CFL Week 18 Recap: All Coming Together

The month of October is a pivotal one in the Canadian Football League. It is the final month before the playoffs start, and of course, the format sees the top three teams in each division qualify. The first place teams get byes straight to the Division Finals, while the other two teams meet in the Division Semifinals. As a result, three teams will see their seasons end early. Entering Week 18, only two teams got in: the Montréal Alouettes and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Alouettes locked up 1st place in the East and will host the Eastern Final, while the Bombers were looking to do the same out West.

These were the scenarios entering Week 18:

Week 18 was an abbreviated week, only three games played. First off, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hosted the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and it wasn't even close. The Bombers made quick work of the TiCats, winning 31-10 over their favorite Grey Cup punching bags. As a result, the Ottawa Redblacks, who were off that week, were officially playoff bound, after failing to lock up a spot for several weeks. Three spots down, three to go, and Winnipeg was now hoping for the Edmonton Elks to pull their weight against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The BC Lions hosted the Calgary Stampeders, and that saw the Lions absolutely maul the Stamps. 32-15 was the final score, and that put Calgary in danger of missing the playoffs. As for BC, two-thirds of their playoff journey was finished. Hamilton lost and they won. Same with the Roughriders: Hamilton and Calgary both lost. The Riders' game against the Elks was the last game of that week, and it was a close affair that saw the Riders win 28-24. Two birds were killed with one stone, as the Riders' win not only put themselves in, but also placed the Lions in as well.

Also, as a result of Week 18's games, the Elks and Stampeders are both eliminated. For the first time since 1945, Alberta will not be represented in the Grey Cup Playoffs. Think about how long ago that was. World War II ended. Curly Howard's tenure as a Stooge was ending. The Chicago Cubs won their last pennant until 2016. The NHL had six teams, and it would be another 34 years until the NHL hit the province of Alberta.

With three weeks left, here's how things stand:

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have now won 10 of 12 since starting 0-4, and now, they are guaranteed to start the playoffs at home. They still need one more point in the standings to lock up the West, and they have two games left to do just that. This means that the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the BC Lions are basically in a battle for second place, which means home field in the Western Semifinal on November 2. As for the East, nothing much has changed, except that with Hamilton's home loss, the Toronto Argonauts are now one point away from snagging the last remaining spot in the 111th Grey Cup Playoffs.

Week 19 is the last holiday week of the season, as it's Thanksgiving Weekend in Canada. On Friday, October 11, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will host the Toronto Argonauts, who can get that last playoff spot with a win or tie, while the Bombers can take the West with a win or tie. On Saturday, October 12, the Alberta teams face each other, followed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders hosting the BC Lions (if SSK wins, they'll clinch 2nd place in the West). Finally, Monday, October 14--Canadian Thanksgiving--will feature the Ottawa Redblacks and the Montréal Alouettes in an Eastern clash.

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