The XFL is back and the San Antonio Brahmas are set to take on the Orlando Guardians in a highly anticipated matchup. The San Antonio Brahmas are led by head coach Mike Riley and feature a talented roster of players, including former NFL players and XFL veterans. The Orlando Guardians are coached by head coach Marques Sullivan and feature a mix of NFL veterans and XFL newcomers. Both teams have been practicing hard and are ready to get out on the field and show what they can do. This matchup promises to be an exciting one for XFL football fans everywhere.

Here are all the details...

Event Name:

XFL Football Week-2 San Antonio Brahmas VS Orlando Guardians 2023

Stream:

XFL Football Week-2 San Antonio Brahmas VS Orlando Guardians 2023 Live Stream

Kickoff:

Sunday, Feb. 26 at 4 p.m. (ET)

Where:

Camping World Stadium (Orlando, Fla.)

TV Channel:

ESPN, ESPN+

Live Streaming:

FuboTV

Tickets:

As low as $9 on SITickets.com

Team News:

The San Antonio Brahmas have been preparing for this matchup by focusing on their defense. The team has added some key pieces to their secondary, including former NFL safety T.J. McDonald and XFL veteran cornerback JaCorey Shepherd. They also have a strong defensive line led by defensive ends Damontre Moore and Anthony Zettel. On the offensive side, the Brahmas have added some firepower in the form of quarterback PJ Walker and running back De'Veon Smith. Walker is a former NFL player who has been impressive in the XFL so far, while Smith is an XFL veteran who adds some experience to the backfield.

1. To calculate Brahma moves:

San Antonio dominated the stats last week against St. Louis, outgained the Battlehawks by nearly 100 yards (324 to 235), doubled them on first downs (24 to 11), and held the football for nearly two-thirds of the game. (38:17). The Brahmas were most productive in Week 1 running the ball, gaining 133 yards on 39 carries and converting more than half (58.5 percent) of their third-down opportunities. But quarterback Jack Cone had two costly turnovers — an interception to end the first possession and a second-quarter fumble in San Antonio territory that set up the Battlehawks' first score of the game, a 32-yard field goal. San Antonio kicker John Parker Romo also missed a 34-yard field goal just before halftime. And on the opening possession of the third quarter, Brahms had to settle for a field goal despite taking the ball into the red zone.

All but one of San Antonio's nine drives lasted seven or more plays, which is why the team had such a commanding lead at the time of possession. However, half of those drives ended without points - two turnovers, a punt, and a missed field goal. Simply put, the Brahms need to improve their offensive capabilities.

2. How should parents respond?

We'll learn a lot more about this team after suffering their worst loss in Week 1. The offense racked up yards (303) but also turnovers (four). Whether Paxton Lynch will start at quarterback again remains to be seen, but both he and Quinten Dormady will likely get their chance. Regardless of who is under center, better pass protection will be a welcome development after surrendering seven sacks to Houston. That would be a good spot for a run after Jah-Maine Martin and Kelvin Taylor combined for 69 yards on 14 carries. San Antonio scored last weekend in St. Louis 68 in 15 attempts.

Defensively, the Orlando Roughnecks sacked quarterback Brandon Silvers twice and sacked him three times, but still gave up 337 yards and four touchdowns. Two of the scores were of the big variety (a 46-yard pass and a 27-yard run) and the other was a 34-yard completion. Parents need to emphasize defensive assignments and make sure whoever has the ball pulls it down at the first opportunity.

3. Can San Antonio's defense play a full 60 minutes?

Despite last week's loss, the Brahmas should have some confidence in the defense. A frantic final three minutes won't overshadow the unit's overall performance, which is something head coach Hines Ward and defensive coordinator Jim Herman will have to drill into the players. A unique XFL rule (the ability to maintain possession by successfully converting a 4th-and-15) contributed to the late collapse, but the ineffectiveness of San Antonio's offense also played a role. The Brahmas also signed quarterback St. Louis A.J. McCarron five times and will undoubtedly look to dial the pressure on Lynch or Dormady after Orlando's offensive line produced seven sacks Sunday night in Houston. Turnovers will also be something to keep an eye on, as they have proven to be crucial early on in XFL action. One defender who could make a big impact in this game is linebacker, Mike Scott. He had two sacks and two tackles for loss last weekend.

Final analysis:

Both teams are looking to step up their game for the next week together to build consistency offensively. San Antonio wants to wash away the bitter taste of what looked like a winning skid. In the meantime, Orlando will play in front of the home crowd, which will give the parents extra energy. The game should be competitive for a while with a few swings for both teams. However, the Brahmas have a slight advantage at quarterback, as well as the ability to run the ball and a strong offensive line, which gives them an edge over 60 minutes. Look for San Antonio to improve to 1-1 with a methodical win on Sunday night.