The Roughriders are coming to Ottawa.
The ESPN family will carry every CFL postseason game from the TSN feed. ESPN2 will carry the East semifinal in the nation's capital and the West semifinal as Winnipeg makes its playoff debut in its relatively new stadium. The schedule even allows for a look back at the 1997 CFL season in between games, depending on whether the East semifinal goes to OT.
The Saskatchewan-Ottawa matchup is as even as you can get. The RedBlacks lost by a point (18-17) at home on September 29 while the Roughriders also lost by a point (33-32) at home on October 13.
Winnipeg swept Edmonton, the reason why the Blue Bombers are the home team in the playoff game. The Blue Bombers handed the Esks their first loss after starting 7-0 with a 33-26 win at Investors Group Field 33-26 on August 17. Winnipeg added to the Edmonton losing streak with a 28-19 win in Edmonton on September 30.
The winners advance next week to Toronto and Calgary. As for Montréal, BC, and Hamilton, they'll be off until June 2018.
ESPN2
Sunday
Saskatchewan @ Ottawa, 1p
Edmonton @ Winnipeg, 4:30p
TSN
Sunday
Saskatchewan @ Ottawa, 1p
Edmonton @ Winnipeg, 4:30p
CFL crossover games
| Year | Team | Result |
| 2017 | Saskatchewan (10-8) | plays Ottawa (8-9-1) |
| 2016 | Edmonton (10-8) | beat Hamilton (7-11), then lost to Ottawa (8-9-1) |
| 2014 | B.C. (9-9) | lost to Montréal (9-9) |
| 2012 | Edmonton (7-11) | lost to Toronto (9-9) |
| 2009 | B.C. (8-10) | beat Hamilton (9-9), then lost to Montréal (15-3) |
| 2008 | Edmonton (10-8) | beat Winnipeg (8-10), then lost to Montréal (11-7) |
| 2005 | Saskatchewan (9-9) | lost to Montréal (10-8) |
| 2003 | B.C. (11-7) | lost to Toronto (9-9) |
| 2002 | Saskatchewan (8-10) | lost to Toronto (8-10) |
| 1997 | B.C. (8-10) | lost to Montréal (13-5) |
The crossover is in effect for the second year in a row. The last time that happened in 2008-2009, the crossover team won the semifinal game. The crossover team won the semifinal game last year, too. No crossover team has ever made it to the Grey Cup.
There were crossover teams in 2012 and 2014 but the East team won those games.
The crossover team only has to beat out the 3rd place team from the other division by 1 point. In 2017, Saskatchewan outscored Hamilton by 8 points (20-12). Even the BC Lions, the last-place team in the West, had 2 more points than the Tiger-Cats.
CFL home playoff games since 2011
| Team | Year |
| Calgary | 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 |
| Hamilton | 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 |
| Ottawa | 2016, 2015 |
| BC | 2016, 2012, 2011 |
| Edmonton | 2015, 2014, 2011 |
| Montréal | 2014, 2012, 2011 |
| Toronto | 2013, 2012 |
| Saskatchewan | 2013 |
| Winnipeg | 2011 |
In the CFL, 44% of all the teams will host a playoff game. The Toronto and Winnipeg futile streaks are finally being snapped this year. The Saskatchewan Roughriders are now on the clock with a 4-year streak without a home playoff game.
This will be the first home playoff game at BMO Field and Investors Group Field.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats snapped their 4-year streak of hosting a playoff game by missing the playoffs. Only the Calgary Stampeders have a longer streak. Henry Burris was the QB the last time Calgary did not host a home playoff game.
2017 CFL games on the ESPN family
| Team | Home | Road | Total |
| BC | 2 | 4 | 6 |
| Hamilton | 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Montréal | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Saskatchewan | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Toronto | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Edmonton | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Ottawa | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Calgary | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Winnipeg | 1 | 1 | 2 |
ESPN determines CFL games by when the games are more than the teams involved. This is why the 3 worst teams combined for 17 appearances on the ESPN family. Saskatchewan also had 5 games, mostly when the Roughriders were struggling.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a lot better to watch but sadly only had 2 appearances.
Calgary was the only team not to get a home telecast. Toronto was the only team not to be seen on the road.
2017 CFL Week 20 preview
Winnipeg's Andrew Harris was plugging away to be the first CFL player with 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving. Though Harris fell short, he still had 1,035 rushing yards enough to lead the league. Harris led the CFL with 105 catches; those catches led to 857 receiving yards. Injuries toward the end of the season didn't help.
Harris and Calgary's Jerome Messam showed off the skill of Canadian running backs, finishing 1st and 3rd in overall yards. Given the harsh weather this time of the year, running backs can be the star of the show in the playoffs.
CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage
Matt Dunigan helped out in Vancouver Saturday night. We expect the regular announcers to call the playoffs.
In regards to announcers, it will be Black/Forde on the east semi and Cuthbert/Suitor on the west semi. Have to assume the same for the east and west finals.
Posted by: Tyler | November 09, 2017 at 10:47 AM
Here is the release. Odd that TSN3 isn't carrying the early game but will carry the late game.
http://www.bellmedia.ca/pr/press/cfl-on-tsn-delivers-complete-coverage-of-the-cfl-playoffs-kicking-off-with-a-doubleheader-this-sunday-november-12/
Posted by: Chad | November 11, 2017 at 08:29 PM