The D.C. Defenders will not finish the 2023 XFL season undefeated after Saturday night’s 36-35 loss to the Orlando Guardians. It was also Orlando’s first win of the season.
Behind six touchdowns from quarterback Quinten Dormady, the Guardians held off for an upset win over the Defenders. D.C. had entered the game as massive 9.5-point favorites. The Defenders had a chance late, but kicker Matthew McCrane missed a 63-yard attempt to seal the game for Orlando.
It was the best offensive performance of the season against what had been a stingy D.C. defense led by Gregg Williams. However, Dormany passed for 328 yards and three touchdowns while also scoring three rushing touchdowns.
D.C. running back — and the XFL’s leading rusher — Abram Smith rushed for 127 yards and a touchdown. Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta’amu had one of his better games, completing 21 of 29 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Chris Blair caught five passes for 139 yards and a touchdown.
While the loss was a disappointing one for the Defenders, next week is another big week. The Defenders face the Seattle Sea Dragons, who now have the XFL’s longest winning streak at five games. Seattle sits at 5-2 on the season. It’s the second meeting of the season between the XFL’s current top teams, with D.C. opening the season with a 22-18 win over the Sea Dragons.
The game kicks off Sunday evening at 7 p.m. ET in Seattle.