CFL Update For Late October

   

Admittedly, I fell behind again in covering the CFL (as well as the NFL). Haven't given an update in quite a long time.

However, this was the final week of regular season play. Next weekend, the playoffs begin, and it felt like it was time to get back on track on my end.

So here goes my attempt now to fix that: 

The Edmonton Elks won their final game of this season with something apparently known as a Walk Off Rouge. It was a Canadian football term which I admittedly was unfamiliar with, prior to seeing this story yesterday. 

However, that is not enough to get them to qualify for the CFL playoffs. It allowed them to finish this season 7-11. The only team in the West which they finished ahead of were the Calgary Stampeders, who saw their season spiral out of control. They seemed to be a perennial playoff team in recent seasons, but after finishing this season with a dismal 5-12-1 record, they had long ago been eliminated from postseason contention. However, they were able to both snap a four game losing streak, as well as earn their first (and only) road win of this season yesterday by beating the Roughriiders in Regina last night. However, that was not enough to save them from the indignity of finishing with the worst overall record in the CFL this season.

Indeed, the top team in the West was a familiar face. After a dismal start to the season, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers recovered nicely. In fact, their recovery was enough to earn the top seed in the West with an 11-7 record, so they will enjoy a bye and watch the second place Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-8-1) host the third place British Columbia Lions (9-9). 

In the East, first place belonged to the defending champion Montréal Alouettes finished with a 12-5-1 record. So they will await the winner of the first game next weekend, when the second place Toronto Argonauts (10-8) host the third place Ottawa Redblacks, who finished this season 9-8-1 after defeating the last place (in the East) Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who finished the season at 7-11.

So there we go. Now, this 2024 CFL regular season is over, and the playoffs will commence next weekend. Should be interesting to see who comes out on top there.

Meanwhile, it seemed appropriate to add a video of the highlights of the game between the Toronto Argos and the Edmonton Elks, which ended in the aforementioned Walk Off Rouge (which can be seen at about 11:54 or so).

Enjoy!

CFL WEEK 21: Toronto Argonauts vs. Edmonton Elks FULL HIGHLIGHTS

Here's how the 2024 CFL playoffs are shaping up by Darrell Davis  Oct 22, 2024:

With one week left in the CFL regular season, six teams are ready to start along the road to the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver  

https://leaderpost.com/sports/football/cfl/heres-how-the-2024-cfl-playoffs-are-shaping-up

CFL game ends in hilarious only-in-the-CFL way by Colton Pankiw | Oct 26 2024:

https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/cfl-game-elks-argos-rouge-win#google_vignette