CFL Week 19 Recap: Down to the Wire

There is very little time left in the 2022 CFL season, but so much is changing in the playoff race. The season is coming off a thrilling Canadian Thanksgiving weekend that saw some things solved, while others still needed to come to pass. Two playoff spots remained after Week 18, and these were the scenarios entering Week 19:

The Toronto Argonauts had the opportunity to lock up first place in the East Division; a win and an Alouettes loss would get it done. As for the Montréal Alouettes, the same scenario remained: a win clinches a playoff spot and a home playoff game. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers locked up first place in the West Division, and will host the Western Final on November 13, so they have nothing else to play for. The BC Lions and the Calgary Stampeders will face each other in the Western Semifinal on November 6, but home field in that game is up for grabs and could not be settled this week. Finally, because the Saskatchewan Roughriders were idle, no teams could be eliminated.

The Canadian Thanksgiving rematch between the Montréal Alouettes and the Ottawa Redblacks kicked off Week 19. Ottawa pulled off the upset that Monday afternoon, and even though the rematch was a back and forth battle, it would be Montréal's turn to get the win. The Alouettes won, 34-30, and with that, they are not only in the playoffs, but they will have a home playoff game. When that home game takes place will depend on what happens in the final two weeks of the season. As for the Redblacks, they remain alive in the playoff race, but their chances are faint and slim.

This game was followed by what would be a chaotic battle between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Calgary Stampeders, and it looked like Hamilton's playoff chances would take a hit with a late Stampeders touchdown...until the TiCats needed less than 40 seconds to pounce and respond. A last second touchdown drive resulted in a 35-32 upset win for Hamilton, whose standing in the playoff race took a huge boost with the victory. In the Saturday games, the Toronto Argonauts earned a key victory over the eliminated Edmonton Elks by a score of 28-23, with A.J. Ouellette's key running TD sealing the game in the final moments of regulation. The week ended with the BC Lions winning 40-32 over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers; a game that was meaningless to the Bombers, but had a semblance of importance to BC.

So with two weeks left in the regular season, here's how things stand.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers drop to 14-3 and are preparing for the Western Final. The BC Lions gained a game on the Calgary Stampeders, as the former increased to 11-5 while the latter dropped to 10-6. The Saskatchewan Roughriders remain at 6-10, while the eliminated Edmonton Elks are now 4-13. In the East Division, the Toronto Argonauts lead the way at 10-6, while the playoff-bound Montréal Alouettes improved to 8-8. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are 6-10, while the Ottawa Redblacks drop to 4-12. As for Week 20, here's what's in store, and the scenarios.

Week 20 features two Friday games and two Saturday games. On Friday, October 21, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Redblacks will face each other in a very pivotal game, and it's followed by the Edmonton Elks hosting the BC Lions. Hamilton's win was very important, as it moved them into a tie with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, which eliminates the crossover at the moment. If Hamilton wins and Saskatchewan loses, then Hamilton will nab the last remaining playoff spot, and Saskatchewan and Ottawa will be eliminated. As for the Redblacks, they need to defeat the Tiger-Cats not just next week, but on the final week as well. If they do that and the Roughriders lose out, Ottawa will take the last remaining playoff spot. Regarding the BC Lions, a win would give them home field in the Western Semifinal against the Calgary Stampeders.

On Saturday, October 22, the Montréal Alouettes will host the Toronto Argonauts, and it will be followed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders hosting the Calgary Stampeders. Montréal's win assured that their final back-to-back meetings with the Boatmen would decide the East Division; however, Toronto's win gave them more of a margin for error. A win or even a tie in either of the two games would give first place in the East to the Argos, while the Als will have to win out to get first place, as they would earn the season series and the first tiebreaker. As for the Riders and Stamps, both teams will be scoreboard watching, especially Saskatchewan. The Riders will be keeping an eye on the Hamilton/Ottawa game, because if Hamilton loses, Saskatchewan can get into the playoffs via the crossover if they win out. The Stampeders will have to pull for their provincial rivals, as BC has to lose out for Calgary to have a chance to host the Western Semifinal. The final two weeks will be immensely thrilling, as so much remains on the line.

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