Desperate for its first win in more than a calendar year, Ottawa drags its historic 17-game losing streak to Toronto for a divisional clash on Saturday.
The Redblacks (0-11) have not tasted victory since Sept. 5, 2025. Lately, they haven’t even been close. Their last five defeats were by a combined 106 points, including a 45-24 thumping by the BC Lions on Aug. 30 before a much-needed bye week.
The skid is the longest in the CFL’s modern era (since 1958), and the longest since the Ottawa franchise lost 25 in a row from 1928-32.
The Redblacks have many issues, including by far the worst running game in the league at 49.7 yards per game (Toronto is the next worst with 78.9 per game).
“I mean, if we can just get to second-and-6, if we just get 4 yards and then we can still have a run game available on second down,” Ottawa head coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. “It’s been a problem all year.”
The Argonauts (6-6) cruised to a 44-24 triumph in the first meeting with Ottawa on June 20. Chad Kelly led Toronto with 424 yards on 25-of-32 passing with four touchdowns and also four interceptions.
Toronto strengthened its grip on second place in the East with a 37-22 win over Ontario rival Hamilton on Monday. Kelly threw for 319 yards with three TDs and one pick, and Damonte Coxie had six grabs for 100 yards and a score to top the 1,000-yard mark for the first time.
“Chad makes me better. Chad pushes me every play,” Coxie said, per Sportsnet. “Most of the time, he’s got a way he wants me to run things. I’m always open to how to improve my game. And Chad is always trying to improve. That’s why we get along well. He coaches me up on everything, and I’m just listening because I’m like a sponge.”
Kelly, a two-time Grey Cup champion and former CFL Most Outstanding Player, could be in line for another big day on Saturday.
The Argonauts enter the week with a league-best 350.9 passing yards per game, while the Redblacks surrender a league-high 331.9 yards per game through the air.
–Field Level Media
