Third Down Gamble

It's CFL post-season, but we will keep going weekly to get you through this off-season.  First Down: Elks establish committee look into new ideas for ownership.  Elks and Stampeders need massive renovations or new stadiums.  Saskatchewan hire Toronto Defensive Coordinator Corey Mace as the Roughriders' new Head Coach.  Second Down:  Blue Bombers sign Gneral Manager Kyle Walters to an extension, Wi...

Grey Cup 110: Montreal 28 Winnipeg 24.  A game for the ages... this game showcased the greatness of CFL football.  Montreal defies the odds with a never-back-down attitude, Cover '0', a right or wrong call by Winnipeg's Defensive Coordinator Richie Hall on Tyson Philpots game-winning touchdown in the waning seconds.  Second Down: Montreal QB Cody Fajardo's big second half, Austin Mack's unbelievab...

Are the Blue Bombers a dynasty? Are the Elks for sale?  Second Down: Alouettes pull off major upset in the East Final while Blue Bombers' defense dominates in the West Final.  We learn that Toronto QB Chad Kelly was concussed maybe as early as the first quarter versus Montreal.  Third Down: Grey Cup 110 in Hamilton, the Blue Bombers are favoured by more than a touchdown, can the Alouettes defense...

Is Bo Levi Mitchell done in Hamilton?  Is Chris Edwards done in Hamilton?  Khari Jones is done in Ottawa.  Second Down: Alouettes and Lions prevail, 2022 repeats.  Third Down: Is an upset possible in either Divisional Final? (recorded November 8, 2023)

MOP finalists announced. Alouettes do it again. Second Down: Alouettes - Tiger-Cats prep for thier rematch, Argos make it to 16 wins.  Third Down: It's CFL Playoff time! Semi-Final Saturday: Montreal vs Hamilton, BC vs Calgary (recorded November 1, 2023)

Roughriders do not renew contract of Head Coach Craig Dickenson but do extend contract of General Manager Jeremy O'Day.  A one-division CFL?  Second Down: Stampeders lockup a playoff spot with an impressive win in BC along with a nailbiting loss to Toronto by the Roughriders.  Third Down: hard to gauge the final weekend with all playoff races over (recorded October 24, 2023).

Are Craig Dickenson's days in Saskatchewan over? Flag Football is in the Olympics in 2028, what does this mean?  Second Down:  Is the booth interfering with game-play by reviewing penalty calls without a Coach's Challenge? When offside is not offside (the waggle interpretation). Third Down: Calgary visits BC in a must-win for both teams, can Toronto continue their dominance when they play in Regin...

What happened to the Lions versus Winnipeg? Is the Waggle going too far? Total plays-per-game are down by 10 from 2016, time for a hard return to play 32 or 34 second clock?  Second Down: Roughriders lose... again. Elks and RedBlacks are eliminated from the playoffs.  Third Down: massive game in Calgary (recorded October 10, 2023).

A CFL legend passes away, George Reed #34 (1966 Grey Cup game-audio courtesy CBC). Montreal's Jeshrun Antwi makes a brilliant play against Ottawa.  The crossover can only go West, Ottawa has a faint hope.  Second Down: Argonauts scare the Blue Bombers, Roughriders stumble, Stampeders can't score a touhdown.  Third Down: the showdown... Lions vs. Blue Bombers fight for first Friday night (recorded...

CFL playoff races heat up, a 10 second runoff(???) and when is a quarterback not a quartback. Second Down: Ottawa almost gives up another massive fourth-quarter lead, Montreal's defense looks great.  Third Down: Winniepg versus Toronto, too late for this matchup?  (recorded September 26, 2023).

When do you go for a field goal when down two scores?  Should tackles/blocks knees and below be banned? Second Down: all four CFL Week 15  games came down to the final minutes. Third Down: is Ottawa overdue? Is Montreal overrated? (recorded September 19, 2023).

Ejection: when a punch does and/or does not merit one. What's up with the Banjo Bowl? Can Ottawa stop their slide? Second Down: Toronto and Winnipeg walk, Tiger-Cats and Elks win games. Third Down: can Winnipeg cover in Hamilton? Huge game in Regina (recorded September 12, 2023).

