2020 Houston Roughnecks season

American professional football season
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The 2020 Houston Roughnecks season was the first 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 2020 season. The Roughnecks played their home games at TDECU Stadium and were led by head coach June Jones.

Their inaugural season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the XFL officially suspended operations for the remainder of the season on March 20, 2020.[1]

Standings

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East Division[2]
Team W L PCT TD+/- TD+ TD- DIV PF PA DIFF STK
DC Defenders 3 2 .600 -3 9 12 2–1 82 89 -7 W1
St. Louis Battlehawks 3 2 .600 3 11 8 1–1 97 77 20 L1
New York Guardians 3 2 .600 -1 8 9 1–2 79 85 -6 W2
Tampa Bay Vipers 1 4 .200 -4 11 15 1–1 98 115 -17 L1
West Division[2]
Team W L PCT TD+/- TD+ TD- DIV PF PA DIFF STK
Houston Roughnecks 5 0 1.000 7 21 14 3–0 158 111 47 W5
Dallas Renegades 2 3 .400 -3 9 12 2–1 90 102 -12 L2
Los Angeles Wildcats 2 3 .400 4 18 14 0–2 129 122 7 W1
Seattle Dragons 1 4 .200 -3 12 15 0–2 87 119 -32 L3
(x)–clinched playoff berth; (y)–clinched conference; (e)–eliminated from playoff contention


Schedule

All times Central

Week Day Date Kickoff TV Opponent Results Location
Score Record
1 Saturday February 8 4:00 p.m. Fox Los Angeles Wildcats W 37–17 1–0 TDECU Stadium
2 Sunday February 16 5:00 p.m. FS1 St. Louis BattleHawks W 28–24 2–0 TDECU Stadium
3 Saturday February 22 1:00 p.m. ABC at Tampa Bay Vipers W 34–27 3–0 Raymond James Stadium
4 Sunday March 1 3:00 p.m. FS1 at Dallas Renegades W 27–20 4–0 Globe Life Park in Arlington
5 Saturday March 7 1:00 p.m. ABC Seattle Dragons W 32–23 5–0 TDECU Stadium
6 Saturday March 14 1:00 p.m. ABC at New York Guardians Not played MetLife Stadium
7 Sunday March 22 5:00 p.m. FS1 DC Defenders TDECU Stadium
8 Sunday March 29 2:00 p.m. ABC at Los Angeles Wildcats Dignity Health Sports Park
9 Thursday April 2 7:00 p.m. Fox Dallas Renegades TDECU Stadium
10 Saturday April 11 1:00 p.m. ABC at Seattle Dragons CenturyLink Field

[3]

Final roster

2020 Houston Roughnecks final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


56 active, 7 inactive

Staff

2020 Houston Roughnecks staff

Front office

  • President – Brian Michael Cooper
  • Director of Player Personnel – Randy Mueller
  • Director of Football Operations – Dynomite Kuhn

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Offensive Coordinator – Chris Miller
  • Quarterbacks – Dan Morrison
  • Running backs – Wes Suan
  • Wide Receivers – AJ Smith
  • Offensive Line – John Estes
 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive Coordinator – Ted Cottrell
  • Linebackers – Tom Mason
  • Defensive backs – Derrius Bell

Special teams coaches


Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Los Angeles Wildcats

Week 1 — Los Angeles Wildcats at Houston Roughnecks
Period 1 2 34Total
Wildcats 8 9 0017
Roughnecks 6 12 81137

