XFL's Seattle Dragons Concessions Vendor Tests Positive for Coronavirus
Mar 5, 2020
SEATTLE, WA - FEBRUARY 22: A flag waver performs during the XFL game between the Dallas Renegades and the Seattle Dragons at CenturyLink Field on February 22, 2020 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Rod Mar/XFL via Getty Images)
A part-time concessions vendor who worked for the XFL's Seattle Dragons during their Feb. 22 home game against the Dallas Renegades at CenturyLink Field has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19).
Lewis Kamb of the Seattle Times provided a statement from James Apa, the communications director for public health in Seattle and King County, Washington:
"We have worked with the employee and the operator of the stadium, First and Goal, to evaluate potential exposures at the Feb. 22 Seattle Dragons game & we've determined the risk of infection to attendees from this person was low. We are following up with a few co-workers with close contacts of the employee at the Feb. 22 game to provide guidance on appropriate precautions.
"There are no extra precautions ... required for those who attended the Feb. 22 game or who will attend upcoming events, but all King County residents should know that the risk for infection with COVID-19 is increasing in our community ... should be aware of their symptoms, and call their health care provider if they develop a cough, fever, or other respiratory problems."
The announced attendance for the clash between the Dragons and Renegades was 22,060.
At least 21 of the 120 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus in the United States as of Wednesday were in the Seattle area, according to CNN. Nine deaths occurred at a nursing home in the suburb of Kirkland.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a series of preventive measures to follow, including frequent handwashing and staying home when sick.
XFL 'Closely Monitoring' Coronavirus Situation as Los Angeles Declares Emergency
Mar 4, 2020
A closeup detail view of the XFL logo on a goal post before an XFL football game between the Tampa Bay Vipers and the New York Guardians, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)
The outbreak of the coronavirus worldwide has already affected numerous organizations and the XFL is making sure to take proper precautions.
"The health and safety of the entire XFL family is of the utmost importance," the XFL said in a statement to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "We have established a COVID-19 task force and are closely monitoring this public health issue. We are in regular contact with our Medical Advisory Board, as well as health and public safety officials on a national and local basis."
The NFL had also said it was "closely monitoring" the situation as it approaches key offseason activities like the draft and league meetings, per Florio.
The XFL has the added challenge of being in the middle of its regular season with weekly games, but the league will apparently follow the lead of other sports organizations.
"We have connected with other professional sports leagues to share information and best practices," the XFL added. "Consideration of this input, a fact-based perspective, and our priority for safety will guide our decisions going forward."
One key organization to watch could be the NCAA, which created an advisory panel ahead of March Madness.
Coronavirus has killed about 3,200 people worldwide while infecting more than 92,000 people, according to CNN.com. Per ABC, at least 11 Americans have died from the disease.
XFL's Week 4 Games Average 1.4M Viewers as Ratings Drop for 3rd Straight Week
Mar 3, 2020
TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 01: Taylor Cornelius #4 of the Tampa Bay Vipers runs with the ball in the second quarter against the DC Defenders during an XFL game at Raymond James Stadium on March 01, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
Viewership for the XFL fell for the third straight week.
According to Showbuzz Daily, the league's four games drew an average of 1.4 million viewers over the weekend with a large drop from Saturday to Sunday.
The ratings trend isn't surprising as the novelty of the XFL wears off. During the original iteration of the league in 2001, it drew amassive audienceout of the gate before hemorrhaging viewers.
This time around, the decline isn't as pronounced, partially because of the changing trends in how people watch television.
The XFL's opening game in 2001 had 15.7 million viewers. Less than a month later, the league wasdrawing 3.9 million viewersfor a game.
By comparison, the XFL's relaunch had anaverage of 3.1 millionfans tune in for the first week earlier this month. At this stage, the league is on par with comparable offerings from other sports leagues.
Week 4 also had competition from the NFL Scouting Combine, which was showcased on NFL Network all weekend and provided an alternative for fans looking for their football fix.
The highest-rated XFL game saw the St. Louis BattleHawks defeat the Seattle Dragons 23-16 on Saturday. Jordan Ta'amu threw for 264 yards and one touchdown while running for a team-high 63 yards to power the BattleHawks to their third win.
