WEEK 18 IN THE CFL
Stats and storylines heading into this week’s action
LIKE SANDS THROUGH THE HOURGLASS
(Team | Remaining schedule | Combined record)
West Division
- Winnipeg | @HAM, TOR, Bye, @MTL | 25-19-1 (.567)
- Saskatchewan | @EDM, BC, Bye, CGY | 16-27-1 (.375)
- BC | CGY, @SSK, MTL, Bye | 22-19-3 (.534)
- Edmonton | SSK, @CGY, Bye, TOR | 19-23-2 (.455)
- Calgary | @BC, EDM, @HAM, @SSK | 25-34-1 (.425)
East Division
- Montreal | Bye, OTT, @BC, WPG | 24-20-1 (.544)
- Ottawa | Bye, @MTL, @TOR, HAM | 25-19-1 (.567)
- Toronto | Bye, @WPG, OTT, @EDM | 22-22-1 (.500)
- Hamilton | WPG, Bye, CGY, @OTT | 21-21-2 (.500)
KICKING IT INTO HIGH GEAR
- From 2010-23, 83 per cent of field goal attempts were successful. This season currently stands at 87 per cent – second only to the league record of 88.3 per cent set in 2018.
- In Week 17, there were 28 made field goals, highlighted by Lirim Harjulahuu’s eight to tie the single-game league record and set Toronto’s team record.
- This season has seen 5.4 field goals per game – the most in CFL history.
RUSHING TO CONCLUSIONS
- Weeks 1-6 | 181 rushing yards per game
Weeks 7-12 | 201
Weeks 13-17 | 227 – a 25.4 per cent increase over the first six weeks
QUICK SLANTS
League-Wide
- There has been an average of four sacks per game – 23 per cent lower than last season.
- Week 17 averaged 64.0 points per game – the fourth week this season to eclipse the 60+ mark.
- 31 per cent of games have featured three or more lead changes.
- No teams have been eliminated from playoff contention.
WPG at HAM
- Since Week 13, both teams are 4-0.
- Winnipeg enters the game on a seven-game winning streak.
- Winnipeg has not swept the season series since 2016.
- Zach Collaros threw a career-high six touchdown passes last week. He needs three more to become the 14th quarterback to reach 200 in his career.
- Collaros is 7-5 in his head-to-head starts against Bo Levi Mitchell.
- Brady Oliveira has 1,516 yards from scrimmage (1,107 rush, 409 receiving).
- Kenny Lawler had a season-high eight receptions and 130 yards last week.
- Hamilton has won four straight at home against Winnipeg with the Blue Bombers’ last victory coming in 2017 when Matt Nichols started against Collaros.
- In his last four starts, Bo Levi Mitchell has totaled 1,323 passing yards and seven touchdowns to two interceptions. He is a career 12-7 versus Winnipeg.
- Tim White needs 52 receiving yards for his third straight 1,000-yard season.
CGY at BC
- The winner will claim the season series.
- Calgary is 6-2 in its last eight visits to BC Place.
- The Stampeders are 1-1 this season when coming off a bye.
- Calgary is looking for its first road win. The team has never finished a season without a road victory.
- Jake Maier needs 18 completions to reach 1,000. In two starts against BC this season, he totaled 646 passing yards, five touchdowns and one interception.
- Reggie Begelton is 79 receiving yards away from his third 1,000-yard season.
- BC averaged 80 rushing yards in its first eight games and 130 in its last seven.
- William Stanback has rushed for 85+ yards in six of the last seven games. He needs 115 rushing yards to set a new career high.
- Nathan Rourke is 1-0 as a starter against Calgary.
- Justin McInnis needs seven receiving yards to reach 2,500. He leads the league with 34 second down conversion catches.
- Over the last three games, Ryder Varga leads all players with 30 defensive tackles, including 12 last week.
SSK at EDM
- 13 of the last 14 meetings between the two teams has been decided in the final three minutes. Saskatchewan is 10-4 over that span.
- Saskatchewan leads the league with 24 per cent of their points coming off turnovers.
- As a member of the Roughriders, Trevor Harris is 3-0 versus Edmonton.
- Rolan Milligan Jr. leads the league in interceptions (seven) and special teams tackles (19).
- Kian Schaffer-Baker is two receptions shy of 200 in his career.
- Brett Lauther is slated to play in his 100th game.
- Saskatchewan has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game (80).
- Edmonton is second in the league with 125 rushing yards per game.
- The Elks have not won at home against Saskatchewan since 2018.
- Eugene Lewis has a touchdown in each of his past five games.
- In his past two games, Justin Rankin has 266 rushing yards with five rushes for 20+ yards.
- Dillon Mitchell had 223 kick return yards last week.
- Nyles Morgan had 20 defensive tackles in the teams’ two previous meetings.
Lucas Barrett
Associate Vice-President, Communications & Public Affairs, Canadian Football League