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The Battlehawks quarterback shouldered all of the blame of his team's 27-15 loss to the DC Defenders in a United Football League early season showdown in front of 30,104 at the Dome at America's Center.

"I've got to play better," Wilkins said. "This is on me."

Wilkins had a rough day, and so did the rest of the Battlehawks.

DC led from start to finish in a battle of what had been the two unbeatens in the eight-team league.

The day wasn't a total loss for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½, which was named as the host of the UFL championship game on June 14. It is the second year in a row the league's finale will be at the Dome.

UFL owner Dany Garcia extolled the virtues of Battlehawk Nation saying, "ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ is a city that continues to show an incredible passion for football," after the announcement at halftime.

Battlehawks coach Anthony Becht put the events of the day into perspective.

"ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ should be excited about it, thrilled — but we have to get better after the performance (on the field)," he said.

Wilkins, the reigning UFL offensive player of the year, struggled throughout the contest. He was intercepted three times and also lost a fumble.

"I've got to do a better job of owning the football," Wilkins said.

The 29-year-old Arizona Stare product looked razor sharp in wins over Houston and San Antonio.

Yet Wilkins never was able to get the offense going against the Defenders (3-0), who were led by former Battlehawks quarterback Jordan Ta'amu, who threw for 243 yards and three touchdowns.

"It's a team game, it's never one person," Battlehawks outside linebacker Travis Feeney said.

The defense of the Battlehawks (2-1) played well enough to win, with Feeney leading the way. He had eight tackles, including one of his team's five for a loss.

"They came to play," Feeney said of the Defenders. "They came to our house and got us."

Kameron Kelly and Chris Payton-Jones each intercepted a pass.

DC capitalized on a pair of turnovers and a defensive breakdown on one play to bolt to a 12-0 lead.

Wilkins temporarily got the ball rolling in the second quarter by connecting with former Atlanta Falcons wideout Frank Darby on a 35-yard scoring strike that chopped a 12-point deficit in half. It was the Battlehawks' first touchdown pass of the season.

The biggest miscue of the contest might have come in the fourth quarter. Wilkins had a pass picked off by Willie Drew Jr. at the Defenders' 32-yard line. DC then put the game away with a 10-play scoring march that took 6:16 and culminated when Ta'amu hit Cornell Powell on a 3-yard TD strike.

Battlehawks kicker Rodrigo Blankenship hit field goals of 40, 47 and 56 yards, and the defense forced a pair of turnovers to keep the hosts in the game. Blankenship's longest kick trimmed DC's lead to 18-15 midway though the third period.

But the offense didn't find the end zone once again.

"The turnovers put us in a bind and we've got to be better," Becht said.

The Battlehawks mighty rushing game, which shined in both wins this season, was nonexistent against the Defenders under the direction of defensive coordinator Blake Williams, who stepped in for his father Gregg earlier in the week. ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ rushed for just 45 yards.

ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ running back Jacob Saylor, who had been a big-time playmaker over the first two games, rushed for just 1 yard on seven carries. The Battlehawks managed 173 yards on 48 plays.

Becht was quick to point out that the sluggish offensive performance can be corrected.

"I think we're a good team, we just got beat top to bottom," Becht said. "Hopefully, there will be a lot of growing moments from this game."

Added Feeney, "It's just one game — we'll learn and get better."