Week 8 saw the team with the stronger record win in all 4 games. In the USFL Division, the matchup for the playoffs is already locked in with the Michigan Panthers slated to travel to Birmingham to take on the Stallions in the Divisional round. In the XFL Division, the St. Louis Battlehawks and San Antonio Brahmas both have clinched the playoffs and are tied for first in the division.
#1 Birmingham Stallions (8-0)
Week 1 result: Defeated Arlington on the road 27-14.
Week 2 result: Defeated Michigan on the road 20-13.
Week 3 result: Defeated Memphis at home 33-14.
Week 4 result: Defeated DC at home 20-18.
Week 5 result: Defeated Houston on the road 32-9.
Week 6 result: Defeated Memphis on the road 39-21.
Week 7 result: Defeated St. Louis at home 30-26.
Week 8 result: Defeated Houston at home 35-28.
Previous rank: #1
The Birmingham Stallions have won yet another football game bringing their winning streak to 15 games. Despite the lopsided records between Birmingham and Houston, it was a fairly evenly matched game this past weekend which the Stallions won 35-28. Birmingham had 322 total yards to Houston’s 311.
Quarterback Adrian Martinez completed 19 of his 31 passes for 3 touchdowns with 1 interception. Runningback Ricky Person Jr. rushed 15 times for 63 yards (4.2 average).
Birmingham had 3 players record 8 tackles Damon Lloyd, Kyahva Tezino, and DeMarquis Gates. Defensive end Jonathan Garvin was the highest-graded defensive player for Birmingham in week 8 by Pro Football Focus with a high grade in pass rushing. Safety A.J. Thomas had the second-highest grade in large part due to a high cover grade.
Birmingham will take on the San Antonio Brahmas on the road in week 9 in what will be the first meeting between these 2 franchises.
#2 St. Louis Battlehawks (6-2)
Week 1 result: Lost to Michigan on the road 16-18.
Week 2 result: Defeated Arlington at home 27-24.
Week 3 result: Defeated San Antonio on the road 31-24.
Week 4 result: Defeated Memphis at home 32-17.
Week 5 result: Defeated DC on the road 45-12.
Week 6 result: Defeated Houston 22-8.
Week 7 result: Lost to Birmingham on the road 26-30.
Week 8 result: Defeated DC at home 26-31.
Previous Rank: #2
The St. Louis Battlehawks completed a sweep of the season series against divisional rival the DC Defenders by winning at home 26-21. St. Louis had only 235 yards of total offense to DC’s 298 but they won the turnover battle 2-0.
St. Louis weathered playing without their starting quarterback A.J. McCarron due to an injury he sustained last week. Manny Wilkins filled in at quarterback in his absence. Wilkins completed 9 of his 18 passes for 126 yards and rushed 12 times for 79 yards. Runningback Wayne Gallman II rushed 9 times for 35 yards (3.9 average).
Safety Qwynnterrio Cole led the team in tackles with 8 and also had an interception and a forced fumble. Defensive end Pita Taumoepenu made life challenging for Jordan Ta’amu as he had 5 total pressures. Linebacker Willie Harvey was the highest-graded defensive player for St. Louis in week 8 by PFF.
St Louis will travel to face the Arlington Renegades on the road on Saturday.
#3. San Antonio Brahmas (6-2)
Week 1 result: Defeated DC at home 27-12
Week 2 result: Defeated Memphis on the road 20-19.
Week 3 result: Lost to St. Louis at home 24-31.
Week 4 result: Defeated Michigan at home 19-9.
Week 5 result: Defeated Arlington on the road 25-15.
Week 6 result: Lost to DC on the road 12-18.
Week 7 result: Defeated Houston on the road 15-12.
Week 8 result: Defeated Arlington at home 20-15.
Previous rank: #3.
