CFL Playoff Games -- November 23, 2014

[SammyGreene]

SCHULTZ VS. THE WORLD: WEEK 8 PREDICTIONS IN THE CFL

CHRIS SCHULTZ

8/10/2014 2:50:41 PM

TSN football analyst Chris Schultz is back with his Week 8 selections in the CFL. The Big Man finished 3-1 in Week 7, and sits at 14-14 on the season in Schultz vs. The World. Now Schultz is ready for more action, including an upset prediction in the Hamilton-Calgary game.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Toronto Argonauts

Huge preparation advantage with Toronto. Coming off the bye week their last game was on August 1, a 31-5 win in Montreal. They had 11 days to get ready for this one. For Winnipeg, it's the exact opposite. They played this past Thursday and now play again on Tuesday. Basically they have four days to get ready for the "oddball" Tuesday night game. Drew Willy threw three interceptions and fumbled once for points against Saskatchewan. He will accept, learn and rebound. But coming off such a short week, will all the other players on offence and defence do the same? If Toronto is ever going to take advantage of circumstances, this is the game. Argos over the Bombers in Toronto.

Edmonton Eskimos at Ottawa Redblacks

The Eskimos are staying in the East to get ready and it should mean very little as they are just a more individually talented team. It is the top defence against the ninth-best offence and even though back home the Redblacks should play a better game, a 27-11 duplication of the first meeting on July 11 is a genuine possibility. One team is processing, learning, evaluating and figuring out what they have and how to use it. The other is in position to have a great year and everything that goes with it. Edmonton over Ottawa.

Calgary at Hamilton

In Week 2 Hamilton lost to Edmonton by four points in a game they could have won. In Week 4 Hamilton lost in Calgary by three in a game they could have won. In Week 6 Hamilton lost to Winnipeg by one in a game they could have won. And, last week Hamilton lost in BC in again a game they could have won. When does it end, this run of "could have won"? This could be a little bit of a trap game for the Stampeders. They beat Ottawa last week and are now going east for two games, at Hamilton then in Ottawa again, before a truly critical home-and-away against Edmonton. Dan LeFevour was a short yardage quarterback, then a running quarterback, but against BC he had moments where he looked like a complete quarterback. Am I calling trap game for Calgary with Hamilton getting win number two? Yes I am. Hamilton over Calgary by three.

Montreal at Saskatchewan

Back home again and it may make a difference for the Riders in a positive way. On the road again and it may make a difference for the Alouettes in a negative way. Which running back George Cortez starts will be interesting to see. If they go with Jerome Messam it allows for ratio manipulation somewhere else and where exactly will also be interesting to see. Troy Smith was a 44 per cent completion quarterback at home against a good Eskimo defence. He will probably have another 44 completion performance against another good defence in Saskatchewan on the road. That is not enough. In watching video, Montreal will play better run-defence than the 191 they allowed against Edmonton. But you know Saskatchewan will test the defensive front seven of Montreal anyway. I'll take the Riders over the Alouettes.

Ugh another East versus West week where the domination could continue. Hamilton might actually be the best team with a 1-5 record but at least competitive every game. Expecting easy wins for Riders and Eskimos with Ti-Cats having a decent shot at pulling off the upset if their defence can play better. Find out a lot where the Argos season is going with home games against Winnipeg and BC within 6 days.

[WestCoastJoe]

The Lions are the walking wounded. But so are the Argonauts. And they have a short week.

Without Harris? Ouch.

I would expect us to win. But pretty much any result is possible.

We have veteran leadership and determination. E Taylor. Bighill. Solo. Glenn. But we also play good/bad, back and forth. We are brain dead on STs vs trick plays.

We need to keep on winning. Every game is a test of Benny's leadersip at this point. In the privacy of his own thoughts, Wally must be weighing Benny's performance/results, and perhaps wondering if Benny is ever going to be able to bring home a Grey Cup win.

[B.C.FAN]

Every game is a test of Benny's leadersip at this point. In the privacy of his own thoughts, Wally must be weighing Benny's performance/results, and perhaps wondering if Benny is ever going to be able to bring home a Grey Cup win.

On Team 1040 today wih Sekeres, Wally said Benevides has really come into his own this year as a coach and Wally is learning to back off. He said games are stressful but during the week he does not get involved and doesn't worry about coaching matters. He does not want to coach again.

[TheLionKing]

Argos scored with 3 seconds remaining in the 2nd quarter to take a 21-14 lead into the half.

[TheLionKing]

38-21 final score in favour of the Argos. Marks the 3rd win by an eastern team. Argo defence held Drew Willy and company in check.

