Major League Baseball isn’t the only league preparing for the end. The Canadian Football League’s home stretch is progressing, and so far, the playoff chase has been thrilling. Week 15 saw the Saskatchewan Roughriders become the first to get into the 112th Grey Cup Playoffs, but Week 16 saw another team with a chance to join that playoff party.
The scenarios for Week 16 were as follows: the Hamilton Tiger-Cats could get in with a win, an Argonauts loss, and a Lions loss. As for the Roughriders, they could clinch 2nd place and a home playoff game if three of the West teams below them (Lions, Blue Bombers, Elks) all lose. So let’s see if the scenarios played out.
First off, the Toronto Argonauts went up against the Montréal Alouettes, the only meeting in Toronto. We needed this. Badly. We had been winning three straight, and this was our chance to really show our worth. We were down 21-16, a field goal made it a two point game, and we played enough defense to make sure we had the chance to get into field goal range and win it. Sadly, an interception put the kibosh on that. Argos lost 21-19, and just like that, the Boatmen’s playoff chances started to sink… fast.
So the Alouettes did their part to help the Tiger-Cats. Would the Calgary Stampeders do the same? Not a chance. Calgary was no match for the BC Lions, who put up 52 points and absolutely routed the Stamps. So both scenarios were kiboshed with that result, and that also hampered the Argos’ chances as well. The Saturday games saw the Winnipeg Blue Bombers also win, a close 26-18 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks, and speaking of close, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats won close as well. A 29-27 victory over the Edmonton Elks brought the Tiger-Cats closer and closer to the 112th Grey Cup Playoffs.
So with five weeks left, here’s how things stand:
We’re screwed. Or at least close to it. The Toronto Argonauts are two games behind the Lions in the crossover, and technically three games behind the Alouettes for 2nd place in the East. At least with the crossover, we can just tie the Lions and we’d be above ground. The divisional standings are another story. We need to hope that the Alouettes slip on a lot of banana peels. At least we’re not the Redblacks? Hamilton’s putting up a good record, and in the West, it’s a tight race for 2nd place, with the Stampeders ahead of the Lions and Blue Bombers. The Elks still have an outside shot, but time is running out for them as well.
Week 17 kicks off on Friday, September 26 with the Montréal Alouettes hosting the Calgary Stampeders, followed by a very important game between the Toronto Argonauts and the BC Lions in Vancouver. The Boatmen definitely need that one, as the crossover will be affected, and a win by the Argos could make a huge dent against a possible crossover happening. On Saturday, September 27, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and that is followed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Edmonton Elks battling it out in a West Division showdown. Week 17 will see the month of September close out and take the league to the pivotal final month of October, which will complete the playoff puzzle. The home stretch marches on!
* * *
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!