The XFL heads into Week 3 and in this short season it is a make-or-break time for the LA Wildcats and Tampa Bay Vipers, who are both looking for their first victory.
The Wildcats are in deep trouble
After an 0-2 start, the last team the LA Wildcats need to be facing are Pep Hamilton’s DC Defenders. Pepper Johnson was released after the first week as defensive coordinator. Winston Moss is looking at an 0-3 start and the Wildcats’ season could be finished before a month is out.
Stoops’ Renegades will roll on the road
Bob Stoops isn’t used to coaching a sub-.500 team after three games. His Oklahoma team was 1-2 in 2005. Don’t think that will happen despite the Dallas Renegades having to travel to Seattle. Jim Zorn’s QB situation with the Dragons is weak. Stoops can count on Landry Jones to improve off his debut and send the Renegades to a 2-1 mark.
St. Louis will be rocking
If Kevin Gilbride didn’t have enough challenges with the New York Guardians’ QB Matt McGloin, he now has to take his team to St. Louis, where the Battlehawks will be making their home debut. Jonathan Hayes appears to be one of the better coaches in the league and has a gem in Jordan Ta’amu at quarterback. Battlehawks tickets are soaring in the secondary market. Expect the home faithful to be rewarded with a victory.
Another week without 100-yard rusher
The XFL has not seen a running back go for 100 yards in its first two weeks. The closest was Cameron Artis-Payne, who had 99 in the Renegades’ win over the defensively challenged Wildcats in Week 2. The week before, however, Payne had all of six yards. Matt Jones of the Battlehawks leads the lead and he is averaging 64.5 yards per game. Running is not a forte for the XFL offenses … yet.
Walker-to-Phillips will find the end zone
The hottest quarterback-receiver combination in the XFL is P.J. Walker to Cam Phillips for the Houston Roughnecks. Four of their 12 connections have concluded in the end zone. Houston travels to Tampa Bay to face the winless Vipers. Expect Walker and Phillips to continue their hot start and hook up for at least one TD connection.
