EDMONTON — The Toronto Argonauts will travel to west to Commonwealth Stadium in Week 19 for their first and only meeting with the Edmonton Elks this season.
The Argos have already clinched a spot in the playoffs and entering Week 19 had their sights set on capturing the East Division crown and homefield advantage in the Eastern Final. However, a 34-30 win by the Montreal Alouettes on Friday negated Toronto’s chances at locking up the East Division with a win in Edmonton.
While the Elks have been eliminated from playoff contention, they will have an opportunity snap their 15-game home losing streak in Week 19. The Elks have won their last four games against Toronto and the Boatmen have not recorded a win when playing in Edmonton since 2013.
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Quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson vowed to “make it right” after his team put up two points against the Calgary Stampeders in Week 17, and stayed true to his word as he threw for 352 yards and a touchdown in their 23-20 win over the BC Lions.
Bethel-Thompson and the Argonauts offence will once again look to create advantages for themselves and capitalize on their opportunities to score. Entering Week 19, the Elks have been tasked with defending their goal line 52 times this season and have allowed 36 touchdowns to opposing teams. Giving up a score on nearly 70 per cent of drives where they are forced to defend the red zone.
The Argonauts have been most effective at scoring points through the air this season with 20 of their 26 offensive touchdowns coming from the right arm of their quarterback.
However, Toronto will need to find ways to be creative in the red zone, something that has been a challenge this season. Of their 42 trips to the score zone this season, the Argos have managed 17 touchdowns, scoring on just 40.5 per cent of their opportunities.
As has been the case for the Argos passing attack all season, Bethel-Thompson will be reliant upon receivers Kurleigh Gittens Jr., Markeith Ambles and DaVaris Daniels to help push the ball downfield and attack the end zone. Led by Gittens’ 920 receiving yards, the trio of Toronto pass-catchers have combined for 2,336 yards 11 of Bethel-Thompson’s 20 touchdown passes this season.
In addition to the playmaking ability of their big-three, the Boatmen have shown to have an abundance of depth within their offence. Seven different players for the Argos this season have caught at least 30 receptions and have score a touchdown and the team has five separate receivers who have recorded at least 400 receiving yards.
Running back A.J. Ouellette’s versatility has proven to be invaluable within the Toronto offensive scheme as of late. The third-year back has seen a combined 117 targets both on the ground and catching out of the backfield this season. In 10 games played Ouellette has accumulated 644 all-purpose yards and has found the end zone twice this season.
Over his last three games, the running back has rushed for at least 40 yards and has seen a minimum of nine carries in each contest, while seeing at least five targets in the passing game over that same stretch.
Defensively, Toronto will be challenged by Taylor Cornelius for the first time in 2022, the Elks quarterback has shown to be effective with his arm from a variety of areas on the field and has the ability to tuck the ball and run when the play breaks down.
Ja’Gared Davis headlined the Toronto pass-rush in Week 18, forcing two sacks in the outing and improving his season total to six. Davis and the Argos defence will be again be relied upon to create pressure situation and help force turnovers against Edmonton.
Ahead of the Week 19 matchup from Commonwealth stadium, Davis spoke to team media, describing the shift in his mindset and approach to the game following Labour Day Weekend in the CFL.
“After Labour Day is when I really kick it into gear,” Davis told Argonauts.ca. “For me, it’s a different type of excitement that comes into play. Every game means ten times more than it did in the first half. I switch into a playoff mindset where it’s win or go home and I’m trying not to go home.”
A win for the Elks on Saturday night would break their historic 15-game losing streak when playing at home. Historically, home matchups against the Argos have fallen in favour of Edmonton. The Elks have a six-game home winning streak when hosting Toronto and the Argonauts have not won a game in Edmonton since 2013.
Elks receiver Dillon Mitchell is out to prove his strong first seven games have not been a fluke. He caught six passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in the team’s loss to Winnipeg. Since his first taste of CFL action in Week 12, Mitchell has not had less than 55 receiving yards in a game, and has at least 70 receiving yards over his last five consecutive games.
In addition to the playmaking ability of Mitchell, the Elks will have Emmanuel Arceneaux returning to the lineup for Week 19. The Green and Gold pass-catcher has been sidelined since Week 11 with an injury, but will provide a reliable set of veteran hands in the matchup with the Argos.
Edmonton running back Kevin Brown has emerged within the Elks offence over the last few weeks. He’s delivered 345 yards and is averaging 7.2 yards per carry in his five games since joining the Double E. Cornelius has also proven to an effective runner for the Elks offence, he’s called his own number 68 times this season and has rushed for 451 yards and seven touchdowns over 12 games.
Elks’ head coach Chris Jones isn’t discouraged by his team missing the post-season in 2022, telling media that the mindset entering Week 19 is for his team to treat the matchup against Toronto like it is a playoff game.
“They’ve done a real nice job studying film, you see them here early, you see them here late,” Jones told GoElks.com. “I’m proud of the effort. We have two games left and we need to win one here at home. We need to treat it like a playoff game.”
Kickoff from Commonwealth Stadium is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET and can be seen on TSN, ESPN+ and followed on CFL.ca’s Game Tracker.
– With files from Argonauts.ca and GoElks.com.
