The XFL is scratching the itch of football fans far and wide, but when are the XFL games today? Here’s everything you need to know about Friday’s Week 7 XFL game, including the start time, channel, live stream option, and game analysis.
XFL Games Today: Is There Football Today?
We are 60% of the way through the 2023 XFL regular season. Arguably, four teams stand out as clear-cut title contenders, while two others are battling for a playoff spot from the South division.
Here’s where you can watch Friday’s action, as well as some insights on what we might expect from each team.
Arlington Renegades (3-3) vs. Seattle Sea Dragons (4-2)
- Date: Friday, March 31
- Start Time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV Channel & Live Stream Options: FX and ESPN+
The Renegades have bounced between a couple of quarterbacks this season: Drew Plitt and Kyle Sloter. Neither has shined.
Is it their fault? Well, there’s enough blame to go around. Arlington invested a first-round draft pick on Sal Cannella. It was a bold move. Most of us expected him to be the offensive centerpiece, and that’s exactly how it’s worked out. But he isn’t the “centerpiece” I envisioned.
Despite averaging a decent 6.8 targets per game, Cannella’s 68% catch rate is merely middling for a tight end, and he still hasn’t found the end zone. Granted, scores are sometimes more situational than talent-driven. Surely, he’ll hit paydirt eventually.
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Still, this offense is stuck in neutral, and it’s impacted Cannella and every other playmaker. Starting RB De’Veon Smith has averaged only 2.8 yards per carry despite being second in the XFL in rushing attempts. That’s a rough combo.
So what does a 3-3 team with a good shot at the postseason do? They trade for another quarterback: Luis Perez. Because Plitt and Sloter are not the answer.
The problem is that Perez might not be either. While he looked great against the league’s worst defense (Orlando), he’s been benchable most of the season. In fact, his previous team benched him on two separate occasions.
I believe this trade wasn’t just about adding Perez. Arlington needs to beat out the 2-4 San Antonio Brahmas to reach the playoffs. The Brahmas have an even worse QB situation. I’m betting the Renegades calculated that the 1-5 Vipers didn’t need to carry Perez and Brett Hundley for the rest of a lost season. They snagged Perez to prevent San Antonio from getting him.
When you look at Perez’s numbers (besides the Guardians game), you might wonder why Arlington would be worried about San Antonio acquiring him. But then, you need only check out the four quarterbacks the Brahmas have played. Perez arguably is better than all of them.
There’s no way for me to prove this. It’s merely a hunch. But if Arlington did indeed block the Brahmas, it was a brilliant move. They can now rotate through Plitt, Sloter, and Perez to determine who should start if they reach the playoffs. If they go with Perez, he’ll have time to gel with his new offense.
Meanwhile, the Sea Dragons are a study in contradictions. One of my two preseason picks to win the championship, they started 0-2 before reeling off four straight victories, including an impressive Week 5 win over the 4-0 Roughnecks.
But they followed it up with a letdown performance against the 0-5 Guardians. Ben DiNucci might have the best QB stats. But he also has some of the worst, if that makes sense. DiNucci actually leads the league in turnovers.
Quarterbacks don’t normally struggle against Orlando. As alluded to above, the somewhat expendable Perez ripped them to shreds. Yet, DiNucci struggled.
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True, he didn’t have all-world RB Morgan Ellison. But Seattle has the league’s best and deepest wideout corps. DiNucci should have picked them apart, and he didn’t. Now there should be serious questions about DiNucci’s ability to elevate this offense.
Of course, there probably won’t be. The Sea Dragons are 4-2 and flying high. If they win again, they’re doing something right.
DiNucci is the biggest X-factor in this fascinating Friday contest. At his best, he’s the best quarterback in the league. At his worst, he’d possibly be benched if the Sea Dragons had a semi-strong replacement.