RedBlacks and Eskimos ready to bring curtain down on 2015 CFL season

The hoopla, awards and Grey Cup week commitments now behind them, Sunday brings the focus back to the field at the 103rd edition of the nation's November celebration of the Canadian game.

The Ottawa Redblacks the storyline of the season looking to write that final chapter in a story that was one of the more positive of themes for a CFL season that offered a few concerns for those that have a strong attachment to the three down game.

Issues of attendance for some cities has provided for the customary bit of reflection as to the state of the nine team league, a dip in television ratings as well noted by more than a few, though some terrible play by the teams most mentioned perhaps had something to do with the slippage in both areas.

An epidemic of Quarterback injuries left teams scrambling from week to week to revisit offensive plans to fit replacement pivots, a situation which gave those following at the need to research pretty well every week, sometimes looking up to their screens to proclaim ... who the heck is that?

One of the main stories was the fact that the residents of the nations largest market for the most part were left unaware to their own team this year, owing to any number of reasons that left the Toronto Argonauts to be CFL Bedouins, wandering from city to city seeking a few fans and a little respect.

They are issues that will be examined we imagine as part of the season review, but should  make for a task that can wait for 24 hours.

Today is Grey Cup Sunday, there is but one question to ask on this day, can the RedBlacks make a remarkable run through November last one more game, or will the Edmonton Eskimos a team with their own pretty impressive back story this year return a championship title to Northern Alberta.

You go back a few decades in the CFL history books and the concept of an Ottawa - Edmonton championship game would be an expected match up, the two cities fixtures in championship games that remain vivid for fans who can rattle off the participants on the field from memory, heart breaking moments still to be mourned, levels of excitement and success for others to be relived.

This final Sunday of November, will bring new additions to those reports, tales of exploits yet to be written at Grey Cup 103.

There are of course the sub plots, the return of Ottawa to the championship in only its second season of rebirth and the timeless nature of Henry Burris who has taken this squad and brought them along for a most fascinating ride. A coach in Rick Campbell with famous CFL bloodlines about to face the team that his father made a perennial champion. And the work ethic of the RedBlacks defensive unit, a group that brings back memories for the long starved fans of the days of the Capital Punishment units of the seventies and eighties. A time when a trip to Ottawa meant a win wasn't guaranteed and a toll would be claimed from the turf at Lansdowne Park, the personality of the team and their dedication to task quickly found favour with the fans, who having been burned by owners of the past have been quick to embrace the RedBlacks, a team that has brought a new attitude and work ethic to town.

The Eskimos offer their own stories for today's finale,  a team which has responded so well to head coach Chris Jones, the turnaround from the dark years of but two seasons ago replaced by a team that has resembled the machines of the glory years. The key feature a defensive unit that shows no weaknesses, holding the opposition in check. A team with depth in many positions, the most important at the Quarterback position, with starter Mike Reilly injured and out until late August, it fell to James Franklin to hold the fort, a process which delivered valuable playing time and key game time experience. When a healthy Reilly returned by Labour Day, the energy level for Edmonton built with each week,  his performance against the former Champs last week an indication that he and his offence are on mission, with only sixty minutes left to see that blue print through for the year.

When you reach the final game of the season you want the two best teams to be the one's standing, both Edmonton and Ottawa have earned their way into the Grey Cup the best way, through hard work and a commitment to their work.

No one will argue the point today that the representatives of the East and West don't deserve their place on the field when the anthem is played.

Whichever team claims Lord Grey's Cup at the sound of the final gun, one thing will be certain, both teams will have left all they had to offer on Winnipeg's near frozen field, neither has travelled this far into the 103rd season to take a day off now.

Some background on today's match up can be found below:

CFL.ca Preview
CFL Writers Picks
Keys to the Game
Players to Watch

Ottawa

Loggers banned after Esks raise stink
CFL to Redblacks chainsaw team: You're cut
Winterpeg painted RedBlack on eve of Grey Cup
RedBlacks looking to 'set the world on fire' against Eskimos in 103rd Grey Cup
No Respect? Nothing new for Ottawa RedBlacks
Finally, a Grey Cup to get excited about
For some Ottawa football fans, it really has been a lifetime since last Grey Cup win
'Take advantage' of opportunity Redblacks tell themselves
Pressure's on" The story of the Grey Cup football
Ottawa Redblacks fans huddle up the jammed pregame party

Edmonton

Eskimos Mike Reilly could match Getty and Warren Moon Grey Cup success
Will the Grey Cup be much of a game?
Eskimos slipping under the radar amid RedBlacks fanfare
Edmonton Eskimos invade Winnipeg for the 103rd Grey Cup
Spirit of Edmonton Hospitality room 'always the best party at Grey Cup'
Eskimos QB Reilly creates relationships with receivers on and off the field
Eskimos back in Grey Cup after a decade away, want to contend for years to come
Eskimos part of Edmonton's history, not its future

National

Grey Cup could be life-chafing for Ottawa RedBlacks offensive coordinator Jason Maas
Edmonton Eskimos QB Mike Reilly looks to add second Grey Cup to resume which includes engineering degree
Redblacks' Henry Burris knows no guarantees head into Grey Cup weekend
Redblacks  coach Rick Campbell almost out of father's long shadow
CFL kickers Chris Milo and Sean Whyte's nomadic journeys to the Grey Cup
The Grey Cup is small, quaint and distinctly Canadian
Team commitment, co-operation a recipe for Ottawa RedBlacks success
Henry Burris' cuts from previous CFL teams has driven his MVP season
Redblacks' defensive coach Mark Nelson knows old-school football
Eskimo defence may get the headlines but RedBlacks shouldn't be overlooked

And the winner is ...

