# 2020 DC Defenders season

The 2020 DC Defenders season was the first season for the DC Defenders as a professional American football franchise. They were playing as charter members of the XFL, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the 2020 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.

## Standings

2020 XFL standingsvte :
| East Division ||||||||||||||
| Team | W | L | PCT | TD+/- | TD+ | TD- | DIV | PF | PA | DIFF | STK |
| DC Defenders | 3 | 2 | .600 | -3 | 9 | 12 | 2–1 | 82 | 89 | -7 | W1 |
| St. Louis Battlehawks | 3 | 2 | .600 | 3 | 11 | 8 | 1–1 | 97 | 77 | 20 | L1 |
| New York Guardians | 3 | 2 | .600 | -1 | 8 | 9 | 1–2 | 79 | 85 | -6 | W2 |
| Tampa Bay Vipers | 1 | 4 | .200 | -4 | 11 | 15 | 1–1 | 98 | 115 | -17 | L1 |
| West Division ||||||||||||||
| Team | W | L | PCT | TD+/- | TD+ | TD- | DIV | PF | PA | DIFF | STK |
| Houston Roughnecks | 5 | 0 | 1.000 | 7 | 21 | 14 | 3–0 | 158 | 111 | 47 | W5 |
| Dallas Renegades | 2 | 3 | .400 | -3 | 9 | 12 | 2–1 | 90 | 102 | -12 | L2 |
| Los Angeles Wildcats | 2 | 3 | .400 | 4 | 18 | 14 | 0–2 | 129 | 122 | 7 | W1 |
| Seattle Dragons | 1 | 4 | .200 | -3 | 12 | 15 | 0–2 | 87 | 119 | -32 | L3 |
| (x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched conference; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention ||||||||||||

## Schedule

All times Eastern
| Week | Day | Date | Kickoff | TV | Opponent | Results | Results | Location |
| Week | Day | Date | Kickoff | TV | Opponent | Score | Record | Location |
| 1 | Saturday | February 8 | 2:00 p.m. | ABC | Seattle Dragons | W 31–19 | 1–0 | Audi Field |
| 2 | Saturday | February 15 | 2:00 p.m. | ABC | New York Guardians | W 27–0 | 2–0 | Audi Field |
| 3 | Sunday | February 23 | 6:00 p.m. | FS1 | at Los Angeles Wildcats | L 9–39 | 2–1 | Dignity Health Sports Park |
| 4 | Sunday | March 1 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN2 | at Tampa Bay Vipers | L 0–25 | 2–2 | Raymond James Stadium |
| 5 | Sunday | March 8 | 3:00 p.m. | FS1 | St. Louis BattleHawks | W 15–6 | 3–2 | Audi Field |
| 6 | Sunday | March 15 | 4:00 p.m. | FS1 | Dallas Renegades | Not played | Not played | Audi Field |
| 7 | Sunday | March 22 | 6:00 p.m. | FS1 | at Houston Roughnecks | Not played | Not played | TDECU Stadium |
| 8 | Saturday | March 28 | 2:00 p.m. | ABC | Tampa Bay Vipers | Not played | Not played | Audi Field |
| 9 | Saturday | April 4 | 2:00 p.m. | ABC | at New York Guardians | Not played | Not played | MetLife Stadium |
| 10 | Sunday | April 12 | 2:00 p.m. | ABC | at St. Louis BattleHawks | Not played | Not played | The Dome at America's Center |

## Season summary

During the first two weeks of the XFL season, the Defenders got off to a hot start, beating the Seattle Dragons in the first XFL game by a score of 31–19 at home, and dominating the New York Guardians at home 27–0. However, Cardale Jones and the Defenders got into a slump the next two weeks, falling to 2-2 and losing back to back games on the road; first to the Los Angeles Wildcats 39–9, and then to the Tampa Bay Vipers 25–0. The Defenders were able to rebound in week 5 thanks to Tyree Jackson, winning against the St. Louis Battlehawks at home 15-6 and improving their record to 3-2 before the XFL officially suspended operations 12 days later.

