Cleveland Browns: XFL prospects from week 5 of the league
By Chad Porto
A blown call, failed quarterback play and more marred the fifth week of the XFL’s season but how did the XFL prospects look with all the turmoil?
The fifth week of the XFL is a bit of a mess. It wasn’t bad enough that the first game of the week ended with an apology from the league after the officials blew an obvious end-of-the-game call. Houston had a nine-point lead on Seattle but a blown call cost Seattle a chance to tie the game. The XFL has a three-point play for all point-after attempts, and with that rule, in place, Seattle still had a chance to tie, forcing overtime.
The game was called prematurely, however, and the league was quick to apologize for the mistake.
The rest of the league didn’t fare much better. The two MVP candidates, St. Louis’ Jordan Ta’amu struggled mightily and Houston’s P.J. Walker turned the ball over twice. That’s not as bad as the former MVP front runner, Ohio State alum Cardale Jones, who was benched by the D.C. Defenders after throwing an interception in just his second attempt of the game. Jones now has seventh interceptions in four games, including a four-interception game against the Los Angeles Wildcats.
Despite that, the XFL East is a three-way tie for first with the Defenders, the Guardians and BattleHawks all with a 3-2 record. The west, on the other hand, is the Houston Roughnecks show, who have gotten to a 5-0 record in the XFL West, with Renegades, the Wildcats and the Dragons in a three-way play for the second playoff spot.
Let’s take a look at the players who stood out this week.