The Semi Finals: Edmonton at Toronto (November 11)

After far too many years, there will be Canadian football in Toronto in November.

It's a semi final home date for Toronto that brings the Edmonton Eskimos to the Rogers Centre and while we imagine the Argonauts might have found a better pay day had their neighbours in Hamilton been able to make the playoffs, the visiting Eskimos will fill in nicely we're sure.

The Eskimos make the trek eastbound after having laid claim to the CFL crossover option, accumulating a better record than the East's Hamilton and Winnipeg n the 2012 regular season, and while they did stumble down the stretch, the bottom feeders of the East never quite seemed able to put together a winning streak to secure a playoff spot.

The match up between Esks and Argos does provide for some interesting sidebars.

The recent dismissal of Eskimo GM Eric Tillman has had conspiracy theorists working overtime this week. With rumours percolating through the league that Tillman is destined for Toronto, which if it happens would clearly give us a fellow on a grassy knoll...

There's Ricky Ray, the Argos quarterback and former marquee player for the Eskimos, traded by Tillman to Toronto, who is finally back to his usual high standard of play, a positive thing for the Double Blue, not so much for the Green and Gold.

Beyond all that drama however, it all comes down to the football, who scores the most points, who gives up the least.

It will be up to the Eskimo defence to shut down Ray, otherwise, the trip east will be the last of the travel arrangements required, except for the trips back to their winter homes.

Game Time 1 PM ET, 11 AM MT, 10 AM PT Rogers Centre TSN

Edmonton 26 at Toronto 42 (25,792)
Toronto Advances to Eastern Final November 18th in Montreal

Pre Game

CFL.ca-- Game Preview
CFL.ca-- Video Previews

National Post-- Argos struggle to grab a piece of the action
Toronto Star-- Argos need to find a way to stop the Eskimos' Fred Stamps
Toronto Sun-- There's no place like home for Boatmen
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos quarterback Joseph returning to the scene of his prime
Edmonton Sun-- Edmonton Eskimos put the ball in Kerry Joseph's hands for Sunday
Canada.com-- Ray insists he's not focused on former team

Team Backgrounders

Edmonton Eskimos
Toronto Argonauts

Post Game

CFL.ca-- Game Review
CFL.ca-- Video Review

National Post-- Ricky Ray trade comes full circle in Argonauts' playoff victory over Eskimos
Toronto Star-- Coach and QB driving Argos
Toronto Sun-- Record quarter sends Argos to East final
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos not even close to being a contender
Edmonton Sun-- Toronto Argonauts romp to 42-26 win over Edmonton Eskimos...
Canada.com-- Ray gains redemption, leads Argos past Eskimos

CFL Game Day: Calgary at Edmonton (November 2)

For the most part the pressure is off the Edmonton Eskimos as they prepare to welcome the Calgary Stampeders to Commonwealth Stadium for the final regular season game of the year, which also will double as the Eskimos final appearance at Commonwealth of the year.

The Esks will still have some football to play next weekend, it will however a road trip, with the prospect of two more treks on the road before they can call the year a wrap with a Grey Cup bid.

The path to November 25 however does offer up to directions tonight, a loss will guarantee that the Eskimos travel East to play the Argos next week in the Eastern Semi Final, the Esks with a loss tonight will lay claim to the CFL's crossover path to playoff football.

A win however, makes things a little more interesting for the final weekend of play,

Should the Eskimos win tonight, all eyes will turn to the TV on Saturday night when the Riders play the Lions.  Should BC defeat the Riders, then Saskatchewan catches the flight eastbound and the Esks will have to travel south to Calgary and a match up with their provincial rival the Stamps.

So, the question is if your Eric Tillman and Kavis Reed is, who would you rather play?

Considering the lack of momentum in the east this year, the path to a Grey Cup perhaps best runs through the Argos and then the Als.

The Stamps and Lions clearly are the stronger of clubs remaining in the playoff pool for 2012, leaving us with the possibility that a bad result this weekend could offer a more rewarding future through November.

Only in the CFL it seems can such strange combinations arrive on the final weekend of the year.

Other than the map reading and travel arrangements, Friday night offers up the chance to perhaps see history in the making as Jon Cornish chases down Norm Kwong's rushing record, with only 50 yards of hard slogging on the Commonwealth turf standing between Cornish and the record book.

Game Time 7 PM MT, 9 ET, 6 PT  Commonwealth Stadium TSN

Calgary 30 at Edmonton 27 (21,147)

CFL.ca--  Game Preview
CFL.ca-- Video Preview

National Post-- Eskimos must avoid slow start in season finale with Stampeders
Calgary Sun-- Calgary Stampeders starter Drew Tate look to turn around fortunes at Commonwealth Stadium
Calgary Herald-- Stamps' offence poised to finish atop CFL
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos must win convincingly
Edmonton Sun-- CFL's Battle of Alberta always intense regardless of playoff implications
Canada.com-- Toronto win changes everything for Edmonton head coach

Team Backgrounders

Calgary Stampeders
Edmonton Eskimos

Post Game

CFL.ca-- Game Review
CFL.ca-- Video Highlights

National Post-- Stampeders beat Eskimos with field goal on final play of game
Calgary Sun-- Jon Cornish sets new benchmark as Stamps win with final play field goal
Calgary Herald-- Calgary Stampeders running back Jon Cornish breaks 56 year old CFL record
Edmonton Sun-- Calgary Stampeders down Edmonton Eskimos 30-27
Edmonton Journal-- Stampeders sweep season series

CFL Game Day: Edmonton at Montreal (Week Eighteen) October 28, 2012

A window of opportunity opened up for the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday, it's up to them to make use of it on Sunday as they take on the Montreal Alouettes at Molson Stadium.

With Toronto defeating Saskatchewan on Saturday, securing a home playoff game in the Eastern Semi final, the Eskimos can still harbour thoughts of a third place finish in the West, which would send them off to Calgary to take on the Stamps in the Western Semi Final.

Their other path to the playoffs would be a crossover route through the East, that of course providing they can keep ahead of the Hamilton Tiger Cats heading into the final week of play next week.

Towards either goal a victory would be most useful and Kavis Reed has no doubt made that point quite nicely in the week leading up to the Eskimos trip east.

While Montreal really doesn't have much to play for in these final two weeks, Marc Trestman would probably prefer that his team not develop any bad habits heading towards the playoffs, so keeping his team focused on football without looking too far down the calendar will be the task at hand on Sunday.

Bad habits have been a problem for the Als at times during the course of the year, though of late Montreal has begun to pull it together both offensively and defensively, nicely timed as it turns out for the playoff run.

Game Time 1 PM ET, 11 AM MT, 10 AM PT Molson Stradium TSN

Edmonton 25 at Montreal 27 (23,312)

Pre Game

CFL.ca-- Game Preview
CFL.ca-- Video Preview

National Post-- Alouettes' Anthony Calvillo enjoying the moment
Montreal Gazette-- Alouettes' Anthony Calvillo isn't over thinking his future
Edmonton Sun-- Edmonton Eskimos hope to snap Montreal jinx
Edmonton Journal-- Montreal strictly a business trip for Eskimos
Canada.com-- Eskimos Joseph continues to defy the odds

Team Backgrounders

Edmonton Eskimos
Montreal Alouettes

Post Game

CFL.ca-- Game Review
CFL.ca-- Video Highlights

National Post-- Eskimos miss chance to clinch playoff berth with loss to Alouettes
Montreal Gazette-- Als beat Esks at Molson Stadium - again
Edmonton Sun-- Eskimos comeback falls short against Alouettes
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos' rally falls just short
Canada.com-- Calvillo varies attack with stellar supporting cast

CFL Game Day: Edmonton at British Columbia (Week Seventeen) October 19, 2012

The league leading BC Lions can pretty well put a stake through the first place hearts of Calgary tonight and as though to rub it in, they can use the Edmonton Eskimos as their dagger.

The Lions host the Eskimos at BC Place tonight, the chance to bring the Stampeders thoughts of first place to an end should they secure the win.

BC brings the most balanced squad in the league to the battle tonight, a solid offensive unit that while battered the last few weeks continues to put points on the board, paired up with the leagues best defensive unit, one which has only surrendered 288 points in the previous sixteen weeks of play.

For Edmonton, the course is a little different, first place has long been forgotten for the Green and Gold, instead, playoff survival has been the mantra for the last few weeks, having gone from a horrible surrender slide to a turning of the ship with two straight wins, the Eskimos still have their eyes set on third and with a few breaks maybe a second place finish in the West.

If nothing else, they could at least secure the CFL crossover berth into the East, an unusual path to the Grey Cup, but one which this season could be the Esks best bet to play into November.

Heading into tonight's game the Eskimos with 14 points are two behind Saskatchewan in the West but, four ahead of Hamilton in the battle for a crossover bid, should Hamilton stumble and the Esks pull off a victory in Vancouver, then it would seem a lock that the Esks at least move on to the playoffs.

A loss won't be a disaster, but for Edmonton a win would certainly be a bonus.

It would appear to be a case of which team wants to improve their station at the moment, for BC it's a matter of preservation, keeping their lead intact and securing home field for the Western Final.

For  Edmonton it's more of a case of desperation, though considering the woeful ways of the East this year, a path through the other division might very well prove to be the best move of all for the Eskimos, all they have to do is make sure that they find the wins over the next three weeks to secure it.

That being said, we're not sure that one of those wins will be found at BC Place.

Game Time 7 PM PT, 8 MT, 10 ET BC Place TSN

Edmonton 19 at British Columbia 39 (30,102)

Pre Game

CFL.ca-- Game Preview
CFL.ca-- Video Preview

Globe and Mail-- B. C. Lions keep roaring right along
National Post-- Lions receiver Arland Bruce can't remember collision that left him injured
Edmonton Sun-- Last place Edmonton Eskimos have first-place attitude
Edmonton Journal--  CFL's top dogs can't always be perfect
Vancouver Province-- Centre stage for the understudies with injuries to key players ...
Vancouver Sun-- Travis Lulay unsure if he can shoulder starting role against Eskimos

Team Backgrounders

Edmonton Eskimos
British Columbia Lions

Post Game

CFL.ca-- Game Review
CFL.ca-- Video Review

National Post-- Lions clinch first place in West division in win over Eskimos
Edmonton Sun-- Edmonton Eskimos downed by depleted B. C. Lions
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos' locker room silence is deafening, deflating
Vancouver Province-- Reilly gets job done
Vancouver Sun-- B. C. Lions roster depth apparent in clinching first place...

CFL Game Day: Saskatchewan at Edmonton (October 13)

There most likely will be a large and boisterous crowd at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the only question that remains is whether they will be a Rider crowd, or an Eskie one.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders and their legions of fans will travel to Northern Alberta for a Saturday match up with the Edmonton Eskimos, the Riders finding a fall surge towards the end of the season looking to keep pace and perhaps pass by the Calgary Stampeders in the race for second place in the CFL West.

Edmonton will have to make the most of a scheduling quirk which has the Riders arriving on a short week, having played on Monday, the Riders turn around time has not been optimum, but with the kind of roll they're on of late it may not make much of a difference.

Saskatchewan which struggled a bit in the late summer, has found their game once again, bad news for the rest of the West which now has that massive force known as Rider nation to deal with.

