The Eskimos are dangling at the edge of the CFL playoff ledge, with consecutive losses to the BC Lions over the last two weeks the Green and gold now rest their hopes for a playoff berth on the crossover rule.
Reducing their season to seeking out a combination of wins (and Alouette losses), in addition to points for and against that maybe, just maybe will salvage their season.
The Esks officially were eliminated from the Western Division chase, after dropping a 37-26 game to the BC Lions at BC Place stadium. In a highly entertaining affair, the Esks at least seem determined to give all they have in their tanks until they’re told that they can’t play anymore this season.
Forced to utilize their third string quarterback Steven Jyles, after Stefan LeFors was sent to the sidelines with a suspected concussion, the Esks made a game of things. With Jyles thrown into the fray the Eskimos refused to let up, even after the Lions put together an impressive first ten minutes of the second half to gain control of the back and forth match to that point.
In fact, heading into halftime the Lions were trailing the Esks as Jyles ran a one yard play into the end zone to give the Esks the temporary lead in the game. Whatever Wally Buono said to his players in the dressing room certainly resonated as the Lions charged out of the dressing room ready to recapture the momentum and the lead.
Ian Smart ran a Sean Fleming punt 81 yards for a touchdown to regain the lead early in the third quarter, while Joe Smith returned to form with a one yard crash of the line for the cushion for the Lions win.
While the Eskimos have done themselves no favors in the last two weeks, the prospect of a playoff spot is not dead yet, the Alouettes who the Esks are now chasing for the cross over spot have shown no indications that they are a sure bet for post season action.
Playing at the Big O and over 44000 fans the Alouettes stumbled badly, incapable of generating much in the way of offence and once again dropping a game to the suddenly surging Argonauts. Montreal has not played well for a number of weeks now, a sputtering offence incapable of putting enough points on the board to secure a victory, leaving the defence on the field for lengthy periods of time to face the onslaught of the opposition offences.
Toronto which has returned to a winning form over the last few weeks now sets their eyes ahead on Winnipeg and a potential shot a first in the east, while the Als keep their eyes on the rear view mirror and an Eskimo squad that has one more chance to try make the season a hopeful one.
With two weeks to go in the season the Esks trail the als by three points, they need Montreal to lose upcoming road games to both Calgary and Winnipeg, while they take care of business on their end with matches against Saskatchewan and Hamilton.
The path to the crossover isn’t an easy one, much like the season has been for the Esks it offers up potential disaster at each turn. For now though it’s the only path the Esks have to take, having squandered opportunities through the year, it’s their last shot at partial redemption for a most disappointing season.
Reducing their season to seeking out a combination of wins (and Alouette losses), in addition to points for and against that maybe, just maybe will salvage their season.
The Esks officially were eliminated from the Western Division chase, after dropping a 37-26 game to the BC Lions at BC Place stadium. In a highly entertaining affair, the Esks at least seem determined to give all they have in their tanks until they’re told that they can’t play anymore this season.
Forced to utilize their third string quarterback Steven Jyles, after Stefan LeFors was sent to the sidelines with a suspected concussion, the Esks made a game of things. With Jyles thrown into the fray the Eskimos refused to let up, even after the Lions put together an impressive first ten minutes of the second half to gain control of the back and forth match to that point.
In fact, heading into halftime the Lions were trailing the Esks as Jyles ran a one yard play into the end zone to give the Esks the temporary lead in the game. Whatever Wally Buono said to his players in the dressing room certainly resonated as the Lions charged out of the dressing room ready to recapture the momentum and the lead.
Ian Smart ran a Sean Fleming punt 81 yards for a touchdown to regain the lead early in the third quarter, while Joe Smith returned to form with a one yard crash of the line for the cushion for the Lions win.
While the Eskimos have done themselves no favors in the last two weeks, the prospect of a playoff spot is not dead yet, the Alouettes who the Esks are now chasing for the cross over spot have shown no indications that they are a sure bet for post season action.
Playing at the Big O and over 44000 fans the Alouettes stumbled badly, incapable of generating much in the way of offence and once again dropping a game to the suddenly surging Argonauts. Montreal has not played well for a number of weeks now, a sputtering offence incapable of putting enough points on the board to secure a victory, leaving the defence on the field for lengthy periods of time to face the onslaught of the opposition offences.
Toronto which has returned to a winning form over the last few weeks now sets their eyes ahead on Winnipeg and a potential shot a first in the east, while the Als keep their eyes on the rear view mirror and an Eskimo squad that has one more chance to try make the season a hopeful one.
With two weeks to go in the season the Esks trail the als by three points, they need Montreal to lose upcoming road games to both Calgary and Winnipeg, while they take care of business on their end with matches against Saskatchewan and Hamilton.
The path to the crossover isn’t an easy one, much like the season has been for the Esks it offers up potential disaster at each turn. For now though it’s the only path the Esks have to take, having squandered opportunities through the year, it’s their last shot at partial redemption for a most disappointing season.
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