Henry Burris was a double award
winner at Thursday night's
SHAW CFL Awards

The CFL recognized excellence from 2015 on Thursday evening, handing out the SHAW CFL Awards at the annual ceremony this year held at the Club Regent Event Centre in Winnipeg.

The event, which signals the start of the real countdown to Grey Cup Sunday featured 11 different presentations and by the evening's end it became a familiar refrain to hear ... representing the Ottawa RedBlacks  is ....

The remarkable second season for the reborn entry for the nation's capital was recognized frequently at the awards podium on Thursday, as RedBlacks accepted five trophies on the night, with Quarterback Henry Burris making two trips to the stage.

Burris, the team leader and most amazing story for 2015 was honoured as the League's Most Outstanding Player, the second time in his career that the has been awarded that trophy, he also received the Tom Pate Memorial Award which is awarded to the player who displays qualities that distinguish him from his peers.

The RedBlacks also were honoured for the work of SirVincent Rogers who claimed the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award and Brad Sinopli, who provided the RedBlacks with big play after big play through the season, was recognized as the Most Outstanding Canadian.

Rounding out the RedBlack night was head coach Rick Campbell, and there surely is no more deserving candidate for the Coach of the Year award, with Campbell having led his team from expansion to Grey Cup finalists in but two seasons of play.

Thursday's awards show may provide a bit more motivation for the Edmonton Eskimos, the Esks only received one award on Thursday as receiver Derel Walker claimed the Outstanding Rookie award for 2015.

Other award winners on the night include the Tiger-Cats Brandon Banks, the explosive receiver and kick return specialist for the Cats received the Most Outstanding Special Teams player award, while the Commissioner's Award also honoured a player with ties to the Cats organization, with Berine Custis, one of the trail blazers in the fifties was honoured for his contribution to the game.

The Most Outstanding Defensive player of the year award went to Adam Bighill, a standout on the BC Lions roster this year during a year off challenge for the west coast team.

The Jake Gadaur Veteran's Award was presented to the Montreal Alouettes Offensive Tackle Jeff Perrett, who used his own story of struggles with alcoholism, to raise awareness across Canada on the impact that addiction can have on families and to stress that help is available.

And Bob Iriving, the longtime CFL broadcaster in Winnipeg and walking encyclopedia of Canadian football history, was recognized for his contribution to the game. Irving was awarded the Hugh Campbell Distinguished Leadership Award.

You can learn more about the CFL Awards here.

The re-broadcast of the Thursday presentation can be viewed below:

The Finals

Grey Cup berths are on the line as familiar foes renew acquaintances in the CFL divisional finals on Sunday.

The Ottawa RedBlacks, a team that looked every much of an expansion team but 365 days ago, have shown that with the right plan, the right draft and a lot of belief impressive results can be found and surprises can become the narrative to CFL seasons.

Led by the CFL's elder statesman Henry Burris, the RedBlacks surged through the final two months of the season, taking advantage of the depleted line ups of their rivals, while putting together weekly game plans that not only found success, but built confidence as the season rolled on.

With some impressive victories over Hamilton in back to back games at the end of the season, Ottawa vaulted into first in the East and a chance to rest up during Semi Final Sunday, confident that whichever squad prevailed last week, they would be prepared in seven days time.

As fate would deliver, the Ti Cats are the ones that had to book the flight to Ottawa, one more chance for Hamilton to reverse the bad karma of November and take the step that many expected at the start of the season of a trip to Winnipeg for the Grey Cup.

Yet, it's the RedBlacks in the favourites role, having show no fear or intimidation of the Cats through the year, the Eastern Final offers Ottawa the opportunity to make 2015 the benchmark kind of year for teams looking to rebuild (in the case of Ottawa just building).

They kick it off at 1 PM and TD Place Stadium will be sold out, football truly back in the nation's capital, with hopes and wishes of one more game to come riding on each and every down.

In the West, it's yet another chapter in the Battle for Alberta, a series that slipped a few notches on the intensity level for a few years as the Eskimos retooled, but now is back full on, with the Esks the team to beat, built on an explosive offence and one of the toughest of defences in the league.

Calgary stumbled a few times through the 2015 campaign, injuries provide part of those tribulations, inconsistent play as well making a rare arrival in the foothills city.  Still, a Grey Cup champion is always a team to be wary of and the Eskimos know exactly what will be in store for them as Calgary takes to the field at Commonwealth.

The match up more than anything a showcase of coaches as Chris Jones who has turned the Esks around in remarkable fashion faces one of the foundation blocks of coaching these days in the Stamps John Hufnagel.

