The Edmonton Elks now have no chance of making the CFL playoffs, but they still have a good chance to end their questionable home losing skid.
Edmonton (4-12), which has lost a CFL-record 15 straight games at Commonwealth Stadium, welcomes the Toronto Argonauts (9-6) on Saturday.
If the Argos win in Edmonton and Ottawa defeats Montreal at TD Place on Friday, Toronto will clinch first place in the East Division.
Three things, however, are working against Toronto.
First off, Ottawa (4-11) has a home record of 0-7 this year. Toronto’s recent difficulties at Commonwealth are another factor.
Toronto’s last victory there came in 2013, and it has lost its last six games there. The 100th meeting between the Argos and Elks will take place on Saturday. Edmonton currently leads the series 54-44-1 overall and 32-16-1 at home.
Toronto is 3-4 against West Division opponents but 4-3 away from home.
Due to their recent 23-20 victory over the B. C. at home, the Argos should be riding a wave of momentum.
On Saturday, Lions. The host team’s winning margin was provided by quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who completed 27 of 40 passes for 352 yards and a touchdown, including a 37-yard connection to Canadian sophomore Tommy Nield late in the fourth quarter.
Bethel-Thompson is the CFL’s top passer going into this weekend’s games (4,218 yards).
MORE READING 48-11 Blue Bombers rout Elks
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers (14-2) defeated Edmonton 48-11, securing first place in the West Division as a result.
For the Elks, quarterback Taylor Cornelius completed 11 of 24 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown.
Against Edmonton’s 267 total yards, Winnipeg gained 503 total yards. A positive, though, was the Elks finished with 130 yards rushing on 25 carries (5. 2-yard average) but all three Bombers quarterbacks threw touchdown passes, including three from starter Zach Collaros (CFL-high 35 TD strikes).
Since October, Winnipeg is the only team to have three quarterbacks toss touchdown passes in the same game.
26. 2019, when Toronto defeated Ottawa 39-9 to complete the feat.
MORE READING Following his team’s victory on Saturday, Dalton Schoen was voted the CFL’s outstanding performer.
In comparison to Cornelius, Bethel-Thompson has completed 348 of 522 passes this season (66.7%), while Cornelius has connected on 187 of 327. (57. 2 per cent). Given that Toronto averages a league-worst 77.3 yards rushing per game, it is important to take into account that Bethel-Thompson leads the CFL in both throws attempted and completed.
Edmonton’s defence is ranked second against the pass but last overall against the run (116. 5 yards per game) (258. 7 yards per game). The Elks’ offence has turned the ball over 44 times, which is second-most in the league, while Toronto’s defence has forced a CFL-best 41 turnovers.
In their most recent home game, the Elks fell to Montreal 25–18. Tyrice Beverette, an Alouettes defensive back, returned an interception 100 yards for the game-winning touchdown in that game’s fourth quarter.
The Elks committed the first of three late turnovers.
Edmonton undoubtedly has history on its side, but Toronto must win this game if it wants to establish itself as a team that can advance far in the playoffs.
The Toronto Argonauts are aiming for their first victory in Edmonton since the 2013 CFL season.
About Author
