It’s the final weekend of CFL action. I’ll miss Canadian football when it’s done, of course – but I’m also immensely glad I won’t have to wait as long for its return as I did between November 2019 and August 2021. We’ll have one final recap after this one… and I highly encourage you all to split-screen view the Grey Cup alongside the NFL this Sunday. It’s shaping up to be another good one.

In league news this week:

• The Hamilton Tiger-Cats traded for the rights to two-time Most Outstanding Player and former Stamps QB Bo Levi Mitchell on Monday afternoon; it’s a signal that Dane Evans’ time in black and gold is probably done. Whether they sign him or not is another matter entirely – but with his rights in tow I expect them to put together a competitive offer, particularly knowing that Saskatchewan is also in the QB market right now.
• BC Lions QB Nathan Rourke will work out with several NFL teams over the next few weeks after starting the 2022 season on such a tear. While his Lisfranc injury limited him in the playoffs, teams appear to understand, and as such, he’ll be put mostly through passing drills involving a more limited range of motion in the pocket, and won’t run a 40 or any similar drills. It’s true that he’ll easily make more as a third-stringer in the USA than he would in Canada – but while money is a factor for sure, playing time is clearly also important. The Lions would definitely have to restructure his contract in order for him to make far more than the $70K he’d earn in the final year of his rookie deal next season – but if Rourke wants a team where he can not only play, but be the starter, then I certainly get the sense that BC will pony up in order to keep him.
• Three time CFL All-Star and former NFL DB Delvin Breaux announced his retirement on Twitter earlier this week; Breaux, famous for surviving a serious spinal injury in Louisiana high school football, clawed his way into pro ball through the Arena Football League before heading to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and later the New Orleans Saints. Breaux is expected to join Hamilton in a non-playing capacity in the season ahead, but the specific job details are uncertain right now.

Onto the games!

DIVISION FINAL RECAPS

EAST DIVISION FINAL

(2) Montreal 27 vs. (1) Toronto 34: The Argos’ defense bent, but it didn’t break, which was enough to send the Double Blue to their first Grey Cup since 2017, which they won in Ottawa against the Calgary Stampeders. Toronto had a 24-13 lead in the first half thanks to RBs Andrew Harris and AJ Ouellette, a fake QB sneak from Chad Kelly, who passed it to DaVaris Daniels at the goal line, and a field goal. Montreal clawed their way back into the game early in the second half with an explosive first drive, cutting the lead down to just three points with a TD from rookie receiver Tyson Philpot. However, the Alouettes only mustered two field goals for the rest of the second half, allowing Toronto to keep their lead and punch their ticket to the championship game. Credit to Toronto – this was a really complete team game, and getting RB Andrew Harris back in the lineup after being out for so much of the year seemed to provide a big boost for the team.

PICK: Toronto

RESULT: Toronto

WEST DIVISION FINAL

(2) BC 20 vs. (1) Winnipeg 28: The Lions lost their mojo. With Nathan Rourke playing hurt, their poor start became immediately apparent, with the second-year QB missing his first five pass attempts. The cold weather favoured the Bombers early, as Zach Collaros found CFL receiving yards leader Dalton Schoen with a TD pass on their very first drive of the game. While the Lions did take a 7-6 lead off a QB sneak TD, which materialized due to the Leos’ special teams jumping on a muffed punt return by returner Janarion Grant, Winnipeg quickly re-took the lead and never looked back for the rest of the game. Grant made up for his earlier miscue with a monster 92-yard punt return TD to put the Bombers up 16-7. In the second half, Dakota Prukop scored on a QB sneak touchdown, as Winnipeg got their run game going with him and leading rusher Brady Oliveira contributing in a significant way. Rourke would somewhat wake up from his slow start and finished 20-37 for 299 yards and a TD to receiver Alex Hollins, but also threw two interceptions on the night – too little, too late for BC. Even with the news of his workouts south of the border, I still feel like he has some unfinished business in Vancouver. I hope this won’t be the last we’ll see of him in orange and black.

PICK: Winnipeg

RESULT: Winnipeg

109th GREY CUP PREVIEW

MOSAIC STADIUM, REGINA, SK

(1E) Toronto (12-7) vs. (1W) Winnipeg (16-3), Sunday, November 20th, 6:00 PM EST (TSN, ESPN2): It’s the first time since 1950 that these two teams have met in a Grey Cup game. That game, dubbed the Mud Bowl (which I wrote about here), was won 13-0 by the Argos at a rainy, windy Varsity Stadium in Toronto, and in addition to the absolute abysmal playing conditions, it’s also the last time that a Grey Cup finalist was completely shut out in a title game. The game, and the league, have evolved tremendously since then – but as always, you still get a sense of the tradition that this championship game brings each and every year. The Blue Bombers are heavily favoured, of course, and have the chance to become the first team to win three straight Grey Cups since the Edmonton CFL franchise did so back in the late ’70s and early ’80s – the Warren Moon years – when they won five in a row under the guidance of the legendary Hugh Campbell. It’s also a chance for RB Andrew Harris to win his third straight title; after departing Winnipeg for the Argos in the previous offseason, he finds himself back in pursuit of another title. After battling injuries and a reduced role this year, it’s also possible it could be his final game in the CFL – though it’s too early to speculate on that. The biggest question, in all the media circus this week leading up to the game, is the health of Zach Collaros. Winnipeg’s star QB left the game in the fourth quarter of last week’s West Final after getting his leg and ankle twisted fairly significantly; while he’s been observed consistently without a limp while walking around various venues, he also missed practise on Wednesday. Personally, I think he goes. And even if he’s not 100%, he’s got the best team in the league by a country mile to help support him in other ways if the passing game falters for any reason. Toronto will have their hands full – but if they’re going to shock the world, they’ll do it by playing very simple, efficient football, and will lean heavily on their defense once more.

PICK: Winnipeg

Enjoy the game, everyone.