Montreal Alouettes’ Jeshrun Antwi is tackled by Ottawa Redblacks’ Avery Williams during first half CFL football action in Montreal on Oct. 10, 2022.The Canadian Press
They’ve been eliminated from CFL playoff contention but the Edmonton Elks face a solid opportunity to snap their dubious home losing streak.
Edmonton (4-12) hosts the Toronto Argonauts (9-6) on Saturday having dropped a CFL-record 15 straight games at Commonwealth Stadium.
Toronto is currently atop the East Division and would clinch first if Ottawa defeats Montreal at TD Place on Friday and the Argos emerge victorious in Edmonton.
But there are three factors working against Toronto.
First of all, Ottawa (4-11) is 0-7 at home this season. And then there’s Toronto’s struggles at Commonwealth.
Toronto has dropped its past six games there, its last victory coming in 2013. On Saturday, the Argos and Elks will meet for the 100th time, with Edmonton holding a 54-44-1 overall advantage and 32-16-1 at home.
Toronto is 4-3 on the road but 3-4 versus West Division competition.
The Argos should have momentum on their side, coming off a 23-20 home win over the BC Lions on Saturday. Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson finished 27-of-40 passing for 352 yards and a TD, a 37-yard toss to sophomore Canadian Tommy Nield late in the fourth quarter that gave the home team its winning margin.
Bethel-Thompson enters weekend action as the CFL’s leading passer (4,218 yards).
Edmonton dropped a 48-11 road decision to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (14-2), who cemented top spot in the West Division with the victory. Quarterback Taylor Cornelius was 11-of-24 passing for 137 yards and a TD for the Elks.
Winnipeg accumulated 503 total yards against Edmonton, which had 267. A positive, though, was the Elks finished with 130 yards rushing on 25 carries (5.2-yard average) but all three Bombers quarterbacks threw touchdown passes, including three from starter Zach Collaros (CFL-high 35 TD strikes).
Winnipeg became the first team to have three quarterbacks throw TD passes in the same game since Oct. 26, 2019 when Toronto achieved the feat in a 39-9 win over Ottawa.
This season, Bethel-Thompson has completed 348-of-522 passes (66.7 per cent) while Cornelius has hit on 187-of-327 attempts (57.2 per cent). Bethel-Thompson leads the CFL in both passes made and tried, a fact worth considering as Toronto is averaging a league-worst 77.3 yards rushing a game.
Edmonton’s defence is ranked last overall against the run (116.5 yards per game) but second versus the pass (258.7 yards per game). Toronto’s defence has forced a CFL-best 41 turnovers while the Elks’ offence has turned the ball over 44 times, second-most in the league.
The Elks’ last home contest was a 25-18 loss to Montreal. In that contest, Alouettes defensive back Tyrice Beverette returned an interception 100 yards in the fourth quarter for the game-deciding touchdown.
It was the first of three late turnovers by the Elks.
Edmonton certainly has history on its side but, once again, if Toronto fashions itself a team that can go deep into the playoffs, this is a game it must win.
Pick: Toronto.
Montreal Alouettes at Ottawa Redblacks (Friday night)
At Ottawa, the Redblacks chase a second straight win under interim head coach Bob Dyce after last week’s 24-18 victory at Molson Stadium. Win or lose, they’ll remain in postseason contention heading into next week. Montreal (7-8) can clinch a home playoff berth with a victory but is 3-4 both on the road and within the East Division. William Stanback, the 2021 CFL rushing leader, ran for 20 yards on eight carries in his return and will undoubtedly get better with more games played for the Als.
Pick: Montreal.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Calgary Stampeders (Saturday night)
At Calgary, Hamilton (5-10) gained control of its playoff destiny with last week’s 18-14 home win over idle Saskatchewan (6-10 ). The Ticats can clinch the third and final East Division postseason berth by winning their final three regular-season contests. However, they’ve lost 15 straight at McMahon Stadium (last win there was in 2004) and are 0-7 on the road. The Stampeders (10-5), who’re battling for a West Division home playoff game, come off a 29-2 home win over Toronto on Oct. 1 and are 5-0 versus East opponents.
Pick: Calgary.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers at B.C. Lions (Saturday night)
At Vancouver, Winnipeg (14-2) has already clinched first in the West and home field for the division final. Starter Zach Collaros won’t play as Dru Brown goes under centre. More veterans expected to follow suit for the defending Grey Cup champions. B.C. (10-5) comes off a narrow loss in Toronto but does hold the tie-breaker against Calgary in the battle for second in the West. An encouraging sign is quarterback Nathan Rourke (foot) returning to the practice field, even on a limited basis.
Pick: B.C.
Last week: 2-2.
CP’s overall record: 49-20.