Announcers: Roy Philpott, Eric Mac Lain, Dawn Davenport, Tiffany Blackmon
Injury report
Depth charts
The D.C. Defenders and Seattle Sea Dragons will face off for the second time this season to close out week eight on Easter Sunday. The last time these two teams met, D.C. defeated the Sea Dragons 22-18 to open the season in one of the most entertaining games to date. Since the matchup, both teams have only lost once and are separated by just one game in the XFL North, meaning the stakes in this rematch couldn’t be higher.
Both teams struggled offensively in their first matchup but have improved exponentially with the season’s progression. After heartbreakingly losing their first two games, the Sea Dragons, led by quarterback Ben DiNucci have won five straight – the longest active winning streak in the league after the Defenders’ loss to Orlando last week. Nonetheless, D.C.’s offense has shown tremendous improvement throughout the season under offensive coordinator Fred Kaiss.
Defenders
Even with the loss last week, quarterback Jordan Ta’amu had the best performance of the season against a lackluster Orlando defense, with 285 passing yards and three touchdowns. However, the Sea Dragons’ defense has been much more productive in holding opposing offenses. When the two teams met last, Ta’amu completed only eight of his 19 passes for 86 yards in a win aided by the defense, which has been top-notch this season with some exceptions.
Last week in an outlier, the Defenders allowed a season-high 37 points and 400 yards to Orlando. Those figures are inexcusable for frontrunners like the Defenders, regardless of the Guardians finding “new life” with Quinten Dormady at quarterback.
This week, D.C. signed D.J. Swearinger and Isaiah Johnson to bolster its secondary following the poor performance. Swearinger, well-known in the DMV for his time with the Washington Commanders, could have an immediate impact in the Defenders’ safety rotation, while Johnson adds depth to a banged-up secondary.
The last time D.C. and Seattle met, Michael Joseph introduced himself to XFL fans with his two interceptions, including his momentum-swaying pick-six during the third quarter. He’s since been a staple in the Defenders’ defense – leading in interceptions (four) and third in tackles (30). This week’s result will depend on him and how the rest of the D.C. defense bounces back from last week’s showing.
Meanwhile, Abram Smith has the XFL rushing title all but secured with his league-leading 654 yards on 121 carries (5.4 YPC). Not only is this a big game for the Defenders, but a strong performance against Seattle could go a long way in helping Smith in the MVP race. Ta’amu – also an MVP candidate – has seemingly found his groove and could help his case with a strong performance in a win at Seattle.
Sea Dragons
Seattle started shakily after opening as preseason favorites but has since proved their worth with five straight wins and improvement demonstrated in each. With countless weapons at Ben DiNucci’s disposal, the Sea Dragons’ offense is no joke. Jahcour Pearson leads the XFL in receptions with 45 and is second in receiving yards (479). Blake Jackson and Jordan Veasy have also been reliable targets in Seattle’s run-and-shoot scheme. Even Josh Gordon, who hasn’t quite lived up to expectations for “alt football”, will need to be accounted for by the Defenders.
Additionally, the midweek signing of Phillip Lindsay addresses Seattle’s rushing void with Morgan Ellison and Brenden Knox on the reserve list. Although Lindsay went undrafted in the 2018 draft, he has totaled 3,377 yards and 20 touchdowns in his NFL career. The XFL is a perfect opportunity for the rookie pro-bowler to reboot his career while he makes for a valuable facet in the Sea Dragons’ championship chase.
While DiNucci leads the league in passing yards with 1,771, he’s struggled with decision-making and has thrown a league-high nine interceptions on the season. Minimizing unforced errors and turnovers will be key for DiNucci if the Sea Dragons want a shot against D.C., where the skill gap is basically nonexistent.
Defensively, safety Antoine Brooks has had an impact in both pass coverage and run support for the Sea Dragons with 33 tackles on the season – second on the team. Clearly an asset on the Seattle defense, he was not active due to injury the last time these two teams met.
Final thoughts
With Vegas eliminated from playoff contention, the XFL North playoff race is down to three teams: D.C., Seattle, and St. Louis. While the Defenders are 6-1, Seattle and St. Louis are tied in the standings with a 5-2 record apiece. A win for D.C. clinches playoffs with two games left in the season. Conversely, a win for the Sea Dragons would be big going into next week’s contest against the Battlehawks, who go against Vegas this week.
