Toronto @ Edmonton preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 16, 2017 ) Edmonton 26, Toronto 34

The visiting Toronto Argonauts look to keep their precarious grip on first place in the East Division when they visit the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday. The Argonauts dropped a 27-24 decision to the Saskatchewan Roughriders to see their lead dwindle to one point over the Ottawa Redblacks, but still control their own destiny and can win their first division crown since 2013 by sweeping the season series against the Eskimos coupled with a loss by Ottawa.

"I feel like we're playing well and making small improvements each week," Toronto quarterback Ricky Ray told reporters. "But for us to get to that next level we have to find a way to clean some things up and make some more plays." Edmonton snapped a seven-game skid with a 42-24 road victory against the Montreal Alouettes in Week 16. The Eskimos overcame a sluggish start to outscore the struggling Alouettes 19-3 in the second half to move into a third-place tie with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and can clinch a playoff spot if they down the Argonauts and the BC Lions fall to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. "We needed to get this win to get where we want to be," Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly told reporters. "When it gets to October the games carry a lit of weight toward the postseason."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (7-8): Running back James Wilder Jr. caught seven passes for 89 yards and added another 72 on the ground before suffering a suspected concussion late in the fourth quarter against Saskatchewan and is questionable for Saturday's clash. Bear Woods, who leads the team in tackles (79), sat out the loss to the Roughriders with costochondritis, which is inflammation of the cartilage in the rib cage that causes chest pain, but is expected to return Saturday while defensive back Brandon Harris is questionable with a leg injury. Toronto added running back Trey Williams, who was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers in September, to the practice roster with Wilder's status still up in air.

ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (8-6): Reilly threw for 286 yards and a pair of touchdowns to go along with 43 rushing yards before hurting his ankle late in the third quarter but the 32-year-old is expected to play Saturday. Brandon Zylstra continues to have a career year as he hauled in seven passes for 201 yards and a score while C.J. Gable rushed for 111 yards and accounted for two touchdowns in his first game since being acquired from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week. James Franklin passed for 34 yards, including a 25-yard scoring strike to Duke Williams, in relief of Reilly.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Zylstra is averaging 146.6 receiving yards over his last five games.

2. Toronto has lost five of its six games against West Division opponents in 2017.

3. Wilder has accounted for 717 yards from scrimmage in his last four games.

PREDICTION: Eskimos 27, Argonauts 23