#1 D.C. DEFENDERS (5-0)
PREVIOUS RANK: 2
LAST WEEK: DEF. ST LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS 28-20
THIS WEEK: VS. HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (4-1) MONDAY 7PM EST (ESPN2/ESPN+)
Two words for you. ABRAM SMITH. Every single time St Louis got back into the game or attempted to. Abram Smith said hold my beer. He finished the game with 218 rushing yards on 23 attempts and THREE HUGE TOUCHDOWNS.They get to host the #2 team in the league this week in Houston. This will be yet another test for this Gregg Williams defense.
#2 HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (4-1)
PREVIOUS RANK: 1
LAST WEEK: LOSS TO SEATTLE SEA DRAGONS 21-14
THIS WEEK: AT D.C. DEFENDERS (5-0) MONDAY 7PM EST (ESPN2/ESPN+)
The Roughnecks had a rough time in Seattle, not only did they lose their first game of the season. They have gotten the bad news that top receiver, Jontre Kirklin is out for the season. While they still had a decent game offensively, quarterback Brandon Silvers looked a little frazzled Thursday night. The roughnecks also could not get anything really going with the run game.What a bounce back game for them this week, against the best team in the XFL. But if you’re going to make a statement, this is the time to do so.
#3 ST LOUIS BATTLEHAWS (3-2)
PREVIOUS RANK: 3
LAST WEEK: LOSS TO D.C. DEFENDERS 28-20
THIS WEEK: AT VEGAS VIPERS (1-4) SATURDAY 7PM EST (FX/ESPN+)
All their fans do is show up and out. St Louis had yet another week of 35,000+ fans inside the Battledome. A.J. McCarron is my frontrunner now for league MVP. I just love everything about the guy. (I’m a LSU fan, so that says a lot 🤣.) Unfortunately their defense was out of place and just allowed Smith run all over them all game long. The two losses they have, have come from D.C. and both have been close games. If their defense can just play a little more solid, they can make a run at a championship. You had seven players have 5+ tackles on the day.
#4 SEATTLE SEA DRAGONS (3-2)
PREVIOUS RANK: 5
LAST WEEK: DEF. HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS 21-14
THIS WEEK: AT ORLANDO GUARDIANS (0-5) SATURDAY 1PM EST (ABC/ESPN+)
Cole had him a game defensively for the Sea Dragons, ending the evening with 10 tackles. Ben DiNucci had his moments but still finished the evening with 3 INTs. This team is trending up, but I still don’t fully trust their QB, and that will likely hurt them. You will not win many games throwing that many INTs in a game. Your defense just made plays when it needed to the most, and they get Orlando this week. So they should continue to trend up.
#5 ARLINGTON RENEGADES (3-2)
LAST WEEK: DEF. SAN ANTONIO BRAHMAS 12-10
THIS WEEK: VS. SAN ANTONIO BRAHMAS SUNDAY 3PM EST (ABC/ESPN+)
You know, I don’t have an explanation for them. I thought for sure, once Sloter took over at QB we would see improvement. This team is so much potential but just did not even measure up to it.They unfortunately, seem lost and unsure on the offensive side of the ball. Luckily for the, their defense is playing lights out. They are all over the ball and keep their offense in every single game. But you’re not going to win many games only scoring 12 points, regardless of how great or well your defense is playing. We have a rematch of last week, so let’s see who adjust the most.
#6 SAN ANTONIO BRAHMAS (1-4)
PREVIOUS WEEK: 6
LAST WEEK: LOSS TO ARLINGTON RENEGADES 12-10
THIS WEEK: AT ARLINGTON RENEGADES SUNDAY 3PM EST (ABC/ESPN+)
The Brahmas finally made a switch from Coan to Sinnet at QB, Sinnet didn’t blow the game out of the water, but he brought life to the offense, and to the AlamoDome. Unfortunately, he suffered a foot injury and is out for the season. Coan came back in and just continued to struggle, and the Brahmas could not score or move the ball against Arlington. This is frustrating for a city that deserves great football, just Hinds Ward and company is not producing that currently.
They get Arlington again this week, so it could a repeat and just a hard game to watch.
#7 VEGAS VIPERS (1-4)
PREVIOUS WEEK: 7
LAST WEEK: DEF. ORLANDO GUARDIANS 35-32
THIS WEEK: VS. ST LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS SATURDAY 7PM EST (FX/ESPN+)
Best game of the year for Vegas. They were balanced on offense, Perez, Smith, and Badet. I was not sure what they would look like without Bryant on the field, but they played a solid game. Defensively, meh, you know, good try? At least you won? I guess when you’re winless, you take a W however you can and you don’t care who against.Let’s see if the momentum can keep going with St Louis coming into town. Luckily for Vegas, they are the home team, and no one shows up there to watch them, so they won’t have to worry about the loudness of the Battledome.
#8 ORLANDO GUARDIANS (0-5)
PREVIOUS WEEK: 8
LAST WEEK: LOSS TO VEGAS VIPERS 35-32
THIS WEEK: VS. SEATTLE SEA DRAGONS SATURDAYS 1PM EST (ABC/ESPN+)
Orlando finally made a change at quarterback, after Lynch started 5/9 for 47 yards. Backup Dormady had a solid game, finished 22/25, 256 and 2TDs. It’s just Orlando’s defense can’t stop anything. We’re halfway through the season and their coaching staff looks lost and confused most of the time. They have talent, just it’s not coming all together. Latimer had a game with 8 rec for 124 yards and a score. I love that they finally played well, just it still wasn’t enough to get a W.
Editor: Bobby Autin