The playoffs are fast approaching. Some teams are separating themselves from the pack, while other teams find themselves in a fight for position. This week, we learned some new things about some teams that we didn’t know, and some things about some teams that we always knew. Let’s see how each team stacked up after an interesting Week 6.
1. D.C. Defenders (6-0)
Last week: No. 1
The only undefeated team left in the XFL, the D.C. Defenders firmly asserted themselves atop the league with a dominant 37-26 win over the Houston Roughnecks. There is no question at this point who the best team in the league is. We already knew D.C. was the best rushing team in the league, headed up by their three headed monster of Jordan Ta’amu, D’Eriq King, and Abram Smith. But what we didn’t know, was the fact that they can beat you through the air as well. Ta’amu torched Houston’s secondary Monday night. The Roughnecks defense was able to hold down Abram Smith for the first half, but they had no success getting to Ta’amu, which in turn, ended up opening up the running lanes for Smith. D.C. didn’t even have to rely on King at all Monday night, but he is still a dangerous weapon they have in their back pocket. The Defenders are the elite of the elite, and as of right now, they are in a stratosphere of their own.
2. St. Louis Battlehawks (4-2)
Last week: No. 3
The St. Louis Battlehawks were able to bounce back from their loss against the Defenders, and they did it in a dominating fashion. They defeated the Vipers 29-6 and never broke a sweat doing it. Their defense was dominant against a formidable Vipers offense, and they never allowed Vegas to get into a rhythm. A.J. McCarron was fantastic, throwing for 236 yds and 3 TDs, and their receivers were able to find openings all game long. Their running game was able to keep moving the chains, and their special teams came to play as well. The Battlehawks showed they can face adversity, and take it head on with confidence. They have good momentum heading into these last 4 weeks of the season, but they can’t take their foot off the gas, because the Sea Dragons are right on their tail.
3. Houston Roughnecks (4-2)
Last week: No. 2
What has happened to the best offense in the league? The first 4 weeks of the season they looked unstoppable, and since then they have looked absolutely lost. Brandon Silvers went from looking like an MVP candidate to looking like a middle of the pack quarterback in the XFL. Pedestrian is a word I would use to describe Silvers the past 2 weeks, and that is a far cry from what he was just 2 weeks ago. Now, as we head into the final 4 weeks of the season, the Roughnecks have questions at quarterback. Do they continue with Brandon Silvers and hope he can get back to where was in the first 4 weeks of the season, or do they go with Cole McDonald, who looked good on Monday night. It will be interesting to see what Houston does at the quarterback position, but they also have to revitalize their pass rush as well. They were getting to the quarterback non stop in the first 4 weeks, but they have been relatively silent these past 2 weeks. Their secondary has not been good either, and Coach Wade Phillips is going to have to make some adjustments as they head into the playoff push. What once was a guarantee that they would be in the playoffs, isn’t really a guarantee anymore. The Roughnecks have some questions they need answered.
4. Seattle Sea Dragons (4-2)
Last week: No. 4
The Seattle Sea Dragons have won 4 games in a row, and they are gelling at the right time. The offense is still putting up yards and points, though protecting the football is still a problem. But the defense, while not great, makes the crucial plays in critical situations. This is what has helped Seattle win 4 games in a row. I say this all the time about Seattle, but if they can stop giving away the football, this might be the best team in the league. But the reality at the moment is, they can’t stop giving the football to the other team. Specifically, Ben DiNucci. He throws INTs at the perfectly wrong time, and luckily Seattle’s defense has been able to bail him out. But that is not a recipe for success. If DiNucci can just learn to not make the critical mistake, this team can easily be the team at the end with the championship.
5. Arlington Renegades (3-3)
Last week: No. 5
The whole dynamic of this team changed when they decided to cut Kyle Sloter, and trade for Luis Perez. This offense was going nowhere with Sloter or Plitt, and now with Perez at the helm, the Renegades have new life as they head into the final 4 weeks of the season. Arlington and San Antonio are going to be battling it out for that last playoff spot, and with each team getting a win over the other, it will come down to whose new quarterback will be able to gel with the offense the fastest. Arlington got better with this trade, in my opinion, and if the defense can still hold down the way they have been, the Renegades may be in their way. At 3-3, it’s make or break time for Arlington.
