Playoff picture remains muddled heading into Week 20

Still 32 potential playoff permutations

The CFL’s muddled playoff picture should come more into focus after this weekend.

By Sunday, the four West Division post-season participants could be decided as well as top spot in the East Division.

Then again, it could just as easily come down to the final week of the regular season, which would be fitting given the wackiness that’s been 2018 thus far.

Last week, the CFL revealed no less than 64 potential playoff permutations.

After the weekend’s action, that number has been reduced to 32. Calgary (12-4) will know by Sunday if it has clinched first in the West Division or will require a road win in Vancouver on Nov. 3 to do so. The Stampeders will secure top spot with a victory or tie in Winnipeg on Friday or a Saskatchewan loss or tie the following night versus B.C.

But the Stampeders have dropped two straight, both losses coming at home where they’d been unbeaten. The latest was a 29-24 defeat to Saskatchewan on Saturday night.

A loss to Winnipeg and a Saskatchewan win over B.C. would force Calgary into needing a win or tie versus the Lions in the regularseason finale to secure home field for the West final on Nov. 18.

Saskatchewan (11-6) can still clinch first with a home win over B.C. (9-7) on Saturday and Calgary dropping its remaining two games. That would leave both tied with 12-6 records, but the Riders would get first after winning the season series.

Winnipeg (9-7) would clinch a playoff berth with a win or tie against Calgary and thus eliminate the Edmonton Eskimos (8-9) from post-season contention. The Bombers have won four straight and are coming off a bye.

The Bombers would finish third with a victory and a B.C. loss to Saskatchewan, leaving the Lions as the crossover team.

The irony is Edmonton will be cheering for provincial rival Calgary this weekend. A Stampeders win would keep the Eskimos in playoff contention heading into what would then be a crucial showdown with Winnipeg at Commonwealth Stadium on Nov. 3.

In that scenario, Edmonton would gain the crossover spot with a win over Winnipeg, which would be eliminated.