The D.C. Defenders celebrate a hard-fought victory over the Seattle Sea Dragons at Lumen Field, Seattle, Sunday April 9, 2023.
The D.C. Defenders defeated the Seattle Sea Dragons 34-33 in a high-scoring affair on Easter Sunday to close out week eight of the 2023 season. Not only does the victory signify the Defenders’ season-sweep over the Sea Dragons, but it clinches a playoff berth with two weeks remaining in the regular season.
A last-minute 70-yard touchdown reception from Chris Blair proved to be the difference-maker late in the fourth quarter, even after Ben DiNucci and the Sea Dragons marched down for a score of their own. In the end, June Jones’ gutsy two-point conversion for-the-win play call failed miserably, with DiNucci getting sacked.
The Defenders came out firing at rainy Lumen Field. Early on, a 52-yard reception from Chris Blair set up Abram Smith’s seventh rushing touchdown of the season. With 148 receiving yards, Blair continues to set the bar higher and higher for himself and his opponents in pursuit of the XFL receiving title. He now leads the league in 40+ yard receptions with four, an impressive feat speaking to his explosiveness as a receiver.
Both Jordan Ta’amu & Abram Smith were banged up after taking big hits early and sat out some snaps because of this during the first half. Nonetheless, they both powered through and played key roles in D.C.’s win over Seattle in a game with high playoff implications.
Ta’amu continued to look like a top XFL quarterback, totaling 260 yards and four touchdowns on 65% of passes completed. This an improvement from the last time these two teams met, where Ta’amu only had 95 yards on 42% of passes completed. Week one also represents the last time Ta’amu threw an interception, pretty impressive.
Meanwhile, Smith produced 66 yards on the ground and the earlier-mentioned touchdown but also made a faulty mistake. Just two plays before Blair’s game-securing touchdown, he fumbled possession on a first-down run. Luckily, offensive lineman Liam Fornadel recovered for D.C. on a significant play in hindsight. All in all, the contest saw three fumbles – a bit high, but in a way expected when looking at the game conditions.
Although the result was a Defenders win, the Sea Dragons fought to the end, much like in their last matchup with D.C.. Trailing 22-6 after a 14-yard touchdown by Alex Ellis, a scoop-and-score from Seattle on the Defenders’ two-point attempt generated much-needed momentum and predated a 46-yard Juwan Green receiving touchdown on the next drive.
Green also had a 56-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but the score, which put Seattle within one of its adversary following an improbable three-point conversion from 25 yards out, came as too little, too late. Brandon Smith’s five-yard touchdown to cap off the prior drive allowed the Defenders to retain the lead. Smith, active in his second contest for D.C., finished with two receptions for 13 yards.
The Sea Dragons had their chances to take the lead, but none came closer than D’Eriq King’s fumble, which returned possession to Seattle in the redzone during the third quarter. However, a big-man interception from Joe Wallace off Ben DiNucci’s deflected pass a few plays later prevented this.
Ryquell Armstead had his first touchdown of the season on an 11-yard catch late in the first half, with Lucky Jackson’s grab on the two-point conversion extending D.C.’s lead to 16-6 shortly before halftime.
Speaking of first touchdowns, Phillip Lindsay impressed in his XFL debut and first pro football game since 2021. The rookie pro-bowler put the Sea Dragons on the board with a two-yard rushing touchdown early in the second quarter. Overall, Lindsay led Seattle in carries (8) and rushing yards (23), and his production should only increase as his familiarity with his new squad evolves.
Though his team lost, Ben DiNucci became the first XFL quarterback to hit the 2,000-passing yard mark with his 301 yards thrown in tonight’s game.
The Defenders secured their spot in the playoffs and will spend their next two weeks playing for the top seed in the XFL North. Conversely, the Sea Dragons lost their first game since Feb. 23 and remain in the hunt along with the 6-2 St. Louis Battlehawks, who they’ll face next week on the road.
