OUT OF THE TUNNEL: A DEAD HEAT

Offences struggled, simple mistakes and a couple of games that were tough to watch popped up this week. This truly felt like the second game of the CFL pre-season, except for Montreal.

So with two games in the books (except for the aforementioned Alouettes and the Ottawa Redblacks who have both won their lone game) and what we know is that we still don’t know. We think that is going to be the tone for the whole season and we love it.

Yes, Calgary and Hamilton are winless but both teams are very capable of turning things around very quickly and the same can be said for the single win Als and Redblacks. We’re not sure what’s going on with 0-2 Edmonton other than that it’s a new regime.

Last week we were all positive but this week it’s back to normal time so here are three ups and three downs after two weeks.

The top of the West Division looks really good.

Saskatchewan and Winnipeg were both pegged to make the playoffs by most pundits across the country. The 2019 West Division finalists have made quick work of their opponents just two weeks into the 2021 season and both in very similar ways.

The defending Grey Cup Champion Blue Bombers are winning almost solely on their defence. Opposing offences haven’t cracked 300 net yards of offence and a grand total of 13 points and just a single touchdown in two games. 

The Bomber offence is where they can improve. The best way to describe their offence is efficient. Zach Collaros is averaging 256 yards through the air but the four touchdowns to one interception is where he is shining.

The Roughriders defence is a little different but with the same lethal results. The Green and White allow a lot of yards through the air but their ball-hawking secondary (four interceptions) and a defensive line (eight sacks) that wreaks havoc has thus far put a stop to almost anything. Don’t even think about running against them.

The Rider offence has also been good. Cody Fajardo has almost been lock-step with Collaros in his efficiency but with offensive coordinator Jason Maas leading the way fireworks may be in the future.

These two are well on their way to a West Division final rematch (can’t wait)!

THE UNDER

Eight games are now in the books and seven of the games have finished with the under in total points. The only game that didn’t was the Roughriders 33-29 victory over the B.C. Lions in Week 1. The Lions are also a sneaky team in the ‘up’ category. If it wasn’t for some poor kicking in Week 1, they would sit atop of the West Division.

The 30 point mark has been cracked just three times, twice by Saskatchewan and Sunday by Montreal. Bookies still haven’t dropped the over/under marks with this past week seeing most totals in the 48-50 mark. This should change in the next couple of weeks by either offences gaining momentum or sports books hitting the reset button on the total points.

CFL RATINGS

Now this was an up for Week 1 but could change when the Week 2 ratings come out. In the face of the tail end of the Olympics, Week 1 of the CFL (as per TSN PR) was up 30 per cent on average against week one of the 2019 season.

Some may think this isn’t a big enough jump in viewers but considering how every major sport has seen a drop in ratings, some dramatic, this is a victory for the CFL.

Fans will come back if we continue to sell the game and put a great football product on the field and production on the screen.

THE DOWNS

Trevor Harris and Bo Levi Mitchell.

These two quarterbacks are in the upper echelon of the small group of pivots in the CFL but both have had horrid starts to the season. 

Harris has racked up the yards but three interceptions in Week 1 and just one touchdown this season isn’t good enough for a team that has had their defence carry the weight of the whole team so far this season. He has great tools to work with so a turnaround could be quick.

Bo Levi Mitchell is a completely different story. This is the worst start and maybe the worst back-to-back games in his hall of fame career. Mitchell’s four interceptions in Calgary’s loss this week to B.C. is so far beyond what Mitchell has done in his career it’s sending shockwaves across the CFL.

Both of these teams are led by solid quarterbacks and can turn things around but with a combined four losses on home field and three of them to Eastern Division opponents that becomes a gigantic hole to try and climb out of even this early.

GREY CUP FAVOURITES IN TROUBLE

This is a tough one. Hamilton is off to an 0-2 start but in their defence, both losses are on the road and to the two top teams in the West. The offence has had a difficult time getting started and it doesn’t matter if it was led by Jeremiah Masoli or Dane Evans. The defence has been good enough to win but without help it hasn’t mattered.

Masoli got the start in Weeks 1 & 2 but with a week off, the Ticats have a huge decision to make for their Week 4 battle in Montreal. Will they go back to Masoli or go to the man who led them to the Grey Cup in 2019 in Dane Evans?