Jason Halstead/CFL.ca
The CFL playoff landscape has been a moving target all season, but it took its most significant turn in Week 15. All four games this weekend made a big time impact on the post-season picture, and we had some crazy finishes to make things even more interesting.
We’ll start in the West Division, where things have been turned upside down. As the Calgary Stampeders sat idly from their first place perch, they saw their provincial rivals lose in Ottawa, which opened the door for rest of the division. All three of Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, and BC obliged.
The Bombers started the week off on Friday night with a desperately needed 31-14 win over Montreal. Knowing how the rest of the week would go, I’m not sure if Winnipeg would have been able to survive a fifth consecutive loss. But Matt Nichols had a huge bounce back game and the Bombers snapped their losing skid to keep themselves within a half game of a playoff spot.
But it was the final two games of Saturday’s tripleheader that really punctuated week 15. Thanks to Brett Lauther’s field goal with 80 seconds remaining, the Riders dodged a bullet and prevailed 30-29 over Toronto. As a result, Sask sits all alone in second place in the West with an opportunity to really solidify their spot over the next two weeks.
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The Roughriders have a winnable game in Montreal on Sunday before a crucial showdown with the Eskimos the following week in Regina. A win in both games may or may not put pressure on the Stamps for first place, but would certainly give Saskatchewan a vice grip on second place. Winning the next to games would ensure a two game cushion for the Riders with just three games remaining.
Not to be outdone, the Lions finished off the weekend with the most thrilling victory of them all. Down by eight, BC marched 75 yards with 33 seconds left on the clock and forced overtime. The Lions would eventually prevail 35-32 over Hamilton, winning a third straight game in the process.
Don’t look now, but the Lions have moved within a game of Edmonton for third place and look to be hitting their stride. Jonathon Jennings has been strong in two games since replacing the injured Travis Lulay and he has some real weapons offensively in Bryan Burnham, Ricky Collins, Shaq Johnson, and newcomer DeVier Posey.
I won’t lie; the battle between BC and Edmonton looks like a dead heat down the stretch. The best news is they have one more head-to-head battle to decide the season series. After splitting their first two games, the Esks and Lions meet in Week 17 in a game that could very well decide who ends up playing in the Western Semi-Final.
Things are in flux in the East Division, too, albeit with a little less to decide. With the crossover almost certainly coming into play for a third straight season, it comes down to seeding between Ottawa and Hamilton. The former was victorious in Week 15, while the latter lost a heartbreaker at BC Place.
Because of what we saw on Saturday, the REDBLACKS are very much in the driver’s seat going down the stretch; at 8-5 they hold a two game edge on 6-7 Hamilton. However, there’s one caveat to that conversation, and it’s going to rear its head very soon.
The two teams will meet in a season-defining home-and-home set in Weeks 19 and 20. Due to their high ground, and a 21-15 win back in Week 6, Ottawa controls their own destiny.
A win in either of those games virtually ensures the REDBLACKS top spot in the East, which is a nice spot to be in. But for the Ticats, a win over BC this Saturday and, later in the season, a couple of wins over Ottawa changes things in a dramatic fashion.
There’s no question things swung in a big way in Week 15; in fact, I’d go as far to say it might be the defining week of the 2018 season. However, with six weeks of regular season action let, we might be in store for a few challengers to that title.
Far too soon
The news of Mike Labinjo’s death over the weekend has the football world mourning, north and south of the border. Labinjo was a true star in both countries and has left a legacy as much on the field as off it.
Being based in Calgary allowed me to get to know Mike upon his arrival in 2007. I’ll certainly remember plenty of what the guy did on the field, because he was an absolute beast. But the first thing that came to my mind was how much of a difference he made in the community.
It didn’t take long for Mike to partner up with Big Brothers Big Sisters in this city, joining former Stamps quarterback Henry Burris in championing the cause. Mike spoke openly about how crucial mentorship was as a former Little Brother himself and wasn’t shy to use his struggles growing up to inspire others.
Perseverance is the first word that comes to mind when I think of Mike. He overcame plenty in his life, and had similar hurdles throughout his football career. Injuries were certainly a constant challenge for him, but when the guy was healthy he was a massive difference maker.
Mike starred at Michigan State University and parlayed that into stints with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, and Miami Dolphins. But it was his performance in Calgary’s 2008 Grey Cup season that served as his true coming out party.
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» Friday, 9:00 p.m. ET: Toronto at Calgary
» Saturday, 4:00 p.m. ET: BC at Hamilton
» Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET: Winnipeg at Edmonton
» Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET: Saskatchewan at Montreal
Labinjo was incredible as the Stampeders took narrow wins over BC and Montreal in the Western Final and Grey Cup, respectively. He finished with four sacks, three knockdowns, and a forced fumble in those two games and became a Calgary folk here as a result.
I remember vividly one moment in particular. Prior to a Calgary Flames home game at the Scotiabank Saddledome, the Stamps were honoured for their Grey Cup victory. While the entire team got a massive ovation, the loudest cheer came during a video package showing Labinjo’s three knockdowns on Montreal’s Anthony Calvillo.
For so many different reasons, Mike was an easy guy to cheer for. He was outstanding on the field, a difference maker off of it, and a truly engaging guy to speak to. Thirty-eight years old is just too young.
Quick hits
I’ve been plenty skeptical of Johnny Manziel in the first few weeks of his CFL career, all of which was fair. Well, in the interest of being fair, I’ll give Johnny Football deserved credit: he was really exciting in Montreal’s loss to Winnipeg on Friday.
Manziel moved the ball well, showed off his incredible athleticism, and more than earned another start. He’s still looking for his first CFL touchdown pass, but if what I saw on Friday is a sign of things to come, that milestone is coming in the near future.
Lewis Ward not only broke the league’s record for consecutive field goals, he blew it out of the water. Ward kicked seven field goals as part of Ottawa’s 28-15 win over Edmonton and has now connected on 37 straight attempts.
Calgary’s Rene Paredes had the previous record of 32, which stood for about two years. Let’s see how high Ward can push his number to see if this new record can stand for a little while longer.
