XFL Play of Week: Week 3
March 8, 2023 - XFL (XFL)
Seattle Sea Dragons News Release
Seattle Sea Dragons quarterback Ben DiNucci claims he has watched the highlight of Josh Gordon's 65-yard game-winning touchdown catch Saturday at least 100 times.
"I'm still kind of lost for words honestly," DiNucci said. "I think I laugh every single time I watched it. That was probably the craziest game that I've ever been a part of in my life."
There was more than a little luck helping DiNucci and Gordon complete the improbable pitch-and-catch down the left sideline in Seattle's 30-26 victory over the Vegas Vipers. But DiNucci also knows there was plenty of hard work that went into making that play succeed.
The touchdown was the culmination of weeks practicing the two-minute drill. It was the result of the team continuing to improve after last-minute losses in the first two weeks. It was the consequence of the Sea Dragons correctly winning all the small battles on the play.
And, of course, it was the type of standout play you hope to get from a former NFL All-Pro wide receiver with the game on the line.
"It brings a different level of playmaking ability to our offense," DiNucci said. "You got a guy like that who's been in the NFL, been at the top of the top for a few years, and when you watch him play, you can tell he's still got it."
The final 17 minutes of Saturday night's matchup were a thrilling back-and-forth affair. Seattle was down 20-9 late in the third quarter before a Gordon touchdown and Dominik Eberle field goal cut the deficit to just two points. But a 50-yard touchdown pass to John Lovett on the next play from scrimmage pushed the Vipers' lead to 26-18.
DiNucci and the Sea Dragons answered once again with a touchdown pass to Juwan Green. But the three-point PAT failed, leaving Seattle behind by two.
Seattle forced a punt on the next possession, giving its offense the ball on its own 27 with just under two minutes to go.
Three plays later, the Sea Dragons faced fourth-and-2 at the 35. It was a do-or-die situation, and offensive coordinator June Jones dialed up what DiNucci called a "heck of a play."
"Basically two verts to the side of Josh was on," DiNucci said. "Josh and No. 4, Juwan Green, both running vertical down the field."
Seattle lined up in a five-wide set. Gordon and Green lined up to DiNucci's left. Three wide receivers were to his right, including early season breakout star Jahcour Pearson in the near slot.
Vegas had stayed away from man defense for most of the game. But as DiNucci surveyed the field, he noticed one single high safety and five defensive backs lined up in press coverage near the line of scrimmage. "A telltale sign" of man coverage, he said.
"As soon as I saw both the defenders pressed on those guys, I knew Josh was the guy," DiNucci said. "Got to control the safety with my eyes and give Josh a ball that he can catch and make a play and boy did he do that."
On the snap, Gordon and Green headed down field on their vertical routes. On the other side of the field, Pearson and Blake Jackson ran out routes while Jordan Veasy headed down the sideline as well on a vertical route.
DiNucci didn't have much time to sit in the pocket and let the play develop as the Vipers got pressure off the right side. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback quickly set his feet and lobbed a pass down the left sideline toward Gordon.
The ball was on the money to Gordon, who was tightly covered but made a remarkable back-shoulder catch. He then shrugged off his defender and start running backward. Gordon readjusted his feet, turned back upfield and ran untouched into the end zone. It was the longest completion of the XFL season so far.
"We go to him, he comes back and meets the ball," Seattle wide receivers coach Ty Knott said. "Doesn't go out of bounds, doesn't go down. The backpedaling, I've never seen that before but that was great."
Both Knott and DiNucci praised the work of Green on the play. After Gordon came down with the football, Green held up his defender with a tremendous block that then knocked another defender out of the play as well.
The work Seattle does during practice directly translated to the winning play. The Sea Dragons quarterbacks and wide receivers work on catching drills to start every practice, and the team ends every practice running the two-minute drill.
"When you rep stuff so much during practice and during the week, it almost becomes second nature when you get in the game," DiNucci said.
Through three games, Seattle has the most prolific offense in the XFL. DiNucci leads the league in passing with 855 yards (132 more than Brandon Silvers, who is second). He also has a 69.2% completion percentage and seven touchdowns.
The receiving leaderboard is full of Sea Dragons. Pearson leads the league in receiving yards and receptions. Blake Jackson is second in receptions and Gordon is second in receiving yards.
"I got room with some guys. All they gotta do is get some passes and you'd be like, 'Oh!' " Knott said. "Everybody's got ability and everybody wants to show up and show out."
The win Saturday couldn't come at a better time after Seattle suffered heartbreaking losses in its first two games. In the season opener against the D.C. Defenders, DiNucci led the team 55 yards down the field in the final two minutes before fumbling at the 1 with 19 seconds left.
The Sea Dragons scored the go-ahead touchdown in Week 2 on a 60-yard drive that started with three minutes to go. But they left too much time for A.J. McCarron as the St. Louis Battlehawks nailed a walk-off field goal to drop Seattle to 0-2.
There was no Mudville situation Saturday for the Sea Dragons. They celebrated that Gordon touchdown with all the energy they had left.
"You could hear my excitement through the through the live mic," DiNucci said. "I was going nuts. I didn't really know what to do. I guess that was kind of a laugh cackle. I don't know what the heck that was. But that was just pure raw emotion coming out of me at that point."
Seattle goes for its second win of the season at 10 p.m. EST Saturday at home against the San Antonio Brahmas.
XFL Stories from March 8, 2023
- Vegas Vipers Game Notes for Week 4 at DC Defenders - Vegas Vipers
- XFL Announces Teremana Tequila as the Official and Exclusive Tequila of the League - XFL
- Week 4 Battlehawks vs Arlington Game Notes - St. Louis Battlehawks
- XFL Play of Week: Week 3 - Seattle Sea Dragons
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