The week concluded with the Tampa Bay Vipers' resounding 25-0 victory over the DC Defenders, their first of the season. The Vipers used a steady dose of De'Veon Smith and Jacques Patrick (230 combined rushing yards) to hand the Defenders their second loss.
ARLINGTON, TX - MARCH 1: Deatrick Nichols #32 of the Houston Roughnecks celebrates after an interception during the XFL game against the Dallas Renegades at Globe Life Park on March 1, 2020 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Thomas Campbell/XFL via Getty Images)
Week 4 of the XFL season concluded with a battle for in-state bragging rights and the quest for the league's last winless team to claim its first victory.
Sunday opened with the Dallas Renegades hosting the Houston Roughnecks at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. In addition to starting the rivalry off on the right foot, the Renegades were attempting to slow down early MVP favorite P.J. Walker.
In the second game, the Tampa Bay Vipers wanted to avoid an 0-4 start against the DC Defenders, who suffered an embarrassing 39-9 loss to the Los Angeles Wildcats in Week 3.
Here's a recap for how Sunday unfolded across the XFL.
XFL Week 4 Scores (Sunday, March 1)
Houston Roughnecks 27, Dallas Renegades 20
Tampa Bay Vipers 25, DC Defenders 0
Houston Roughnecks 27, Dallas Renegades 20
Walker has been Houston's standout performer so far, but Deatrick Nichols' two interceptions set the tone for the Roughnecks in their 27-20 win.
Landry Jones was intercepted three times in the first half, and his fumble in the fourth quarter allowed Houston to build its lead to seven points.
Edmond Robinson sacked Jones for a loss of eight yards and jarred the ball loose. Upon discovering the ball free on the turf, Robinson picked it up and ran it in for the touchdown.
Jones did well to recover from his bumpy start—three straight interceptions to open the game—and he owed a debt of gratitude to the Renegades defense, which limited the Roughnecks to 12 points from those three turnovers.
Jones left the game in the fourth quarter after scrambling for a first down on a 4th-and-1. The former Oklahoma star injured his left knee during practice in January and immediately began clutching the same knee after his two-yard run.
He walked off the field under his own power but was visibly limping as he went to the sideline.
Landry Jones is out of the injury tent and has a huge wrap around his left knee, the same one he hurt during the first training camp practice that forced him to miss Week 1. Looks like he's done for the day.
Philip Nelson entered the game and got the Renegades into position for the potential go-ahead score. But on 2nd-and-goal from the Roughnecks' 3-yard line, Flynn Nagel dropped a pass and DeMarquis Gates reacted quickly for the interception.
As well as Dallas did to keep Walker in check for the most part, the Houston quarterback still did enough through the air and on the ground to move the chains. He threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns while running for 17 yards on five carries.
The Roughnecks remain the only unbeaten team in the XFL at 4-0 with the Seattle Dragons on tap in Week 5.
The Renegades slip to 2-2, but Jones' injury overshadows the result. Dallas will almost need a new starting quarterback for Week 5 and potentially the rest of the season.
Tampa Bay Vipers 25, DC Defenders 0
The Tampa Bay Vipers looked largely hopeless during an 0-3 start to the season.
They looked anything but hopeless Sunday.
Tampa Bay dominated from the start in a 25-0 victory over the DC Defenders, handing the latter their second straight blowout loss. DC also fell by 30 the last time out against the LA Wildcats.
The Vipers set the tone on the defensive side, holding the Defenders without a point and bottling up quarterback Cardale Jones throughout. The Ohio State product is one of the well-known players in the league but was a mere 9-of-22 passing for 72 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception in defeat.
Running back Donnel Pumphrey didn't provide much support with 34 yards on the ground.
It was far from just an impressive defensive showing for the Vipers. Quarterback Taylor Cornelius was much better than his counterpart and finished 24-of-31 passing for 211 yards, one touchdown and one interception and also scored on the ground.
Taylor "Corn Dog" Cornelius gets battered, but still finds his way into the end zone
DC had to account for his throwing, which left lanes open for the two-headed tandem of De'Veon Smith and Jacques Patrick in the backfield. Smith finished with 122 rushing yards, while Patrick added 108 and a touchdown.
