It could be getting late early for the Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa Redblacks.
The East Division clubs aren't quite in must-win mode in Week 7 of the 21-week season, but they'll face a challenging road trying to get to the CFL playoffs if they can't turn things around this week.
The reigning Grey Cup champion Argos are third in the East at 1-4, while the Redblacks are last at 1-5 in what appears to be the league's weaker division. The B.C. Lions (3-3), fourth in the West, currently would cross over to the East bracket of the playoffs by virtue of having a better record than the third-place team in the East — Toronto.
The good news for the Argos and the Redblacks is they can change their situations dramatically with upset wins in divisional games this week. The Argos are in Montreal to face the Alouettes (3-2) on Thursday, while the Redblacks host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-2) on Sunday.
"Big game. They are all, each week," Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie told reporters this week. "But obviously when we're 1-4, the games get bigger. Especially an Eastern team. Montreal's two games up on us, so it's a big game."
The injury situation doesn't favour Toronto, however.
Impressive Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander returns from a two-game injury absence, which has coincided with a two-game losing streak. He's 7-0 as a starter in the CFL and can match Danny McManus's record for most wins to start a career without a loss if the Als triumph on Thursday.
Alexander also gets one of his top targets back in Austin Mack, who missed the last two games. Both players had hamstring injuries.
The Argos, on the other hand, won't have starting quarterback Chad Kelly, who hasn't played since fracturing his leg in last year's East final in Montreal. There was hope Kelly could make his season debut this week, but he's not quite ready.
Veteran Nick Arbuckle, who led the Argos to an improbable Grey Cup win last year, gets another start with Kelly sidelined.
"I think our work ethic's been great," Dinwiddie said. "It's just we haven't been executing that well. You know early in the season, you have some growing pains. Too many for us right now."
The Argos do get star linebacker Wynton McManis back after he missed the past three games with a knee injury. But they lose reigning CFL offensive lineman of the year Ryan Hunter, who has been placed on the six-game injured list with a shoulder injury.
Just three teams have missed the playoffs this century in the year following a Grey Cup win — the Argonauts were the most recent to do so, in 2018.
This is unusual territory for the Argos. Since Dinwiddie started coaching the team in 2021, Toronto hadn't been more than one game under .500 before this season.
"I think the culture around here we have keeps everyone's spirits up," McManis said. "No one around here feels like a loser, no one around here has a loser mentality, none of us feel 1-4. We just know we have to have some urgency, and detail and urgency in getting the job done."
The Redblacks, meanwhile, let a winnable game slip away in Hamilton last week after leading most of the way before giving up a late touchdown.
After showing promise last year in posting their first winning record since 2018, Ottawa has taken a step back this season.
Penalties, injuries and inconsistent play from quarterback Dru Brown have all been issues.
"When we find ourselves in the right spot, we've just got to make the plays," Redblacks head coach Bob Dyce told reporters Wednesday.
One focal point might be reducing the workload of Brown. The Redblacks passed on 38 of 48 offensive plays last week.
Veteran running back William Stanback has had to take limited snaps because of the league's complicated ratio rules, but Canadian Daniel Adeboboye has the ability to make positive plays when Stanback is forced out.
"Any time you get a balance, it helps," Dyce said. "It helps the offensive line, takes a little pressure off the pass rush. When you have two backs that can carry the mail like Stan and Daniel, they've got to get opportunities."
Defensively, the team will also have to find a way to slow down the Bo Levi Mitchell-Kenny Lawler connection. Lawler, a big free-agent signing by Hamilton this off-season, has established an excellent connection with the veteran QB early in the season.
Pick paying off
The Calgary Stampeders chose Montreal-born receiver Damien Alford first overall in this year's CFL Canadian Draft, despite a weird finish to his NCAA career.
Alford didn't catch a single pass at Utah after transferring from Syracuse, where he was productive in the previous three seasons.
The Stamps did their homework and obviously were comfortable with what they discovered. So far, Alford hasn't disappointed.
The six-foot-six Alford broke out last week for six catches for 156 yards and two touchdowns in a road win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
"We did a lot of research on character and why did he transfer and why didn't he get opportunities," Stamps GM/coach Dave Dickenson said. "We talked to lots of coaches. Most of the time coaches are the best guys to talk to. They kind of shoot you straight. There's nothing that for us (indicated he wasn't) a quality player and person."
Alford has played a bigger-than-expected role for the surprising Stamps (4-1) following injuries to top receivers Reggie Begelton and Clark Barnes, giving Calgary QB Vernon Adams Jr. a dangerous downfield target. He has 10 catches for 221 yards and three touchdowns on the season.
"Yes his numbers are there and he did a great job (last week), but he's got a long way to go and there are a lot of things he can improve upon," Dickenson said. "He is hungry, though. He wants to take his game to the next level so hopefully he can keep that up."
Weathering the storm
The Stamps have been the feel-good story of the league this season, and are just one win away from matching last year's victory total.
They've started very well despite a daunting schedule, with Calgary beating previously undefeated Winnipeg and Saskatchewan the past two weeks.
The Stamps also have played in the two weirdest weather games of the year. Their lone loss came on a rainy, frigid, miserable day in Calgary against the Redblacks, while their win in Regina last week came a day later than scheduled after air-quality concerns forced a postponement following a nearly four-hour wait.
The Stamps had to split up the night of the postponement, with some players moving into dorms at the University of Regina because their hotel was full.
"The Ottawa game was craziness. I've never probably had a worse-weather game that I ever played or coached in," Dickenson said. "Then obviously the smoke (in Regina). I think what we're seeing is the guys just kind of take it in stride, and understand that football players are kind of at the mercy of Mother Nature. We're going to play in all conditions."
The Stampeders face an even tougher test in Winnipeg on Friday thanks to the postponement. With the game in Regina having been played last Saturday, the Stamps got a short week. The Blue Bombers, meanwhile, are coming off a bye and rarely lose at home under head coach Mike O'Shea.
Week 7 schedule
Thursday, July 17: Toronto Argonauts (1-4) at Montreal Alouettes (3-2), 7:30 p.m. ET
Friday, July 18: Calgary Stampeders (4-1) at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1), 8:30 p.m. ET / 7:30 p.m. CT
Saturday, July 19: Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-1) at B.C. Lions (3-3), 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Sunday, July 20: Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-2) at Ottawa Redblacks (1-5), 7 p.m. ET
