CFL Week 17 Recap: Don't Mess With Success
The playoff push continues as unwelcome changes are being made to the league
We need to talk.
I didn't address this in my Week 16 recap, but I have to now. It's old news, but it's still fresh. As the saying goes, "There'll be some changes made." Very stupid ones. CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston announced that a number of rule changes will be made to the league we all love, and they will take place during the next two seasons. Let's start chronologically, shall we?
So what's changing in 2026? Well, a 35-second play clock instead of 20 seconds, but the main change involves the rouge. A single point will no longer be awarded for a missed FG going through the end zone, nor will it be rewarded for a punt or kickoff that sails through or rolls out the back, or sides, of an end zone without being touched by a returner. It will only be awarded if the punt or kickoff sails in the end zone, and the returner can't run it out or takes a knee. And for 2027, the end zones will be shortened from 20 yards to 15 yards, and the field will be 100 yards. Oh, and the goalposts will be moved to the back of the end zone.
“This is all about making our great game even more entertaining,” said Commissioner Johnston. No, it's not. It's about turning the CFL into NFL 2.0, or "NFL Canada."
I hate this. I hate these changes. This shit is why a lot of foreign countries hate us, because we try to pretty much force our ways into other countries. One of the main reasons why I love the CFL is because it stands out so much. It's the Jughead Jones of sports leagues, and here's Johnston forcibly removing Jughead's crown-shaped beanie, and replacing it with a fedora or a derby or some shit. The rouges, the goalposts being barely behind the goal line, three downs, 12 men on defence, a 110-yard field including a 55 yard line midfield, you name it. Why is the CFL becoming the NFL? Here's a thought: the NFL should take some of the CFL's rules. Not all, just some. How about that?
As for Week 17, that got started with the Montréal Alouettes winning big over the Calgary Stampeders, 38-20, and after that, the BC Lions won, 27-22, over the Toronto Argonauts--a damning loss for the Boatmen. With the loss, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats locked in a spot in this year's Grey Cup Playoffs, leaving four left as of now. It's a good thing Hamilton clinched, because on the following day, they were smoked by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 40-3. WOW! Finally, the Edmonton Elks edged the Saskatchewan Roughriders, 27-25, to keep their faint playoff hopes alive. I call the Elks' hope faint, but let's face facts: they have a better shot than my Argos.
And the standings prove it:
The Roughriders and Tiger-Cats are playoff bound entering this week, but while the East is pretty much decided except for who will finish first, the West has a lot of questions. The Calgary Stampeders, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and the BC Lions all with eight wins each, all with a shot at 2nd place--which is home field in the Division Semifinal. Even the Elks have a shot at something. As for the Argos and Redblacks, it's over. I think Toronto and Ottawa need to focus on the Leafs and Senators.
Week 18 is a three game week, and will start with the Ottawa Redblacks hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Friday, October 3. On Saturday, October 4, the Toronto Argonauts will host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, followed by the BC Lions hosting the Calgary Stampeders.
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About the Creator
Clyde E. Dawkins
I'm a big sports fan, especially hockey, and I've been a fan of villainesses since I was eight! My favorite shows are The Simpsons and Family Guy, etc.
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