Hamilton @ Edmonton preview

Hamilton at Edmonton

Last Meeting ( Aug 23, 2018 ) Edmonton 24, Hamilton 25

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats look to bounce back from their first loss since Aug. 1 when they visit the Edmonton Eskimos on Friday. The Tiger-Cats seemed poised to pick up their first victory in Calgary since 2004 but Lirim Hajrullahu's 42-yard field goal was blocked in the final minute of the 19-18 loss to the Calgary Stampeders in Week 14 and they hope to get over the disappointment by becoming the first team in the CFL to clinch a playoff berth with their third straight victory over the Eskimos.

"We'll learn and grow from this," Hamilton quarterback Dane Evans told reporters. "Every man just has to look at themselves in the mirror and figure out why we were flat." Edmonton had an extra week to stew over back-to-back losses to Calgary, especially the 33-17 home setback in the Labour Day rematch Sept. 7. The Eskimos have dropped three consecutive games overall, including two straight at home after starting out 4-0 at Commonwealth Stadium, to tumble into fourth place in the West Division standings and hope to avoid falling below .500 by knocking off the Tiger-Cats for the first time since Aug. 4, 2017. "We're not really looking at it like three losses in a row … we're just erasing that out from our mind," Edmonton linebacker Don Unamba told reporters. "This week we have Hamilton and that's our focus right now."

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (9-3): Evans completed 34-of-43 passes for 360 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn't enough as the Tiger-Cats suffered their 15th consecutive regular-season loss to Calgary. Brandon Banks caught eight passes for 105 yards and a touchdown to move within 30 of becoming the first Hamilton player to record three consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards since Darren Flutie from 1999-2001. Defensive back Tunde Adeleke is questionable after suffering an undisclosed injury against the Stampeders and running back Tyrell Sutton could be in line to make his first start since being signed as a free agent Sept. 9.

ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (6-6): Trevor Harris, who leads the CFL in passing yards (3,706) and total touchdowns (21), didn't practice Tuesday and his status is unknown after suffering an injury to his throwing hand in the loss to Calgary. Logan Kilgore completed 21-of-28 passes for 242 yards to go along with a rushing touchdown against the Stampeders and will get the starting nod if Harris isn't cleared to play. Edmonton is set to get back two key players as starting left tackle Tommie Draheim (arm) and defensive back Forrest Hightower (lower body) will return to the lineup after coming off the six-game injured list.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Evans is averaging 324 yards passing in his last four outings.

2. Kilgore has thrown two touchdown passes compared to 11 interceptions in eight career games.

3. Edmonton K Sean Whyte is 13-for-13 on field goals over his last four games.

PREDICTION: Eskimos 24, Tiger-Cats 20