The final week before Labour Day saw the Toronto Argonauts, the defending Grey Cup Champions, on life support. 2-8 record, worst in the league, and it looked like the team was dead. The first half of Week 12’s Saturday doubleheader saw the Argos at home against the BC Lions, and this was do or die for the Boatmen. Well, more like sink or swim. It didn’t look good for the Argos. Down 14-3 after one quarter. It looked like the makings of yet another disappointing loss that would see the Argos’ season come to an abrupt and embarrassing end.
And then the second quarter happened.
25 points in the frame for Toronto. Argos never looked back. A 52-34 victory for the Boatmen. The Argos live! Barely, but we do! A key win over the team holding the crossover position. Absolutely excellent!
Week 12 kicked off with the Montréal Alouettes at home against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and in this Thursday night battle, it was the Bombers who emerged victorious, 26-13, another positive notch for Winnipeg. On Friday Night Football, it was the Ottawa Redblacks hosting the Edmonton Elks, and the Elks took it to Ottawa, winning 30-20. The Elks have won three straight now, and they look to mean business, while the Redblacks’ nightmare season continues on. Finally, the second half of the Saturday doubleheader was a Western battle between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Calgary Stampeders, and in a surprising occurrence, the Stamps stood tall and flattened the Riders, 32-15.
So with 12 weeks done, and the CFL’s Labour Day Weekend upon us, here’s how things stand:
Holy moley, the West Division is so close! Two games separate first and third, the Saskatchewan Roughriders suffered a rare loss, but they’re still on top in the West. The Stampeders picked up important ground by beating the Riders, and the Blue Bombers also gained ground as well. Winnipeg’s third place cushion became just a tad softer with BC’s loss, but look who is creeping up in the West Division. The Edmonton Elks, winners of three straight games, are now just two games out of third place, and they are just a half game out of a playoff position. Can you believe it? The Elks? That close to a playoff position this late? Holy moley!
In the East, the idle Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ lead increased just a bit with the Alouettes’ loss, while the Toronto Argonauts picked up a much needed victory. The Argos and Redblacks are tied at 3-8, but the Argos are the third place team via tiebreaker. However, the crossover keeps us out of the loop, but we did beat the team holding the crossover position in Week 12, so that helps. Toronto stands two games out of second place, which is not only a guaranteed playoff position, it’s home field in the Division Semifinal. So yeah, the hope is there for the Boatmen.
Next up in the CFL, it’s their traditional Labour Day Weekend matchups. The typical rivalry games that take place that weekend, but it’s abbreviated this year. The week starts on Sunday, August 31 with the Saskatchewan Roughriders hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and then, on Labour Day, Monday, September 1, it’s the Battle of Ontario (Argonauts @ Tiger-Cats) followed by the Battle of Alberta (Elks @ Stampeders). The beautiful thing about the CFL’s Labour Day Weekend games: all of them are available on American TV, and they will all air on CBS Sports Network.
* * *
If you like this story, click the heart and the subscribe button, and feel free to comment below! Tips and pledges would be greatly appreciated, but only if you want to do so!