CFL Week 20 Recap: Close to the Finish Line

We are down to the final week of the season, but let's take a look back at Week 20, the penultimate week. Only three games were played in Week 20, the last abbreviated week of the season, but the only one with any relevance was the game between the Toronto Argonauts and the Ottawa Redblacks. No, I'm not just saying that because I'm an Argos fan. It's because the other two games had nothing to play for. The lone Friday game featured the Calgary Stampeders and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, two of the three eliminated teams this year. TiCats blasted the Stamps to kick off Week 20. The other game featured the BC Lions and the Montréal Alouettes--two teams who were locked in to their playoff positions. The Lions won, 27-3, to finish at 9-9 this season.

The Argos and Redblacks are locked into their upcoming Eastern Semifinal matchup, but the only thing left was where the game would be played. The Argos entered the game in 2nd place, and we controlled our own destiny as far as staying there. A win keeps us there. A tie or loss will resort to the final week coming into play. The game was in Toronto, and the Argos showed out big time. 14-0 after one, and 28-6 at halftime. We led 38-6 after three quarters, it was over. Then Ottawa chipped, chipped, and chipped away at that lead. They scored 25 unanswered in the fourth quarter. Thankfully, we prevented the Redblacks from getting any closer.

The Argos won, 38-31, and as a result, these two teams will be heading back to Toronto on November 2 for the Eastern Semifinal. So with that, the East Division's side of the playoffs is set. The Argos will host the Redblacks in the Semifinal, and the winner will be off to Montréal on November 9. As a result, the two games taking place on Friday, October 25 to kick off the final week? Meaningless. The Redblacks host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, while the Boatmen will be in Edmonton against the Elks.

As for the West, that will need the final week. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Saskatchewan Roughriders did not play in Week 20, but they will play in the final week. On Saturday, October 26, the Bombers will be in Montréal against the Alouettes, while the Roughriders will host the Calgary Stampeders. As it stands right now, the Bombers lead the division at 10-7, while the Riders are close behind at 9-7-1. The Bombers have the tiebreaker, so a win or a tie will keep them in first place, and allow them to host the Western Final on November 9. The only way the Riders can lock up first place in the West: a win and a Bombers loss. If the two teams finish with identical 10-7-1 records, the Bombers get first place via tiebreaker.

The West winner will host the Western Final on November 9. Second place will host the BC Lions in the Western Semifinal on November 2. This final week will be absolutely wild for sure, and while the Friday games are not as important, they'll be pretty good, the East teams always play with a lot of intensity. The Saturday games will definitely be thrilling, especially if Winnipeg somehow loses before the Riders kick off the final game of the regular season. I am right here for it big time!

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