Week 15 Preview

The 2006 season enters Week #15 as the Edmonton Eskimos look for revenge against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Commonwealth Stadium.

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

TICATS (3-11) vs.  ESKS (4-8)

Game Day: Friday, Sept. 22      Location: Commonwealth Stadium        

Game Time: 9:00 ET    TV Broadcast: TSN      

In front of a home crowd last week, the Tiger-Cats defeated the Eskimos 27-22. Click here to view the box score and stats.

Stats & Facts

-      A Hamilton loss, combined with a Winnipeg victory will result in the Ticats missing the post-season for the second straight season.

-      Hamilton is 1-6 on the road; Edmonton is 4-2 at home.

-      The last time Edmonton lost three home games was in 2001.

-      The last time the Ticats won at Commonwealth Stadium was also in 2001 when they defeated the Eskimos 20-12.

-      Hamilton running back Jess Lumsden will play on Friday night. In seven games last season, Lumsden ran for 307 yards and one touchdown on 60 carries.

-      Edmonton’s Ricky Ray leads the League in passing with 3,643 yards. Ray has thrown 15 TDs on the season and 99 in his career.

-      Hamilton quarterback Jason Maas returns to Commonwealth for the first time as a Ticat.

-      Hamilton slotback Terry Vaughn needs three catches to become the first player in CFL history to reach 1,000 receptions in a career.

ARGOS (7-5) vs. STAMPS (8-5)

Game Day: Saturday, Sept. 23  Location: McMahon Stadium    

Game Time: 7:00 ET    TV Broadcast: CBC

The last time the Toronto Argonauts played the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium dates all the way back to Week #2 of last season. It was Calgary’s season and home opener. Argos quarterback Damon Allen threw for 340 yards and the Argos defeated the Stamps 22-16. Click here to view the box score and stats.

Stats & Facts

-      Calgary running back Joffrey Reynolds leads the League in rushing with 1,170 yards.

-      Toronto will counter with the return of running back Ricky Williams.

-      Calgary is 6-1 at home; Toronto is 4-3 on the road.

-      The Stampeders have a four-game win streak at home. The Argonauts have won five straight, all against East Division foes.

-      Calgary kicker Sandro DeAngelis leads the League in total points with 162.

-      Toronto’s Noel Prefontaine leads the League in punting with an average of 46.3 yards.

-      Argos Byron Parker needs 34 interception return yards to set a new single season record.

-      Argos Mike O’Shea is 17 tackles short of reaching 1,000 on his career (third all-time).

-      Calgary’s Nik Lewis is 88 receiving yards short of reaching 1,000 on the season for the third consecutive year.

-      Toronto’s Arland Bruce is 56 receiving yards short of reaching 1,000 on the season for the third time in his career.

BOMBERS (6-7) vs. ALS (7-5)

Game Day: Sunday, Sept. 24    Location: Percival Molson Stadium        

Game Time: 1:00 ET    TV Broadcast: TSN/RDS          

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Montreal Alouettes meet for the third time this season. Montreal has a two game lead after defeating Winnipeg 44-16 at Canad Inns Stadium in Week #5. Click here to view the box score and stats.

Stats & Facts

-      As a head coach, Don Matthews has never experienced a losing streak as long as the Alouettes current slide.

-      Winnipeg’s Barrin Simpson leads the League in tackles with 82.

-      Montreal is 4-2 at home; Winnipeg is 3-3 on the road.

-      Montreal has sold-out 68 consecutive regular season game at Molson Stadium.

-      The last time Winnipeg defeated Montreal at Molson Stadium was on September 23, 2001, 28-25.

-      Winnipeg’s Milt Stegall continues his pursuit of the CFL’s all-time touchdown record. Stegall needs three TDs to surpass George Reed and Mike Pringle.

-      Montreal allowed 12 sacks last week against the BC Lions. Winnipeg has 30 sacks on the season, third most in the League.

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LIONS (9-3) vs. RIDERS (6-6)

Game Day: Sunday, Sept. 24    Location: Mosaic Stadium        

Game Time: 4:00 ET    TV Broadcast: TSN      

The BC Lions look to extend their win streak to eight games when they face the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The last time these two clubs met the ‘Riders won 29-28. Click here to view the box score and stats. They have met three times this season, with Saskatchewan leading the series two games to one.

Stats & Facts

-      Saskatchewan is 4-2 at home; BC is 4-2 on the road.

-      BC slotback Geroy Simon leads the League in touchdowns (12), receiving yards (1,357) and receptions (73).

-      The Lions are coming off a 12-sack performance against the Alouettes last week and will face a scrambling quarterback in Kerry Joseph who has rushed for 403 yards this season.

-      BC kicker Paul McCallum returns to Regina with an impressive 93.8% field goal success rate. McCallum’s counterpart and replacement in Saskatchewan, Luca Congi, has connected on 92.9% of his field goal attempts.

-      Head coach Wally Buono is two wins short of 200 career victories.