The Toronto Argonauts clinched the CFL playoffs spot by a close 14-11 win over Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the Friday night football tussle. The win not only secured at least playoff spot for Argos but also cost Blue Bombers a chance of clinching the CFL West Division crown. A special mention goes to Toronto’s defense which really made a difference in this game by sacking Winnipeg’s quarterback Zach Collaros seven times in total.
The match could not be exciting in part due to low scoring and was indicative of defensive play exhibited by both teams; Toronto Argonauts’ pass rush was, however, devastating. After a discussion of the game outcome with TSN’s John Lu, defensive lineman Jake Ceresna pointed to the success of the defensive line as key to the victory. The Argonauts played well on defense, and they did an excellent job containing Winnipeg by constricting their passing lanes and suffocating Collaros, who never seemed to get enough time to open up the offense.
As for a reaction to the win that mathematically secured the playoffs spot for Toronto, the quarterback Chad Kelly also spoke. Apart from the leadership skills that Kelly displayed in the game, management of the game, especially under pressure, played a very important role in the Argonauts’ season. A win over Winnipeg, one of the best teams in the league, was a big morale booster for Toronto heading into the playoffs.
The CFL on the TSN panel gave analysis about the game and the victory of Toronto as an important win over a strong team on the road. The panel pointed out that the Argonauts ability to win in a hostile envronment is a sign of good things in the playoffs as the team proved they has the right mentalite for playoffs.
This remaining part of the regular season will, therefore, come in handy for the Argonauts to consistently perform as well as possibly clinch a better spot in the playoffs. The team’s shutdown job against the Winnipeg Jets will be a benchmark that the team will want to try and duplicate for the rest of the season. Having clinched a playoff position, Toronto is in a position to iron out strategies and solve any shortcomings as the team gets ready to face the tasks that will be forthcoming in the playoffs.
Even the victory over Winnipeg is vital for the rest of the league because there is a lot of potential in regard to playoff position and division crowns. Nevertheless, the Blue Bombers are still a force to reckon with in the West Division, and this team will be keen to start afresh in their next matches. It was a triumphant victory for Toronto and also a statement of the team’s intention for the Grey Cup wars, asserting itself as a front-runner in the competition.
Although the CFL season has come to the final few weeks, the key point Argonauts could look at with pride was the win that saw them secure a playoff place. The so-called inside and outside scoring punch that this team possesses due to the daunting defensive play and timely scoring have set this team well for a thorough and successful play-off. Given that the postseason has never been far away on the Canadian horizon, all of the Toronto players, coaches, and fans will be looking forward to the path that beckons them ahead in their pursuit of the CFL.