Hufnagels teams come prepared, and with two top echelon QB's calling the signals on Sunday, the result by game's end should be significantly different than when the two teams last met in a playoff matchup with a Grey Cup trip in the balance.

Both Eastern and Western Finals offer up no shortage of plot lines and many match ups to follow.

When you get to the Final Four of any sport, you want the teams that have been hungry all year and dedicated to their goal to be the ones teeing it up and kicking off, this year, there are no surprises really, Ottawa announced early on that they were making a charge, while the three others in this weekends games the most likely of entrants when the league rolled out the 2015 season.

Some great football would seem to be in store over the six or so hours of Canadian Football on Sunday, when the lights come down late Sunday evening, two deserving squads will be making plans for Grey Cup in Winnipeg, whichever of the four making that trek will be full value for the trip ahead.

Below, is our archive for the Eastern and Western Finals.

Sunday, November 22

Hamilton Tiger Cats at Ottawa RedBlacks
( 1 PM ET, 10 AM PT )  TSN

Game Preview

-- Burris two wins away from CFL history
-- RedBlacks predict dogfight with Tiger Cats
-- For Ticats, time to respond again
-- Ticats' Simoni says, let Justin make the call

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Sunday, November 22

Calgary Stampeders at Edmonton Eskimos
( 2:30 MT, 1:30 PT, 4:30 ET) TSN

Game Preview

-- Eskimos rarin' to go for CFL West Final against Calgary Stampeders
-- CFL West Final between Edmonton Eskimos and Calgary Stampeders features leading receivers
-- Alberta rivals face off in Western Final
-- Stamps-Esks ready to rock in the West Final

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

Semi-Final Sunday, November 15, 2015

The road to Winnipeg at the end of the month begins Sunday as the Divisional semi-finals kick off the CFL's playoff season on two fronts

The Toronto Argonauts look to keep their strong season long performance on the road (as if they had a choice on that path) in place as they head to the Hammer and another instalment of one of the league's most hard hitting rivalries.

Toronto takes on the Tiger Cats in the early game of Semi-Final Sunday, a battle of teams that have struggled over the final few weeks, with both watching the Ottawa RedBlacks sprint by them in the October push towards the playoffs.

Both squads have had to deal with a number of key injuries at the starting QB position, the Argos finally getting Ricky Ray back into the lineup as the season was closing, how he adjusts to the sudden shift from idle to full throttle will probably tell the story as to whether the Argos move forward. Should Ray not find his rhythm, or the Cats begin to pull away, the key to the game could be if head coach Scott Milanovich sticks with his long time starter or turns to Trevor Harris, the more than able back up in  who carried the Argos for the bulk of the season.

The Cats will be tossing the ball to Jeremiah Masoli, with head coach Kent Austin only making that decision on Friday afternoon, giving one of the Cats depth players his first start of the year and only his second bit of game action.

The always snarling Ti Cat defence will also have a pivotal role in the semi final, ready to pounce on any opportunity to make the Argos pay the price for any incursion on the Cats side of the 55 yard line, looking to shut down the Toronto offence, aided by the what should be the usual cast of characters that make Tim Horton's Field one of the toughest stops on the CFL tour.

In the West, the Stamps and Lions will renew what has been a fairly interesting tango over the last few years, Calgary hols favourite status for the second half of the Semi-final Sunday doubleheader, a strong offensive squad that can put points on the board quickly and without mercy.

Defensively, the Stamps have found home field to be a helpful aspect of their game, leading the league in points allowed per game while defending the turf of McMahon Stadium.

The Lions have been an enigma for much of the season, occasional indications that they were finally hitting a groove, would suddenly give way to bouts of giving games away, mental mistakes and undisciplined play at times undermining much of what they had hoped to achieve through the season.

The Leos head into Sunday turning to rookie QB Jonathan Jennings and that's a start that's well deserved, for it was mostly through Jennings that British Columbia even remained in the playoff conversation this year.

He's had an accelerated curve through the season, whether he can take things to one more level given that short amount of time as the go to guy will provide us with an idea if the Lions ambitions beyond this weekend will come to pass.

If they are looking for omens, BC can take some incentive from another British Columbia based football team, on Saturday the UBC Thunderbirds went into McMahon Stadium and wrenched a playoff victory from the U of C Dinos, an impressive performance that left the top ranks Dinos somewhat shocked by games end.

One day later, the Lions will be hoping to deliver the same kind of feeling to Calgary's professional team as well.

Below, is our archive for Semi Final Sunday.

Sunday, November 15

Toronto Argonauts 22 at Hamilton Tiger Cats 25
( 24,029  )  

Game Preview

-- QB Ray gets start with shaky shoulder
-- It's unanimous: TiCats QB Masoli is ready
-- Argos' Owens challenges teammates to step up in East Semifinal
-- Argos in guessing game with Orlando Steinauer's defence

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Sunday, November 15

British Columbia Lions 9 at Calgary Stampeders 35
( 26,306 ) 

Game Preview

-- Rogers ready to continue his show for Stamps in post-season
-- Heart of the defence Simpson back in the groove
-- BC Lions know what to expect with massive Messam
-- Lions confident, even if 'everyone is going to count us out'

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

Shaw Top Performers for Week Twenty

The RedBlacks brought their regular season to a successful finish, taking down the Hamilton Tiger Cats to claim first place overall in the CFL East, earning a bye for Ottawa into the CFL East Division final and securing two of three spots on the weekly honours list in the process.