The San Antonio Brahmas won a close game against the Arlington Renegades 20-15 and now have clinched the playoffs. They are currently tied for first in the XFL Division with the St. Louis Battlehawks as the two teams look to secure home-field advantage. The Brahmas had 375 total yards to Arlington’s 262.
Quinten Dormady completed 17 of his 25 passes for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns. Anthony McFarland caught 3 passes for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns. Cody Latimer caught 6 passes for 116 yards. Running back John Lovett led the team in rushing with 37 yards on 11 carries (3.4 average).
On defense safety Jordan Mosley led the team in tackles with 9 with linebacker Tavante Beckett close behind with 8 including 2 tackles for a loss.
The Brahmas will host the Birmingham Stallions on Saturday in what will be the first meeting between the two franchises.
#4 Michigan Panthers (6-2)
Week 1 result: Defeated St. Louis at home 18-16.
Week 2 result: Lost to Birmingham at home 13-20.
Week 3 result: Defeated Houston at home 20-34.
Week 4 result: Lost to San Antonio on the road 9-19.
Week 5 result: Defeated Memphis on the road 35-18.
Week 6 result: Defeated Arlington at home 28-27.
Week 7 result: Defeated DC on the road 22-9.
Week 8 result: Defeated Memphis at home 24-18.
Previous rank: #4
The Michigan Panthers are now on a 4 game-winning streak after beating Memphis 24-18. The Panthers have won the last 2 games despite being without quarterbacks E.J. Perry and Danny Etling. The Panthers also led in total yards 344 to 239.
Quarterback Brian Lewerke got the start for the 2nd week in a row and completed 6 of his 11 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown while adding 13 yards on the ground. Bryce Perkins also played completing 7 of his 9 passes for 106 yards and a touchdown with an additional 55 yards on the ground. Devin Gray led the team in receiving with 6 catches for 84 yards including a 50-yard touchdown. Runningback Matthew Colburn had an increased workload following the injury to Wes Hills and rushed 24 times for 93 yards and 2 touchdowns.
On defense safeties Sean Mahone and Bryce Torneden led the team in tackles with 6 each. 4 players had a sack including Sean Mahone, Kenny Willekes, Garrett Marino, and T.J. Carter. Defensive tackle Walter Palmore had the highest defensive grade from PFF in week 8 for the Panthers as he had 3 total pressures and 2 run stops.
The Panthers will face the Houston Roughnecks on the road on Sunday.
#5 DC Defenders (3-5)
Week 1 result: Lost to San Antonio on the road 12-27.
Week 2 result: Defeated Houston at home 23-18.
Week 3 result: Defeated Arlington on the road 29-28.
Week 4 result: Lost to Birmingham on the road 18-20.
Week 5 result: Lost to St. Louis at home 12-45
Week 6 result: Defeated San Antonio at home 18-12.
Week 7 result: Lost to Michigan at home 9-22.
Week 8 result: Lost to St. Louis on the road 21-26.
Previous Rank: #5
The DC Defenders were facing the Battlehawks on the road who were without their starting quarterback but were unable to come away with a win in a must-win game for the team. The Defenders’ defense was able to limit the Battlehawks to just 235 yards of total offense but lost by a touchdown in a game they lost the turnover battle in.
Jordan Ta’amu completed 23 of his 40 passes for 196 yards and 2 touchdowns with 2 interceptions and added 30 rushing yards. Runningback Darius Hagans rushed 8 times for 37 yards (4.6 average). Ty Scott led the team in receiving catching 6 passes for 69 yards and a touchdown.
Linebacker Anthony Hines led the team in tackles with 7. Cornerback DeAndre Baker had the highest grade among defensive players from PFF in week 8 for the Defenders as he was targetted twice without allowing a reception while playing a rotational role. Linebacker Momo Sanogo was a close second in his defensive grade due to his tackling and run defense. Sanogo made 3 run stops.
The Defenders will face the Memphis Showboats on the road on Sunday.
#6. Arlington Renegades (1-7)
Week 1 result: Lost to Birmingham at home 27-14.
