By: Amirah Razman (STL) and RJ Reid (SA)
Our weekly breakdowns associated with UFL games will follow the format of both correspondents providing a brief write-up of who they think holds the advantage at each position group on the field. This will be followed up with a brief prediction of how the game will turn out, followed by a score prediction. Las Vegas betting odds will be provided, along with how the correspondents would play their money when evaluating the match-up.
To see previous iterations of The Shakedown (and more) from this season, check out the AFN News Page!
Amirah Razman (STL)
Week 2 is upon us! Let’s be real — we learned a LOT from last week’s performances across the league. This week we look ahead to a Sunday match-up, as St. Louis hosts San Antonio. We at AFN bring you a quick look inside who may have the advantage at each position group in this weekend’s game. You can catch the game on Sunday, April 6 on FS1 at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT.
Quarterbacks
Amirah Razman (STL)
Battlehawks fans can all agree that they were wrong about Manny Wilkins – despite blowing out an underwhelming Houston team in Week 1. Wilkins was explosive last week, going 17/22 for 189 yards, 2 rushing touchdowns, and no interceptions. Wilkins knows how to run the ball effectively and isn’t afraid to get out of the pocket, a contrast from the AJ McCarron era. Max Duggan went in the game towards the end of the 4th quarter and was instrumental in the drive that ended in a 74-yard touchdown run by RB Jarveon Howard. It’s obvious that the Battlehawks’ QB room is more explosive and dynamic than ever before.
However, this week will be a real test for Wilkins, given that this is an XFL Conference Championship rematch (which Battlehawks fans don’t particularly want to relive) and stakes will undoubtedly be high on both sides. Kellen Mond and the Brahmas, a team that was poised to be one of the top teams in the league once again, struggled against a transformed Renegades team.
Advantage: St. Louis
RJ Reid (SA)
The argument here centers on the contrasting Week 1 performances of the two quarterbacks, Kellen Mond and Manny Wilkins. Mond struggled in his debut in the UFL, going 17-31 and 159 yards, a 54.8% completion percentage with no touchdowns and no interceptions. Mond is a mobile quarterback known for his ability to stretch plays out with his legs, but against the Renegades, he did very little scrambling and was more of a statue in the pocket. AJ Smith needs to adjust his approach in this game and utilize Mond’s athletic ability to the maximum. Wilkins demonstrated a more effective passing game, accumulating more yards and passing percentage, going 17-22 for 189 yards, a 77.3% completion percentage. Wilkins adequately led the Battlehawks offense, quelling any concerns about AJ McCarron’s departure, at least for one week.
This disparity in production is a significant indicator of current form and potential offensive output. Furthermore, the Battlehawks’ quarterback room is perceived to have greater depth with the presence of Max Duggan as a backup. Quarterback play is pivotal in modern football, and St. Louis’s apparent advantage in both starting quarterback performance and backup strength suggests they have a stronger foundation at this position.
Advantage: St. Louis
Running Backs
Amirah Razman (STL)
Jacob Saylors’ return to STL is cause for celebration for Battlehawks fans. He was explosive in Week 1, going for 98 yards, 16 attempts, and 1 touchdown. Saylors is quick with his feet, and I affectionately like to say that Saylors is “Sayling (sailing) away” whenever he has the ball. HOU’s defense had a tough time stopping him last week.
STL has another emerging name at RB in Jarveon Howard, who was responsible for that 74-yard touchdown run, the longest touchdown run in league history (before Kalen Ballage broke it the next day). Howard recorded 115 yards, 13 attempts, and 1 touchdown last week. Howard is becoming a rising star for the Battlehawks, and Saylors is expected to continue to put up stellar numbers. SA’s rushing performance was underwhelming at best last week. Even if SA’s running backs get some playing time, STL shows that they can control the ball well on offense when their RBs are at work. It’s evident that the advantage goes to STL.
Advantage: St. Louis
RJ Reid (SA)
The edge here is primarily based on the rushing performances in Week 1. St. Louis showcased a more effective ground game, accumulating more rushing yards than San Antonio. Based on last year’s performances, the Brahmas would have had a clear advantage, but the Renegades stifled both Anthony McFarland and John Lovett. The Battlehawks had a better rushing performance against the Houston Roughnecks. A strong running game can control possession, open passing lanes, and alleviate pressure on the quarterback. San Antonio’s comparatively weaker rushing performance suggests potential struggles in these areas, giving St. Louis an advantage in offensive balance and control.
Advantage: St. Louis
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Amirah Razman (STL)
Last week was mostly a running game for the Battlehawks, with RB Jacob Saylors getting the most screen time out of all of STL’s other weapons. However, that doesn’t diminish the contributions of their stacked wide receiver core in Hakeem Butler and Jahcour Pearson. Butler was targeted a few times during Week 1, but those targets ended up not being catchable. Pearson, on the other hand, had a stellar game with 83 yards for 6 receptions. Even though the Battlehawks’ WR core was underutilized last week, it’s very likely that Wilkins uses them more this week. Butler and Pearson, when utilized, are a force to be reckoned with.
Advantage: St. Louis
RJ Reid (SA)
This advantage is multifaceted. Firstly, Hakeem Butler’s prior performance as the UFL’s leading receiver gives St. Louis a proven deep threat. Secondly, in Week 1, St. Louis’s receivers showed a more balanced contribution. In contrast, San Antonio’s passing game appeared to lack depth beyond Jontre Kirklin, despite Jacob Harris’ performance in Week 1. Finally, St. Louis demonstrated a tendency to involve their tight ends in scoring situations, whereas San Antonio rarely targeted theirs. This suggests St. Louis has more diverse and reliable options in the passing game, making them harder to defend.
