Around the CFL: The big storylines for the final two weeks

As we hit the penultimate week of the CFL regular season, there is no shortage of intrigue around the league.

The East playoffs are totally up in the air and second in the West – with a home playoff game – is still to be determined.

Roster-wise, many interesting decisions also are being made.

Here’s a look at some of the storylines.

Eastern showdown

Someone has to win the weak East – and the Toronto Argonauts are best positioned to do so.

Winners of six of their last seven, the Argos simply need one victory in their season-ending home-and-home series with the Alouettes to beat Montreal out for first in the East. The reward is a first-round playoff bye and home field for the division final on Nov. 13. That would be a nice feather in the cap for second-year Argos head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, who also guided Toronto to first in the East last season.

The Alouettes, too, have played better down the stretch, winning six of eight. Strangely, the two losses came against the last-place Ottawa Redblacks. Montreal has beaten the league-leading Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the B.C. Lions, who are second in the West, during their current run.

The last spot

The Grey Cup host Saskatchewan Roughriders seemed poised all season to earn a crossover playoff spot, but they have crumbled in recent weeks, losing five in a row.

That has opened the door for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to grab the final playoff berth – the third spot in the East. All the two-time reigning East champs have to do is sweep Ottawa in a home-and-home to guarantee a post-season spot.

If Hamilton loses one game, the Roughriders can get in by sweeping the Calgary Stampeders in a season-ending home-and-home.

Full marks to coach Orlondo Steinauer’s Ticats for taking control of their own destiny. They beat the Roughriders in Hamilton before going into Calgary and winning their first road game of the season in thrilling fashion against the Stampeders last week.

One win away

The Lions need one win in their final two games to lock up second in the West, which would mean a home game for a divisional semifinal against Calgary.

They could do wrap that up Friday night if they hand the Edmonton Elks an astounding 17th consecutive loss at home.

Assuming the Lions take care of business, the Stampeders will have nothing to play for in their final two games against the Roughriders, which might make things a bit easier for the desperate men in green.

The Lions finish their season in Winnipeg, where the two-time reigning Grey Cup champs already have locked up top spot in the West and home field for the division final.

Roster moves

The biggest development this week came in Regina, where head coach Craig Dickenson announced Wednesday that Mason Fine will start ahead of Cody Fajardo at quarterback for the Roughriders on Saturday against Calgary.

The reason? The ol’ lookin for a spark.

Bizarrely, a day earlier when Fine was taking first-team reps on the first day of practice for the week, Dickenson said it was simply a “vet day” for Fajardo. However, on Wednesday, Fajardo said he was informed last week the plan was to start Fine. Not a good look for the Roughriders.

Fajardo hasn’t been good, but you can say the same about the offensive line. There’s more than enough blame to pass around – Dickenson and general manager Jeremy O’Day must look in the mirror, too.

As for Fajardo, he clearly feels his days with the Roughriders might be numbered.

“I hope there’s someone out there that might still want me,” he said. “I don’t think it’s the end of the Cody Fajardo football book. I think it might just be the end of a chapter.”

The Elks also are making a quarterback change, giving Canadian Tre Ford his third start of the season in their season finale after Taylor Cornelius suffered a spleen injury last week.

The University of Waterloo product suffered a collarbone injury in Week 5 and was sidelined as Cornelius assumed the starting role.

Rourke report

The Lions are hoping star quarterback Nathan Rourke, who has been out with a foot injury since late August, can return for next week’s season finale in Winnipeg.

The plan would be for the Canadian to take some reps in advance of presumably starting the playoff game the next week.

Rourke, of course, seemed to be well on his way to winning the CFL’s most outstanding player award before suffering the injury, which required surgery.

What we liked in (and after) Week 19

The Ticats’ performance in a win in Calgary. If Hamilton sneaks into the playoffs, no one should be overly surprised if the Ticats return to the Grey Cup game.

The play of Blue Bombers quarterback Dru Brown. Given the start with Zach Collaros resting, Brown completed 28 of 39 passes for 325 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in a loss in B.C. Promising.

The Blue Bombers’ decision to give a three-year extension to Collaros. Great story, great player. He’ll win his second most outstanding player award in a row this year.

What we didn’t like in Week 19

The Elks losing yet again at home. Sad to see what has become of what used to be a flagship franchise.

The Argos’ horrific attempt at a trick play on a kickoff return in Edmonton. A Music City Miracle-like play was botched horribly as it was a clear forward pass. What’s more, Edmonton recovered.

Week 20 picks

Ottawa Redblacks at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (-5.5), Friday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

The Ticats are 5-3 at home and could easily have a better record at Tim Hortons Field. PICK: Ottawa

B.C. Lions (-7) at Edmonton Elks, Friday, 9:45 p.m. ET / 6:45 p.m. PT

Last chance for Elks to end their humiliating home losing streak. This is the only game this week that is not part of a season-ending home-and-home series. PICK: B.C.

Toronto Argonauts (-1.5) at Montreal Alouettes, Saturday, 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT

Second of three meetings this season. The Als lost a heartbreaker when David Cote missed a short field goal that would have put Montreal ahead in the dying seconds early this season in Toronto. PICK: Toronto

Calgary Stampeders (-3) at Saskatchewan Roughriders, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

Battle of the Dickenson coaching brothers (Craig with Saskatchewan, Dave with Calgary). Things are going considerably better for Dave. PICK: Calgary

Odds from FanDuel as of Thursday.

2022 record: 37-36

Power rankings

1. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (14-3, Last week: 1): Lost meaningless game in B.C., but stayed competitive with some key players seeing limited or no action.

2. B.C. Lions (11-5, Last week: 4): Win over Winnipeg and Calgary’s loss to Hamilton put Lions on the brink of clinching second in the West. Nice turnaround for second-year coach Rick Campbell after the Lions missed the playoffs lats year.

3. Toronto Argonauts (10-6, Last week: 3): After the Alouettes won last week against Ottawa, Toronto’s contest in Edmonton became meaningless. The Argos played like a team that was looking ahead to bigger games.

4. Calgary Stampeders (10-6, Last week: 2): Team is 6-2 on the road and 4-4 at home. Maybe being away from McMahon Stadium for the playoffs isn’t that bad.

5. Montreal Alouettes (8-8, Last week: 5): If QB Trevor Harris can lead the Als to a sweep of his old Argos team in this home-and-home, it will be quite a moment for the franchise.

6. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-10, Last week: 6): Team’s first win in Calgary in 18 years was massive.

7. Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-10, Last week: 7): Losers of nine of their past 11, the Roughriders can’t seem to do anything right on or off the field.

8. Ottawa Redblacks (4-12, Last week: 8): Only in the CFL can a 4-12 team be mathematically alive in the playoff race. If the Redblacks sweep Hamilton and the Roughriders lose both their games to Calgary, Ottawa is going to the playoffs.

9. Edmonton Elks (4-13, Last week: 9): At least Elks fans get another look at Ford this week. It’s been another season to forget for this team.