It’s coming. The Edmonton Elks first win of the 2022 CFL season is coming soon, and once they get their first W, fans can expect more. In the Elks June 25th road game against the Calgary Stampeders, they more than held their own, including leading by a field goal by half time.
The Stampeders, led by future Hall of Fame Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, did what they’ve been doing all season and came from behind to finish off the Elks in the fourth quarter with a 30-23 victory. The Elks meanwhile earned more respect, including from an anonymous Stampeder who told 630 Ched’s Dave Campbell that the Elks are not a bad team.
Elks Better Than Their Record Shows
The statement from the anonymous Stampeder seems to be holding water, especially after watching Canadian Quarterback Nathan Rourke and the BC Lions dismantle the Toronto Argonauts in the late game on June 25th by the score of 44-3. When the Lions took down the Elks in Game 1 of the 2022 season 59-15, many Elks fans were thinking “here we go again.” But after keeping the Saskatchewan Roughriders close for three quarters in the Elks home opener, and then playing well against the Stampeders in Calgary in their third game of the year, it’s just a matter of time for this Elks squad to earn their first win of what can be a few this season.
This Friday’s Canada Day tilt against the 0-3 Hamilton Tiger Cats could be the game where the Elks season starts trending upwards. So far the Tiger Cats haven’t come close to resembling the back-to-back Eastern champions that they were in 2019 and 2021. With Elks Quarterback Nick Arbuckle looking more comfortable and a defense that continues to get tweaked every week, the flood gates could open on Canada Day for the Elks.
Still A Lot of Season Left for the Elks to Turn It Around
One thing for certain, this season seems a long way from the 2021 CFL campaign for the Elks. Signs of life are everywhere concerning the Edmonton Elks, and that’s a complete contrast to the death march to the end of the season that last year brought fans. Once the Elks get their first W under their belt this season, it could be the start of something that didn’t too promising in Week 1 this season.
Coach Chris Jones and his staff isn’t done assessing talent and bringing in personnel that fits his vision. There’s still a long season ahead, and in the CFL, you just never know. That’s why you gotta believe that things could turn around sooner rather than later if you’re an Elks fan.
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