XFL 2020 Results: Roughnecks Beat Renegades, Vipers Shock Defenders

Week 4 of the XFL season concluded with a battle for in-state bragging rights and the quest for the league's last winless team to claim its first victory.

Sunday opened with the Dallas Renegades hosting the Houston Roughnecks at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. In addition to starting the rivalry off on the right foot, the Renegades were attempting to slow down early MVP favorite P.J. Walker.

In the second game, the Tampa Bay Vipers wanted to avoid an 0-4 start against the DC Defenders, who suffered an embarrassing 39-9 loss to the Los Angeles Wildcats in Week 3.

Here's a recap for how Sunday unfolded across the XFL.

XFL Week 4 Scores (Sunday, March 1)

Houston Roughnecks 27, Dallas Renegades 20

Tampa Bay Vipers 25, DC Defenders 0

Houston Roughnecks 27, Dallas Renegades 20

Walker has been Houston's standout performer so far, but Deatrick Nichols' two interceptions set the tone for the Roughnecks in their 27-20 win.

Landry Jones was intercepted three times in the first half, and his fumble in the fourth quarter allowed Houston to build its lead to seven points. 

Edmond Robinson sacked Jones for a loss of eight yards and jarred the ball loose. Upon discovering the ball free on the turf, Robinson picked it up and ran it in for the touchdown.

Jones did well to recover from his bumpy start—three straight interceptions to open the game—and he owed a debt of gratitude to the Renegades defense, which limited the Roughnecks to 12 points from those three turnovers.

Jones left the game in the fourth quarter after scrambling for a first down on a 4th-and-1. The former Oklahoma star injured his left knee during practice in January and immediately began clutching the same knee after his two-yard run.

He walked off the field under his own power but was visibly limping as he went to the sideline.

Philip Nelson entered the game and got the Renegades into position for the potential go-ahead score. But on 2nd-and-goal from the Roughnecks' 3-yard line, Flynn Nagel dropped a pass and DeMarquis Gates reacted quickly for the interception.

As well as Dallas did to keep Walker in check for the most part, the Houston quarterback still did enough through the air and on the ground to move the chains. He threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns while running for 17 yards on five carries.

"

.@pjwalker_5 ain't playing around 

 @FS1 pic.twitter.com/Dx5rA5ssCS

— Houston Roughnecks (@XFLRoughnecks) March 1, 2020"

The Roughnecks remain the only unbeaten team in the XFL at 4-0 with the Seattle Dragons on tap in Week 5.

The Renegades slip to 2-2, but Jones' injury overshadows the result. Dallas will almost need a new starting quarterback for Week 5 and potentially the rest of the season.

Tampa Bay Vipers 25, DC Defenders 0

The Tampa Bay Vipers looked largely hopeless during an 0-3 start to the season.

They looked anything but hopeless Sunday.

Tampa Bay dominated from the start in a 25-0 victory over the DC Defenders, handing the latter their second straight blowout loss. DC also fell by 30 the last time out against the LA Wildcats.

The Vipers set the tone on the defensive side, holding the Defenders without a point and bottling up quarterback Cardale Jones throughout. The Ohio State product is one of the well-known players in the league but was a mere 9-of-22 passing for 72 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception in defeat.

Running back Donnel Pumphrey didn't provide much support with 34 yards on the ground.

It was far from just an impressive defensive showing for the Vipers. Quarterback Taylor Cornelius was much better than his counterpart and finished 24-of-31 passing for 211 yards, one touchdown and one interception and also scored on the ground.

DC had to account for his throwing, which left lanes open for the two-headed tandem of De'Veon Smith and Jacques Patrick in the backfield. Smith finished with 122 rushing yards, while Patrick added 108 and a touchdown.

The Vipers will look to keep their new momentum rolling in Week 5 when they face the Wildcats, while the Defenders will attempt to bounce back against the St. Louis Battlehawks.