XFL Week 4 Preview - a podcast by Ovi Muniz

Professional football is back in a big way in St. Louis, as the BattleHawks hosted the New York Guardians at The Dome at America's Center in front of an XFL record 29,554 fans, the highest mark in an XFL game this year.

In the first game in St. Louis since the Rams left for Los Angeles after the 2015 season, fans were treated to a 29-9 BattleHawks victory that included an exciting kick return for a touchdown.

TV ratings across the board took a hit from Week 2, this week’s total attendance was a season high.

Parity also appears to be setting into the league. Only one of eight teams remain undefeated, as the Houston Roughnecks beat the 0-3 Tamp Bay Vipers 34-27 behind 4 TDs from PJ Walker

In the most surprising result of the weekend, the Los Angeles Wildcats (1-2) handed the previously undefeated DC Defenders their first loss of the season by scoring an XFL-record 39 points.

The XFL plays a 10-week regular season, and four-team playoff format leading into the championship game on April 26 from TDECU Stadium in Houston on ESPN.

XFL has a big Week 4 ahead

Just because the XFL’s ratings are doing well compared to other sports doesn’t mean the league can continue to leak viewers.

Week 4 will be important. The NFL has taken back the news cycle with the scouting combine happening this week. The XFL is getting to the point of the season in which the novelty has worn off, yet it’s too early to hype up a stretch drive for the postseason. It will be a real test to reverse the ratings decline.

The XFL is doing better than expected through three weeks. The numbers still compare favorably to other options on the sports menu.

First Down - Week 3 Recap

Starting with Saturday’s games...Houston Roughnecks defeated Tampa Bay Vipers 34-27. Vipers’ QB Cornelius attempted to drive the offense at the end but threw an interception for the second straight week. Roughneck’s QB PJ Walker and WR Camp Phillips continue to dominate in the air.

The Dallas Renegades came back from a 12-6 deficit at halftime and scored 18 unanswered points to defeat the Seattle Dragons 24-12.

On Sunday, the St Louis Battlehawks made history. They ended a total of 1,529 days with no football in the city, set an XFL record by having over 29,000 in attendance for the home opener, the first to return a kickoff touchdown, and have their kicker hit an XFL record 58-yard field goal. Battlehawks defeated the New York Guardians 29-9.

And the Los Angeles WildCats earned their first win by crushing the first place D.C. Defenders 39-9.

That is the recap of week 3 in the XFL

Second Down

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Ugly - The New York Guardians

They were terrible---Memes display the trio of Jets, Giants, and Guardians

Head Coach/GM Kevin Gilbride upset with team performance. He talked to Mekale Mckay (WR) and said to him “Played your ass off. I give you the ball you made some plays. I may need you to be a leader here because there are guys who I thought were gonna be better than what we are at doing are not. Don't be surprised if I lean on you.”

Difference between QBs McGloin and Williams as they lead the offense

QB McGloin outbreak cry on offense in week 2; Center Silberman frustrated in week 3.

New York is killing any chances it may have with stupid penalties

Standard and Discipline are not enforced throughout the game.

The Bad

Cardale Jones 13-of-26 (50% completion) 103 passing yards, sacked three times, threw four interceptions. 2/13 third down conversion and ? fourth down conversions. 0/1 red zone.

The Good

Be Frederickson (Twitter): I know the XFL is not the NFL, and I know NFL owners are motivated by greed above all, but I’m not sure how some powerful NFL people don’t see what is happening in St. Louis--relocation lawsuit plus Battlehawks success--and not feel like they picked the wrong side of divorce.

Houston Roughnecks are undefeated

PJ Walker 24-36 306 yards 3 TDs and 1 Rushing TD

Cam Phillips 10 targets 8 receptions 194 yards 84 long, 3 TDs (Back to Back weeks with 3 TDs

Average viewers - 1,704,000 ABC/ESPN

Third Down

Notable Players

HOU RB James Butler 7 carries 72 Rushing Yards; responsible for 3 First Downs and scored a 2 point conversion

DAL TE Donald Parham 5 receptions 101 yards 2 TDs. He is Landry Jones primary target.

STL RBs Matt Jones and Christine Michael (former SB Champion XLVIII Seattle Seahawks over Denver) combined 28 carries, 139 yards. Each had one TD

LA RB Martez Carter 2 rushing TDs and 1 passing TD

PJ Walker 24-36 306 yards 3 TDs and 1 Rushing TD

Option: “Each member can pick their outstanding player”

Cam Phillips 10 targets 8 receptions 194 yards 84 long and 3 TDs for the second straight week! MVP NFL

Fourth Down

LA (1-2) at New York (1-2)

SAT FEB 29 2PM EST ABC

19-9 LA

Seattle (1-2) at St. Louis (2-1)

SAT FEB 29 5PM EST FOX

26-12 STL

Houston (3-0) at Dallas (2-1)

SUN, MAR 1, 4PM EST FS1

Dal 34-22

DC (2-1) at Tampa Bay (0-3)

SUN, MAR 1, 7PM EST ESPN2

DC 38-12

--Picks--

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