Best of XFL Week 2: Blocked punts, big throws and victory cigars

10:10 PM ET

ESPN staff

Week 1 of the 2023 XFL season brought no shortage of drama, from one-handed touchdowns to pick-sixes. Think Week 2 would lack in the excitement factor? Think again.

The Sea Dragons battled back from a 17-12 fourth-quarter deficit to score a go-ahead touchdown in the final two minutes, only for AJ McCarron to drive the Battlehawks down the field and set up a walk-off 44-yard field goal.

Despite trailing the Vipers 6-0 at halftime, the Defenders scored 18 unanswered second-half points in the pouring Las Vegas rain to improve to 2-0 and stay atop the XFL standings.

Jack Coan outdueled both Paxton Lynch and Deondre Francois on Sunday afternoon as the Brahmas avoided an 0-2 start with an 18-point win over the Guardians. Meanwhile, the Roughnecks forced three turnovers and scored three touchdowns to beat the Renegades.

All XFL games will be streamed live on ESPN+ and are available on the ESPN family of networks (ABC, ESPN and FX).

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Recaps | Best plays
Tweets | Quotes

This weekend’s games

Brandon Silvers threw two touchdown passes and Max Borghi ran for one more as Wade Phillips’ Roughnecks improved to 2-0.

Silvers’ 15-yard touchdown pass to Cedric Byrd turned a 14-11 deficit into a 17-14 lead in the third quarter, and Borghi’s 4-yard touchdown run provided Houston insurance.

Just a little surprise from MAD MAX 🤭✋ pic.twitter.com/Lcv1TjvQpy

— Houston Roughnecks (@XFLRoughnecks) February 27, 2023

Jack Coan threw for 169 yards and three touchdowns, including this acrobatic dart to Alize Mack that gave San Antonio the lead for good toward the end of the second quarter.

Alize Mack makes nice leaping TD for Brahmas

Alize Mack makes a nice leaping catch for a touchdown as the Brahmas go up 13-6 vs. the Guardians.

Meanwhile, the Guardians couldn’t get into a rhythm after Paxton Lynch threw a touchdown to Eli Rogers on their opening drive. They committed 13 penalties, missed a field goal right before halftime and had a punt blocked deep in their own territory that set up a 7-yard touchdown from Coan to Mack.

Lynch finished 9-for-19 for 79 yards and was sacked twice. Deondre Francois was 6-for-13 for eight yards, a touchdown and an interception.

The Sea Dragons started off hot, taking a 12-0 lead on Ben DiNucci‘s 54-yard touchdown pass to Jahcour Pearson and three-point conversion to Josh Gordon. But after AJ McCarron and the Battlehawks rattled off 17 unanswered points, it was up to DiNucci to lead the Sea Dragons back.

With the ball on their own 40 and 3:11 to play, DiNucci orchestrated a seven-play, 60-yard drive, ending with a touchdown pass to Jordan Veasy on fourth-and-goal to retake the lead.

DiNucci finds Veasy for go-ahead TD in 4th

Ben DiNucci connects with Jordan Veasy in the end zone as the Sea Dragons grab the lead.

But McCarron wanted to play hero himself. McCarron had rushes of 11 and 12 yards, then found George Campbell for an 11-yard completion to put the Battlehawks into opposing territory with 50 seconds remaining. Three plays later, he found Austin Proehl for nine yards, setting up Donald Hageman‘s game-winning 44-yard field goal as time expired.

BACK-TO-BACK COMEBACK THRILLERS.

DONNY CALLED GAME. pic.twitter.com/vqqF79brTZ

— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) February 24, 2023

The Defenders and Vipers played in harsh field conditions at Cashman Field in Las Vegas. If it wasn’t clear that it was a rain game, the teams combined for four fumbles, two missed field goals and 320 rushing yards.

The weather and field conditions factored into the Vipers’ Bailey Giffen slipping on a 23-yard field goal attempt.

DEFENSE 😮‍💨‼️

pic.twitter.com/iMMzhGnnNb

— D.C. Defenders (@XFLDefenders) February 26, 2023

The Defenders trailed 6-0 early in the first quarter. After Jordan Ta’amu was sacked and lost the ball deep inside his own territory, Vegas’ DeAndre Torrey capitalized with a 2-yard rushing touchdown. But the Defenders wouldn’t allow another point and would dominate on the ground, as they outrushed the Vipers 229-91 to improve to 2-0

D’Eriq King (12 yards) and Abram Smith (nine yards) both scored rushing touchdowns in a 15-point fourth quarter as the Defenders improved to 2-0.

