There has to be a sense of urgency for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
With the Ticats having lost two of their last three and the Montreal Alouettes winners of five in a row, a seemingly safe division title for Hamilton isn’t a sure thing just yet.
The Ticats (10-7) still are in the driver’s seat, needing just a win over the lowly Ottawa Redblacks (4-13) on Friday in Hamilton to clinch top spot and get a bye to a home-field East final on Nov. 8.
A loss, however, would open the door for the Als (10-7) to steal the division crown with a win on Saturday in Winnipeg.
“There’s no backing out at this point. This is the all-in moment of the season,” Ticats fullback Ante Milanovich-Litre told reporters this week. “Playing football at this time of year with the weather change is a privilege. It’s time to go. Buckle up and let’s go, that’s it.”
Just how good the Ticats are remains open for debate.
After starting the year with a pair of losses, the Ticats reeled off six consecutive wins and looked poised to cruise to the division title with the three other East teams all dealing with injuries at the quarterback position.
Instead, Hamilton has gone just 4-5 since that 6-2 start, despite being the only team in the league to have its starting quarterback (Bo Levi Mitchell) available for every game.
The Ticats are just 1-6 against other playoff teams when their opponent had its starting quarterback.
It’s little wonder many think the Alouettes, no matter what position they finish, are destined to represent the East in the Grey Cup game.
The Ticats, as you’d expect, are defiant.
“The Hamilton Tiger-Cats that defend Hamilton Stadium are a solid team,” Milanovich-Litre said. “When we’re all dialed in and got all the screws and nuts and bolts all tightened up, it’s a very deadly football team.”
While the Redblacks have long been eliminated from the playoffs, Hamilton doesn’t expect to coast to victory.
With so much player movement each off-season in the CFL, more good film certainly won’t hurt Redblacks players. Meanwhile, there have been rumblings head coach Bob Dyce’s days with the team could be over when the season comes to a close.
They’re going to come in here, everything to gain, nothing to lose,” Ticats defensive back Destin Talbert said. “Last game of the season, East rival, they’re going to come in and bring their best so we have to bring ours.”
While the six playoff teams are confirmed, just one final position is official heading into the final week — the Saskatchewan Roughriders have locked up first in the West. The Edmonton Elks, Toronto Argonauts and Redblacks will be the three teams to miss the playoffs.
The B.C. Lions are in control of their fate in the race for second in the West, which means a home divisional semifinal. B.C. gets that spot with a win in Saskatchewan on Saturday. While the Roughriders have nothing to play for, they are planning to give some reps to starting quarterback Trevor Harris and some other starters after dressing more backups last week.
“We understand things in front of us are there as long as we take care of business each day,” Lions coach Buck Pierce said.
The Calgary Stampeders could leapfrog the Lions if they beat the Edmonton Elks on Friday and B.C. loses its game.
The fourth-place team in the West — either the Lions or Winnipeg Blue Bombers — will cross over and play in the East playoffs. It will mark the 13th crossover team, all from the West, since the format was introduced in the mid-1990s — it requires the fourth-place team in one division must finish with a better record than the third-place team in the other. No crossover team ever has gone to the Grey Cup.
Friday, Oct. 24: Ottawa Redblacks (4-13) at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (10-7), 7 p.m. ET
Friday, Oct. 24: Calgary Stampeders (10-7) at Edmonton Elks (7-10), 9:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. MT
Saturday, Oct. 25: Montreal Alouettes (10-7) at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (9-8), 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT
Saturday, Oct. 25: B.C. Lions (10-7) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (12-5), 7 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. ST