The Vipers will look to keep their new momentum rolling in Week 5 when they face the Wildcats, while the Defenders will attempt to bounce back against the St. Louis Battlehawks.
XFL 2020 Results: Luis Perez Leads Guardians to Win, More Week 4 Highlights
Feb 29, 2020
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - FEBRUARY 29: Luis Perez #7 of the New York Guardians warms up before the XFL game against the LA Wildcats at MetLife Stadium on February 29, 2020 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Rob Tringali/XFL via Getty Images)
After scoring just nine points in the past two games, the New York Guardians were looking for a spark to get their season back on track.
A thorax injury to Guardians starting quarterback Matt McGloin opened the door for Luis Perez to showcase his skills against the Los Angeles Wildcats. The 25-year-old showed promise in limited action last week, going 4-of-5 for 39 yards and one touchdown in a 29-9 loss to the St. Louis Battlehawks.
The second game of the weekend features the Battlehawks looking to take control of the East Division and win their second straight game in a matchup with the Seattle Dragons.
Here's a recap of Saturday's XFL doubleheader, as well as top highlights from both games.
XFL Week 4 Scores (Sat., Feb. 29)
New York Guardians 17, Los Angeles Wildcats 14
St. Louis Battlehawks 23, Seattle Dragons 16
St. Louis Battlehawks 23, Seattle Dragons 16
St. Louis held on for a 23-16win over Seattle thanks to the stellar all-around effort by quarterback Jordan Ta'amu.
The Battlehawks star racked up 264 yards passing and 63 yards rushing and threw his fifth touchdown of the season. He connected with De'Mornay Pierson-El from 27 yards out for the first score of the game.
1. Score the TD 2. Jump up and celebrate accordingly with the fans
Pierson-El had his best game of the season with 71 yards and a touchdown on five receptions.He was Ta'amu's go-to weapon when the Battlehawks needed to make a play.
St. Louis was in complete control throughout the first half, taking a 17-3 lead into the intermission on Keith Ford's run into the end zone on an option from 13 yards out.
The second half saw Seattle come to life thanks in large part to a change at quarterback. Head coach Jim Zorn made the move to B.J. Daniels to open the third quarter after Brandon Silvers went 4-of-10 for 27 yards.
Daniels provided the spark the Dragons offense has desperately needed. His final stat line doesn't read great (5-of-10, 100 yards, one touchdown, one interception), but his ability to run and throw made the game close late.
The only major mistake Daniels made came late in the fourth quarter with Seattle trying to tie the score. He attempted to hit Austin Proehl over the middle on 3rd-and-20, but safety Will Hill was able to snatch the pass out of the air for the interception.
Will Hill OUT OF NOWHERE for the huge interception
Despite that one mistake, Seattle's offense scored 13 points in the second half with Daniels under center. The offense averaged 16 points in three games with Silvers starting.
St. Louis is the second XFL team with three wins, joining the undefeated Houston Roughnecks (3-0). The Battlehawks (3-1) are currently in sole possession of first place in the East Division, but DC can match their 3-1 record with a victory over the winless Tampa Bay Vipers on Sunday.
New York Guardians 17, Los Angeles Wildcats 14
Perez didn't light up the stat sheet, but he was able to lift New York's offense just enough to hang on for a 17-14 victory over the Wildcats.
After falling behind 6-3 in the first quarter, Perez engineered consecutive scoring drives, with the second resulting in a three-yard touchdown pass to Mekale McKay.
Perez did most of his damage early, with 12 of his 18 completions and 126 of his 150 yards coming in the first half. The rushing attack also chipped in with 122 yards, including a season-high 82 on 18 carries from Darius Victor.
Los Angeles quarterback Josh Johnson was able to move the ball against the Guardians defense. The 33-year-old went 25-of-40 for 330 yards with two touchdowns, including a 42-yard dime to Saeed Blacknall that—combined with a two-point conversion—tied the score at 14 in the third quarter.
Johnson did throw a costly interception early in the fourth quarter when his pass to Tre McBride was too high and Jamar Summers was able to grab it. The turnover set up New York with excellent field position on its own 45-yard line looking to take the lead.
