There are two weeks to go in the CFL schedule, and there is still plenty that remains up in the air when it comes to playoff seeding.
The East Division is especially clogged, with the Montreal Alouettes enjoying a one-game lead over the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Alouettes can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Argos this weekend, but all bets are off if the Boatmen roll into Molson Stadium and escape with the victory. What is known is only two of the three teams still alive in the East will make the playoffs since the crossover will happen again this year.
Over in the West, the only certainty is the Calgary Stampeders will finish first, and Edmonton, B.C. and Saskatchewan will make the playoffs. The Eskimos have a line on second place and on hosting the West semifinal thanks to their 11-5 record, so the most interesting battle is for third, where it'll likely come down to B.C. and Saskatchewan.
The Lions are expected to lose in Edmonton this weekend, which would leave the Lions and Roughriders with 9-8 records going into the final week. B.C. hosts Calgary and Saskatchewan entertains Edmonton to close out the regular season. The Lions have the tiebreaker over the Riders, but would you rather go to Edmonton for a semifinal or to Hamilton or Toronto?
Exactly.
WHOOPS!
The Bombers pulled off a rare feat this year -- and it wasn't the good kind.
Winnipeg became the first team to start a season with a 5-1 record or better and miss the playoffs. The Blue and Gold have lost eight in a row and 10 of their last 11 games. They also have to finish their regular season on Saturday in Calgary, where they haven't won since 2002.
Calgary and B.C. are responsible for the four other most notable meltdowns in league history, but they happened more than 30 years ago. The Stampeders were 4-1 in 1958, the Lions were 5-2-1 in 1980 and 7-3 in 1982, and the Stampeders were 4-2 in 1983. All of them ended up missing the post-season party.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
Welcome to the CFL, Ernest Jackson!
The former University at Buffalo receiver has burst on to the scene for the B.C. Lions after spending most of the past three seasons living in anonymity.
Jackson has taken advantage of more playing time, registering 438 receiving yards in his last three games. The remarkable part about that number is he had 379 receiving yards in his first two CFL seasons.
If Jackson can keep it up, he gives the Lions a second legitimate receiving threat beside Emmanuel Arceneaux heading into the playoffs. Talk about perfect timing.
COMIN' BACK
The CFL really lived up to its motto last weekend, as no lead was safe.
The Lions, Argos and Stampeders all won their games despite trailing going into the fourth quarter. Most impressive was Calgary outscoring Saskatchewan 25-0 in the final frame.
Only 11 times in the first 64 games of the season had teams turned third-quarter deficits into victories. On the weekend they were 3-for-4.
PATIENCE PAYS OFF
The Argos on Tuesday announced they had agreed to terms with linebacker Cory Greenwood, who was their first-round pick (third overall) in 2010.
Greenwood passed on the CFL coming out of Concordia, instead trying the NFL route. He appeared in 48 games for the Kansas City Chiefs, registering 35 tackles and special teams tackles. He spent time with the Detroit Lions but was cut before this season.
To refresh your memory, the first pick that year was Shomari Williams (Saskatchewan) and second overall was offensive lineman Joe Eppele, who was taken by Toronto but is now in Ottawa.
LATE HITS
The Lions beat the Bombers Saturday night despite taking 22 penalties for 155 yards, but they're going to pay for it in practice this week. "We're going to talk," coach Mike Benevides told The Province. "Each player (who took a penalty) is going to stand up and explain themselves. It will be fully addressed and they won't like the reviews. We're going to do gassers. There'll be a few pails and brown bags out there." ... It was quite the odd moment in the RedBlacks-Alouettes game when the CFL command centre reviewed a possible fumble and then, when it went against Ottawa, coach Rick Campbell threw his challenge flag. They actually looked at it again, came to the same result and then on Monday the CFL told the Ottawa Sun that a mistake was made! Only in the CFL ... The Toronto Sun reports Ticats slotback Andy Fantuz is questionable for Friday's game in Ottawa ... Word out of Saskatchewan is Darian Durant should be ready for the playoffs ... The players of the week are Argos running back Steve Slaton (offensive), Lions defensive end Khreem Smith (defensive), Stampeders linebacker Glenn Love (special teams) and Argos linebacker James Yurichuk (Canadian).
