Overreaction Monday: 5 hot takes from Week 20

Welcome to Overreaction Monday, where we look back on the previous week’s action and root out some angles that could be prone to hot takes that may or may not be a tad over the top. Either from fans and the media in general or, maybe just specifically me.

Then, I’ll render a verdict as to whether I think it’s an “overreaction”, a “fair” assessment, or if it’s “too soon to tell.”

This week: Ottawa puts the boots to its demons. To knee or not to knee, that is the question. And can one drive turn it around in Sasky?

AN EXORCISM OF THE HIGHEST ORDER

Three plays, 21 seconds, 67 yards and a spectacular touchdown grab by receiver Ayden Eberhardt gave the Ottawa REDBLACKS a dramatic, last-minute comeback win, a 40-39 decision over the visiting Toronto Argonauts.

“The curse of the Ottawa REDBLACKS is over.”

THE VERDICT: FAIR.

This applies only if you believe in curses and think that the REDBLACKS were, in actuality, cursed.

Think about it. The Ottawa REDBLACKS, 0-16 this season, and riding a 22-game losing streak overall, a team that had been competitive in more than a handful of games but found myriad ways to squander chances at victory along the way did more than merely eke out their first win of the season.

They turned the tables on that miserable script they’d been acting out so often. Surely they’d been waking up on game days to Sonny and Cher’s “I Got You, Babe.”

When the trailing Toronto Argonauts drove into scoring range, aided by a big pass interference penalty along the way, it seemed the REDBLACKS had done it once again, and that 0-17 was just moments away.

Another chance frustratingly given away.

Never mind just hanging on for a win, the REDBLACKS went out and made the Argos feel like they, themselves, had been feeling on so many occasions of lost opportunity.

“No, no, how about YOU leave the field wondering how you could have possibly lost that.”

Not only did the Ottawa REDBLACKS find a spectacular way to win, they did it right in the face of an all-too-familiar moment that could have gutted them, where it looked like they'd actually blown another one.

THE GEARS DO GRIND A BIT BUT THEY CAN STILL MESH REAL NICE IF YOU GIVE ‘ER

Edmonton’s 35-27 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers answered some gut-check questions about the offence and while the air attack was held to just 120 yards, a powerful ground game and a dam-breaking touchdown scoring performance made for a stirring, division-clinching win.

“The Edmonton Elks have removed all doubt.”

THE VERDICT: FAIR. ISH.

ALL doubt? I don’t know about that but the Elks have done something they haven’t done for over a decade and that is take first in the West and make Commonwealth Stadium home for the Western Final.

In doing so, they certainly looked like a team that put to bed doubts that had been lingering about the offence and its ability to score majors in recent weeks.

With four touchdowns against the Blue Bombers, the Edmonton offence equalled the output of the previous three games combined, games in which the offence looked a bit perplexing in key moments.

With a big, huge ground game (212 yards on 33 carries for an average of 6.4 yards per carry) led by running back Justin Rankin (23 for 133 including four rips of 10-plus yards), the Elks have signalled that they are fit for purpose as they prep for November 7.

All doubt removed? Ask again after the Western Final.

ARRIVE LATE, MAKE A SPLASHY ENTRANCE

Trailing for most of the game, the Saskatchewan Roughriders loosened the cap at the right moment in order to snatch away a 16-12 victory over the Montreal Alouettes, cementing a playoff spot for the defending champions.

After four straight losses, and with postseason play itself in doubt, KeeSean Johnson’s last-minute touchdown reception was welcome relief for a team that had been lost in the wilderness. At last, a clearing ahead?

“That drive will get Saskatchewan right.”

THE VERDICT: TOO SOON TO TELL.

Quarterback Trevor Harris fired a dime to Johnson on that 17-yard touchdown strike, capping a must-have drive of 74 yards on seven plays.

If the ‘Riders now go on a run, we can point to that drive — coming after a game filled with offensive frustration and with the team looking a fifth consecutive loss straight in the eye — and say we know exactly when the tidal bore hit.

Taken into account is the fact that the Montreal Alouettes sat out quarterback Davis Alexander and the league’s top two receivers, Tyson Philpot and Tyler Snead, and so the deficit in this game could easily have been of the out-of-reach variety had that trio suited up.

Having noted that, the Roughriders still should be credited for getting things done against a defence that had them thoroughly stymied for most of the game, when they were down to their last chance and absolutely had to solve the problem.

IT’S SIX OF THAT. IT’S NOT A QUARTER-DOZEN OF THE OTHER

The most talked about bit of strategy from Week 19 is the Toronto Argonauts’ choice to run the ball on first and goal from the Ottawa four-yard line, with 33 seconds remaining and the Argos trailing by two points.

They could have taken a knee a couple of times, and then sent kicker Lirim Hajrullahu out to attempt a 13 or 14-yard field goal on the last play of the game.

Instead, they scored a touchdown on the next play, and then a two-point convert. Then they kicked off with 30 seconds remaining.

We know what happened next and the REDBLACKS ended the night with a 40-39 win.

“The Argos lost that game because of a coaching decision.”

THE VERDICT: OVERREACTION.

There is merit in doing what Toronto head coach Mike Miller decided to do, his team’s defence just failed to keep the REDBLACKS from making big plays in rapid succession, mixing in an undisciplined roughing-the-passer penalty as well.

Three plays, 67 yards, 21 seconds.

The Argos lost because they allowed a team with a first-time starting quarterback to drive the field in the blink of an eye.

NO, NO, IT IS ACTUALLY A QUARTER OF THE OTHER THING

Upon further review...

“The Argos lost that game because of a coaching decision.”

THE VERDICT: FAIR.

In curling, when teams are faced with a tough decision on what shot to play next, and with two or more acceptable possibilities, they will often employ a question that can help clarify: “What would the opposition team WANT us to do?”

And then they do not do that thing.

In this case, the Ottawa REDBLACKS certainly preferred the Argos choosing to score a major as it gave them their only chance to get the ball back, even if that still meant having the slimmest of chances of actually converting.

It was their only shot and so they said “right this way, sir,” to Toronto running back Isaiah Smith as he scored on a four-yard touchdown run.

Look, I think I’m looking at this fairly by illustrating each side of a situation where either decision has merit because I think that’s the case.

But what did I think in the moments leading up to that decision? What call would I make?

I thought “go for the touchdown, make the young guy — in his first gigantic, pressure-filled pro moment — try to put together a miracle drive. I like my odds.”

Bryson Barnes met the moment, and in it, provided reason to believe that the REDBLACKS have got something in him.