A collective which has no shyness in making travel plans, especially to Edmonton where the stadium is large and tickets will be easier to come by for the Rider supporters.

The host Eskimos have bounced back from their own summer doldrums, a September to forget for the legendary franchise,  a month which saw them go win less through the month for the first time in team history.

The tonic for that unwanted record was a visit last week by the Hamilton Tiger Cats, who provided the Eskimos the opportunity to banish the ghosts of September and retool for a playoff push, one which with a run of the table through the final three weeks, may involve forcing the Riders or the Stamps to a crossover post eastbound.

The Esks most likely will have to make that trek themselves, but one never knows with the CFL, a hot hand can take a team a fair amount of distance. At the moment the Riders with three wins in a row have that hot hand, the Esks will have to cool them off (and render their followers silent) on Saturday if they wish to make a push for a spot in the Western playoff race.

Game Time 2 PM MT, 4 PM ET, 1 ET, Commonwealth Stadium, TSN

Saskatchewan 20 at Edmonton 37 (38,678)

Pre Game

CFL.ca-- Game Preview
CFL.ca-- Video Preview


Globe and Mail-- Eskimos release running back Cory Boyd
National Post-- Eskimos have their hands full with Weston Dressler and Kory Sheets
Edmonton Sun-- Edmonton Eskimos must seize the opportunity against short-weeked Roughriders
Edmonton Journal-- Containing Riders' lethal offensive weapons key for Eskimos
Regina Leader Post-- Saskatchewan Roughriders challenged by short week

Team Backgrounders

Saskatchewan Roughriders
Edmonton Eskimos

Post Game

CFL.ca-- Game Review
CFL.ca-- Video Review

Globe and Mail-- Kerry Joseph throws three touchdowns as Eskimos defeat Roughriders
National Post-- Roughriders miss chance to clinch playoff berth with loss to Eskimos
Edmonton Sun-- Commonwealth Stadium has been uncommonly bad for Roughriders
Edmonton Journal-- Trio of former Riders lead Eskimos to win
Regina Leader Post-- Roughriders squander playoff chance in Edmonton

CFL Game Day: Hamilton at Edmonton (October 5)

In a Jekyll and Hyde year in Steel town, the favourite sons are back on the upswing, last weeks strong showing against the Montreal Alouettes, a 41-28 thrashing of Les Als, providing the Cats with a bit of a bump heading into the home stretch of the CFL season, with Thanksgiving Weekend providing the opportunity to show that this time, this time they are for real.

Henry Burris had one of those highlight reel nights last weekend as he directed the Cats to five airborne  touchdowns, just part of an arsenal of weapons that the Cats took to using on the Als, who last week at any rate looked very old, very tired and very defeated.

When he wasn't airing the ball out much to the distress of the Alouette DB's, Burris was conducting a running game that left the Als off balance for much of the game, leaving Anthony Calvillo on the Montreal sidelines for extended periods of time as the Cats gobbled mileage and time.

And while Calvillo did put some points on the board, last week was one of those weeks that the Als will no doubt wish to put behind them, having let the Tiger Cats jump back into the race for first in the CFL East.

As Hamilton seeks to build on their success of last week, they take on an Eskimo team that hasn't been this low in a long, long time. From their remarkable start of July, the Eskimos have been in a downward spiral since about mid August, the low light thus far having gone 0 for September for the first time in their CFL history.

The last time the Eskimos were mentioned in the win column was back on August 27th when they defeated the Argos, since then, it's been five consecutive losses, some of them granted by only one or two points, others however total blow outs that have left gaping holes in the Eskimo approach for the rest of the season.

Towards turning around the season, Kavis Reed has taken over the offensive duties for the team, shifting Marcus Crandell to quarterbacking duties, all in the hopes that the Eskies might better follow the offensive game plan we imagine.

We'll find out two things this Friday night, one if the Esks indeed can bounce back and figure it all out before the season gets away from them and on the other side of the field, if the Tiger Cats can finally build on a successful weekend, consistency has been their downfall all year long, Friday offers up a chance to turn that dynamic around just in time for a playoff drive.

Game Time  7 PM MT, 9 ET, 6 PM Commonwealth Stadium  TSN

Hamilton 20 at Edmonton 35 (30,557)

Pre Game

CFL.ca Game Preview
CFL.ca Video Preview

Globe and Mail-- Struggling Eskimos hope to find a way to stop Tiger Cats
National Post-- Kavis Reed takes charge of Eskimos offence
Hamilton Spectator-- It isn't a must-win game, but it's darn close
Toronto Sun-- Are they big-game Cats?
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos offence needs to ignite Friday night
Edmonton Sun-- Edmonton Eskimos season bears resemblance to 1993

Team Backgrounders

Hamilton Tiger Cats
Edmonton Eskimos

Post Game

CFL.ca-- Game Recap
CFL.ca-- Video Highlights

Globe and Mail-- Eskimos snap five-game losing streak with win over the Tiger-Cats
National Post-- Eskimos pull away from Ticats in see-saw affair
Hamilton Spectator-- Playoffs in jeopardy as Ticats fall to Eskimos 35-20
Toronto Sun-- Edmonton Eskimos Kerry Joseph, Fred Stamps finally connect...
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos offence wakes up, five game slide snapped
Edmonton Sun-- Finally, a positive for Edmonton Eskimos

CFL Game Day: Edmonton at Calgary (September 28)

Another weekend Battle for Alberta, this time with the northern cousins making the trek south to take on the kin from Calgary, always an intense affair, frequently entertaining and as more often than not a game that has ramifications for playoff spots as we head towards October.

The Eskimos arrive in Calgary in the midst of a horrendous losing skid, punctuated by blow outs and near misses, none of the points up for grabs heading to their side of the standings.

