football
Talking about college and professional football daily. Chances are we hate your team.
CFL Week 17 Recap: Jockeying For Positions
The CFL calendar has now turned to the month of October, which is always the final full month of the regular season. October features the last holiday of the season: Canadian Thanksgiving, which is always on the second Monday and has football scheduled. It is also the month where the last pieces of the Grey Cup Playoff puzzle are filled, and entering Week 17, two spots remain, as Week 16 saw the BC Lions, the Toronto Argonauts, and the Calgary Stampeders clinch playoff spots.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
NFL Week 3 Recap: The Two 12s
Similar to literally every football fan in existence, I had Week 3 of the 2022 NFL season circled on my (mental) calendar for the very same reason: Packers vs Buccaneers. A battle between a pair of hallowed quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, possibly the final battle of their careers, unless the fates allow them to clash in January. For this Packers fan, it was an opportunity to get off a small schnide against the Brady Bucs, as both meetings went the way of Tampa Bay. The meetings both took place in the 2020 season, with the first one being in Tampa Bay, but the damning one was the NFC Championship at Lambeau--a 31-26 victory by the Bucs.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
CFL Week 16 Recap: A Successful Playoff Push
Week 16 is the last three-game week of the 2022 CFL season, but so much was up for grabs. Entering this week, only the Winnipeg Blue Bombers had locked in a playoff spot, but they were idle this week after suffering their second loss of the season. Despite this, they could still lock in a home playoff game with help elsewhere, and this was one of many playoff scenarios for Week 16, which were as follows:
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
NFL Week 2 Recap: Guess Who's Leading the AFC South?!
The Jacksonville Jaguars are in first place in the AFC South. I want to say it again, because it bears repeating, plus it's something to really drink in. The Jacksonville Jaguars are in first place in the AFC South. This improbable moment began to take shape when the Jags faced the rival Indianapolis Colts; the first of their perennial pair of meetings this season, as well as their first meeting since the final week of the 2021 season. We all remember that finale, where the Jags served as the ultimate spoilers to Indy's playoff plans. All Indy needed was a win to get into the playoffs, but the lowly, lowly Jags blasted them and ended the Colts' season.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
CFL Week 15 Recap: Upset Specials
The 2022 CFL season now enters the final one-third--the final seven weeks. Week 15 was an abbreviated week; only three games took place, with nearly the entire East Division being idle. Even so, the final one-third of the season is very important, as the remaining five spots in the 109th Grey Cup Playoffs will be filled, with the last seven weeks seeing teams jockey for position in both divisions. Week 15 began at the site of the upcoming 109th Grey Cup: Regina, Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan Roughriders hosted the Edmonton Elks, and the Riders were looking to increase their stranglehold on the crossover position.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
NFL Week 1 Recap: Super Bowl Hangover?
At long last, the NFL is back! We drink in the NFL season because it's the shortest of all of the main sports seasons, which results in the longest offseason--lasting from mid-February until early September. Though my main sport is hockey, I often find myself counting down the days until the the NFL does return, and because I play fantasy football, the eagerness increases. Nevertheless, the season is here, and what an opening week it truly was.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
CFL Week 14 Recap: Seven Weeks Left
In the CFL season, the Labour Day Weekend batch of games is often followed by a few rematches on the following week. Week 14 is also a pivotal week, as the season becomes two-thirds done, with only seven weeks left to go. While we did get a pair of rematches, Week 14 actually began with the Montréal Alouettes hosting the BC Lions, the latter being the one team who did not participate in the Labour Day Weekend festivities. This was a battle between second place teams in their respective divisions, but despite this, the teams were leagues apart in the overall standings. Even though the Lions were on the road, I (and probably many other fans) expected a lopsided win in favor of the road team.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
CFL Week 13 Recap: The Fruits of Labour
Labour Day Weekend is treated as the biggest week of the CFL season, and for good reason. It's the weekend where all of the rivalries take place--where the biggest statements are made, and where the most surprising moments become etched in the memories of many fans. In the shortened 2021 season, Labour Day Weekend took place early in the season, but with the season back to fully normal, the holiday weekend's batch of games are back in their annual scheduled position: often taking place prior to the season's home stretch.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
CFL Week 12 Recap: Back in the Saddle
When a team hits a rare lull, many wonder how said team will respond. Will they get back on track? Will it serve as just a blip on the radar? Or will the lull continue and turn into a skid? Those were the looming questions that hit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who were coming off their first loss of the season in Week 10, and a bye on Week 11. The first test came on a Thursday evening in Winnipeg, as the Bombers hosted the Calgary Stampeders in a West Division battle. It looked a bit shaky for the Bombers, as they actually trailed at halftime. It was only by one point, but still, it wasn't looking good. However, the Bombers did manage to take the lead late in the fourth, and as a result, they won 31-29 over the Stamps. A shaky return to play, but still, a win is a win.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
2022 National Football Conference Preview
As I continue to look forward to the 2022 NFL season, I came to a realization when I mapped out the current state of the NFC: the depth is decreasing. The National Football Conference doesn't appear to be as deep as it used to be, with only three teams appearing to look like strong Super Bowl threats, while the other 13 are just, well...there. Even so, as an NFC guy, I am quite fascinated about the possibilities for this conference, and the divisions involved.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
2022 American Football Conference Preview
The 2022 NFL season is upon us, and it should be a very interesting one. Part of the reason why this season should be good: the AFC is stacked! The American Football Conference had been tepid for so, so long, but signs of life started to show back in the 2020 season. It increased in the final weeks of the 2021 season, as so many teams were jockeying for position, and it looks like the AFC is definitely back to having the depth it had back in the 1990s. There are so many storylines in the AFC entering this season, and they are as follows:
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
CFL Week 11 Recap: Gaining Ground
The 2o22 Canadian Football League season has reached its midpoint: Week 11. Ten weeks preceded this, and ten weeks will follow. It's not quite late enough to talk playoffs, but it's not really early either. Week 11 featured an interesting schedule. For one, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were idle. Secondly, the four games took place in two days; doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.
By Clyde E. Dawkinsabout a year ago in Unbalanced
