Five months from the 2026 Grey Cup game, it seems absurd to even be talking about the Canadian Football League playoff race. But when the Ottawa Redblacks host the Toronto Argos on Saturday at TD Place, it will be as big a game as it gets in June.
A Matchup of Two 0-1 Teams
Both teams missed the postseason tournament in 2025, and both have started this season 0-1. Bigger things are expected from the Redblacks under head coach Ryan Dinwiddie, who won two Grey Cups in five years as the sideline boss with the Argos before moving to the capital last November. After Saturday, Ottawa will have just seven home games left on its schedule.
Importance of the Game
Linebacker A.J. Allen highlighted three reasons why this game is crucial. "It feels like we've got to win every one," he said. "We are a new team that no one in the league respects. Everybody's gonna have us at the bottom of the barrel. I don't want to say that pressure is always there, but you feel it, and you're supposed to. There's a lot we're trying to change here, and that comes with pressure."
"Another thing, it's important because it's the next game, right? We need to go out there, perform and execute, and, if anything, just improve. We made a lot of mistakes (in Week 1). Those small things, we've got to be able to fix. Finally, it's a home game. You can't lose at home. I mean, that's the name of the game. The more games you win at home, the better position you could be in."
A Fourth Reason: Perception
Ahh, but there's a fourth reason, and it's tied into the first. Perception. The Redblacks need to prove to their ticket-buying fans that they're better than they were when they lost the last six games in 2025 to finish 4-14. They didn't do that in the season opener, a 29-21 loss to the Edmonton Elks, who finished last in the West Division last season.
So, if nothing else, Saturday's is a statement game. "I think it's a statement just on our improvement," Allen said. "As long as we're able to go out there and not make the same mistakes over and over and over again, right? That's going to say a lot to a lot of people, including everybody, everybody in the building. Go out there, make the same mistakes all over again. That's what leads to 0-14."
"The reality is we need to give people a reason to come to these games. No one wants to sit here and watch losing football the whole time, right? It's our responsibility to put a winning product on the field. That's what puts people in the seats. Something I've been told is that we are blessed to be paid to play football, but in reality we are paid to play winning football. Otherwise, we get sent home, the team is destroyed and rebuilt, right? You're paid to play winning football, and that's what gets people and fans. That's what builds culture. That's what people want to see."
