2022 CFL Preview of the 109th Grey Cup: Can Toronto Deny Winnipeg Three-Peat?

 

Grey Cup/Coupe Grey

Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Toronto Argonauts

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers sure appear to be a dynasty. They have won the previous two Grey Cups - both against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats - and are now seeking their third straight title. They are attempting to be the first three-peat champions since Edmonton back in the early eighties.

Usually, when a team starts to win so much that they seem to dominate an entire league, things begin to fall apart. Maybe that team begins to feel overly satisfied and not as hungry, or other teams in the league begin to pick at their talent, they study what makes the team so damn successful to begin with, and find effective ways to counter it. That is why dynasties are so rare.

But these Winnipeg Blue Bombers appear to be at least as dominant - and probably more dominant - than either of their previous two championships. They stormed out to an impressive 9-0 start, and kept the league's best record all season, and by some margin (they were three games ahead of their next closest competitor, the 12-6 B.C. Lions). This season, the Blue Bombers have the CFL's best defence, as well as the league's most explosive offence. They are well-coached and seem just well-rounded. There is a reason why they keep on winning, after all.

Meanwhile, Toronto has been getting better every season in recent years. They went from 4-14 in 2012, to 9-5 and hosting the Easter Final last season, to 11-7 this season and this time outright winning the East. Their defence is quite solid, ranked third in the league, although they actually ranked in the bottom half on overall offence. My guess is that they should feel really happy to be here, to have reached this far this season.

However, Winnipeg just looks and feels like the far more complete team. In their one and only head-to-head meeting, Winnipeg beat the Argonauts in a close game, 23-22, in early July, on the road in Toronto. My guess is that this game might wind up being tight as well, but that the Blue Bombers just have so much talent and experience, that they will likely find the answers no matter what. Hard to pick anything but another Winnipeg championship at this point. 

My pick: Winnipeg Blue Bombers