Schedule favours powerhouse Stamps
CFL: Four of seven remaining games at home
Penton’s prediction
Calgary will lose only one game the rest of the way, on Oct. 1 at Hamilton’s Tim Hortons Field. They are remarkably tough to beat at McMahon Stadium, and four of their remaining seven games will be played in Cowtown.
Tweet of the week
“I’m tired of this and y’all I’m mad every game because everybody is calling a chess game and we playing checkers it’s very frustrating.”
— Alouettes wide receiver Duron Carter (@DC_CHILLIN) sounded off after another loss
By the numbers
14 — Home victories for the Lions over the Alouettes in the last 16 years
1,193 — Penalties called through Week 12 last season
1,087 — Penalties called through Week 12 this season
9.1 — Percentage drop in penalty calls this season
Boss blunder
We’re going to have to start calling this the “Chris Jones Bad Decision of the Week” if he doesn’t figure things out.
There were five minutes left in the Banjo Bowl and the Riders trailed by seven points when Jones decided to try a fake field goal on third-and-three from the Bombers 49 yard line.
Now, trying the fake isn’t exactly wrong, because the Riders weren’t getting much done on offence. Punting might not have been a bad idea either, to pin the Bombers deep in their own zone.
However, when Jones sent out third string quarterback Brandon Bridge to be the holder, the Bombers knew the fake was coming. It failed, of course, and the Bombers held on for a 17-10 win.
Smooth move
The voice of the Riders, Rod Pedersen, told this excellent story on Monday about defensive end Jonathan Newsome.
On Labour Day Classic weekend a Regina family was in the ticket office hoping to buy ducats to the game, but they couldn’t afford them. Newsome was walking through the office at the time, got wind of the situation, and bought them tickets.
According to Pedersen, the fans broke down in tears. When the story got out and Newsome was praised online, he acknowledged his good deed.
“Thanks y’all,” Newsome wrote on his Twitter feed. “I just couldn’t let the lady and her daughter leave without those tickets. It was only right. When your blessed, bless others.”
That’s what it’s all about right there.
Power rankings
1. (1) Calgary They’re so confident in first-round draft pick Alex Singleton that the Canadian is their new starting middle linebacker. 2. (2) B.C. The Lions kept rolling with an easy win over the Alouettes and have scored 38 points or more in five of their 11 games. 3. (4) Winnipeg That’s six wins in a row and counting for the Blue and Gold, who will now ride Matt Nichols after trading away Drew Willy. 4. (3) Hamilton The Ticats, who got out-coached by the Argos, need to get their special teams figured out, but they’ll be fine. 5. (5) Ottawa It’s time for Trevor Harris and Co. to declare if they’re contenders or pretenders in an East Division that’s wide open. 6. (7) Toronto It will be interesting to see who plays quarterback down the stretch and if he can keep the Boatmen in the East playoff race. 7. (6) Edmonton The Eskies have five of their remaining seven matches on the road, including trips to Hamilton and Vancouver. 8. (8) Saskatchewan They were so close, yet so far, from that elusive second victory after getting swept by the Bombers for the first time since 2004. 9. (9) Montreal Rakeem Cato wants to fight everyone, Jim Popp has one foot out the coaching door, and Duron Carter is complaining. Gong Show!
The week ahead
Friday, 4 p.m. Montreal at Hamilton (-9.5) The goal for the Alouettes should be to get through the game without a fist fight — on their own bench. Ticats by 18. Saturday, 11 a.m. Toronto at Winnipeg (-6.5) The Winnipeg defence has feasted on inexperienced quarterbacks this season. Bombers by 7. Saturday, 2 p.m. Ottawa at Calgary (-9) That point spread tells you how suspect the odds makers are about the Redblacks these days. Stampeders by 6. Sunday, 1:30 p.m. Edmonton (-5) at Saskatchewan Chris Jones no doubt wants to stick it to his former team at least once. This is his last chance this season. Riders by 4. Last week: 3-1 Overall: 27-22