The Guardians went 26 yards on eight plays to set up Matthew McCrane for what turned out to be the game-winning 47-yard field goal with 10:52 left to play:
Los Angeles had chances to at least tie the game. Johnson connected with McBride for 44 yards on the Wildcats' first offensive play after New York took the lead. Set up with a first down from the Guardians' 26-yard line, the drive stalled there and Nick Novak missed a 44-yard field goal.
The Guardians defense forced a turnover on downs on Los Angeles' next possession and got it to run the clock out on the final possession of the game.
XFL 2020 Week 4 Fantasy Rankings, Schedule, Live Stream and Odds
Feb 28, 2020
St. Louis Battlehawks quarterback Jordan Ta'amu (10) during an XFL football game against the Dallas Renegades, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020, in Arlington, Texas. St. Louis won 15-9. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
The Houston Roughnecks could face their toughest challenge yet to remain as the lone undefeated XFL team.
Houston makes a short trip to visit the Dallas Renegades in Week 4's marquee matchup that involves the top two teams in the Western Conference.
Sunday's opener has the potential to be the highest-scoring game of the weekend, as Houston has produced the most touchdowns and is tied for the most allowed.
With that in mind, the fantasy focus could be directed at Houston and Dallas players, including XFL passing leader P.J. Walker.
The St. Louis BattleHawks, led by second-best passer Jordan Ta'amu, could produce at a high clip as well as the largest favorite of the four matchups.
Los Angeles Wildcats (-7) at New York Guardians (2 p.m., ABC)
Seattle Dragons at St. Louis BattleHawks (-11.5) (5 p.m., Fox)
Sunday, March 1
Houston Roughnecks (-1) at Dallas Renegades (4 p.m., FS1)
D.C. Defenders (-2.5) at Tampa Bay Vipers (7 p.m. ESPN2)
Fantasy Rankings
Quarterback
1. P.J. Walker, Houston
2. Jordan Ta'amu, St. Louis
3. Landry Jones, Dallas
4. Josh Johnson, LA
5. Cardale Jones, D.C.
6. Brandon Silvers, Seattle
7. Marquise Williams/Luis Perez, New York
8. Taylor Cornelius, Tampa Bay
Walker and Ta'amu have established themselves as the two most reliable quarterbacks from a fantasy perspective.
Walker leads a Houston offense that has scored 13 touchdowns in its first three contests.
The Temple product is first in the XFL with 748 passing yards, which is 136 more than Ta'amu has put up with the BattleHawks.
The only concern with starting Walker over Ta'amu in Week 4 is the Dallas defense has allowed six touchdowns, and the Renegades have not allowed over 20 points in a single game.
St. Louis appears to have an easier matchup on paper against Seattle, who lost 24-12 to Dallas in Week 3. The Dragons conceded 274 passing yards to Landry Jones in that defeat.
At the bottom of the quarterback rankings sit New York and Tampa Bay, who are in less-than-ideal situations.
With Aaron Murray dealing with an injury and Quinton Flowers away from the team, the Vipers are expected to start Taylor Cornelius.
Matt McGloin was limited in practice this week, which may lead to a split in snaps for Marquise Williams and Luis Perez.
Running Back
1. Matt Jones, St. Louis
2. Cameron Artis-Payne, Dallas
3. James Butler, Houston
4. Lance Dunbar, Dallas
5. De'Veon Smith, Tampa Bay
6. Martez Carter, LA
7. Donnel Pumphrey, D.C.
8. Trey Williams, Seattle
9. Kenneth Farrow, Seattle
10. Darius Victor, New York
If St. Louis continues to thrive at home, Matt Jones could end up as Week 4's top rusher.
The 26-year-old is the only running back with more 200 rushing yards, and he is going up against a Seattle defense that allows 100.7 rushing yards per game.
The nature of the Houston-Dallas showdown could affect how Cameron Artis-Payne, James Butler and Lance Dunbar are utilized.
If the game turns into a low-scoring affair with Dallas' defense dictating the pace, gains may be hard to come by.
Houston gave up over 20 points in each of its last two games, and if the high-scoring trend continues, the trio of running backs could be in competition for the highest Week 4 totals.
De'Veon Smith, who ranks third with 174 rushing yards, might be worth a play due to the unknowns of the Vipers' quarterback situation.
If head coach Marc Trestman relies on the run more to establish some sort of offensive rhythm, Smith could receive a good chunk of touches.
