THIS WEEK IN THE CFL – WEEK 10

Week 10 begins in Winnipeg at 8:30 p.m. ET with the BC Lions in town. The Blue Bombers beat Calgary at home last week and will attempt to stay perfect at IG Field this season. On the other side, BC is looking to get back into the win column after last week’s heartbreaking loss in Hamilton. After being reacquired by the Lions earlier this week, Shawn Lemon is hoping to help turn the team’s fortunes.

Friday Night Football takes us to Toronto for a matchup with Edmonton at the annual CNE game with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Toronto is coming off a bye following Week 8’s thrilling victory which handed the Blue Bombers their first loss on the year. A second consecutive win would propel the Argos back into playoff picture in the East. Edmonton is also in search of a second-straight victory after defeating Ottawa 16-12 last week. They’ll be led by C.J. Gable, whose Week 9 showing garnered him Shaw CFL Top Performer of the Week honours.

A Saturday double-header will wrap up Week 10. At 4 p.m. ET, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will visit the nation’s capital for the first of two clashes between the East Division rivals this season. Dane Evans will look to replicate his Week 9 success – a jaw-dropping, last-minute comeback win (his first as a starter) over BC. Ottawa will be playing only its third game against an East Division opponent (1-1) and is hoping to bounce back from last week’s narrow setback in Edmonton.

The Calgary Stampeders will play host to Montreal at 7 p.m. ET with the visitors attempting to secure their first victory at McMahon Stadium since 2009. Early reports indicate Bo Levi Mitchell may return to make his first start for the Stamps since suffering an injury in Week 3. With a 5-3 record, Calgary currently sits knotted in a three-way tie for second in the West Division alongside Saskatchewan and Edmonton. The Alouettes are also hoping to have a pair of reinforcements back in the lineup with Vernon Adams Jr. and DeVier Posey.

ESPN+ will broadcast each game this week.
TSN’s Live Mic game will be Hamilton vs. Ottawa this week.

YEAR OF THE RETURN

• There have been a total of 18 kick return TDs this year in just 35 games – four more will tie the all-time CFL record of 22 in an 81-game season set in 2004.
• Of the 18 kick return majors, nine have come from kickoffs this season – a new CFL record.
• Prior to this season, only 18 players have scored two kick return touchdowns in a game. There have already been three this season: Ryan Lankford, DeVonte Dedmon and Janarion Grant.
• In the past six games, there has been seven kick return touchdowns.

KICK RETURN TOUCHDOWNS THIS SEASON

QUICK SLANTS

• Entering the final three minutes, all eight CFL games in the past two weeks were undecided. The average margin of victory in those eight games was 3.6 points with no team winning by more than seven points.
• There have been 50 “big play” kick-returns (30+ yard punt returns and 40+ yard kickoff returns), compared to just 36 at this point last year.
• The current average punt return (11.8 yards) and kickoff return (23.5 yards) are the highest levels in CFL history.
• The last time Montreal won in McMahon Stadium was in the 2009 Grey Cup when the Alouettes defeated Saskatchewan 28-27 on a final-play field goal.
• The last time Montreal won in McMahon Stadium during the regular season was on Canada Day 2009.
• IF Bo Levi Mitchell returns to the Calgary starting lineup, it would mark the first time he’s played since June 29.  In 88 career starts, Mitchell is 70-16-2, including a 6-2 record against Montreal. He has yet to lose to the Alouettes at home.
• BC has not been 1-7 since 2010. That year, the Lions went 7-3 in their final 10 games to make the playoffs. The last time they fell to 1-8 was in 1996.
• Through nine weeks, the availability of No. 1 quarterbacks sits at 70%. Last season, they were available for 81% of games.
• Winnipeg is undefeated at home this season with four victories. The last time they finished undefeated at home was in 1984, and they went on to win the Grey Cup. They also finished a perfect 8-0 at home in 1972.
• Trevor Harris currently has the lowest interception percentage in CFL history (2 in 320 pass attempts).
• The current league-wide passing completion rate is 68% – matching the highest mark in league history.
• Brandon Banks has recorded eight total touchdowns this season, giving him 30 since 2017. He needs four more to set a new personal-high.
• Banks is on pace for 1,678 receiving yards and 124 receptions – both would establish new career-bests.
• In Week 9, Dane Evans collected his first win as a starter and finished with two TD passes and no interceptions.
• Ottawa’s Avery Williams is second in the league with 52 tackles, first with three fumble recoveries and is tied for first with four tackles for a loss.
• Running back John Crockett has started the last five contests for the REDBLACKS and has averaged 79 rushing yards per game.
• Cory Greenwood leads the league with 61 tackles after notching 12 last week.
• Trevor Harris is on pace for a career-best 5,920 passing yards.
• Andrew Harris needs just 65 yards to become the all-time leader among Canadian players for scrimmage yards. Harris (13,304) ranks No. 12 all-time, trailing No. 11 Ben Cahoon (13,368) by 64 yards and No. 10 Charles Roberts (13,681) by 313.
• With 60 more rushing yards, Andrew Harris (8,404) will surpass Dave Thelen (8,463) to move into No. 10 on the all-time rushing list.