Game Thread - Ottawa Redblacks vs. Toronto Argonauts - Saturday August 9 @ 3:00 pm

[Scooter McCray]

This game was similar to the Hamilton game. The defence could not get a stop. They answered every Argo score. This team needs to stay in contention until mid September, but there are no easy teams as they found out today. Edmonton and BC are not pushovers. I still believe they can find a way and gather momentum as players come off injury. I do believe Ottawa was done with a loss today. The league is back to parity. Nobody is a doormat, and has a shot. All games were nail biters this weekend.

[TrueBlueGuy]

season is now over. COUNT ON road losses to come in Hamilton, Sask, BC and Edmonton (yes, next week) puts the Loss total at 7+4 = 11 which spells elimination. BC or Winnipeg will be crossing over to the East playoffs.
And does anyone here expect the Argos to run-the-table over its 4 remaining home games, with a Home record of 1-and-4 to date? C'mon. C'MON.
Only thing to be decided is whether Montreal falls far enough down to be 3rd behind Ottawa.

Only 2 teams in the East are going to make the 2025 playoffs. Bank on it.
Argo defence had to make one stop and they could not do it. Special teams are awful. That spells a non-playoff team. Sorry.

[RichK]

This loss really stings that’s for sure. It’s the third time this season that we’ve lost games we should have won at the very end in a bizarre way. That’s crazy. To me this doesn’t look like a 2-7 team. To me it looks more like a .500 team. A dynamic swarming defence one minute, and a defence that couldn’t tackle their own grandmothers the next. A sputtering offence with no run game over here, and a veteran group of big play making receivers making big plays over there.

This team just can’t catch a break this year. The injuries, the bounces, the breaks. What are the odds more players are gonna have career-best performances against us like Dru did today? He threw 5 or six big passes that were perfect, that no defenders could have stopped. It almost does feel like a curse, but couldn’t it be just a stretch of adversity that will eventually end?

You gotta figure 9-9 will get you a playoff spot. Scooter mentioned the parity in this league, I’ve never seen more parity in all my decades following it closely. It’s never been more true that anybody can beat anybody any given night. I still believe 100% we can go 7-2 from here on in.

[ARGO57]

Thia year feels cursed. I know there are nine games left, but getting back into contention feels just about impossible. Love to be proven wrong, but I'm sure not expecting it.

The Argos are full marks for their 2-7 record, there is no way they are going 7-2 the rest of the way to have a chance of qualifying for the playoffs.
They simply aren’t good enough in any aspect, inconsistent offence with anemic running game, special teams that have regularly given up big plays and a defence that at times looks totally inept.
Plenty of blame to go around, a substantial drop off in talent and a coaching staff that quite frankly hasn’t done a great job this season.
To be fair injuries haven’t helped but most teams also deal with injuries during a season.
I have a gut feeling this may be what to expect moving forward with Rogers now owning the team.

[ARGO57]

Ryan Dinwiddie with an honest assessment of his team right now, have to appreciate the honesty but some of the blame also lands on him and his coaching staff.
Accountability starts when you look in the mirror.

https://3downnation.com/2025/08/10/weve ... to-ottawa/

[AngeloV]

Thia year feels cursed. I know there are nine games left, but getting back into contention feels just about impossible. Love to be proven wrong, but I'm sure not expecting it.

Sadly, I now have to agree.
At the very least, we can’t complain about entertainment value.

[AngeloV]

Offensively, the Argos started the game exactly as I suggested they should. Screens, and a nice jet sweep. I think it really helped the o-line in pass pro. The returns….the first one was the momentum change the RedBlacks needed. Again, Haggerty IMO has not been good this year. Another long, line drive punt down the middle of the field.
The Adeboboye kick off return was coached perfectly. Great high, shorter kick off towards the sideline. But when a returner is surrounded and still breaks free, that is unacceptable tackling.
On D, my key to the game failed . They had no pressure most of the game. That’s when the coaching staff needs to just scrap the game plan a pull a Montreal and blitz every down. Brown has really struggled with pressure this year. With time, he’s as good as it gets. You need to bring it any way you can.
As I said in my response to Paul, at least we can’t complain about entertainment value. No need to get upset over the record. It’s still night and day compared to the 2018-19 teams, which bordered on unwatchable.

[TrueBlueGuy]

Thia year feels cursed. I know there are nine games left, but getting back into contention feels just about impossible. Love to be proven wrong, but I'm sure not expecting it.

Sadly, I now have to agree.
At the very least, we can’t complain about entertainment value.

Your point about entertainment value is an astute one. I was at every game in 2018 and 2019 (back-2-back 4-and-14 seasons, ugh) and yes it truly was mostly unwatchable. The home losses this year have been winnable games, down-2-the-wire and very entertaining.
I mean 42 points and none of those points from defense or on special teams?
Seriously, if Argos had a capable defence, that would spell a Win. Argo Pass rush sucks, yet the three d-linemen we lost to the Elks are now with the team that has the FEWEST Sacks in the CFL this year, so what is the answer? I believe it is schemes, coaching and athletic talent.

[TrueBlueGuy]

OK a single point on Special Teams...41 points from Offence

[ArgoRavi]

OK a single point on Special Teams...41 points from Offence

There was one defensive TD yesterday from Jordan Williams. Still, you should win with 34 offensive points.