at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: Saturday, February 8
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy • Temperature: 70 °F (21 °C) • Wind: ESE 10 mph
  • Game attendance: 17,815
  • Referee: Brandon Cruse[4]
  • TV announcers (Fox, TUDN): Curt Menefee (play-by-play), Joel Klatt (analyst), Brock Huard (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • HOU – Cam Phillips 50-yard pass from Phillip Walker (1-pt. failed), 13:44. Roughnecks 6–0. Drive: 3 plays, 61 yards, 1:23.
  • LA – Chad Kanoff 5-yard run (2-pt. good), 7:49. Wildcats 8–6. Drive: 11 plays, 71 yards, 5:58.
Second quarter
  • LA – Jordan Smallwood 11-yard pass from Chad Kanoff (2-pt. failed), 9:26. Wildcats 14–6. Drive: 6 plays, 59 yards, 2:18.
  • HOU – James Butler 16-yard pass from Phillip Walker (2-pt. failed), 7:22. Wildcats 14–12. Drive: 5 plays, 73 yards, 2:06.
  • LA – Nick Novak 35-yard field goal, 1:30. Wildcats 17–12. Drive: 14 plays, 55 yards, 5:49.
  • HOU – Sam Mobley 39-yard pass from Phillip Walker (2-pt. failed), 1:10. Roughnecks 18–17. Drive: 2 plays, 39 yards, 0:23.
Third quarter
  • HOU – Kahlil Lewis 4-yard pass from Phillip Walker (2-pt. good), 9:04. Roughnecks 26–17. Drive: 7 plays, 48 yards, 3:46.
Fourth quarter
  • HOU – Sergio Castillo 44-yard field goal, 14:26. Roughnecks 29–17. Drive: 9 plays, 38 yards, 4:05.
  • HOU – James Butler 4-yard run (2-pt. good), 10:01. Roughnecks 37–17. Drive: 6 plays, 42 yards, 2:44.
Top passers
  • LA – Chad Kanoff – 21/40, 214 yards, TD, INT
  • HOU – Phillip Walker – 23/39, 272 yards, 4 TD, INT
Top rushers
  • LA – Elijah Hood – 12 carries, 43 yards
  • HOU – James Butler – 9 carries, 30 yards, TD
Top receivers

The Roughnecks were the only Western Conference team to win in week 1 as they started their season 1–0.

Week 2: vs. St. Louis BattleHawks

Week 2 — St. Louis BattleHawks at Houston Roughnecks
Period 1 2 34Total
BattleHawks 6 0 12624
Roughnecks 9 12 0728

at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: Saturday, February 15
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy • Temperature: 66 °F (19 °C) • Wind: SSE 6 mph
  • Game attendance: 17,103
  • Referee: Jeff Heaser[5]
  • TV announcers (FS1): Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst)
Game information
First quarter
  • HOU – Sergio Castillo 44-yard field goal, 11:06. Roughnecks 3–0. Drive: 9 plays, 32 yards, 3:59.
  • STL – Matt Jones 25-yard pass from Jordan Ta'amu (2-pt. failed), 6:30. BattleHawks 6–3. Drive: 9 yards, 71 yards, 4:40.
  • HOU – Cam Phillips 7-yard pass from Phillip Walker (2-pt. failed), 3:21. Roughnecks 9–6. Drive: 6 plays, 66 yards, 3:07.
Second quarter
  • HOU – James Butler 1-yard rush (2-pt. failed), 9:57. Roughnecks 15–6. Drive: 1 play, 1 yard, 0:05.
  • HOU – Cam Phillips 9-yard pass from Phillip Walker (1-pt. failed), Roughnecks 21–6, 1:59. Drive: 7 plays, 68 yards, 3:30.
Third quarter
  • STL – De'Mornay Pierson-El 1-yard pass from Jordan Ta'amu (2-pt. failed), 9:00. Roughnecks 21–12. Drive: 13 plays, 72 yards, 6:04.
  • STL – Jordan Ta'amu 4-yard rush (1-pt. failed), 1:34. Roughnecks 21–18. Drive: 13 plays, 60 yards, 5:18.
Fourth quarter
  • HOU – Cam Phillips 2-yard pass to Phillip Walker (1-pt. good), 9:36. Roughnecks 28–18. Drive: 3 plays, 6 yards, 0:59.
  • STL – L'Damian Washington 36-yard pass from Jordan Ta'amu (1-pt. failed), 1:50. Roughnecks 28–24. Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 3:45.
Top passers
  • STL – Jordan Ta'amu – 30/37, 284 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
  • HOU – Phillip Walker – 20/31, 170 yards, 3 TD
Top rushers
  • STL – Matt Jones – 16 carries, 44 yards
  • HOU – James Butler – 7 carries, 28 yards, 1 TD
Top receivers

Week 3: at Tampa Bay Vipers

Week 3 — Houston Roughnecks at Tampa Bay Vipers
Period 1 2 34Total
Roughnecks 9 9 8834
Vipers 3 15 6327

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa Bay, FL

  • Date: Saturday, February 22
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST / 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 69 °F (21 °C) • Wind: ENE 13 mph
  • Game attendance: 18,117
  • Referee: James Carter[6]
  • TV announcers (ABC): Steve Levy (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Tom Luginbill and Dianna Russini (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • TB – Andrew Franks 48-yard field goal, 12:34. Vipers 3–0. Drive: 7 plays, 29 yards, 2:26.
  • HOU – Cam Phillips 84-yard pass from Phillip Walker (3-pt. good), 3:49. Roughnecks 9–3. Drive: 1 play, 84 yards, 0:13.
Second quarter
  • TB – Quinton Flowers 7-yard rush (1-pt. good), 9:17. Vipers 10–9. Drive: 7 plays, 58 yards, 2:51.
  • HOU – Phillip Walker 8-yard rush (3-pt. failed), 5:06. Roughnecks 15–10. Drive: 8 plays, 76 yards, 4:12.
  • HOU – Sergio Castillo 28-yard field goal, 1:00. Roughnecks 18–10. Drive: 7 plays, 49 yards, 2:17.
  • TB – Taylor Cornelius 1-yard rush (2-pt. good), 0:03. Tied 18–18. Drive: 6 plays, 59 yards, 0:56.
Third quarter
  • HOU – Cam Phillips 24-yard pass from Phillip Walker (2-pt. good), 12:13. Roughnecks 26–18. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:27.
  • TB – Daniel Williams 20-yard pass from Taylor Cornelius (2-pt. failed), 2:13. Roughnecks 26–24. Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards, 3:45.
Fourth quarter
  • TB – Andrew Franks 43-yard field goal, 12:51. Vipers 27–26. Drive: 6 plays, 23 yards, 2:06.
  • HOU – Cam Phillips 17 yard pass from Phillip Walker (2-pt. good), 10:31. Roughnecks 34–27. Drive: 5 plays, 63 yards, 2:24.
Top passers
  • HOU – Phillip Walker – 24/36, 306 yards, 3 TD
  • TB – Taylor Cornelius – 16/31, 193 yards, TD, INT
Top rushers
  • HOU – James Butler – 7 carries, 72 yards
  • TB – De'Veon Smith – 15 carries, 49 yards
Top receivers

Week 4: at Dallas Renegades

Week 4 — Houston Roughnecks at Dallas Renegades
Period 1 2 34Total
Roughnecks 6 9 6627
Renegades 0 11 9020

at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Arlington, Texas

  • Date: Sunday, March 1
  • Game time: 3:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy • Temperature: 74 °F (23 °C) • Wind: S 17 mph
  • Game attendance: 18,332
  • Referee: Brandon Cruse[7]
  • TV announcers (FS1): Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play), Greg Olsen (analyst), and Jenny Taft (sideline reporter)
Game information
First quarter
  • HOU – Sergio Castillo 37-yard field goal, 8:49. Roughnecks 3–0. Drive: 5 plays, 29 yards, 2:17.
  • HOU – Sergio Castillo 30-yard field goal, 2:31. Roughnecks 6–0. Drive: 7 plays, 38 yards, 3:32.
Second quarter
  • HOU – Nick Holley 6-yard pass from Phillip Walker (3-pt. good), 14:05. Roughnecks 15–0. Drive: 5 plays, 40 yards, 2:08.
  • DAL – Donald Parham 12-yard pass from Landry Jones (2-pt. good), 11:37. Roughnecks 15–8. Drive: 6 plays, 45 yards, 2:30.
  • DAL – Austin MacGinnis 46-yard field goal, 0:55. Roughnecks 15–11. Drive: 10 plays, 32 yards, 2:17.
Third quarter
  • HOU – Blake Jackson 19-yard pass from Phillip Walker (3-pt. failed), 5:23. Roughnecks 21–11. Drive: 8 plays, 84 yards, 4:16.
  • DAL – Lance Dunbar 1-yard rush (3-pt. good), 0:42. Roughnecks 21–20. Drive: 9 plays, 79 yards, 4:39.
Fourth quarter
  • HOU – Edmond Robinson 12-yard fumble return (2-pt. failed), 11:48. Roughnecks 27–20.
Top passers
  • HOU – Phillip Walker – 25/41, 239 yards, 2 TD, INT
  • DAL – Landry Jones – 25/38, 205 yards, TD, 3 INT
Top rushers
  • HOU – James Butler – 11 carries, 39 yards
  • DAL – Lance Dunbar – 9 carries, 48 yards, TD
Top receivers
  • HOU – Nick Holley – 8 receptions, 97 yards, TD
  • DAL – Flynn Nagel – 6 receptions, 76 yards

Week 5: Seattle Dragons

Week 5 — Seattle at Houston
Period 1 2 34Total
Dragons 6 8 9023
Roughnecks 0 14 61232

at TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas

  • Date: Saturday, March 7
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST / 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy • Temperature: 59 °F (15 °C) • Wind: NNE 5 mph
  • Game attendance: 19,773
  • Referee: Tra Blake[8]
  • TV announcers (ABC): Steve Levy (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Tom Luginbill and Dianna Russini (sideline)
Game information
First quarter
  • SEA – B. J. Daniels 1-yard rush (2-pt. failed), 3:29. Dragons 6–0. Drive: 7 plays, 18 yards, 3:18.
Second quarter
  • SEA – Trey Williams 17-yard rush (2-pt. good), 9:29. Dragons 14–0. Drive: 8 plays, 54 yards, 3:59.
  • HOU – Nick Holley 50-yard pass from Phillip Walker (3-pt. failed), 6:26. Dragons 14–6. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 3:04.
  • HOU – James Butler 1-yard rush (2-pt. good), Tied 14–14. Drive: 8 plays, 90 yards, 2:20.
Third quarter
  • SEA – Ernesto Lacayo 47-yard field goal, 10:51. Dragons 17–14. Drive: 10 plays, 40 yards, 4:12.
  • SEA – B. J. Daniels 1-yard rush (2-pt. failed), 9:01. Dragons 23–14. Drive: 1 play, 1 yard, 0:05.
  • HOU – James Butler 8-yard rush (3-pt. failed), 7:03. Dragons 23–20. Drive: 4 plays, 64 yards, 1:58.
Fourth quarter
  • HOU – Cam Phillips 5-yard pass from Phillip Walker (2-pt. failed), 9:08. Roughnecks 26–23. Drive: 12 plays, 64 yards, 5:46.
  • HOU – Cam Phillips 11-yard pass from Phillip Walker (1-pt. failed), 3:36. Roughnecks 32–23. Drive: 8 plays, 66 yards, 3:42.
Top passers
  • SEA – B. J. Daniels – 14/22, 114 yards
  • HOU – Phillip Walker – 27/38, 351 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
  • SEA – B. J. Daniels – 10 carries, 30 yards, 2 TD
  • HOU – Andre Williams – 10 receptions, 54 yards
Top receivers

With the win, the Roughnecks finished their season 5–0. The remainder of their games were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. ^ "A THANK YOU TO OUR FANS". Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "XFL Standings". XFL.com. February 9, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  3. ^ "XFL 2020 Schedule Released, First Game Dragons @ Defenders". Retrieved October 22, 2019.
  4. ^ Filipe, Cameron (February 6, 2020). "XFL Week 1 referee assignments". Football Zebras. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
  5. ^ Filipe, Cameron (February 13, 2020). "XFL Week 2 referee assignments". Football Zebras. Retrieved February 15, 2020.
  6. ^ Filipe, Cameron (February 20, 2020). "XFL Week 3 referee assignments". Football Zebras. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  7. ^ Filipe, Cameron (February 27, 2020). "XFL Week 4 referee assignments". Football Zebras. Retrieved February 29, 2020.
  8. ^ Filipe, Cameron (March 5, 2020). "XFL Week 5 referee assignments". Football Zebras. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
  • v
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Houston Roughnecks
  • Founded in 2018
  • Defunct XFL (2020) club 2018–2024
  • Based in Houston, TX
Franchise
  • History
  • Seasons
  • Players
  • Coaches
  • Draft
    • First-round
  • Starting quarterbacks
  • Records
  • Broadcasters
Stadiums
Key personnel
Affiliations
  • League: XFL
    Conference: West (2020); South (2023)
Seasons
See also
Houston Roughnecks (2024)