CFL Week 2 Recap: Alouettes Kick Off Season, Stamps & TiCats Stumble

The 2021 CFL season is an abbreviated one; 14 games in 16 weeks. As if wins aren't important enough in any football season, they are extra important with only 14 games played. Week 1 saw big victories for the Toronto Argonauts and the Ottawa Redblacks, as well as the defending champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers make a statement. So what would Week 2 bring?

The second week of the season began with a West Division battle between the BC Lions and the Calgary Stampeders, which was a low scoring affair throughout. It would see the Stamps completely stymied by the BC defense, resulting in QB Bo-Levi Mitchell throwing four interceptions in a game for the first time in his career, and a 15-9 victory for the Lions. For the Lions, it was a win that they needed, as well as a big boost for their defense after falling behind 31-0 in the first half of Week 1's battle with the Saskatchewan Roughriders; the defense has given up a grand total of 11 points in their last six quarters of play. As for the Stampeders, they are now 0-2 in a 14-game season, and that is troubling. Even worse: both losses were on their field, and they are now one down in division play. The Stamps need to act fast.

Next up, a battle of Week 1 winners saw the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeat the Toronto Argonauts by a score of 20-7. This was not a good game from the Argos; it was a performance that saw too many missed opportunities, overthrows, and worst of all, penalties. QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson ended up benched during the third quarter for Nick Arbuckle, whose first drive ended with a 30-yard TD run from John White to cut the Bombers' lead to 10-7, but Toronto wouldn't get anything after that. The Bombers' defense, again, was the story, as they have now only surrendered just 13 points in two games this season. These same two teams will face each other next week, this time in Toronto--the Argonauts' home opener.

The Montréal Alouettes kicked off their 2021 season in grand fashion; a 30-13 win over the Edmonton Elks. The Als' win was led by their special teams: 161 total punt return yards, including a touchdown in the first half. It was a spectacular way to kick off the season; soundly defeating the same team who booted them from the most recent Grey Cup Playoffs in 2019. The Elks, similar to their provincial rivals in Calgary, are 0-2 and lost both games at home--a nail-biter against the Ottawa Redblacks in Week 1, and this rout against the Alouettes.

Week 2 concluded with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Regina against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and while the TiCats started well and had an 8-7 lead, the positives would end there. The Roughriders took full control afterwards; intercepting Jeremiah Masoli twice, and scoring 23 unanswered points en route to a 30-8 victory over the team who is favored to win the Grey Cup this year. For the Riders, it's back-to-back 30-point games; they are the highest scoring team in the league. All the while, the Tiger-Cats are the lowest scoring with 14 points, and they have yet to score a single point in the second half of a game this season.

So after two weeks, here's how things stand. In the West Division, the Roughriders and Blue Bombers are 2-0 (the only 2-0 teams this season), the Lions improved to 1-1 with their defensive win, and the Alberta teams are both winless. In the East Division, the Alouettes are 1-0, as are the Redblacks (who were idle this week), the Argonauts drop to 1-1, while the Tiger-Cats are 0-2 and cannot score points. We have still yet to see an East Division game this season; in fact, we won't see one until Week 4. As an Argonauts fan, I'm waiting patiently for those head-to-head games against the Tiger-Cats, Alouettes, and Redblacks, as division play often tells the story in the Canadian Football League.

As for Week 3, that will begin on Thursday, August 19 with a West Division battle between the Edmonton Elks and the BC Lions. It will be the Lions' third straight division game, as well as their home opener this season. On Friday, August 20, the Calgary Stampeders will host the Montréal Alouettes, and for the Stamps, it's already must win. This will be their third straight home game, and if they fall to 0-3 overall and at home, their season could be over already. On Saturday, August 21, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will meet the Toronto Argonauts for the 2nd straight week, this time in Toronto, and the Ottawa Redblacks will head to Regina to face the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

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