Eskinews

                For the first time since 2004, the Edmonton Eskimos will host a CFL playoff game in Commonwealth Stadium.  Some would consider that a huge step forward based on what we have seen from this organization the past five or so years, but in the post game speech Kavis Reed talked about winning the Grey Cup.  The question posed by Dave Campbell on the post game call-in show was ‘do you think the Eskimos can win it all?  While not many thought they the majority of the callers did not think that was the case, any success they do have will come from their own belief.

                For an opponent that was 5-12 heading into this game, they did not play like that!  Earlier in the week Rider head coach, Ken Miller announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season and it galvanized their effort on this night.  Ryan Dinwiddie started for the Riders and while they trailed most of the game, he led them on two drives in the last six minutes that erased a 20-10 lead to tie the game with less than three minutes left.  Despite the defensive ‘hiccup’, what I was impressed with the most was the Eskimos response to the Rider touchdown that tied the score.  With under three minutes remaining, the Eskimo offense took the field and drove down to the Rider 20 yard line before kicking what ended up being the game winning field goal with only 47 seconds left in the game.

                I was surprised by how ineffective the running game was on this night.  The Eskimos ran the ball 18 times for only 76 yards against the Rider defense and while Ricky Ray threw for over 300 yards for the third week in a row, I know the team would like more balance heading into the post season.  So, the Eskimos found themselves watching the final game of the season on Saturday night to see exactly who they would be playing and when.  Surprisingly enough, the question was answered rather quickly and decisively as the B.C. Lions destroyed the Alouette’s 43-1.

                So the stage is set for the Eskimos to host the Stampeders next Sunday afternoon to see who gets to play in the Western Final against the B.C. Lions.  The Eskimos won the season series 2-1, but the surprising stat is that neither team won at home!  The Eskimos are a ‘young’ team that lacks the kind of veteran presence that the Stampeders have, but the Eskimos do ‘match up’ well against them and it should make for an exciting game next Sunday!