Week 13 Preview

The 2006 season enters Week #13 with a weekend of rivalry rematches. The Edmonton Eskimos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Winnipeg Blue Bombers are all looking for revenge after suffering losses on Labour Day Classic weekend to the Calgary Stampeders, Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders respectively.

Here’s a look at this week’s match-ups:

STAMPS (7-4) vs.  ESKS (3-7)

Game Day: Friday, Sept. 8        Location: Commonwealth Stadium        

Game Time: 9:00 ET    TV Broadcast: TSN      

In the Battle of Alberta last weekend, the Stampeders defeated the Eskimos 44-23, winning their fourth-straight game. Click here to view the box score and stats.

Stats & Facts

-  The last time the Stampeders won five-straight games was in 1996. They finished atop the West Division that season at 13-5 and lost in the West Final to the Eskimos 15-12. In 2000 the Stamps had a seven game unbeaten streak.  

-  Stampeders running back Joffrey Reynolds is 36 rushing yards short of reaching 1,000 on the season for the second time in his career.

-  The Stampeders haven’t defeated the Eskimos in the Labour Day Classic and the  rematch the following week since 1998. They also pulled it off in 1995.

-  Despite the losing record, Edmonton’s Ricky Ray leads the League in passing yards with 3,034.

-  Calgary is 2-3 on the road. Edmonton is 3-2 at home.

TICATS (2-10) vs. ARGOS (6-5)

Game Day: Saturday, Sept. 9    Location: Rogers Centre           

Game Time: 3:00 ET    TV Broadcast: CBC

In the Labour Day Classic, Toronto’s Damon Allen became pro football’s most prolific passer, surpassing Warren Moon’s record of 70,553 career passing yards. Allen also led the Argonauts to a 40-6 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Click here to view the box score and stats.

Stats & Facts

-          Allen also completed his 5,000th career pass in last week’s tilt with the Ticats.

-          Toronto is 2-2 at home and Hamilton is 1-5 on the road.

-          In last week’s game, Corey Holmes broke the 100-yard mark for the first time this season. Holmes had 16 carries for 112 yards.

-          Toronto receiver Arland Bruce is second in the League in receiving yards with 901, just 99 yards short of breaking the 1000-yard mark for the third time in his career.

-          The Argos have won four consecutive games.

RIDERS (6-5) vs. BOMBERS (5-6)

Game Day: Sunday, Sept. 10    Location: Canad Inns Stadium  

Game Time: 3:00 ET    TV Broadcast: TSN      

The Saskatchewan Roughriders took game one of the 2006 season series between these two clubs last Sunday, defeating the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 39-12. Click here to view the box score and stats. This week, the Bombers are looking for revenge in front of home crowd at the Banjo Bowl.

This year’s Banjo Bowl features the Pushing Daisies performing C’mon, C’mon, the official 2006 Grey Cup song, live during halftime. 

Stats & Facts

-          The Bombers have lost four consecutive games and the Roughriders have won three-straight.

-          During that three game winning streak, the ‘Riders have averaged 45 points per game.

-          Winnipeg is 2-4 at home and Saskatchewan is 2-3 on the road.

-          Bombers running back Charles Roberts is 49 yards short of reaching 1,000 yards rushing for the fifth consecutive season.

-          Saskatchewan’s Fred Perry leads the League in sacks with 12.

-          ‘Mission 137’ continues on Sunday. Winnipeg’s Milt Stegall has 134 career touchdowns, four majors away from setting a new CFL record.