2023 DC Defenders season | |
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Owner | Alpha Acquico, LLC |
General manager | Reggie Barlow |
Head coach | Reggie Barlow |
Home field | Audi Field |
Results | |
Record | 9–1 |
Division place | 1st XFL North |
Playoff finish | Won Division Finals (vs. Seattle Sea Dragons) 37–21 Lost XFL Championship (vs. Arlington Renegades) 26–35 |
The 2023 DC Defenders season was the second season for the DC Defenders as a professional American football franchise. The Defenders played their home games at Audi Field and were led by head coach Reggie Barlow.
At the first home game security staff prevented fans building the "Beer Snake", a signature feature from the 2020 season, and fans started throwing lemons on the field. The league made the proper arrangements for the "Beer Snake" to be allowed during Defenders home games.[1][2]
Earning their first playoff berth and clinching first place in the North Division, the Defenders eliminated the Seattle Sea Dragons in the North Division title game in the playoffs. With the win, the Defenders advanced to the XFL Championship Game where they faced the Arlington Renegades, losing by a score of 26-35.[3][4]
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
Rookies in italics |
Main article: 2020 DC Defenders season |
The 2020 season was the inaugural season for the DC Defenders as a professional club. They were playing as charter members of the rebooted XFL, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the season. The Defenders played their home games at Audi Field and were led by head coach Pep Hamilton.
Their inaugural season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the XFL officially suspended operations for the remainder of the season on March 20, 2020.[5] The Defenders finished the season with a 3–2 record.
All times Eastern
Week | Day | Date | Kickoff | TV | Opponent | Results | Location | Attendance | |
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Score | Record | ||||||||
1 | Sunday | February 19 | 8:00 p.m. | ESPN | Seattle Sea Dragons | 22–18 | 1–0 | Audi Field | 12,438 |
2 | Saturday | February 25 | 7:00 p.m. | FX | at Vegas Vipers | 18–6 | 2–0 | Cashman Field | 6,023 |
3 | Sunday | March 5 | 1:00 p.m. | FX | St. Louis BattleHawks | 34–28 | 3–0 | Audi Field | 16,212 |
4 | Sunday | March 12 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN2 | Vegas Vipers | 32–18 | 4–0 | Audi Field | 11,521 |
5 | Saturday | March 18 | 7:00 p.m. | FX | at St. Louis BattleHawks | 28–20 | 5–0 | The Dome at America's Center | 35,868 |
6 | Monday | March 27 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN2 | Houston Roughnecks | 37–26 | 6–0 | Audi Field | 12,492 |
7 | Saturday | April 1 | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN | at Orlando Guardians | 36–37 | 6–1 | Camping World Stadium | 7,011 |
8 | Sunday | April 9 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN2 | at Seattle Sea Dragons | 34–33 | 7–1 | Lumen Field | 11,874 |
9 | Sunday | April 16 | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN | Arlington Renegades | 28–26 (OT) | 8–1 | Audi Field | 18,684 |
10 | Saturday | April 22 | 3:00 p.m. | ABC | at San Antonio Brahmas | 29–28 | 9–1 | Alamodome | 12,129 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Sea Dragons | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 18 |
Defenders | 0 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 22 |
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Defenders | 0 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 18 |
Vipers | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
at Cashman Field, Las Vegas, Nevada
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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BattleHawks | 8 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 28 |
Defenders | 14 | 0 | 11 | 9 | 34 |
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Vipers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 18 |
Defenders | 6 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 32 |
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Defenders | 0 | 14 | 6 | 8 | 28 |
BattleHawks | 0 | 3 | 9 | 8 | 20 |
at The Dome at America's Center, St. Louis, Missouri
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Roughnecks | 8 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 26 |
Defenders | 3 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 37 |
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Defenders | 14 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 36 |
Guardians | 12 | 6 | 13 | 6 | 37 |
at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Defenders | 8 | 8 | 6 | 12 | 34 |
Sea Dragons | 0 | 6 | 9 | 18 | 33 |
at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
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Renegades | 3 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 26 |
Defenders | 6 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 28 |
Game information | ||
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Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Defenders | 11 | 8 | 3 | 7 | 29 |
Brahmas | 3 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 28 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Game information | ||
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North Division[7] | ||||||||||||||
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Team | W–L | PCT | GB | TD+/- | TD+ | TD- | DIV | PF | PA | DIFF | STK | |||
(y) DC Defenders | 9–1 | .900 | 0 | -2 | 33 | 35 | 6–0 | 298 | 240 | 58 | W3 | |||
(x) Seattle Sea Dragons | 7–3 | .700 | 2 | +10 | 30 | 20 | 3–3 | 243 | 177 | 66 | W2 | |||
(e) St. Louis Battlehawks | 7–3 | .700 | 2 | +9 | 32 | 23 | 3–3 | 249 | 202 | 47 | W1 | |||
(e) Vegas Vipers | 2–8 | .200 | 7 | 0 | 28 | 28 | 0–6 | 184 | 252 | -68 | L3 | |||
South Division[7] | ||||||||||||||
Team | W–L | PCT | GB | TD+/- | TD+ | TD- | DIV | PF | PA | DIFF | STK | |||
(y) Houston Roughnecks | 7–3 | .700 | 0 | +4 | 30 | 26 | 6–0 | 247 | 182 | 65 | W3 | |||
(x) Arlington Renegades | 4–6 | .400 | 3 | -8 | 15 | 23 | 3–3 | 146 | 194 | -48 | L2 | |||
(e) San Antonio Brahmas | 3–7 | .300 | 4 | -8 | 16 | 24 | 3–3 | 169 | 183 | -14 | L1 | |||
(e) Orlando Guardians | 1–9 | .100 | 6 | -5 | 32 | 37 | 0–6 | 204 | 310 | -106 | L3 | |||
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched division; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention |
Week | Day | Date | Kickoff | TV | Opponent | Results | Location | Attendance | |
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Score | Record | ||||||||
Division Finals | Sunday | April 30 | 3:00 p.m. | ESPN | Seattle Sea Dragons | 37–21 | 1–0 | Audi Field | 18,684 |
XFL Championship | Saturday | May 13 | 8:00 p.m. | ABC | vs. Arlington Renegades | 26–35 | 1–1 | Alamodome | 22,754 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Sea Dragons | 3 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 21 |
Defenders | 9 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 37 |
Game information | ||
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Main article: 2023 XFL Championship Game |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Renegades | 14 | 6 | 12 | 3 | 35 |
Defenders | 0 | 6 | 14 | 6 | 26 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Game information | ||
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