Week 2 result: Lost to St. Louis on the road 27-24.
Week 3 result: Lost to DC at home 28-29.
Week 4 result: Lost to Houston on the road 9-17.
Week 5 result: Lost to San Antonio at home 15-25.
Week 6 result: Lost to Michigan on the road 27-28.
Week 7 result: Defeated Memphis at home 47-23.
Week 8 result: Lost to San Antonio 15-20.
Previous Rank: #6
Arlington has yet again lost a close 1-score game as they fell to the San Antonio Brahmas 15-20. The Renegades have been snake-bitten this season and are much better than their record would indicate but a loss is a loss and they find themselves 1-7.
Luis Perez completed 22 of his 33 passes for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns. Tight end Sal Cannella led the team in receiving with 9 catches for 87 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Vaughns caught 6 passes for 75 yards. On the ground, De’Veon Smith rushed 10 times for 38 yards.
Linebacker Storey Jackson and defensive back Jamal Carter led the team in tackles with 9. Jackson also had the highest defensive grade from PFF in part due to his 2 run stops.
The Renegades will host the St. Louis Battlehawks on Saturday.
#7. Houston Roughnecks (1-7)
Week 1 result: Lost to Memphis at home 12-18.
Week 1 result: Lost to DC on the road 18-23.
Week 3 result: Lost to Michigan on the road 20-34.
Week 4 result: Defeated Arlington at home 17-9.
Week 5 result: Lost to Birmingham at home 9-32.
Week 6 result: Lost to St. Louis 8-22.
Week 7 result: Lost to San Antonio at home 12-15.
Week 8 result: Lost to Birmingham on the road 28-35.
Previous rank: #7
The Houston Roughnecks have lost a close game to the top dogs of the league losing 28-35 on the road. It’s a positive sign for the Roughnecks to play the game so close to the Stallions but regardless the 1-7 record makes it hard to think fondly of how their season has gone.
Reid Sinnett completed 6 of his 13 passes for 99 yards and a touchdown with 1 interception. Nolan Henderson also played a portion of the game and completed 9 of his 14 passes for 97 yards and added 34 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. It was a pretty solid day on the ground as Mark Thompson rushed 11 times for 54 yards (4.9 average) and T.J. Pledger rushed 11 times for 39 yards.
Safety Markel Roby led the team in tackles with 10 with safety Donald Rutledge Jr. close behind him with 8 tackles and an interception. Rutledge Jr. had the highest grade among defensive players for Houston from PFF in week 8.
The Roughnecks will host the Michigan Panthers on Sunday. They lost to the Panthers 20-34 on the road in their last meeting.
#8. Memphis Showboats (1-7)
Week 1 result: Defeated Houston on the road 18-12.
Week 2 result: Lost to San Antonio at home 19-20.
Week 3 result: Lost to Birmingham on the road 14-33.
Week 4 result: Lost to St. Louis on the road 17-32.
Week 5 result: Lost to Michigan at home 18-35.
Week 6 result: Lost to Birmingham at home 21-39.
Week 7 result: Lost to Arlington on the road 23-47.
Week 8 result: Lost to Michigan on the road 18-24.
Previous rank #8
Memphis played probably their best game since week 2. It was the first time since then they lost by only 1 score and also kept their opponent below 30 points. The Showboats looked pretty good overall in week 8 against Michigan but a loss is a loss and unfortunately for the Showboats they now are on a 7-game losing streak.
Case Cookus completed 10 of his 16 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown with 1 interception. Quarterback Josh Love played in his first game of the season making a return to Ford Field after being a Michigan Panther last year. Love completed 9 of his 12 passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.
Safety Lamont McPhatter led the team in tackles with 10. Linebacker Max Roberts had the highest defensive grade for Memphis in week 8 which saw him record a sack and 6 total pressures.
The Showboats host the DC Defenders on Sunday.
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