Tag: seattle dragons

XFL issues statement, regrets officiating error in Dragons vs. Roughnecks game

The XFL issued an official statement following the controversial, Week 5 finish between the Seattle Dragons and the Houston Roughnecks.

Saturday’s XFL game pitting the Seattle Dragons against the Houston Roughnecks resulted in a controversial finish the league now “regrets.”

Following the Dragons’ loss in Houston, the XFL released an official statement, reading as an apology.

“Today’s Seattle Dragons-Houston Roughnecks game should not have ended as it did. Replays showed clearly that the knee of Houston quarterback P.J. Walker touched the field, rendering him ‘down’ and the fourth-down play officially completed, with approximately two seconds remaining on the clock – effectively turning the ball over to Seattle on downs. With a nine-point differential in the score, Seattle was denied an opportunity to tie the game. The XFL sincerely regrets this error.

In addition, Wes Booker, who served as Officiating Supervisor for today’s game, has been reassigned.”

The XFL did not make mention of Booker’s “reassignment” duties in the statement.

Seattle fell to Houston 32-23 Week 5 and now sits at last place in the XFL West.

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Watch: P.J. Walker-Cam Phillips connection strikes for 2 TDs as Houston goes to 5-0

Cam Phillips caught a couple of TD passes from P.J. Walker in Week 5 of the XFL season for the Houston Roughnecks

After a quiet Week 4, the Houston Roughnecks’ classy combo is back on track.

P.J. Walker and Cam Phillips connected for a pair of touchdowns Saturday against the Seattle Dragons. The Roughnecks rebounded from a pair of significant deficits to take a 32-23 lead in the fourth quarter after the second touchdown pass, which was the ninth connection between the tandem of the season.

The score held up and Houston improved to 5-0, remaining the lone undefeated team in the XFL.

First, Walker found Phillips for five yards that turned a 23-20 deficit into a 26-23 advantage in a game that saw Houston fall behind 14-0 and 23-14.

Then, Walker and Phillips combined on an 11-yard scoring play to make it 32-23.

On the day, Phillips had 10 catches for 122 yards and the two scores. This came a week after he was limited to one catch for nine yards.

Walker had an up-and-down game but you couldn’t tell strictly from his stat line, which was 27-of-38 for 351 yards with three TD passes. However, the front-runner for league MVP also had two picks and lost a fumble.

All this in front of Seattle Seahawks scouts, according to Steve Levy who did play-by-play for ABC/ESPN.

 

Watch: Officials make stunning gaffe at end of Seattle-Houston game

The officials committed a huge gaffe at the end of the Seattle-Houston XFL game Saturday.

It’s over before it is over. That is what the officials apparently believed Saturday as the Houston Roughnecks played host to the Seattle Dragons.

The officials left the field after P.J. Walker took a knee with the clock running down in the fourth quarter. It was fourth down and Houston led 32-23. The big issue: the clock showed two seconds were left and Seattle should have had the football with a chance to tie from the Houston 23.

Seattle should have had the ball with a chance to score a touchdown and try for a three-point conversion to tie the game.

The replay official told ABC the game was over and there was nothing they could do about it, somehow. “The game is over,” Wes Booker, officiating supervisor, told the network.

“It can’t happen,” ABC analyst Greg McElroy said. “It absolutely can’t happen. It is inexcusable.”

What would XFL boss Vince McMahon say to the officiating crew?

Seahawks scouting XFL QB P.J. Walker as potential backup

The Seattle Seahawks sent scouts to Houston to check out Roughnecks QB P.J. Walker, who fits the bill as a potential Russell Wilson backup.

Despite being the least used position on their depth chart, the Seattle Seahawks are always looking for their next backup quarterback.

Geno Smith held the job last year, once again not earning a single snap thanks to iron man Russell Wilson, but he is set to hit free agency and seems likely to look for a gig with more promise of playing time.