Wide Receivers
1. Cam Phillips, Houston
2. Nelson Spruce, LA
3. Tre McBride, LA
4. Austin Proehl, Seattle
5. De'Mornay Pierson-El, St. Louis
6. Rashad Ross, D.C.
7. Daniel Williams, Tampa Bay
8. Keenan Reynolds, Seattle
9. Kahlil Lewis, Houston
10. Flynn Nagel, Dallas
If you plan on riding Walker's hot hand, a stack with Cam Phillips is the play.
Phillips' 324 receiving yards are the most in the league and he is coming off a 194-yard performance versus the Vipers in Week 3.
The 24-year-old may not produce at that high of a level against Dallas, but it's clear he has developed into a reliable target.
As long as the Roughnecks duo continues to link up, they are both worth the fantasy start.
Nelson Spruce and Tre McBride could take advantage of their matchup with the Guardians, who enter on a two-game losing streak.
Both Spruce and McBride have scored twice, but the former owns more receiving yards with 256, which is second behind Phillips.
St. Louis' DeMornay Pierson-El is a player to watch since he is the team's leading pass-catcher and has a favorable matchup at home against the Dragons.
Tight End
1. Donald Parham, Dallas
2. Brandon Barnes, LA
3. Khari Lee, D.C.
4. Marcus Lucas, St. Louis
5. Jake Powell, New York
Donald Parham is the third-best receiver in the league.
The Dallas tight end should be the only player at his position worth a long fantasy look until others shine on a more consistent basis.
Parham appears to have a nice connection with Landry Jones, and he might be vital in the short passing game versus Houston.
Brandon Barnes, Khari Lee and Marcus Lucas could be decent options for their respective quarterbacks, but there has not been much reliance on them yet.
Statistics and injury information obtained from XFL.com.
XFL's Week 3 Games on ABC, ESPN Average 1.7M Viewers; 558K Drop from Week 2
Feb 24, 2020
CARSON, CA - FEBRUARY 23: Josh Johnson #8 of the LA Wildcats throws the ball against the DC Defenders during the XFL game at Dignity Health Sports Park on February 23, 2020 in Carson, California. (Photo by Ryan Kang/XFL via Getty Images)
Viewership for the XFL dipped for the second straight week across ABC and ESPN.
According to XFL writer Mike Mitchell, Saturday's ABC broadcast and Sunday's ESPN broadcast averaged 1.704 million viewers. Mitchell also provided the highest-rated markets:
ABC carried two games in Week 2, which drew 2.262 million viewers, which was down from the 2.9 million viewers ABC and ESPN averaged in Week 1.
The state of Ohio doesn't have an XFL team, yet it continues to show a significant interest in the league. The trend may have something to do with former Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones.
Mitchellnoted a week ago that Columbus, Cleveland and Cincinnati were three of the top five markets for the DC Defenders' 27-0 victory over the New York Guardians.
Fans who tuned in to FS1 on Sunday were disappointed, though, as the Defenders lost 39-9 to the Los Angeles Wildcats. Jones went 13-of-26 for 103 yards and four interceptions.
With Jones' poor outing, P.J. Walker climbed to the top of the leaderboard in the XFL's MVP race. Walker threw for 306 yards and three touchdowns while running for 34 yards and one score as the Houston Roughnecks defeated the Tampa Bay Vipers 34-27.
P.J. Walker has been putting on a show since joining @xfl2020 🔥
Three weeks into the rebirth of the XFL season, there are a couple things we know. We know that the Houston Roughnecks look like the class of the league. We also know that the Tampa Bay Vipers, um, do not...
ST. LOUIS, MO - FEBRUARY 23: Joe Powell #44 of the St. Louis BattleHawks after taking a lateral from Keith Mumphery and ran it back for the first kickoff return in the XFL League against the New York Guardians at The Dome at America's Center on February 23, 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Scott Rovak/XFL via Getty Images)
The XFL wrapped up its third week on Sunday, with nearly a third of the regular season now in the books.
The DC Defenders looked to join the Houston Roughnecks as the only unbeaten teams left standing, while the Los Angeles Wildcats were hopeful of capturing their first victory.
The Defenders and Wildcats faced off in the second of Sunday's two games, with the New York Guardians and St. Louis BattleHawks opening play.
