XFL DC Defenders

D.C. Defenders Game Notes

Published on May 10, 2023 under XFL (XFL)
DC Defenders News Release


SERIES NOTES: This is the second matchup between D.C. and Arlington in the 2023 season. The Defenders won the first matchup 28-29 in OT at Audi Field.

GAME NOTES

COACH OF THE YEAR

Head Coach Reggie Barlow has been named XFL Coach of the Year as voted on by coaches and Directors of player personnel throughout the league.

Barlow led the Defenders to a league best 9-1 record. Under coach Barlow, D.C. led the league in scoring, averaging 29.6 points per game. The Defenders also led the league in rushing offense, averaging 140.8 yards per game and were No. 2 in the XFL in total offense (343.2 yards per game).

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Jordan Ta'amu has been named offensive player of the year as voted on by coaches and Directors of player personnel throughout the league.

Ta'amu finished the regular season 143-of-229 passing for 1,894 yards and 14 touchdowns with just 3 interceptions. His interception total was the lowest among XFL quarterbacks with more than 150 passing attempts, while his passing yardage and touchdown totals both ranked No. 3 in the league. Ta'amu also ranked No. 7 in the XFL with 298 rushing yards and recorded three rushing touchdowns. He ranked No. 2 in the XFL in total offense (215.2 yards per game).

Week 6 marked Ta'amu's first game of the season of at least 200 passing yards and his first game with multiple touchdown passes and it was a turning point - after week 6 Ta'amu averaged 249 passing yards per game compared to just 131 over his first 5 outings.

Amongst QB's to surpass 1,400 passing yards this season, Ta'amu's 658 total yards over the first 5 weeks of the season were the lowest of each of the 7 quarterbacks - Ta'amu's 1,236 from weeks 6-10 trailed only 1 player.

Ta'amu also served as a rushing threat for the Defenders - he finished the regular season as 1 of only 2 players to be top 3 in passing yards (1894) while also being top 10 in rushing yards (298).

He led the Defenders in passing yards and rushing yards twice this season - In Week 4 and Week 10.

ALL XFL TEAMS

All XFL teams have been announced - 4 Defenders were named to the offensive team, 2 Defenders were named to the Defensive team and 1 Defender was named to the special team:

QB Jordan Ta'amu:

‚¬Â¢Ta'amu finished the season as 1 of only 2 players to be top 3 in passing yards (1894) while also being top 10 in rushing yards (298).

‚¬Â¢Ta'amu finished the regular season as the only quarterback to pass for over 1000 yards and throw less than 5 interceptions on the season - Ta'amu's 7 weeks between interceptions is the longest streak by any of the seven quarterbacks to pass for over 1,000 yards on the season.

D.C. DEFENDERS XFL CHAMPIONSHIP

‚¬Â¢Amongst QB's to surpass 1,400 passing yards this season, Ta'amu's 658 yards over the first 5 weeks of the season were the lowest of each of the 7 quarterbacks - Ta'amu's 1,236 from weeks 6-10 trailed only 1 player.

RB Abram Smith:

‚¬Â¢Smith finished the season leading the XFL in rushing attempts (158), rushing touchdowns (7), rushes of 10+ yards (21), rushes of 20+ yards (5), longest rush (70 yards) and rushing 1st downs (43).

‚¬Â¢In Week 5, Smith became the only player in the XFL to rush for over 200 yards this season.

‚¬Â¢Smith finished the season averaging 70 rushing yards per game on 15 carries and 5 yards per carry.

‚¬Â¢Smith's 7 rushing touchdowns in the regular season are tied for most in the league.

WR Lucky Jackson

‚¬Â¢Jackson finished the regular season with 536 receiving yards on 36 receptions with 5 touchdowns.

‚¬Â¢Of all players with at least 15 receptions on the season, Jackson finished 3rd in yards per reception (15.8)

‚¬Â¢Jackson's 10 receptions of 20 yards or more are tied for most in the league.

G Liam Fornadel

‚¬Â¢Fornadel started all 10 games for the Defenders at the Guard position and contributed to an offense that led the league in rushing yards (1408), rushing touchdowns (15), total touchdowns (33) and rushing first downs (83).

DE Davin Bellamy

‚¬Â¢Bellamy started all 10 regular season games for the Defenders.

‚¬Â¢He finished 20 tackles, and his 5.5 sacks were good for 5th most in the XFL.

‚¬Â¢Bellamy had a team high 2 sacks in Week 3 vs. St. Louis.

