Winnipeg wants the last game to be boring and injury-free. Calgary would like a 7th win and gets the Blue Bombers at home. McMahon Stadium used to be a tough place for visiting teams, but not lately. Calgary is 3-5 at home so far in 2023.
This is the lone Friday game.
The East Division dominates the Saturday doubleheader. Hamilton finishes up at Molson Stadium in Montréal in the late afternoon. They know their fate, meeting next Saturday for the playoffs in the same stadium. Shouldn't see too many new moves.
The Toronto Argos travel to the nation's capital to finish up with Ottawa opposite Hockey Night in Canada. The Argos are undefeated within the division and the RedBlacks are winless in the division.
BC get an extra week of rest before the playoffs. Saskatchewan has a lot of questions to ask and a search for a new head coach. Edmonton watches its home field turned into a place for the NHL.
TSN
Friday
Winnipeg @ Calgary, 9p
Saturday
Hamilton @ Montréal, 4p
Toronto @ Ottawa, 7p
Bye week: BC, Edmonton, Saskatchewan
The BC Lions have only recently mustered decent playoff momentum since snapping a 20-season streak of making the CFL playoffs. That streak was snapped in 2017.
The current Calgary streak will be at least 18 thanks to a Stampeders win and Saskatchewan loss. Calgary got running back Kadeem Carey going against the Lions. Compelling moment: A 12-play, 109 yard drive after stopping BC on the 1-yard-line at the end of the first half.
Toronto backup quarterback Cameron Dukes launched a comeback drive to give the Argos yet another win. The Roughriders comeback ended in a turnover.
Saskatchewan finished 6-12 for the second year in a row: 6-5 as of Labour Day, 0-7 afterward in both seasons. Jason Maas and Cody Fajardo wore the goat's horns, deserved or not, last season, While some Roughriders fans wanted all 3 to go — Craig Dickenson (head coach), Jeremy O'Day (general manager), and Craig Reynolds (president/CEO) — only Dickenson won't come back. Dickenson was at the end of his contract; O'Day got a new contract. Offensive linemen, a game plan using running backs a lot more often: this would help.
The 2019 and 2021 Saskatchewan squads reached the West final, losing to Winnipeg both times. Paradise compared to the last 2 years.
The announcers have pointed out that the Stampeders have played well but haven't caught too many breaks. The July 15 win over Saskatchewan in Regina by a 33-31 score came after they gave up a late TD pass to Tevin Jones because some Calgary defenders made a play for an interception. Imagine where this playoff race would be if the Roughriders held on to that lead.
Saskatchewan caught a break with Edmonton's CJ Sims didn't run out the kickoff after the Roughriders tied the game at 11-11 very late in the game. Dustin Nielson and Glen Suitor never pointed out Sims unsportsmanlike penalty in that moment.
2023 CFL Week 20 preview
AJ Ouellette made it to 1,000 yards rushing for Toronto. Nic Demski made it to 1,000 yards receiving, making Demski and Brady Oliveira (Winnipeg) the first Canadian combo on a team to do 1,000 in each category. Demski, Oliveira, and some guy named Andrew Harris all came from Oak Park High School in Winnipeg.
There haven't been all that many Canadians who have rushed for 1,000 yards in a season. We don't have an exact number but 2-3 hands worth.
BC Lions defensive end Mathieu Betts got 18 sacks, setting a new record for a single season among Canadian players. Brent Johnson had 17 in 2005 for BC.
Vernon Adams Jr. didn't make it to 5,000 yards passing. A very impressive season for the BC Lions quarterback.
Edmonton wide receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux has at least a reception in 146 consecutive games, dating back to July 4, 2010.
2023 CFL Week 19 preview
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Classic Doug 😆👊 @DougFlutie pic.twitter.com/tPfvwKqpuq
— CFL (@CFL) October 21, 2023
I knew the quote from somewhere. Matt Dunigan drags it out every so often.
Farhan Lalji and Duane Forde with Blake Price got to work in Vancouver Friday night for the BC Lions final home regular season game.
Rod Smith and Glen Suitor could have uttered that phrase in Regina on Saturday afternoon with Brit Dort saying the phrase to herself instead of into a microphone. They should have had a recording of Dunigan saying that phrase played at opportune moments for Saskatchewan.
Dustin Nielson and Matt Dunigan with John Lu got to spend their final 2023 regular season date in Winnipeg.
Jim Barker and Paul LaPolice hung on both days on the CFL on TSN panel. Dave Naylor filled in for Davis Sanchez on Saturday. Kate Beirness was the one constant.
logo credit: CFL
photo credit: TSN/CFL
Twitter capture: @CFL
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