CFL Week 17 Retrospective

This week featured another wild weekend of Canadian Football League action. Here is how the week shook down:

Hamilton 26 at Toronto 17

Unfortunately for the Tiger-Cats, they are not able play the Argos every week because that "free spot on the bingo card" seems to be the only way for the Cats to win these days. Hamilton seemed to have things well under control, as they held a commanding lead at the half, but the Argos chipped away and were able to get within six points before a late drive sealed the victory for the Hammer.

The Argos still look as though they are a team without direction. Reading head coach Bart Andrus' post game comments make one wonder if he'll ever get up to speed with being a CFL head coach (though he was bang on about the puzzling nature of CFL officiating). The Argos have no future at the Quarterback position right now, as neither Kerry Joseph nor Cody Pickett are the answer, and it does not seem as though there is even a succession plan in place for next year.


Edmonton 7 at Calgary 30

The Stampeders laid the boots to the Eskimos, in a lopsided affair on Friday night, to hold their share of first place in the West. The Stamps victory clinched a playoff spot and guaranteed that they will finish no lower than third. This game was never really in doubt and you could tell that things were a lot less TENSE on the Calgary sideline.

On the other sideline Eskimo headman Richie Hall looked like he was gonna barf in the waning moments of this game. Hall's team is falling faster than the autumn leaves and look almost as lost as the Argos. Fortunately for Hall and his team, that free spot on the bingo card is coming up again next week.


Montreal 24 at Winnipeg 41

The Alouettes played without QB Anthony Cavillo for this match and it showed. However, a cause for concern for the Alouettes is suddenly shaky defense which has been torched in consecutive weeks. I am sure head coach Marc Trestman will have his team ready for playoffs but it goes to show that it`s not easy playing for nothing down the stretch.

The Bombers rode the hot hand of QB Michael Bishop whose level of performance swings even wilder than Henry Burris' can (and that is saying something). I am not sure who Michael's alter ego is when things swing bad (like the Hank/Frank combo in Calgary) so we have some work to do in coming up with a monicker for "bad Mike".


British Columbia 30 at Saskatchewan 33

Another week, another wild overtime victory for the Riders, who also maintained their share of first place and guaranteed themselves a playoff position in the West. Darian Durant shook off a terrible throw that was intercepted, and returned for a touchdown, to lead his team down the field to tie the game at 30 (with the two point convert) for the second consecutive week. This time the Riders were able to settle things in extra time and not have to settle for a tie.

What can you say about the Lions other than watch out for these guys in the playoffs. The Lions are playing their best ball right now and Casey Printers' super powers are only evident when he wears orange. Printers' ability to scramble and improvise was the main reason that the Lions were able to stay in the game.

The View from Section 39

What are the odds that there would be overtime in two consecutive weeks? Now consider the odds of the same team playing overtime in consecutive weeks, that the score after regulation time would be the same (30-30) in consecutive weeks and that the same team would have to score a late touchdown, and add the two point convert, to tie the game in consecutive weeks. Crazy!

Fortunately we didn't have controversial officiating in overtime in consecutive weeks.

Mad props to the crowd at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday. The Lions took 4 or 5 procedure calls at the end of the game because of the noise generated by the 31,000 people on hand.

The Lions and Bomber have added two more to the total QB's taking snaps thus far in 2009. Add Casey Printers for BC and Ricky Santos (who took a few snaps at the end of the victory over Montreal) and the total QB's played now stands at 10. Our over under for both teams was 12 in 2009. Barring a catastrophe it looks as though it will be the under.