The Real Test: Surging Elks Head East to Face the Double Blue
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Edmonton is riding a high after clinching their first playoff berth since 2019, but a date with the Argonauts at BMO Field serves as the ultimate litmus test.
OPINION: Let the Edmonton Elks enjoy their moment in the sun. They’ve put together a nice little run, but if they want to prove they belong at the top of the mountain, they have to survive the trip to Toronto. In this league, the Double Blue is the only 'true test' that actually matters, and Saturday is where Edmonton finds out if they are for real.
As Sportsnet first reported, the Elks (10-3) are arriving in Toronto with plenty of momentum. They recently demolished the Calgary Stampeders 53-16 in a Labour Day rematch—scoring 24 points in the fourth quarter before 31,531 fans—to clinch their first playoff spot since 2019. That victory, paired with a Saskatchewan loss, gave Edmonton a two-game lead in the West Division.
However, the Elks have a memory of traveling east that isn't so sweet. Elks quarterback Cody Fajardo told Sportsnet reporters that the team "got our butts kicked" during an early August trip where they suffered a 48-30 loss to the Montreal Alouettes. Fajardo admitted that winning as a western opponent in the east is "really hard" and noted that his squad has "their hands full."
While Edmonton has the better record, the Argonauts (7-6) are a different beast at home, sporting a 3-0 record at BMO Field. Toronto is also trending upward, going 3-1 since their last meeting with Edmonton (a 42-12 loss). The Argos are playing for high stakes; Sportsnet reports they could clinch a playoff spot and a home post-season game if they beat Edmonton and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats lose to Montreal on Friday.
Edmonton will have to contend with a Toronto defense that is tied for the league lead in sacks with Saskatchewan. Leading that charge is 38-year-old veteran Shawn Lemon, who has recorded eight sacks in seven games. Fajardo, who won two Cups with Lemon in the past, acknowledged the challenge, noting the need to protect the ball and get it out of his hand quickly.
Adding to the tension, the Elks may be without star running back Justin Rankin, who Sportsnet reports suffered a head injury last week.
As Fajardo puts it, this is the "true test." The Elks might be the feel-good story of the year, but the Argonauts are playing for their postseason lives on their own turf. That is where the pretenders are separated from the contenders.