Toronto @ Calgary preview
McMahon Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jun 23, 2018 ) Calgary 41, Toronto 7
The Calgary Stampeders look to move one step closer to their third straight West Division title when they host the Toronto Argonauts on Friday. The Stampeders won three of their last four games, including a 43-28 victory against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before their off week to open up a four-point lead at the top of the division, and hope to become the first team in the CFL to clinch a playoff spot by downing the Argonauts in the regular season for the 10th straight time.
Calgary has won six consecutive games against East Division teams in 2018 by an average of 19 points and hopes to continue its dominance by improving to 7-0 at home. Toronto is left to pick up the pieces after suffering a 30-29 setback to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Week 15. The Argonauts, who shocked the Stampeders in the 2017 Grey Cup, have dropped four consecutive games and are in danger of becoming the first team since the Edmonton Eskimos in 2006 to win the championship game and miss the playoffs the following year. Toronto has lost all five road games this season and hopes to turn its fortunes around by knocking off Calgary in the regular season for the first time since a 33-27 victory Sept. 21, 2013.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, TSN
ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (3-9): McLeod Bethel-Thompson completed 32-of-44 passes for 321 yards against the Roughriders, but it wasn't enough as kicker Zack Medeiros missed a 51-yard field goal as time expired. "We lost our ninth game and we are bitterly disappointed where we are and the question will be is where we're going," Toronto coach Marc Trestman told reporters. "The season is not over from the standpoint that we have more games to play and we have to stay focused on that and try to get better each and every day." Linebacker Bear Woods made two tackles against the Roughriders before suffering a shoulder injury and his status for Friday is unknown.
ABOUT THE STAMPEDERS (10-2): Wide receiver Eric Rogers, who caught 21 passes for 328 yards and five touchdowns in five games before undergoing knee surgery in early August, could return to the lineup for Friday's clash. Wide receiver DaVaris Daniels will likely be sidelined for the next 4-to-6 weeks after he had surgery on his shoulder Monday while slotback Markeith Ambles could be in line to make his season debut. Running back Don Jackson was back at practice after missing the previous two games with a lower-body injury while defensive back Ciante Evans is poised to return after recovering from a leg issue.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Calgary is 22-2 at home since the start of the 2016 season.
2. Toronto short-yard QB James Franklin has rushed for a touchdown in six of his last seven contests.
3. Stampeders QB Bo Levi Mitchell has thrown 14 touchdown passes over his last five games.
PREDICTION: Stampeders 35, Argonauts 20