October 10, 2014: Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Toronto Argonauts

[T-Bone]

vs.

Week 16
Friday, October 10, 2014 at 7:00pm EDT.
Rogers Centre. Toronto, ON.

TV: TSN
Video Webcast: TSN Go - ESPN3
Radio: HAM: CHML 900/Y108 ROCKS - TOR: TSN 1050
Audio Webcast: HAM: Here - TOR: Here
Satellite Radio: SiriusXM

Depth Charts: HAM: Here - TOR: Here

Pre-Game Preview: Here

Post-Game: Shoeless Joe's at 276 King St W

Shoeless-DBPost+copy.jpg

Tickets Available: Here or at Rogers Centre Gate 9 Box Office

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Post-Game Update: Argos Come Back From 17 Point Deficit to Shock Ti-Cats

Final Score: 33-34

[Will]

Obviously the most important game of the season to date as the Argos can tie the Tiger-Cats for first place with a victory. Hamilton's defense has been playing very, very, very well since Labour Day and that is the part of their team that worries me the most. They have a very tough front four and great team speed on defense so the offensive line is going to have to be on it's best because I don't know if the traditional YAC heavy offense for the Argos will work against the Tiger-Cats.

[gilthethrill]

Hamilton's defence has been a mirage of late. Big game against Tito Sunseri, & close wins over a Winnipeg team that is floundering & an injury riddled BC team led by AV's favourite qb, Kevin Glenn. Lets see what they can do against an offence that has some teeth. If Tim Burke can solve Hamilton's bread & butter play, that being the screen pass, the Argos should beat those clowns.

[ArgoZ]

Obviously the most important game of the season to date as the Argos can tie the Tiger-Cats for first place with a victory. Hamilton's defense has been playing very, very, very well since Labour Day and that is the part of their team that worries me the most. They have a very tough front four and great team speed on defense so the offensive line is going to have to be on it's best because I don't know if the traditional YAC heavy offense for the Argos will work against the Tiger-Cats.

Huge game. I can see Montreal winning this week, resulting in a three way tie for first, if the Argos win. I like the Argos chances to make the playoffs with the remaining games against the Als and RB's, but to finish first, they really need this one.

[jerrym]

Milanovich reports that Carter has an injured elbow tendon and is doubtful for Hamilton. He also discusses what has made the Hamilton defence so successful recently below.

http://www.argonauts.ca/video/index/id/104045

[ArgoRavi]

IMO, first place in the East will ultimately come down to these two games between Toronto and Hamilton (with all due respect to Montreal). The Ticats need only to win one of these games while the Argos can't finish first without winning both of these games. Here are the remaining games for the top three teams in the East:

Toronto: vs. Hamilton (2), vs. Montreal, at Montreal, vs. Ottawa
Hamilton: at Toronto (2), vs. Ottawa, at Ottawa, vs. Montreal
Montreal: vs. Saskatchewan, at Ottawa, at Toronto, vs. Toronto, at Hamilton

I see Montreal beating both Saskatchewan and Ottawa which would give them at least 7 wins. I see Hamilton beating Ottawa twice which would give them at least 8 wins. I see Toronto beating Ottawa and Montreal at least once which would give them at least 7 wins. I suspect that Hamilton will also beat the Als at home which would give them 9 wins which is why the Argos have to beat Hamilton twice to finish in first. This is the biggest game of the season so far coming up this Friday night.

[Ticats85]

This should be a good one, both teams are catching fire right now.I believe that they will split the last two games against each other. Cant wait for Friday, Oskee Wee Wee!

[paulwoods13]

IMO, first place in the East will ultimately come down to these two games between Toronto and Hamilton (with all due respect to Montreal). The Ticats need only to win one of these games while the Argos can't finish first without winning both of these games. Here are the remaining games for the top three teams in the East:

Toronto: vs. Hamilton (2), vs. Montreal, at Montreal, vs. Ottawa
Hamilton: at Toronto (2), vs. Ottawa, at Ottawa, vs. Montreal
Montreal: vs. Saskatchewan, at Ottawa, at Toronto, vs. Toronto, at Hamilton

I see Montreal beating both Saskatchewan and Ottawa which would give them at least 7 wins. I see Hamilton beating Ottawa twice which would give them at least 8 wins. I see Toronto beating Ottawa and Montreal at least once which would give them at least 7 wins. I suspect that Hamilton will also beat the Als at home which would give them 9 wins which is why the Argos have to beat Hamilton twice to finish in first. This is the biggest game of the season so far coming up this Friday night.

I agree with your analysis, Ravi. If we lose Friday, first place is almost certainly out of our grasp -- it would take some surprising results elsewhere for us to leap over Hamilton's two-game and tie-breaker advantage. I have to admit I wouldn't mind finishing second, winning at home in the semifinal and being the underdog on the road in the EF. We did OK in that scenario in 2004 and 2012. But first place would be OK, too. ;-)

[Will]

Argonauts know offence at a premium against Ticats.