6. San Antonio Brahmas (2-4)
Last week: No. 7
The Brahmas NEEDED to win Sunday to stay alive in the playoff hunt, and they did just that. It definitely wasn’t pretty, but they can work on pretty later. Right now, it’s all about getting to the playoffs, and with Arlington trading for Luis Perez, they are going to need either Jawon Pass or Kurt Benkert to get up to speed with this offense. The defense has been solid all year long, but the offense has struggled mightily. But I do believe if you give Benkert time to learn this offense and gel with the receivers, they could be formidable. I still believe in this team, but the Renegades trading for Luis Perez was a big move, and if San Antonio’s offense can’t figure it out, the Brahmas will be left on the outside looking in.
7. Vegas Vipers (1-5)
Last week: No. 6
The Vegas Vipers are a team that should have a better record, but because of odd decisions, like pulling Hundley out for Perez, and firing OC Duane Taylor after putting up 26 points, they sit at 1-5. Rod Woodson has not been it this season for the Vipers, and it might be time to move on. Brett Hundley should have never been benched. Somebody please explain to me why that happened. Hundley is just flat better than Perez, and had he been given a chance to start all season, maybe the Vipers are better off. Their defense is not great, but they do pressure the quarterback decently. The problem is their secondary can’t stop anybody. I mean nobody. You can’t win games like that, but with Hundley as the starter, at least they would have a chance in a shootout. Woodson is to blame for that, and many other problems with this Vipers team. He may not be the only reason, but he is the main reason.
8. Orlando Guardians (0-6)
Last week: No. 8
The only winless team left in the XFL, the Orlando Guardians can’t catch a break. The thing is, they have actually been in these games, but they can’t ever seem to close the deal. Going with Dormady as the starter was the right move, but they just aren’t good enough, plain and simple. The defense isn’t good enough. The offense isn’t good enough. Special teams isn’t good enough. And at this point, the coaching isn’t good enough. They just can’t seem to get it clicking in any facet of the game, and while not technically out of the playoff picture yet, they are all but pretty much done. But I will give them credit. They continue to fight and play hard every down, and that’s all you can ask for. I’m still pulling for the Guardians to finally get that elusive win, and I hope that they do.
The only undefeated team left in the XFL, the D.C. Defenders firmly asserted themselves atop the league with a dominant 37-26 win over the Houston Roughnecks. There is no question at this point who the best team in the league is. We already knew D.C. was the best rushing team in the league, headed up by their three headed monster of Jordan Ta’amu, D’Eriq King, and Abram Smith. But what we didn’t know, was the fact that they can beat you through the air as well. Ta’amu torched Houston’s secondary Monday night. The Roughnecks defense was able to hold down Abram Smith for the first half, but they had no success getting to Ta’amu, which in turn, ended up opening up the running lanes for Smith. D.C. didn’t even have to rely on King at all Monday night, but he is still a dangerous weapon they have in their back pocket. The Defenders are the elite of the elite, and as of right now, they are in a stratosphere of their own.
The St. Louis Battlehawks were able to bounce back from their loss against the Defenders, and they did it in a dominating fashion. They defeated the Vipers 29-6 and never broke a sweat doing it. Their defense was dominant against a formidable Vipers offense, and they never allowed Vegas to get into a rhythm. A.J. McCarron was fantastic, throwing for 236 yds and 3 TDs, and their receivers were able to find openings all game long. Their running game was able to keep moving the chains, and their special teams came to play as well. The Battlehawks showed they can face adversity, and take it head on with confidence. They have good momentum heading into these last 4 weeks of the season, but they can’t take their foot off the gas, because the Sea Dragons are right on their tail.
