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Week 3 Preview: Toronto Argonauts at Ottawa Redblacks

By Jose Alfonso Taboada

OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 24: The largest Canadian flag in the world is unfurled to show solidarity after the terror attack in Ottawa earlier in the week, prior to the game between the Ottawa Redblacks and the Montreal Alouettes at TD Place Stadium on October 24, 2014 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - OCTOBER 24: The largest Canadian flag in the world is unfurled to show solidarity after the terror attack in Ottawa earlier in the week, prior to the game between the Ottawa Redblacks and the Montreal Alouettes at TD Place Stadium on October 24, 2014 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photography/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Argonauts are coming off a tough loss against the visiting B.C Lions at BMO Field last week and are looking to bounce back. This week, they head to the nation’s capital and face off against the defending Grey Cup champions.

When it comes to using the phrase, “The Battle of Ontario”, most sport fans would easily refer to the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Ottawa Senators in the NHL.

However, there is another “Battle of Ontario” during the summer and that happens to be between the Toronto Argonauts and the Ottawa Redblacks.

Saturday night will mark the first of two meetings between these two teams at TD Place Stadium in Ottawa. The Argos head over to their division rival where at this early stage of the CFL season, it’s a battle for supremacy in the East.

Let’s take a look at both teams and how they fared last week leading up to their first encounter.

The Argos week two game against the B.C Lions didn’t go exactly as planned for the team. Trying to win their first two games of the season, the Argos fell 28-15 to the Lions and dropped to a 1-1 record.

Defensive end Victor Butler had another great game, getting two quarterback sacks and his second straight game with a forced fumble.Linebacker Bear Woods led the defence with eight tackles.

Ricky Ray will try to improve from his week two performance, which had a touchdown and his first interception of the season. Only one Argos receiver recorded more than a hundred receiving yards (Armanti Edwards, 131 yds) compared to week one where there were three (Jeff Fuller, S.J Green, DeVier Posey).

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The Ottawa Redblacks are in search of their first win of the season and currently sit at 0-1-1. The defending champions tied in their season opener in a Grey Cup rematch against the Calgary Stampeders.

The following week, the Stamps and the Redblacks faced off yet again in Calgary, which Ottawa fell 43-39 in an intense back and forth battle.

Quarterback Trevor Harris is looking to repeat his week two performance against the Argos, throwing for 425 and two touchdown, which included this great throw to receiver Diontae Spencer.

The Redblacks are also looking to improve on defence, ranking 7th in the league with most points allowed at 74 and allowing a combined 849 yards of offence in their first two games of the season.

Another note to make is that the Redblacks lead the league in average punt return yards with 16.8. They’re also one of two teams that have a punt return for a touchdown.

None the less, the Redblacks will continue to rely on their strong offence to carry them to their first win of the season. They go up against the league leading Argos in sacks (at nine) and points allowed (43).

The Argonauts and the Redblacks will meet again in three weeks on July 24th at BMO Field. However this battle will set the tone in what could be battle for first place down the road in the division.

Next: Argos get ready for the road

What do you think about this matchup? Did we miss anything? Comment below on your thoughts in this CFL version of the “Battle of Ontario”. Kickoff is at 7pm and presented on TSN and TSN 1050 Radio. 

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