Not surprisingly, considering the year he has had, Henry Burris once again took the first place finish of the last week, this sixth time he has been placed among the list of three, twice as Top Performer, the most recent placement coming after he threw six career high touchdown passes, amassing a total of 358 yards going 28 for 37 on his overall passing game.

Greg Ellingson, also of the RedBlacks benefited from a few of those Burris tosses, collecting 152 yards, with three touchdowns against the Cats.

John Bowman brought some positive news to a generally crummy year for the Alouettes, earning  his first Top performer honours for the week, based on three sacks in the Als final game of the year against Saskatchewan.

No results from the fan voting for week number seven have been released as of yet.

The CFL's Shaw Top Performers for Week Twenty

1st -- Henry Burris -- QB  -- Ottawa RedBlacks -- 100 points

2nd -- Greg Ellingson  -- WR  -- Ottawa RedBlacks -- 50 Points

3rd --  John Bowman -- DE -- Montreal Alouettes  -- 25 points

Fan Vote -- Ballot Results not released yet--10 Points


CFL.ca review of the Players of the Week

Twelve Men on the Field Archive of the Shaw Top Performers Listings for the 2014 season

CFL Week Twenty

Finalizing the eastern division playoff situation is all that remains for the final week of the CFL's regular season, with Ottawa and Hamilton both still in the conversation for first place overall and home field advantage at playoff time.

Toronto launches the final weekend of play hosting the Blue Bombers tonight at Rogers Centre, their final appearance in the home that this year never was.

The Argos move over to BMO field for the start of 2016, hoping that the new environment will bring back the once loyal legions that supported the team

The outcome Friday won't make any difference for the Double Blue and their playoff future, with a road trip on the agenda for November 15th, the only thing to finalize whether its Northeast or southwest that they will travel.

Ottawa will be looking to make sure that the Argo travel planners charter a bus for Hamilton  as the RedBlacks take on the Ticats tomorrow at TD Place field in the nation's capital, an Ottawa win secures first place and a bye into the Eastern final, a significant achievement for the still new franchise.

As for Argos, they probably won't be too concerned about the need to make it road trip journey for a berth in the 2015 Grey Cup, it's not like they've spent much time in Toronto this year in the first place and the road has been a pretty successful place for the team through much of 2015.

Saturday also features the Lions and Stamps at BC Place, a preview of sorts of what will be the Western Semi Final match up next Sunday in Calgary, though we suspect that the back up talent will get most of the play on Saturday night, while the two teams rest up their starters for the real drama eight days away.

Sunday finds the Alouettes and Riders bringing their seasons to an end, as the two teams not invited to the CFL's playoff dance meet up to bring the regular season schedule to an end.

Below, is our archive for week number Twenty

Check back regularly through the weekend for updated material.


Friday, November 6

Winnipeg Blue Bombers 11 at Toronto Argonauts 21

( 17,511 ) 

Game Preview

-- Swayze Waters back for Argos' final game at Rogers Centre
-- Blue Bombers bright spot Western takes hat trick of award nominations

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Saturday, November 7

Hamilton Tiger Cats 28 at Ottawa RedBlacks 44
( 24,459 )  

Game Preview

-- Bighill, Knox both receive three nominations for CFL individual honours

-- Tailback William Powell back at practice

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Saturday, November 7

Calgary Stampeders 28 at British Columbia Lions 7
( 22,900 )  

Game Preview

--
--


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Sunday, November 7

Saskatchewan Roughriders 30 at Montreal Alouettes 24
( 20,511 ) 

Game Preview

-- 
-- 


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

CFL Top Performers for October

Henry Burris picked in October where he left off in September, rattling off victory after victory for the Ottawa RedBlacks and claiming spot after spot in the weekly award listings. Such was the work of the Riders QB that once again  he has claimed the top spot for the monthly overview, with 1,724 yards through the air and a completion percentage of 73 percent, a mark which included six TD completions. Though the 2015 season Burris has led the league in passing with 5,335 yards, tossed 20 touchdown passes and held to the 70 per cent range through much of the year when it comes to completion rates on the season.

Another QB who has had a fairly good year has been Mike Reilly, who once back in the line up after recovering from injury hasn't looked back as he and the Eskimos tore up the West Division this season, with October the exclamation mark on the year thanks to a 5-0 record.  Through the month, Reilly threw for 1,579 yards and nine TD completions, securing first place in the West and a home playoff date in three weeks time.

One of Reilly's favourite targets claims the third and final spot of the month, with Adarius Bowman providing some of the heavy artillery in an impressive Eskimo arsenal. On the month Bowman accumulated 558 receiving yards on 37 receptions, picked up a pair of TD's during the Eskimos undefeated march through October.


All three players will have their bonus points added to the Top Performers listings through to the end of the season.