What has happened to the best offense in the league? The first 4 weeks of the season they looked unstoppable, and since then they have looked absolutely lost. Brandon Silvers went from looking like an MVP candidate to looking like a middle of the pack quarterback in the XFL. Pedestrian is a word I would use to describe Silvers the past 2 weeks, and that is a far cry from what he was just 2 weeks ago. Now, as we head into the final 4 weeks of the season, the Roughnecks have questions at quarterback. Do they continue with Brandon Silvers and hope he can get back to where was in the first 4 weeks of the season, or do they go with Cole McDonald, who looked good on Monday night. It will be interesting to see what Houston does at the quarterback position, but they also have to revitalize their pass rush as well. They were getting to the quarterback non stop in the first 4 weeks, but they have been relatively silent these past 2 weeks. Their secondary has not been good either, and Coach Wade Phillips is going to have to make some adjustments as they head into the playoff push. What once was a guarantee that they would be in the playoffs, isn’t really a guarantee anymore. The Roughnecks have some questions they need answered.
The Seattle Sea Dragons have won 4 games in a row, and they are gelling at the right time. The offense is still putting up yards and points, though protecting the football is still a problem. But the defense, while not great, makes the crucial plays in critical situations. This is what has helped Seattle win 4 games in a row. I say this all the time about Seattle, but if they can stop giving away the football, this might be the best team in the league. But the reality at the moment is, they can’t stop giving the football to the other team. Specifically, Ben DiNucci. He throws INTs at the perfectly wrong time, and luckily Seattle’s defense has been able to bail him out. But that is not a recipe for success. If DiNucci can just learn to not make the critical mistake, this team can easily be the team at the end with the championship.
The whole dynamic of this team changed when they decided to cut Kyle Sloter, and trade for Luis Perez. This offense was going nowhere with Sloter or Plitt, and now with Perez at the helm, the Renegades have new life as they head into the final 4 weeks of the season. Arlington and San Antonio are going to be battling it out for that last playoff spot, and with each team getting a win over the other, it will come down to whose new quarterback will be able to gel with the offense the fastest. Arlington got better with this trade, in my opinion, and if the defense can still hold down the way they have been, the Renegades may be in their way. At 3-3, it’s make or break time for Arlington.
The Brahmas NEEDED to win Sunday to stay alive in the playoff hunt, and they did just that. It definitely wasn’t pretty, but they can work on pretty later. Right now, it’s all about getting to the playoffs, and with Arlington trading for Luis Perez, they are going to need either Jawon Pass or Kurt Benkert to get up to speed with this offense. The defense has been solid all year long, but the offense has struggled mightily. But I do believe if you give Benkert time to learn this offense and gel with the receivers, they could be formidable. I still believe in this team, but the Renegades trading for Luis Perez was a big move, and if San Antonio’s offense can’t figure it out, the Brahmas will be left on the outside looking in.
The Vegas Vipers are a team that should have a better record, but because of odd decisions, like pulling Hundley out for Perez, and firing OC Duane Taylor after putting up 26 points, they sit at 1-5. Rod Woodson has not been it this season for the Vipers, and it might be time to move on. Brett Hundley should have never been benched. Somebody please explain to me why that happened. Hundley is just flat better than Perez, and had he been given a chance to start all season, maybe the Vipers are better off. Their defense is not great, but they do pressure the quarterback decently. The problem is their secondary can’t stop anybody. I mean nobody. You can’t win games like that, but with Hundley as the starter, at least they would have a chance in a shootout. Woodson is to blame for that, and many other problems with this Vipers team. He may not be the only reason, but he is the main reason.
The only winless team left in the XFL, the Orlando Guardians can’t catch a break. The thing is, they have actually been in these games, but they can’t ever seem to close the deal. Going with Dormady as the starter was the right move, but they just aren’t good enough, plain and simple. The defense isn’t good enough. The offense isn’t good enough. Special teams isn’t good enough. And at this point, the coaching isn’t good enough. They just can’t seem to get it clicking in any facet of the game, and while not technically out of the playoff picture yet, they are all but pretty much done. But I will give them credit. They continue to fight and play hard every down, and that’s all you can ask for. I’m still pulling for the Guardians to finally get that elusive win, and I hope that they do.