And while they made some progress in the bounce back last week against the Lions, their offence is still seemingly a work in progress, nowhere near ready it would seem to launch an attack on a Grey cup berth.

Kavis Reed will once again try to turn around that which had such a promising start but has evolved into a serious skid since August, though a trip to the heated rivalry offered up by the Stamps is perhaps not the best launching pad for the comeback.

The probabilities of success are even less one imagines with the Esks using their third string quarterback as the starter of choice in the Alberta showdown.

Calgary, which had a set back of their own last week with a loss to Saskatchewan, had been keeping pace with the Lions for a shot at first place, a win Friday night is essential if they wish to remain within striking distance.

The game agains the Riders provided a helpful guide as to where the Stamps may still require some focus, Saskatchewan revealed a few flaws in the Stampeder game plan, things that the Stamps no doubt were working on through the week, anxious no doubt to fix what needs to be fixed before the playoff stretch gets underway.

Game Time 8 PM MT, 7 PT, 10 ET McMahon Stadium TSN

Edmonton 15 at Calgary 39  (29,290)

Pre Game

CFL Video Preview

Globe and Mail-- Matt Nichols to start at quarterback for Eskimos against Stampeders
Edmonton Sun-- Eskimos fate could rest in hands of EWU alum Matt Nichols, JC Sherritt
Edmonton Journal-- Stamps back up can't help cheering for old college teammate
Calgary Herald-- Arthur looking to be a go against Edmonton on Friday
Calgary Sun-- CFL Calgary Stampeders try for three peat vs. rival Edmonton Eskimos

Team Backgrounders

Edmonton Eskimos
Calgary Stampeders

CFL.ca-- Game Recap
CFL.ca-- Video Highlights

Globe and Mail-- Cornish passes 1,000 yard rushing mark in Stampeders' win over Eskimos
National Post-- Eskimos suffer first winless September in franchise history
Edmonton Sun-- Calgary Stampeders Jon Cornish eclipses Edmonton Eskimos defence
Edmonton Journal-- Reeling Eskimos search for answers
Calgary Herald-- Cornish hits rushing milestone as Stamps topple Eskimos 39-15
Calgary Sun-- Cornish, Stamps rout Esks

CFL Game Day: British Columbia at Edmonton (September 22)

The league's most successful team of 2012 heads into Edmonton on Saturday to take on a team in free fall in the CFL west.

The  BC Lions are the toast of the CFL heading towards Thanksgiving, tops in the West looking to be a solid choice to return to the Grey Cup in November to defend their 2011 title.

With a strong defensive unit that punishes the opposition should they dare to contemplate scoring to an offensive unit that has QB Travis Lulay clearly at the top of his game, the prospect of playing the Lions is a daunting one at the best of times, never more so we imagine, than if you are in the midst of a month long losing streak and struggling to score points regardless of who is at Quarterback.

The Eskimos will probably turn back to Steven Jyles on Saturday, the hobbled Kerry Joseph having had a decent run, all be it without much success on a team basis, will get to rest his injuries as Jyles tries to turn around an Eskimo offence that has gone horribly cold of late.

Despite some of the top running backs in the game as part of a stable for the Eskimos, the running game hasn't been able to lead the Eskimos out of their current troubles, more than a few observers have suggested that perhaps the time for Eric Tillman to trade in on his riches in the running game has arrived.

For now however, it seems that the only change in store is to provide for an extra set of eyes for offensive coordinator Marcus Crandell, who has struggled to get the Esks offensive game plan into place.

The Eskimos recently added offensive adviser David Kelly to the Eskimo mix, Kelly, a visiting coach in the pre season training camp arrives from the University of Central Florida, a place under the NCAA microscope for alleged recruiting violations.

His appearance of course spawns any number of rumours that Crandell's debut as offensive coordinator may be in peril should things not turn around quickly.

Perhaps an unfair thing, considering the hand dealt him at the start of the season when his entire offensive scheme had to be changed owing to the departure of Ricky Ray, no one, if memory serves correct was calling for Crandell's head when the Eskimos got off to that remarkable start in July, the fans in Edmonton somehow not accepting that their team may have perhaps settled to where they more likely should be in a rebuilding year.

Still, a glance at the standings gives  hope in Edmonton, the Esks are but six points away from the Lions, despite their late summer slump, a turnaround heading into the fall could make things quite interesting.

Football of course is a business built on winning and losing, so the winning of course had best come if anyone seeks long term job security. The problem is that on this week, the team coming into town is the class of the league, providing for a mighty hard job order for a struggling squad to try to fill.

Game Time Pre Game 5:30 MT, 4:30 PT, 7:30 ET Commonwealth Stadium TSN

British Columbia 19 at Edmonton 18 (35,578)

Pre Game

CFL.ca-- Video Preview

Globe and Mail-- Eskimos co-ordinator Crandell has adviser breathing down his neck
Vancouver Sun-- Eskimos' Eric the Red undeterred by trade fallout
Vancouver Province-- Lions, Eskimos rivalry heats up
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos confident heading into tilt against top-ranked Lions
Edmonton Sun-- Eskimos' Jyles to start against Lions

Team Backgrounders

British Columbia Lions
Edmonton Eskimos

Post Game

CFL.ca-- Game Recap
CFL.ca-- Video Highlights

Globe and Mail-- Late field goal lifts Lions over Eskimos
National Post-- Clock is ticking on the struggling Eskimos
Vancouver Sun-- BC Lions pick their moments to rise and shine in last minute win...
Vancouver Province-- Lions lucky to steal one in Edmonton...
Edmonton Journal-- Lack of offence in second half lets Eskimos down once again
Edmonton Sun-- Edmonton Eskimos offence not putting enough points on the board

CFL Game Day: Edmonton at Hamilton (September 15)

Two teams that have been struggling over the last few weeks meet up in Hamilton on Saturday, of the two the Tiger Cats perhaps in need of a win and some positive movement more so than their guests from Alberta.

