XFL Week 2 scores, highlights: Roughnecks win thriller over BattleHawks, Renegades beat Wildcats

Houston improved to 2-0 behind P.J. Walker on Sunday, while Dallas found its ground game late

It took a while for Sunday's action in Week 2 of the XFL to really get going. But once it did get going, there was an explosion of points that made for an entertaining finish to both games.

In the first game, the Dallas Renegades emerged with a 25-18 victory against the Los Angeles Wildcats, but the game didn't evolve into a high-scoring affair until the fourth quarter. In the first half, points were at a premium and the turnovers were plentiful. The game was tied at 3 at halftime, and the Renegades carried a 6-3 lead into the fourth quarter before L.A. finally breached the end zone with a 6-yard touchdown pass from Josh Johnson to Nelson Spruce. From there, the game took off. The Renegades responded with two touchdowns of their own via Cameron Artis-Payne on a 21-yard run and Landry Jones on a 3-yard pass to Donald Parham. The Wildcats needed only one play to strike back as Johnson hit Spruce again for a touchdown, but their defense was unable to come up with the stop they needed. Once again, Artis-Payne broke free for a touchdown, and Dallas got its first victory of the season.

In the second game of the day, the Houston Roughnecks beat the St. Louis BattleHawks, 28-24, behind an awesome effort from quarterback P.J. Walker, who delivered three touchdown passes. The Roughnecks took an early lead before withstanding a surge from the BattleHawks in the second half. Houston, at 2-0, sits atop the XFL standings in the West Division.

Whether you're fired up or just curious about the games, CBS Sports' XFL coverage is here for you. We've got you covered with how sportsbooks have handled the new league and why QBs are the key to the league's survival. You can also relive all the updates, highlights and analysis from Sunday's action below.

XFL scores, Week 2

Saturday, Feb. 15
DC Defenders 27, New York Guardians 0
Seattle Dragons 17, Tampa Bay Vipers 9

Sunday, Feb. 16
Dallas Renegades 25, LA Wildcats 18
Houston Roughnecks 28, St. Louis BattleHawks 24

[Feb 16, 2020 at 9:03 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

And that's going to do it. Houston takes this one, 28-24, behind a great performance from PJ Walker.

Thanks for joining us, everyone!

[Feb 16, 2020 at 9:00 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Great, great game. That was fun. And these are, at least, two of the three best teams in this league. Might be your top two.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:58 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

They use that timeout with 1:07 left. Houston on the cusp of icing this

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:57 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

First down, Houston. St. Louis only has one timeout left. 1:08 remaining

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:54 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

GAMES NOT OVER. They catch Houston substituting on the next play. 36 yards. Touchdown.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:54 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

GAME ON

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:53 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Ta'amu. Onions!

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:53 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

BIG TIME throw by Ta'amu for a huge fourth down conversion. Threw that into double coverage.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:48 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

Ta'amu's been mostly good today, but it kinda feels like he has another interception in him as he takes more and more chances

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:43 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

Almost a spectacular moment again for Walker, who dodged a sack on third down but threw high to an opener receiver. St. Louis gets the stop it needed.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:34 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Cam Phillips up to seven grabs for 54 yards and three touchdowns. Hell of a night for him.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:31 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

In fairness, Sean: would you?

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:30 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

Every time Walker gets outside the pocket, St. Louis doesn't know what to do.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:28 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Also I thought Houston might have been offsides and I wonder if Ta'amu thought it was a free play?

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:28 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Honestly first bad throw from Ta'amu today. It credits him with his second pick, and he earned it, but overall Ta'amu has benn good.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:27 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

That pass was never available. The safety over the top was there. So was the corner underneath. He tried to sneak it into the hole between the two of them.

There was no hole.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:27 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

Man, I was just writing something to praise Ta'amu and then he goes and makes the mistake he couldn't afford to make.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:25 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

Money throw on first down there to the sideline. Great velocity and accuracy.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:24 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Just to get the ball from outside of the shadow of their goal post was massive for St. Louis.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:23 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

Third-and-5, backed up near their own goal line, and Ta'amu manages to convert under pressure. Great catch by Pierson-El too on a pass thrown slightly behind him

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:23 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Pierson-El DA GAWD

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:20 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

Really impressed by the turnaround on defense by St. Louis after they couldn't generate a stop in the first half. But their offense is gonna have to mount a real lengthy drive to tie the game or take the lead here after the Houston punt team downed the ball at the one.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:18 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Headed to the fourth quarter in what has to be the early runner for best XFL game. Maybe we finally get overtime?

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:14 pm ET · Ben Kercheval]

Great effort from Walker -- and smart, too. Make them review that.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:13 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

That was an awesome play, but Walker was unfortunately down. This has to be coming back.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:08 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

Ta'amu is in on a keeper! And this game just got super interesting.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:03 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

Another first down. Houston suddenly is the defense without answers. Ta'amu's athleticism coming in handy on that third down conversion

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:00 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

Michael gets the first down, so all is forgiven

[Feb 16, 2020 at 8:00 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

Houston got caught against the screen, but Michael inexplicably ran out of bounds before the line to gain. Fourth-and-1 coming up.

[Feb 16, 2020 at 7:55 pm ET · Sean Wagner-McGough]

St. Louis FINALLY make a play on Walker, who was trying to scramble for a first down. Three defenders were needed to drag him down.