XFL 2020 Results: Cardale Jones Benched in Defenders' Win, Wildcats Prevail

Week 5 of the XFL season continued on Sunday, with two games on the slate: The DC Defenders taking on the St. Louis BattleHawks and the Los Angeles Wildcats hosting the Tampa Bay Vipers. Below, we'll break down those results and the top highlights from Sunday's action.

DC Defenders def. St. Louis BattleHawks, 15-6

The DC Defenders finally pulled the plug on the struggling Cardale Jones after just two passes and an interception on Sunday. No matter—Tyree Jackson was up to the task.

The Defenders' backup quarterback ended the team's two-game losing streak, finishing 9-of-14 for 64 yards and a touchdown pass in DC's 15-6 victory over the St. Louis BattleHawks (3-2).

Jackson added seven rushes for 32 yards in the winning effort, while Jhurell Pressley and Donnel Pumphrey combined to rush for 144 yards on 30 carries in the victory. Pressley led the way with 107 yards on the ground.

The Defenders (3-2) lived up to their name, allowing the BattleHawks to accumulated yardage (319 total yards) but preventing them from extending those drives for long, holding them to 4-of-16 on third-down conversions and 0-of-2 on fourth down.

That spoiled a strong game from St. Louis wideout L'Damian Washington, who finished with five receptions for 114 yards, including a beautiful over-the-shoulder snag.

Of course, while the game lacked fireworks, the fans managed to keep themselves entertained, building a rather epic beer snake throughout the stands:

Hey, nobody said the XFL was going to be a conventional viewing experience.

Los Angeles Wildcats def. Tampa Bay Vipers, 41-34

It looked like the Tampa Bay Vipers may be the worst team in the league when they got off to an 0-3 start, but they turned heads with a dramatic bounce-back effort in a 25-point shutout victory over the Defenders in Week 4.

That short-lived momentum ended Sunday with a 41-34 loss at the hands of the Los Angeles Wildcats.

Tampa Bay picked up right where it left off when it jumped out to a commanding 17-0 lead behind rushing touchdowns from running back Jacques Patrick and quarterback Taylor Cornelius. Even when the Wildcats got on the board, Cornelius responded with a touchdown pass to help put his team up 24-6.

That's when Josh Johnson, who finished 20-of-36 for 288 yards, four touchdowns and one interception, took over.

Johnson fired touchdown passes to De'Quan Hampton, Brandon Barnes, Tre McBride and Saeed Blacknall as the Wildcats strung together 27 unanswered points to build a 33-24 lead into the fourth quarter.

Tampa Bay's comeback efforts looked all but gone when Boogie Roberts scooped up a Cornelius fumble and returned it for touchdown, although the visiting quarterback found Reece Horn for a late touchdown and set up a dramatic finish.

Los Angeles had an opportunity to tie or potentially win in the final minute trailing by seven, but Jack Tocho intercepted Cornelius in the end zone.

Next up for the Wildcats is a matchup with the Seattle Dragons, while the Vipers face the St. Louis BattleHawks.