2022 XFL Championship

The 2022 XFL Championship, or **XFL Championship III** was the third XFL Championship of the revived XFL. The game was played on April 2 at Lumen Field and was contested between DC Defenders and Houston Roughnecks.

The 2 teams are not considered Divisional Champions as all teams were in the playoffs and divisions were ignored for 2022 due to the 2022 XFL Players Strike. So therefore, both teams could have played against their own division or not.

## Background

The 2022 XFL Season was the third season of the revived XFL but it wasnt any normal regular season, it was instead a 4 week regular season and a 3 week playoff due to the 2022 XFL Players Strike.

The Defenders finished 3-1 and won Round 1 against the Vipers 14-6 and won Round 2 against the Renegades 20-17. The Roughnecks finished 2-2 and won Round 1 against the Dragons 27-13 and the Battlehawks 16-7.

## Scoring Summary

(millions)
 April 2 8:20pm ET

## Game Summary

### First Half

The Roughnecks won the toss and elected to defer. The Defenders started the game 3 and out and had to punt. The Roughnecks then fumbled a snap on their first play and lost 10 yards. However, they made a 22 yard pass to regain a 1st down. They would have to punt on a 4th & 3 though. The Defenders then punted back to the Roughnecks after making a 1 yard rush on 1st down and then 2 incomplete passes on 2nd and 3rd down. The Roughnecks then made a significant play on 3rd & 10 and made it to the Defenders 20. They then made a 3 yard rush. Then on 2nd & 7 they made a 17 yard passing TD to score first and the Extra Point was good. 7-0 Roughnecks. The Defenders then made a lot of rushing plays into Roughnecks territory they then made a play into the redzone at the 16. However they went 3 and out again. They had to Kick a field goal from 33 yards. It was good. 7-3 Roughnecks. The End of the First Quarter saw the Roughnecks lead 7-3.

The Second Quarter began with an Interception by the Roughnecks and had it at the Defenders 46. They made a 6 yard gain on 3rd down to reach field goal range. However, they decided to go for it but was a couple of yards short. The Defenders took over and stalled out. They punted on a 4th & 1. The Roughnecks then started a drive from their own 20 after leaving it for a touchback. They made plays a 16 yard pass to get it into the Redzone at the 18. On 3rd & 10, the Roughnecks made an 18 yard passing TD with the Extra Point being good. Roughnecks 14-3. The Defenders had 2 minutes to get some points scored. They made plays quickly and with a couple of seconds left of the first half, they kicked a field goal to make it a one score possession 14-6.

### Second Half

The Roughnecks begun the second half with a 20 yard pass to their own 45. They then made 5 yard run on 3rd & 5 and made it 4th & Inches. Then they did an FB dive for a 1 yard game which was enough to get them the first down. They then made a massive running play to the Defenders 16. They made a 2 yard rushing play. On 3rd & 8 they made a 14 yard passing TD and the Extra Point was good. Roughnecks lead 21-6. Then the Defenders punted after another 3 and out. The Roughnecks fumbled but recovered on 3rd & 1 for a loss of 2 and had to punt. Then the Defenders made it to the Roughnecks 6 after a massive passing play. Then on the 2 yard line, the Defenders did a rushing play and fumbled and the Roughnecks recovered it to the 50 yard line. They made a 25 yard rushing play to the 25. However they made 2 rushing plays and an incomplete pass. They kicked a field goal from the 21 yard line, from 38 yards, the field goal was good. 24-6 Roughnecks. The Third Quarter ended when DC threw an Interception and started a new drive to begin the Fourth Quarter on their own 28.

The Fourth Quarter begun when the Roughnecks threw a 8 yard pass on 1st down but punted after a sack and then the Defenders also punted after an 8 yard pass then a sack then an incomplete pass. The Roughnecks then made a couple of passing and rushing plays to the Defenders 36 yard line. Then on 2nd & 10, a 36 yard rushing Touchdown by the Roughnecks was made, the first rushing TD of the game. The Extra Point was scored. The score was 31-6 Roughnecks. Then the Defenders had their best drive of the game. They made it to the Roughnecks 8 yard line. They made a 4 yard pass on 3rd down. They went for it on 4th Down but failed. The Roughnecks turned the ball over at the 4 yard line. Then they ran out the clock mostly but made a couple of passing plays. They eventually made it to the Defenders 14 yard line. Then a 14 yard rushing TD made the score 38-6 after the Extra Point was good. The Defenders then had another good drive but on 4th & Goal it was intercepted in the endzone for a Touchback. The rest of the clock was drained by the Roughnecks rushing. They then took the final kneel and celebrations begun.

## Aftermath

The Celebrations begun after the final kneel of the game. There was confetti and fireworks and all the Roughnecks players began to celebrate on the field. The Trophy Celebration happened a couple of minutes after the final kneel.

## References

1. ↑ 2022 XFL Championship: Preview
2. ↑ The 2 XFL Finalists wont be ''Divisional Champions''
3. ↑ XFL forced to shorten season due to Strike
4. ↑ Road to 2022 XFL Championship: DC Defenders
5. ↑ Road to 2022 XFL Championship: Houston Roughnecks
6. ↑ Roughnecks upset defending XFL Champions Seattle Dragons 27-13 in Round 1
7. ↑ XFL Championship 2022 Venue: Lumen Field
8. ↑ 2022 XFL Championship: Roughnecks lead 14-6 at Halftime
9. ↑ 2022 XFL Championship: Houston Roughnecks blow DC Defenders out in lobsided XFL Championship
10. ↑ Celebrations of the 2022 XFL Championship