REGINA – The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Edmonton Eskimos will get to know each other very well over the final weeks of the CFL regular season.
The Riders visit the Eskimos on Friday night in the first of three late-season meetings between the West Division rivals. And the games will mean plenty to both with Saskatchewan (9-3) currently second in the standings, just ahead of third-place Edmonton (8-4).
But the Riders and Eskimos can’t afford to get too fixated on each other with the B.C. Lions (7-5) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-6) both close behind.
This contest will feature two of the CFL’s best defences. Edmonton ranks second in fewest yards allowed (295 per game) and sacks (39) and third in points (21.0) while Saskatchewan is fourth in yards (319.1) and points (22.1) but first in sacks (50).
Saskatchewan’s John Chick has a league-best 14 sacks despite registering just one in his last five games. Teammate Tearrius George and Edmonton’s Odell Willis are tied for second with 10 while the Riders’ Ricky Foley and the Eskimos’ Almondo Sewell have eight apiece.
Edmonton would have an advantage at quarterback with Mike Reilly, who has 2,185 passing yards with 13 TDs against eight interceptions. Sophomore Tino Sunseri makes just his third CFL start replacing the injured Darian Durant.
Reilly was 23-of-42 passing for 283 yards with two TDs but also two interceptions in Edmonton’s 25-23 road loss to Hamilton. The Ticats registered five sacks in the game and surrendered just 48 rushing yards.
Sunseri started slowly but finished strong in Saskatchewan’s 35-32 overtime win over Ottawa, completing 20-of-32 passes for 260 yards and two TDs. But Edmonton’s defence will present a much more formidable challenge.
If Saskatchewan gets its CFL-best ground attack (141.1 yards per game) in gear, that would certainly make Sunseri’s life easier. But Edmonton is allowing just 95.1 rushing yards per game.
Saskatchewan is a solid 4-1 versus West Division competition while Edmonton is 2-3. The Eskimos are 4-2 at home while the Riders sport an identical road record.
But Reilly and home-field advantage give Edmonton the edge.
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