The XFL game photo is in the spotlight after a steamy Week 9.
The Houston Roughnecks and their fearsome defense showed why they are the top team in the South Division with their victory over the Vegas Vipers, but the home field advantage throughout the XFL postseason goes to the DC Defenders.
The Defenders improved to 8-1 with a 28-26 win over the Arlington Renegades, going into overtime to secure the North Division title.
The Renegades’ loss meant the San Antonio Braham was alive for another week after surviving the Orlando Guardians’ run to a 25-23 victory.
We keep you up to date with the latest news, best highlights, and biggest moments from this week in the XFL.
Every XFL game will be broadcast live on ESPN+, available on the ESPN family of networks (ABC, ESPN, and FX).
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Abstract | The best plays
Tweets | quotes
Games this weekend
The Roughnecks entered Saturday’s game having already grabbed a home advantage in the Southern Division, but got off to an uncharacteristically slow start. Houston turned the ball over on their first possession and trailed 12-0 midway through the second quarter.
Then the Roughnecks defense stepped up.
Dendre Johnson hit the ball out of the hands of Vegas quarterback Jalen McClendon, and Tavante Pickett threw a fumble and ran home 30 yards, fumbling in the end zone to spark the Furious for the victory.
Houston scores the first TD in a head start and score
Deandre Johnson catches the loose ball and takes it home for a Houston touchdown.
The Houston team has yet to be finalized with Johnson’s score. Trailing 12-6 midway through the third quarter, Houston’s Agenie Harris stripped Las Vegas wide receiver Martavis Bryant after a short gain and ran 13 yards into the end zone as the Roughnecks took a 13-12 lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The Brutals go together with Ajene Harris TD
Agene Harris forces a fumble and fumbles in the end zone for a touchdown by Houston.
On a day when Houston quarterback Brandon Silvers struggled — 16-for-27, 105 yards, 2 interceptions — the rest of the Roughnecks stepped up. Max Burgee and Bryson Allen combined for 116 rushing yards and scored a touchdown each, while the defense scored twice, sacked McClendon four times and blocked a late Vipers return attempt, resulting in an incomplete at Houston’s 18-yard line to end the game. .
We do not lose faith! We just push forward! jagged w pic.twitter.com/seds5ap4Lv
– Houston Roughnecks (XFLRoughnecks) April 15, 2023
Brahma kept their playoff hopes alive on Saturday thanks to a solid passing attack and timely defense.
Needing a win to survive the South Division playoff race, quarterback Jack Cowan threw for 302 yards and a touchdown while Drew Beasley returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown as San Antonio held on to beat the Orlando Guardians 25-23.
Brahmas trailed 14-3 midway through the second quarter, but Coan led San Antonio to three straight scoring drives of over 70 yards.
Nick Hawley had four catches for 105 yards, including a 34-yard grab right before halftime to set up Jack Patrick’s 6-yard touchdown run to bring San Antonio within 14-10.
Jack Patrick’s 6-yard TD run before halftime by the Brahms
The San Antonio Brahms scored their first touchdown of the game just before halftime against the Orlando Guardians.
Coan then orchestrated a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 29-yard field goal that narrowed the deficit to 14-13. After Brahmas forced a punt on the next drive, Coan threw a 28-yard touchdown to Travis Toivonen that made it 19-14.
Travis Toivonen catches it and throws it free for a 28-yard Brahmas TD run.
Travis Toivonen gives Brahmas their first lead with a 28-yard touchdown run.
At 19-17 in the fourth, Drew Beasley caught a pass from Quentin Dormade’s screen for himself and ran 20 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead. But the Guardians, who brought Deondre Francois back into the game at quarterback, cut the deficit to 25-23 on a 3-yard touchdown run to Andrew Jamil.
San Antonio blocked the two-point attempt, then ran out of time to hang on for the victory. It was not until Sunday afternoon that the Brahmins realized that they would survive for another week.
The Defenders held out on the Renegades’ furious run to clinch home court advantage throughout the XFL postseason and went on to win 28-26 on Sunday.
Jordan Taamo’s two-point conversion to Josh Hammond broke the tie at 26-26, then the defenders broke up a Luis Perez pass for the win.
Up 20-9 thanks to two Lucky Jackson catches, DC increased their lead when DJ Swearinger returned a Luis Perez interception 62 yards to make it 26-9 ballgame.
Pick six! The Defenders take it home for a TD
DJ Swearinger catches Luis Perez and takes it into the end zone for a touchdown.
The defenders were threatening to score again, heading into the red zone, but a Joe Powell interception started a furious Arlington rally. After a penalty nullified a Powell Beck six, the Rebels scored on the first of two rushing Devion Smith touchdowns to reach the 11th.
Then the Rebels singled D’Eriq King at the Arlington 25, then drove 67 yards down for another Smith touchdown with 1:20 to go.
De’Veon Smith scored his second goal of the game
De’Veon Smith rushed into the end zone for a 1-yard gain.
On the next fourth-and-five, Perez threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Sal Canela to extend possession. They won a challenge that would otherwise have resulted in a turnover on touchdown runs, then kicked a game-tying 27-yard field goal with 5 seconds to go to set up overtime.
With the loss, the Rebels either need to beat the Houston Roughnecks next Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+) or hope the Brahms lose to the Defenders on Saturday (3 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+) in order to clinch a playoff spot.
The best plays
The Gambler shows his arm
Orlando pulled out all the stops for this faux punt, as Mack Brown showed he’s also an arm cannon with a 69-yard completion for…who else but KD Cannon (pun intended)?
Mack Brown with a fake hole for a huge gain of 69 yards 😳Hahahahaha | @employee pic.twitter.com/BjTfsfjMT0
– SportsCenter April 16, 2023
Allen Airlines
Alleyne jumped from the 3-yard line over two defenders to score on this stunning violent touchdown. He also didn’t finish celebrating with a backflip.
TD Brycen Alleyne increases Houston’s lead
Brycen Alleyne jumps into the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown in Houston.
stay alive
For the fourth time this season, a team converted a fourth try and 15 tries. This was Renegades’ first attempt, and it came at a perfect time.
the @employee You have a chance to win or draw the match after converting the 4th and 15th‼️
They were down 9-26 in the third quarter. pic.twitter.com/ENAkH899jA
– NFL on ESPN (ESPNNFL) April 16, 2023
top tweets
Should we call Pelsey’s objection the tip six? Not only was it one of the most pivotal plays in the XFL this week, but it also caught The Rock’s attention.
One ☝🏾 for the D-line boys!! Pick # tip 6
Paisley 🏈
Crazy exciting game!!@employee Congratulations on winning the big homeland and staying alive!! Hahahaha https://t.co/Nvt2LEsCgU– Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) April 16, 2023
quotes
“Look at the result!” Caliph Price wants to be sure everyone Know about the Roughnecks winning.
Safe to say we had some happy guys on the field!!
HOUSTON LETS RUN IT BACK#XFL | # mention pic.twitter.com/KqDp0sCKvu
– Houston Roughnecks (XFLRoughnecks) April 15, 2023
The Brahmas have been quietly — perhaps not so quietly — rooting for the Defenders to beat the Rebels to keep their playoff hopes alive. And with the Defenders winning in overtime, San Antonio’s playoff dreams remain for another week.
Secret rooting for @employee Now 😅
After all we are happy every one #XFL family #XFL2023 | # Horns Forward
– Saint Anthony Brahms (XFLBrahmas) April 16, 2023