Orlando Storm vs. DC Defenders | UFL Playoff Preview

Believe it or not, the United Football League’s (UFL) playoffs are upon us. It’ll all kickoff on Sunday, with the Orlando Storm (8-2) hosting the DC Defenders (5-5).

Heading into this affair, both teams were on completely opposite streaks. Orlando has won four in a row, ending the year on a hot streak as they enter the postseason. On the flip side, DC has lost their last four outings, following a 5-1 start.

This matchup is historic for one reason alone: this will be the third straight week in a row that these two teams face off. That has never been done before in professional football in the United States.

Let’s take a look at what we can expect at Daytona Stadium this Sunday.

Quarterback Play

Jack Plummer is fresh off of earning All-UFL honors, which is incredibly well deserved. No one in the UFL has been more efficient than Jack in 2026, as he’s thrown only one interception all season long. Jack is more than just a game manager – he’s a leader on the football field, and that’s been evident from day one. He’s accurate, has a strong arm – and does feature sneaky mobility that DC will need to watch out for yet again. When Plummer is in a rhythm, he’s an elite quarterback at this level.

For DC, they will trot out Jason Bean for a second straight week. The team is still reeling from the loss of Jordan Ta’amu, and has chosen to stick with Bean, after they started Spencer Sanders in the first matchup between these two teams in week nine. Jason Bean has all the physical traits needed for DC to get a win. He’s got speed, and he can throw a nice deep ball. The problem? Consistency. Jason started off the game against Orlando in W10 with two interceptions, including a pick six to give Orlando momentum.

If Bean actually trusts himself, and utilizes his legs instead of trying to force the issue, it’ll put DC in a much more comfortable position. Jason ran for 116 yards on just 11 carries vs. the Storm last week.

“I grade myself hard, but I also have to take into account that this was my first game playing in four or five weeks. Still, not an excuse to make some of the mistakes that I made. Obviously, those two turnovers cost us heavily. So, just trying to make sure that I don’t make those same mistakes this week.” – QB Jason Bean

Standout Playmakers

When it comes to pure talent, both of these teams are stacked. Beginning with DC, their running back duo of Deon Jackson and Xazavian Valladay have impressed all year long. Jackson led the UFL in rushing touchdowns, earning All-UFL honors. Valladay, on the other hand, is a shifty back who has flashed explosiveness when handed the rock. He scored a touchdown against Orlando last week.

At wide receiver, Cornell Powell has been a little bit quiet as of late. He’s one of the top receivers in this league, and has been reliable for DC the last couple of years. Keep a close eye on Powell, who’s due for a bigger game.

The Orlando Storm are loaded at wide receiver. Elijhah Badger, K.J. Hamler, and Cam Camper have all had incredibly impressive years. Chris Rowland? He’s a do-it-all kind of guy, who just earned All-UFL honors at wideout for a second straight season.

One struggle for Orlando: their ground game. Neither Jashaun Corbin, or Elijah Dotson have had that “breakout” performance quite yet, per se. Corbin led the UFL in rushing yards just one season ago – it’s only a matter of time before he gets the best of DC’s defense, as he did multiple times last year.

Each defense is also loaded. Edge rushers abound, as DE Derick Roberson earned All-UFL honors in DC. Meanwhile, Keshawn Banks and Chris Garrett were two of the most consistent in the league pressuring the quarterback.

The Injury Report

The DC Defenders are a bit banged up, but overall don’t look too battered. WR Javon Antonio is likely to miss the game, and star wideout Ty Scott is limited – but that is more than likely precautionary than anything to be worried about.

Orlando did not show anyone on their injury report as of Thursday.

Depth Chart Notes

Updated when the depth chart goes live.

Looking At Weeks 9 & 10

As previously mentioned, these two teams faced off against each other twice already – both in the last couple of weeks. The Orlando Storm were able to get the best of DC in each affair, although the contests were close until the final quarter or so.

Week nine was the tale of two halves for the Storm. They exploded for 21 points in the first two quarters, doing enough to maintain that lead in the second half. That has been the story of the year for the Storm. This team has all sorts of weapons, but struggle to consistently put it all together from quarter to quarter. Orlando’s highest scoring outing of the year was 31 points, in week eight against the Renegades.

Looking at these past two matchups makes the problems crystal clear for DC: quarterback play. Neither Spencer Sanders or Jason Bean were able to get out of their own ways, with turnovers and miscues that came back to haunt them. In week nine, Sanders missed a couple of wide open receivers late, which lost them the game. Last week, Jason Bean turned the ball over twice in the first quarter, digging DC into a hole.