The CFL's Shaw Top Performers for September

1st -- Henry Burris  -- QB -- Ottawa RedBlacks -- 200 points

2nd -- Mike Reilly -- QB -- Edmonton Eskimos -- 100 Points

3rd --  Adarius Bowman  -- SB -- Edmonton Eskimos -- 50 points


CFL.ca review of the Players of the Month


Twelve Men on the Field Archive of the Shaw Top Performers Listings for the 2014 season

Shaw Top Performers for Week Nineteen

The Eskimos not only are ruling on the field these days, but when it comes to the Shaw Top Performers, there's a pretty good chance that when you glance over the weekly listings you'll find an Eskimo or two on the page.

Such is the case this week, with the Esks claiming two of three spots in the weekly rankings.

Leading off with Wide Receiver Derel Walker, who claims the top spot this week thanks to three touchdown passes over the weekend against the Montreal Alouettes, his three TD's doubled his output on the year to six, while the 128 yards on 10 catches moved him  to the 1100 yard total for the season. With Esks holding the bye for the final week of the season, Walker puts the wrap on his regular season numbers with 89 receptions.

Defence has been one of the keys to the rise of the RedBlacks this season and last weekend Shawn Lemon provided some of the evidence for the ability of the Ottawa defence to shut down opponents. Lemon picked up a pair of sacks on the way to the RedBlacks 12-6 victory over the TiCats, marking the fifth QB sack of the year for one of the leaders of the Ottawa defensive unit

Eskimos QB Mike Reilly replays last week as he rounds out the three selections on the week, passing for 308 yards in the win over Montreal, while completing 29 of his 35 passes, three of them for majors to the previously mentioned Derel Walker on the way to the Esks victory over the Als.

No results from the fan voting for week number seven have been released as of yet.

The CFL's Shaw Top Performers for Week Seventeen

1st -- Derel Walker -- WR  -- Edmonton Eskimos -- 100 points

2nd -- Shawn Lemon  -- DL  -- Ottawa RedBlacks -- 50 Points

3rd --  Mike Reilly -- QB -- Edmonton Eskimos  -- 25 points

Fan Vote -- Ballot Results not released yet--10 Points


CFL.ca review of the Players of the Week



Twelve Men on the Field Archive of the Shaw Top Performers Listings for the 2014 season

When the Argos say they play for each other; they really mean that they play for each other

2015 by any measure has been perhaps the most baffling season ever for the Double Blue, a year that has seen the team collectively use up more Air Mile reward numbers than most Canadians use on an extended summer vacation.

Owing to any number of reasons, availability of their usual home the Rogers Centre became problematic for the Argos for much of the season, starting with the Pan Am games which saw Toronto punted from the stadium for the start of the season, a moment in CFL time thad delivered the Argos to Northern Alberta as the home team for Fort McMurray

Then came the fall and the Major League baseball run of the Blue Jays which found the Double Blue dispatched to Ottawa once and twice to Hamilton for home games through October.

Such has been the state of their season, that the Argos probably should have adopted the theme from Where in the World is Carmen San diego as their official team song for the year.

All in all, if gate receipts were to be the measure of the team this year, the financial books probably are smeared in red, an incidental account somewhere in the back pages of the Bell/MLSE reports.

The average attendance numbers for the Argos for 2015 to be forever marked by a string of asterisks dotted across the road maps of the nation.

Our attendance tracker will give you a glimpse into the state of the home by way of the road trip attendance figures for 2015, where the term lots of good seats available has never been more true.

As seen from a recent TSN broadcast, Argos (home) games
in Hamilton and elsewhere haven't really packed the stadiums

On the field though, the Argos seem to have taken the challenge of the endless road trip of 2015 as one of those US against the WORLD scenarios, rattling off win after impressive win, all of them while using their back up quarterback Tervor Harris at the helm, while Ricky Ray convalesced through the majority of the season.

Tonight, (providing they can remember how to find the stadium) the Argos reintroduce themselves to their Rogers Centre locker room, with a 7 PM match up with the British Columbia Lions, it marks the first time that they've had to make their way downtown since September 11th.

And for the first time in months, with the exception of news out of the Leafs camp, the Argos will have the news cycle to themselves, the Blue Jays now done for the year (with the off season drama perhaps to capture a bit of media attention for sure).

Toronto FC (the less than enthusiastic partner in the new digs for next year), has seen their season come to a conclusion as well.

So for the next two, three, maybe four more weeks if all goes well, perhaps the Argos can carve out some space and attention from the various media outlets of the Big Smoke.

They play their final regular season home game next week with Winnipeg coming to town and that milestone for the year gives us a thought, that the Argos perhaps may want to offer up a salute to their less than helpful landlords at the Rogers Centre as well.

Considering some of the anger that seems to be percolating towards Rogers Communications with the departure of the Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos over the last few days. Maybe the Argos should provide the opportunity for Toronto sports fans of all persuasions, football, hockey, soccer and baseball to provide AA a proper and grateful send off from Toronto fans.

