Toronto Argonauts will be watching Ticats-RedBlacks game closely

The Toronto Argonauts will get a couple shots at winning the East Division over the next two weeks, with the first opportunity coming on Friday.

The Toronto Argonauts‘ magic number stands at one and they’ll need either an Ottawa loss against Hamilton this weekend, or a win against the BC Loins in week 20. What’s at stake is a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

Regardless of whether the Argos win the East, they have already qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2015. But it sure would be nice to win the East and get a precious week off.

From worst to first?

Toronto’s chance of the winning the East has more to do with the weakness of their division than anything, as a win against BC will only give them a .500 record on the season.

Regardless, the Double Blue have made huge strides this season, improving from a last place, 5-13 record in 2016.

Toronto Argonauts fans may find comfort in last season’s Grey Cup Champs, as the RedBlacks beat the Calgary Stampeders in the final, despite finishing the year with 8-9-1 record.

The Grey Cup was a David versus Goliath match, as Ottawa won a overtime thriller against the CFL’s best team.

If Toronto is able to win the Division, they would automatically advance to the final four and host the Eastern Final on November 19 at BMO Field. A big part of the team’s turn around in 2017 has been their performances at home, going 6-3 compared to 2-7 last year.

Healthy Ray  

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Although Toronto improved across the board this year, the performance of their 38-year-old quarterback Ricky Ray was a major difference-maker.

The Argos veteran is having his best season since coming over to Toronto in 2012, passing for 5,000 yards for the first time since setting a career high with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2008.

After being limited to only 12 games over the last two seasons, Toronto’s QB has made it abundantly clear how important he is to the success of this team.

Ray joined an exclusive club during the Argos’ 29-28 victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday, becoming only the fourth CFL quarterback to throw for more than 60,000 career yards.

The California-native still has an outside chance of setting a career high in yards, but he will need to throw an impressive 459 yards in the Toronto Argonauts’ final game.

Regardless of what happens in the regular season, Toronto will rely heavily on their three-time Grey Cup winning QB, moving forward in the playoffs.

All eyes on Ottawa 

Although Toronto’s destiny is in their own hands, they will surely be rooting for the rival Ticats on Friday night.

The RedBlacks come into this matchup as the favourite, as Hamilton’s 5-11 record has seen them already eliminated from the post-season. But the Ticats could play spoilers and secure Toronto their first East Division Title since 2013.

If not, the Argos will have some added pressure in their final match against the Loins. Either way though, playoff football is back in Toronto.

Next: Argos rally behind Ricky Ray

What’s your prediction for the Toronto Argonauts, as they prepare to head into the playoffs? Will they fall short, or do you believe they will win the Grey Cup? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.