PFF: XFL Week 1 report card
Qb Cardale Jones takes off running during Saturday's 31-19 win over the Seattle Dragons.
Pro Football Focus breaks down the first week of action in the XFL:
Passing grades
Pro Football Focus slates DC Defenders quarterback Cardale Jones as the highest rated quarterback in the XFL following Week 1 with a 92.2 rating. Jones was 16-26 for 235 yards while throwing for 2 TDs in the Defenders' 31-19 win over the Seattle Dragons. Phillip Walker, who threw for 272 yards and 4 TDs for the Houston Roughnecks, was 5th in PFF's rankings.
Cardale Jones | DC Defenders | 92.2 |
Jordan Ta'amu | St. Louis BattleHawks | 71.6 |
Matt McGloin | New York Guardians | 69.5 |
Philip Nelson | Dallas Renegades | 65.7 |
Phillip Walker | Houston Roughnecks | 64.7 |
Aaron Murray | Tampa Bay Vipers | 49.0 |
Charles Kanoff | Los Angeles Wildcats | 46.6 |
Brandon Silvers | Seattle Dragons | 38.8 |
Offensive team grades
As advertised, the league saw an incredible amount of parity in the offensive production in Week 1, as all four of the top-performing teams were within 1.2 of each other.
The BattleHawks, led by Jordan Ta'amu's 209 yards passing and 77 yards rushing, led the way with a grade of 69.6. The Roughnecks, who lead the XFL in offensive touchdowns (4), came in second with a grade of 68.8.
St. Louis BattleHawks | 69.6 |
Houston Roughnecks | 68.8 |
DC Defenders | 68.8 |
New York Guardians | 68.4 |
Tampa Bay Vipers | 60.9 |
Dallas Renegades | 60.0 |
Los Angeles Wildcats | 57.6 |
Seattle Dragons | 53.0 |
Defensive team grades
The Roughnecks defense was impressive, scoring a 75.4 from Pro Football Focus. Houston held the Wildcats offense to just three third-down conversions throughout the whole game, while also causing three turnovers.
The Wildcats stand as the lone team who lost in Week 1 to be featured in the top four in defensive team grades, scoring a 61.7.
Houston Roughnecks | 75.4 |
St. Louis BattleHawks | 74.2 |
DC Defenders | 72.6 |
Los Angeles Wildcats | 61.7 |
New York Guardians | 61.7 |
Seattle Dragons | 61.4 |
Dallas Renegades | 61.2 |
Tampa Bay Vipers | 59.1 |
Team notes
Pro Football Focus also highlights five big takeaways for each of the eight XFL teams.
- OT Willie Beavers tied for the most tackle pass blocking snaps played (45) without giving up a pressure this week.
- OG Salesi Uhatafe played the most guard pass blocking snaps (48) without giving up a pressure this week.
- DE Gelen Robinson tied for the most run stops (4) of any XFL player this week.
- LB Reshard Cliett made 3 tackles of no gain, leading the XFL.
- Dallas’ offensive line led the XFL with 2.4 yards before contact per rush attempt.
- QB Cardale Jones led the XFL (minimum 10 attempts) in adjusted completion percentage with 87.5%.
- RB Jhurell Pressley forced the second-most missed tackles (5) as a runner this week.
- TE Khari Lee led the XFL tight ends in yards per route run (minimum 10 attempts) with 2.05 this week.
- WR Eli Rogers tied the XFL lead in explosive receptions (3) this week.
- LB Jonathan Massaquoi tied for the most pass stops (3) in the XFL.
- OT Terry Poole tied for the most tackle pass blocking snaps played (45) without giving up a pressure this week.
- WR Sam Mobley finished with the most yards per route run (minimum 10 routes) in the XFL this week with3.00.
- WR Cam Phillips was one of two receivers to make multiple contested catches (2) this week.
- LB Kaelin Burnett, LB LaTroy Lewis, DL Gabe Wright and ED Kony Ealy were 4 of the 5 XFL players to record 5 pressures in Week 1.
- CB Jeremiah Johnson played the most coverage snaps (54) without giving up a yard in the XFL.
- RB Elijah Hood forced the second-most missed tackles (5) as a runner this week.
- WR Nelson Spruce was one of two receivers to make multiple contested catches (2) this week.
- DE Shawn Oakman finished second in the XFL in quarterback hits this week with 2.
- CB Jaylen Dunlap played the most press corner snaps (33) of anyone in Week 1.
- CB Harlan Miller tied for the most forced incompletions (3) in the XFL.
- QB Matt McGloin led the XFL (minimum 10 attempts) with an average depth of target of 12.5 yards.
- RB Darius Victor led the XFL running backs in yards per route run (minimum 10 routes) with 2.08 this week.
- CB Jamar Summers played the second-most coverage snaps (43) for a cornerback without giving up a first down.
- WR Colby Pearson led the XFL in average depth of target (minimum 3 targets) with a 26.8 yard average this week.
- New York finished second in the XFL defensively with 20 pressures recorded in Week 1.
- OC Brian Folkerts played the most center pass blocking snaps (34) without giving up a pressure this week.
- WR De’Mornay Pierson-El finished with the most yards after catch (68) this week.
- St. Louis led XFL offenses with just 7 total pressures allowed.
- St. Louis allowed the fewest explosive completions defensively with just 1.
- WR L’Damian Washington played the most snaps (74) without a negatively graded play.
- DE Marcell Frazier finished second on the week in pressure percentage (36.4%) among players with 10 or more pass-rushing attempts.
- DT Will Sutton tied for the most total pressures by an interior defensive lineman this week with 5.
- LB Steven Johnson led XFL linebackers with 4 run stops this week.
- Seattle led XFL defenses with just 2.0 yards after contact allowed per rush attempt.
- Seattle pressured quarterbacks on 48.5% of dropbacks, the second-best defensive number in the XFL.
- RB De’Veon Smith had the most yards after contact (68) as a rusher this week.
- WR Daniel Williams finished with the second-most yards per route run (minimum 10 routes) with 2.86 this week.
- Tampa Bay’s backfield led the XFL with 3.5 yards after contact per rush attempt.
- Tampa Bay hurried quarterbacks on 36.4% of dropbacks, the second-best defensive number in the XFL.
- CB Anthoula Kelly tied for the most forced incompletions (3) in the XFL.