Welcome to Canada Day weekend with a truly long weekend culminating in the Canada Day game on Monday.
The ESPN2 love runs early in the weekend with undefeated teams as Edmonton is in Winnipeg on Thursday Night Football. The channel also travels to Hamilton Friday night with Montréal in town.
Mike Reilly and the struggling BC Lions go to Calgary with Bo Levi Mitchell on Saturday night.
The Canada Day game has the anemic Toronto Argonauts in Regina.
The Ottawa RedBlacks can enjoy the Canada Day festivities in the nation's capital.
ESPN2
Thursday
Edmonton @ Winnipeg, 8:30p
Friday
Montréal @ Hamilton, 7:30p
TSN
Thursday
Edmonton @ Winnipeg, 8:30p
Friday
Montréal @ Hamilton, 7:30p
Saturday
BC @ Calgary, 7p
Monday
Toronto @ Saskatchewan, 7p
Bye week: Ottawa
Ricky Ray quietly accumulated the 4th largest passing total in CFL history. Ray won 4 Grey Cups with 2 different teams in what felt like unique eras in a 16-year career. The Toronto Argos had a nice pre-game ceremony before the Saturday afternoon tilt at BMO Field.
The opening day crowd of 16,734 at BMO was an improvement for home openers. Having Hamilton in the game, Arkells next door after the game, beautiful afternoon, Derel Walker bobblehead, and Ricky Ray retirement — all of that helped.
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Saskatchewan scored 41 points with its backup quarterback and still lost. An 0-2 start isn't fun but the Roughriders have some consolation. Saskatchewan hasn't played the West or been at home. They lost on the road to the (seemingly) 2 best teams in the East.
That said, if the Roughriders end up as the crossover team, they will have to learn to win in places such as Hamilton and Ottawa.
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The CFL was clear that quarterbacks need to be protected, bringing us an extra official to look for that. There is an eye in the sky official to look for possible infractions. So why did the BC Lions have to use their challenge twice for clear infractions against QB Mike Reilly?
The first challenge was successful allowing the Lions to get a second challenge. The whole point was that the league would catch those moments so challenge flags wouldn't be needed. The eye in the sky finally came through with about 5 minutes left in the game.
Mark this down as a fail for the league and quarterback health.
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Even when the BC Lions had a 17-3 lead on Edmonton, the team had a touchdown but 4 FGs. Edmonton ended up with 3 touchdowns and a 16-point win. When you get opportunities, field goals aren't enough. Then again, the player of the game was the Esks defence with 7 QB sacks on former Edmonton QB Mike Reilly. The Lions were held to 41 passing yards in the final 3 quarters.
Reilly's homecoming looked so sad at the end. Chris Cuthbert and Glen Suitor sounded sad as Reilly kept going out there.
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The CFL has 3 teams that have surrendered more points than Toronto's 64 after one game (0-1). Those teams did this in 2 games, including Saskatchewan (0-2) with 67 and BC (0-2) with 72. Ottawa (2-0) is undefeated yet has given up 69 points. Saskatchewan is only a -9 while Ottawa is a +7. Toronto is -50.
CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage
Seems like the Montréal Alouettes have 5-6 quarterbacks every year. Antonio Pipkin got injured 2 weeks ago in Edmonton. Montréal had the week off and will go with Vernon Adams Jr. and newly signed Brandon Bridge. Bridge was released by Toronto in camp. We knew some team would grab Bridge, the most prominent Canadian quarterback in the CFL.
The Roughriders had their chance to bring Bridge back but went elsewhere.
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Chris Cuthbert and Glen Suitor stayed east in Ottawa on Thursday and Toronto on Saturday. Suitor's music tastes are more country but maybe he caught the Arkells. Rod Black and Duane Forde were in Edmonton.
Kate Beirness made her 2019 debut hosting the panel on Thursday Night Football.
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