Jesse Dyess and Drew Wells 
Editor’s note: These ranking do not reflect the Thursday night game with Houston and Seattle.
Week 4 of the XFL season is complete, and this week did not disappoint. We saw Houston continue to show itself as a power, St. Louis wins before a sold-out crowd, and D’Eriq King shows himself to be a true dual threat in DC’s offense. Finally, Seattle evened out to 2-2 on the season. Fellow Ambush Sports writer Drew Wells and I discuss how week four has changed our league rankings.
1)
Jesse
Houston Roughnecks
I don’t feel like there is much that can be said about them that I haven’t already. Brandon Silvers looks like an early MVP candidate, and that defense has been nasty upfront. Just based on the Orlando game, I have some concerns about their secondary. However, the pass rush has been so effective that hasn’t seemed to matter. The way they played against Orlando Saturday, they will be hard to stop.
Drew
Houston Roughnecks
The only team that hasn’t truly faced a challenge thus far, Houston is riding a high going into Week 5. QB Brandon Silvers has the top QB rating in the league, and receiver Jontre Kirklin is a top 5 receiver in the league. Defensively, the Roughnecks have the league leader in sacks and a secondary that is tied at the top of the league in interceptions. This week they face an up-and-coming Seattle team whose offense should pose the first true challenge for Houston’s defense.
2
Jesse
DC Defenders
DC uses the two-quarterback system to perfection, it’s that simple. They seemed to have found lightning in a bottle with Ta’amu and King. King was in the conversation for player of the week with his three total touchdowns. DC continues to run the ball well, with a very opportunistic defense. They manage to stay locked in at number 2 after their victory against the Vegas Vipers.
Drew
DC Defenders
Having already beaten the St. Louis Battlehawks in what was an emotionally supercharged game, the Defenders come into this week facing the Battlehawks again. This time, however, the Battlehawks will have nearly 40,000 of their closest friends in the building. The Defenders have really come together in recent weeks offensively, and they are a machine on defense when it comes to forcing turnovers. The injury bug is real, however. We shall see how D.C. operates during a hotly contested game with a shallow depth chart.
3)
Jesse
St. Louis BattleHawks
The BattleHawks didn’t need any last-minute heroics in this game as the final score never really seemed in doubt. They ended their XFL record-setting first home game with a 24-11 victory over the renegades. A.J. Mccarron continues to be efficient with 211 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. The Hawks running game continues to be successful with Brian Hill running for 90 and a touchdown. A scrappy, talented team that never quits is what makes them my number 3 selection.
Drew
St. Louis BattleHawks
St. Louis single-handedly brought up the average attendance of the entire XFL last week in their first home game. Their only loss has come at the hands of the D.C. Defenders really has left a sour taste in their mouth. A.J. McCarron, even in that loss, has proven to be a steady catalyst in the Battlehawks’ offense. They’ll need a complete performance to beat D.C. at home, and that will need to include a fast start on the offensive side of the ball.
4)
Jesse
Seattle Sea Dragons
We have our first change in the power rankings this week. Seattle handled business against San Antonio 15-6. A record of 2-2 feels like a weird place for a team with the XFL’s leading passer, rusher, and receiver. However, turnovers have plagued the Seadragons. After week 4, only the Orlando Guardians have committed more turnovers. If this team cleans up the mistakes, there is a potential to climb higher on this list.
Drew
Seattle Sea Dragons
The Dragons have steadily improved week to week so far, but have not really been stellar in terms of playing a complete game in all phases. One thing is not debatable, however: the passing game is the best in the league by far. Led by former pros Ben DiNucci and Josh Gordon, and with breakout stars Jahcour Pearson and running back Morgan Ellison, the Dragons have the talent. The question is, can they get production from anyone else to help them really hit the turbo button?
5)
Jesse
San Antonio Brahmas
This has been one of the harder teams to figure out on the list. After their blowout win against Orlando, it looked like they had figured things out. However, after back-to-back losses to Houston and Seattle, the Brahmas offense is still looking for answers. This has led to Hines Ward announcing that Jimmie Johnson will be calling plays this week. We will see how the team responds to this change, but a struggling offense is hurting a very strong defense.
Drew
Las Vegas Vipers
I know, I know… They haven’t won a game, and they lost to Arlington. In my eyes, Las Vegas has improved from week to week and is beginning to find answers to their early season woes on the offensive side of the ball. They have a stout defense as well, led by Vic Beasley. If the offense can produce and keep the defense fresh, look out… Trending upward, and most importantly being able to score points at a higher rate than the next teams, has these Vipers on the rise.
6)
Jesse
Arlington Renegades
Another team that has been really difficult to get a read on. So far they are 2-2, only managing wins against the two worst teams in this league. Arlington’s defense has been above average, but quarterback issues seem to be holding this team back. The switch to Kyle Slotter has yet to bear fruit, as he had 3 interceptions in their loss to the BattleHawks. Arlington, much like San Antonio, needs to answer some questions before they are able to climb up this list.
Drew
San Antonio Brahmas
San Antonio has hit a major speedbump in their quest to bring the city of San Antonio success in professional football. That speed bump comes in the form of disappointing offensive line play and injuries. Jack Coan runs for his life entirely too much, however when he actually does have time to pass he can be deadly. The run game has ground to a halt behind that offensive line as well, and there are a few players visually showing their disdain. Head Coach Hines Ward has made a change in play-caller, but will that be enough, and are player benchings coming as well?
7)
Jesse
Vegas Vipers
The Vegas Vipers remind me a lot of the Tampa Bay Vipers of the 2020 XFL. This team is far too good to be 0-4. They seem to be the victims of horrible luck each week. Two defensive touchdowns in week one doomed a solid defensive performance. In week 3, it was the Josh Gordon play with less than a minute left. Last week, a controversial halftime call and an injury to starting quarterback Brett Hundley were enough to seal their fate. We wish Brett a speedy recovery, as this team looks like they could cause some problems with him at the helm.
Drew
Arlington Renegades
Oh, what could have been! Bob Stoops is having a hard time finding any semblance of an offense so far this season. Drew Plitt was well-hyped coming into the league’s reprisal but flamed out. Kyle Sloter replaced him, and still, the offense is sputtering. They could well have a top 3 defense in the league, but being on the field for so long when the offense is a failure really takes its toll. It looks like Arlington will be in the cellar until they get something, ANYTHING going on offense.
8)
Jesse
Orlando Guardians
The Orlando Guardians continue to round off this list and for good reason. Anything positive this team accomplishes seems to be immediately undone by mistakes. Three blowout losses on the season, issues at the quarterback position, and questions as to whether Terrell Buckley is the right man to lead this team are just a few of the reasons Orlando has earned the last place on this list.
Drew
Orlando Guardians
The good news? Coach Buckley has seemed to get the cultural issues under control in Orlando. The bad news? They’re still the same Guardians we saw before. The offense shows flashes but is largely dead against teams with a defensive pulse. The defense shines at times as well and actually seems to be average-to-above average. Yet another instance of time on the field dulls the brightness and potential that this team has. They did seem to put up a little bit of a fight in the middle of last week’s loss to Houston, but can that be sustained throughout an entire game? Until they do that, it’s the cellar for the Guardians as well.