Hamilton has had a season to forget thus far in their farewell to Ivor Wynne, far too many games given away by miscues, high profile off season acquisitions still struggling to find their niche in the Tiger Cat game plan as we head towards Thanksgiving.

It wasn't supposed to be this way when George Cortez crossed over the bridge from Buffalo, the Cats were a team on the rise in the CFL, those new names on the back a sign that ownership was dedicated to making the final year in the old yard a memorable one, so fart it's been memorable but for all the wrong reasons with a record of 3-7.

Key to the Tiger Cats success this weekend will be Henry Burris finding a strong game and his high profile stable of receivers rising up to the challenge ahead, of course all of that will be for nought should the defence continue to struggle, only Winnipeg has worse defensive numbers so far in 2012, an indication as to why the Bombers and Cats dwell near the bottom of the CFL standings.

Over in Edmonton, the season has probably been a pleasant surprise, yet with accomplishment in August has come disappointment through September, a pair of losses to the arch rival Stampeders no doubt sticking the most in the craw of any true Eskimo fan.

Still at 5 and 5 heading into week 12, Eskimo fans are probably hopeful that the early success of the Esks can be recaptured heading into the playoff drive, something that no doubt few thought would be on their minds when the season started.

Kerry Joseph has been tapped to get the start once again, Joseph the aging CFL veteran had two strong games against the Stamps in the Labour Day back to backs, he kept his team in the running for victories in both, it was mental and on field errors from other departments that made the folks in Calgary happy, addressing those struggles is no doubt what Kavis Reed has been working on leading up to week 12.

The Saturday match up with Hamilton could be pivotal to the Eskimo playoff plans, with the strength of the West over Eastern teams so far in 2012, a crossover playoff berth seems destined for whichever Western team finishes fourth.

A victory over Hamilton Saturday most likely would add to the Eskimos side of the ledger should that be their required path to the post season.

Game Time 3 PM ET, 1 MT, Noon PT, Ivor Wynne Stadium TSN

Edmonton 8 at Hamilton 51 (24,162)

Pre Game

CFL Video Preview

Globe and Mail-- Tiger-Cats look to break out of tailspin against Eskimos
National Post-- Eskimos weary of Ivor Wynne stadium ahead of date with Ticats
Hamilton Spectator-- Ticats not out of it yet, but ...
Toronto Sun-- Tiger-Cats in quite some 'rut'
Edmonton Journal-- Edmonton Eskimos trade for Tiger-Cats fullback
Edmonton Sun-- Ivor Wynne a homey atmosphere for Eskimos' Jerome Messam

Team Backgrounders

Edmonton Eskimos
Hamilton Tiger Cats

Post Game

CFL.ca- Game Recap
CFL.ca-- Video Highlights

Globe and Mail-- Burris keys Ticats' rout of Eskimos
National Post-- Ticats show brute strength in rout of Eskimos
Hamilton Spectator-- Ticats destroy Eskimos 51-8 (no, that's not a misprint)
Toronto Sun-- Tiger-Cats crush Eskimos 51-8
Edmonton Journal-- Blocked field goal proves to be turning point in Tiger-Cats rout of Eskimos
Edmonton Sun-- Tiger-Cats crush Eskimos 51-8

CFL Game Day: Calgary at Edmonton (September 7)

The back end of the September doubleheaders takes place Friday night at Commonwealth Stadium, where the Edmonton Eskimos will seek to improve on some of their errors from this past Monday, errors that snatched defeat from the jaws of potential victory.

A few critical errors in the fourth quarter last Monday allowed Calgary to mount a comeback in the Labour Day Classic, a comeback which for the most part the Eskimos could have fully erased if not for their miscues.

It is no doubt to those points that head coach Kavis Reed will have addressed to his team in the short week run up to the Friday night game, eager to make corrections and pick up where the Esks left off in the third quarter.

For Calgary, after some struggles in August, the edge of the seat comeback on Labour Day could provide the momentum boost the team has been looking for, head coach John Hufnagel will be looking for more consistency as the Stamps take to the field Friday night, far too many times this season Stamps drives have come to a crashing end owing to a turnover or inability to convert a second down into a first.

Kerry Joseph has been tagged for his second consecutive start, coach Reed more than confident after last weeks stellar performance by Joseph to let  him take the reins for one more week as starter Steven Jyles recovers from injury.

Despite the loss to the cousins to the south on Monday, Edmontonians seem to be taking to their Eskimos, the crowd for Friday night is anticipated to be a large one, heavily weighted towards the home side we imagine.

The volume of the noise wholly dependant on how the Eskimos are faring against the Stamps.

Game Time 7 PM MT, 6 PT, 9 ET Commonwealth Stadium (TSN)

Calgary 20 at Edmonton 18 (39,363 )

Pre Game

CFL Video Preview

Globe and Mail-- Eskimos defence takes the blame for one-point Labour Day loss
National Post-- Steven Jyles, Kerry Jospeh give Eskimos plenty to think about
Calgary Sun-- Cornish 1, Sherritt 0
Calgary Herald-- Focusing on task at hand will be key in CFL rematch
Edmonton Journal-- Stampeders - Eskimos rematch has playoff implications ...
Edmonton Sun-- Kerry Joseph credits Eskimo head coach Kavis Reed for second chance


Team Backgrounders

Edmonton Eskimos
Calgary Stampeders

CFL.ca-- Game Recap
CFL.ca-- Video Review

Globe and Mail-- Cornish's late TD run gives Stampeders win over Eskimos
National Post-- Stampeders showing they have plenty of fight left
Calgary Sun-- Stamps win nail biter
Calgary Herald-- Stamps cap sweep of Eskimos in home-and-home series
Edmonton Sun-- Labour Day Repeat as Stampeders beat Eskimos 20-18
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos run game a talented malfunction at the junction...

