XFL Week 3 Sunday Preview
After we saw the Seattle Sea Dragons win its first game of the season, the XFL is treating us with a triple header on Sunday. Today is filled with so many great matchups we should all be looking forward to. No time to waste. Let’s get after it!
St. Louis Battlehawks (2-0) vs. D.C. Defenders (2-0):
We kick off an XFL filled day with a matchup with two undefeated teams each playing at a high level. The beginning of the Battlehawks’ season has been emotion filled with wins showing perseverance and grit. The amount of enthusiasm this team has being led by HC Becht and QB AJ McCarron is at an all time high. Is it luck? Or should this Battlehawks team be taken seriously as an XFL Championship contender. AJ McCarron has not looked sharp to the naked eye but he has been getting the job done. He has 3 TDs and has yet to turn the ball over. One could argue that he is the front runner for XFL most valuable player but then again we are only in Week 3. The running game for St. Louis is almost non existent. Starting RB De’Veon Smith has 58 yards rushing, which is only 5 more yards than QB McCarron has. Will the lucky bounces continue?
The Defenders are back at home and so is the Beer Snake! D.C. has one of the better XFL home crowds we have seen so far this season. They also have one of the better defenses and pass rushes. D.C. has 2nd leader in sacks with 3 for DL Jarrell Owens. They also have a ball hawk in the secondary in DB Michael Joseph who is tied for 1st in interceptions with 2. The Defenders have been running a two QB system with Jordan Ta’amu and D’eriq King. Ta’amu has been having turnover issues especially when he is running with the football and King has been having the opposite effect. When the Defenders run D’eriq King using their running packages he has been dominant. D.C. leans on its strong running game to impose its will on teams. With two strong RBs and QBs who can move the ball on the ground it makes it so hard to defend. No pun intended. This should be a fantastic game so get the Beer Snake ready!
Orlando Guardians (0-2) vs. Arlington Renegades (1-1):
Talk about a hectic week for HC Terrell Buckley and the Guardians. Rumors of former or current QB Quinten Dormady surfaced that he was cut and then immediately gave his playbook to an opponent. The XFL was supposed to look into it and who knows what comes of it. Last I heard it was a made up story so there has been too much disfunction with the team especially at the QB position. Last week the Orlando coaching staff looked overwhelmed and the inexperienced showed on the sideline and on the field. Will the offense and defense get it together to try and put together a win this week? It’s doubtful after the week the Guardians had.
Arlington had some QB news of their own announcing that they will start QB Kyle Slotter for the first time this season. That is exactly what the Renegades are needing - a spark on offense. The defense and special teams has been keeping Arlington in games but the offense is what has been holding them back. The Renegades’ lack of a running game has also hurt them this season. They do have one of the best TE in the league in Sal Cannella who has 11 receptions for 108 yards. I think the Arlington offense picks things up this weekend against struggling Orlando.
San Antonio Brahmas (1-1) vs. Houston Roughnecks (2-0):
Our main event for Sunday is set in the Lone Star state. The undefeated Roughnecks host the Brahmas in what could be the game of the day. San Antonio brings its high powered offense behind QB Jack Coan who ranks 4th in passing yards who also has 4 TDs and 1 interception. He will be going against the best defense in the XFL but so will QB Brandon Silvers of Houston. The San Antonio defense has been just as dominant except for the last 1:30 seconds of game one when they blew a huge lead to St. Louis. Silvers does have 2 interceptions this season so he is prone to turning the ball over. The Brahmas will need to win the turnover battle to win this game. RB Kalen Ballage is 2nd in rushing yards with 107 to begin the season and San Antonio will need his help in controlling the time of possession keeping the ball away from Silvers. I think whichever team wins the turnover battle will win this game. The Battle for Texas should be a good one!
Predictions:
D.C Defenders -3
Orlando Guardians +8
San Antonio Brahmas +4
