Ottawa @ Toronto preview
BMO Field
Last Meeting ( Oct 11, 2019 ) Ottawa 21, Toronto 28
The Ottawa Redblacks look to end their longest losing skid in franchise history when they visit the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday. The Redblacks have dropped nine consecutive games, including a 33-12 setback to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week, to miss out on a postseason bid for the first time in five years and hope to salvage some pride by avenging a pair of losses to the Argonauts in which they were outscored 74-38.
"I appreciate our players' effort but we're not in this for effort we're in this to win," Ottawa coach Rick Campbell told reporters. "We need to keep working and do the right things, which is to show up for work and put our best foot forward." Toronto is left to lick its wounds following a heartbreaking 27-24 loss to the Montreal Alouettes. The Argonauts' late rally to force overtime came up short after Tyler Crapigna missed a 51-yard field goal as time expired and they hope to get over the disappointment by sweeping the season series with the Redblacks for the second time in the last three years. "Guys are still competing and that's the biggest thing," Toronto coach Corey Chamblin told reporters. "Even the way the season has gone the guys are still competing and they are trying to find a way to win."
TV: 4 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS
ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (3-13): McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw for 342 yards and a pair of touchdowns, going over 300 yards for the ninth time this season while adding a rushing score. S.J. Green hauled in nine passes for 83 yards and a touchdown to overtake Earl Winfield (10,119) for 15th place on the CFL's all-time receiving yards list with 10,163. Wide receiver Derel Walker, who has 65 receptions for a team-high 1,040 yards and six touchdowns this season, is questionable after missing the previous game with an unspecified injury while Chamblin revealed he plans to use backup quarterbacks Dakota Prukop and Michael O'Conner at some point in Saturday's clash.
ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (3-13): Will Arndt was limited to 112 yards on 17-of-30 passing in his second career start while Lewis Ward kicked four field goals, including one from 56 yards which was the longest in franchise history. Former Toronto running back Brendan Gillanders rushed for 50 yards on eight carries in his second straight start with Mossis Madu Jr. still nursing an undisclosed injury. Defensive back Antoine Pruneau (right leg) and running back John Crockett (arm) came off the six-game injured list and could return to the fold Saturday.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Ottawa has scored a league-low 16 touchdowns this season.
2. Toronto is 7-27 since winning the Grey Cup in 2017.
3. The Redblacks have been held to 18 points or fewer in eight of their last nine games.
PREDICTION: Argonauts 30, Redblacks 17