Saturday, September 29, 2012

CFL Game Day: Toronto at Winnipeg (September 29)

Winnipeg will be hoping to keep their good times rollin', if one win last week in a season of woe (3-9) can be called good times, as the Toronto Argonauts arrive in town for a CFL East division match up that could bring life to the Bombers thoughts of playoff football, something perhaps nowhere near their radar but a month ago.

With the return of Buck Pierce last week, the Bombers looked very much like that swaggerin' bunch we heard a bit too much of last year, Pierce and his team mates pulled together as complete a game as one could hope for from a Winnipeg viewpoint, dismissing the Hamilton Tiger Cats quite impressively, stirring those playoff embers long thought gone cold.

And as providence might provide, this week's competitor, the Argonauts arrive in town very much a battered and bruised squad, the most worrisome thing from a Toronto point of view the fact that Ricky Ray will be on the sidelines if he travels at all, in street clothes most likely,  unable to take to the field owing to injury.

Ray went down in last weeks game against Montreal, a knee injury leaving him out of the Argo lineup for the foreseeable future, at the worst possible time, as Toronto battles Montreal for first place in the CFL East.

Jarious Jackson, acquired from the BC Lions in the off season, will make a rare appearance as a CFL starter, Jackson who was used mostly on second and short situations in BC, a role that seems to be his marquee value in Toronto as well, finally gets the chance to lead an offence from start to finish, the opportunity now here to show if he's ready to step into the spotlight of a Ricky Ray.

The bad news for Winnipeg however is that Jackson has a pretty good record when thrown into the fire, over the course of his CFL career, Jackson has a winning percentage, going 14 and 8 in his 22 CFL starts.

No wild eyed rookie is this guy, he understands the game and will be anxious to show his team mates that all is still well on the good ship Argo.

If the Winnipeg defence is truly engaged in this one, it could be long afternoon for Jackson, who will have to make scrambling a priority as he seeks out down field receivers. The Bombers D side showed some life against Hamilton, making life pretty miserable for Henry Burris, no doubt they would like to provide the same treatment to the Argos back up now tasked with keeping the Argos first place ambitions alive.

Game Time 6 PM CT, 7 ET, 4 PT  CanadInn Stadium TSN

Toronto 29 at Winnipeg 10 (27,169)

Pre Game

CFL Video Preview

Globe and Mail-- Bombers find Ray of hope as they prepare to host Argos
National Post-- Argos uncertain when injured quarterback Ricky Ray will return
Toronto Sun-- Boatmen have big respect for Bombers QB
Toronto Star-- Blue Bombers showing some swagger again for Argo game
Winnipeg Free Press-- This guy Burke could be a keeper
Winnipeg Sun-- Bombers facing no ordinary backup

Team Backgrounders

Toronto Argonauts
Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Post Game

CFL.ca-- Game Recap
CFL.ca-- Video Highlights

Globe and Mail-- Blue Bombers' playoff hopes fade after loss to Argos
National Post-- Argos' backup quarterback Jarious Jackson holds his own in win ...
Toronto Sun-- Argos drop Blue Bombers - without Ricky Ray
Toronto Star-- Toronto Argos knock off Winnipeg Blue Bombers 29-10
Winnipeg Free Press-- Back to Situation Normal...
Winnipeg Sun-- Bombers return to Bumblers

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