Advantage: St. Louis
Offensive Line
Amirah Razman (STL)
STL’s offensive line quickly built up momentum throughout the game last week despite starting off a bit slow. They gave Wilkins enough protection for him to make several rushing plays and throw some deep balls downfield. This protection helped STL maintain possession of the ball for much of the game and experiment with different play calling. This is in sharp contrast to SA’s offensive line, who allowed Mond to be sacked twice last week. Based on reliability, STL’s O-line gets the advantage, so long as they can continue to provide Wilkins the same amount of protection this week.
Advantage: St. Louis
RJ Reid (SA)
The Battlehawks’ offensive line demonstrated superior performance in key areas in Week 1. They allowed fewer sacks, indicating better pass protection for their quarterback. Additionally, they facilitated a more productive running game, suggesting effective run blocking. In contrast, San Antonio’s offensive line struggled, contributing to a weaker running game and allowing more pressure on Mond. A strong offensive line is fundamental to both passing and running success, giving St. Louis an advantage in offensive efficiency and protection.
Advantage: St. Louis
Defensive Line
Amirah Razman (STL)
STL’s defensive line put up a strong showing last week, and they do bolster some strong D-line talent. STL has generally maintained a strong defensive line core despite some ups-and-downs from the defense the past few seasons. Looking back at last season’s XFL Conference Championship – the last time these two teams met – SA’s defensive line put up a showing against an injured AJ McCarron and shell-shocked STL offense. Even though they didn’t show much last week, we have all seen what their defensive line is capable of doing. Based on their performance the last time they played STL, the advantage goes to SA.
Advantage: San Antonio
RJ Reid (SA)
San Antonio’s defensive line is highlighted for its pass-rushing prowess. Leading the UFL in sacks in 2024 and recording more sacks in the previous match-up against St. Louis demonstrates their ability to disrupt opposing offenses. While St. Louis has added defensive line talent, San Antonio’s established track record in generating sacks gives them a clear advantage in this category. Despite a subpar performance last week, the Brahmas’ defensive line is still an imposing force to be reckoned with. A strong pass rush can force turnovers, create negative plays, and put opposing offenses in unfavorable situations.
Advantage: San Antonio
Linebackers
Amirah Razman (STL)
STL’s linebacker group is strong, and it showed last week. They play gritty, tough football – Pita Taumoepenu was penalized last week for a holding – but that grittiness helps them come up with the big plays that they did last week against Houston. Their linebacker core is able to stop the run and come up big in critical moments.
Advantage: St. Louis
RJ Reid (SA)
The Battlehawks’ linebackers are credited with a strong performance, including Nate Meadors’ team-leading 4 tackles against the Roughnecks. Moreover, St. Louis’s defense demonstrated effectiveness in Week 1, while San Antonio’s defense showed vulnerabilities by allowing 33 points to the Renegades. St. Louis’s linebackers are part of a more cohesive and effective defensive unit, capable of both stopping the run and contributing to pass defense.
Advantage: St. Louis
Defensive Backs
Amirah Razman (STL)
STL’s defensive backs had themselves with quite a showing last week, making some critical stops when it mattered the most, which limited Houston’s ability to do much offensively. Expect to see Brandon Sebastian, Kameron Kelly, and Lukas Denis continue to make a name of themselves this week.
Advantage: St. Louis
RJ Reid (SA)
St. Louis’s defensive backs demonstrated their ability to limit opposing passing games in Week 1. In contrast, San Antonio’s secondary struggled, contributing to a high point total allowed. This indicates St. Louis’s defensive backs are more effective in coverage and limiting big plays, giving their team an advantage in defending against the pass.
Advantage: St. Louis
Win and Score Predictions
Amirah Razman (STL)
Advantage Count: St. Louis (6), San Antonio (1)
STL is looking stronger than ever, but that was also against a Roughnecks team that showed flashes of their previous selves despite their massive overhaul this offseason. I do believe STL will continue their momentum from last week. The Battlehawks might be hungry for more this week as they seek payback from the XFL Conference Championship game last season. With their offense, defense, and special teams all performing well last week, this is looking like STL’s game so long as all sides of the ball continue to perform well. STL also has home field advantage on their side this week, and if SA doesn’t clean up their mistakes from last week, this week could be problematic for them. St. Louis, 33-23.
RJ Reid (SA)
Advantage Count: St. Louis (6), San Antonio (1)
Brahmas struggled in Week 1 2025, losing 33-9 to Arlington while the Battlehawks dominated Houston 31-6, showing balance. San Antonio’s defense allowed 33 points, while St. Louis scored 31. Kellen Mond’s performance suggest offensive woes, or at least inadequacy in play calling. Given that the Brahmas have never beaten the Battlehawks in the regular season, coupled with the Battlehawks’ home crowd at The Dome giving a huge boost to their morale. St. Louis, 24-13.
Betting Predictions
Line: Battlehawks (-7) O/U: 39.5
Amirah Razman (STL)
The Battlehawks are going to cover the spread, and take the over as well. I think SA might try to redeem themselves after last week, so they will be scoring more points. It will likely be an intense, nitty-gritty game on both sides.
RJ Reid (SA)
The Brahmas, despite losing all three regular season games against St. Louis, has always played them tough. Two of the losses were last second losses, and the Brahmas could just as easy be 2-1 against the Battlehawks. That being said, I’ll take the Battlehawks to cover the spread as they will win by double digits. These are two teams that know each other pretty well, so I see this being more of a low scoring affair. As such, I’ll take the under.