Toronto @ Ottawa preview
TD Place Stadium
Last Meeting ( Nov 2, 2018 ) Toronto 9, Ottawa 24
The Ottawa Redblacks look to climb back in the hunt for a playoff spot when they return from their off week to host the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday. The Redblacks have dropped seven of their last eight games, including a disappointing 40-18 setback to the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Aug. 24, to fall four points behind the second-place Montreal Alouettes in the East Division and hope to stay within striking distance by notching their first home win since Week 2.
"If we find a way to win a game or two then all of a sudden we're right back in the mix," Ottawa coach Rick Campbell told reporters. "We have to keep our chin up and keep working as there's too much football left." Toronto blew a double-digit lead for the second straight game in a 38-27 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Labour Day Classic to fall eight points off a playoff spot in the East Division. The Argonauts led by 13 points at intermission but were outscored 27-3 in the second half en route to their sixth straight loss to the Tiger-Cats on Labour Day and hope to right the ship by posting their first road win since Nov. 4, 2017. "It was a tough loss as we went out there and battled in the first half but just couldn't get it done in the second," Toronto wide receiver Derel Walker told reporters. "We can play with any team in this league it's just closing out the game and limiting our mistakes."
TV: 1 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS2
ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (1-9): McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw for 337 yards and two touchdowns against Hamilton to surpass 300 passing yards for the sixth time in his last eight starts. Walker was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after hauling in nine passes for a career-high 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns while James Wilder Jr. accounted for 53 yards from scrimmage against the Tiger-Cats after he was a healthy scratch in the previous two games. Running back Brandon Burks and left tackle Isiah Cage will be sidelined once more after they were placed on the six-game injured list.
ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (3-7): Jonathon Jennings took first-team reps in practice Tuesday and is the confirmed starter this weekend after coming off the bench in relief of Dominique Davis, who threw three interceptions in the first quarter against Saskatchewan. Jennings went 16-of-26 for 208 yards and a touchdown against the Roughriders and will make his third career start for Ottawa after going 21-of-33 for 170 yards and three interceptions in losses to Winnipeg and Calgary. Running back Mossis Madu Jr. is likely to get the start with John Crockett nursing an undisclosed injury.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Redblacks have scored a league-low 12 offensive touchdowns.
2. The Argonauts have lost 14 consecutive road games.
3. Davis and Jennings have thrown a combined 17 interceptions this season.
PREDICTION: Redblacks 27, Argonauts 23