The Ottawa Redblacks will try to keep their faint playoff hopes alive Friday night when they visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
The Redblacks (4-12) need to sweep their final two games of the regular season, both against the Tiger-Cats (6-10), to have a chance to reach the playoffs.
A win by the Saskatchewan Roughriders over the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday also would eliminate Ottawa.
“(The Tiger-Cats) are a good team, they’ve been playing really good football recently,” Redblacks quarterback Nick Arbuckle said. “We know we’re going to have to bring our A game. Whenever you’re playing a team back to back, it’s tough to win twice in a row. We know it’s a big task for us. Step one is Friday.”
The Tiger-Cats are in control of their playoff chances after defeating the Stampeders last week for their first road win of the season.
Hamilton can clinch a playoff berth with a win on Friday and a loss by Saskatchewan. If the Tiger-Cats win their final two games of the season, they would reach the playoffs regardless of what the Roughriders do.
“It’s huge,” Tiger-Cats quarterback Dane Evans said on Thursday. “We really don’t have to watch any other CFL games, we’ve just to take care of our business and just keep winning.
“Honestly, it’s one of the best positions you can be in, especially as a competitor where nothing else this weekend matters. Whatever happens in the CFL just happens and it doesn’t affect us as long as we win.”
Hamilton has won its past five games with Ottawa, including a 25-23 home decision on July 16, the first meeting between the teams this season.
The Redblacks, who have lost four of their past five games, are 1-1 under interim coach Bob Dyce.
Redblacks running back William Powell (shoulder), defensive back Patrick Levels (ankle), defensive lineman Praise Martin-Oguike (ankle), offensive lineman Dino Boyd (shoulder) and receivers DeVonte Dedmon (quadriceps), Tevaun Smith (ribs) and Jaelon Acklin (head/shoulder) will miss the game.
Hamilton running back Wes Hills (quadriceps) and linebacker Bailey Feltmate (forearm) were listed as questionable.
“This is our home playoff game,” Tiger-Cats linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox said. “That’s how we look at it.”
–Field Level Media