Interestingly enough, special teams play was what also hindered DC in week ten. Matt McCrane missed two field goals, a rare occurrence for such a steady kicker in this space. Paxton Brooks had a punt blocked for a safety, and then Erik Ezukanma coughed up the ball on a kickoff return in the fourth quarter. These are the mistakes that Shannon Harris is confident the team can fix.

Can Anthony Becht Get A Playoff Win?

There aren’t many people in this scene who want to win more than Anthony Becht. He’s an outstanding motivator, and an even better coach. Over the past four seasons with the St. Louis and Battlehawks, Becht has an outstanding 30-10 regular season record. That isn’t by accident – this is a coach, and a staff, who work incredibly hard to construct a winning culture, and maintain it throughout the year.

Winning 30 games through four years as a Head Coach isn’t easy for anyone. It’s even more impressive when you realize that this was Becht’s first true opportunity as a Coach, when he entered the fold with the XFL back in 2023.

His biggest challenge: winning a playoff game. St. Louis entered the 2024 UFL playoffs as a Championship favorite, just for an injured A.J. McCarron and Co. to stumble at home against San Antonio, losing 25-15. Last year, the Battlehawks entered the postseason red hot, with six straight wins and an 8-2 record. They looked entirely out of sorts at home, blown out 36-18 by the DC Defenders.

“I’ve been in the same circumstance the last two years. Although I didn’t win, I learned a lot. I take those things as growth, and try to go back and figure out what we did, what the messaging was, etc. – took a lot of notes.” – Storm HC Anthony Becht

What has to be a relief for Anthony this time around: his starting quarterback is healthy. This is the first time that he can say that heading into the playoffs. Becht has a strong reputation around the league, but this is a massive opportunity for him to try and dismiss the notion that he can’t win when it matters most.

Third Time In A Row

While this will be the third week in a row that these two teams play each other, they are approaching it in a similar manner. For Coach Becht and the Storm, the process has been the same since day one. That won’t change, even though it is a common opponent for the third straight week.

“The message is clear, this is a one-game deal. We can make it the trilogy, the third game, but we don’t have to do anything but handle this game. Our process will be identical to last week, and our process will be identical to week one. That’s where you set the standard, and that’s when guys start to understand that we’re going to keep doing what we’re doing. We treat every game like a Championship game.” – Storm HC Anthony Becht

Coach Harris over in DC echoed a familiar sentiment. While there are adjustments and tweaks that need to be made, the Defenders are keeping the main thing the main thing: and that’s to focus on themselves, and the things they can improve upon.

“Right now, who can make those adjustments best? That’s the mindset, that’s the message to the guys. It’s all about adjustments at this point. When you’re in a playoff series in the NBA, and you have a seven game series, it’s all about who can make the best adjustments. In boxing, you got twelve rounds. If he ain’t knocked out by the first few, it’s who can make the adjustment to win on the back end. That’s our mindset, making those tweaks from the first two matchups.” – Defenders HC Shannon Harris

Coaching Matchup

DC Defenders, Shannon Harris: Shannon and the DC Defenders are going to be ready to roll against Becht’s Storm. Harris got the best of Anthony in the playoffs last year, with a 2-1 record vs. Anthony in 2025. DC will need every ounce of Harris’ energy and passion this week, with their backs up against a wall.

Orlando Storm, Anthony Becht: So far this season, Anthony Becht is 2-0 against Shannon Harris’ Defenders. This is a slightly concerning trend, as St. Louis was 2-0 against the Brahmas in 2024, just to fall flat in the playoffs. It feels different this year, though. Becht wants a Championship as bad as ever, and his team is positioned to beat anyone in this league. They are stacked from top to bottom.

“Phenomenal regular season, 8-2. I can’t tell you how proud I am of my players, my staff, everyone involved. I was really optimistic before the season started, that I would deliver a product to the city of Orlando…I truly believe that when you win, that’s when you create a buzz in any market. That’s important.” – Storm HC Anthony Becht

Final Thoughts

One thing is for certain: this matchup is bound to be entertaining from start to finish. Whenever Anthony Becht and Shannon Harris face off against each other, that’s when you know it’s going to be good. Orlando feels like the favorite at home, but it’s difficult to beat a team three times in a row – so it really is anyone’s game on Sunday.

On another note, it’s fantastic news to see the UFL keeping this game in Florida. It was originally scheduled to be played at a neutral site in Columbus, but will now be at Daytona Stadium in Daytona, Florida. You can secure your tickets for the game here.

Full Roster Breakdowns: DC, Orlando

What are your thoughts on this upcoming game between the DC Defenders and Orlando Storm? Who will win? Let us know down in the comments below, or join the conversation on Discord!