The Other Monday Night Football Game(s)

by user Erooster

With the majority of the United States watching the game pitting the Baltimore Ravens against the Denver Broncos, there are another two games being played north of the border. The first is a match-up is the Saskatchewan Roughriders on the road to face the Montreal Alouettes at 1300. The second and more interesting game sees the Edmonton Eskimos going in to face the Toronto Argonauts.

There are two major story lines to be followed in this game. First, if the Eskimos lose this game, then they could be eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since 1971. There is an very outside shot that they could get the third spot in the East (if they keep winning and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers continues to lose).

The other story line is the first time all season showing of both Toronto Argonauts running backs in the same game. Here in the 17th week of the CFL season, this will be the first time that both John Avery and Ricky Williams will be in the same game at the same time. Practices this week have had Williams lined up in several positions: full back, half back, slot back, wide receiver, and at a tight end-like position (there are no tight ends in the CFL).

This combo is bound to cause match-up problems for the Esks defense.

"We're going to run the ball down their throats," said Argos quarterback Damon Allen.

"I don't think he (Williams) is comfortable lining up in any other position than behind the quarterback, but he's probably a very versatile guy who can do many things," said A.J. Gass, the middle linebacker. "Wherever they line up, I'm sure he's going to execute the game plan as well as he can, but I think he's most dangerous at his own position, tailback.

This should be a great game. But, the only people that will be able to see it are those that have Comcast from Chicago east. Those of us out West will have to watch the game via the net. I hope that those of you back east will give the game a look.