2023 Houston Roughnecks season
- ← 2020
- Roughnecks seasons
The 2023 Houston Roughnecks season was the second season for the Houston Roughnecks as a professional American football franchise. They played as charter members of the XFL, one of eight teams to compete in the league for the 2023 season. The Roughnecks played their home games at the TDECU Stadium and were led by head coach Wade Phillips.[1]
Earning their first playoff berth and clinching first place in the South Division, the Roughnecks were eliminated by the Arlington Renegades in the South Division title game in the playoffs.[2]
This was the last season before the XFL merged with the United States Football League to form United Football League (UFL). As part of the merger agreement leading up to the 2024 season, the XFL's Roughnecks would disband and the USFL's Houston Gamblers would take over the Roughnecks name.[3]
Final Roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
| Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
| Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
| Reserve lists
|
Schedule
All times Central
Week | Day | Date | Kickoff | TV | Opponent | Results | Location | Attendance | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | Record | ||||||||
1 | Saturday | February 18 | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN/FX | Orlando Guardians | 33–12 | 1–0 | TDECU Stadium | 12,784 |
2 | Sunday | February 26 | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN2 | Arlington Renegades | 23–14 | 2–0 | TDECU Stadium | 11,765 |
3 | Sunday | March 5 | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN2 | San Antonio Brahmas | 22–13 | 3–0 | TDECU Stadium | 11,309 |
4 | Saturday | March 11 | 6:00 p.m. | FX | at Orlando Guardians | 44–16 | 4–0 | Camping World Stadium | 10,013 |
5 | Thursday | March 16 | 9:30 p.m. | ESPN | at Seattle Sea Dragons | 14–21 | 4–1 | Lumen Field | 9,231 |
6 | Monday | March 27 | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN2 | at DC Defenders | 26–37 | 4–2 | Audi Field | 12,492 |
7 | Sunday | April 2 | 1:00 p.m. | ESPN | St. Louis BattleHawks | 15–24 | 4–3 | TDECU Stadium | 12,013 |
8 | Sunday | April 9 | 2:00 p.m. | ABC | at San Antonio Brahmas | 17–15 (OT) | 5–3 | Alamodome | 12,243 |
9 | Saturday | April 15 | 11:30 a.m. | ABC | Vegas Vipers | 28–21 | 6–3 | TDECU Stadium | 10,967 |
10 | Sunday | April 23 | 2:00 p.m. | ESPN | at Arlington Renegades | 25–9 | 7–3 | Choctaw Stadium | 12,821 |
[4][5]
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Orlando Guardians
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Guardians | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
Roughnecks | 6 | 15 | 0 | 12 | 33 |
at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: February 18
- Game time: 7:30 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 51 °F (11 °C)
- Game attendance: 12,784
- Referee: Chris Coyte
- TV announcers (ESPN): Lowell Galindo, Sam Acho, and Taylor McGregor
- [1]
Game information | ||
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Week 2: vs. Arlington Renegades
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Renegades | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Roughnecks | 11 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 23 |
at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: February 26
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 11,765
- Referee: Jeff Heaser
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Matt Barrie, Joey Galloway, and Tiffany Blackmon
- [2]
Game information | ||
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Week 3: vs. San Antonio Brahmas
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brahmas | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 |
Roughnecks | 8 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 22 |
at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: March 5
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 11,309
- Referee: Jason Autrey
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Tom Hart, Greg McElroy, and Cole Cubelic
- [3]
Game information | ||
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Week 4: at Orlando Guardians
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roughnecks | 20 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 44 |
Guardians | 0 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 16 |
at Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
- Date: March 11
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 76 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 10,013
- Referee: Reggie Smith
- TV announcers (FX): John Schriffen, Tom Luginbill, and Stormy Buonantony
- [4]
Game information | ||
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Week 5: at Seattle Sea Dragons
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roughnecks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
Sea Dragons | 6 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 21 |
at Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
- Date: March 16
- Game time: 9:30 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C)
- Game attendance: 9,231
- Referee: Jason Autrey
- TV announcers (ESPN): Lowell Galindo, Sam Acho, and Taylor McGregor
- [5]
Game information | ||
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Week 6: at DC Defenders
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roughnecks | 8 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 26 |
Defenders | 3 | 14 | 9 | 11 | 37 |
- Date: March 27
