We have a Battlehawk down !!!

Can the Battlehawks survive their crash landing versus the Sea Dragons? The XFL has two division winners after week 9. Two playoffs spots are still out there. Will it be the Renegades or the Brahmas in the South? Who will take the other spot in the North: the Sea Dragons or the Battlehawks? We know the Guardians still suck. Let’s try to sort it all out as we roll out the week ten XFL power rankings.

#8. ORLANDO GUARDIANS (1-8) SAME SPOT FROM LAST WEEK

When it comes to the Orlando Guardians, their new slogan should be, “I shot myself in the foot.”

The Guardians broke out the entire playbook versus the Brahmas including executing a fake punt. The Guardians had the lead most of the game versus the Brahmas. Once again the Guardians are snake bitten, you can even say Plaxico Burress themselves late in that game when Quinten Dormady’s screen pass attempt results in a pick six.

Terrell Buckley, head coach, looks like a deer in head lights. Probably thinking of the idea taking on the head coach position at the time sounded like a good idea. Buckley’s defense is the loosest slot machine in the tri-state area where everyone comes away with big time awards for the back of their football card. It’s a shame the mistakes because the stupid penalties with an Guardian offense in the second half of this season has been one of the best in the league putting points on the board.

#7. SAN ANTONIO BRAHMAS (3-6) SAME SPOT FROM LAST WEEK

The Brahmas still have playoff hopes despite a 3-6 record as they chase the second spot in the division as Arlington lost to the Defenders. The Brahmas had to battle it out just to get by the dreaded Guardians who they swept this season. If the Brahmas offense could play the Guardians every week, this is the team where their junior varsity elevated to varsity. The Brahmas found their running game and Jack Coan back in the mix looked like the guy from Notre Dame and the first time he faced the Guardians. Coan threw a 29 yard strike to Travis Toivonen.

Jaques Patrick had a 6 yard rushing touchdown. On defense the best unit on this Brahma team, Drew Beesley had a pick six to help San Antonio prevail and keep their playoff hope alive as they perhaps can sneak through the doggy door after week ten.

#6. VEGAS VIPERS (3-6) DROPPED ONE SPOT FROM LAST WEEK

Only the Vegas Vipers can look like they have the game in command. The Roughnecks offense looked flat. Like the Vipers are that notorious vilian that has the super hero in their grasp.

All’s the Vipers have to do is step on their neck and close out their enemy. In all those Batman classics, the main vilian walks out while they have the super hero trapped & then the escape happens. The Roughnecks found some offense, but it was the defense that changed the tide of the game as the Vipers left early again and could not close out the game.

The Roughnecks made Vipers wide receiver just look silly after he caught the ball & still standing got the ball stripped out of his arms in not much of fight. Plays like that, I don’t see Bryant getting back to the NFL any time soon. Then Jalen McClendon behind center has showed the Vipers promise the last few weeks of his play. McClendon did not have a good game as he fumbled and was sacked 4 times.

#5. ARLINGTON RENEGADES (4-5) MOVED UP ONE SPOT LAST WEEK

Even though the Renegades lost last week, they made a nice comeback in the second half versus the best team in the league, the Defenders. The Renegades forced an overtime with the Defenders but could not convert in the XFL Hockey shoot out.

It was the Renegades defense who got the rally started. Joe Powell, who is not talked about a lot, but a very talented defensive back in the XFL had the interception that injected life into the Renegade team. The Renegades then picked off a D’Eriq King pass, Luis Perez looked sharp, and the Renegade offense drove the length of the field. The Renegades fed the ball to their running back De’Veon Smith who had two rushing touchdowns. In OT, Perez could not sneak the ball past the Defenders defense as they defended the goal line with three impressive stands. Arlington could have clinched a playoff spot with the win. The Renegades will have to wait until week ten to decide their playoff faith.

#4. HOUSTON ROUGHNECKS (6-3) SAME SPOT FROM LAST WEEK

The Roughnecks suddenly have won two straight and have won the Southern Texas division in the XFL. Only Orlando in the South division does not play in the state of Texas. Maybe next season they will be the Austin Guardians. It was the Roughnecks defense that changed the tide of the game last week versus a Vipers team that likes to gift wrap turnovers. Houston had two key fumbles in this contest that help the Roughnecks get back in the game and prevail. The Roughnecks clinch the division because of the defense & then turned to the running game. Brandon Silvers was horrific behind center which may be a concern for the post-season. Silvers is 16-27 for only a 105 passing yards with two bone-headed interceptions.

Roughnecks running back did his version of Superman flying over the Viper defenders to get a key touchdown late in this game to help Houston win the division. Max Borghi and Alleyne, the two-headed monster backfield had a combined 116 yards on the ground which Houston needed with the bad play from Silvers who was not golden.

#3. ST.LOUIS BATTLEHAWKS (6-3) DROPPED 2 SPOTS FROM LAST WEEK

The Hawks fall from their nest in week 9 as they were gobbled up by the Sea Monsters.

Is the sky falling in St.Louis? The Battlehawks had their worst loss of the season to a Seattle team they need to stay ahead of for the final playoff spot. In a game where it was supposed to be the clash of the titans, it ended up in a blow out fashion. AJ McCarron did return behind center for the Battlehawks from an injury he suffered the week before.

McCarron was under duress the entire game as he had two interceptions. The Battlehawks in their last 8 drives of the game either turnover the ball or punted it back to the Sea Dragons. The Battlehawks can still make into the post-season but they need to bury the Guardians next week.

#2. SEATTLE SEA DRAGONS (6-3) MOVED UP ONE SPOT FROM LAST WEEK

When Seattle lost to the Defenders last week, which broke their losing streak, I thought their season suddenly was in the crapper. Seattle had to fly across the country and play a road game in St.Louis who lead the league in attendance and can make things difficult for the opponents. The Sea Dragons as road warriors throttle the Battlehawks and keep their playoff hopes alive heading into week ten. Ben DiNucci who leads the XFL in passing yards but also leads the league in interceptions, played a clean game versus the Battlehawks.

DiNucci played like he had a chip on his shoulder as he went 20-30 for 242 passing yards while throwing two touchdown passes and he ran one in for another score. The Sea Dragons defense is not talked about enough. Seattle defense held one of the best, maybe the best, quarterbacks and that Battlehawks offense to 12 points. It’s too bad the Sea Dragons and BattleHawks can’t both make it into the post-season. Those two teams are power houses over feather weights like the Renegades and the Brahmas of that South division.

#1. DC DEFENDERS (8-1) MOVED UP ONE SPOT FROM LAST WEEK

It took quarterback Jordan Ta’amu’s two point conversion pass to Josh Hammond in the hockey shootout version of the XFL overtime the Defenders North title.

For most of the game last week, the Defenders look like they were in cruise control & then the Renegades rallied to send this game to overtime. In the end, the beer snake will see post-season play.

The Defenders did survive in overtime as they had their normal recipe cooking early on. Another defensive score as DJ Swearinger had a pick six off Luis Perez of the Renegades. Then two more touchdown catches for wide receiver Lucky Johnson. DC clinches the much tougher division. They still need to beat the Battlehawks or Sea Dragons, one of these teams they swept in the first round of the XFL playoffs that should be the championship game. Can the Defenders beat one of these teams for the third time in one season? Who ever comes out of the North should win the XFL championship over Houston or the other guys in the South.