The XFL season is winding down and two teams had a chance to clinch the final playoff spots. DC had the chance to clinch homefield advantage throughout the playoffs, while St. Louis and Arlington were looking to secure their spots in the postseason. Meanwhile, Seattle and San Antonio were trying to keep their chances alive going into the final week of the season.
SEA DRAGONS 30, BATTLEHAWKS 12
Seattle and St. Louis squared off with the second spot in the XFL North on the line. St. Louis was one game ahead of Seattle in the standings going into the game and had the chance to clinch the spot with a win. But former Cowboys quarterback Ben DiNucci stepped to keep Seattle in the playoff hunt. DiNucci completed 21 of 31 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns to lead Seattle to the 30-12 win. Former Alabama standout A.J. McCarron couldn’t keep up as he tossed two interceptions. Seattle and St. Louis are now tied for the second spot in the North with one week to play.
DEFENDERS 28, RENEGADES 26 (OT)
Earlier in the day on Sunday, the DC Defenders ensured they would be at home in the XFL playoffs after surviving a scare from Arlington. Jordan Ta’amu completed 14 of 20 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns as the best team in the XFL continued its winning ways. After an Arlington field goal forced overtime, Ta’amu found Josh Hammond for the only two point conversion of the extra period to lock the Defenders into the top seed.
BRAHMAS 25, GUARDIANS 23
San Antonio managed to keep its faint playoff hopes alive with a two-point win over the worst team in the XFL. Orlando led 14-3 at one point before the Brahmas mounted a comeback. San Antonio marched to a 25-17 lead before a late touchdown brought the game down to a two-point conversion. Orlando failed to convert giving San Antonio the win. The Brahmas’ win coupled with the Renegades’ loss means the second spot in the XFL South remains up for grabs heading into week 10.
ROUGHNECKS 28, VIPERS 21
The least consequential game of week nine played out pretty much as expected. Houston rebounded from last week’s loss to beat Vegas 28-21. Houston clinched the top spot in XFL South but already had more losses than DC or St. Louis going into the weekend and the same number of losses as Seattle. It was unlikely Houston would be the one seed going into the weekend and the rest of the results confirmed it.
XFL NORTH PLAYOFF STANDINGS
- DC Defenders 8-1
- St. Louis Battlehawks 6-3
- Seattle Sea Dragons 6-3
- Vegas Vipers 2-7
XFL SOUTH PLAYOFF STANDINGS
- Houston Roughnecks 6-3
- Arlington Renegades 4-5
- San Antonio Brahmas 3-6
- Orlando Guardians 1-8
NORTH PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
The final spot in the XFL North could be decided Saturday as the St. Louis Battlehawks take on the Orlando Guardians in the first game of the weekend. If St. Louis wins, they clinch. It St. Louis loses, then Seattle has a chance to clinch on Sunday when they face the Vegas Vipers. Both teams managed to draw the two last place teams in each division to end the season, but the Guardians already ruined DC’s quest for perfection, and the Vipers have managed to win twice already this season. It’s possible both Orlando and Vegas could play spoiler in week 10.
SOUTH PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
In the South, Arlington will know when they take the field if they have to win or not. San Antonio takes on top-seeded DC Saturday night. If the Brahmas win, the Renegades have to beat the Roughnecks on Sunday. If the Brahmas lose, Arlington will be locked into the second spot in the South before taking the field.
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