XFL Week 5: D.C. Defenders vs. St. Louis Battlehawks Depth Charts/Injury Update The Defenders are getting back DT Gabe Wright after he was. The Roughnecks are in the same spot as the Defenders and could potentially play the Renegades in the XFL playoffs. The Renegades need this win. The sportsbooks lists the Defenders as two-point favorites. I like D.C. battlehawks vs defenders prediction cover. The Battlehawks have yet to face a run game on the Defenders'. It feels like St. Louis is the better team here, yet the BattleHawks check in as underdogs. The Defenders are but needed some special.
How well is the XFL doing? The XFL saw a slight uptick in attendance in the second half of the regular season, and a slight downturn in television viewership. Overall, the league averaged roughly 13,000 fans and 561,000 television viewers per regular-season game, according to game-by-game figures compiled by the website XFL News Hub.
What is the record for the defenders in the XFL? The Defenders have a regular season record of 12–3 (. 800), the second-highest win percentage among UFL teams as of its 2024 season. They were also the top team in the 2023 XFL, boasting a 9–1 record and scoring 49 more points than the next closest team, the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Ryquell Armstead is also a rushing threat, ranking fourth in the league with yards. Lucky Jackson leads the team with receiving yards but has failed to score a touchdown. Chris Blair has caught a touchdown, totaling receiving yards. AJ McCarron has resurfaced as the starting quarterback for St. Louis, leading one of the league's most potent offenses.
McCarron ranks third in the league with passing yards, tossing nine touchdowns and three interceptions. Brian Hill, who scored four touchdowns in a brief NFL career, leads the team with rushing yards, finding the endzone once. McCarron has scored the team's other rushing touchdown.
Hakeem Butler leads the team with receiving yards and is tied for the league lead with four touchdown catches. Gannett may earn revenue from sports betting operators for audience referrals to betting services. Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage.
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Please enter an email address. Something went wrong. Defenders odds, picks and predictions. Battlehawks vs defenders prediction Seattle Sea Dragons at D. Defenders XFL semifinal odds, picks and predictions. Arlington Renegades at Houston Roughnecks odds, picks and predictions. Because if they fall behind. Battlehawks offensive coordinator Bruce Gradkowski will be leaning on A.
McCarron to play the role of calm and steady. Something McCarron has mastered in clutch situations the first two weeks. Sooner or later, D. On paper, D. The Battlehawks are simply more equipped to win that style of game. The Defenders would love to take an early lead and play small ball with their evolving rushing attack.
Abram Smith and Ryquell Armstead are benefitting from the diversity of D. However, if D. Louis, they must prove they can get it done through the air. But they have a league-low two sacks. However, the Defenders will be tested upfront because they are coming into this game short-handed. But under special teams coordinator Tory Woodbury, they have played fundamentally sound.
Sometimes winning on this side means not doing anything that will cause you to lose games. Outside of Defenders, kicker Matthew McCrane making an impressive yard field goal in the Vegas rain last week. Surprisingly, rookie Jequez Ezzard, one of the most dangerous returners in college, has been virtually invisible in the XFL. Defenders special teams coordinator Jamie Sharper needs to figure out how to scheme up the XFL kickoff and spring some long returns.
Louis is the sexier team on paper. They have the flashier passing attack and are the darling team of the XFL. Most league supporters would love to see the Battlehawks head home for their long-awaited opener undefeated. On the flip side, The Defenders have a completely different look and feel than St. Nothing about their team so far has been sexy. Despite the oddsmakers having D.
There are several signs pointing to another STL triumph. However, even though my brain is telling me to pick St. I am going with D.