Mitchell Blair's blog

The Riders ended a Commonwealth Stadium jinx by beating the Edmonton Eskimos 36-29 in overtime in what was a controversial finish. Sean Fleming's game winning 47 yard field goal with seven seconds left in the 4th quarter was called back due to a holding penalty on Mike Maurer. The Riders then got the ball to start overtime and scored on a Henri Childs touchdown run. The Rider D then stuffed Edmonton on a 3rd and one to get the win and officially eliminate the Eskimos from the playoffs.

The Canadian Football League  and Future Shop encourage fans to log on to www.CFL.ca or www.futureshop.ca and vote for the Division All-Stars before the first round ballot closes at Midnight (ET) on Sunday, October 28.

More than half a million player selections have already been cast in the first-ever CFL fan all-star balloting program introduced earlier this year by the CFL and Future Shop.

The Riders look to make it five wins in a row and eliminate the Eskimos from the playoffs for the 2nd straight year tonight on the Commonwealth grass. By the time the team takes the field, they will know if they still have a shot at finishing first in the West. So that being said, here's what I'll watch for tonight

1. The goings on in Hamilton.  The Riders will have some added fire in their belly if the Ti-Cats should pull off the huge upset. I know that hardly anyone thinks Hamilton can win but you play the game for a reason and you never know---especially in the CFL.

Riders coach Kent Austin says several of his players are questionable for Friday's game in Edmonton--a game that may not matter if BC beats Hamilton earlier that day. Wes Cates, James Johnson, Reggie Hunt and Maurice Lloyd all look at this time as if they won't be in the lineup. Yo Murphy also left practice early today with what looked like a hamstring problem. Meanwhile, Austin also gave us a status report on fullback Chris Szarka who is out after a home accident that resulted in him partially severing the thumb and forefinger on his left hand.

The Rider nominees for year-end awards were released this morning. They are

MOP-Kerry Joseph

Canadian-Andy Fantuz

Defensive player-Fred Perry

Lineman-Jeremy O'Day

Rookie-John Chick

Special Teams-Luca Congi

To see the nominees from all eight teams, go to CFL.ca. The division finalists will be named later this month with league winners being announced as always during Grey Cup week.

The CFL and the Riders have announced the start time of their final home game against Toronto has changed. Instead of beginning at 2. kickoff will go at 1.

The first round of CFL year end award balloting will be released tomorrow when we find out the team nominees for the various awards. Up for grabs as you know are Most Outstanding Player, Top Rookie, Top Canadian, Top Lineman, Top Defensive Player and Top Special Teams player. I'll give out my selections on the Drew Remenda Sports Show tonight but I want to know.....who would you be picking. The CFL wants our top two so gimme your top two in each category.

That's the one word that comes to mind when I think of Sunday's outing. Every aspect of the game came through with a solid yet unspectacular game and that's fine. Yes there were some standouts like John Chick who was a monster out there and Kerry Joseph who just continues to move this team down the field but really with the exception of the above two were there any real standouts on this afternoon.

Can the Riders make it 4 in a row or does Hamilton win its first road game of the year in what is their last chance. It should be a raucous crowd at Mosaic as they salute their football team for clinching a home playoff game--the team's first since 88 as you all know. Here's what I'll watch for Sunday afternoon

1. What will the Riders wear:  Its Plaza of Honor Weekend, BRING BACK THE RETRO JERSEYS!!!!!

Ken Lazaruk will be tomorrow's referee