The '''2023 Houston Roughnecks season''' was the second season for the [[Houston Roughnecks]] as a professional [[American football]] [[franchise (sports)|franchise]]. They played as charter members of the [[XFL (2020)|XFL]], one of eight teams to compete in the league for the [[2023 XFL season|2023 season]]. The Roughnecks played their home games at the [[TDECU Stadium]] and were led by head coach [[Wade Phillips]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Bob|last=Slovak|title=Houston Roughnecks return to XFL in 2023 season|url=https://abc13.com/xfl-roughnecks-renegades-brahmas/12651120/|publisher=KTRK-TV|access-date=January 9, 2023|date=January 6, 2023}}</ref>
The '''2023 Houston Roughnecks season''' was the second season for the [[Houston Roughnecks (2020)|Houston Roughnecks]] as a professional [[American football]] [[franchise (sports)|franchise]]. They played as charter members of the [[XFL (2020)|XFL]], one of eight teams to compete in the league for the [[2023 XFL season|2023 season]]. The Roughnecks played their home games at the [[TDECU Stadium]] and were led by head coach [[Wade Phillips]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Bob|last=Slovak|title=Houston Roughnecks return to XFL in 2023 season|url=https://abc13.com/xfl-roughnecks-renegades-brahmas/12651120/|publisher=KTRK-TV|access-date=January 9, 2023|date=January 6, 2023}}</ref>
Earning their first playoff berth and clinching first place in the South Division, the Roughnecks were eliminated by the [[2023 Arlington Renegades season|Arlington Renegades]] in the South Division title game in the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Marrion|first1=Jack|title=Renegades take down Roughnecks for XFL South title|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/general/article/arlington-renegades-houston-roughnecks-xfl-recap-17989494.php|website=Houston Chronicle|access-date=May 1, 2023|date=April 29, 2023}}</ref>
Earning their first playoff berth and clinching first place in the South Division, the Roughnecks were eliminated by the [[2023 Arlington Renegades season|Arlington Renegades]] in the South Division title game in the playoffs.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Marrion|first1=Jack|title=Renegades take down Roughnecks for XFL South title|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/general/article/arlington-renegades-houston-roughnecks-xfl-recap-17989494.php|website=Houston Chronicle|access-date=May 1, 2023|date=April 29, 2023}}</ref>
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.
HOU – Fumble recovery returned for touchdown by William Likely (2-pt Conversion Good by Jontre Kirkland), 9:53. Roughnecks 14–0. Drive: 3 Plays, 27 Yards, 1:17.
HOU – Max Borghi 4-yard rush (2-pt Conversion Good by Cedric Byrd), 5:08. Roughnecks 8–0. Drive: 8 Plays, 66 Yards, 4:32.
DC – Matt McCrane 34-yard field goal, 1:18. Roughnecks 8–3. Drive: 8 Plays, 52 Yards, 3:50.
Second quarter
DC – Abram Smith 1-yard rush (2-pt Conversion No Good), 1:57. Defenders 9–8. Drive: 10 Plays, 61 Yards, 4:37.
DC – Interception returned for touchdown by Santos Ramirez (2-pt Conversion Good by Josh Hammond), 1:15. Defenders 17–8. Drive: 1 Play, -12 Yards, 0:42.
Third quarter
DC – Alex Ellis 1-yard pass from Jordan Ta'amu (2-pt Conversion No Good), 10:12. Defenders 23–8. Drive: 8 Plays, 72 Yards, 4:48.
DC – Matt McCrane 32-yard field goal, 2:08. Defenders 26–8. Drive: 11 Plays, 44 Yards, 6:03.
HOU – Fumble recovery returned for touchdown by William Likely (2-pt Conversion No Good), 10:44. BattleHawks 17–15. Drive: 1 Play, 0 Yards, 0:23.
STL – Darrius Shepherd 10-yard pass from A. J. McCarron (1-pt Conversion Good by Brian Hill), 3:54. BattleHawks 24–15. Drive: 11 Plays, 74 Yards, 6:49.
Top passers
STL – A. J. McCarron – 26/34, 222 yards, 3 TD
HOU – Cole McDonald – 15/32, 106 yards, 1 TD
Top rushers
STL – Brian Hill – 11 rushes, 53 yards
HOU – Max Borghi – 9 rushes, 46 yards
Top receivers
STL – Darrius Shepherd – 7 receptions, 70 yards
HOU – Cedric Byrd – 7 receptions, 50 yards
Week 8: at San Antonio Brahmas
Week 8: Houston Roughnecks at San Antonio Brahmas – Game summary
VGS – Sean Price 4-yard pass from Jalan McClendon (2-pt Conversion No Good), 0:40. Vipers 6–0. Drive: 9 Plays, 75 Yards, 4:41.
Second quarter
VGS – Cinque Sweeting 2-yard pass from Jalan McClendon (2-pt Conversion No Good), 9:05. Vipers 12–0. Drive: 7 Plays, 41 Yards, 4:01.
HOU – Fumble recovery returned for touchdown by Tavante Beckett (1-pt Conversion No Good), 3:49. Vipers 12–6. Drive: 6 Plays, 23 Yards, 3:18.
Third quarter
HOU – Fumble recovery returned for touchdown by Ajene Harris (1-pt Conversion good by Tavonn Salter), 8:55. Roughnecks 13–12. Drive: 2 Plays, -1 Yards, 0:44.
HOU – Max Borghi 2-yard rush (2-pt Conversion No Good), 1:16. Roughnecks 19–12. Drive: 8 Plays, 49 Yards, 4:00.
Fourth quarter
VGS – Sam Sloman 53-yard field goal, 13:33. Roughnecks 19–15. Drive: 6 Plays, 30 Yards, 2:42.
ARL – Taylor Russolino 56-yard field goal, 6:35. Roughnecks 6–3. Drive: 7 Plays, 33 Yards, 3:35.
HOU – Jeremy Cox 5-yard rush (1-pt Conversion No Good), 4:30. Roughnecks 12–3. Drive: 4 Plays, 66 Yards, 1:53.
Second quarter
ARL – Taylor Russolino 36-yard field goal, 9:50. Roughnecks 12–6. Drive: 16 Plays, 65 Yards, 9:40.
ARL – Taylor Russolino 19-yard field goal, 0:07. Roughnecks 12–9. Drive: 10 Plays, 53 Yards, 3:54.
Third quarter
HOU – Austin Jones 35-yard field goal, 8:23. Roughnecks 15–9. Drive: 9 Plays, 38 Yards, 5:01.
HOU – Pass interception returned for touchdown by Tavante Beckett (1-pt Conversion Good by Cole McDonald), 5:33. Roughnecks 22–9. Drive: 5 Plays, 20 Yards, 2:50.
Fourth quarter
HOU – Austin Jones 38-yard field goal, 1:13. Roughnecks 25–9. Drive: 7 Plays, 41 Yards, 2:43.
