FSM Essential Preview: Vipers vs Sea Dragons - Week 10

 

FSM Essential Preview: Vipers vs Sea Dragons – Week 10

Vegas Vipers (2-7) | Houston Roughnecks (5-3)

Franchise Sports Media

 

In a Week 10 XFL matchup, the Vegas Vipers travel to Seattle to take on the Sea Dragons to close out the XFL regular season.

The Vipers vs Sea Dragons preview.

The XFL regular season is coming to a close for Vegas as the Vipers travel to Seattle for their second meeting against the Sea Dragons this season. The first meeting between the two teams saw Seattle winning a very close game, 30-26, at the Snake Pit in Las Vegas during Week Three.

In that game, Ben DiNucci passed for 377 yards and four touchdowns, and running back Morgan Ellison had 17 carries for 103 yards. Josh Gordon and Jahcour Pearson combined for 13 receptions and 217 yards. Vegas, who had the lead until the Gordon TD catch, made it close when QB Brett Hundley still had a chance to win with a 40-yard Hail Mary in the end zone to Martavis Bryant that was knocked away at the last second.

The Sea Dragons have to win to have a shot at the playoff game in D.C. Can they do it? DiNucci has a league-high 2,332 yards passing, 602 yards ahead of Battlehawks quarterback A.J. McCarron. DiNucci has been picked off a league-high 11 times and has lost five fumbles.

Seattle’s offense can score points at will. The Sea Dragons own four of the league’s five successful three-point conversions, in part due to the fact they go for 3-points so often, but it also can be attributed to their depth at wide receiver. Pearson leads the XFL in receptions with 57, which is ten more than anyone else, including teammates Blake Jackson, Jordan Veasy, and NFL veteran Gordon.

 

In last week’s game, the Vipers dropped their seventh game of the season, falling to the Houston Roughnecks, 28-21, at TDECU Stadium in Houston. Vegas once again started the game off strong, jumping out to a 12-0 lead after scoring on their second and third possessions of the game.

Late in the first quarter, Jalan McClendon found tight end Sean Price for a four-yard score. Then, on the Vipers‘ next possession early in the second quarter, McClendon connected with wide receiver Cinque Sweeting for the team’s second score of the game. Vegas may have started hot, but Houston would finish strong to win the game.

Despite being hot and cold on offense, Vegas features an improved defense, led by Pita Taumoepenu, who has 7.5 sacks and is tied for second in the league. He is the only player to have forced as many as four fumbles.

The Vipers vs Sea Dragons looks like a battle between a high-powered offense vs an improving defense.

Injury Report

Who is hurt for the Vipers vs Sea Dragons game?

Out

RB – Rod Smith (Ankle)

DB – Antonio Phillips (Back)

WR – Martavis Bryant (Neck)

 

Questionable 

LB – Jawuan Johnson (Calf)

Franchise Sports Media is getting you ready for Vipers vs Sea Dragons before kick-off.

Bigger than football:

Prior to the Vipers vs Sea Dragons game, tragedy struck the XFL and the Sea Dragons. 

The Seattle Sea Dragons come into this game mourning the death of defensive end Chris Smith, which has cast a huge shadow over everyone in the league. According to XFL.com, the 31-year-old defensive end had already been touched by tragedy. While Smith was with the Browns in 2019, his girlfriend, Petara Cordero, was killed when she was hit by a car after she exited the vehicle he was driving.

“Chris was a powerful presence in the locker room. Loved and admired by his teammates and the coaching staff. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his entire family at this difficult time,” the XFL said in a statement.

“Chris was one of the kindest players and people that I’ve ever met,” Browns All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett said. “He was willing to give you the shirt off his back for you. It’s hard just knowing people like that can go at any time.”

A fifth-round draft pick out of Arkansas in 2014, Smith played eight seasons in the NFL for the Jaguars, Bengals, Browns, Raiders, and Texans. His sudden passing left many of his teammates shocked, saddened, and at a loss.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Chris’ family, friends, teammates, coaches, and loved ones.

It’s time for the Vipers vs Sea Dragons kick-off!

The Vipers take on the Seattle Sea Dragons on Sunday. The kick-off is at 4:00 pm, and the game can be seen on ESPN. 

 

-Joe Arrigo – Franchise Sports Media

Follow Joe on Twitter & Instagram at @JoeArrigoFSM

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