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The XFL playoff image is coming into focus after a wild Week 9.

The Houston Roughnecks and their feared protection confirmed why they’re the highest workforce within the South Division with a victory over the Vegas Vipers, however home-field benefit all through the XFL postseason goes to the D.C. Defenders.

The Defenders improved to 8-1 with a 28-26 win over the Arlington Renegades, holding on in additional time to safe the North Division title.

The Renegades shedding meant the San Antonio Brahmas stayed alive for yet one more week after they survived an Orlando Guardians rally for a 25-23 win.

We maintain you up to date with the most recent information, greatest highlights and most pivotal moments from this week within the XFL.

Each XFL sport will likely be streamed stay on ESPN+, and they’re out there on the ESPN household of networks (ABC, ESPN and FX).

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Recaps | Best plays
Tweets | Quotes

This weekend’s video games

The Roughnecks entered Saturday’s sport having already clinched home-field benefit within the South Division, however had an uncharacteristically gradual begin. Houston turned the ball over on its first two possessions and trailed 12-0 halfway via the second quarter.

Then the Roughnecks’ protection stepped up.

Deandre Johnson knocked the ball out of Vegas quarterback Jalen McClendon’s hand, and Tavante Beckett scooped up the fumble and ran 30 yards to the home, flipping into the top zone to spark the Roughnecks to victory.

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0:39

Houston scores first TD on a scoop-and-score

Deandre Johnson grabs the unfastened ball and takes it to the home for a Houston landing.

Houston’s D wasn’t performed after Johnson’s rating. Trailing 12-6 halfway via the third quarter, Houston’s Ajene Harris stripped Vegas huge receiver Martavis Bryant after a brief achieve and ran 13 yards into the top zone because the Roughnecks took a 13-12 lead they’d not relinquish.

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0:30

Roughnecks pull nearer with an Ajene Harris TD

Ajene Harris forces the fumble and flips into the top zone for a Houston landing.

On a day when Houston quarterback Brandon Silvers struggled — 16-for-27, 105 yards, two interceptions — the remainder of the Roughnecks stepped up. Max Borghi and Brycen Alleyne mixed for 116 speeding yards and every scored a landing, whereas the protection scored two TDs, sacked McClendon 4 occasions and stopped the Vipers’ late comeback try, forcing two incompletions from the Houston 18-yard line to finish the sport.

The Brahmas stored their playoff hopes alive Saturday because of a robust passing assault and well timed protection.

Needing a win to remain alive within the South Division playoff race, quarterback Jack Coan threw for 302 yards and a landing whereas Drew Beasley returned an interception 20 yards for a landing as San Antonio held on to beat the Orlando Guardians 25-23.

The Brahmas trailed 14-3 halfway via the second quarter, however Coan led San Antonio to 3 straight scoring drives of over 70 yards.

Nick Holley had 4 catches for 105 yards, together with a 34-yard seize proper earlier than halftime to arrange Jacques Patrick’s 6-yard landing run to convey San Antonio inside 14-10.

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1:52

Jacques Patrick runs in 6-yard TD simply earlier than halftime for Brahmas

The San Antonio Brahmas rating their first landing of the sport simply earlier than halftime towards the Orlando Guardians.

Coan then orchestrated a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 29-yard area objective that lower the deficit to 14-13. After the Brahmas pressured a punt on the following drive, Coan threw a 28-yard landing to Travis Toivonen that made it 19-14.

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1:04

Travis Toivonen makes catch and breaks free for a 28-yard Brahmas TD

Travis Toivonen provides the Brahmas their first lead with a 28-yard landing catch.

Up 19-17 within the fourth, Drew Beesley tipped a Quinten Dormady display move to himself and ran 20 yards for a landing to increase the lead. However the Guardians, who introduced Deondre Francois again into the sport at quarterback, lower the deficit to 25-23 on a 3-yard landing to Andrew Jamiel.

San Antonio stopped the two-point try, then ran out the clock to carry on for the victory. It wasn’t till Sunday afternoon till the Brahmas would notice they’d be alive for yet one more week.

The Defenders withstood a livid Renegades rally to clinch home-field benefit all through the XFL postseason and maintain on for 28-26 additional time win on Sunday.

Jordan Ta’amu’s two-point conversion to Josh Hammond broke a 26-26 tie, then the Defenders broke up a Luis Perez move to seal the victory.

Up 20-9 thanks to 2 Fortunate Jackson landing catches, D.C. prolonged its lead when D.J. Swearinger returned a Luis Perez interception 62 yards to make it a 26-9 ballgame.

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0:53

Decide-six! Defenders take it to the home for a TD

D.J. Swearinger picks off Luis Perez and takes it to the top zone for a landing.

The Defenders have been threatening to attain once more, driving into the pink zone, however a Joe Powell interception began Arlington’s livid rally. After a penalty negated Powell’s pick-six, the Renegades scored on the primary of De’Veon Smith’s two speeding touchdowns to get inside 11.

The Renegades then picked off D’Eriq King on the Arlington 25, then drove 67 yards downfield for one more Smith landing with 1:20 to go.

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0:22

De’Veon Smith scores his second TD of the sport

De’Veon Smith rushes into the top zone for a 1-yard landing.

On the following fourth-and-15, Perez threw a 25-yard completion to Sal Cannella to increase possession. They received a problem that in any other case would have led to a turnover on downs, then kicked a game-tying 27-yard area objective with 5 seconds to go to arrange additional time.

With the loss, the Renegades have to both beat the Houston Roughnecks subsequent Sunday (3 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+) or hope that the Brahmas lose to the Defenders on Saturday (3 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+) so as to clinch a playoff spot.

Finest performs

Punter exhibits off his arm

Orlando pulled out all of the stops for this faux punt, the place Mac Brown confirmed off he additionally has a cannon for an arm with a 69-yard completion to … who else however KD Cannon (pun supposed)?

Air Alleyne

Alleyne leapt from the 3-yard line over two defenders to attain this unimaginable Roughnecks landing. He wasn’t performed, both, celebrating with a backflip.

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0:30

Brycen Alleyne’s TD extends Houston’s lead

Brycen Alleyne leaps into the top zone for a 14-yard Houston landing.

Stayin’ alive

For the fourth time this season, a workforce transformed a fourth-and-15 make-it-take-it try. This was the primary try for the Renegades, and it got here at an ideal time.

High tweets

Ought to we name Beelsey’s interception the tip-six? Not solely was it some of the pivotal performs within the XFL this week, however it additionally captured the eye of The Rock.

Quotes

“Take a look at the rating!” Caliph Brice desires to ensure everybody knew concerning the Roughnecks win.

The Brahmas have been quietly — maybe not so quietly — rooting for the Defenders to beat the Renegades to maintain their playoff hopes alive. And with the Defenders’ additional time victory, San Antonio’s playoff goals stay for yet one more week.


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