Who is the best team in the XFL?
It's way too early to have a true answer; the league just completed a fun-filled debut that might have surprised the casual viewer. The football looked like, well, competitive football. Now it’s on the league to keep that momentum going.
Now with a full weekend of games as a reference, we're able to put together a power ranking ahead of Week 2.
XFL WEEK 1 REVIEW:
Tweaked rules, surprising fun make new league worth watching
XFL power rankings: Week 2
1. Houston Roughnecks (1-0)
P.J. Walker emerged as the first XFL breakout star after finishing 23 of 39 for 272 yards and four touchdowns in a 37-17 victory over Los Angeles. Walker connected on TD passes of 4, 16, 39 and 50 yards, and the Roughnecks scored 25 unanswered points beginning late in the second quarter. LaTroy Lewis had two sacks on defense. June Jones' team looked the best in Week 1, so it gets the top spot.
2. D.C. Defenders (1-0)
Former Ohio State star Cardale Jones still hasn't lost as a starter. He passed for 235 yards and two TDs in his team's 31-19 victory against Seattle. Jones hit Rashad Ross for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:51 left in the third quarter and flashed that big arm that made him a cult hero with the Buckeyes. The Defenders scored touchdowns on defense and special teams. D.C. had just 68 rushing yards, so that will need to improve in Week 2.
3. St. Louis BattleHawks (1-0)
Jordan Ta'amu and Matt Jones gave the offense balance in a 15-9 victory against Dallas. Ta'amu passed for 209 yards and a TD; Jones had 85 yards rushing. Keith Ford had a touchdown run and the defense limited the Renegades to three field goals. Former Wisconsin defensive back Darius Hilary led the defense with eight tackles.
4. New York Guardians (1-0)
The Guardians were opportunistic in a 23-3 victory over Tampa Bay where they were outgained 394-226. Former Penn State quarterback Matt McGloin threw for a touchdown and rushed for another, but the running game sputtered with just 44 yards. Bunmi Rotimi led the defense with seven tackles and two tackles for loss.
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5. Seattle Dragons (0-1)
The Dragons had their chances in the opener at D.C., but Bradley Sylve's pick-six of a Brandon Silvers pass was the dagger. Silvers' play was a mixed bag; he had three TD passes and two interceptions. Austin Proehl had five catches for 88 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Seattle converted just 4 of 15 on third down. That won't get it done on the road.
6. Tampa Bay Vipers (0-1)
Despite the loss to the Guardians, there is reason to believe this team should be fine. As mentioned, Tampa Bay out-gained New York handily. Aaron Murray threw two interceptions and the line allowed five sacks. Tampa Bay still averaged 5.5 yards per play and Daniel Williams flashed big-play ability with six catches for 123 yards. The mistakes are correctable.
7. Los Angeles Wildcats (0-1)
Former Princeton quarterback Charles Kanoff fired 40 passes, and the Wildcats had a 17-12 lead before the P.J. Walker show started. Nelson Spruce had an outstanding game with 11 catches on 15 targets for 103 yards, and Elijah Hood added 43 yards rushing. The problem was that LA took five sacks.
8. Dallas Renegades (0-1)
The Renegades had to settle for three field goals in the loss to the BattleHawks. The running game sputtered with just 58 yards. Philip Nelson completed 33 passes but they amounted to just 209 yards. Four sacks got in the way of the offense establishing a rhythm. It was a not the best debut for Bob Stoops' team, but the defense showed life with Tegray Scales, who had five tackles, a sack and three tackles for loss.