CFL Game Day: Edmonton at Calgary (September 3)

The final wrap to the Labour Day Classics comes from the West, the Stampeders providing the venue for the annual Alberta rivalry, the cousins from the north trekking down the highway in full bluster living off the success of a CFL season thus far that has been surprising and rewarding for the Green and Gold.

The same can not be said for the Stamps who have had some struggles in this 2012 campaign through the summer months, bringing their record to 4 and 4 heading into the Labour Day tilt.

When the season began, the conventional thinking was that the Stamps would be on the rise while the Esks rebuilt, half way through the CFL season, the Esks appear to be the team on the rise, a surprising situation for sure, but one no doubt welcomed to the north.

Injuries put an early dent into the Stampeder game plan, with Drew Tate gone for the year, the controls of the Stampeder offence were taken up by Kevin Glenn, who for the most part has done well in his duties, a few miscues along the way the margin of error for the Stamps between challenging for first in the West or trailing the leaders in BC and Edmonton.

The Eskimos will send Kerry Joseph into the starters role on Labour Day, Stephen Jyles has been told to rest his injured leg, though he will be available to the Eskimos should need cause to make a change at the quarterback position today.

It's a wise move for Kavis Reed, for the obvious that a healthy Jyles will be needed for the run toward the playoffs and with a game as highly amped as the Labour Day Classic it offers Joseph the chance to recapture some of his past success on the McMahon field from years gone by.

Reed also added some more bad news for the Stamps, with the announcement that Jerome Messam has returned to the Eskimos from his NFL adventure, yet another running threat for a team that is already overfilling with skilled players at a key position.

At any rate, there's no need to worry about the motivation factor for this one, if anyone on either roster can't get pumped up for this one and next weeks return engagement in Edmonton, then they probably won't have much of a shelf life in the CFL, it's quickly learned that the rivalry between North and South is one of the key elements of the CFL in Alberta, something we imagine is learned from Day one in training camp in June, played out over the space of six days in September.


Game Time 2:30 MT, 4:30 ET, 1:30 PT, McMahon Stadium, TSN

Edmonton 30 at Calgary 31 (32,102)

Pre Game

CFL Video Preview

Globe and Mail-- With QB Steven Jyles injured, Eskimos look to Kerry Joseph against Stamps
National Post-- Eskimos grant Kerry Joseph a Labour Day opportunity
Calgary Herald-- High stakes for Stampeder Corey Mace in Battle of Alberta
Calgary Sun-- The Main event: Glenn vs. Joseph
Edmonton Journal-- Labour Day has never been Stamps' finest hour
Edmonton Sun-- Eskimos' Jyles focuses on getting healthy

Team Backgrounders

Edmonton Eskimos
Calgary Stampeders

Post Game

CFL.ca-- Game Review
CFL.ca-- Video Review

Globe and Mail-- Stampeders beat Eskimos on late touchdown in CFL Battle of Alberta
National Post-- Stampeders prevail to beat Eskimos in nail-biter
Calgary Sun-- Stamps win classic Labour Day tilt
Calgary Herald-- Stamps prevail in back and forth Labour Day contest
Edmonton Sun-- Stampeders beat Eskimos 31-30
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos' Joseph turns in big-time performance in losing cause

CFL Game Day: Montreal at Edmonton (August 17)

The surprise of the season thus far would have to be the success of the Edmonton Eskimos, a team which had most CFL fans shaking their heads at over the summer, has quickly turned around some of the scepticism, thanks mainly to a strong defensive game and helped out by the continuing evolution of Steven Jyles game.

Jyles, who arrived in Edmonton as part of the Ricky Ray trade, hasn't quite made the home fans forget about Ray and his success with the Esks, but he's been plugging away, having good games and some bad ones, turnovers proving costly, perhaps a sign of a QB that was trying to do just a little bit too much in a bid to show his leadership.

Even those bad moments however have proven to be a team building experience, his famous fumble in the late minutes of the Bombers game a few weeks ago, became a rallying point for the Esks, something that has shown the confidence the players on the field have in Jyles.

To add to his offensive weapons, the Esks have added Cory Boyd picked up from the Argos after the Double Blue released him last week, though it will be a game time decision as to whether he takes to the field against the Als.

The Esks, currently in first place in the West (yes we know technically its a two way tie) take on the Montreal Alouettes on Friday Night Football, another measuring stick for the team following last weeks come from behind victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

That win in front of the largest crowd of the season in the CFL added to the Eskimos undefeated record this year at Commonwealth, a string they put on the line tonight.

The Als who are struggling to regain their usual form, will be looking to challenge the Eskimo defensive corps, a collection of players that have some impressive success this year so far.

Defence has been the stronger segment of the Eskimo game, scoring points against the Green and Gold defenders comes only after a lot of work and a lot of punishment. A fact borne out by the teams remarkable 99 points agains so far in 2012, far and away the best in the league for the season.

Montreal will be looking once again to Anthony Calvillo to put points on the board, something he's quite capable of doing, even in a year where he clearly hasn't been at his best. Still, when it comes to the Als and Calvillo, one should never count them out, the Als currently sporting a .500 record at 3 and 3, are always a dangerous team, one steeped in experience, which can overcome the hiccups that occur from time to time.

