The first two weeks of the inaugural XFL season drew mixed results. While Week 1 was entertaining around the league, this past weekend’s action left a lot to be desired.
Quarterbacks continued to struggle. Retread head coaches are just not cutting it. That could be a theme heading into Week 3.
Meanwhile, Houston Roughnecks quarterback P.J. Walker is now right there with Cardale Jones of the DC Defenders as the top MVP candidate. Can Walker prove his worth to potential XFL suitors against a bad Tampa Bay Vipers squad this weekend?
These are among the top storylines for Week 3 of the XFL season.
First head coach to be fired?
The Los Angeles Wildcats already pulled the premature plug on defensive coordinator Pepper Johnson after one game. That did very little to help their defense in last week’s loss to the Dallas Renegades. Now at 0-2 on the season, we’re openly wondering if head coach Winston Moss will last the remainder of the year.
In Tampa Bay, things are not going well for head coach Marc Trestman and Co. The Vipers have been outscored by 28 points in two games and have scored a total of one touchdown during that span. Already seemingly in over his head, could Trestman get his walking papers if Tampa loses to a much better Houston Roughnecks squad on Saturday?
The emergence of P.J. Walker
Walker has put up nearly 500 total yards with seven touchdowns and just one interception in two games this season. He’s also leading the Houston Roughnecks to an average of 32.5 points per game. In a league that has not seen a whole lot of scoring, that’s amazing.
We’re now wondering whether Walker will get a look from NFL teams this offseason. His next chance to prove himself at that level will come Saturday against a league-worst Tampa Bay Vipers squad. Expect Walker to dominate in this one.
Continued interest in Seattle
Despite being one of the worst teams in the XFL, the Seattle Dragons have received a ton of interest in the Pacific Northwest. Their game against the Vipers last Saturday evening drew north of 30,000 fans at CenturyLink. It was loud as all get out, too.
Will this interest in the Dragons continue Saturday afternoon as they take on Landry Jones and a wide-open Dallas Renegades offense? The game itself should be a blast. We expect much of the same from Dragons fans.
Next quarterback to throw his coach under the bus
New York Guardians quarterback Matt McGloin made waves back in Week 2 after throwing his entire team under the bus during a 27-0 loss to the league-best DC Defenders. It was not a good look for the former NFL starting quarterback.
We know these players have pressure on them. This is really their final chance to prove they belong in the NFL. Even then, it’s the ugly side of desperation. Who might be the next signal caller to go the way of Mr. McGloin?
Outside of the likes of P.J. Walker and Cardale Jones, quarterback play in the revamped XFL has been ugly in its inaugural season. Some player will struggle under center, failing to take responsibility during in-game interviews. You can bank on that.
Can the XFL make it in large markets?
The DC Defenders saw their attendance for last week’s game against the New York Guardians drop significantly from Week 1. It’s not a coincidence that tickets for said game were the highest of the slate in the XFL.
I’m openly wondering whether the XFL can make it in large markets. The Los Angeles Wildcats’ attendance issues at Dignity Health Sports Park last week is a prime example of this. While fans have shown excitement in Houston, Seattle and St. Louis, could issues with attendance in larger market lead to a realignment for the XFL should the league make it out of Year 1?
We’ll acquire a better understanding with the Wildcats hosting DC this weekend.