Abram Smith lowers his shoulder for a Defenders TD

Abram Smith gets to the corner and trucks a defender to extend the Defenders’ lead.

Smith, Ta’amu and Ryquell Armstead each ran for over 50 yards.

Best plays

Big-throw Ben

Ben DiNucci threw for 196 yards and two touchdowns Thursday, with this 54-yarder to Jahcour Pearson putting the Sea Dragons up 12-0 in the second quarter.

Sea Dragons strike early with long TD, 3-point conversion

Jahcour Pearson catches a 54-yard touchdown strike from Ben DiNucci, then DiNucci finds Josh Gordon while getting crunched for a three-point conversion.

Can’t be stopped

The Sea Dragons’ Morgan Ellison would not go down.

👀 @XFLSeaDragons #XFL pic.twitter.com/18tyoLWx6N

— XFL (@XFL2023) February 24, 2023

King of the XFL

At the college level, D’Eriq King threw for 76 touchdowns, ran for 32 and caught three more in his six seasons at Houston and Miami. He scored his first one at the XFL level Saturday.

TD @XFLDefenders 💥
Score now sits at 10-6; D.C. leading.#XFL2023 pic.twitter.com/0IN6JRXkes

— XFL (@XFL2023) February 26, 2023

Block party

Travis Jonsen ran untouched to the punter and came up with a pivotal block in the third quarter. On the next play, Alize Mack caught a dump-off pass from Jack Coan and maneuvered his way into the end zone for the score.

The @XFLBrahmas block the punt then capitalize at the goal line‼️@XFL2023 pic.twitter.com/oXwTStPzga

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 26, 2023

Bragging rights

The Roughnecks beat the Renegades in the first in-state battle of Texas’ XFL teams. And after recording an interception that set up a pivotal touchdown, Sean Davis wanted to make sure Arlington knew it would be looking up at Houston.

yeeehawww 🏈 @XFLRoughnecks #23 Sean Davis#XFL2023 pic.twitter.com/SiMv45fOpC

— XFL (@XFL2023) February 27, 2023

Sean Davis got the pick for bragging rights 😤@XFL2023 | @XFLRoughnecks pic.twitter.com/vGcwI0WPa5

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) February 27, 2023

Top tweets

Battlehawks taking over

The Battlehawks turned up with Bankroll Fresh’s “Take Over Your Trap” in the postgame locker room, featuring victory cigars.

WALK IN YO TRAP

TAKE OVER YO TRAP pic.twitter.com/vybc5raS8w

— St. Louis Battlehawks (@XFLBattlehawks) February 24, 2023

Hit the celly

Jontre Kirklin broke out the dance moves after scoring a two-point conversion.

Did someone say GRIDDY?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/RgNJVimztc

— Houston Roughnecks (@XFLRoughnecks) February 27, 2023

NFL rookie giving props

New York Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson isn’t letting the offseason stop him from watching football.

XFL so tuff💯💯

— Jermaine Johnson II (@ii_jermaine) February 26, 2023

BeReal: They’re 2-0

The BeReal alert came just in time for the Roughnecks to celebrate their win.

Let’s “BEREAL” we didn’t lose faith. We fought! 2-0 LFG 🔥 pic.twitter.com/6rL3AXcwGl

— Houston Roughnecks (@XFLRoughnecks) February 27, 2023

Quotes

AJ McCarron’s emotional return

McCarron had appeared in only 17 NFL games from 2015 to 2020. Since his first son, Tripp, was born in 2016, he had started just one NFL game and attempted 55 passes. Playing in front of his family, which he said “is a great way to create some memories for me and my boys,” is one of the reasons he opted to play in the XFL.

“I miss playing. … Being a backup, that’s a great living, it really is and I absolutely love it,” McCarron said. “But I love playing, and this is special.”

“I love playing. This is special and I can’t thank the XFL enough.” Thank you too, @10AJMcCarron 👏 #XFL2023 | @XFLBattlehawks pic.twitter.com/xiMibeTHhk

— XFL (@XFL2023) February 24, 2023

What is really said in the huddle

Deondre Francois was mic’d up in the huddle and, well, listen for yourself.