Week 8 saw two teams clinch playoff spots and another team get eliminated from contention. Here is how the rankings stack up this week:

1. DC Defenders (7-1)

DC is just one win away from clinching home-field advantage in the playoffs. In fact, DC needs a win OR a St. Louis loss to seal up the top seed. The Defenders won a nail-biter against the Sea Dragons in Seattle. The XFL North has consistently proven to be the superior division this year, and DC finished 6-0 in the North. DC is the favorite to win the XFL Championship, and running back Abram Smith is an MVP candidate. Smith has rushed for 720 yards so far this season, scoring seven rushing touchdowns.

Up Next: vs. Arlington (Home)

2. St. Louis Battlehawks (6-2)

St. Louis can lock up a playoff spot with a win this Sunday against Seattle. St. Louis won on a last-second field goal the last time the two teams met. The Battlehawks also have an outside shot at home field for the playoffs if DC drops the last two games of the year and St. Louis wins out. Home field would be huge for St. Louis, as the Battlehawks draw 35,000+ fans per game.

Up Next: vs. Seattle (Home)

3. Seattle Sea Dragons (5-3)

If only Seattle played in the XFL South. The Sea Dragons are currently on the outside looking in for the playoffs. Fortunately, Seattle has some control of its playoff fate. The Sea Dragons nearly knocked off St. Louis in the first meeting and will need to win out to reach the playoffs. Seattle in the playoffs is a very scary thought for the rest of the league.

Up Next: vs. St. Louis (Away)

4. Houston Roughnecks (5-3)

Houston got back in the win column just in time to clinch the first playoff spot in the XFL South. With a win this weekend, the Roughnecks will get a home playoff game. Houston has dominated the XFL south, going 5-0 so far.

Up Next: vs. Vegas (Home)

5. Arlington Renegades (4-4)

Arlington got a boost in week 8 thanks to Luis Perez and now the Renegades are poised to clinch the second playoff spot with a win this weekend. That is a tall task since the next opponent is DC. Arlington needs only one win in the last two games to clinch, OR a loss by the Brahmas.

Up Next: vs. DC (Away)

6. Vegas Vipers (2-6)

Vegas nearly upset St. Louis last weekend, which would have made things really interesting for week 9. But a fake punt changed the game and the Vipers found themselves on the losing end of another close game. The overtime shootout was exciting to watch, but a pass interference penalty on Vegas negated a crucial conversion for the Vipers. Vegas is eliminated from playoff contention.

Up Next:

7. San Antonio Brahmas (2-6)

The Brahmas lost the second overtime game of the weekend, 17-15 to Houston. The loss nearly closed the playoff window for San Antonio. The Brahmas will need to win out and have Arlington lose twice to have a shot.

Up Next: vs. Orlando (Home)

8. Orlando Guardians (1-7)

Orlando can only play spoiler at this point and a win this weekend would do just that for San Antonio’s season. The Guardians looked nothing like the team that defeat DC in week 8. Orlando has been eliminated from playoff contention.

Up Next: vs. San Antonio (Away)

David Taylor can be found on Twitter @DavidTaylorXFL