The CFL moves quickly to suspend Roughriders' Pete Robertson.  Second Down: Lions right themselves, Roughriders win in overtime, Stampeders mount huge comeback.  Third Down: Ottawa and Edmonton are in trouble to stay in the playoff hunt if they do not win. What will be the atmosphere in Winnipeg Saturday? (recorded September 5, 2023).

QB Nathan Rourke is released by the NFL Jaguars. When is Booth involvement in game-play too much?  Second Down: Argos-Stampeders play a spectular game, Tiger-Cats upset Lions, Elks win at home. Third Down: Road teams favoured in three of four Labour Day Weekend games (recorded August 29, 2023).

Edmonton Elks name Rick Lelacheur President and CEO. Tiger-Cats facing huge uphill climb to get on-track.  Second Down: Elks win, Roughriders win changes West playoff landscape, Stampeders come close. Third Down: Three home teams heavily favoured, RedBlacks and Elks meet in huge pick-em game Sunday.

Elks' President Victor Cui is out in Edmonton.  Second Down: Is it time to trade Zach Collaros? All 24 helps the booth, Toronto wins at home, Elks don't. Third Down: Where will the Elks streak end, could it be in Hamilton? Do the Ottawa hosts Montreal in a huge game (recorded August 15, 2023). 

Another Offensive Coordinator is out (first Stephen McAdoo in Edmonton, now Tommy Condell in Hamilton).  Only four quarterbacks have started every week for their team, that number may drop to two in CFL Week 9. Can more be done to protect quarterbacks?  Second Down: Winnipeg mauls the Lions, RedBlacks almost pull-off another comeback win in Regina. Third Down: Will both Cody Fajardo and Chad Kelly...

Elks name a new offensive coordinator, is that enough to change course? Hamilton's Bo Levi Mitchell injured late versus Ottawa, what happened? Second Down: Lions win with second shutout of the year (first defence to do so since 1970); Edmonton sets record with 21-straight home-losses.  Third Down: can BC win in Winnipeg... again; can Calgary win at home; four three-win teams to battle each other o...

Stats please... the new system rolling out statistics still has its bugs. First Nations quarterbacks meet in BC. Second Down: Argos roll, RedBlacks-Stampeders play an overtime classic.  Third Down: Can the Elks bookend their streak with a win over BC (recorded July 25, 2023).

Sadly two more quarterbacks go down to injury, raising to 16 the number of different QB's starting a CFL game in 2023. Second Down: some wild finishes highlight CFL Week 6, all one win teams are victorious, the East has won five of nine games versus the West. Third Down: CFl Wekk 7 sees huge points spreads favouring Winnipeg and BC, can these be trusted? (recorded July 19, 2023).

Jeremiah Masoli's unfortunate injury leaves Ottawa reeling. Proof the 20 second clock is not what think, Winnipeg shows us how.  C.J. Sims' single... who is to blame?  Second Down: The West is starting to separate itself, Eastern teams holding their own. Tiger-Cats finally win.  Third Down: will the Elks finally win? Will Calgary QB Jake Maier finally break through in 2023? (recorded July 12, 2023...

Jeremiah Masoli named as RedBlacks' starting QB versus Hamilton.  Number of plays per CFL game is down again, is it time to introduce a hard 'return to play' clock. Second Down: Winnipeg and Toronto win big, Ottawa wins but loses Tyree Adams. Third Down: can home teams cover?

Road teams sweep for the first time since 2017. Chris Edwards, was his fine enough? Kai Locksley is out in Edmonton. Which coach is in trouble? Second Down: BC makes an early statement. Third Down: Argos verus Lions on holiday Monday, undefeated showdown (recorded June 28, 2023).

The reason to challenge in Regina, but then did the booth go too far in Vancouver?  When does a team need kick a field goal, when to go for a touchdown. Bo Levi Mitchell is out, can Mathew Shiltz lead the Tiger-Cats to wins? Winnipeg is scoring at a wild pace, is their defence in trouble?  Winnipeg versus BC, the undefeateds clash (recorded June 21, 2023).

CFL Week 1 is in... are there any quarterbacks that are in trouble heading into Week 2? Is there a chance McMahon Stadium can be renovated? Serious news from BC practice. Second Down: Hamilton nearly takes advantage of three Winnipeg turnovers to almost rally out of a 29-4 halftime deficit. Third Down: Can Ottawa break their home losing streak? Our picks for Week 2 are in (recorded June 14, 2023).