Roughnecks try again to end skid
SAN ANTONIO — The Houston Roughnecks visit the Alamodome on Sunday for an XFL South Division showdown against the San Antonio Brahmas.
Though the Brahmas are just 2-5 entering the home stretch of the XFL season, San Antonio still holds a path to a playoff position, and coach Hines Ward sees a group capable of turning the corner in a matchup against the firstplace Roughnecks (4-3) at 2 p.m.
Meanwhile the Roughnecks have dropped three games in a row after a 4-0 start and are 1-3 on the road this season. But Houston still controls its destiny. With a win over the Brahmas, or a loss by the Arlington Renegades, would clinch a spot in the playoffs.
The Brahmas are trying to climb into the postseason picture. The Brahmas are one game behind the Renegades in the South division for second place and two back of Houston.
Ward said the team is focused on pushing hard to the finish line.
“I need more commitment from the players,” Ward said. “Really, just commit themselves. Give me all they have for these last three home games, and see what happens.”
Ward wants his assistants sitting with players to break down the details of each call. If inspiring confidence and understanding means “you have to stay in this building until midnight to get it done and really fix it, we have to do that.”
“I challenged our coaches this week, for at least the last three weeks of this season, man, let's just commit ourselves,” Ward said. “Let's do whatever we have to do. Really invest every ounce of energy we have into our players, man, to get this thing turned around.”
San Antonio linebacker Jordan Williams said the Brahmas are stressing that the playoff race remains within reach.
Williams said the group is committed “to understand and learn from all of these losses.”
“A lot of guys are taking it a lot more serious right now,” Williams said. “Not to say that we weren't, but sometimes you need a reality check. You need to get your focus back to where it needs to be.”
San Antonio's offense ranks last in the league with 73.3 rushing yards and 131.9 passing yards per game, and injuries have piled up through the year.
Top running back Kalen Ballage is out for the season after suffering an injury in practice March 23, and Sunday's matchup will mark San Antonio's fifth straight week with a change at starting quarterback.
Jack Coan, the Brahmas' starter through the first four weeks of the season, missed the past two games due to an ankle injury but is expected to return on Sunday.
Houston's Deontay Burnett is one of the league's top receiving targets and leads the team with 365 yards and five touchdowns.