They are seemingly the two last hopes for the East in the quest of the Grey Cup for this 100th season, with the Hamilton Tiger Cats fading, fading, fading away, it will be up to either the Toronto Argonauts or the Montreal Alouettes to seek to represent the East in the annual football showdown of lat November.
Though, if indications of the previous fifteen weeks are any indication, there's no guarantee that either of them will survive long enough to make it to the final game of the playoff round of the CFL season.
With Edmonton charging up the standings all of a sudden and the prospect of a crossover berth in the east definitely in Western eyes, the possibility that two Western teams will meet in Toronto for the Grey Cup seems suddenly very, very possible.
To avoid that scenario, Toronto and Montreal will need to get their efforts back on track, inconsistency has been a mark of the East this year, just when you think someone is set for a lengthy run of success something happens to raise concerns, offering little in the way of confidence that either are up for the challenge.
Montreal's defensive woes are becoming a much documented file, no worse an example than last weeks shocking loss to the Blue Bombers, a team not known for its winning ways this season.
Likewise in Toronto, the opportunity to take the next step always seems to be missed, last week the Argos had the chance to take hold of the East lead with a win over the Riders, instead they were but spectators in their own ball park, content to watch the Riders roll over them to their fourth consecutive win in the last four weeks. An opportunity lost and one that gave Montreal a mulligan on their own misfortune of the Thanksgiving Day opener.
The two teams meet today in Toronto, once again the Argos can show that they are eager to not only grab first place in the East, but to make a serious stand for playing in the Grey Cup that they are hosting.
Montreal will be seeking to reverse a number of bad traits of week fifteen, perhaps not the best of omens for the Argos, no one wants to play a team with something to prove to their coach and to themselves.
Someone has to win after sixty minutes or so don't they? We'll find out later today.
Montreal at Toronto, 1 PM ET, 10 AM ET, Rogers Centre, TSN
Montreal 24 at Toronto 12 25,348
Pre Game
CFL.ca-- Game Preview
CFL.ca-- Video Preview
Globe and Mail-- Jackson gets crucial start for Argonauts in showdown against Alouettes
National Post-- Argos reward Jason Barnes for his persistence
Montreal Gazette-- Als can secure home playoff game with win
Toronto Star-- Toronto Argos remain in hunt for first place despite poor offensive numbers of late
Toronto Sun-- Argos reaching for the top
Team Backgrounders
Montreal Alouettes
Toronto Argonauts
CFL.ca-- Game Recap
CFL.ca- Video Highlights
Globe and Mail-- Alouettes snap out of first half funk to defeat Argos
National Post-- Alouettes best in East, but face tough road to Grey Cup
Montreal Gazette-- Als dig deep
Toronto Star-- Argonauts fumble chance to climb CFL East standings in 24-12 los to Montreal Alouettes
Toronto Sun-- Argos come up short, again
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