Anthopoulos bafflingly allowed to leave Jays in search of ‘right fit’
Alex Anthopoulos' Toronto Blue Jays departure a failure by ownership, and not a surprising one
Blue Jays ownership responsible for this ridiculous ending
To say Alex Anthopoulos rejected an extension from Blue Jays is ridiculous
Rogers not getting AA to re-sign is shameful

From Twitter: A fairly accurate perception as to how
Toronto residents may be feeling about Rogers these days

We say, bring AA into the Argo tent for the night, hold an Alex Anthopoulos thank you celebration at half time during next weeks regular season ender.

We have a feeling it might bring in the largest crowd in years and in the end make for the most effective way say thanks to their landlord, bidding Rogers adieu as they make their migration to BMO field for 2016.

Can you hear the chants now, I think I can, that ever popular call of ARGOOOOOOS replaced with something along the lines of ...  Rogers S ....

CFL Week Nineteen

Playoff placements are on the line as the CFL heads into its final two weeks of the 2015 season. As teams battle it out for first place byes into the playoffs and others seek to claim a spot at the bottom of the playoff entry list, perhaps by way of a cross over berth in the case of the Montreal Alouettes.

The weekend begins with something unusual, a Toronto Argonaut home game that actually, really will take place that might be familiar to the Double Blue, with the Argos playing host to the British Columbia Lions at the Rogers Centre.

One hopes that the Argo players can remember how to get to that distant memory of a stadium, having been punted out of their digs a number of times through the year for a range of reasons.

However, with Blue Jays now finished with the baseball thing for the year, barring some other mysterious request from Rogers Centre management, the Argos should finish out the season of the extended road trip at home. Bonus points for them if they can claim First place overall, as it would mean one more home date in downtown Toronto, pending Rogers approval we imagine.

Saturday brings a double header with the Saskatchewan Roughriders winding down their year of woe with a match up in Calgary with the Stamps, with the Riders looking perhaps to play the role of Stampeder spoiler, leaving the path clear for Edmonton to claim the top spot in the West.

The night cap match up brings the Ottawa RedBlacks into Hamilton, with Ottawa seeking to keep pace with their eastern cousins and make the final week of the season one that could deliver no shortage of drama.

Sunday finds the Alouettes in Edmonton with what should be a must win situation, should they have any hopes of making a run for a crossover spot in the 2015 playoff derby.

Below, is our archive for week number Nineteen

Check back regularly through the weekend for updated material.


Friday, October 30 

British Columbia Lions 27 at Toronto Argonauts 25

( 14,236 )

Game Preview

-- Ricky Ray could be Argos' ultimate X factor
-- Rookie, vet an unlikley mirror matchup

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca  Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Saturday, October 31 

Saskatchewan 19 at Calgary 42
( 31,591 )  TSN

Game Preview

-- Stamps realize a sputtering team is a dangerous beast

-- Boom goes Brackenridge in war of words

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Sunday, November 1

Ottawa RedBlacks 12 at Hamilton Tiger Cats 6
( 24,340 ) 

Game Preview

-- RedBlacks' Henry Burris should sit this one out
-- Ticats' Paige faces stiff test in first CFL start


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Sunday, November 1

Montreal 22 at Edmonton 40
(31,014) 

Game Preview

-- Alouettes need win against Eskimos or will miss playoffs for first time
-- Winning Sunday most important: but Eskimos also have cool numbers to play for


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

Shaw Top Performer Week Eighteen

It was repeat weekend for two out of the three Shaw Top Performers for Week Eighteen.

Picking up where he left off a week ago, Eskimos Slot Back Adarius Bowman picked up his second consecutive first place finish, on the strength of a 200 plus yard game over the Riders. Bowman collected 13 receptions during the game, accumulated 208 yards and scored a TD in the Eskimos 35-24 victory over Saskatchewan. The back to back first place finishes compliment his first place award from Week 12.

Henry Burris once again had a stellar weekend leading the RedBlacks to a 27-20 victory over Winnipeg keeping Ottawa nipping at the heels of the Argos and TiCats in the very competitive eastern division. Burris passed for 412 yards, the fifth time this year he has topped the 400 plus mark. On the way to the RedBlack win Burris tossed the ball 43 times, completing 29 of his passes for a 67.4 percentage, of the 29 one provided Ottawa with six points marking his only aerial TD of the day, though he did plunge into the end zone on a push from scrimmage for another major.

Eskimos QB Mike Reilly rounds out the three selections on the week, passing for 377 yards, while completing 29 of his 39 passes, three of them for majors on the way to the Esks victory over Saskatchewan.

No results from the fan voting for week number seven have been released as of yet.

The CFL's Shaw Top Performers for Week Seventeen

1st -- Adarius Bowman -- SB  -- Edmonton Eskimos -- 100 points

2nd -- Henry Burris -- QB  -- Ottawa RedBlacks -- 50 Points

3rd --  Mike Reilly -- QB -- Edmonton Eskimos  -- 25 points

Fan Vote -- Ballot Results not released yet--10 Points


CFL.ca review of the Players of the Week


Twelve Men on the Field Archive of the Shaw Top Performers Listings for the 2014 season

CFL Week Eighteen

With only three weeks remaining in the 2015 Regular season, those teams with playoff ambitions will be looking to secure their placement in the November sweepstakes to take them to Grey Cup Sunday.

With Saskatchewan already eliminated and the Eskimos, Stamps,Tiger Cats, Argos and RedBlacks all having clinched, the final playoff spot has become a marathon to the end of the season it seems between British Columbia, Winnipeg and Montreal.

And as we head into week eighteen, someone is going to slip behind by the time Sunday morning comes around

The week gets underway with a home game for the Argos, and much as it has been this year, that means that Toronto is playing somewhere else outside of the Six, with trek down the highway to Hamilton tonight as the Argos host the Alouettes at Tim Horton's field. With an eye still towards catching the Ti Cats for first place in the east, the Alouettes will have their hands full as they seek to keep their playoff hopes alive, looking to Kevin Glenn to have learned just a little bit more in the last week to spur the offence on.

Friday featured a double header with the under performing BC Lions playing host to the Tiger Cats, two teams that appear headed in opposite directions of late, withe the Cats overcoming the loss of starter Zach Collaros, while the Leos see hopeful signs from their QB's, but then inexplicably let victories slip away, a trend that BC is running out of time to correct.

Saturday also provides us with two match ups with the Ottawa RedBlacks heading to Winnipeg, the Bombers one of those three teams on the cross over bubble, seeking to secure third in the West to make the prospect of an Alouette jump across borders an unlikely event. For Ottawa, all eyes will be on QB Henry Burris who has had a remarkable season and looks to be close to setting even more records in his long and exciting CFL career.

The wrap up to the weekend probably looked pretty good when they drew up the schedule, the Riders and Eskimos, two teams that many expected would have break out years in the CFL.  And as the season has shown, the Break Out was all in Edmonton, while it seems now that it's Break Up season in Saskatchewan. The finale to week Seventeen of much more value to the Eskimos than the Riders, as the Green and Gold look to solidify a hold on the top spot in the CFL West and overall standings in the league as well.

Below, is our archive for week number Seventeen.

Check back regularly through the weekend for updated material.


Friday, October 23 

Montreal Alouettes at Toronto Argonauts (at Tim Horton's Field)

( 7 PM ET -- 4PM PT ) TSN

Game Preview

-- Alouettes GM/coach is running out of fingers to point
-- Samoan Fonoti stepping in for Argonauts

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca  Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Friday, October 24 

Hamilton Tiger Cats at British Columbia Lions
( 7 PM PT - 10 ET )  TSN

Game Preview

-- It's the battle of the rookie QB's in B. C.
-- Don't throw the book at Lions' coach Jeff Tedford yet

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Saturday, October 24

Ottawa RedBlacks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers
( 3 PM ET, 4 ET, 1 PT) TSN

Game Preview

-- Brad Sinopoli a great catch for RedBlacks so far
-- O'Shea says Bryant will be ready for Bombers


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Saturday, October 24

Edmonton at Saskatchewan
(5 PM ST/MT, 7 ET, 4 PT) TSN

Game Preview

-- Eskimos LB JC Sherritt back from injury and eager to play Saturday
-- Eskimos provide though test for Roughriders


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

Shaw Top Performers week Seventeen

A Receiver, a QB and a DB clam their spots this week with the Shaw Top Performers listings for Week Seventeen.

With a career game to save to the archives, the Eskimos Adarius Bowman claims the top spot of the week, his 11 receptions for 198 yards and a touchdown part of the story of the Eskimos come from behind victory over the BC Lions.  Bowman made his mark in the second quarter grabbing a 69 yard pass from Mike Reilly that made for Bowman's six TD reception on the year. Week Seventeen marks the second time that the Eskimo receiver has been ranked as a Top Performer, having claimed the title in Week 12 as well.

Another  remarkable outing for Ottawa RedBlacks QB Henry Burris gives him the second placement of the week, as the RedBlacks field general threw for 370 yards and a TD, completing 34 of his 43 pass attempts in a victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The long time CFL QB is having one of the best seasons of his career, set to streak by the 5,000 yard mark before this season is done, perhaps even before this upcoming weekend is finished. His success on week Seventeen is the fourth time this season he's been tapped as a Top Performer.

The defence gets its due this week as well, as the Stampeders Defensive Back Brandon Smith claims the third spot of the listings.  Smith snared two picks in the Stamps 27-15 win over the Argos, adding to his totals on the year that have second on the Stamps roster in interceptions at 3.

No results from the fan voting for week number seven have been released as of yet.

The CFL's Shaw Top Performers for Week Seventeen

1st -- Adarius Bowman -- SB  -- Edmonton Eskimos -- 100 points

2nd -- Henry Burris -- QB  -- Ottawa RedBlacks -- 50 Points

3rd --  Brandon Smith -- DR -- Calgary Stampeders  -- 25 points

Fan Vote -- Ballot Results not released yet--10 Points


CFL.ca review of the Players of the Week


Twelve Men on the Field Archive of the Shaw Top Performers Listings for the 2014 season

CFL Week Seventeen

The playoff push is on with but four weeks to go in the 2015 CFL season, a jockeying for positions that could mean the difference between home field advantage and long trek into enemy territory in a winner takes all showdown.