Seattle has historically looked for veterans to play second fiddle to Wilson, passing up their 2018 draft pick – Alex McGough – in favor of Brett Hundley two years ago.

However – they may be looking to get a bit younger this time around, with ABC announcer Steve Levy reporting the Seahawks had scouts in Houston to watch the XFL matchup between the Roughnecks and the Seattle Dragons, specifically to watch Houston quarterback P.J. Walker.

The Roughnecks are 4-0 heading into Saturday’s contest thanks in large part to Walker’s dynamic performance. He has completed 92 passes, on 147 attempts, for 987 yards and 12 touchdowns compared to just two interceptions.

The 25-year-old is a dual-threat quarterback who starred at Temple University before going undrafted and spending two seasons off-and-on the practice squad of the Colts.

It was reported that former Colts quarterback Andrew Luck recommended Walker to his dad, commissioner Oliver Luck, which is part of the reason he ended up getting picked up by the Houston squad.

Regardless, Walker has played extremely well in the first part of the new XFL season, enough to likely find his way into an NFL training camp this summer – with Seattle a very real possibility.

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Watch: Marko Myers wears turnover mask after picking off P.J. Walker

The Seattle Dragona made good use of their turnover mask against P.J. Walker.

The Seattle Dragons’ defense has given P.J. Walker trouble Saturday. The Houston Roughnecks’ quarterback had accounted for 12 TDS before Week 5 against two turnovers.

He had two turnovers in the first three quarters against Seattle. The second was an interception by Marko Myers, who almost turned it into a Pick Six.

It didn’t take long for the Dragons to capitalize and turn the game into a 23-14 advantage.

Seahawks postpone Military Hiring Fair ‘out of an abundance of caution’

The Seattle Seahawks have postponed their Military Hiring Fair ‘out of an abundance of caution’ due to the spread of Coronavirus in the area.

The Seattle Seahawks have postponed their Military Hiring Event “out of an abundance of caution” due to the spread of the Coronavirus throughout Washington State.

The event, open to all branches of service – active duty, reservists, veterans, family members and DoD employees – was to have taken place on March 14 at CenturyLink Field and was sold out.

A part-time employee who had worked the XFL’s Seattle Dragons game at the stadium recently has now been diagnosed with COVID-19.

The Seahawks tweeted the following information Friday afternoon:

“Out of an abundance of caution, and in light of current recommendations from public health officials, we will be postponing the Military Hiring Fair scheduled for Mar 14. We apologize for any inconvenience.

“We will communicate a new date for the event as soon as it has been set.”

The Seattle Sounders FC’s match versus Columbus Crew SC set for  Saturday, March 7 is set to take place as planned at CenturyLink Field.

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Seattle Dragons at Houston Roughnecks odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Saturday’s Seattle Dragons at Houston Roughnecks sports betting odds and lines, with XFL betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Seattle Dragons (1-3) take on the Houston Roughnecks (4-0) in the XFL’s Week 5. Kickoff for this game is set for 2 p.m. E.T Saturday at TDECU Stadium. Below, we break down the Dragons-Roughnecks Week 5 matchup, with XFL betting picks and tips.

Dragons at Roughnecks: Week 5 preview, betting trends and notes

  • Roughnecks WR Cam Phillips leads the XFL in receiving yards with 333, despite catching just one pass for nine yards in Week 4. He will look to bounce back in Week 5 against a poor Dragons defense.
  • Dragons LB Steven Johnson currently leads the XFL in tackles after recording at least eight tackles in every game this season. On the year, he has 40 total tackles to go along with six tackles for a loss and two pass deflections.

Get some action on this XFL matchup or other games by betting at BetMGM. New customer offer: RISK-FREE First Bet (up to $500!) paid in free bets; visit BetMGM for terms and conditions. Bet now!

