A group of guys enter a dance and there she is. She’s beautiful; she’s got that hourglass shape, she just lights up the room. She’s got that glow that makes her the centre of attention. The guys compete to be the one who wins her over, gets to hold her close, maybe even give her a kiss when it’s over.
Yeah, that Grey Cup trophy is pretty special.
Teams battle all season long in order to get that first place bye week and host the division finals giving them the best shot at the Grey Cup…right?
The obvious answer is, of course: coaches and players from the beginning of the season are going all-out to win every game they play. Each team’s goal is to obtain the top CFL playoff positioning and the crucial bye week in the semifinals. First place teams earn the right to bypass the initial round of playoffs and host their division final. They also get the additional rest and more practice time to prepare for their opponent.
Despite all this, there is something to be said for playing in the first round and having momentum going into the division finals.
Saskatchewan, 2013: 11-7 record, 3rd in West
The Saskatchewan Roughriders win the Grey Cup on home soil after going into the playoffs as the third seed. Road wins over B.C. and Calgary vaulted the Riders into the Grey Cup game against Hamilton, who themselves entered the playoffs as the East’s second seed.
Toronto, 2012: 9-9 record, 2nd in East
The Argos picked up wins in their final two games entering the playoffs, and they never looked back. They rolled right through the competition and won the 100th Grey Cup at home against the Stamps.
B.C., 2011: 11-7 record, 1st in West
The Lions started the season with an 0-5 record, only to gain momentum as the season moved along, winning them the first round bye. The Lions were a rested and healthy group as they dominated Winnipeg in the 2011 Grey Cup.
Montreal, 2010: 12-6 record, 1st in East
Montreal cruised through the season, not even being challenged by anyone in the East. They met the Riders in the Grey Cup, and the Western team wasn’t much of a challenge either.
I’ll spare Riders fans from detailing what happened in the 2009 season.
So of the past four Grey Cup champions, two had the first place bye week and two did not. Even going back to 2004, the record is dead even at 5-5.
So we’ve learned she can be won either way.
Point is, you can walk into the playoff dance and have the best record in the league. That’s great, but if recent history has taught us anything, it’s not how you get to the dance that matters, but how you perform once you get there.
Thank you for reading. Support LWOS by following us on Twitter – @LastWordOnSport and @LWOSworld – and “liking” our Facebook page.
For the latest in sports injury news, check out our friends at Sports Injury Alert.
Have you tuned into Last Word On Sports Radio? LWOS is pleased to bring you 24/7 sports radio to your PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone. What are you waiting for?
Main Photo:
