Rally preserves perfect record
Team erases 14-point deficit to remain only unbeaten in the XFL
The Houston Roughnecks overcame a double-digit deficit to defeat the Seattle Dragons 32-23 Saturday to remain the only undefeated team in the XFL.
The Dragons put a scare on the Roughnecks at TDECU Stadium, forcing quarterback P.J. Walker to fumble on the second possession of the game, which led to one of two rushing touchdowns for Seattle quarterback B.J. Daniels, and picked him off twice in the contest.
Daniels finished with 114 passing yards and 30 rushing yards for Seattle. The Dragons were denied a final possession at the Houston 22 with two seconds to play, according to a statement released by the XFL.
“Today’s game should not have ended as it did. Replays showed clearly that the knee of Houston quarterback P.J. Walker touched the field, rendering him ‘down’ and the fourth-down play officially completed, with approximately two seconds remaining on the clock – effectively turning the ball over to Seattle on downs. With a nine-point differential in the score, Seattle was denied an opportunity to tie the game. The XFL sincerely regrets this error.”
The Roughnecks made errors of their own early on.
“We were flat,” Walker said. “That was the key to the whole first quarter. The first interception was a bad read … the second was just a bad throw, bad decision. After that, I just had to lock in and (have) a next drive mentality.”
The Roughnecks (5-0) rallied from a 14-point deficit before halftime, but the Dragons (1-4) responded with nine unanswered points in the third quarter before Houston fully kicked it into gear and took over the game.
“The thing I was impressed with (Walker) was that he came right back and took us down the field again,” Roughnecks head coach June Jones said. “He didn’t let it bother him, and that is what the great ones have the ability to do.”
Outside of the three turnovers, Walker finished with his second 300-yard passing game of the season, throwing for a career-high 351 yards and 27 completions. He threw three touchdown passes.
Both Walker and receiver Cam
Phillips shouted out the Roughnecks’ defense for keeping them within striking distance.
Walker gave the defense an A for its performance. The Roughnecks’ unit did not let the Dragons score on their final four possessions, forcing three punts and a fumble to preserve the victory.
“I think everybody was really fired up with (the turnovers), and then to go three and out after that, it’s not like everybody’s mouth dropped or we ran off the field with shrugged shoulders, but that certainly should (have) been a lift.” Seattle coach Jim Zorn said. “We needed to produce and didn’t.”
As for the offensive side of the ball, the Walker-Phillips connections continues to be a force as the two connected 10 times for 122 yards and two more touchdowns.
The duo has now scored nine touchdowns in five games. Phillips leads the league with 455 receiving yards.
“Just got to put the ball in his hands,” Walker said. “He’ll make plays. He’s a big physical dude. He knows me. We communicate. We discuss everything that we got going on, on the football field.”