## Game summaries
### Week 1: vs. Seattle Dragons

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Dragons | 6 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 19 |
| Defenders | 3 | 9 | 13 | 6 | 31 |
at Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
* Date: Saturday, February 8
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 43 °F (6 °C) • Wind: SW 7 mph
* Game attendance: 17,163
* Referee: Reggie Smith
* TV announcers (ABC): Steve Levy (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Tom Luginbill and Dianna Russini (sideline)
Game information :
First quarter
DC – Tyler Rausa 34-yard field goal, 7:20. Defenders 3–0. Drive: 13 plays, 63 yards, 5:49.
SEA – Austin Proehl 14-yard pass from Brandon Silvers (1-pt. failed), 4:25. Dragons 6–3. Drive: 6 plays, 67 yards, 2:55.
Second quarter
DC – Jonathan Celestin recovered blocked punt in end zone (2-pt. failed), 6:56. Defenders 9–6
SEA – Brandon Silvers 13-yard pass to Trey Williams (1-pt. good), 0:20. Dragons 13–9. Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 2:11.
DC – Tyler Rausa 54-yard field goal, 0:00. Dragons 13–12. Drive: 4 plays, 8 yards, 0:20.
Third quarter
DC – Khari Lee 39-yard pass from Cardale Jones (1-pt. good), 12:07. Defenders 19–13. Drive: 6 plays, 78 yards, 3:04.
SEA – Austin Proehl 57-yard pass from Brandon Silvers (1-pt. failed), 10:42. Tied 19–19. Drive: 3 plays, 67 yards, 1:28.
DC – Rashad Ross 31-yard pass from Cardale Jones (1-pt. failed), 1:45. Defenders 25–19. Drive: 5 plays, 55 yards, 2:35.
Fourth quarter
DC – Bradley Sylve 69-yard interception return (1-pt. failed), 12:55. Defenders 31–19.
Top passers
SEA – Brandon Silvers – 21/40, 217 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
DC – Cardale Jones – 16/26, 291 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
SEA – Kenneth Farrow – 7 carries, 41 yards
DC – Cardale Jones – 6 carries, 33 yards
Top receivers
SEA – Austin Proehl – 5 receptions, 88 yards, 2 TD
DC – Eli Rogers – 6 receptions, 73 yards :
This was the first-ever XFL game, and the Defenders would have the first score (although Seattle had the first touchdown) and the first win of the XFL.

### Week 2: vs. New York Guardians

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Guardians | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 27 |
at Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
* Date: Saturday, February 15
* Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Partly cloudy • Temperature: 36 °F (2 °C) • Wind: S 9 mph
* Game attendance: 15,031
* Referee: John O'Neill
* TV announcers (ABC): Steve Levy (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Tom Luginbill and Dianna Russini (sideline)
Game information :
First quarter
DC – DeAndre Thompkins 13-yard pass from Cardale Jones (1-pt. failed), 7:09. Defenders 6–0. Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 6:09.
Second quarter
DC – Tyler Rausa 27-yard field goal, 11:19. Defenders 9–0. Drive: 13 plays, 51 yards, 7:31.
DC – Tyler Rausa 36-yard field goal, 0:30. Defenders 12–0. Drive: 5 plays, 43 yards, 0:49.
Third quarter
DC – Jameer Thurman 46-yard interception return (1-pt. failed), 10:07. Defenders 18–0.
Fourth quarter
DC – Tyler Rausa 26-yard field goal, 7:22. Defenders 21–0. Drive: 13 plays, 54 yards, 7:28.
DC – Derrick Hayward 6-yard pass from Cardale Jones (3-pt. failed), 1:29. Defenders 27–0. Drive: 5 plays, 49 yards, 1:57.
Top passers
NY – Marquise Williams – 4/8, 51 yards
DC – Cardale Jones – 23/37, 276 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
NY – Tim Cook III – 10 rushes, 39 yards
DC – Donnel Pumphrey – 12 rushes, 53 yards
Top receivers
NY – Mekale McKay – 3 receptions, 30 yards
DC – Rashad Ross – 4 receptions, 95 yards :
In the fourth quarter, the Defenders tried for a three-point conversion, the first three-point attempt in the XFL.

