111th Grey Cup Playoffs: Division Semifinals Recap

There is always something special about the playoffs in pro football, especially the opening. In the NFL, it's Wild Card Weekend, and in recent years, it's six games during a three-day weekend. In the Canadian Football League, it's the Division Semifinals, the first stop on the road to the Grey Cup. The second and third place teams in each division battle it out (unless a crossover occurs), with the right to head to that division's top team to face off in the Division Finals.

This year, it was the Toronto Argonauts hosting the Ottawa Redblacks in the Eastern Semifinal, and honestly, I was happy that we got this game at home. However, it did look shaky at first. We didn't score until the end of the first, and it was a field goal that made it a 10-3 game in Ottawa's favor. Our offense stepped up, but we were still behind. However, a funny thing happened. Up 23-17, Ottawa--after a touchdown--basically onside kicked it. The result: an Argos field goal right on the spot. We were down three at halftime, but it felt like a paradigm shift had taken place in our favor.

Boy, did it!

The Boatmen took over the second half. Took the lead in the third and never looked back. To add insult to injury, back-to-back defensive touchdowns by the Argos!! 58 points scored! A 58-38 win over the Redblacks, and it was off to the Eastern Final! As for the Redblacks, they have a lot to be proud of. The last few seasons have been hell for them, so getting to the playoffs this year really was a big boost. I don't see this being a one off, either, especially since Hamilton's, well, not playing up to par.

While the Eastern Semifinal had 96 combined points, which tied a playoff record, the Western Semifinal wouldn't be that offense-obsessed. The Saskatchewan Roughriders hosted the BC Lions, and it was a low scoring first quarter--the Lions led 6-3 after 15 minutes. The Riders tied it up at 6, but later took the lead after finally finding the end zone. It was 13-13 at halftime, but the Riders took over in the second half, keeping BC out of the end zone for the rest of the way.

The Roughriders won, 28-19, to advance to the Western Final, moving one step closer to the Grey Cup. As for the British Columbia Lions, their dream of playing for the Grey Cup at home is now over, but they did have one hell of a 2024 season.

The CFL's Final Four is all set, and here's a look at this year's Division Finals:

Eastern Final: Argonauts @ Alouettes

Here we go! It's been tough for the Argonauts, but we've made it this far... somehow. We do tend to look shaky at times, but when it counted, the Boatmen got it done, especially in the Semifinal against the Redblacks. For the fourth straight year, the Argonauts are in the Eastern Final, but it's the first time in that stretch that the Argos are on the road. Each of the last three occurrences saw the Argos at home, and it was only in 2022 that we won and went on to capture the Grey Cup a week later.

The Argos will head to Montréal, Quebec to face off against the defending Grey Cup Champions in this year's Eastern Final, and boy, is this a year in the making. This is actually the third straight Eastern Final meeting between these two clubs, but last year saw the then-defending champion Argos destroyed by the Alouettes. The Alouettes delivered one more upset a week later and took down the Blue Bombers to win their 8th Grey Cup, and this year, they look even stronger than they did last season. The team finished 12-5-1, but they were actually better than that, they had a bit of a lull after locking up 1st place in the East.

The Argos actually won the season series, 2-1, with one of the two wins being the teams' only meeting in Montréal. This is the first time that the Alouettes are hosting the Eastern Final since 2012.

Western Final: Roughriders @ Blue Bombers

Last year, the Saskatchewan Roughriders were 6-12 and missed the playoffs; ironically, by tiebreaker. The Riders rebounded big time and ended up alive for 1st place in the West to the bitter end of the regular season, but they had to settle for hosting the Semifinal this season. With the win over the BC Lions, the Riders are just one win away from playing for the Grey Cup. They have not reached the Grey Cup since 2013, which was also the last time they won the whole thing. However, in order to break that skid, they have a beast to slay.

When the Winnipeg Blue Bombers started 0-4, it looked like the dynasty dreams would be over. However, a funny thing happened. The Bombers started winning. And winning. And winning. 11 wins in their last 14 games, and they managed to finish at the top of the West Division yet again. For the sixth straight year, the Bombers are in the Western Final, and for the fourth straight year, the game is in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This is Winnipeg's last chance to become a dynasty. They've been in the last four Grey Cup games, winning in 2019 and 2021, but losing the last two. The rule states that it takes three championships in five years to form a dynasty, and this is Year Five.

The Division Finals will take place on Saturday, November 9 in Montréal, Quebec and Winnipeg, Manitoba, and both gameswill air on TSN in Canada, with the Eastern game also airing on CTV. As for American and other international viewers, the games will air on CFL+. After that, it's the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, and that game will air on TSN in Canada, on CBS Sports Network in the United States, and on CFL+ outside both countries.

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