However, this has not been the kind of year that Als fans have become accustomed to, struggles in the first part of the season have made the Als more of a middle of the pack squad as opposed to the team that used to dominate the play.

Instead, it's the Eskimos that for now at least, appear to be the team to beat in 2012, something that we're pretty sure no one would have suggested at the Canada Day kick off.

Game Time  7 PM MT (6 PT, 9 ET) Commonwealth Stadium TSN

Montreal 38 at Edmonton 25 (32,760) 

Pre Game

CFL Video Preview

Globe and Mail-- Acquisition of Boyd gives Edmonton options in the backfield
National Post-- Cory Boyd's Eskimos debut a 'game-time' decision
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos put perfect home record on the line against Als
Edmonton Sun-- Hard to forget for AC
Montreal Gazette-- Jyles showing hea has what it takes with Esks
Canada.com-- Injuries open opportunities

Team Backgrounders

Montreal Alouettes
Edmonton Eskimos

Post Game

CFL.ca--  Game Recap
CFL.ca-- Video Highlights

Globe and Mail-- Calvillo throws four TDs to lead Alouettes over Eskimos
National Post-- Alouettes dominate battle of offence in win over Eskimos
Edmonton Journal-- Calvillo directs Alouettes to convincing win over Eskimos
Edmonton Sun-- AC Current
Montreal Gazette-- Als explode against Eskimos

CFL Game Day: Edmonton at Winnipeg (July 26 2012)

When the Winnipeg Blue Bombers looked at the schedule for 2012, they no doubt had a very different vision as to how things were going to shape up heading into the last week of July.

The Bombers had heavily weighed their schedule for road games in the first month of the season, anticipating taking delivery of their new home in time for the home opener of tonight against the Edmonton Eskimos.

As things have turned out the Stadium isn't ready, still under construction as a matter of fact and some might say the same could be said about the Blue Bombers.

This has been a horrid start for the defending Eastern Champions, a team far removed from their Grey Cup appearance of last November.

Injuries of course have played a part, the never ending cycle of woe for Buck Pierce continues on into 2012, a string of injuries that have many wondering if he hasn't lost his starters job for good. If so, not many are sold it seems on Alex Brink being the one take the torch, Brink who has been pressed into service through July has struggled to generate offence, though head coach Paul LaPolice isn't going to be the one to throw him under the bus.

Larger issues for the Bombers loom, defensively they have given up too many points, while their offence of course has struggled to generate points on their side of the board.  Special teams have at times let the Blue down as well, a collection of troubles that needs to be addressed by the coaching staff quickly, lest the season go to ruin before Labour Day.

Of course in the CFL, you're only a few wins away from getting back into the thick of things, just ask the Grey Cup Champion Lions who started last year off with a terrible record, small comfort for LaPolice who has to try to turn it all around quickly, lest the Bomber faithful start to turn in their tickets to friends or charity.

The Eskimos arrive in River City feeling rejuvenated about their chances this season, a few ugly games at the start of the season have given way to some solid performances, the latest a hard earned victory over the Lions last week in Vancouver.

The Eskimos have taken advantage of their opportunities in the last few weeks, turnovers in their favour are usually turned into points and while Steven Jyles may not have won over all of the Eskimo followers, he's had enough success to quiet down the rumbles of discontent of early July.

The key to the Eskimos appears to be their head coach Kavis Reed, as level headed a CFL coach as we've seen in a long time, clearly not one to panic if things go wrong, he's being rewarded by his players with some strong play when they are going right.

They head into Winnipeg a confident bunch, perhaps bad news for the Bombers..

Game Time 7:30 CT, 8:30 ET, 5:30 PT CanadInn Stadium TSN

Edmonton 22 at Winnipeg 23 (29,553)

Pre Game

CFL Video Preview

Globe and Mail-- Injury woes continue to mount for Blue Bombers
Winnipeg Free Press-- No time for 'true, but useless' comparisons
Winnipeg Sun-- Jobs on line if Bombers lose to Esks
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos QB tries to smooth things over with opposing defender...
Edmonton Sun-- No love for Eskimos at CanadInns

Team Backgrounders

Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Edmonton Eskimos

Post Game


CFL.ca -- Pressure Perfect: Bombers shut down Esks for first win
CFL.ca-- Video Review

Globe and Mail-- Bombers get first win of the season, down Eskimos in home opener
National Post-- Eskimos' Steven Jyles hands Blue Bombers their first win of the season
Winnipeg Free Press-- Blue bring home the bacon
Winnipeg Sun-- Blue Bombers blitz
Edmonton Journal-- Blue Bombers rally from 13 point deficit to beat Eskimos
Edmonton Sun-- Jyles shoulders blame for Eskimos late loss

CFL Game Day: Edmonton at British Columbia (July 20, 2012)

Which Eskimos have made the trek across the Rockies in this week four, the Eskimos of last week's convincing 42-10 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, or the team from the week before that couldn't manage anything more than a single?

That is the question Edmonton fans will be wondering about as they settle in for TSN's Friday Night Football match up with the BC Lions.

The Eskimos quelled some of the growing unease in the Alberta capital with their timely victory over Winnipeg, the only point of concern perhaps that the victory was against a battered and clearly confused Bomber squad.

A more realistic test perhaps arrives tonight when the Eskimos play the Lions, BC still smarting from their three point loss to Saskatchewan last week, a loss that toppled them from the ranks of the undefeated.

Special teams proved to be their undoing last weekend and with a week to contemplate what could have been, Lions kick Paul McCallum has vowed to get his kicking game back on track.

The Eskimos will take on a defensive squad that enjoys making things uncomfortable for visiting quarterbacks, giving Kavis Reed something to work on as he tries to find the right game plan to take advantage of Stephen Jyles skill set.

