This past weekend was a rare treat for me since I had the opportunity to attend games in Toronto and Montreal. As much as I love TSN’s coverage of the league, there’s just no substitute for seeing games in person, and I made the most of my chance.

Unbelievably, both games I saw featured crazy comebacks and incredibly tense endings. As advertisements for the fact that no CFL lead is ever safe, full credit definitely goes out to the Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Ticats for fighting until the closing gun.

Even though I’m still reeling from my whirlwind trip up to Canada, here are a few of my quick thoughts on Week 16’s action:

A TALE OF TWO COMEBACKS

Steven Jyles’ solid performance against the Stamps on the Argos’ game-winning last drive should go a long way towards quieting his critics.  As offensively challenged as Toronto’s been this year, they played like the team many pundits thought they’d be down the stretch against Calgary, and Jyles executed with confidence and poise right when his team needed him to. 

Of course, a few kudos have to go out to Cory Boyd and Chad Owens, too, for playing up to their own expectations when called upon finally.

For their parts, the Stamps fought back in the game valiantly after coming out surprisingly flat in the first half. Back-up pivot Drew Tate played with some serious urgency and fire in relief of Henry Burris. There’s no denying the sudden impact Tate had on the Stamps’ offence when he entered the fray. In fact, it earned him the starting nod this weekend when Calgary hosts Saskatchewan.

My heart goes out to a competitor like Henry Burris for losing his starting job, but it’s a performance business, and no one, not even the reigning MOP is exempt from that cruel fact.

PAYBACK IN TITLETOWN

If one thing was clear in all the pre-game build up, it was the fact that many of the Eskimos still held a grudge for the Blue Bombers for calling a halt to their early-season win streak. Saturday night’s game gave the Esks the perfect forum to get some payback, and they took it.

All night, the Eskimos’ front seven pressured and pounded Buck Pierce. And the pressure showed itself in the sack and turnover tallies. Edmonton cornered Pierce into three picks, and they really managed to knock him off his game completely. LB Rod Davis had a monster game with seven tackles, a sack, a pick, and a forced fumble. Unreal.

For the umpteenth time this season, Winnipeg had serious trouble stringing together drives on offence. And no amount of solid defence can beat the short fields Edmonton enjoyed off those turnovers.

The Esks’ win put them in prime position to go neck and neck with the B.C. Lions down the stretch. It also put Winnipeg behind the eight ball in the East and facing a crucial battle with the Alouettes in week 17.

THE PROBLEM WITH COMEBACKS

Through three quarters, it really looked like the Als were having a walk in the park at home against the Ticats. Sitting in the press box watching the game unfold, I would never have thought the game could turn around for Hamilton after the Als took a 21-9 lead after 45 minutes of play.

But a 16-point explosion by the Cats in the final frame tightened the game all the way back to 27-26. And Quinton Porter had a real shot to tie it with a two-point conversion before Chip Cox broke up his pass to an open Aaron Kelly in the end zone.

Both Porter and starter Kevin Glenn did their part to execute the two-headed QB rotation Hamilton seems intent on deploying for the remainder of the season. But Montreal was simply too efficient and too talented at home on the day.

Anthony Calvillo was his usual all-pro self, as were Jamel Richardson and Brandon Whitaker. And giventhe way the three have played all season long, it’s going to take a jack-hammer to separate them in the race to be the Alouettes’ MOP nominee.

B.C. REIGNS ON THE PLAINS

The hottest team in the CFL took its act to Regina this weekend and got out of Mosaic with their eighth straight win on the way to maintaining their spot atop the West.

Travis Lulay had another stellar day pushing the ball downfield to his receivers, and Andrew Harris continued to produce big time.

Defensively, the Lions were just too much for a limping Riders’ attack. With Darian Durant’s mobility impaired, B.C.’s front seven were in swarm mode. James Yurichuk, Anton McKenzie, and Keron Williams were all bests racking up 17 tackles and three sacks collectively.

As confidently as Lulay is playing on offence, and as aggressive as B.C.’s defence is these days, they’ll be a tough out come November. And the sense that the Lions are odds on favourites to play in their own Grey Cup keeps building by the week.

WHO GETS MY VOTE THIS SEASON

I know it’s a little early to award trophies, but here are a few I’m sold on already:

Most Outstanding Player—With much respect to Anthony Calvillo and Brandon Whitaker, I’m picking Jamel Richardson for MOP.  With everyone in the house knowing the ball’s coming his way, Richardson has been dominant this season.

Coach of the Year—I’m calling this one a draw between Wally Buono and Paul LaPolice.  No matter what happens this post-season, LaPolice has gotten more out of his team than anyone expected, and Buono has managed to pull a 180 again with the Lions’ season, making all the right decisions strategically and personnel-wise to get his team on a serious roll heading into November.

Rookie of the Year—Two months ago, I would have gone with Ticats’ WR Chris Williams, but he hit a plateau.  The Eskimos’ J.C. Sherritt has performed consistently well, however, hovering near the top of the league’s tackle tally all season. And he’s definitely earned my vote through 16 weeks.

FT55 PRIMETIME PERFORMERS (Hall of Fame Edition)

1)    Jack Abendschan

2)    Damon Allen

3)    Tyrone Jones

4)    Eric LaPointe

5)    Milt Stegall

6)    David Braley

7)    Peter Connellan

WEEK 17 PREDICTIONS DOOMED TO FAIL

With so much playoff positioning on the line in Week 17, it’s tough to get a feel for the games.  Logic would lead me to go with the teams on winning streaks, but the desperation factor of teams looking to stay in the running for playoff byes completely complicates the choices.

On my gut, I’m backing the Esks, the Als, and the Ticats, logic notwithstanding.

UP NEXT

Check back to see how my gut performs on those picks.  I’ll also have a few FT55 awards to pass out as we head into crunch time.  And, as always, I’ll weigh in with my take on all the week 17 action.

Until then, be safe and enjoy the home stretch.