Week 6 is on the horizon. With half of the season finished, the middle of the rankings is stacking up, which will make for an exciting finish to the year.
Houston Roughnecks (5-0)
Last: 1st
Change: None
Houston turned the ball over three times, gave up two sacks, was shut out in the first quarter, and still won. Houston utilized a mix of both run and pass to neutralize Seattle. The Roughnecks are heading towards clinching a home playoff game as well, leading LA and Dallas by three games with only five left to play. PJ Walker continues to play at an elite level. He rallied on Sunday to throw for 351 yards and three touchdowns.
Up next: vs. New York Guardians (away)
DC Defenders (3-2)
Last: 6th
Change: +4
Head coach Pep Hamilton made the quick decision to bench struggling quarterback Cardale Jones early in the first quarter. The decision paid off handsomely. The Defenders upset St. Louis, one of the hottest teams in the league. Backup quarterback Tyree Jackson executed the game plan efficiently, steadily moving the chains and keeping the BattleHawk offense off of the field. DC running back Jhurrell Pressley added a 100-yard game, a first for the Defenders. The Defender defense was back to form at home, giving up only two field goals in a 15-6 win.
Up Next: vs. Dallas Renegades (home)
St. Louis BattleHawks (3-2)
Last: 2nd
Change: -1
St. Louis looked nothing like the team that dominated its opponents over the last two weekends. The BattleHawks failed to score a touchdown in the loss to DC. St. Louis also had a punt blocked, missed a field goal, and was stopped short on 4th-and-1 late in the game. The BattleHawks have to travel again this weekend with another XFL East battle against Tampa Bay. Visiting teams are struggling this season with only a 5-15 record.
Up Next: vs. Tampa Bay Vipers (away)
New York Guardians (3-2)
Last: 4th
Change: None
New York won on the road for the first time this season, defeating Dallas, 30-12. The Guardians overpowered the Renegades, who were missing starting quarterback Landry Jones. New York quarterback Luis Perez improved to 2-0 as a starter as he threw for 229 yards and a touchdown. The Guardians also added 144 yards on the ground to chew up the clock and control the game. Wide receiver Colby Pearson added five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. Pearson collected 80 of the 95 yards on one play, which broke the game open for the Guardians.
Up Next: vs. Roughnecks (home)
LA Wildcats (2-3)
Last: 7th
Change: +2
The Wildcats set a single-game record for points scored in their 41-34 win over Tampa Bay last weekend. Quarterback Josh Johnson had a great game, going 20-for-36 for 288 yards and four touchdowns. Johnson completed a pass to nine different receivers in the victory. Los Angeles is a strong contender for the second playoff spot in the west as Seattle and Dallas have begun to flounder.
Up Next: vs. Seattle Dragons (away)
Dallas Renegades (2-3)
Last: 3rd
Change: -3
To quote Styx, “The jig is up, the news is out.” This is the case with the Dallas Renegades, and the news isn’t good. Dallas has yet to win a home game this season, and its offense struggled against New York. Offensive coordinator Hal Mumme has relinquished play-calling duties due to an injury he sustained during a game. Dallas is having identity issues at the moment. The Renegades are currently tied for second place in the west but need to figure out who they are offensively before Week 6.
Up Next: vs. DC Defenders (away)
Tampa Bay Vipers (1-4)
Last: 5th
Change: -2
Tampa Bay is the best team in the XFL that cannot consistently win games. The Vipers scored 34 and 27 points in their last two losses. Those totals would have beaten the majority of the league, had they been facing a different opponent. Tampa is embracing its offensive identity by being a run-first team. The Vipers are rushing for 165.6 yards per game. If Tampa’s defense holds opponents to field goals instead of touchdowns, the Vipers become a very dangerous matchup.
Up Next: vs. St. Louis BattleHawks (home)
Seattle Dragons (1-4)
Last: 8th
Change: None
Seattle gave undefeated Houston a valiant fight last weekend, but the Dragons were slain yet again. The Dragons are struggling to pass the ball consistently. Seattle ranks seventh in the XFL in passing yards per game. Head coach Jim Zorn would do well to take a lesson from Vipers coach Marc Trestman and hand off play-calling duties. Zorn often struggles on the sideline to get the play in on time to his offense, leaving no time to audible. Still, at 1-4, Seattle is only one game out of a playoff spot. The Dragons will likely have to go 4-1 in the second half of the season to qualify.
Up Next: vs. Los Angeles Wildcats (home)
