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The ultimate week of the 2023 XFL common season is closing, and the playoff image had some knots to type out.
Yesterday’s action noticed one workforce, the San Antonio Brahmas, get formally eradicated. The workforce’s tight 29-28 level loss to the DC Defenders dropped its file to 3-7 and locked it into third place within the XFL South Division.
This had main implications on Sunday’s opening recreation, because it clinched the second playoff spot within the South Division for the Arlington Renegades. This meant that the workforce’s recreation in opposition to the Houston Roughnecks had no impact on the playoff race, as Houston had already clinched the division.
Within the nightcap, it’s a fully totally different story. The St. Louis Battlehawks and the Seattle Sea Dragons each entered the ultimate week with an identical 6-3 data. The season sequence was additionally tied after Seattle took home final week’s must-win recreation and stored its playoff hopes alive.
Each St. Louis and Seattle had been capable of take house victories within the closing week, however it’s the Sea Dragons who shall be transferring on to face the DC Defenders within the playoffs.
Here’s a take a look at the up to date XFL playoff bracket following Saturday’s video games, in addition to a recap of the Week 10 motion.
Sunday
Houston Roughnecks def. Arlington Renegades 25-9
Seattle Sea Dragons def. Vegas Vipers 28-9
Up to date XFL Playoff Bracket
XFL North Championship Recreation
(1) DC Defenders vs. (2) Seattle Sea Dragons
XFL South Championship Recreation
(1) Houston Roughnecks vs. (2) Arlington Renegades
XFL Week 10 Sunday Recap
Roughnecks 25, Renegades 9
The South Division champions took a lead early and by no means gave it up, though Arlington was capable of get it to a three-point deficit at halftime. A 13-0 run within the second half put the sport away and gave the Roughnecks a 7-3 file to finish the season.
Cole McDonald handed for 120 yards, finishing 10 of 11 passes for the victors, and added 66 yards and a touchdowns on the bottom. Jeremy Cox exploded for 120 speeding yards and a landing on 21 carries, whereas Justin Smith contributed 51 yards on three catches. Tavante Beckett notably had a pick-six on protection.
Luis Perez threw for 205 yards and an interception for the Renegades, whereas Leddie Brown had 29 yards on 14 carries. Brian Herrien led all Renegade receivers with 47 yards off of 5 catches.
NFL on ESPN @ESPNNFL
The @XFLRoughnecks get the W 💪
They will tackle the @XFLRenegades once more subsequent week within the @XFL2023 South Division Championship 🏆 pic.twitter.com/dRljrPSmDY
Houston Roughnecks @XFLRoughnecks
Don’t fret guys, admin was right here to get the entire thing 😉@XFLRenegades WE’LL BE TAKING THAT 🫶 pic.twitter.com/E8NLwQc99I
NFL on ESPN @ESPNNFL
Cole McDonald hit the Siuuuu after this TD for the @XFLRoughnecks 👀 pic.twitter.com/FASrY1xgc9
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NFL on ESPN @ESPNNFL
Coach Wade Phillips is resilient on the aspect traces 😂 @XFLRoughnecks pic.twitter.com/KB0fPN5IuG
D210SPORTS @D210S
FINAL:
HOU 25
ARL 9(ARL) L. Perez
22-36, 205 YDS, 1 INT(HOU) J. Cox
21 CAR, 120 YDS, 1 TD▶️ Arlington Renegades will face the Houston Roughnecks (6-3) within the XFL South Division Championship recreation subsequent Saturday, April 29 at TDECU Stadium in Houston. #XFL2023
📸 @_BOneal pic.twitter.com/kytbVVPUq2
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The groups will met once more within the first spherical of the XFL playoffs. The sport is scheduled for Saturday in Houston. The Roughnecks defeated the Renegades 23-14 within the different matchup between the 2 this season.
Seattle Sea Dragons 28, Vegas Vipers 9
Seattle basically had a win-and-in situation going into this recreation, and that’s exactly what the Sea Dragons did in opposition to the Vipers. It took a very long time for both workforce to get on the board, however a clutch landing from Ben DiNucci within the closing two minutes of the primary half set the tone for a dominant third quarter.
DiNucci went 26-of-41 for 339 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. He additionally added 41 yards and a landing on the bottom. Josh Gordon was a breakout star for Seattle within the receiving recreation, getting 115 yards off of 9 catches. Juwan Inexperienced was additionally a significant component, having 88 yards and a landing on 4 catches.
Jalen McClendon was 6-of-21 for 201 yards and an interception for the Vipers, whereas Matthew Sexton had two catches for 119 yards.
XFL Communications Division @XFL_PR
The Seattle Sea Dragons have secured a spot within the North Division Championship recreation with their Tiebreaker #5 benefit over the St. Louis Battlehawks.
The North Division Championship shall be performed at Audi Subject in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, April 30 at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Seattle Sea Dragons @XFLSeaDragons
BIG TOUCHDOWN from @TheJordanVeasy 💪#XFL2023 | #BreatheFire pic.twitter.com/TxRIRwuyDF
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Seattle Sea Dragons @XFLSeaDragons
POV: Admin chasing the interception celebration #XFL2023 | #BreatheFire pic.twitter.com/gngDpoBHlM
Seattle Sea Dragons @XFLSeaDragons
Jahcour Pearson takes it in for the landing 🔥🐉#XFL2023 | #BreatheFire pic.twitter.com/sBOnWqtD2P
Jake Russell @_JakeRussell
The D.C. Defenders will host the Seattle Sea Dragons within the XFL North title recreation Sunday, April 30 at Audi Subject at 3 p.m. The sport shall be on ESPN.
The winner will face the XFL South title recreation winner (both the Roughnecks or Renegades) for the XFL Championship on Could 13.
The win units up a playoff match between Seattle and the Defenders on Sunday. DC took each of the workforce’s regular-season matchups, however the video games had been determined by a mixed 5 factors.
Predictions
It appears like Sunday was a fairly good indicator for the way the Roughnecks-Renegades playoff matchup will go. Arlington is the one playoff workforce with a sub-.500 file and was crushed fairly simply by Houston in each matchups. Nonetheless it’s exhausting to beat a workforce thrice in a single season, and it’s doubtless that the Renegades didn’t play each card in a recreation that was borderline meaningless.
Prediction: Houston 26, Arlington 12
The North recreation is a little more intriguing. DC has been the workforce to beat all season, with the one blemish coming in opposition to the Orlando Guardians in Week 7. Nonetheless, the Defenders seem like slumping as they exited the common season, whereas Seattle is peaking. The Sea Dragons completed the 12 months on a 7-1 run, and the one loss was a one-point defeat by the Defenders. Seattle is sizzling and needed to play with fireplace to achieve this level.
Prediction: Seattle 32, DC 30