When the Canadian Football League unveiled the 2023 Season Schedule on Tuesday, December 13th, 2022, it was another year where Christmas came early for a lot of football fans.
When Commissioner Randy Ambrosie announced during the 2022 Grey Cup Week state-of-the-league address of having playoff games moved to Saturdays rather than Sundays, it seemed to be the only minor change for the time being. Only the Grey Cup will remain on Sunday for the annual classic.
So, when the 2023 Season Schedule was released, there were a lot more noticeable differences that have not been seen in quite some time. The CFL in the past has played regular season games on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, along with their traditional Thursday to Saturday games. But it just feels too different to get used to for the time being. There will be a total of 11 Sunday games and 3 Monday games during the duration of the regular season (Labour Day Weekend included).
With that said, let’s take a look at all the Edmonton Elks home games, and their chances of breaking their humiliating 17-game home losing streak that began on October 26th, 2019 in a Week 20 game vs Saskatchewan in a 27-24 loss.
Quick Note
This is very much a premature prediction as there has not been a lot of activity with a lot of clubs resigning current roster players, along with Free Agency not fully in effect until Tuesday, February 14th, 2023 at noon Eastern Standard Time.
With that said, let us analyze all of the Edmonton Elk’s home games during the 2023 CFL Season.
WEEK 1
The Edmonton Elks will open in week 1 on Sunday, June 11th, 2023 vs the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Commonwealth Stadium. The Edmonton Elks for the time being have a legitimate chance to break the current CFL record of the longest home losing streak in this game.
Having said that, with the recent hiring of Kelly Jeffery by the Saskatchewan Roughriders as their Offensive Co-Ordinator, is Cody Fajardo part of the plans at quarterback in Riderville?
When Head Coach Craig Dickenson benched Cody Fajardo for the last 2 games of the 2022 CFL Season, it left a bitter taste in Saskatchewan fans and more importantly Cody Fajardo.
It’s only been recent as reported by CTV News Regina that Coach Craig Dickenson has finally reached out to Cody Fajardo.
Even if it is a kiss and make-up story with Cody Fajardo, the Saskatchewan Roughriders take the Edmonton Elks too lightly and lose in Week 1.
For the Edmonton Elks, it is a huge weight lifted off their shoulders in an all-out grind-it-out 26-18 victory.
Home Record: 1-0
WEEK 3
The reigning Grey Cup Champions the Toronto Argonauts take on the Edmonton Elks on Sunday, June 25th, 2023.
For the Edmonton Elks, they have to look no further than what occurred in week 19 of 2022.
The Edmonton Elks had the Argonauts on the ropes and shell-shocked the Double Blue for the majority of the game.
But then the reality and experience kicked in for Toronto.
Toronto would close out the game in a late surge and hang on to a 28-23 victory.
The Edmonton Elks will put up a fight in this game, but there will run out of gas late in the game. The game will be close in which the Elks will fall to 28-19 at the hands of the Argonauts.
Home Record: 1-1
WEEK 6
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats visit Edmonton on Thursday, July 13th, 2023.
Things will be interesting if Bo Levi Michell signs with the Black and Gold. If it is the case, Bo Levi Mitchell continues his dominance vs Edmonton.
Bo Levi Mitchell continues to pick apart the Edmonton secondary and guides the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to a convincing 38-21 victory.
Home Record: 1-2
WEEK 8
The BC Lions make a pitstop in Week 8 on Saturday, July 29th, 2023 to take on the Edmonton Elks.
Let’s just say that even if Nathan Rourke is not back with the BC Lions with his National Football League tour by this point (or on a practice roster), the BC Lions will still have a competitive team in 2023.
Edmonton still has its hands full in trying to contain Veron Adams Jr in Week 8. Moreover, the BC Lion’s defensive line with both David Menard and Mathieu Betts is just too much to handle and overcome.
However, this time they do not get blown out as it was in 2022. QB Taylor Cornelius hangs in there and grinds it out with both RB Kevin Brown and WR Dillon Mitchell leading the offensive outcome.
The BC Lions walk away from Commonwealth Stadium with a 31-21 victory.
Home Record: 1-3
WEEK 10
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers as the benchmark of the CFL visit Commonwealth Stadium on Thursday, August 10th, 2023.
For the Blue Bombers in week 10, they control the clock with precisions and long drives wearing down the Edmonton defence.
The Edmonton Elks, still put up a fight as they did back in week 7 of the 2022 season. The Elks would lose 24-10 vs Winnipeg in a game where the Elks had over 37 minutes in the time of possession department. Only this time, it is reversed. Winnipeg wins 29-19.
Home Record: 1-4
WEEK 12
On Sunday, August 27th, 2023, the Ottawa REDBLACKS visit the City of Champions and the Elks are ready to put up a fight.
After playing against some divisional opponents, the Edmonton Elks hit the ground running in a convincing victory over the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
All three phases of the game go Edmonton’s way with a convincing 34-17 victory over the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
Home Record: 2-4
WEEK 14
The Edmonton Elks will lock horns with their Provincial Rivals the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday, September 9th, 2023 in a Labour Day re-match.
Whenever a rebuild with a team is currently in progress, you somehow still have a couple of upset victories during any season.
This is one of those times for the Edmonton Elks.
The Elks cause a massive upset against their Provincial Rivals in a 23-20 victory.
Home Record: 3-4
WEEK 16
After a week 8 visit with the BC Lions, the Lions return to Edmonton for a Week 16 tilt in the City of Champions on Friday, September 22nd, 2023.
The Elks have a hard time containing RB James Butler who’s the X factor in the game.
The Edmonton Elks still put up a fight but lose the game to the BC Lions by a score of 24-18.
Home Record: 3-5
WEEK 19
The Montreal Alouettes visit Edmonton on Saturday, October 14th, 2022 for the last home game for the Edmonton Elks in 2023.
In a see-saw battle, the Edmonton Elks close out the final home game in a 28-25 victory.
The heart and soul of the defence Jake Ceresna causes havoc on the Montreal offensive line. He collects 3 sacks at key moments to seal the victory late in the 4th quarter on Montreal’s last 2 offensive possessions.
Home Record: 4-5
Stay in tune with CFL News Hub for the upcoming 2023 season.
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