CFL.ca
Every week of the 2016 season, CFL.ca columnists Pat Steinberg and Marshall Ferguson debate over one of the league’s most contentious storylines. With the Division Finals set to kick off, we ask: who’s under the most pressure to win a Grey Cup?
Two more weeks and four more teams but three of them will walk away disappointed.
The Grey Cup is close to being handed out as the Eskimos, REDBLACKS, Lions and Stampeders vie for the CFL’s most prestigious honour. But as the stakes only grow bigger, who’s under the most pressure to come through?
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Conventional wisdom says Calgary needs to win and win now. The Stampeders have a bright future ahead of them and will get many more opportunities, but to follow one of the greatest regular seasons in league history with anything less than a Grey Cup would be disappointing in the least.
That’s something both Marshall Ferguson and Pat Steinberg can agree on, but who else is facing the post-season pressure?
The Lions have a well-balanced team with an exciting young pivot in Jonathon Jennings, but how long will Wally Buono’s window remain open?
In the nation’s capital, meanwhile, the REDBLACKS are building up hype with two straight East Division Championships. They won’t want to come away empty-handed yet again either.
Which team is under the most pressure to win now? Pat Steinberg and Marshall Ferguson debate.
| BERG VS. FERG: LAST WEEK’S RESULTS |
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CFL.ca |
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TOTAL |
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Steinberg – 1,052 (69%) Ferguson – 483 (31%) |
Steinberg – 230 (64%) Ferguson – 130 (36%) |
Steinberg – 1,282 (68%) Ferguson – 613 (32%) |
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BERG (8-9): IT’S TIME FOR OTTAWA TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP
Pat Steinberg, CFL.ca
@Fan960Steinberg
As the Ottawa REDBLACKS get set for a second consecutive appearance in the Eastern Final, they’ve got pressure coming at them from a few different angles. As the defending East Division Champions, the REDBLACKS have the weight of expectation on their shoulders while they also try to avoid a very dubious mark. For that reason, I don’t think there’s an individual or group with more pressure on them than the REDBLACKS this weekend.
Ottawa put together a dream sophomore campaign in 2015 and more than deserved the birth in the Grey Cup. The REDBLACKS have a loyal and rabid fan base expecting them to back in the big game one year later and are looking for a slightly different result. Expectations like that can be tough to deal with at the best of times, but knowing how 2016 has gone, the pressure is on even more.
Ottawa endured a rather frustrating, up and down season and ended up winning the East Division with an 8-9-1 record. The REDBLACKS showed flashes of some really good football this season, but never were able to put things together on a consistent basis. Still, though, Ottawa won a first round playoff bye and has a chance to help erase a pretty lackluster regular season with a single playoff win. While it’s a nice spot to be in, it also adds inherent pressure, specifically when coupled with high expectations.
Oh, and let’s not forget how much the REDBLACKS want to avoid being a footnote in history. A loss to the Edmonton Eskimos on Sunday would be the first time ever a crossover playoff team has advanced to a Grey Cup. I’m not necessarily saying trying to avoid the dubious distinction of being on the losing end of history is at the front of mind for Ottawa, but I also don’t think it’s irrelevant.
So many things come together to put the pressure on the REDBLACKS heading into this weekend. They had such high expectations heading into the season and, despite a frustrating regular season, they still have a chance to play for a Grey Cup. They’ll be playing in front of a sold out crowd at TD Place and they’re trying to avoid being a part of history.
The pressure is on for everyone this weekend, but yeah, I think it’s on most in our nation’s capital.
FERG (9-8): A TIGHT WINDOW FOR WALLY?
Marshall Ferguson, CFL.ca
@TSN_Marsh
Wally Buono has been there. He has seen that. He has accomplished everything you could imagine as a CFL bench boss. Wally has climbed the mountaintop, told the mountain about it and climbed down safely all with his lip bitten and no headset in sight.
However, Wally’s world hasn’t included a Grey Cup Championship as a head coach since 2011 and tomorrow is never guaranteed. The primary reason I believe Buono is under more pressure to win than anyone else is the BC Lions’ timeline.
The Lions are a talented young team with an emerging franchise quarterback in Johnathon Jennings and an aggressive pair of linebackers riding the pinnacle of their CFL careers in Solomon Elimimian and Adam Bighill.
The other reason Buono and the Lions are under greater pressure than anyone else is their immediate competition. Anything less than a championship would be a failure to the Calgary Stampeders and their fans based on the incredible regular season they put together, but Wally needs to raise the Grey Cup before Calgary gets on a roll.
If Bo Levi Mitchell extends in Calgary and Dave Dickenson enjoys the run of success I think many of us in the predict, wait and watch industry are expecting then Wally needs to win now.
If there is one hint of hope for Lions fans that this pressure could equal success over the next two weeks perhaps it rests in superstition and numbers. After Buono’s first Grey Cup with the Lions in 2006, he didn’t win another until 2011 — a five-year gap.
Whether he’s due or not the pressure is on and throughout Wally’s career he has coached his best in moments of need.
It’s time for the East Division to show some pride in playing at home and stake claim to what is theirs. I believe it would be remarkably disappointing for a member of the East Division to watch a Western team raise the East Division trophy on Nov. 20.
DON’T SIT ON THE FENCE!
While both sides are pretty convincing, someone’s got to take it. Whose argument convinced you the most?
You can vote for this week’s winner both on CFL.ca and Twitter. Meanwhile, continue the conversation by tweeting @Fan960Steinberg and @TSN_Marsh.
The winner will be revealed in the following week’s Berg vs. Ferg.
