CFL Week 4 Recap: Duds

It has been a trying few months for sports fans in the city of Winnipeg.

First off, the Winnipeg Jets were blasted in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, though their superstar goalie, Connor Hellebuyck, won his second Vezina Trophy at this year's NHL Awards. And then there's the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. They are not off to a great start to the 2024 season. They are winless after three games, and they were looking to get Win #1 on a Saturday evening in Calgary. The West Division battle saw the Bombers down by a touchdown very late, but they managed to tie it up with just over 30 seconds left.

So for the first time this season, we have overtime. I love CFL overtime. Here's how it works. In the CFL, overtime is untimed and played out similar to NCAA rules, but only with a maximum of two "minigames." Coin toss decides possession, and the ball is placed at the opposing 35 yard line, so the team is in field goal range already. Any touchdowns in overtime have to be followed by two point conversions, and if there's a tie after the first minigame, the second and final one is played. Higher score wins, and if there's a tie after both minigames are played, the game ends.

Winnipeg had the ball first, and it definitely look like that they would strike first with a touchdown. Unfortunately, the pass was intercepted in the end zone, and with that, the Stamps could win it with a field goal. Even a penalty after the interception would not be a deterrent. All it did was make the field goal longer, and the 50+ yard kick went through. The Stampeders won 22-19 in overtime, and as a result, the Blue Bombers are 0-4. Counting last year's Grey Cup game, the Bombers have lost five straight games. Yikes.

The extended Canada Day weekend began with another West Division battle between the Edmonton Elks and the BC Lions in Vancouver, and much like the Bombers, the Elks were looking for that elusive first win. It was close, and the game was tied very late; this was the game that I expected to go to overtime. Unfortunately for the Elks, there was just enough time for the Lions to get to field goal range and win it; 24-21 was the final. Another heartbreaking loss for the Elks, coming days after another Edmonton franchise suffered a heartbreaking loss. The Elks have lost their four games by a combined 17 points--an average of 4.25 points per game. Based on that, Edmonton should get their first win very soon.

Next up was a game that this Argos fan has waited months for. The battle between the last two Grey Cup Champions: the Montréal Alouettes and the Toronto Argonauts. First meeting of the season and the first meeting since last year's Eastern Final, which saw the Alouettes dismantle the Argos. Here it is, eight months later, and we still haven't solved the Als. It was like the Eastern Final never ended. The Boatmen didn't find the end zone until the final minute of the game. 30-20 was the final score in favor of the Alouettes, who are still unbeaten.

The week ended on the day before Canada Day, as the other two East Division teams faced off in the Canadian capital. In typical Eastern fashion, the game between the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Redblacks was close and low-scoring, and with just a few seconds left, Hamilton had a 22-21 lead. The Redblacks were in field goal range with six seconds left, but on 3rd and 1, they decided to go for it, and converted, making the field goal closer. It only took three seconds to convert, and after the rest of the time ticked off, the field goal was made. The Redblacks won, 24-22; their first home win over the TiCats since 2018.

After four weeks, here's how things stand:

The Montréal Alouettes are red hot right now! Dating back to last year, they've won twelve straight games (for those wondering, the French word for twelve is douze). While the defending champs being unbeaten isn't surprising, the Saskatchewan Roughriders (who were off in Week 4) being undefeated is. Last year, the Riders were up and down big time, and they finished 6-12. Already, they are halfway to their 2023 win total. Speaking of 6-12, that was the Stampeders' record last year when they made the playoffs. That, and that alone, is why you cannot count out the Tiger-Cats, Blue Bombers, and yes, the Elks. At least not yet.

Week 5 kicks off on Thursday, July 4, and on a day that America celebrates, there will be some fireworks in Canada as well, as the Saskatchewan Roughriders will host the Toronto Argonauts. On Friday, July 5, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will look to finally get on the win column against the Ottawa Redblacks, and on Saturday, July 6, the Montréal Alouettes will host the Calgary Stampeders. On Sunday, July 7, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will face the BC Lions to end the week.

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