Game Preview: Week 18 – Winnipeg Bluebombers at Toronto Argonauts

This Saturday, October 21 our Toronto Argonauts will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BMO Field. This game is also fan appreciation day, so the Argonauts are likely to have some surprises up their sleeves. The party begins at the tailgate with $4 beer at Ontario Place in preparation for an exciting game with home-field advantage against Winnipeg. This game is important as the Double-Blue look to take back first place in the Eastern standings.

Playoff Position
Since Double-Blue has clinched a playoff spot, the outcome of this game will determine whether the boatmen have secured a bye week that will lead them into the second round of the playoffs. Should the Redblacks lose in week 19 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, it would increase the odds of an Argos bye week. This game will also help determine whether they host the Eastern Semi-Final on November 12 or the Eastern Final on November 19.

Players to Watch
For Double-Blue we have QB Ricky Ray with 416 passing completions on the season. He’s also racked up 4,782 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. The Blue Bombers have QB Matt Nichols with 383 passing completions on the season with only 4,174 passing yards and 27 touchdowns. Ray shines in comparison to Nichols in passing completions and passing yards with a minimal difference in touchdowns. The competition between these two is sure to make for an intense game.

Wide receiver SJ Green has shown the boatmen what he’s made of this season with 95 receptions for 1,337 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns. The Blue Bombers’ leading wide receiver, Darvin Adams has a total of 76 receptions for 1,120 yards and 7 touchdowns. SJ Green is ready to bring his game into the playoffs to conquer Winnipeg. Green is short only 121 receiving yards to record the team’s fifth-highest single-season total.

Running back James Wilder Jr. returns on Saturday after being out for a week from a
severe hit in the loss against the Roughriders. He’s racked up 86 rushes for 624 yards and
2 touchdowns. Andrew Harris, the running back for Winnipeg has 164 rushes for 871 yards and 6 touchdowns. It is important to remember that Wilder Jr. has only played half of the CFL season.

Although he may be a running back, Martese
Jackson has torn up the field this season on special teams. Jackson has a total of  47 kickoff returns for 1,034 yards, a total of 67 punt returns for 767 yards and 2 touchdowns, his longest being 92 yards. He has 4 missed field goal returns for 257 yards and 1 touchdown, including an incredible 125-yard return.

The Boatmen’s Sack Attack:
The Argonauts hold first rank for sacks in the CFL with 47 over the course of 16 games. Victor Butler, previously injured from weeks 5 through 13, holds the lead with 9 sacks. Double-Blue also has 8 other players with multiple quarterback takedowns. The previously injured Shawn Lemon returns to the field this week to take on the Bombers. Lemon currently has 7 sacks, with his most recent being against Hamilton in week 11. The last time Double-Blue held first place in the league for sacks was in 1997; Eric England was the last Argo to lead the CFL in sacks with 14 in 2003.

Fan Appreciation Game:
Join us at the tailgate at 12 p.m. to begin an early playoff celebration at Ontario Place. Fans pour in to drink cheap beer, buy official Argonaut merchandise and play tailgate games. You never know what surprises are in store at the tailgate. Well loved Argonaut’s alumnus, Chad Kackert performed a couple of his favourite songs on the guitar at a recent tailgate. Also known to make a surprise appearance is Pinball Clemons, who is always ready for an autograph or selfie.

The Toronto Argonauts are currently second in the Eastern division (7-9) and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are second in the Western division (11-4). This is going to be an intense game, and our Argos need your support. For ticketing information visit https://www.argonauts.ca/singlegame/. Want to bring a huge group? The Toronto Argos have an amazing Budweiser offer for tailgate drinks and lower-bowl seats.

Come out and support your double-blue as they could use our fan appreciation to carry them into the playoffs.

Written by admiral Reagan Bradnam, stay connected:
Twitter: @reagan_bradnam Instagram: @reaganbradnam

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