Edmonton is still very much a work in progress, trying to come to terms with the off season changes and the impact that they have had on their execution and expectations.

One bright spot for coach Reed however is his defensive side, which has been tough and focused in the first three weeks of the season. A trait we imagine will continue as the Eskimos seek to make life difficult for Travis Lulay's offensive unit.

The Lions started the season off much like they finished 2011, last week's loss a helpful wake up call that in the CFL your fortunes can turn around quickly, not that they need any reminders on that fact, but a close loss such as last weeks can do wonders to help a team refocus on the little things that can be the difference between victory and defeat.

With Saskatchewan losing last night in Calgary, the West has tightened up significantly in the last 24 hours, a victory by either the Lions or the Eskimos will provide further congestion in the West standings and signal that no one team is destined to run away with the division just yet.


Game Time 7 PM PT (8 MT, 10 ET) BC Place (TSN)


Edmonton 27 at British Columbia 14 (28,335)

Pre Game

CFL Video Preview

Globe and Mail-- Lions kicker McCallum takes blame for misses, looks to rebound ...
National Post-- Lions bracing for Eskimos' tough defence
Edmonton Sun-- Eskimos 0-fer in revamped BC Place
Edmonton Journal-- Frustrated Stamps is still Esks' leading receiver
Vancouver Sun-- Players to watch, three themes to the game
Vancouver Province-- B. C. Lions' Paris Jackson ready to resume regular service

Team Backgrounders

Edmonton Eskimos
British Columbia Lions

Post Game


CFL.ca-- Video Highlights
CFL.ca-- Game Recap

Globe and Mail-- Eskimos gain share of first place in West with win over Lions
National Post-- Lions' costly mistake hands Eskimos key victory
Edmonton Sun-- Eskimos beat Lions at BC Place
Edmonton Journal-- Do-it-all Burnett leads Eskimos to big win over Lions
Vancouver Sun-- Big Play costly as Lions bow to Eskimos
Vancouver Province-- Eskimos win 27-14 as B. C. Lions offence goes missing

Twelve Men Features: Edmonton Eskimos

Links to those items we have worked on regarding the Edmonton Eskimos

Chasing the crossover berth

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.

After the glory fades...

The Edmonton Journal has done a heart wrenching piece on the life and times of Bill Stevenson, the once long time lineman for the Green and Gold. A hard nosed player who was part of many of the Glory Days of the Eskimos and a guy who collected his share of Grey Cup rings.

But once the cheering faded and the skills were gone, Stevenson's life spun wildly out of control lost in drink and lost opportunities.

It's a hard article to read, it seems every aspect of his life is detailed but all of it is required to get a better understanding of the demons that chased him in his days in and out of football.

It's an informative piece and should be passed around all eight of the CFL's dressing rooms and alumni groups, a barometer for those to watch over the players that blazed the trail for today's CFL but may have fallen into troubled times and need a helping hand.

For the new Commissioner it may make for a valuable bit of research and maybe a cause to promote to the eight owners of the CFL's franchises, the league is fortunate that its size and importance to Canadians offers it a chance to take care of the players of the past who made their mark and may now be forgotten.

For the fans, it offers up a look at the other side of the game that few talk about, the inability to cope after all that adulation, the dark hole that some fall into some with tragic results. It helps to put the game into perspective for all.

It's well worth the read, as disturbing as it is. It's quite a project that the Journal took upon itself, you can view the full article from this link.

One of the CFL’s greatest legends passes away

One of the icons of Canadian football passed away on Tuesday, after a battle with throat cancer, his passing brings to an end an era of football very different from the game today.

Jackie Parker, Ole Spaghetti legs or the fast freight from Mississippi State, as he was known as, was one of the defining players of the Canadian game, from his debut in an Eskimo uniform in 1954; Parker was one of the dominant players on both sides of the ball through the fifties and sixties.

He played for three CFL teams in his amazing career in the Canadian game stretching from 1954- 1968, donning the colours of the Eskimos, the Argonauts and the Lions before he called it a career. Named as a multiple all star and inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, Parker seemed to define the game when he took to the field.

Parker brought crowds to their feet in every stadium he played, equally skilled as a quarterback, halfback and a defensive back. He came to Canada from Mississippi State, a Tennessean who moved to the land to the north and became a fixture for decades to follow.

It was an era when the CFL regularly would outbid the NFL for players, offering a better salary than the norm from the American league of the day. Hard as it seems is to believe now with an NFL that is an industry all to itself, but back in the fifties the CFL represented stability and pretty good living. And some pretty damn fine football.

When Parker’s playing days would come to an end he made the move into the coaching ranks, becoming an assistant coach with the Lions in 1968 and taking on the head coaching job in 69. He served as General Manager of the Leos from 1971-75, a major figure in the Vancouver sports scene.

He left the football wars for a bit, returning in 1983 as head coach of the Eskimos until two games into the 1987 season. From there he would become the living legend of Canadian Football, a testimony to the skill and desire needed to excel in the game.

His passing leaves a bit of a void in the bridge between eras of the Canadian game, many of today’s CFL players probably have little knowledge of his achievements or the joy he brought to CFL fans from coast to coast during his hey days.

As the CFL heads towards its annual Grey Cup festival and the chance to celebrate all things great about the game, there will no doubt be more than a few moments dedicated to the memory and memories of Ole Spaghetti legs, one of the true greats of the Canadian game.

The press file on Parker's passing

Hall of Famer Parker dies
Jackie Parker,74: CFL Legend
Former MSU football great Parker dead at 74
CFL Legend Jackie Parker passes away at 74
Legend dies
Legendary Eskimo Parker passes away
Parker, Legend dies of cancer
CFL mourns the passing of a Legend