CFL Game Notes: A look at Week 21
Friday Night Football will see the REDBLACKS’ 2019 season draw to a close in the nation’s capital. Ottawa will attempt to end the year on a positive note in the 7 p.m. ET matchup, while the visiting Alouettes are hoping to build momentum ahead of a Semi-Final date against the crossover Eskimos on November 10. Montreal is coming off a 38-26 setback against the East Division-leading Tiger-Cats which continued a trend of inconsistency across the second half of the season – the team has alternated wins and losses every week since Mark’s Labour Day Weekend. The two sides have split the season series with Montreal winning 36-19 in Week 5 and Ottawa capturing a 30-27 overtime victory in Week 8.
The race for the West Division will come down to the season’s final day. The 4 p.m. ET opener of the tripleheader will see Edmonton travel to Mosaic Stadium for the second half of a home-and-home series. Saskatchewan opened the set with a hard-fought, walk-off 27-24 victory last week which moved the team into first in the West Division – a win or tie this week will cement the team’s place in the standings. The Roughriders are winners of five of their past six and are 7-1 at home this season. The Eskimos are in search of their fourth road win of the year before they head east for Semi-Final Sunday in Montreal.
Hamilton will close out a historic regular season with a primetime matchup against Toronto. The Tiger-Cats are looking to add another victory to their franchise-best 14 wins, while also hoping to finish with a 9-0 mark at Tim Hortons Field. No East Division team has compiled a perfect home record or reached the 30-point plateau since the 2009 edition of the Alouettes managed both feats with a 15-3 record. The visiting Argonauts came away with a decisive 39-9 win over Ottawa in Week 19. Toronto will need to claim its second road victory of the year in order to avoid a season series sweep at the hands of its provincial rivals.
Regardless of the outcome in Saskatchewan, much remains to be decided by the 2019 campaign’s final regular-season game when the Lions play host to Calgary. With at least one point, the Stampeders can clinch a home playoff date prior to McMahon Stadium serving as the backdrop for the 107th Grey Cup presented by Shaw. A loss would shift the scene of the Western Semi-Final to Winnipeg where the Blue Bombers lie in wait while on a bye week. The Lions have three home victories this season but have yet to register a win against a West Division foe. Calgary can sweep the season series after emerging with a 36-32 decision when the teams last met in Week 3. Kickoff is set for 10 p.m. ET.
107TH GREY CUP PLAYOFF SCENARIOS
Saskatchewan Win or Tie AND Calgary Win or Tie
- Saskatchewan clinches first and will host the Western Final
- Calgary will host Winnipeg in the Western Semi-Final
Saskatchewan Loss AND Calgary Win or Tie
- Calgary clinches first and will host the Western Final
- Saskatchewan will host Winnipeg in the Western Semi-Final
Calgary Loss
- Saskatchewan clinches first and will host the Western Final
- Winnipeg will host Calgary in the Western Semi-Final
Playoff picture
- Calgary clinched its 15th consecutive playoff appearance in Week 15.
- Winnipeg secured its fourth straight spot in the post-season in Week 15.
- Montreal earned its first playoff spot since 2014 in Week 17 and claimed Eastern Semi-Final hosting duties in Week 18.
- After reserving the right to host a home playoff date for a second-year-in-a-row in Week 15, Hamilton secured home field for the Eastern Final in Week 18.
- Edmonton clinched a playoff berth as the crossover team in Week 18 and will head to the post-season for the fifth time in six seasons.
- After claiming a post-season berth for the third consecutive year in Week 16, Saskatchewan secured a home playoff date in Week 20.
