Plenty of drama in the CFL

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This article was published 18/07/2023 (845 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It’s difficult to put into words just how chaotic and exciting Week 6 was in the CFL, and that’s certainly saying something for what’s often referred to as the Crazy Football League.

Just consider that the week’s opening matchup — a 37-29 win for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-3) against the Edmonton Elks (0-6) Thursday night at Commonwealth Stadium — was the least entertaining of the four games, despite combining for 66 points. Indeed, things only got better from there, starting with Friday’s 35-27 triumph by the Toronto Argonauts (4-0) over the Montreal Alouettes (2-3), who made one last-ditch effort to tie the game with a Hail Mary pass, only for the ball to be intercepted in the end zone.

That set up a double-header on Saturday that will surely be talked about for weeks to come, beginning with an epic collapse by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-2), who coughed up a 19-point, fourth-quarter lead to the Ottawa Redblacks (2-3) to fall 31-28 in overtime at TD Place. The weekend wrapped up with another nail-biter, as the Calgary Stampeders (2-3) survived a late surge by the Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-2) to carve out a 33-31 victory at Mosaic Stadium.

As is always the case with the three-down loop, the drama isn’t limited to the field. So, let’s take a deeper dive into the league’s top stories from the week that was in the latest edition of CFL Rundown.

1 Well, we’re finally here. Edmonton lost its 10th straight game and 20th at Commonwealth Stadium, tying the 1906 Boston Americans (Red Sox) for the most consecutive home losses by any North American professional sports team.

 

2 All the post-game talk centred around whether GM/HC/DC Chris Jones would get fired after yet another rough outing. I posed the question to a few people I know from across the league, and I received everything from Jones has to go to save the fan base from further revolting, to firing Jones would only make things worse. As for the man in charge of making such a decision, Elks president Victor Cui said after the game that although he’s always contemplating personnel changes, for good or bad, firing Jones in just the second year or a four-year deal would hamstring the club. Sounds like Jones isn’t going anywhere, at least for now.

 

3 Some eyebrows might have been raised after that last point regarding Jones’ contract and it being a four-year deal rather than four, one-year deals, which has been widely reported, as well as shared in this column. Some league sources have guaranteed that at one point Jones agreed to four separate one-year deals, a unique contract structure that was also discussed with other applicants for the job. Something must have happened since Cui, who was hired after Jones, came on board, but whether it was the CFL who took issue with the style of contract, or Cui, or both, remains unclear.

 

4 The Ticats might have earned their second win of the season, but they still left the game with a massive loss. QB Matthew Shiltz, who was taking over for an injured Bo Levi Mitchell, left the game in the third quarter with a leg injury and has since been added to the six-game injured list. With Mitchell still not close to a return, that leaves backup Taylor Powell, a rookie out of Eastern Michigan, to make his first CFL start this week against the unbeaten Argonauts at home Friday night.

 

5 Speaking of the Argos, it’s the first time they’ve started a season 4-0 since 1983. Toronto finished that year 12-4 and would go on to beat the Lions, 18-17, in the 71st Grey Cup at BC Place.

 

6 I’ve changed my mind about Argos QB Chad Kelly, who seems to be getting better with each week. The first-year starter played admirably against a physical Alouettes defence, completing 84 per cent of his passes (21-of-25) for 351 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. Kelly was particularly good down the stretch in what was a rare tight game for him and the Argos this year, throwing two of his TDs in the final six minutes to earn the win. Toronto has all the tools to repeat as Grey Cup champions.

 

7 I wonder how many frustrated fans left ahead of one of the most improbable, but arguably one of the best comebacks we’ve seen in the CFL in years. Not many people knew who Dustin Crum was before last weekend, but that certainly changed after the Redblacks rookie QB, in what was his first CFL start, scored a pair of rushing TDs to stun the Bombers in extra time. While Winnipeg was left to lick its wounds, Ottawa got a much-needed jolt to its organization. It’s possible Crum is a star in the making, or perhaps a one-game wonder. Either way, he brought some excitement to a fan base that desperately needed something to cheer about after losing starter Jeremiah Masoli to a season-ending Achilles injury the week before.

 

8 Are the Bombers suddenly beatable? Only time will tell, but the fact is they’ve faced more adversity through the first six weeks this season than the two previous years combined. No one has lost faith in the locker room, to be sure, but much like the embarrassing loss to the Lions in Week 3, they’re going to have to prove to their critics they haven’t lost a step. Judging by the number of emails I’ve received, there are no shortage of concerned fans.

 

9 The Bombers were given some good news this week with the announcement that receiver Kenny Lawler has been cleared to play. Lawler missed the first six weeks while waiting to hear from immigration officers about a working visa after he pleaded guilty to a 2021 impaired driving charge in April. Lawler hasn’t been able to practise or attend team meetings, but he was back at IG Field this week and will make his 2023 debut against the Elks Thursday night.

 

10 It’s just been a horrible start to the year for QB injuries. Like Masoli, it was tough to watch Trevor Harris get his leg caught underneath Calgary’s Derek Wiggan. Harris suffered a tibial plateau fracture of his right knee, and although it involves a lengthy recovery after surgery, the Riders aren’t ruling out a comeback. Despite being 37, I wouldn’t count out a return for Harris. This is the first long-term injury of his CFL career and Harris is known for his fitness routine, often talking about how he wants to play into his 40s like former NFL QB Tom Brady.

 

11 With Harris out, the Riders are in a lot of trouble. Even with Harris, a 3-1 record through their first four games felt like a mirage, with two of those victories coming against the Elks. With Mason Fine now behind centre, Saskatchewan looks hard-pressed to finish Top-3 in the West, with a crossover to the East now seemingly its best course to the playoffs. Sound familiar?

 

12 Calgary QB Jake Maier had his best game yet, throwing for 315 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the win over the Riders. Maier was replaced by Tommy Stevens late in a Week 5 loss to the Bombers, so you have to like how he responded in this game. The Stampeders need Maier to be at his best if they have any chance of battling for top spot in the West, and Saturday was the closest we’ve seen the 26-year-old return to the form he had last year when he replaced Mitchell as the go-to guy.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton