Week fifteen of the CFL season offers the Edmonton Eskimos a chance to clinch a playoff spot, a welcome return for the Eskies fans who perhaps had thought they might have been in store for a few years of football wilderness walking at the end of last season.
Thanks to the Eskimos remarkable start to the 2011 season and the implosion of today's opponents the Roughriders, this year has been a quicker paced turnaround year for Edmonton than most would have thought.
And while the Eskimos probably have benefited from the decline of the Riders this year, their success is truly on their own dime, they have bought into Kavis Reed's game plan, rewarded the trust of GM Eric Tilman and performed on most days in a remarkable fashion.
There have been a few hiccups along the way, from their fast jump out of the gate in July, August turned into a bit of a nightmare, but past Labour Day and now into October the Eskimos have begun to resemble the team that had everyone talking at the start of the season.
A win today would clinch the elusive playoff spot and keep Edmonton in the hunt with Calgary and BC for first place in the CFL West, a win would also slay a bit of a dragon for the Esks this year, a tendency to lose home games in front of huge crowds.
Edmonton has lost three consecutive home games heading into today's game, sending the volume of Eskimo fans in attendance home to ponder just what it is with this team that results in a less than stellar effort at home.
With Saskatchewan on the brink of playoff elimination and with back up Ryan Dinwiddie starting for the injured Darian Durant, one has the feeling that the Eskimo fan base won't have to ponder too much today, other than whether they will host a CFL semi or final playoff game.
Game Time 2 PM MT (4 ET, 1 PT)
Pre Game
Edmonton Sun-- Win and the Esks are in
Edmonton Journal-- Joseph thankful for every day on the gridiron
Regina Leader Post-- Ryan Dinwiddie gets start for an injured Darian Durant
Globe and Mail-- Riders, Eskimos look to snap streaks
National Post-- Eskimos prepare to end Roughriders' playoff hopes
Canada.com -- Eskimos victory on Monday would put team in playoffs ...
Quick Snaps Edmonton Eskimos
Quick Snaps Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan 1 at Edmonton 17
Attendance-- 38,054
Edmonton Sun-- Loss puts Riders outside looking in
Edmonton Journal-- Victory leaves sour taste in fans' mouths
Regina Leader Post-- Riders' playoff hopes dimmer after 17-1 loss to Eskimos
National Post-- Eskimos top Riders in a snoozer
Globe and Mail-- Eskimos dump Riders to clinch playoff berth
Canada.com-- A turkey of a game
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