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I’ll be completely honest, prior to week one, I didn’t think we would be sitting 0-2. In week one, the Seattle Sea Dragons had a decent enough game. With an early touchdown, Quarterback Ben DiNucci hit red hot Wide Reciever Josh Gordon with a 6-yard shovel pass. An unsuccessful 3-point conversion followed. But despite the hot start, the Dragons would fall to the Defenders 18-22. DiNucci went 35/54, with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions, one for a pick 6.
After the game, I figured they played a strong D.C. team and had a few things to figure out. I thought they could look forward to week 2, and pluck the wings of a Battlehawk.
Fast forward to Thursday, February 23. The Seattle Kraken was playing the NHL’s best, The Boston Bruins, at Climate Pledge Arena (after shutting them out at home in Boston and ending their home undefeated streakāit was a highly anticipated rematch), but that didn’t stop 10,000+ Sea Dragon fans from coming out to Lumen Field to #Breathefire.

In the crowd was me, Tommy Jones from Ambush Sports. The atmosphere was hot, even though the weather outside was a crisp 30 degrees (21 with the wind chill factored in). As I bought my first $12 beer and started eating my instantly cold garlic fries, I was ready. And like so many in attendance for the home opener, I was hopeful.
First Quarter, Sea Dragons take the lead 3-0 with a Dominik Eberle field goal. Then DiNucci connected with Blake Jackson for 19 yards as the clock reached zero. Beginning the Second Quarter, DiNucci kept the passing game going with a big play, finding his favorite target in week 1, Jahcour Pearson, with a big 54-yard touchdown. It was Pearson’s first in XFL history. The crowd was cold but elated. The second half was not so kind.
After a tough fight and a final flurry by the Battlehawks’ offense, the Dragons allowed another touchdown. The Seattle Sea Dragons fell to 0-2, losing on a last-second field goal by Donald Hageman.
The mighty Dragons fell to the St. Louis Battlehawks 18-20. But the question is, after three fumbles and four penalties, did the Battlehawks beat them, or did they defeat themselves?
Twice Seattle had the lead and twice couldn’t keep it. So far, after two weeks, they currently have seven turnovers and eight penalties. That’s a trend that needs to be broken if they want to get to 1-2. With a longer break, it gives them time to continue practicing the things that worked, and fix the things that didn’t.
Week 3 they meet the Vipers for the first time since 2020. Being the only team Seattle defeated in its franchise history thus far, this could be the comeback game they need. With DiNucci sitting at 478 passing yards for 3 touchdowns, Jahcour Pearson boasting an impressive 16 receptions for 173 receiving yards and a single touchdown, and Gordon with 7 receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown, the Sea Dragons can right their wrongs. This definitely could be the week that they break this streak before it becomes a thing of infamy.