Ottawa @ Toronto preview
BMO Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2019 ) Toronto 46, Ottawa 17
The Ottawa Redblacks look to end their longest losing streak in more than five years when they visit the Toronto Argonauts on Friday. The Redblacks have dropped seven straight games, including a 21-16 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos in Week 16 before going on their bye, and aim to keep their faint playoff hopes alive - they must win out and hope the Eskimos lose out - by avenging a disappointing 46-17 loss to the Argonauts on Sept. 7.
"We're just really pouring our energy in trying to get ready for Toronto and being concerned with that game," Ottawa coach Rick Campbell told reporters. "There are a lot of proud guys here who want to play good football and that will be the plan going forward." Toronto was eliminated from playoff contention following a dismal 55-8 loss to the BC Lions in Week 17. The Argonauts were on the verge of suffering one of their largest defeats in franchise history before Armanti Edwards caught a touchdown pass with six seconds left, and hope to show some fight as they strive to sweep the season series with the Redblacks for the second time in three years. "We're officially eliminated but we have a bunch of men in here … and the guys we've got will give it their all on every play," Toronto running back James Wilder Jr. told reporters. "I think we have the type of guys who will give it their all as if we were still in it."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS2, ESPNews
ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (3-11): Dominique Davis completed 15-of-23 passes for 215 yards with a rushing touchdown before suffering a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter of the loss to Edmonton and will miss Friday's clash. Dominique Rhymes hauled in five passes for 104 yards against the Eskimos to move within 50 of reaching 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his three-year career. Will Arndt, who has thrown for 185 yards and two interceptions this season, is set to make his first CFL start with Davis on the shelf for at least the next week while Ottawa released quarterback Bryan Schor and offensive lineman KC Bakker.
ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (2-12): James Franklin was limited to 32 yards on 6-of-9 passing with an interception before he was benched in the third quarter while McLeod Bethel-Thompson finished with 94 yards and a touchdown against BC. Toronto relieved general manager Jim Popp of his duties Tuesday after the club went 15-35 since he joined at the start of the 2017 season and will be replaced by Hall of Fame running back Mike "Pinball" Clemons, who played 11 years and won two Grey Cups with the Argonauts. "This season has made it clear that this team is lacking the identity and culture that has brought a record number of Grey Cups to Toronto," team president Bill Manning told reporters. "A change was necessary to put the Argos back on the path to a championship."
EXTRA POINTS
1. Ottawa has lost 11 of its last 12 games after a 2-0 start.
2. Toronto is 6-26 since the start of the 2018 season.
3. Redblacks quarterbacks have thrown a combined 23 interceptions this season.
PREDICTION: Redblacks 24, Argonauts 20