Sandra's WK20 CFL Power Grouping

What do you do on a very snowy and cold Sunday afternoon when you find yourself with a couple extra hours?  You get out your fancy double ended markers and set to doodling.  That's right folks...you've got yourself a Garfunkel for Week 20 in the CFL.

The way I saw things in Week 20 was as you can see in the above Halloween graphic was the league divided into not an A, B and C but more of an Us versus Them.

Pumpkin (Group A) - Hamilton TigerCats/Saskatchewan Roughriders/Calgary Stampeders/Winnipeg Blue Bombers/Montreal Alouettes

Headstone (Group B) - Edmonton Eskimos/Toronto Argonauts/BC Lions/Ottawa Redblacks

The Hamilton TigerCats might be grinning ear to ear like Mr Jack O'Lantern sitting atop the whole CFL with 14 wins under their belt however, I've heard discussion about how easy it is for them in the east with how dismal their division opponents are.  It's been a while since they've had to play a strong western team.  They finish their season against Toronto so now doubt this record setting season will end at 15 wins for Hamilton.

My Saskatchewan Roughriders were on the road to Edmonton and as some people put it "nothing good happens in Edmonton".  Well many were ready to stop believing at half time and I even remarked that if I believed social media I'd be in the back yard burning my jersey.  Thank God things turned around in the second half as the Riders took gradual control of the game and ended with a walk off Field Goal on the leg of Brett Lauther for the second time this season.  They find a way to win.  Isn't that what I said was always so admirable about the Stampeders?  Well one thing if one can admire them...  because I find it so hard to like Bo Levi Mitchell.  He is very quick to call out his team mates.  Contrast that to Cody Fajardo who says he can't do with without the support of everyone else.  There is just so much to admire about Cody and it's not just the sprinkles.

Not football related but while the Riders versus Eskimo game was playing out in Edmonton, Regina was hosting it's first NHL game with the Heritage Classic at Mosaic Stadium.  The stadium looked absolutely glorious on tv and the aerial shots were awe inspiring reminding me of what Taylor Field had looked like at the 2013 Grey Cup.  Imagine how sparkly Mosaic will be when hosting in 2020.  Before all that happened though there was a fellow on Twitter who posted something about how people shouldn't wear Rider gear to other sporting events and of course people rebelled but then the best thing happened - Don Cherry himself appeared on TV wearing a beautifully tailored Roughrider blazer.  Anyone going to tell Grapes he can't don Rider gear for a hockey game?  Look the bottom line is - wear whatever the hell you want and stop looking around judging other people.  We spend $200+ on jerseys and it's a shame to hide them in a closet.  Wear your fandom with pride no matter what team you support.

Photo c/o Twitter post

Zach Collaros started for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and many have said "he's back".  While it might appear so there is next to zero film on Collaros in 2019 and it seemed the Stampeders hadn't really game planned for him at all.  With the protection of the Bomber O Line and running back Andrew Harris they were able to come out victorious.  Many Rider fans were cheering for the Bombers to help out in the west division standings or were they cheering AGAINST the Stampeders?  ABC!

I did tune in for the Hamilton Montreal game but honestly as entertaining as it was the game was meaningless as the stage is set for the eastern playoffs.  Vernon Adams was pulled after orchestrating two touchdowns.  A lot of starters also sat out the game but even so a team of back ups nearly beat the division champs.  Let's think about what's going to happen in the east final if Montreal turns out to be their opponent.

Even though I did lump the Edmonton Eskimos into the "other" group I did think that they should have come out victorious against my Roughriders Saturday.  At times the Edmonton sidelines looked confused at what was transpiring on the field.  The Esks have a great offensive and defensive line and with the return of Trevor Harris are a much improved team.  They come into Regina for the rematch in Week 21 and then head off to the east as the cross over team where I think they stand a good chance of beating the Als.

The seasons are pretty much done for the Argos, Lions and Redblacks.  Fans at ABC Rider Fans area already discussing which coaches will be fired or who will be the first to go.  Another discussion is who the MOP's and Coaches of the Year should be.  It's fun when your team is involved in those but not so much when you're team is already in next year mode.  I'll let you know that times do get better and sometimes things are a blessing in disguise.  When Chris Jones left the Riders in February or even when Collaros went down after 3 plays no one would have thought the Riders would be battling for first in the west.  Things can change quickly in the CFL.  Just don't stop believing.