We’re down to the final three games of the 2023 CFL season – I certainly hope we have some entertainment left here. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate turning 31 this weekend – hope you join me in double-screening your football Sunday!

In league news this week:

• It’s looking pretty doubtful that Bo Levi Mitchell will return to Hamilton after an injury-plagued season with the team. While still an unquestioned lock for the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, Mitchell barely played in the East Final and looked pretty poor during his spot duty towards the end of the contest – not the way he or the team envisioned things going after he signed a three-year deal to head east from Calgary during last year’s offseason. Hard to say what’s next for him if the Tiger-Cats choose to release him.
• The Ottawa REDBLACKS fired OC Khari Jones late last week; while the team was able to put up both yards and points this year compared to some of their previous inept seasons, there’s no doubt the playcalling was boring, predictable and vanilla. It’s true that the REDBLACKS’ myriad of QB injuries likely contributed to wanting Jones to simplify things for Dustin Crum, but when you have a guy who’s so mobile and athletic, there has to be both trust in his abilities to extend plays and a scheme that better takes his strengths into account. Jones may just be the first domino to fall in some coordinator changes in Ottawa – we’ll see if GM Shawn Burke and HC Bob Dyce elect to keep DC Barron Miles for 2024 or similarly let him walk.
• The league announced its 2023 All-Stars lineup on Wednesday.  This list was voted on by Canadian footballl reporters, all nine CFL head coaches, and an online fan vote as well.
  • QB: Chad Kelly (TOR)
  • RB: Brady Oliveira (WPG)
  • WR: Dalton Schoen (WPG); Tim White (HAM); Austin Mack (MTL); Keon Hatcher (BC); Reggie Begelton (CGY)
  • C: Darius Ciraco (TOR)
  • OG: Ryan Hunter (TOR); Patrick Neufeld (WPG)
  • OT: Dejon Allen (TOR); Jermarcus Hardrick (WPG)
  • DE: Mathieu Betts (BC); Willie Jefferson (WPG)
  • DT: Mike Rose (CGY); Casey Sayles (HAM)
  • LB: Wynton McManis, Adarius Pickett (TOR); Micah Awe (CGY)
  • CB: Demerio Houston (WPG); Garry Peters (BC)
  • HB: Robertson Daniel (TOR); TJ Lee (BC)
  • S: Marc-Antoine Dequoy (MTL)
  • K: Sean Whyte (BC)
  • P: Richie Leone (OTT)
  • KR: Javon Leake (TOR)
• Ti-Cats LB Chris Edwards was suspended three games by the CFL after a bench-clearing brawl ensued in the dying minutes of the East Final; frustrated by his team’s impending loss, Edwards knocked Montreal receiver Jake Harty to the ground and punched him in the head – Edwards was ejected afterwards, but not before dragging both teams into the mess. Als RB Jeshrun Antwi was also ejected for defending his teammate, while Tabbies Kai Locksley, Omar Bayless, Mason Bennett, Mohamed Diallo, and Carthell Flowers-Lloyd all received fines for getting involved in the melee; Antwi and Regis Cibasu were fined for Montreal. As a pending free agent, one wonders if Edwards gets picked up again for 2024…

Onto the games!

DIVISION SEMIFINAL RECAPS

EAST DIVISION SEMIFINAL

(3) Hamilton 12 vs. (2) Montreal 27: Despite the hype of Bo Levi Mitchell getting a few game reps in over the last few weeks of the regular season as he came back from a broken leg, it was Matthew Shiltz who got the start for the visitors – and he stunk. The Tabbies couldn’t really get much of anything going at all, and finally turned back to Mitchell with seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter. The Als had a pretty tidy game – RB William Stanback had 18 carries for 95 yards plus another 25 yards receiving, while Cody Fajardo threw for 212 yards, two TDs and a pick as the home side cruised to a big home playoff win and their second straight appearance in the East Final. The other notable story from this one was the ruckus caused by Tiger-Cats DB Chris Edwards, who got ejected yet again – he took a swing at Als’ WR Jake Harty after knocking him to the ground… it’s not the first time Edwards has caused problems for his team, having been fined for a dirty hit earlier in the year on another Montreal receiver in Austin Mack; more famously, he was the guy who went into the stands and fought fans while a member of the Argos during the 2021 East Final. Great talent, zero discipline. His time in the CFL might be done due to his behaviour on and off the field.

PICK: Montreal

RESULT: Montreal

WEST DIVISION SEMIFINAL

(3) Calgary 30 vs. (2) BC 41: My main concern from last week about the Lions was that somehow bad Vernon Adams, Jr. would show up and make an appearance at the most inopportune time. Fortunately, he did not. In fact, he threw for 413 yards, ran for 54 more, and had five total TDs (two passing, three rushing) to lead the Lions back to the West Final for the second year in a row – arguably the best game he’s ever had in his CFL career. It’s the second year in a row that BC has knocked Calgary out of the playoffs in the West semi – and the first playoff W of Adams’ career. The Stamps struck first, but BC roared back quickly to retake the lead by the end of the first quarter, and never gave it up again. With four first half scores, the Lions’ O was pretty much unstoppable in this game – Calgary had a couple receiving TDs from Marken Michel and Reggie Begelton, and top kicker Rene Paredes had five field goals, but it just wasn’t to be from the Stamps, who have some significant questions to consider as they head into their offseason.

PICK: BC

RESULT: BC

BYE: (1) Toronto (16-2), (1) Winnipeg (14-4)

DIVISION FINAL PREVIEWS

EAST DIVISION FINAL

(2) Montreal (12-7) vs. (1) Toronto (16-2), Saturday, November 11th, 3:00 PM EST (TSN, CFL+): Montreal has really come together as a team over these final few weeks of the season, but Toronto has had their number all year long. Montreal was 0-7 against the Argos, Bombers and Lions, while going 12-0 against every other team in the league… as good as they’ve played recently, I still don’t like what this season’s history suggests for them as they head into this East Final against one of the best teams in the entire history of Canadian football. The Argos have every reason to feel good about their regular season, but the real work starts now. The key to victory is getting to Cody Fajardo; if they can get Montreal’s suspect O-line to revert to their earlier season level of play when they had more holes than a block of Swiss cheese, then the rest of the game will follow. Toronto’s run game has very few holes, but we’ll also see if Chad Kelly can also try and work in throwing a few more pass TDs during the playoffs; should Toronto advance to the Grey Cup, their passing game is going to need to go blow for blow with the high-powered aerial attack that both Winnipeg and BC possess in spades. Good to get that going now before it becomes an absolute must-have.

PICK: Toronto

WEST DIVISION FINAL

(2) BC (13-6) vs. (1) Winnipeg (14-4), Saturday, November 11th, 6:30 PM EST (TSN, CFL+): After the Lions’ surprise victory at IG Field early in the season, it was the Bombers that responded in kind and ended up winning the season series between these two teams. While it’s no surprise that we have the two clearly strongest teams in the West making an appearance in the divisional final, the main intrigue will be to see how both teams have game planned in a few new wrinkles after some impressive offensive battles thus far. Brady Oliveira, the West’s MOP candidate, remains a dual threat as a pass-catching RB – probably the only thing that BC doesn’t really have in their current offence. However, with Vernon Adams, Jr. having such an impressive playoff game last week, his mobility and ability to extend plays with his legs is going to be a significant factor. Both teams are worthy Grey Cup candidates. This is going to be an absolutely tremendous game, and we’re fortunate to have such a quality matchup to showcase this league.

PICK: Winnipeg

Enjoy the games, everyone.