XFL Power Rankings Week Three

8. Tampa Bay Vipers (0-2, previous XFL ranking: 8)

The struggles continue for the Tampa Bay Vipers as they still have yet to score an offensive touchdown. While they moved the ball well offensively in week one, Taylor Cornelius struggled in his first start at quarterback. The team decided to switch between Cornelius and Quinton Flowers to replace Aaron Murray who was injured. Offensively, they struggled to pass the ball with the running game being their best option. Their defense was able to return an interception for a touchdown but struggled against the run. The defense allowed a 68-yard touchdown pass from Brandon Silvers to Keenan Reynolds. Tampa Bay has some work to do as Houston’s high powered offense comes into town.

7. LA Wildcats (0-2, previous XFL ranking: 7)

Josh Johnson returned to the lineup to make his XFL debut. While he at times missed on open receivers, Johnson looked good in the pocket and proved to be one of the top quarterbacks in the league. The running game was again stale for the offense, but Nelson Spruce continued to prove to be the top receiver in the league. Even with defensive coordinator Pepper Johnson being fired, the LA defense looked much improved. The first three quarters showcased a defense that provided a lot of pressure on Landry Jones and shut down the Renegades’ running game. Their success ended with Cameron Artis-Payne running for 80 yards and two scores in the fourth quarter. LA looked better in week two but still needs to figure out their identity.

6. New York Guardians (1-1, previous XFL ranking: 3)

The Guardians fell from grace after their dominant week one performance against Tampa Bay. Matt McGloin had the worst performance of the season throwing for 44 yards and two interceptions before getting benched. The running game didn’t do much to help as the offense struggled in every single way. The defense was serviceable in the first half but overall was overpowered by Cardale Jones and the DC offense. Things will only get tougher as the defense faces off against early XFL star quarterback Jordan Ta’amu of St. Louis.

5. Seattle Dragons (1-1, previous XFL ranking: 4)

Their win against the Vipers was not impressive offensively, but the home crowd they provided was a sight to see for XFL fans. Brandon Silvers only threw for 91 yards, but the story of the offense was the running game. Between Kenneth Farrow, Ja’Quan Gardner, and Trey Williams, the three ran for 117 yards and helped carry the offense. Keenan Reynolds provided a spark offensively with his 68-yard touchdown catch. The defense dominated the Vipers and created three turnovers including the game-sealing interception as time expired. Silvers has some work to do, but a strong running game and defensive play should help.

4. Dallas Renegades (1-1, previous XFL ranking: 5)

The return of Landry Jones was bigger than the Renegades could have expected. While Jones’ performance was uneven with two interceptions, he still completed almost 70 percent of his passes. Not to mention he was the first quarterback in the league to throw for over 300 yards. Cameron Artis-Payne bounced back from his poor week one with 99 yards rushing and two touchdowns. The running game was huge in the fourth quarter as it helped seal the win. The defense played well through three quarters. They allowed a big pass play for a score from Josh Johnson to Nelson Spruce. Despite that score, the defense got the job done at the end.

3. St. Louis BattleHawks (1-1, previous XFL ranking: 5)

The BattleHawks did lose on the road to Houston, but St. Louis played them tough. Jordan Ta’amu threw two bad passes for interceptions, but the rest of the game was near perfection. He was accurate and again was able to make plays with his legs. Rookie mistakes will happen, but he already looks like a veteran. The running game continues to be the strength of the team. Defense only struggled because PJ Walker is too dominant to contain. Holding Houston to 28 points is success in itself. The team was setback with a big deficit at halftime, but the defense did enough to keep the team within striking distance.

2. Houston Roughnecks (2-0, previous XFL ranking: 1)

PJ Walker is the best quarterback in the XFL. He showed off his improv abilities once again as his legs made the difference against St. Louis. James Butler continued to be the focal point of their running game and seems to be their starter for the rest of the season. Cam Phillip’s three touchdowns easily made him the top offensive player of the week in the XFL. The defense struggled in the second half, but both of their turnovers set the team up within the BattleHawks’ 10-yard line. Big plays were the difference for the Roughnecks.

1. DC Defenders (2-0, previous XFL ranking: 2)

They once again prove that the Defenders can win in all three phases of the game. Cardale Jones had another solid outing to be one of the league’s most consistent quarterbacks. Eli Rogers played a key role in the passing game even after fans finding out he missed his mother’s funeral to play. The defense had the strongest performance of the week causing Matt McGloin to be frustrated throughout the game. Turnovers and continuous stops made life miserable for New York’s offense. The Defenders have all the ingredients to win it all should they continue strong quarterback play and playmaking abilities on defense.

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