Week 4 Preview: DC Defenders at Tampa Bay Vipers
Week 4: DC Defenders at Tampa Bay Vipers
Week 4: LA-NY | SEA-STL | HOU-DAL
DC Defenders (2-1)
@ Tampa Bay Vipers (0-3)
- Sunday, March 1, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
- Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, Fla,)
- This is the XFL Show preview
- Watch & Listen
- Going to the game? Here's your guide.
TEAM INFO
- Rosters: DC | TB
- Depth Chart: DC | TB
- Week 4 Injury Report
- DC: 0-1 Road | TB: 0-1 Home
- Streak: DC L1 | TB L3
Fantasy Picks
Betting lines
(Lines current as of 2/27/20, noon ET.)
TEAM STATS
OFFENSE | DC | TB |
| Pass Yds/G | 264.3 | 209.3 |
| Rush Yds/G | 125.3 | 140.0 |
| Yards Gained per Play | 6.2 | 4.8 |
| Pts Scored/G | 18.0 | 13.0 |
DEFENSE | DC | TB |
| Sacks/G | 1.3 | 1.0 |
| Interceptions/G | 1.3 | 0.3 |
| Fumble Rec/G | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| Def/ST TD | 3 | 1 |
| Pts Allowed/G | 19.3 | 24.7 |
| QB Hits/G | 2.5 | 4.3 |
EXTRA POINTS | DC | TB |
| 1-pt | 1-for-5 | 1-for-1 |
| 2-pt | 0-for-1 | 1-for-2 |
| 3-pt | 0-for-2 | -- |
| TOTAL | 1-for-8 | 2-for-3 |
CONTROL | DC | TB |
| Takeaways/G | 3 | 0.3 |
| Turnovers/G | 0.5 | 2.3 |
| 3rd Down% | 46% | 50% |
| TD +/- | -1 | -5 |
After a 39-9 road loss at the Los Angeles Wildcats in Week 3, QB Cardale Jones and the DC Defenders look to rebound at the Tampa Bay Vipers.
PLAYER STATS
Quarterbacks
| PLAYER | CMP | ATT | PCT | YDS | LG | TD | INT | RT | RUSH ATT | RUSH YDS | AVG | LG | TD |
| Cardale Jones, DC | 52 | 89 | 58 | 602 | 40 | 4 | 5 | 70.5 | 15 | 61 | 4.1 | 14 | 0 |
| Taylor Cornelius, TB | 31 | 59 | 53 | 310 | 45 | 1 | 3 | 52.2 | 4 | 2 | 0.5 | 2 | 1 |
Running backs
| PLAYER | ATT | YDS | AVG | LG | TD | TAR | REC | YDS | AVG | LG | TD |
| Donnel Pumphrey, DC | 24 | 97 | 4 | 23 | 0 | 11 | 6 | 36 | 6 | 17 | 0 |
| De'Veon Smith, TB | 42 | 174 | 4.1 | 13 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 56 | 14 | 25 | 0 |
Receivers
| PLAYER | TAR | REC | YDS | AVG | LG | TD | ATT | YDS | AVG | LG | TD |
| Rashad Ross, DC | 13 | 7 | 164 | 23.4 | 40 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | 0 |
| Eli Rogers, DC | 20 | 14 | 137 | 9.8 | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dan Williams, TB | 20 | 11 | 180 | 16.4 | 42 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jalen Tolliver, TB | 25 | 13 | 157 | 12.1 | 44 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 7 | 0 |
NEED TO KNOW
DEFENDERS
A dud in LA leaves the Defenders thirsting for a bounce-back, with QB Cardale Jones at the top of that list. The XFL’s highest-graded QB through two weeks threw four INTs in the blowout loss.
RB Nick Brossette, normally third on the depth chart, took advantage of his first extended playing time with 75 yards, highlighted by a 38-yard scoring run. If RB Jhurell Pressley (shoulder) is unable to go, Brossette could see more action alongside RB Donnel Pumphrey.
VIPERS
It’s close to do-or-die time for the Vipers. Tampa Bay does have a reason for optimism after giving undefeated Houston a run for its money last week.
Opening Day starter QB Aaron Murray, back at practice this week after missing two games with a foot issue, is expected to back up QB Taylor Cornelius if active, with Quinton Flowers leaving the team for personal reasons.
TE Nick Truesdell (knee) hasn’t practiced as of Thursday morning after missing Week 3.
The Vipers do employ a stout running game, averaging 140 yards per game behind RBs De'Veon Smith (174 yards) and Jacques Patrick (123), the league’s third- and fifth-leading rushers, respectively.
-- Art Garcia, XFL.com