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C)
- Game attendance: 12,492
- Referee: Reggie Smith
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Taylor Zarzour, Tom Luginbill, and Stormy Buonantony
- [6]
Game information | ||
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Week 7: vs. St. Louis BattleHawks
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BattleHawks | 6 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
Roughnecks | 0 | 9 | 0 | 6 | 15 |
at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: April 2
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 12,013
- Referee: Jeff Heaser
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Tom Hart, Greg McElroy, and Cole Cubelic
- [7]
Game information | ||
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Week 8: at San Antonio Brahmas
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roughnecks | 6 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 17 |
Brahmas | 3 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 15 |
at Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
- Date: April 9
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 70 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 12,243
- Referee: Francisco Villar
- TV announcers (ABC): Tom Hart, Greg McElroy, Cole Cubelic and Kris Budden
- [8]
Game information | ||
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Week 9: vs. Vegas Vipers
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vipers | 6 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 21 |
Roughnecks | 0 | 6 | 13 | 9 | 28 |
at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas
- Date: April 15
- Game time: 11:30 a.m. CDT
- Game weather: 82 °F (28 °C)
- Game attendance: 10,967
- Referee: Chris Coyte
- TV announcers (ABC): Tom Hart, Greg McElroy, Cole Cubelic and Katie George
- [9]
Game information | ||
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Week 10: at Arlington Renegades
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Roughnecks | 12 | 0 | 10 | 3 | 25 |
Renegades | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
at Choctaw Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Date: April 23
- Game time: 2:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 51 °F (11 °C)
- Game attendance: 12,821
- Referee: Jason Autrey
- TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Barrie, Eric Mac Lain, and Tiffany Blackmon
- [10]
Game information | ||
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Standings
| ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
North Division[6] | ||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | TD+/- | TD+ | TD- | DIV | PF | PA | DIFF | STK | ||
(y) DC Defenders | 9 | 1 | .900 | 0 | -2 | 33 | 35 | 6–0 | 298 | 240 | 58 | W3 | ||
(x) Seattle Sea Dragons | 7 | 3 | .700 | 2 | +10 | 30 | 20 | 3–3 | 243 | 177 | 66 | W2 | ||
(e) St. Louis Battlehawks | 7 | 3 | .700 | 2 | +9 | 32 | 23 | 3–3 | 249 | 202 | 47 | W1 | ||
(e) Vegas Vipers | 2 | 8 | .200 | 7 | 0 | 28 | 28 | 0–6 | 184 | 252 | -68 | L3 | ||
South Division[6] | ||||||||||||||
Team | W | L | PCT | GB | TD+/- | TD+ | TD- | DIV | PF | PA | DIFF | STK | ||
(y) Houston Roughnecks | 7 | 3 | .700 | 0 | +4 | 30 | 26 | 6–0 | 247 | 182 | 65 | W3 | ||
(x) Arlington Renegades | 4 | 6 | .400 | 3 | -8 | 15 | 23 | 3–3 | 146 | 194 | -48 | L2 | ||
(e) San Antonio Brahmas | 3 | 7 | .300 | 4 | -8 | 16 | 24 | 3–3 | 169 | 183 | -14 | L1 | ||
(e) Orlando Guardians | 1 | 9 | .100 | 6 | -5 | 32 | 37 | 0–6 | 204 | 310 | -106 | L3 | ||
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched division; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention |
Postseason
Schedule
Week | Day | Date | Kickoff | TV | Opponent | Results | Location | Attendance | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Score | Record | ||||||||
Division Finals | Saturday | April 29 | 6:00 p.m. | ESPN | Arlington Renegades | 11–26 | 0–1 | TDECU Stadium | 13,558 |
Game summaries
XFL South Division Finals: vs. (2) Arlington Renegades
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Renegades | 6 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 26 |
Roughnecks | 0 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
at TDECU Stadium• Houston, Texas
- Date: May 4
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C)
- Game attendance: 13,568
- Referee: Chris Coyte
- TV announcers (ESPN): Matt Barrie, Joey Galloway, Eric Mac Lain and Tiffany Blackmon
- [11]
Game information | ||
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Staff
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References
- ^ Slovak, Bob (January 6, 2023). "Houston Roughnecks return to XFL in 2023 season". KTRK-TV. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
- ^ Marrion, Jack (April 29, 2023). "Renegades take down Roughnecks for XFL South title". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
- ^ "Houston has team in new United Football League, but Roughnecks will do it without Wade Phillips". Houston Chronicle. January 1, 2024. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
- ^ Young, Matt (January 5, 2023). "Houston Roughnecks to open XFL season in prime-time slot, get three straight home games to start". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
- ^ Taylor, Brittany (January 5, 2023). "XFL Houston Roughnecks releases new schedule for 2023 season". KPRC-TV. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
- ^ a b "XFL Standings". XFL.com. February 19, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2023.