XFL: The three big takeaways from the Roughnecks’ inaugural season

With the XFL season coming to an early end due to the COVID-19 outbreak, what are the biggest takeaways from the Roughnecks season? Take a look.

It appeared as if nothing could stop the XFL Houston Roughnecks, who had a league-best 5-0 record and were the clear favorites to win it all, but everything changed on Thursday when the XFL season came to an abrupt end as the league announced that the rest of the 2020 season had been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While it is certainly unfortunate and disappointing that the Roughnecks season ended this way, there are many positive takeaways that should give Houston fans hope for the seasons to come.

1. The city of Houston got behind the Roughnecks

One of the biggest questions that the XFL faced before the season started was whether or not cities would get behind their teams and show up to games. The Roughnecks had no problem generating hype and getting fans to the game, as they even had to open up the upper deck of TDECU Stadium because of the fan turnout.

Houston’s game against the Seattle Dragons, which turned out to be the final game of the season, had an attendance of nearly 20,000 people. The bottom line is that Roughnecks’ fans showed up and created by far the most electric and loudest atmosphere in the XFL.  This atmosphere should get even better in the seasons to come.

2. A few Roughnecks players will get a chance in the NFL

Houston’s dynamic duo of quarterback P.J. Walker and wide receiver Cam Phillips took the league by storm, connecting 31 times for 455 and nine touchdowns and combining to win four out of the five XFL Star of the Week awards.

There is no doubt that both Walker and Phillips will get a chance to fight for a spot on an NFL roster for the upcoming NFL season. Walker, who completed 65 percent of his passes for a league-leading 1,338 yards and 15 touchdowns, proved he is a very viable option for an NFL team needing a backup quarterback.

Walker is a true dual-threat quarterback who has proven his ability to successfully use both his arm and his legs to tear apart defenses. Similarly, Phillips, who led the league with 455 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns on 31 receptions, will get a shot to make an NFL

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team because of his reliability and the fact that he is a deep threat.

3. Roughnecks are in good hands under June Jones and his coaching staff

June Jones did a fantastic job in his first season as Houston’s head coach. Jones, who called the plays on offense, implemented his pass-first style offense and as a result, the Roughnecks scored at will.

The Roughnecks also have an excellent defensive staff who had terrific gameplay each week which resulted in the defense being a turnover creating machine. If Houston maintains this same coaching staff for the seasons to come then there is no doubt that the Roughnecks will remain one of the XFL’s top contenders.

What was your favorite Roughnecks’ moment this past season?  Feel free to comment in the section below.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the CDC’s Web site or the Web site for your state’s Department of Health.