Dragons at Roughnecks: Key injuries

Dragons

  • DL Anthony Moten (ankle) out
  • WR Kasen Williams (quad) out
  • CB Johnathan Alston (knee) questionable
  • CB Jeremy Clark (hand) probable
  • WR Marcel Frazier (hip) probable
  • S Santos Ramirez (illness) probable
  • G William Campbell (knee) probable

Roughnecks

  • WR Sammie Coates (hamstring) out
  • DL Kony Ealy (shoulder) out
  • RB De’Angelo Henderson (shoulder) out
  • OL Marquez Tucker (knee) out
  • WR Kahlil Lewis (groin) questionable

Dragons at Roughnecks: Odds, betting lines and prediction

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:45 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Roughnecks 33, Dragons 17

Moneyline (?)

The Roughnecks (-526) are big home favorites over the Dragons (+380) Saturday afternoon. Houston has won four-straight games and sits atop the standings in the XFL through four weeks. Considering QB P.J. Walker leads the league in passing yards (987), it’s tough to see a scenario in which the Dragons can slow him down. PASS on these chalky odds in Week 5.

Against the Spread (?)

The ROUGHNECKS (-13.5, +100) are two-touchdown favorites over the Dragons (+13.5, -121) Saturday afternoon. Seattle has struggled mightily on offense this season, failing to score 20 points in any game. They are averaging just 16 points per game as they continue to look for stable play from the quarterback position. The 13.5 points is a ton to give, but I like the Roughnecks to cover this spread and win by at least 13 points Saturday as they look to improve to 5-0.

Over/Under (?)

The Over/Under for this Week 5 matchup in the XFL is set at 45.5 points, which is the highest of any game this weekend. With the Roughnecks having one of the best passing offenses in the XFL, it’s not hard to see why this line is so high. In order for the Over to hit, Houston will have to do most of the heavy-lifting but scoring 30 or more points shouldn’t be too difficult. Look for the OVER 45.5 (-110) to hit in the first game of Week 5.

Want action on this game? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. If you’re looking for more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship, and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Updated XFL Championship Odds: Roughnecks, Battlehawks pulling away

Assessing the 2020 XFL Championship odds through the inaugural season’s first four weeks. Can anyone catch the Houston Roughnecks?

The XFL is four weeks of games into its inaugural season and the Houston Roughnecks and St. Louis Battlehawks have emerged as heavy favorites as division leaders. We look at the 2020 XFL Championship odds with contenders pulling away entering the mid-point of the season.

2020 XFL Championship Odds

Odds via BetMGM, last updated March 4 at 1:40 p.m. ET.

TEAM PRESEASON ODDS UPDATED ODDS
Houston Roughnecks +750 +175
St. Louis Battlehawks +1000 +250
Dallas Renegades +250 +600
DC Defenders +750 +700
New York Guardians +350 +800
Los Angeles Wildcats +450 +1200
Tampa Bay Vipers +550 +2000
Seattle Dragons +1200 +3300

2020 XFL Championship Odds: Risers

Houston Roughnecks

The Roughnecks are the only remaining undefeated team through four games, winning twice at home and twice on the road. Their plus-five touchdown differential and 16 TDs scored also lead the league.

QB Phillip Walker leads the XFL with 987 passing yards, Cam Phillips leads with 333 receiving yards and Deatrick Nichols leads with three interceptions. Three of their four wins have come by at least 7 points.

St. Louis Battlehawks

The Battlehawks’ odds have dropped to 1/4 of what they were in the preseason. They sit atop the XFL East at 3-1 and are undefeated at home at 2-0. The defense leads the league with only seven touchdowns allowed.

QB Jordan Ta’amu ranks second to Houston’s Walker with 876 passing yards, while RB Matt Jones is second with 244 rushing yards. Their only loss was a 28-24 setback at the Roughnecks in Week 2, and only Houston has scored more than 16 points against St. Louis.

2020 XFL Championship Odds: Fallers

Los Angeles Wildcats

The Wildcats entered the season with the third-best championship odds and are now one of the three teams buried at the bottom with odds worse than 10-1 to win the championship.

