FSM Essential Preview: Vipers vs Defenders – Week 4
Vegas Vipers (0-3) | D.C. Defenders (3-0)
The Vegas Vipers travel to our nation’s capital to take on the D.C. Defenders for the second time in three weeks on Sunday.
The Vipers vs Defenders preview.
Week 4 of the XFL season concludes on Sunday night at Audi Field in our nation’s capital as the Vegas Vipers take on the D.C. Defenders. This is a rematch between these two teams after D.C. ran their way to an 18-6 win over Vegas just two weeks ago in the Vipers’ soggy home opener. The Defenders (3-0) will now look for the season sweep of their North Division rivals, while the Vegas (0-3) looks to get into the win column finally.
Vegas did some good things effort-wise but came up short in a 30-26 home loss to the Seattle Sea Dragons last Saturday night. Brett Hundley put up 224 passing yards and two touchdowns on just 13 completions (out of 28 attempts), while the offense finished with 377 yards against a Sea Dragons defense that had been playing solid football.
Explosive plays fueled the Vipers‘ attack, including a 50-yard touchdown pass to John Lovett. Hundley also made things happen with his legs, gaining 66 yards with a score on the ground. But the defense had no answers for Seattle’s offense, yielding 519 total yards to the Sea Dragons, 377 of those through the air. Vegas still had a chance to win, leading late in the fourth quarter, but Seattle’s Ben DiNucci connected with Josh Gordon on a 65-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-2 with a little more than a minute left for what proved to be the game-winner.
Meanwhile, D.C. maintained its perfect record with a hard-fought, 34-28 win at home over the St. Louis Battlehawks. Jordan Ta’amu completed 11 of 20 passes for 196 yards and a touchdown. The Defenders continued their excellent work on the ground as well, with Abram Smith and Ryquell Armstead combining for 136 rushing yards.
The defense bent plenty but did not break, forcing four turnovers, including Michael Joseph’s 41-yard interception return. Those takeaways helped overcome three lost fumbles by the offense (two by Armstead). This is an area that D.C. needs to clean up moving forward, or the team may find itself on the wrong end of these close contests.
The Vipers are looking for their first win of the year, while the Defenders look to stay unbeaten.
Injury Report
Who is hurt for the Vipers vs Defenders game?
Out
DB – Kahlil McKenzie (Toe)
Questionable
QB – Brett Hundley (Thigh)
OL – Mike Miller (Lower Leg)
TE – Sean Price (Abdomen)
DB – Deontay Anderson (Achilles)
LB – Martrell Spaight (Thigh)
DB – Adam Spark (Shoulder)
OL – Isaiah Williams (Ankle)
DB – Nijuel Hill (Ankle)
Probable
OL – Tony Adams (Chest)
DB – Marwin Evans (Concussion)
TE – Travis Koontz (Illness)
Franchise Sports Media is getting you ready for Vipers vs Defenders before kick-off.
Vipers Will Be Having a Watch Party
The Vipers are featured in Player 54, the XFL docuseries leading up to the Vipers vs Sea Dragons game on Saturday.
The Vegas Vipers and Crust & Roux – Gourmet Pizza, Pot Pies, and Dessert Pies announced that they would be having a watch party for the team’s Week 4 game at their location in Town Square. The Vipers invite the valley to come and cheer on the Vipers as they take on the D.C. Defenders on Sunday, March 12. The event will start at 3:30 p.m. PT, and the game kicks off at 4 p.m. PT on ESPN2.
No reservations are required. The event is family-friendly and open to all ages. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
You and your family should watch the Vipers vs Defenders on Sunday.
The Vegas Vipers head to Washington, D.C., on Sunday to take on the Defenders. The kick-off is at 4 p.m., and the game can be seen on ESPN2. For tickets, tap in here.
-Joe Arrigo – Franchise Sports Media
Follow Joe on Twitter & Instagram at @JoeArrigoFSM
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Joe Arrigo
Joe Arrigo is the co-founder and VP of Franchise Sports Media. Joe has been in media since 2004 when he became the morning host on KKUU and mid-days co-host on KXPS in Pam Springs. After his time in Palm Springs, Joe became the operations manager when he built, programmed, and was on-air for KQCM. He has also had stints on-air in various markets, including Fresno. Joe became the producer and co-host for The Beast 980 (KFWB), a sports talk station in Los Angeles, before moving to Vegas in 2015. In 2019 he founded Franchise Sports Media with TQ.
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