CFL Week 6 Recap: 8 Seconds

You know, when I saw how the Elks/Redblacks game ended, I couldn't help but think: "Even Patrick Mahomes needed 13 seconds...and that was to force overtime."

Week 6 of the 2024 CFL season ended with what ended up being quite the thrilling matchup between the Ottawa Redblacks and the Edmonton Elks. The Elks did lead for a good bit, but Ottawa ended up taking over to the point where they had a double digit lead pretty late. However, don't count out the Elks. They clawed their way back, though their latest TD drive wasn't easy. The Elks ended up in a goal-to-go situation thanks to DPI committed by the Redblacks, but that last yard appeared to be quite hard to get. Nevertheless, they got it and the two-pointer. It was 34-34, and overtime was inevitable...

...until Boris Bede kicked the ball out of bounds.

Redblacks ended up with the ball at their own 50 yard line...just five yards away from midfield, and a first down away from field goal range. Only eight seconds were left. Yet not only did Ottawa get the first down, it was a big conversion. The field goal was made, and just like that, the Elks lost yet another close game.

The Elks are 0-5 and they've lost all of their games by a combined 20 points. That's four points per game. I've heard of teams in football losing nothing but close games, but there's that and then there's this. The Elks should be (at least) 2-3, if not 3-2 this season, but they just find ways to lose. What is it with Edmonton teams snatching defeat from the jaws of (possible) victory? This loss ended up being the last straw, as the Elks fired Chris Jones as the team's head coach and their GM.

Will we see a positive change? We'll find out very quickly. These same two teams will face each other this Friday.

Week 6 began with the second meeting between the Toronto Argonauts and the Montréal Alouettes, with the defending champs being at home this time. The first meeting didn't go so well for the Boatmen, but this meeting was a different story. It was slow at first--a 3-1 lead for the Leafs, I mean Argos, but things picked up big time after that. A 21-point 2nd quarter for Toronto, and they never looked back. The Argos won, 37-18, handing the Als their first loss of the season, and their first loss since September 15, 2023, which was also a home loss to the Argonauts.

We were also treated to a pair of West Division battles, with the first one being what would be the last meeting of the season between the Calgary Stampeders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. This was a big shootout in the OK Corral; it was 23-23 at halftime, and it was 30-30 early in the fourth. It was anyone's game, but it ended up being the Bombers who took over, winning 41-37--their second straight win after starting 0-4. In the other Western battle, it was the division's top two teams going at it: the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the BC Lions. This was the Riders' ultimate chance to show their mettle in the division, but BC was just too much for them, and the Lions ended up winning, 35-20.

After six weeks, here's how things stand:

So with Saturday's win, the BC Lions take over as the top team in the West Division, having won five straight games after losing their season opener. Despite this, it's still wide open between the Lions and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who will not face each other again until October 12. As for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, they are moving closer to a playoff position, and the back-to-back wins are a good way to start a big climb back to a good spot in the standings. How about the Toronto Argonauts, though? We're the only team, so far, who can saw that we beat the Lions and Alouettes this season! If the Ottawa Redblacks do keep up their good play, this could be a three team race in the East, with only the luckless Hamilton Tiger-Cats left out.

Week 7 will kick off with a doubleheader on Friday, July 19. The aforementioned rematch between the Edmonton Elks and the Ottawa Redblacks will kick it off, and it will be followed by a West Division battle between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. On Saturday, July 20, the Toronto Argonauts and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will clash for the first time this season, and on Sunday, July 21, the Calgary Stampeders will host the BC Lions.

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