Lack of parity in the CFL?

Posted On: August 25, 2023

While Thursday night’s clash between the Alouettes and the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg looked uneven at first glance before kick-off, the next few days are likely to reveal more of the disparity the Canadian Football League is suffering in 2024.

The case of the moose (1-9) is certainly the most special. On Sunday, the Edmonton team will look to end an endless 22-game home loss by hosting the Ottawa Redblacks (3-7). The team’s last win at Commonwealth Stadium was on October 12, 2019.

It’s been so long since the team was called Eskimos.

The Elks, who lost their first nine games this season (including five at home), narrowly won their last game in Hamilton last week.

All in all, the question is: is there a lack of parity in this nine-team league? Surely.

The Argos are creepy

Before Sunday’s game in Edmonton, the Toronto Argonauts (7-1) host the Calgary Stampeders (3-7) on Friday night, while the BC Lions (7-3) could make short work of the Tiger-Cats (3-3). . 6) on Saturday in Vancouver.

Logically, to analyze the forces present, the effectiveness of displacements remains a must. The Argonauts’ Chad Kelly, the Blue Bombers’ Zach Collaros and the Lions’ Vernon Adams Jr. have all done great work this season. They’re the ones who also dominate the CFL in the passing touchdown category.

Photo credit: Martin Chevalier / JdeM

The Argos, defending Gray Cup champions, have amassed 268 points in just eight games this season. We’re talking about an average of 33.5 points per game. This inevitably helps to achieve victories.

The importance of sales

The records of the various CFL teams can also be partly explained by the number of turnovers. The Argonauts stole the ball from their opponents 23 times, including 14 interceptions. Opposing clubs also benefited from just 11 turnovers against Toronto. Kelly is someone who protects the ball admirably.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Elks have recorded just 17 turnovers in 10 games, which is less than two a game average.

With an 8-2 record going into Thursday night’s game against the Alouettes, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a paragon of excellence, are on track with a record of over .500 for a seventh straight season.