The East Division is especially clogged, with the Montreal Alouettes enjoying a one-game lead over the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Alouettes can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Argos this weekend, but all bets are off if the Boatmen roll into Molson Stadium and escape with the victory. What is known is only two of the three teams still alive in the East will make the playoffs since the crossover will happen again this year.
Over in the West, the only certainty is the Calgary Stampeders will finish first, and Edmonton, B.C. and Saskatchewan will make the playoffs. The Eskimos have a line on second place and on hosting the West semifinal thanks to their 11-5 record, so the most interesting battle is for third, where it'll likely come down to B.C. and Saskatchewan.
The Lions are expected to lose in Edmonton this weekend, which would leave the Lions and Roughriders with 9-8 records going into the final week. B.C. hosts Calgary and Saskatchewan entertains Edmonton to close out the regular season. The Lions have the tiebreaker over the Riders, but would you rather go to Edmonton for a semifinal or to Hamilton or Toronto?
Exactly.
WHOOPS!
The Bombers pulled off a rare feat this year -- and it wasn't the good kind.
Winnipeg became the first team to start a season with a 5-1 record or better and miss the playoffs. The Blue and Gold have lost eight in a row and 10 of their last 11 games. They also have to finish their regular season on Saturday in Calgary, where they haven't won since 2002.
Calgary and B.C. are responsible for the four other most notable meltdowns in league history, but they happened more than 30 years ago. The Stampeders were 4-1 in 1958, the Lions were 5-2-1 in 1980 and 7-3 in 1982, and the Stampeders were 4-2 in 1983. All of them ended up missing the post-season party.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
Welcome to the CFL, Ernest Jackson!
The former University at Buffalo receiver has burst on to the scene for the B.C. Lions after spending most of the past three seasons living in anonymity.
Jackson has taken advantage of more playing time, registering 438 receiving yards in his last three games. The remarkable part about that number is he had 379 receiving yards in his first two CFL seasons.
If Jackson can keep it up, he gives the Lions a second legitimate receiving threat beside Emmanuel Arceneaux heading into the playoffs. Talk about perfect timing.
COMIN' BACK
The CFL really lived up to its motto last weekend, as no lead was safe.
The Lions, Argos and Stampeders all won their games despite trailing going into the fourth quarter. Most impressive was Calgary outscoring Saskatchewan 25-0 in the final frame.
Only 11 times in the first 64 games of the season had teams turned third-quarter deficits into victories. On the weekend they were 3-for-4.
PATIENCE PAYS OFF
The Argos on Tuesday announced they had agreed to terms with linebacker Cory Greenwood, who was their first-round pick (third overall) in 2010.
Greenwood passed on the CFL coming out of Concordia, instead trying the NFL route. He appeared in 48 games for the Kansas City Chiefs, registering 35 tackles and special teams tackles. He spent time with the Detroit Lions but was cut before this season.
To refresh your memory, the first pick that year was Shomari Williams (Saskatchewan) and second overall was offensive lineman Joe Eppele, who was taken by Toronto but is now in Ottawa.
LATE HITS
The Lions beat the Bombers Saturday night despite taking 22 penalties for 155 yards, but they're going to pay for it in practice this week. "We're going to talk," coach Mike Benevides told The Province. "Each player (who took a penalty) is going to stand up and explain themselves. It will be fully addressed and they won't like the reviews. We're going to do gassers. There'll be a few pails and brown bags out there." ... It was quite the odd moment in the RedBlacks-Alouettes game when the CFL command centre reviewed a possible fumble and then, when it went against Ottawa, coach Rick Campbell threw his challenge flag. They actually looked at it again, came to the same result and then on Monday the CFL told the Ottawa Sun that a mistake was made! Only in the CFL ... The Toronto Sun reports Ticats slotback Andy Fantuz is questionable for Friday's game in Ottawa ... Word out of Saskatchewan is Darian Durant should be ready for the playoffs ... The players of the week are Argos running back Steve Slaton (offensive), Lions defensive end Khreem Smith (defensive), Stampeders linebacker Glenn Love (special teams) and Argos linebacker James Yurichuk (Canadian).