### Week 3: at Los Angeles Wildcats

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Defenders | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 9 |
| Wildcats | 6 | 21 | 6 | 6 | 39 |
at Dignity Health Sports Park, Los Angeles, CA
* Date: Sunday, February 23
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. EST / 3:00 p.m. PST
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 65 °F (18 °C) • Wind: N 3 mph
* Referee: Tra Blake
* TV announcers (FS1): Curt Menefee (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst), Jenny Taft (sideline)
Game information :
First quarter
LA – Tre McBride 40-yard pass from Josh Johnson (2-pt. failed), 12:27. Wildcats 6–0. Drive: 5 plays, 71 yards, 2:50.
Second quarter
LA – Larry Rose 1-yard rush (2-pt. good), 14:24. Wildcats 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 28 yards, 2:20.
LA – Tre McBride 28-yard pass from Josh Johnson (1-pt. failed), 8:47. Wildcats 20–0. Drive: 7 plays, 42 yards, 3:19.
LA – Martez Carter 1-yard rush (1-pt. good), 4:48. Wildcats 27–0. Drive: 2 plays, 4 yards, 0:32.
DC – Tyler Rausa 32-yard field goal, 0:30. Wildcats 27–3. Drive: 7 plays, 34 yards, 0:56.
Third quarter
LA – Martez Carter 18-yard pass from Josh Johnson (1-pt. failed), 6:45. Wildcats 33–3. Drive: 7 plays, 96 yards, 2:47.
Fourth quarter
LA – Martez Carter 20-yard rush (1-pt. failed), 11:39. Wildcats 39–3. Drive: 7 plays, 94 yards, 3:45.
DC – Nick Brosette 38-yard rush (3-pt. failed), 7:33. Wildcats 39–9. Drive: 8 plays, 70 yards, 4:08.
Top passers
DC – Cardale Jones – 13/26, 103 yards, 4 INT
LA – Josh Johnson – 18/25, 278 yards, 3 TD
Top rushers
DC – Nick Brosette – 8 carries, 75 yards, TD
LA – Martez Carter – 11 carries, 34 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
DC – Khari Lee – 3 receptions, 38 yards
LA – Tre McBride – 5 receptions, 109 yards, 2 TD :

### Week 4: at Tampa Bay Vipers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Defenders | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vipers | 7 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 25 |
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
* Date: Sunday, March 1
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Mostly cloudy • Temperature: 60 °F (16 °C) • Wind: NNE 3 mph
* Referee: Jeff Heaser
* TV announcers (ESPN2): Tom Hart (play-by-play), Joey Galloway (analyst), Pat McAfee (sideline)
Game information :
First quarter
TB – Jacques Patrick 8-yard rush (1-pt. good), 8:43. Vipers 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:29.
Second quarter
TB – DeAndre Goolsby 13-yard pass from Taylor Cornelius (1-pt. failed), 13:41. Vipers 13–0. Drive: 15 plays, 75 yards, 6:48.
TB – Andrew Franks 40–yard field goal, 3:45. Vipers 16–0. Drive: 9 plays, 47 yards, 4:46.
Third quarter
TB – Taylor Cornelius 17-yard rush (2-pt. failed), 4:36. Vipers 22–0. Drive: 3 plays, 23 yards, 1:05.
Fourth quarter
TB – Andrew Franks 26-yard field goal, 10:17. Vipers 25–0. Drive: 17 plays, 71 yards, 7:22.
Top passers
DC – Cardale Jones – 9/22, 72 yards, INT
TB – Taylor Cornelius – 24/31, 211 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
DC – Donnel Pumphrey – 7 carries, 34 yards
TB – De'Veon Smith – 24 carries, 122 yards
Top receivers
DC – Donnel Pumphrey – 3 receptions, 32 yards
TB – Daniel Williams – 7 receptions, 72 yards :

### Week 5: vs. St. Louis BattleHawks

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| BattleHawks | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Defenders | 6 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 15 |
at Audi Field, Washington, D.C.
* Date: Sunday, March 8
* Game time: 5:00 p.m. EST
* Referee: John O'Neill
* TV announcers (FS1): Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst)
Game information :
First quarter
STL - Taylor Russolino 35-yard field goal, 3:11. BattleHawks 3–0. Drive: 11 plays, 53 yards, 5:21.
DC - Khari Lee 9-yard pass from Tyree Jackson (1-pt. failed), 1:02. Defenders 6–3. Drive: 5 plays, 45 yards, 2:09.
Second quarter
STL - Taylor Russolino 40-yard field goal, 9:53. Tied 6–6. Drive: 13 plays, 63 yards, 6:08.
Third quarter
DC – Tyler Rausa 52-yard field goal, 10:14. Defenders 9–6. Drive: 5 plays, 26 yards, 2:46.
DC – Tyler Rausa 50-yard field goal, 3:25. Defenders 12–6. Drive: 7 plays, 39 yards, 3:21.
Fourth quarter
DC – Tyler Rausa 22-yard field goal, 3:36. Defenders 15–6. Drive: 4 plays, 0 yards, 1:55.
Top passers
STL – Jordan Ta'amu – 15/25, 174 yards
DC – Tyree Jackson – 9/14, 39 yards, TD
Top rushers
STL – Matt Jones – 13 carries, 72 yards
DC – Jhurell Pressley - 15 carries, 107 yards
Top receivers
STL – L'Damian Washington – 5 receptions, 114 yards
DC – Khari Lee – 3 receptions, 14 yards, TD :