Tuesday Morning QB (CFL Week 14)
The CFL season is quickly coming to a close as the last month of the season is almost here meaning that the playoff race is only getting better.
The league heads towards November football teams are looking to clinch their spot and their chance at the Grey Cup in Toronto.
This playoff race is looking like a more interesting one as the crossover could come into play with the West looking strong this year.
The east is once again lagging behind but a few teams trying to make a push right at the end of the year in order to head into the playoffs with some momentum.
Nobody really knows who will get in and where they will be when they do get into the playoffs as the fight continues for playoff spots and positioning.
There is one thing that is known though and that is that the rest of the league will be chasing the Calgary Stampeders.
They are the only team to have clinched their spot in the playoffs so far as they continue one of their strongest seasons yet.
The Stamps have not been a team talked about too much this year but it is mainly because they are boring.
The fact is that they are a team that is expected to be good and so far this year they have matched the expectations.
They haven’t done it in a flashy way or with surprising new talent they simply are the team that they were expected to be.
They haven’t faltered or started a new run, they have simply been the best team from the start of the year to the end.
It didn’t start without controversy though as the Stamps were looking at a change on the sidelines.
Long-time coach John Hufnagel was set to retire as the head coach but remain as the GM while offensive coordinator Dave Dickenson was set to take over the head coaching duties.
Some wondered what, if anything, might change with the new head coach and if Dickenson could continue the success of the Stamps into this new era.
Turns out that wasn’t much of a problem as Calgary did stumble out of the blocks losing to BC in Week 1 and tying the REDBLACKS in Week3 but they figured things out quickly.
Since that tie the Stamps have won 10 games in a row and in many didn’t even make it a competition.
They have risen right to the top of the league and are clearly the best team in the league right now.
They have taken out every challenger that has come along and as the season closes all that is left for them to do is to clinch the west which is sure to be done soon the way they are playing.
The biggest question now is who can catch the Stamps and actually give them a run for their money.
The level that the Stamps are playing at right now it seems like they are on a straight path to the Grey Cup.
They still have to keep up their performance throughout the playoffs but if they are as good as they have been this regular season it is going to be hard for anyone to beat them.
The way that the league is panning out this year it seems like there won’t be anyone left to truly challenge them.
They have beat everyone in the west pretty easily and the west is the best division in the league.
The east is not looking great right now as every team is struggling heading into the playoffs and to have a chance against the Stamps seems unlikely.
Calgary looks like a serious favourite for the Grey Cup with very few other teams seeming like they can win the Grey Cup.
The rest of the season will be a pursuit of the Stamps as teams look to get their spots in the playoffs and make a run at the Grey Cup all with the hopes that they can figure it out before they have to take on the Stamps.
Fourth Down:
(More news this week in the CFL)
A Tragic Loss
In a devastating sports week with massive losses the CFL was not immune as Calgary linebacker Mylan Hicks was shot and killed after the Stampeders game outside of a bar in what was reportedly a bar fight taken outside
Sideline Replacement
The Montreal Alouettes continue to struggle through the season and finally they made a necessary change as Jim Popp has stepped down as head coach with Jacques Chapdelaine will take over on an interim basis
New Star Sidelined
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats made a big splash in the off-season when they signed former Argonaut star receiver Chad Owens and although he hasn’t been the star they expected he is still a big part of the offence until he hit the 6-game injury list this week
Week 14:
Ottawa REDBLACKS 29-12 Toronto Argonauts
– The Argonauts were hoping that their new quarterback could step up again but Dan LeFevour couldn’t come through as the Argos went with Drew Willy who led a comeback but couldn’t complete it as they took another loss
Edmonton Eskimos 27-23 BC Lions
– The Esks are not the same team they were a year ago but they made a statement in this week as they beat the Lions who have been one of the better teams this year as the Eskimos continue to pursue the Stamps
Calgary Stampeders 36-34 Winnipeg Blue Bombers
– For the Bombers, this was a true test as they were riding the best winning streak in years for Winnipeg but they hadn’t played anyone to the level of the Stamps who proved that they were the best team winning their tenth straight game
Saskatchewan Roughriders 20-18 Hamilton Tiger-Cats
– The Ti-Cats were looking to finally take control in the east and begin pursuing the division crown but they couldn’t take the win as the Riders got the win as they try to finish off the season strong
Week 15:
Edmonton Eskimos vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (Friday, September 30th; 8:30 pm ET)
– The Esks will once again try to find their way back to the top of the division after struggling with consistency while the Bombers get another test against a good team where they will see if they can compete
Calgary Stampeders vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (Saturday, October 1st; 4:00 pm ET)
– The Stamps are on a massive win streak while inconsistency has hurt the Ti-Cats all year in a match-up that looks to be very one-sided but also could be a Grey Cup preview with both teams having a good shot of taking their divisions
Ottawa REDBLACKS vs. BC Lions (Saturday, October 1st; 10:00 pm ET)
– The Lions and the REDBLACKS have been two of the most surprising teams this year and both are looking for their chance to get closer to the playoffs as the REDBLACKS try to stay on top of the east and the Lions look to keep pace with the Stamps
Toronto Argonauts vs. Montreal Alouettes (Sunday, October 2nd; 1:00 pm ET)
– The Argonauts are having a tough go but they will hope that Drew Willy can change their season as the playoffs approach and they head into Montreal as the Als try to start the Chapdelaine era with a win
The Sport Addiction 