Finally, it's Thursday...CFL Football is back!

Week 8 starts... most fans are picking Edmonton over Ottawa. Not me.

EDMONTON @ OTTAWA

CFL.ca Staff

Thursday’s contest is the ultimate mid-season test for both squads; injury-ravaged Edmonton faces a long trek east to face a determined REDBLACKS team, while Ottawa would love nothing more than to break its losing trend by handing the Esks their first loss of 2017.

West Division teams have won nine straight games against East Division opponents.

Through seven weeks of football, a mere 36 points separate the Edmonton Eskimos (plus-28) from the Ottawa REDBLACKS (minus-8).

By The Numbers

3 – Interceptions for Edmonton linebacker Kenny Ladler.

11:2 – TD-INT ratio for Edmonton’s Mike Reilly, the best mark amongst all starting quarterbacks.

204 – Completions allowed by Ottawa’s defence, the most in the CFL.

702 – League-high receiving yards for REDBLACKS receiver Greg Ellingson.

GM Marcel Desjardins pointed to turnovers as a major cause for Ottawa’s early-season struggles; protecting the rock will be critical on Thursday against an Esks team that ranks top-two in possession (32:34), sacks allowed (10) and offensive turnovers (6). In contrast, the REDBLACKS have allowed six more sacks and sit last in turnovers (13).

3downnation 

Edmonton visits Ottawa on Thursday night coming off a 33-28 home win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The hard-luck Redblacks lost a 33-30 home decision to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and their five losses have been by a combined 13 points. That includes a 23-21 setback in Edmonton on July 14. Edmonton is 6-0 to start a season for the first time since 1961 and is doing it with a depleted roster. But a constant is quarterback Mike Reilly, who stands fourth overall in passing yards (1,945) and third in touchdowns (11).

Dunk: Edmonton can close. Simple. ESKS

Hodge: Ottawa will turn this thing around… but not this week. ESKS

Edwards: Edmonton has been finding a way, Ottawa not so much. ESKS

Gasson: The streak will end eventually but not yet. ESKS

Busby: There’s a desperation in the home side the visitors won’t match. REDBLACKS

Smith: Ottawa needs this. Badly. REDBLACKS

Filoso: Edmonton’s injuries finally catch up with them. REDBLACKS

Totals: ESKS 4 REDBLACKS 3

 

 

 

 

Edited August 11, 20178 yr by Mr Dee

Anvil

Why the hell are guys so eager to leave their feet in the open field these days?  Ellingson is lucky his leg below the knee is still attached.  

13 minutes ago, Atomic said:

Probably Our Lady Peace

I was gonna guess them also. 

Or 

Nickelback. 

Edited August 11, 20178 yr by Goalie

Can somebody shove a football down Black's throat with his continuing "Nation's Capital" reference? What a totally shitty announcer the man is. Pathetic. 

Baltimore, sounds like Rob Black has found his new player to verbally beat to death

Just now, Bubba Zanetti said:

Baltimore, sounds like Rob Black has found his new player to verbally beat to death

I was typing up how great Blatimore was... then Rod started gushing over him... and I deleted everything. At least he hasn't complimented his 'build' yet.

Reilly going for the Lenin/1918 Russian revolutionary look. Nice!

McDuffie with the *almost* TD

McDuffie!!! Of course there is a flag...

Damn, wish we had McDuffie. Notice how almost e very return is brought back. And the CFL wonders why ratings are down. 

Just now, SpeedFlex27 said:

Damn, wish we had McDuffie. Notice how almost e very return is brought back. And the CFL wonders why ratings are down. 

It's not as bad as it was a few years back when they outlawed blocking from the side on returns.

they stole that end around from the blue.

Just now, Atomic said:

It's not as bad as it was a few years back when they outlawed blocking from the side on returns.

People want to see big plays. Not flags on big plays. 

1 minute ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

People want to see big plays. Not flags on big plays. 

Yes I would have to agree

2 minutes ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

People want to see big plays. Not flags on big plays. 

I want to see big plays that aren't aided by shitty and illegal blocks.

JBR hates McDuffie.

Ottawa is coming back in a big way here.  They are going to win this game if they go into halftime with the lead.

Just now, JuranBoldenRules said:

I want to see big plays that aren't aided by shitty and illegal blocks.

You can call a flag on every play & we can have 0-0 ties. No one wins. No one loses. 

Bryant Mitchell was really under priced for CFL Fantasy this week. Anybody else take advantage?

C'mon. It's sports where one team tries to outdo the other.  Not always legally.  I've never watched a sport where the reffing or umping , or whatever, hasn't had a hand in the outcome of a game, usually in a good way. I'll complain like crazy sometimes, but thank garb, they're there. 

The refs HAVE to call what they see, not what we want them to overlook..for ratings.

Wow loss of down on the time count penalty.  Here we go Ottawa.

Just now, Mr Dee said:

C'mon. It's sports where one team tries to outdo the other.  Not always legally.  I've never watched a sport where the reffing or umping , or whatever, hasn't had a hand in the outcome of a game, usually in a good way. I'll complain like crazy sometimes, but thank garb, they're there. 

The refs HAVE to call what they see, not what we want them to overlook..for ratings.

Sometimes. Not when a penalty is across the field having no affect on the play at all. That's my pet peeve. 

0-8-2 against the West? Whoa

ottawa receivers are not getting open

Shania Twain.... Three... two... one.... Millennial fans head explode!! Not some 'cool"band only they heard of. 

I think everyone can enjoy some Shania Twain