After two straight meetings between the Ottawa Redblacks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats to finish the regular season, the CFL continues its playoffs in Ottawa with the provincial rivals meeting for the final time next week in the Eastern Final at TD Place Stadium. The Redblacks outscored their opponent 56-34 in those two meetings and will be looking to continue with that offensive touch on Sunday and make a trip to the 103rd Grey Cup.
After having to wait for the finale of the East Semi-Final, which featured Hamilton nudging out the Toronto Argonauts by a game-winning field goal, Ottawa’s players and their coaching staff are “excited to get to finally know who (they) are playing on Sunday,” said head coach Rick Campbell via a media conference call.
However, with the thought of facing the same team for the third game in a row, Ottawa is not taking a lenient approach to this resilient Hamilton team.
“All the records are thrown out the window,” continued Campbell, adding that the game plan “changes a bit for a playoff game after facing them two weeks in a row but we need to keep our heads on, go to work and continue doing what we’re doing.”
The Redblacks profited from their bye week and took time to relax and recover from the minor injuries that they sustained over the course of a 20 week season. Campbell said that it’s a “good thing to have players rested and we’re hoping that rest is a good thing for us”.
Defensive backs Jerrell Gavins and Forrest Hightower took advantage of the therapy week and after missing out on the final game of the season, each have “an excellent chance of coming out on Sunday”. Running back Jeremiah Johnson has served his six games on the injured reserve and is eligible to practice this week. Whether or not Johnson plays on Sunday is up to the medical staff. Punter Ronnie Pfeffer is unlikely to play and kicker Chris Milo will likely continue handling the punting duties.
Rest can sometimes be a downfall during the playoffs when players are running on adrenaline highs. Since the 2010 season, division winners are 5-5 in the division final after a bye week. Last season, both number-one ranked teams reached the Grey Cup but the two seasons prior featured all four division final hosts ousted at home.
With the CFL playoffs never having been held in Ottawa since 1983, the team will want to go out and win for their die-hard fans who have stuck with the team the whole season – as well as the last one. Although there will not be “extra motivation when battling for a spot in the Grey Cup,” according to Campbell, the players will be fired up to have over 24,000 fans on their side.
They demonstrated that they are a tough team to play against at home, going 6-4 in games played at TD Place Stadium, including their “road” game there against the Argonauts in October. Excluding games against the Boatmen, the Redblacks have an outstanding 6-2 record at home. The Ticats are road warriors, winning five out of nine games away from home. One team will have to crack.
Resuming practice on Wednesday, the Redblacks have a week to prepare for the exact same team that they have been preparing for almost a month now. The keys to a win will not to take anything for granted. Hamilton has been on a Grey Cup appearance streak longer than the Redblacks organization has been around. Looking for their third consecutive trip to the Grey Cup, the Tiger-Cats will have the sophomore Redblacks standing in their way.
Who makes the trip to Winnipeg on November 29? We will see everything unfold in what promises to be a great game filled with raw passion.
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