Saskatchewan @ Edmonton preview
The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 8, 2018 ) Edmonton 12, Saskatchewan 19
The Saskatchewan Roughriders look to stay in the hunt for their first West Division title in 10 years when they visit the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday. The Roughriders have won four of their last five games, including a 27-19 victory against the BC Lions last week, to pull into a first-place tie with the Calgary Stampeders, but conceded the tiebreaker following a 30-28 setback on Oct. 11, and must win out while hoping Calgary drops a game in order to clinch the division title.
Saskatchewan is still in prime position to host a playoff game for the second straight year and can do so if it can knock off the Eskimos or if the Winnipeg Blue Bombers lose this weekend. Edmonton clinched the crossover playoff spot with a 19-6 victory over the BC Lions before going on a bye last week. The Eskimos had dropped five of their previous six games to fall below .500 and leave the door open a crack for the Lions to potentially sneak into the playoffs, but they fended off the challenge and will travel to Montreal for the East Division semifinal on Nov. 10. Edmonton received a huge boost with the news that quarterback Trevor Harris, who was leading the CFL in passing yards before hurting his throwing arm, was activated off the six-game injured list and is ready to make his first start since Sept. 7.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN
ABOUT THE ROUGHRIDERS (11-5): Cody Fajardo completed 21-of-27 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown while William Powell added 111 rushing yards against the Lions. Fajardo signed a two-year contract extension, which will keep the former University of Nevada star in Regina until 2021 while offensive lineman Dan Clark is questionable after suffering a suspected concussion against the Lions. "It feels great knowing that they have trust in me in who I am and as a player," Fajardo told reporters. "It was a no-brainer for me as I never wanted to test free agent waters and never wanted to look into playing down south."
ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (8-8): Logan Kilgore was 18-of-29 for 194 yards versus the Lions and will be the backup Saturday after recovering from a punctured tongue. C.J. Gable, who needs three rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the second straight season, is questionable after missing the win over BC with a knee problem while Harris is ready to return to the fold after missing four games. "This is the longest I've ever been out in football and it was kind of weird because every other injury I've had I've been able to power through," Harris told reporters. "It was strange but I'm just blessed to be back and thankful to be a part of this great organization."
EXTRA POINTS
1. Powell leads all non-quarterbacks with 14 total touchdowns.
2. Edmonton WR Greg Ellingson has caught a pass in 60 consecutive games.
3. Harris has registered three 400-yard passing games in 2019.
PREDICTION: Roughriders 27, Eskimos 21