The NFL Network has had specific criteria for which CFL games are shown on its channel: the games that best fit into the schedule of the U.S. cable channel. The games aren't picked for the teams or the matchups, but based on the night that game is scheduled.
This week's game featured Montréal and Toronto at Rogers Centre. The Alouettes had the East Division crown wrapped up, and the hometown Argos had a slim shot at hosting the East Division semifinal game against Hamilton.
The game was tied at 30 near the end of the game. Montréal jumped out early, Toronto came back and took the lead, and the Alouettes came back to tie it.
Montréal intercepted the ball late and set up a potential winning 36-yard field goal. Up until now, this might reflect a NFL game, but what happened next could only be found up North.
Damon Duval, the heralded Montréal kicker, lined up for the field goal. Three Toronto players, including kicker Noel Prefontaine, went into the end zone. If Duval had missed, and the ball didn't get out of the end zone, Montréal would have scored a point to win the game.
Normally, even in the CFL, a single player will go back to run the ball out of the end zone to avoid giving up the point. But Toronto wanted to kick the ball out of the end zone instead. If Montréal had missed and Toronto had successfully kicked the ball out of the end zone, the game would have remain tied. Unless Montréal kicked it back.
Anyway, Duval lines up for the kick, misses it. Prefontaine gets knocked out of the end zone by his fellow teammate. That Argo teammate kicks the ball out of the end zone. Duval catches the ball and kicks it back. The Toronto effort to kick it back didn't get out of the end zone, a Montréal player fell on the ball for a touchdown, and the Alouettes won.
The referees conferred over whether "no yards" was involved (must give 5 yards for anyone receiving a kick). It wasn't an issue, and Montréal had the victory.
To see the video of this hilarious play, click the video above or go to cfl.ca and click on "Highlights" to see for yourself.Or just click on this link.
NFL, eat your heart out.