The DC Defenders will host the New York Guardians in an XFL Week 2 battle that could give the winner an early edge in the East Division playoff race.
The Defenders are a 7-point favorite in the matchup, according to odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook.
New York Defense Collides with DC Attack
Both the Guardians and Defenders are 1-0 after impressive victories in the first week of the XFL season. New York showed off perhaps the league’s best defensive unit in a 23-3 win over the Tampa Bay Vipers. Meanwhile, DC looked strong on both sides of the ball as Cardale Jones led an explosive offense in a 31-19 win over the Seattle Dragons.
Fans heard just about everything XFL coaches had to say during the Week 1 games, including many of their play calls. Many of the coaches were caught by surprise at the amount of information that was made public, including Defenders’ head coach Pep Hamilton.
“I’ve been up overnight trying to change some of the calls,†Hamilton told The Sports Junkies. “I think everybody in DC knows by now that ‘even’ is to the right and ‘odd’ is to the left. So 3.3 million people know whether we’re running to the right or the left.â€
The Guardians might need that information to contend with a Defenders team that is seen as one of the most talented squads in the XFL. While New York scored plenty of points in Week 1, quarterback Matt McGloin will likely need to become more consistent for the Guardians to have a chance to pull off a second upset in a row, this time on the road.
Landry Jones Should Spark Renegades Offense
The Dallas Renegades entered the XFL season as the consensus favorite to win the league’s first championship, but the St. Louis BattleHawks spoiled that party by winning a 15-9 slog in Dallas on Sunday.
The Renegades should receive a boost in Week 2 thanks to the return of Landry Jones. The former Pittsburgh Steelers backup is widely seen as the most talented quarterback on any XFL roster. Jones sat out Week 1 in order to fully heal from a knee injury he suffered during training camp.
“We’re planning on starting Landry and playing the whole game,†Dallas coach Bob Stoops told reporters. “He’s felt great all week, so we’re anxious to see him out there.â€
Dallas will travel to the Los Angeles Wildcats, who lost their opener in a 37-17 blowout to the Houston Roughnecks. The Wildcats were so concerned with their defensive woes that they fired defensive coordinator Pepper Johnson after just one game.
XFL Week 2 Odds
- New York Guardians vs. DC Defenders (-7)
- Tampa Bay Vipers (-2.5) vs. Seattle Dragons
- Dallas Renegades (-3.5) vs. Los Angeles Wildcats
- St. Louis BattleHawks vs. Houston Roughnecks (-8)
Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook
Jones and the Renegades are expected to exploit the Wildcats’ defense again in Week 2, as Dallas is a 3.5-point road favorite.
In the other XFL Week 2 matchups, the Houston Roughnecks (1-0) are 8-point home favorites over the St. Louis BattleHawks (1-0), while the Tampa Bay Vipers (-2.5) will look to rebound when they visit the Seattle Dragons in a matchup between two teams that lost their openers.