There is one undefeated team left in the XFL. There is one winless team after three weeks. What happened in Week 3? What is there to look forward to as the season continues?
Mr. Excitement is LA’s newest rock star
Martex Carter brought the excitement that was missing to the LA Wildcats. The running back from Grambling State put on a football show and did some gymnastics, too, as LA got its first victory of the season. He scored three TDs, two with spectacular finishes, as the Wildcats were pristine.
Kevin Gilbride has a mess on his hands
The New York Guardians fell to 1-2 with a loss to the St. Louis Battlehawks. Coach Kevin Gilbride saw quarterback Matt McGloin melt down in a Week 2 loss. Then, Sunday in St. Louis, his center, Ian Silberman blew a fuse, almost was ejected before being benched. Silberman, who was a sixth-round pick of the 49ers in 2015 out of Boston College, was warned by the officials during the game. He drew a personal foul for unsportsmanlike conduct when pushing away a defender from a “sugar huddle.” The Guardians return home to face the LA Wildcats in Week 4. If Gilbride doesn’t tighten the reins, their season could be over before the midway point. And who is going to play QB? Gilbride used three in the loss at St. Louis.
St. Louis is a rocking football city
The Battlehawks delivered big time for their fans in their home opener. And the fans returned the favor for their new team. Attendance at The Dome of America’s Center was 29,554. The lower level was sold out. The crowd was loud and provided lots of support for the Battlehawks, who are 2-1 and look like a major contender for the playoffs.
Stoops has Renegades in gear
The Dallas Renegades didn’t show much in the first half Saturday against the Seattle Dragons. However, they came to life in the second half and are 2-1 heading into Week 4’s Texas Tussle with the undefeated Houston Roughnecks. Dallas has scored 31 points in the second half of its last two games, showing it gets stronger as the game gets longer. The Renegades have a nice running game going with Cameron Artis-Payne as their feature back. They also discored a big weapon in 6-foot-8 TE Donald Parham, who scored two TDs in Week 3.
It is June in February for Houston
The flip side of the upcoming Texas Tussle features the undefeated Houston Roughnecks. Plenty of attention has been focused on P.J. Walker and Cam Phillips. June Jones is a maestro at the controls of the offense. Houston is averaging 33 points per game. This sets up one of the most interesting matchups of the young season. Dallas will be at home and needs a win. Falling two games behind in this short season will ramp up the pressure the rest of the way.
DC Defenders completely collapsed
Hard to figure what happened to DC in LA Sunday. It felt like a WWE storyline to keep the Wildcats in the race … kidding. After a pair of impressive home victories, Pep Hamilton’s team fell apart. Every facet of the game was awful. Offense, defense, special teams. There’s good and bad ahead for the Defenders. They face the winless Tampa Bay Vipers in Week 4 but the game is on the road. Could this be a team that thrives at home and is doomed on the road? Cardale Jones threw pick after pick after pick after pick. That’s disconcerting.
Wildcats find their bite
The LA Wildcats felt like a team in chaos after Week 1 and didn’t improve in Week 2 as they fell to 0-2. The team that showed up against the DC Defenders in Week 3 did not look anything like the group that was winless. They devoured Cardale Jones and the Defenders roaring to a 27-0 lead in the first half. Josh Johnson was in total control of the offense and the defense was flying all over the field. The Wildcats travel cross-country for a Week 4 matchup with the New York Guardians. They have to hope being at home doesn’t settle the Guardians, who are flopping.
Sleepy in Seattle
The Dragons are draggin’. Jim Zorn’s team doesn’t appear to have a dynamic offense, having averaged 16 points in its first three games. The lone victory came against winless Tampa Bay. It won’t get easier for Zorn’s crew as they head to St. Louis for Week 4. Zorn will need to rev up his offense to keep up with the powerful Battlehawks and their fans.
Tampa Bay could be the first team eliminated
The Vipers are 0-3 and have allowed nine TDs while scoring four. A loss next week and Tampa Bay could be heading toward a winless season. Do you tank for a draft pick in the XFL?