Here's a look at how Sunday unfolded.
XFL Week 3 Scores
Houston Roughnecks 34, Tampa Bay Vipers 27
Dallas Renegades 24, Seattle Dragons 12
St. Louis BattleHawks 29, New York Guardians 9
Los Angeles Wildcats 39, DC Defenders 9
XFL Week 3 Recap—Sunday
St. Louis BattleHawks 29, New York Guardians 9
Last week, Guardians quarterback Matt McGloin vented his frustration during an interview with ESPN's Dianna Russini. Those comments made it back to head coach Kevin Gilbride, creating the kind of dynamic fans don't witness in the middle of NFL games.
Matt McGloin at halftime to @diannaESPN: "We need to change the whole entire gameplan."
Head coach Kevin Gilbride: "I need to go talk to him & figure out what the problem is because he needs to play better."
Unfortunately for New York, things didn't get any better. The BattleHawks rolled over the Guardians 29-9.
Special teams was a big factor in the outcome, as New York out-gained St. Louis 307-273.
A Matthew McCrane field goal got the Guardians on the board and made it a 6-3 game in the second quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, the BattleHawks dipped into their trick plays and ran a reverse for safety Joe Powell.
Later in the quarter, Carlton Agudosi helped set up Matt Jones' one-yard touchdown run when he blocked Justin Vogel's punt. Shaq Jones picked up the ball and returned it to New York's 17-yard line to give the offense a short field.
The BattleHawks were up 23-3 at halftime, which left little work for them to do in the second half.
Jones helped St. Louis set the tone when it had the ball. The former Washington Redskins running back finished with 95 yards and one score on 15 carries.
On the other side, McGloin followed up his poor Week 2 showing with a more efficient—albeit similarly ineffective—performance Sunday. He finished 8-of-11 for 73 yards and an interception.
Marquise Williams is miles better than Matt McGloin on his mobility and creativity alone
Backup quarterback Marquise Williams wasn't much better (7-of-15 for 94 yards), but few will be surprised if he's leading the offense in Week 4.
Los Angeles Wildcats 39, DC Defenders 9
Cardale Jones was one of the XFL's standout performers through two weeks, but the former Ohio State star had a game to forget Sunday. The Wildcats defense intercepted him four times as he threw for 103 yards on 13-of-26 passing.
Tyree Jackson finished the game under center for DC, which gained 290 total yards.
The Wildcats fired defensive coordinator Pepper Johnson after just one game, a 37-17 loss to the Houston Roughnecks. The move didn't pay immediate dividends, as Los Angeles allowed 444 yards in a 25-18 Week 2 defeat to the Dallas Renegades.
Now, the team might have turned a corner after dominating on both sides of the ball.
The Defenders offense couldn't move the ball, and Josh Johnson torched their defense through the air.
Johnson set the tone by hitting Tre McBride for a 40-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive.
Johnson ended the day with 278 passing yards and three scores. McBride was his favorite target, catching five passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
The staying power of the XFL will rely heavily on quarterback play, so it definitely doesn’t hurt to see Josh Johnson playing so much better than he did a week ago.
PJ Walker, Cardale Jones, Landry Jones, Jordan Ta’amu and now Johnson have all played pretty strong football.
Shouldn't be surprising that Josh Johnson looks a lot better than Cardale Jones does tonight. Johnson won a game for the Redskins in 2018, while Jones has never made an NFL start
This was a statement game from the Wildcats. They were sluggish out of the gate but appear to have found their footing under head coach Winston Moss. And they have the slumping Guardians on the schedule in Week 4.
XFL 2020 Results: P.J. Walker Leads Roughnecks to Win, More Week 3 Highlights
Feb 22, 2020
TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 22: P.J. Walker #11 of the Houston Roughnecks passing during the XFL game against the Tampa Bay Vipers at Raymond James Stadium on February 22, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/XFL via Getty Images)
Arguably the XFL's best player and best team were in action Saturday when quarterback P.J. Walker and the Houston Roughnecks traveled to take on the Tampa Bay Vipers.
Walker and wide receiver Cam Phillips continued to show why they are the best combination in the league, as they connected for three touchdowns in a victory for the second consecutive week.
