MMQB: 1 thing to watch in every OK Tire Labour Day Weekend game

One of the old CFL adages has always been “a season doesn’t really start until after Labour Day”.

Well, with September starting later this week, OK Tire Labour Day Weekend is almost here. And this year’s slate of games has important playoff implications across the board on top of the three traditional rivalry games we’re treated to every fall.

As we wrap up the month of August, this week’s Monday Morning Quarterback is looking ahead to one of the biggest weekends on the CFL calendar with significant stakes to match the occasion.

And to do so, we’re looking at our top storyline for all four showdowns.

BC LIONS VS. MONTREAL ALOUETTES

IRRESISTIBLE FORCE VS. IMMOVABLE OBJECT

The Lions have more than salvaged their season. With a 45-24 win over Ottawa to wrap up Week 13, the Lions have won five straight to erase a frustrating 1-5 start. On top of that, they enter the weekend one game back of Saskatchewan for second in the West Division and a home playoff date.

Yes, Nathan Rourke’s return and Zander Horvath’s explosion have been big parts of this BC turnaround. But it’s their defence that truly deserves the spotlight, because it’s been quietly one of the league’s best all season. The Lions enter Friday with the league’s number one net defence, allowing 346.2 offensive yards per game. BC also sits number one with an average of only 58.8 rushing yards against per game.

The Lions are going to need that defence on point against the league’s scariest and most balanced offence, though. Even after a 44-28 loss to Winnipeg on Friday, the Alouettes boast a who’s who of top offensive players.

Quarterback Davis Alexander leads the league with 3,657 passing yards and 24 touchdowns. Tyson Philpot’s chase for history continues as he leads the league with 1,316 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Fellow receiver Tyler Snead sits second in both categories with 1,089 and nine, respectively. Add in Travis Theis at tailback and a stacked offensive line and you can see why red-hot BC has a massive challenge on their hands.

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS VS. SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

TWO GREAT DEFENCES

It doesn’t really matter what’s happening when these two teams meet for two straight starting with Labour Day weekend because the rivalry always speaks for itself. But with the Bombers and Riders separated by just one game in the West Division standings, we’ve got tantalizing stakes this year. Add in the possibility of a defensive slugfest and you’ve got my full attention.

Winnipeg enters this year’s back-to-back as the league’s number one pass defence allowing 267.7 passing yards per game. Whether it’s Willie Jefferson and his six sacks and six pass knockdowns, Tony Jones and his 61 defensive tackles, or the breakout season from Major Williams, this Blue Bombers defence is deep across the board.

The defending Grey Cup champions would like a word, however. The Riders also have stellar talent in every facet with Jameer Thurman, Marcus Sayles, and Josh Woods jumping off the page. But it all starts at the point of attack. Saskatchewan’s front four is punctuated by the dominant interior duo of Mike Rose and Caleb Sanders, while James Vaughters has been a perfect fit coming off the edge.

TORONTO ARGONAUTS VS. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

A PLAYOFF SWING GAME

While neither team is playing at their peak entering Labour Day, Monday’s Battle of the QEW has the type of playoff implications you want for a rivalry like this. The 5-6 Argos sit second in the East Division a game up on 4-8 Hamilton with a game in hand. With a crossover very much in play, this showdown could swing the East in a big way.

The Tiger-Cats are smarting with losses in five of their last six, including Saturday’s last-minute setback in Calgary. It’ll be interesting to see if head coach Scott Milanovich sticks with Tre Ford at quarterback, but Hamilton’s biggest strength is on the defensive side of the ball. One of the league’s most stacked secondaries is going to be tested against the league’s top passing offence.

With more than 350 passing yards per game, no team attacks through the air like Toronto does. Quarterback Chad Kelly sits second with 3,642 passing yards and tied for first with 24 touchdowns. Meanwhile, five Argos find themselves on the first page of the CFL’s top receivers: Damonte Coxie, Kevin Mital, Tyler Kahmann, David Ungerer III, and Makai Polk.

EDMONTON ELKS VS. CALGARY STAMPEDERS

DON’T LET THE STANDINGS FOOL YOU

A quick glance at the West Division table entering Labour Day might paint a picture of a lopsided home-and-home set between provincial rivals. After all, this matchup sees the 8-3 Elks on top of the division visiting 5-6 Calgary sitting last. But this two-game series feels like it’ll be a whole lot closer than records suggest on the surface.

The Stamps have lost their six games this season by a combined 25 points, which tells the story of a team far more competitive than a sub-.500 record. While the status of quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. is unclear at the beginning of the week, Calgary has a little momentum after their last-minute triumph over the Ticats on Saturday. That win had to feel just a little bit better than normal knowing how many prior games had slipped away in the late stages.

The visiting Elks have plenty to feel good about, too. Here are a few just off the top of my head. Vincent Blanchard is one of the league’s most accurate kickers at 94.1 per cent. Quarterback Cody Fajardo is having an MOP-calibre campaign. Tailback Justin Rankin sits second with 1,318 yards from scrimmage. And Edmonton has allowed the fewest points overall at just 25.4 per game.

Despite a three-game gap in the standings, this year’s Labour Day Classic hasn’t felt like this much of a big deal in Alberta since 2019.