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 the Week 8 XFL games, including the start time, channel, live stream option, and game analysis.
XFL Games Today: Is There Football on This Weekend?
We are 70% of the way through the 2023 XFL regular season. The three North Division teams stand out as clear-cut title contenders, while the entire South Division is (possibly) going through a massive upheaval — more on that shortly. Here’s where you can watch this weekend’s action, as well as some insights on what we might expect from each team.
St. Louis Battlehawks (5-2) vs. Vegas Vipers (2-5)
- Date: Saturday, April 8
- Start Time: 1 p.m. ET
- TV Channel & Live Stream Options: ESPN and ESPN+
Despite winning last week, the Vegas Vipers became the first XFL team mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. They have the misfortune of playing in the vaunted North Division, which boasts three teams with the three best records in the league.
If newly installed QB starter Jalan McClendon fares well, then we might wonder what took the Vipers so long — why they waited more than half a season to move beyond Luis Perez and Brett Hundley.
Vegas has one of the league’s least-effective offenses and defenses. Their 26-12 victory over the Brahmas last weekend was due more to San Antonio’s lacking offense than the Vipers’ underwhelming defense.
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St. Louis would need to self-destruct to fall in this one. They have one of the league’s premier QB, RB, and WR tandems. I write this every week, and pretty much every week, it bears out. At some point, belief becomes fact. The Battlehawks are the real deal.
They also control their postseason destiny. They’ll be assured of a playoff spot if they win their final three games. Easier said than done, however, especially with a critically important faceoff vs. Seattle looming. Needless to say, losing to the Vipers would put the Battlehawks in a precarious position, even at 5-3.
Orlando Guardians (1-6) vs. Arlington Renegades (3-4)
- Date: Saturday, April 8
- Start Time: 4 p.m. ET
- TV Channel & Live Stream Options: ESPN and ESPN+
It might not look like it based on their records, but this might be Week 8’s most fascinating contest. The lovable Guardians (can I call them lovable?) started the season as long shots to win the title, and after half a season, it seemed obvious why.
But a brilliant QB move has made Orlando (perhaps) the most dangerous 1-6 team in professional football history. Quinten Dormady has revived an offense that always looked good on paper. Yet, Paxton Lynch wasn’t the answer, and once Orlando committed to the change, the offense responded.
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Their remarkable victory over the previously 6-0 Defenders last weekend was somehow both shocking and deserved. Cody Latimer and Charleston Rambo are an exceptional wideout duo, and if you look closely at who threw to Latimer during his NFL career, you can appreciate why he deserves another shot in the big leagues.
Meanwhile, Arlington is one victory away from nearly securing a postseason berth. However, they’re also one loss away from being in a dogfight with Orlando and San Antonio with two more games remaining.
The Renegades were popular preseason favorites to win the championship. But their anemic passing attack and pedestrian running cannot overcome a tough final stretch, where they’ll also face the Defenders and Roughnecks. This is, by and large, a must-win game for both teams.
San Antonio Brahmas (2-5) vs. Houston Roughnecks (4-3)
- Date: Sunday, April 9
- Start Time: 3 p.m. ET
- TV Channel & Live Stream Options: ABC and ESPN+
Here’s some needed perspective on the Roughnecks. They began the season 4-0 by beating up their own relatively weak South Division. Then they lost three straight against (arguably) the XFL’s three best teams — all in the North Division.
So while they’ve struggled recently, we might chalk it up to stiffening competition, combined with the loss of No. 1 WR Jontre Kirklin. In that light, losing to three teams with a current combined record of 16-4 doesn’t seem so bad.
The big question, then, is whether they can take care of business on the road against San Antonio — a squad they defeated 22-13 in Week 3. In that contest, Brandon Silvers and Kirklin hooked up for two touchdowns and a two-point conversion. With both on the shelf, the weight of Houston’s season will fall on Cole McDonald, Max Borghi, and an array of capable receivers — though none as good as Kirklin.
The Brahmas have a shot to win this one. But they have their own injury issues, along with an offense that continually struggles to move the ball. Their best hope lies with their normally elite defense, which needs to rebound after last week’s disappointment.
Seattle Sea Dragons (5-2) vs. DC Defenders (6-1)
- Date: Sunday, April 9
- Start Time: 3 p.m. ET
- TV Channel & Live Stream Options: ABC and ESPN+
OK, forget what I wrote above. This is the most fascinating game of Week 8. A Seattle victory keeps their playoff hopes alive in what might become a three-way tie for two playoff spots with two games to go. A Seattle loss, however, would make next week’s tilt vs. the Battlehawks a win-or-go-home situation.
The Sea Dragons’ Ben DiNucci remains a prolific passer, as well as mistake-prone. He looked much better in Week 7, which should allay some concerns. But playing without his top two RBs, the offense will be on his shoulders as much as ever.
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The team signed Phillip Lindsay to help stabilize their backfield. We’ll see how this works out. Lindsay broke out as an undrafted NFL rookie, had a strong sophomore campaign, and then hit a wall in his final two seasons. If he can still move the ball, it would be a boon to Seattle’s chances.
As for DC, a victory clinches them the league’s first playoff spot. And surprisingly, a loss wouldn’t necessarily be devastating. They’ll face Arlington and San Antonio to close out the season. Both will be very winnable games. Additionally, DC would win the tiebreaker against St. Louis on account of sweeping them during the regular season.
That said, don’t expect the Defenders to hang back. After their upset loss to the winless Guardians last weekend — and with their defense no longer as fearsome as they looked earlier this year — they need a rebound performance.