[WestCoastJoe]

Passing CP/AT YDS TD INT
R. RAY 26/33 297 4 0

Receiving Rec YDS TD LG
R. GILL 6 50 0 14
M. BRADWELL 4 41 0 18
S. SLATON 4 40 0 17
S. WATT 3 56 1 33
M. MANN 3 36 1 15
C. STEELE 2 27 1 15
A. DUPUIS 1 17 0 17
T. SINKFIELD 1 15 0 15
D. ADAMS 1 9 0 9
Z. ROBINSON 1 6 1 6

Rushing ATT YDS TD LG
C. STEELE 10 92 1 19
S. SLATON 9 66 0 26
M. GALE 4 10 0 6
A. WOODSON 2 6 0 5

Fumbles NO LST REC YDS
S. SLATON 2 2 0 0
C. LAING 0 0 1 0

Field Goals FG LG XP PTS
S. WATERS 1/1 18 5/5 8

Punting NO AVG NET LG
S. WATERS 7 45.7 201 60

Punt Returns NO YDS AVG LG TD
M. BRADWELL 7 38 5.4 11 0

Kickoffs NO YDS LG SG
S. WATERS 6 398 73 0

Kick Returns NO YDS AVG LG TD
R. GILL 4 94 23.5 39 0

Defence TKL SK INT FF
D. ANDERSON 8 2 0 0
J. CARTER 6 0 0 0
S. EMRY 6 0 0 0
J. GABRIEL 3 0 0 0
T. OKPALAUGO 2 1 0 0
S. HORTON 2 0 0 0
B. SMITH 2 0 0 0
B. UNDERWOOD 2 0 0 0
A. WHITESIDE 1 1 0 1
C. LAING 1 1 0 0
N. ROSAMONDA 1 0 0 0
C. VAN ZEYL 1 0 0 0
L. HARRELL 1 0 0 0
T. SINKFIELD 1 0 0 0

Passing game with Ricky Ray outstanding.

Running game very good.

Five sacks.

It looks like Milanovich is settling in with his new coaches.

[sj-roc]

Only 18,106 announced attendance on hand to watch the Argos do us a favour and keep the western standings tight by handing the Bombers a loss. On the plus side, this was their largest crowd thus far in 2014. Perhaps being their first home game in precisely a month (since Jul 12) might have helped.

Now it's the Argos turn to play on five days rest as we visit on Sun Aug 17. Hopefully the better-rested team will once again prevail.

Then the wonky Argo schedule continues with seven weeks before their next home game on Oct 4 — going road-road-bye; road-road-bye in between — in what will be the first of four consecutive home games in as many weeks (has this ever even happened before?). Only then do they get something resembling normality as they close the season with a road game and then finally a home date.

[Bosco]

The Argos will always be on the short end of the schedule stick as long as they remain in the Rogers Centre. The good news for their fans (and all of the CFL) is that they they'll be out of that mausoleum in another 3 years. Until then, the terrible schedule (and crowds) are destined to continue.

[B.C.FAN]

Ricky Ray is the best passer in the league. He doesn't need a lot of time or a lot of receiving talent to pick defences apart, and he uses hitch screens and checkdowns to attack defences at the edges, where the Lions have been most vulnerable.The Lions will likely have new players at four positions in the secondary on Sunday: Ronnie Yell replacing Dante Marsh at boundary corner, T.J. Lee (or Keynan Parker) replacing Yell at field corner, Torri Williams replacing Josh Johnson at nickelback and John Hardy-Tuliau replacing Williams at dime back. Ray will be licking his chops. He could iht an 80% completion rate against that secondary.

[TheLionKing]

Hardly an offensive explosion tonight in the Nation's capital. RedBlacks leading the Eskies 8-4

[B.C.FAN]

Hardly an offensive explosion tonight in the Nation's capital. RedBlacks leading the Eskies 8-4

It should have been 20-4 at the half. Those missed opportunities could come back to bite Ottawa.

[TheLionKing]

Ottawa defence keeping them in the game. Forced 3 turnovers. RedBlacks hanging on to a 8-7 lead heading into the final quarter.

[B.C.FAN]

Four turnovers now as the Esks come up short on third and 1 at the Ottawa 21. Ottawa has led the whole way.

[sj-roc]

When was the last CFL game to not have a TD by either team?

[B.C.FAN]

A late Ottawa turnover in scoring position turns out to be the turning point as Edkonton drives the field and kicks a last-minute field goal for a 10-8 win. Ottawa needs better receivers.