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The St. Louis Battlehawks overcame a double-digit deficit and scored in the final stages to secure their second straight win in the XFL. They trailed the Seattle Sea Dragons by 12 points in Week 2, but outscored their opponents 20-6 over the rest of the game.
The Battlehawks are now the slight favorites to claim the XFL Championship. With a defensive line that appears to be strong and an offensive unit led by former NFL QB A.J. McCarron and players like Marcell Ateman, Austin Proehl, Gary Jennings, and Hakeem Butler, they may be the most balanced XFL squad.
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In Alabama, McCarron was a standout. In 2011 and 2012, he contributed to the Crimson Tide's consecutive national championship victories. He later played eight seasons as a backup QB in the NFL for the Houston Texans, Las Vegas Raiders, and Cincinnati Bengals.
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The player missed all of '22 after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament with the Atlanta Falcons. Now that he is fully fit and can start consistently, McCarron needs to demonstrate that he has what it takes to lead a team. This year's XFL quarterback rankings have him right among the best.
Expect McCarron to get along well with Marcell Ateman and Darrius Shepherd, the two wideouts. These three should effectively manage the passing game. Ateman is well remembered for his spell in Las Vegas in 2018 and 2019. In 18 outings, he totaled 270 yards and one TD.
Shepherd has also played for an NFL franchise in the past. In 2019 and 2020, he had six catches for 47 yards while playing for the Green Bay Packers.
The Battlehawks' pass rush is also among the best in the XFL. Watch out for Freedom Akinmoladun and Damion Daniels to apply middle-of-the-field pressure to quarterbacks. Linebacker Mike Rose will serve as the defensive backbone.
In 2022, Rose participated in the Senior Bowl after a successful undergraduate career at Iowa State.
The St. Louis Battlehawks' remaining 2023 Schedule
Week 3 – vs. the D.C. Defenders – Sunday, March 5, 12:00 pm CT
Week 4 – vs. the Arlington Renegades – Sunday, March 12, 3:00 pm CT
Week 5 – vs. the D.C. Defenders – Saturday, March 18, 6:00 pm CT
Week 6 – vs. the Vegas Vipers – Sunday, March 25, 6:00 pm CT
Week 7 – vs. the Houston Roughnecks – Saturday, April 1, 2:00 pm CT
Week 8 – vs. the Vegas Vipers – Saturday, April 8, 12:00 pm CT
Week 9 – vs. the Seattle Sea Dragons – Sunday, April 16, 2:00 pm CT
Week 10 – vs. the Orlando Guardians – Saturday, April 22, 11:00 am CT
