The Edmonton Elks enter week 11 of their 2024 CFL season heading on the road when they take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Well, a lot has happened since the Edmonton Elks began their first seven games going 0-7 in that span.  Head coach Jarious Jackson established a running game at a pace that any fan could have only imagined in Edmonton, or fans of the CFL for that matter as a whole.

Aside from their first victory in Week 9 in Regina over the Roughriders by a score of 42-31, the running game was flawless racking up a total of 276 rushing yards including a net offence of 515 yards.

A week later in week 10, the Elks were at home vs. the Lions in which it was the defense that played their best all season when it came to an overall performance.  The Elks would topple the BC Lions 33-16 in back-to-back wins against the top two teams in the west division.

Just recently, the Edmonton Elks made it official by announcing the new ownership by introducing Larry Thompson.  Larry Thompson becomes the first owner since the inception of 1949 the Edmonton Eskimos / Edmonton Elks Franchise.

So here go, two teams that have the same 2-7 records.  Two teams trying to add to their respected win total.  This is a game where something has got to give.  Both teams will need at least one more win prior to the 2024 Labour Day Classic.  Lose tomorrow, and this could be a game that you should have had when the season is completed where this game could have punched your ticket to the postseason.

Game Details

Date / Location:  Saturday, August 17th, 2024 / Tim Horton’s Field / Hamilton, Ontario

Kickoff Time:  7:00 pm EST

Channel:  TSN / TSN+ / CBS Sports Network

Weather Forecast:  19 Degrees Celsius.  It will feel like 20 Degrees Celsius with a mix of sun and clouds.  Mainly cloudy with a risk of scattered thunderstorms throughout the night

Wind Gust:  33 kilometres per hour in a south direction.

Percentage of Precipitation:  70%  

Odds

Spread:  Edmonton Elks – 1.5 (-105) / Hamilton Tiger-Cats + 1.5 (-115)

Money line:  Edmonton Elks – 118 / Hamilton Tiger-Cats – 102

Over / Under:  Over 52.5 (- 115) / Under (52.5 (-105)

Via Fanduel Sportsbook

Injury Report:  Edmonton Elks

He is not on the updated list on the injury report, but quarterback Tre Ford will be on the minimum 1-game injured list as he is nursing sore ribs from an injury in week 10.

Injury Report:  Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Edmonton Elks Depth Chart

Hamilton Tiger-Cats Depth Chart

Players to Watch:  Edmonton Elks

Javon Leake

He has been lighting in a bottle in the last two games which resulted in the Elks’ first two wins of the 2024 season.  Javon Leake has been a running back who is wearing down defences as the game slowly enters the 4th quarter. 

He will be an integral part of the running game against a stingy Hamilton defense that for the most part, thrives on playing at home.

However, fellow running back Kevin Brown is listed as “available” for this week 11 tilt in Hamilton.  If the Elks can give the running game much-needed rest in alternating running backs in both Javon Leake, Kevin Brown (if he plays), and Justin Rankin, the Elks have a great shot of continuing their success in the running game when they play the Tiger-Cats.

Nyles Morgan

He is the heart and soul of the Edmonton Elks defence.  He is also a linebacker that plays the game the right way.  Lead by example.  And that is exactly what Nyles Morgan does weekly.

As a league leader with 65 tackles, he might not be that pass-rush linebacker that everyone loves to see in a game. But, he is one of the smartest linebackers in the CFL on when to rush, when to stay home, and when to drop back into coverage.  

Look for Nyles Morgan to do a lot of this as this is the way he plays the game.  Nyles Morgan thrives on a clutch tackle to stall a drive for a first down and make them punt the ball. 

Players to Watch:  Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Shemar Bridges

The rookie out of the Fort Valley State has made a big name for himself in his first season in the CFL.

He has a quick jump from the line of scrimmage and is capable of shaking off close coverage to create separation in close spots.  And his stats don’t lie.  With 56 reception, and 629 receiving yards, followed by 3 touchdowns, he is capable of exposing the Elks defense.  Don’t be surprised if Taylor Powell focuses on Shemar Bridges on clutch plays to extend a drive.

Tim White

Staying on the offense, we look at Tim White.  The wide receiver out of Arizona State has been nothing but spectacular since joining the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2021.

He is also on pace to eclipse his third straight 1,000-plus yards in receiving.  Sitting at 37 receptions, with 429 receiving yards, and 4 touchdowns, he is capable of succeeding his personal best of 8 touchdowns back in 2022 and 2023 respectively.

Keys to an Edmonton Victory

Limit the turnovers

The Elks will turn to McLeod Bethel-Thompson as their signal caller in the absence of Tre Ford. 

Football is one of the few sports where a total team effort is needed.  And this will be one of these games.

Do not fall behind the eight ball and let the Hamilton faithful be the 13th man.  The Elks have to win the turnover battle and play this game with as few hiccups as possible. 

Establish a running game 

The all-round running game has been nothing short of outstanding.  If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.  The Edmonton offensive line has created some big holes in the last two games that resulted in positive yards at a constant pace.

If they can continue this trend, and keep the Hamiton defence on the field longer, this will allow the Elks to have a firm grasp in this game for a positive outcome.

The Defense has to play a versatile game

The defensive secondary will be stretched for a good part of this game.  They cannot allow Taylor Powell to hit his targets in the form of Shemar Bridges, Steven Dunbar Jr., and Tim White all game long.

If they can be close in stride for stride for the majority of the game, this will put the Elks secondary in a good spot to break down passes, and or be in a great position for an interception.

Prediction

The absence of Tre Ford is a big blow to the Edmonton Elks.  On that note, McLeod Bethel-Thompson has done well enough to win as many as three games this season.  The unfortunate part that goes back to McLeod Bethel-Thompson’s win/loss record, was Elks defence dropping leads at the wrong time to secure a victory.  He has a ratio of 10 touchdown passes to 8 interceptions this season and it will not resonate with Edmonton fans.  However, he still comes with a lot of experience in playing in big games. The 0-7 start was not on McLeod Bethel-Thompson. He played well enough for most of those games. The penalty troubles and blown leads were more of the source of the problem that extended the losing streak.

This will be a close-knit game in spurts.  It will not be a surprise if one team is down 0-10 in the first quarter before the game levels again.  Expect this game to be a see-saw battle.  

Final Score

Edmonton Elks:  24

Hamilton Tiger-Cats:  21

The Edmonton Elks enter Hamilton and walk away with another victory making it three years in a row with a victory in the Hammer. 

The Elks’ running game continues to be a pest on a defence which takes a lot of weight off of McLeod Bethel-Thompson’s shoulders not to be in a position to be too pass-happy.

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