CB Michael Joseph

‚¬Â¢Joseph started all 10 games for the Defenders this season.

‚¬Â¢During the regular season, Joseph led the league in interceptions returned for a touchdown (2).

‚¬Â¢His 4 interceptions are the second most by any player in the XFL this season.

‚¬Â¢Joseph was 1 of only 4 players to have registered multiple interceptions in the same game this season.

P Daniel Whelan

‚¬Â¢Whelan's punting average of 45.6 yards marked the third highest in the regular season.

‚¬Â¢His 11 punts inside of the 20-yard line are also good for third highest in the regular season.

‚¬Â¢Whelan's 66-yard punt in week 7, was his longest of the season and the third longest by any player in the XFL in 2023.

HOME SWEET HOME

The Defenders go into Championship Week as the only team with 6 wins at their home stadium.

Throughout the regular season, the Defenders protected home field and went 5-0. The Defenders also won their only home playoff game against Seattle in the North Divisional Championship. At home the Defenders averaged 32 points per game while allowing just 23 points per game.

Although the Defenders were outgained in total yardage at home 2,104 to 1,947, they managed to secure wins in each game at Audi Field by forcing their opponents to commit 11 total turnovers and winning the possession battle 155:09 to 143:01.

DEFENDERS ON TOP

The Defenders go into Championship Week with the 2nd most individual stat leaders of any team including:

‚¬Â¢Rushing Yards: 791 - Abram Smith

‚¬Â¢Rushing Attempts: 158 -Abram Smith

‚¬Â¢Rushing TD's: 7 - Abram Smith

‚¬Â¢Rushes of 10+ yards: 21 - Abram Smith

‚¬Â¢Rushes of 20+ yards: 5 - Abram Smith

‚¬Â¢Longest Rush: 70 - Abram Smith

‚¬Â¢Rushing 1st Downs: 43 - Abram Smith

‚¬Â¢Longest Reception: 86 Yards - Chris Blair

‚¬Â¢Receptions of 20+ Yards:10-Lucky Jackson

‚¬Â¢Receptions of 40+ Yards: 5- Chris Blair

‚¬Â¢Receiving 1st down Percentage: 89%- Alexis Ellis

‚¬Â¢Interceptions Returned for a TD: 2 - Michael Joseph

CLICKING AT THE RIGHT TIME

During the XFL's Divisional Championship Week, the Defenders led all 4 teams in:

‚¬Â¢Passing Yards (299)

‚¬Â¢Receiving Yards (299)

‚¬Â¢Passing First Downs (15)

‚¬Â¢Passes of 40+ Yards (2)

‚¬Â¢Receptions of 40+ Yards (2)

‚¬Â¢Rushing Touchdowns (3)

‚¬Â¢Total Touchdowns (5)

‚¬Â¢4th Down Conversions (2)

‚¬Â¢1 Point Conversions (2)

‚¬Â¢Sacks (3)

‚¬Â¢Average Kick Return Yards (30.8)

‚¬Â¢Longest Kick Return (51)

‚¬Â¢Longest Punt (57)

MATCHUP PREVIEW

The Defenders arrive at the XFL championship after defeating the Seattle Sea Dragons for the third time in the 2023 XFL season. In the North Divisional Championship, the Defenders managed to match their season high in points, while setting new season highs in gross passing yards (299), completions (23), total first downs (29) and attempts (36).

The Renegades clinched their spot in the Championship game by defeating the Houston Roughnecks after losing to them twice in the regular season. The Renegades won the South Divisional Championship 26-11 and, in the process, posted new team highs in points scored (26) and field goals made (3).

The two teams met for the first time in Week 9 and the Defenders won 29-28.

Week 9's matchup marked the only overtime game for either team during the regular season. This matchup was 1 of 7 one score games for the Defenders and 1 of 8 for - D.C. ended the regular season 6-1 in those games while Arlington ended their regular season 4-4 in one score games.

Entering the 4th quarter of Week 9's matchup, the Renegades trailed 26-9. In the 4th quarter they scored 17 unanswered points to force overtime.

In the process of forcing overtime, Arlington held D.C. to 50 rush yards during the entire of the game - the lowest of the season by the Defenders.

The Renegades are the only opponent to have outrushed the Defenders this season.

The XFL Championship will be a matchup of two opposing styles: the Defenders were the leagues best rushing offense averaging 141 rushing yards per game, while the Renegades allowed just 72 rushing yards per game throughout the regular season.

Check out the DC Defenders Statistics

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