Search the Community

Finally, it's Thursday...CFL Football is back! Week 8 starts... most fans are picking Edmonton over Ottawa. Not me. EDMONTON @ OTTAWA CFL.ca Staff Thursday’s contest is the ultimate mid-season test for both squads; injury-ravaged Edmonton faces a long trek east to face a determined REDBLACKS team, while Ottawa would love nothing more than to break its losing trend by handing the Esks their first loss of 2017. West Division teams have won nine straight games against East Division opponents. Through seven weeks of football, a mere 36 points separate the Edmonton Eskimos (plus-28) from the Ottawa REDBLACKS (minus-8). By The Numbers 3 – Interceptions for Edmonton linebacker Kenny Ladler. 11:2 – TD-INT ratio for Edmonton’s Mike Reilly, the best mark amongst all starting quarterbacks. 204 – Completions allowed by Ottawa’s defence, the most in the CFL. 702 – League-high receiving yards for REDBLACKS receiver Greg Ellingson. GM Marcel Desjardins pointed to turnovers as a major cause for Ottawa’s early-season struggles; protecting the rock will be critical on Thursday against an Esks team that ranks top-two in possession (32:34), sacks allowed (10) and offensive turnovers (6). In contrast, the REDBLACKS have allowed six more sacks and sit last in turnovers (13). 3downnation Edmonton visits Ottawa on Thursday night coming off a 33-28 home win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The hard-luck Redblacks lost a 33-30 home decision to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and their five losses have been by a combined 13 points. That includes a 23-21 setback in Edmonton on July 14. Edmonton is 6-0 to start a season for the first time since 1961 and is doing it with a depleted roster. But a constant is quarterback Mike Reilly, who stands fourth overall in passing yards (1,945) and third in touchdowns (11). Dunk: Edmonton can close. Simple. ESKS Hodge: Ottawa will turn this thing around… but not this week. ESKS Edwards: Edmonton has been finding a way, Ottawa not so much. ESKS Gasson: The streak will end eventually but not yet. ESKS Busby: There’s a desperation in the home side the visitors won’t match. REDBLACKS Smith: Ottawa needs this. Badly. REDBLACKS Filoso: Edmonton’s injuries finally catch up with them. REDBLACKS Totals: ESKS 4 REDBLACKS 3