They’re 1-1 at home and 0-2 on the road, but they have a touchdown differential of plus-2, thanks to a 39-9 home rout of the Defenders in Week 3. They fell right back to Earth in Week 4, however, with a 17-14 road loss at the New York Guardians.

Tampa Bay Vipers

The Vipers entered the year with hope led by former Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman. They’ve started the season 0-2 on the road and have a minus-2 touchdown differential.

They may have started a turnaround in Week 4 with a 25-0 home win over the Defenders, a club with a pattern of helping opposing teams turn things around, apparently.

Seattle Dragons

Things have only grown worse for the Dragons, who started the year with the worst XFL Championship odds. Their touchdown differential is just minus-1 – they haven’t lost by more than 12 points.

They’re unlikely to win it at all, but they’re much closer to being in the middle of the pack and represent a reasonable long-shot value.

Want action on the XFL? Sign up and bet at BetMGM. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @EstenMcLaren and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Jordan Ta’amu stars as St. Louis tops Seattle

Jordan Ta’amu put on a stellar show as St. Louis cut down Seattle in XFL play.

Jordan Ta’amu is the maestro of Jonathan Hayes’ offense in St. Louis. Together, they are 3-1 now in the XFL after stopping the Seattle Dragons Saturday, 23-16, before a raucous BattleHawks home crowd of more than 27,000 fans.

Ta’amu, who played college ball at Ole Miss, was 20-of-27 for 264 yards passing.

Check out these passes:

He was impressive on the ground, too, orchestrating the run/pass option to near perfection. Ta’amu had 16 carries for 63 yards. Overall, he accounted for 327 yards of the BattleHawks’ 392 yards of total offense.

Coach Hayes wore goggles to the celebration.

On the Seattle side, Jim Zorn’s Dragons are 1-3. The biggest move they made may have been bringing in B.J. Daniels at quarterback. The former South Florida star brought a spark to an offense that was beyond dull under Brandon Silvers.

Daniels ran seven times for 84 yards and completed half of his 10 pass attempts for 100 yards.

Things won’t get easier for Seattle in Week 5. They go to Houston to face P.J. Walker and the Roughnecks in what is becoming a must-win game. St. Louis will meet the Defenders in DC as the XFL season reaches its midpoint.

 

XFL fans roast coach Jim Zorn over baffling explanation for 3-point play

Math is hard.

The Seattle Dragons entered Saturday’s matchup with the St. Louis BattleHawks as massive 12.5-point underdogs, but after Jim Zorn finally benched struggling quarterback Brandon Silvers after the first half, the Dragons pulled within four points with a touchdown early in the final quarter. Backup B.J. Daniels hit tight end Evan Rodriguez over the middle to make the game 20-16 – but Zorn’s puzzling extra-point decision left commentators and fans dumbfounded.

In the XFL, there are no point-after kicks, and coaches have the option to run a play for a 1, 2, or 3-point conversion. Down four points in the final quarter, it would make most sense for the Dragons to opt for a 1-point conversion from the 2-yard line, as they could pull within a field goal if the try is successful.

Zorn, however, opted to run a 3-point play from the 10-yard line – and though Daniels hit his receiver in the chest after scrambling on an extended play, the pass fell incomplete and left Seattle down four points.

Immediately after the incompletion, Fox sideline reporter Brock Huard asked Zorn why Seattle went for three – and Zorn gave a very confusing answer.

Zorn: “It’s the fourth quarter, so, you know, if we get three points….. I thought we had a good play on. We hit it – I think, did you see the replay? He put it on his chest, so, you know, we’re taking the opportunity. But that gets us, now that gets us one touchdown away. So we’ll keep scoring, going to try to win this football game.

Huard: So being in the fourth quarter, that being more important at that point being just a field goal away if you go for one?

Zorn: “Uhh… I’ll think about that when I get there.”

Fans piled on Zorn on social media.

 

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