[Stouffvillain]

Looking for positive omens for this one?

Ti-cats have only won one time on the road this season (two weeks ago against the sliding Bluebombers).
Argos are 3-2 in the Dome this season against the "tougher" Western Division.

Ti-cats are averaging 19.5 ppg on the road this season while allowing opponents to score 25.7 ppg.
Argos are averaging 30.2 ppg at home this season while allowing opponents to score 27 ppg.


If anyone knows Collaros and how to mess with him it's the coaches that decided to let him go just one year ago. No one knows Collaros' strengths and weaknesses better than Milanovich.

Sure Hamilton have been on a run since Labour Day. A game that they barely squeaked out at home opening their stadium against an Argos team that was asking just about everyone on the street if they could play WR. Let's see how they deal with the Ray/Owens combo in Skydome.

AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

[Neely2005]

I agree with your analysis, Ravi. If we lose Friday, first place is almost certainly out of our grasp -- it would take some surprising results elsewhere for us to leap over Hamilton's two-game and tie-breaker advantage. I have to admit I wouldn't mind finishing second, winning at home in the semifinal and being the underdog on the road in the EF. We did OK in that scenario in 2004 and 2012. But first place would be OK, too. ;-)

I'd prefer to play in the Semi Final just because my son has an away hockey tournament the weekend of the 23rd. :-)

[jerrym]

IMO, first place in the East will ultimately come down to these two games between Toronto and Hamilton (with all due respect to Montreal). The Ticats need only to win one of these games while the Argos can't finish first without winning both of these games.

Without a win in this game, the Argos will be struggling simply to make the playoffs. However, the good news is that the Argo offence seems to be clicking even in the absence of Durie.

[ArgoRavi]

Without a win in this game, the Argos will be struggling simply to make the playoffs. However, the good news is that the Argo offence seems to be clicking even in the absence of Durie.

If the Argos don't win on Friday night then they will have to focus on beating out Montreal for second place and likely the final playoff spot in the East. That would then come down to the two head-to-head meetings with the Als and the Als might need to win both of those games because the Argos have already won the first game in the season series.

[jerrym]

If the Argos don't win on Friday night then they will have to focus on beating out Montreal for second place and likely the final playoff spot in the East. That would then come down to the two head-to-head meetings with the Als and the Als might need to win both of those games because the Argos have already won the first game in the season series.

That is still going to amount to a struggle.

[Argocister]

I believe it's good to have the struggle, it will spurn the players onto passionate play.
The team is on the upswing, and should peak at the playoffs .... I think we will make it.... But it will be tense!

[gilthethrill]

I believe it's good to have the struggle, it will spurn the players onto passionate play.
The team is on the upswing, and should peak at the playoffs .... I think we will make it.... But it will be tense!

The way B.C. & Winnipeg are playing, the Crossover is far from being a lock.

[AngeloV]

The way B.C. & Winnipeg are playing, the Crossover is far from being a lock.

Except for the fact that they still play each other once. If B.C wins, that's 8 wins for them. I think it's a stretch to think all of Argos, Hamilton and Montreal get to 8 wins considering how often they still play each other.

[Argo]

IMO, first place in the East will ultimately come down to these two games between Toronto and Hamilton (with all due respect to Montreal). The Ticats need only to win one of these games while the Argos can't finish first without winning both of these games. Here are the remaining games for the top three teams in the East:

Toronto: vs. Hamilton (2), vs. Montreal, at Montreal, vs. Ottawa
Hamilton: at Toronto (2), vs. Ottawa, at Ottawa, vs. Montreal
Montreal: vs. Saskatchewan, at Ottawa, at Toronto, vs. Toronto, at Hamilton

I see Montreal beating both Saskatchewan and Ottawa which would give them at least 7 wins. I see Hamilton beating Ottawa twice which would give them at least 8 wins. I see Toronto beating Ottawa and Montreal at least once which would give them at least 7 wins. I suspect that Hamilton will also beat the Als at home which would give them 9 wins which is why the Argos have to beat Hamilton twice to finish in first. This is the biggest game of the season so far coming up this Friday night.

Als vs. Riders is tough to call. I believe the Riders will eke out the win.

[Argo57]

Argos should be nervous, Hamilton has Ottawa twice, Montreal has Saskatchewan and Ottawa who they are more than capable of beating. Basically as Ravi pointed out the Argos have no margin of error at all, points squandered in Ottawa and the Calgary collapse could turn out to be their undoing this season.

[AngeloV]

Argos should be nervous, Hamilton has Ottawa twice, Montreal has Saskatchewan and Ottawa who they are more than capable of beating. Basically as Ravi pointed out the Argos have no margin of error at all, points squandered in Ottawa and the Calgary collapse could turn out to be their undoing this season.

Montreal doesn't scare me at all. If the Argos can't beat them, they don't deserve to be in the playoffs. Next to Ottawa, they have the worst O in the league.