Aug 3, 2017; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Calgary Stampeders defeat the Toronto Argonauts 41-24 at BMO Field. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski
The East Division-leading Toronto Argonauts (4-5) travel to McMahon Stadium this Saturday to take on the West Division second place Calgary Stampeders (6-1-1) at 9:00 p.m. ET on TSN.
Coming off of a 38-6 home win against the Montreal Alouettes, the Argos will look to stay hot and avenge a Week 7 loss at the hands of the Stampeders. The Stamps enter Saturday’s game riding a four-game win streak, including a 21-17 road win over the BC Lions in Week 9.
Argos quarterback Ricky Ray enters the game ranked second in the league with 2,798 passing yards and is tied for third in passing touchdowns with 14. Ray’s top target this season has been receiver S.J. Green who ranks second in receiving yards (850) and has five receiving touchdowns, the second most in the CFL.
Saturday’s game will feature a war in the trenches, with the CFL’s top pass rush squaring off against the league’s top pass protection unit. Through nine games, the Argos have manufactured a league-high 30 sacks along with 58 pressures (3rd). Meanwhile, the Stamps have allowed just 10 quarterback sacks this season; six of those sacks came in the last matchup between these two teams.
The game will also feature two of the league’s top defensive units. Calgary enters Week 10 ranked first in points allowed while the Argos have allowed a league-low 305.9 yards per game and 5.7 yards per play. The Argos defensive unit has not allowed a touchdown in their last six quarters of play after holding the Alouettes without a single offensive point in Week 9.
TRENCH GAME:
The Stampeders’ offensive line has been rock solid in 2017, holding opponents to a CFL-low 10 sacks in eight games thus far.
On the other side of the ball, the Argos’ defence has produced more sacks (28) than any other team in the league this season. Victor Butler, who remains on the team’s six-game injured list, still leads the league in sacks (7) despite missing the last four+ games. Meanwhile, Shawn Lemon (6), Dylan Wynn (4), Jeff Finley (4), Cleyon Laing (3) and Troy Davis (3) have each produced multiple sacks on the defensive line.
In their first meeting, the Argos D found the upper hand, dragging down Stampeders quarterbacks on six occasions. In seven other games this season, the Calgary O-line has allowed just four sacks total.
GREEN ON CAREER PACE:
After suffering a significant season ending knee injury just one year ago, SJ Green has proved doubters wrong so far this season.
In his 11th professional season, the Florida native has put together the strongest first half of his entire career.
Ranked second in the CFL in receiving yards (850) and third in receptions (56), the 11-year veteran has already hauled in the third-highest single-season touchdown total (5) of his career.
Green’s previous highs for the first nine games of a season came in 2012 when he tallied 49 catches for 824 yards in Montreal’s first nine games.
He is currently on pace to record the best season of his career with 112 catches for 1,700 yards. Those single-season totals would rank him fourth in Argos history for receiving yards and fifth in single-season receptions.
SCORELESS QUARTERS:
In nine games so far this season, the Argos have played 36 quarters of football and the Double Blue defence has held the opposition without a touchdown in 21 of those quarters.
The team opened the season by holding the opposing offence to seven consecutive quarters without a touchdown and they enter Saturday’s game at Calgary on a six-quarter streak after holding Montreal’s offensive unit to a total of just three points (FG) during the second half of Week 8 and their entire Week 9 home game.
After holding Hamilton’s offence without a touchdown for the entirety of the Week 1 divisional showdown, last week’s game vs. Montreal was particularly unique, as the defence did not allow a single point. The six points scored by the Als were registered on an INT return touchdown.