The XFL marches into Week 3 looking to build off steady momentum through two weeks.
This week, the two remaining unbeaten teams, Houston and D.C., are matched up against the two winless teams, Tampa Bay and Los Angeles. Here is a closer look at the schedule and five reasons to continue watching the XFL this weekend.
MORE: XFL Week 3 odds, picks and predictions
XFL Week 3 schedule
(All times Eastern)
Saturday, Feb. 22
Houston Roughnecks (2-0) at Tampa Bay Vipers (0-2), 2 p.m., ABC
Dallas Renegades (1-1) at Seattle Dragons (1-1), 5 p.m., FOX
Sunday, Feb. 23
New York Guardians (1-1) at St. Louis Battlehawks (1-1), 3 p.m., ESPN
D.C. Defenders (2-0) at Los Angeles Wildcats (0-2), 6 p.m., FS1
Five reasons to keep watching XFL
Will Cardale Jones stay unbeaten?
Jones is emerging as the early face of the league. He leads the XFL with 511 passing yards, and he's hit on 61.9 percent of his passes. He's kept three receivers involved in Rashad Ross, Eli Rogers and DeAndre Thompkins, and the Defenders have been one of the XFL's most exciting teams.
It's a tough test for the Wildcats, who have allowed 31 points per game through two weeks. Jones is 13-0 as a starter dating back to his days at Ohio State.
Who starts for the Vipers?
Aaron Murray (foot) might miss a second consecutive game, so it's on Marc Trestman to get the offense going with quarterbacks Quinton Flower and Taylor Cornelius, who both struggled in last week's loss to the Dragons.
Tampa Bay quarterbacks have completed just 36 of 70 passes (51.4 percent). The QB play has to be better for sustainable interest.
Which running back will shine?
Through two weeks, only four running backs have rushed for more than 100 yards. St. Louis' Matt Jones leads the league with 129 yards, followed by Tampa Bay's De'Veon Smith (125), Dallas' Cameron Artis-Payne (105) and Tampa Bay's Jacques Patrick (105).
Artis-Payne got on track for Dallas this week and is a recognizable name, but the league-wide rushing trends are middling at best. XFL teams average 24.8 attempts for 100.3 yards on 4.0 yards per carry through two weeks. There was a slight improvement in Week 2.
What will P.J. Walker do next?
Walker has seven TD passes through two weeks, and that's come with 442 passing yards, 53 rushing yards and a 72.8 completion percentage. Jones, Walker and St. Louis' Jordan Ta'amu have played great through two weeks, and that high-level quarterback play will be a necessary ratings driver. It wouldn't hurt if Landry Jones builds on his debut in Week 3.
Walker, however, is the most exciting player in the league so far, and that should continue against the winless Vipers.
Is there a defensive stud worth watching?
Houston's DeMarquis Gates might be playing his way into a shot at the next level. The former four-star linebacker from Ole Miss has 11 tackles through two weeks, and he led the Alliance of American Football in tackles before that league folded last season.
Gates, who is 6-2 and 221 pounds, should continue to stay active for Houston's defense, which allows 20.5 points per game.
