I have said this before and will say it again - the divisional final, especially when one is hosting it, is the toughest game to win; it's even tougher to win than the Grey Cup. There is no more devastating loss than a home divisional final loss and no more exhilarating win than a divisional final win at home.

Since 1982, the Argos have participated in 23 East Division Finals (1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2022, and 2023).

They are 3-5 on the road (wins in 1987, 2004, and 2012; losses in 1990, 2002, 2003, 2006, and 2010) and now just 7-8 at home (wins in 1982, 1983, 1991, 1996, 1997, 2017, 2022; losses in 1984, 1986 (2nd game of two-game total point series), 1988, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2021, and 2023).

It's the home record that concerns me the most, as all of the wins and losses have followed first place finishes. While you can't hang all of the failures on the 2023 Argos, it's definitely an area in which the franchise needs to improve upon. If you finish first and host the divisional final, you need to win that game much more often than not.

All of the home divisional final losses have been extreme low points IMO with Saturday's being as bad as any of them. This one feels a lot like the 1988 East Final when the 14-4 Argos somehow managed to lose 27-11 to a 9-9 Blue Bombers team in the final football game ever played at old Exhibition Stadium. It's especially hard to lose these games against teams that you know you are a significantly superior to. 2023, 1984, and 1988 are three years that really stand out in this regard.

Hopefully, we will see a different result in 2024.