The Corbett Report, September 29, 2023

Introduction

The talk around the CFL before this week’s “marquee matchup” hasn’t been so much about how two of the premier teams in the CFL are going to go head to head in a rematch of the 2022 Grey Cup, but rather, who will and won’t start for the Argonauts.  Having clinched first place in the East the Argos are in the fortunate (or unfortunate) position where their final FIVE games will make no difference in the standings.  Whatever happens over the next five weeks, the Argos are going to host the Eastern Final on November 11. I guess it’s no wonder that many of their starters are going to sit this one out, most notably, their starting QB Chad Kelly.  Personally, I think it’s a bad look for the league.  Not because the Argos are doing this, they’ve earned that right, but that the league is so unbalanced in terms of talent right now that with over a month to go in the season there’s not looking to be much drama on the home stretch (see the standings below).

Meanwhile, many fans in Bomberland are salivating over the prospects of playing a QB (Cameron Dukes) in his first CFL start.  To that I’d say: wait a minute.  Have you forgotten:

• July 15^th: Ottawa Redblacks QB Dustin Crum starting in his first game leads Ottawa to a 31-28 overtime victory against the Bombers

• September 3^rd: Jake Dolegala, the Riders 3^rd string QB leads Saskatchewan to a 32-30 overtime victory against the Bombers

• September 16^th: In spite of starting the season as the 3^rd string QB, Taylor Powell of the Ti-Cats completes 20 of 26 passes as Hamilton stuns the Bombers with a 29-23 victory

Sense a trend here? Suffice to say the Bombers best not take this game lightly. 

Welcome to week 17. Welcome to the Corbett Report.

Standings

Team	GP	W	L	Pts	Pts for	Pts Against
West
Winnipeg	14	10	4	20	448	292
BC	14	10	4	20	387	308
Saskatchewan	14	6	8	12	303	425
Calgary	14	4	10	8	317	378
Edmonton	15	4	11	8	309	402
East
Toronto	13	12	1	24	439	278
Montreal	14	7	7	14	324	333
Hamilton	14	6	8	12	298	378
Ottawa	14	4	10	8	348	379

As previously mentioned, the lack of competitive teams this year in the CFL isn’t doing the league any good.  With only 3 teams with a winning percentage, it looks like the playoff “race” is going to turn into more of a crawl with at least 2 sub-500 teams making the playoffs.

Bombers

The Bombers haven’t exactly been the model of consistency this season (see above reference to 3 losses).  As an example, one week they play like they’re un untouchable powerhouse (week 14 vs the Riders) and the next week they lose to a mediocre team (Hamilton in week 15).  There is though, one area that they are still consistent in.  That’s their performance at home.  Except for a hiccup in week 3 against the Lions, the Bombers have been a dominant bunch at home.  They’re now 32-3 in the last 35 games at IG Field.  Another sellout crowd (the 3^rd in a row) should provide the energy the Bombers can draw on to defeat the 1^st place Argos.

A few tidbits for this week’s game:

• Mike O’Shea’s coaching record is now 92-62.  He’s only 10 wins shy of the most winningest coach in Bomber history (Bud Grant)

• Dalton Schoen has gone over 1,000 in pass receiving in his first two season and joins the likes of Perry Tuttle and James Murphy as the only Bombers to have accomplished that feat

• Zach Collaros hasn’t lost two games in a row as a Bomber starter. 

The Bombers match up well against the Argos on Offense and Defense.  On special teams however, it a definite edge to the Argos as the kick return game just isn’t there for Winnipeg without Janarion Grant.

Argos

All season long I’ve been waiting for the Argos to show me that they are the mediocre team I thought they were.  They just haven’t done it so (I guess) it’s time to give them their just dues.  A solid offense, a solid defense and solid special teams makes them worthy of their 12-1 record.  While it might be easy to suggest the record is simply a product of their scheduling (4 games against the Ti-Cats and 4 wins as an example), don’t forget that the Argos handed the Lions their first loss of the season back in week 4.  A convincing 45-24 victory.

While many starters may be resting for Toronto, they’re still starting AJ Ouellette at running back and they still have Javon Leake as their kick/punt returner. 

On defense, the Argos come into the game tied with Winnipeg with the fewest points allowed per game (21).  Last I checked, Chad Kelly doesn’t play defense.

Regardless of who takes the field for the Argos, they’re going to be a formidable foe for the Bombers.

Keys to the game

For the Bombers to win

• Defense needs to step it up and get some pressure on Cameron Dukes (they best google him before the game starts)
• Stop Toronto from getting a big punt return
• Win the turnover battle

For the Argos to win

• Score early – have the lead at the half
• Cameron Dukes manages the ball
• Get a punt return for a TD

Corbett report record

CFL Overall                40 out of 63 (63%)

Bomber games            11 out of 14 (79%)

The predictions

Look for a home team sweep this weekend:

BC over Saskatchewan

Ottawa over Montreal

Hamilton over Calgary

So many words, but really, doesn’t it really come down to the Bombers playing at home:

Bombers 33 Argos 19