Also, both the Dallas Renegades and Seattle Dragons looked to improve to 2-1 when Seattle welcomed Dallas to raucous CenturyLink Field.
Here is a look at Saturday's Week 3 games along with a rundown of some of the biggest highlights.
XFL Week 3, Saturday
Houston Roughnecks 34, Tampa Bay Vipers 27
Dallas Renegades 24, Seattle Dragons 12
Houston Roughnecks 34, Tampa Bay Vipers 27
The Roughnecks improved to 3-0 with a road win.
While the Vipers put forth their best offensive performance of the season, they were stopped on 4th-and-goal late in the fourth quarter, which cemented an 0-3 start.
Walker finished with 306 passing yards and three touchdowns, and Phillips registered eight receptions for 194 yards:
PJ Walker completes the 84-yard TD WHILE getting dragged down.
Walker and Phillips had brief NFL stints with the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills, respectively, and now that they are playing MVP-caliber football in the XFL, perhaps they will return to the NFL.
Walker also rushed for 34 yards and a touchdown, which was arguably the highlight of the day in a game that was filled with big plays:
We are running out of adjectives to describe what PJ Walker can do on a football field.
Despite the strong play of Walker and the Houston offense in the first half, the game was tied 18-18 at halftime, as Tampa Bay head coach Marc Trestman's quarterback rotation of Taylor Cornelius and Quinton Flowers worked well in the absence of starter Aaron Murray for the second consecutive week.
A 24-yard touchdown from Walker to Phillips early in the third gave Houston the lead, but Cornelius' 20-yard score to Dan Williams and Andrew Franks' 43-yard field goal gave Tampa Bay a one-point lead.
The decisive touchdown came early in the fourth when Walker found Phillips from 17 yards out. Walker then hit Nick Holley for a two-point conversion to extend the lead to seven.
XFL sideline reporter and former NFL punter Pat McAfee made a major declaration about Walker:
Excited for PJ Walker to be the next Tommy Maddox.
Tampa Bay had multiple chances to tie the game late in the fourth, but it was stopped on 4th-and-goal with 3:50 to play, and Cornelius then threw an interception with 1:05 remaining.
Cornelius showed some flashes with 193 passing yards and one touchdown to go with a rushing touchdown, but with Murray in line to return next week, the Vipers will have a more established player under center moving forward.
Even so, Tampa Bay will have its hands full when it hosts the undefeated DC Defenders next week, while the Roughnecks will put their perfect mark on the line against the homestanding Renegades.
Dallas Renegades 24, Seattle Dragons 12
The Dallas Renegades came from behind to score a 24-12road victory over the Seattle Dragons on Saturday.
Dallas improved to 2-1 with the win, while Seattle fell to 1-2 after squandering a pair of six-point leads.
Making his second start of the season, former University of Oklahoma and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Landry Jones came through with a big performance, as he threw for 274 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Jones' favorite target was 6'8" tight end Donald Parham, who finished with five receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns. Parham made a game-tying touchdown catch from 10 yards out in the third quarter and then dealt a decisive blow to Seattle with less than nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter when he scored from 65 yards out to extend the Dallas lead to nine:
Donald Parham has now found the end zone in two straight weeks.
Dallas also received strong play from its running back tandem of former NFLers Cameron Artis-Payne and Lance Dunbar. Artis-Payne registered 80 rushing yards and six receptions for 30 yards,and Dunbar was a major factor in the passing game with nine grabs for 56 yards while tacking on 23 rushing yards.
While Seattle lost after winning its home opener last week, there were some positive signs, especially on offense.
Quarterback Brandon Silvers struggled mightily in last week's win, and although he wasn't perfect, he looked much better Saturday and finished with 204 yards, two touchdowns and one pick:
Brandon Silvers put his body on the line to stay in the pocket and drop this dime
Silvers also got back to what made him successful in Week 1, as he favored slot receiver Austin Proehl, who recorded six catches for 81 yards and a touchdown.
The Seattle defense forced three turnovers, but it allowed a few too many big plays from the Dallas offense.
The Renegades will have a chance to improve to 3-1 next week when they host the undefeated Roughnecks, while Seattle will look to get back on track on the road against the St. Louis BattleHawks.