Two teams looking to secure their spot in the playoff rotation take to the field in the week seventeen opener, as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers head into Ottawa and a Friday Night Football match up with the Ottawa RedBlacks.

The team from the nations capital is currently trying to keep pace with the division leading TiCats and Argos, but two points behind the division leaders heading into the weekend. Winnipeg on the other hand are holding onto their dreams of a playoff berth by their finger nails tied with BC for the final spot and watching as the Alouettes look to secure a cross over berth for the CFL Semis.

Saturday afternoon finds the Argos back on the road for a home game, bounced once again from their Rogers Stadium home owing to the Blue Jays ALCS Division series, the Boatmen will be hoping that enough of their fans make the drive down the QEW to see Tim Horton's field where they will host the Stampeders in what should be a CFL thriller for the weekend.

The night cap on Saturday takes us out to Edmonton, where the Eskimos who currently hold the edge over Calgary for bragging rights in the West will look to add to the misery of the Lions season, which has seen missed opportunities slip through their fingers a number of times in 2015.  Currently locked into a third and final spot in the West, the Lions have seemingly done all they can of late to make sure that they have to fight to the very last game should they wish to have any post season plans this year.

The weekend wraps up in Montreal, where Kevin Glenn, recently acquired and taking a crash course in Alouette offensive plans will look to keep Montreal's playoff hopes alive as the Als take on the TiCats at Molson Stadium.  Week seventeen might provide a bit more of a challenge for the Cats, as Jeff Matthews who has taken over the helm of the Cats offence faces down a team that is still focused on a playoff spot, with a motivated Alouette defence no doubt looking to make this weekend a test for the rookie QB.

Below, is our archive for week number Seventeen.

Check back regularly through the weekend for updated material.


Friday, October 16 

Winnipeg 24 at Ottawa 27

( N/A )

Game Preview

-- Lots on the line for Ottawa RedBlacks, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
-- Bitter Jovon Johnson wants to make lives living hell for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca  Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Saturday, October 17 

Calgary at Toronto (At Tim Horton's Field in Hamilton)
( 4PM ET, 2 PM MT, 1 PM PT )  TSN

Game Preview

-- New Stamps Running back Messam hopes move to Calgary is a home run
-- Argos coach Scott Millanovich backing QB Trevor Harris

Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Saturday, October 17

British Columbia at Edmonton
(5 PM MT, 4 PT, 7 ET) TSN

Game Preview

-- Lions face a tough decision: Jennings or Lulay
-- Eskimos defence on target for one of CFL's all time best seasons


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

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Monday, October 18

Hamilton at Montreal
(1 PM ET, 10 AM PT) TSN

Game Preview

-- QB Glenn gets crash course on Alouettes' system
-- Tiger Cats ready to face Kevin Glenn, again


Game Reviews:

CFL.ca Game Recap
CFL.ca Stats Review
CFL.ca Highlights

Bold move by Als, may just extend season

QB Kevin Glenn will be trading in the
Green of Saskatchewan for the
rouge, blanc et bleu of the Als
after a deadline day trade

Pretty well everyone expected Kevin Glenn to be on the move somewhere, the Riders season extinguished and the team clearly looking to retool and add some youth had one major chip to use in these final weeks of the 2015 season, a veteran QB with a few teams in need of same.

The favourite heading out of last weekend appeared to be the Hamilton Tiger Cats the conventional wisdom being that they Cats would be looking to strike a deal with Saskatchewan to bring a CFL veteran into the fold to take them down the playoff stretch.

Instead, the Alouettes were quickest on the telephone, snaring Glenn for this season and next all for but a fifth round pick to Saskatchewan and a contract extension for Glenn.

He will bring a steady hand to an Alouettes offence that has stumbled over the last few weeks, the young talent at the QB position wilting a bit as the pressure of a potential playoff  miss began to take its toll.

Still, Glenn can't do it all on his own, the struggles in Montreal have been more of a systemic kind of thing, the early season turmoil of the firing of head coach Tom Higgins, the saga of Michael Sam, all of it seeming to shift the sands under their feet right out of the gate.

Receivers will have to catch, runners gallop and the offensive line will have to provide more consistent protection than that which has been seen through the year to this point.

Yet with one flash of a pen, suddenly, the Als are back in the hunt for the last playoff position and if they should find success there, who knows how they may run the table into late November.

A salvage mission which may turn into a playoff run and no one in Montreal probably saw that happening but a few weeks ago.

Some background on the deal below:

Montreal Alouettes acquire QB Kevin Glenn from Roughriders
At the Deadline: Als acquire Kevin Glenn in trade with Riders
Alouettes deal for veteran QB Kevin Glenn
Kevin Glenn becomes Alouettes' last best hope at quarterback
QB Glenn gets crash course on Alouettes' system
Alouettes expect offensive boost with Glenn at helm
Saskatchewan Roughriders trade Kevin Glenn, Jerome Messam
Trading Rider's Kevin Glenn was the right move for all concerned
Glenn grateful for time spent in Saskatchewan