If I were a cardiologist, I’d probably be loving the CFL these days for all the new business.

Fresh off it’s brand new “No Lead Is Safe” ad campaign, the league served up a couple of comeback doozies in week 17 that were guaranteed to raise blood pressure.

In Toronto, the Argos came back from the dead to mount a furious 21-point comeback in the fourth quarter against the Eskimos. And out in the Peg, the Bombers stormed back from 15 points down in the final frame for a crucial victory over the Als to wake up their hopes of hosting the East Division final.

Watching all that fight-back definitely taught me a couple of things about the hearts beating around the CFL.

LESSON 1: RECORDS CAN’T MEASURE PULSE

To be brutally honest, watching the Argos labour to a 31-3 deficit last Friday night through three quarters, I was more than willing to infer the team had given up on the remainder of the season now that they’ve been completely eliminated from playoff contention.

Man, I couldn’t have been more off base.

As soon as the fourth quarter started, Toronto got some pep in their step like they’d been hit by lightning. A couple of big runs by Cory Boyd, some nice field position provided by Chad Owens on teams, a couple of big turnovers provided by the Double Blue’s defence, and one sweet onside kick later, and the Argos were right back in the game in a blink of an eye.

It’s a testament to the pulse in Toronto’s locker room that they’d even get within a sniff of the Esks down by that big a margin heading into the fourth. It also shows the potential talent on the roster that they could fight back at all.

Just like the CFL’s new ad says, if 31-3 ain’t safe, no lead is.

LESSON 2: THE BOMBERS’ D + A BIG BREEZE = A BIG WIN

Up 25-10 heading into the final frame in Winnipeg, the Als looked to have a lock on hosting another East Final. But Big Blue took advantage of having he wind at their backs and a raucous, capacity crowd willing them on to score two quick majors and a field goal in the last 15 minutes to steal one at home.

The quality of the competition and the importance of the tilt combined, it was a huge gut-check win for the Bombers. Full credit has to go to the Bombers’ defence for harassing Anthony Calvillo into three very uncharacteristic picks. And RB Chris Garret deserves big props for squirting through a tough Montreal run defence for big runs to tilt the field the Bombers’ way down the stretch.

Not much has separated the Als and the Bombers this season, only 9 points in three games. And Sunday, the difference came down to a coin toss to earn the wind in many respects.

One thing’s for sure, if these two teams meet again in the East final, put money on it being the most entertaining final in recent years.

FT55 AWARDS PREVIEW

With two weeks left to the season, it’s still a bit early to pass out the major kudos for 2011, but a few of the season’s high (or low)lights are already in the bag.

Heartstopping Plays of the Year: (tie) Winnipeg’s two plays from the Alouettes’ one-yard line with only seconds remaining in their week 14 slugout. Two Alex Brink wedge sneaks from the one as time expired had blood pressures boiling from Montreal to Winnipeg, no doubt. And regardless of how you feel about the PI call that got the Bombers down to the one, the pays that ensued were grand theatre, no doubt.

Fountain of Youth Award: Paul McCallum. Unbelievable accuracy and dependability for a player of any age, much less his.

Greatest Milestone in a Struggling Season: Chad Owens’ 3000+ yards of all-purpose production.

Favorite TV Moment: The video tribute in Montreal after Anthony Calvillo broke the all-time passing yardage record. First class all the way.

Sideline Courage Award: Tough call, but I’ll go with Riders’ head coach Ken Miller for standing tall for his club in the midst of a harsh year.

WEEK 18 PICKS DOOMED TO FAIL

With the way the division races are battling back and forth and how effective pride has been in tilts of late, I’m a little leery of picking games based on last week’s form, but here goes: Winnipeg, Hamilton, Edmonton, and Montreal.

UP NEXT

The playoff picture in both division might just be a little clearer after this weekend’s games, so be sure to check back early next week to see how my predictions are faring.

Until then, take care and bundle up.  The air’s getting chilly, and that usually means the games are heating up.