavis Bryant and takes it to the house! TD Houston! And the 1pt conversion! Roughnecks lead 13-12 in the 3rd! #XFL2023
Big time defense being played by the @XFLRoughnecks. @XFLVipers punt the ball, and a great return to the Vipers 49 yard line. Best starting position for Houston today.@AmbushSports @XFLinsiderPOD #XFL2023#ESPN
Once the defense got the Roughnecks back in the game, the lead was maintained and extended thanks largely to the running game.
Borghi finished with 74 yards and a touchdown on the ground, while Brycen Alleyne added 42 yards and a score of his own.
Vegas made a late comeback bid by scoring a touchdown with 6:23 left and holding Houston to a field goal on the ensuing drive, but on the final drive of the game, a Vipers pass to the end zone fell harmlessly to the ground.
By virtue of the win, Houston has nothing to play for next week against the Arlington Renegades, meaning it can rest players in an effort to be as healthy as possible for the playoffs.
As for the Vipers, they could have another chance to play spoiler next week when they face a Seattle Sea Dragons team that is still fighting for a playoff spot.
Brahmas 25, Guardians 23
San Antonio avoided being eliminated from playoff contention with a comeback victory over Orlando on Saturday night.
The Guardians began Saturday's game by going up 14-3 over the Brahmas, but San Antonio came charging back late in the second quarter on a rushing touchdown by running back Jacques Patrick, cutting Orlando's lead 14-10 entering halftime.
San Antonio then came out of the locker room buzzing early in the third quarter as Parker Romo kicked a 29-yard field goal to put the Brahmas within one point of the Guardians before Jack Coan found Travis Toivonen to give the team its first lead of the night.
The Brahmas held a 19-14 lead entering the fourth quarter, and while a pick-six by Drew Beesley helped San Antonio take a 25-17 lead over Orlando, the Guardians charged back with a late touchdown of their own to cut the lead to 25-23 with just under four minutes remaining in the game.
The Brahmas retained possession for the final 3:55 of the game to close out the victory.
San Antonio entered Week 9 ranked last in the XFL in passing, having rotated four different quarterbacks this season. Jack Coan, who has received much of the blame for the team's struggles as the leading quarterback, put together a solid performance on Saturday night.
The former Notre Dame quarterback completed 25-of-31 passes for 302 yards and one touchdown in the win. Patrick finished with 20 carries for 80 yards and one score, and Nick Holley led the team with four receptions for 105 yards.
The Brahmas will move on to face the D.C. Defenders in Week 10 in what should be a difficult matchup, while the Guardians will take on the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Only two weeks remain in the 2023 XFL regular season, and two teams have already punched their tickets to the playoffs. During a wild Week 8, the D.C.…
Josh Gordon, Phillip Lindsay Impress XFL Fans Despite Sea Dragons' Loss to Defenders
Apr 10, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Josh Gordon #0 of the Seattle Sea Dragons celebrates with teammates after catching a pass for a touchdown against the DC Defenders during the first half of the XFL game at Audi Field on February 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Despite falling to the DC Defenders 34-33, the Seattle Sea Dragons were able to flex some former NFL muscle at Lumen Field.
Quarterback Ben DiNucci and wide receiver Josh Gordon have been with the team for a bit, even having some drama along the way, but the debut of Phillip Lindsay in the flashy Sea Dragon Orange delighted fans.
Lindsay looked familiar in orange, having started his NFL career with Denver and having two 1,000-yard seasons as the Broncos' main back, and he was able to score his first XFL touchdown early in the contest.
Lindsay finished with 23 yards on eight carries with the aforementioned touchdown, and he also added two catches and six yards in the receiving game. Gordon made four catches for 39 yards, while DiNucci went 28-of-42 for 301 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
The loss snapped a five-game win streak for Seattle as it battles for a spot in the XFL playoffs. The Sea Dragons are one game behind the St. Louis Battlehawks for the last playoff spot in the North Division. The two teams face off in Week 9.
