Offense wins games but defense wins championships, and on Friday night the Edmonton Elks displayed a championship-calibre defensive performance.

Fresh from a bye week, the Elks visited the Tiger-Cats at Hamilton Stadium for an evening match, the second game between the two teams in 3 weeks. The Elks had much on the line, a West Final stranglehold possible at Commonwealth Stadium if the Double E secured victory. For the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, they had an opportunity to spoil those dreams. 21,618 fans would play witness to some good, and bad, football performances.

GAME RECAP

3 THOUGHTS

1. That first half was tough to watch. The Edmonton Elks led the game 7-0 at the half, a score made possible by 2 field goals and 1 Rouge. This performance was less than inspiring.

2. Defence balled out! Sacks on Sacks! Malik Carney had 4 sacks on QB Harrison Frost, LB Joel Dublanko had 12 defensive plays, and the D was able to prevent major points against. Overall the defense was the best phase between the 3.

3. Mathis Pick Six was huge! WR Zach Mathis has been in and out of the lineup this year, but his pick on the fake punt pass was possible due to a bad pass alongside his coverage. That may have been the turning point of the game for the Elks, breaking away from Hamilton not long after that play.

THE POINT AFTER

They don't ask how, they ask how many. The Edmonton Elks find ways to win games and Friday night's tilt proves this to be true. A special teams touchdown and 4 sacks from the defense lifted up the ever-struggling Elks offense.

QB Cody Fajardo completed 16 catches on 25 completions for 229 yards, modest passing yards for Cody. He also rushed 9 times for 40 yards and 1 TD. RB ShunDerrick Powell topped the running board with 49 yards from 9 carries and 1 TD. WR Austin Mack was a cog in this game, supplying 106 yards from 5 carries.

The defense really stood out in this game. DL Malik Carney posted 4 sacks and 1 forced fumble along with 6 tackles, DL Jared Brinkman also posting a sack. LB Joel Dublanko was at the top of the chart once again with 7 defensive tackles, 1 specials teams tackle, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 forced fumble. It's safe to say the defense did their job on Friday.

Special Teams also supplied points from the WR Zach Mathis pick six, along with a P Jake Julien Rouge. Julien also punted 10 times for an average of 50.1 yards per punt, his longest being a 71-yard boot. On kickoffs K Vincent Blanchard averaged 65.8 yards on 4 kicks for 263 yards. He also made 2 of 3 field goal attempts with 2 extra points after touchdowns, not a perfect day for Blanchard but his contributions were still welcome for the win. The return game was average on Friday, WR Montrell Washington handling the bulk of returns averaging just 22.5 yards per kickoff return and 9.2 yards per punt return.

THE FAN SIDE

Looking at the CFL landscape at this time of year, there seems to be some common consensus on how the playoffs could play out. Power Rankings matter now more than ever, and Friday's win did nothing to help Edmonton's case for a spot higher than 3rd. The Montréal Alouettes are a juggernaut and the BC Lions are streaking at the right time, a core belief in that team that seems unshakeable.

The Edmonton Elks have a core belief of their own, however. Despite the Tiger-Cats being outsiders looking in at the playoff race, the Edmonton Elks didn't look fantastic or powerful against their opponent but the Elks still made critical plays when it mattered the most. When one phase is down, the other two are still playing well enough to win, finding victories in any fashion they can.

The best part about Friday's Elks victory is the fact that Edmonton will host a playoff game at Commonwealth Stadium for the first time since 2015. Playoff Tailgating will happen for the first time ever, and fans that have sat through years without a sniff at the playoffs will finally get the chance to experience the biggest football game the city has seen in over 10 years. The team understands that the job isn't finished, however, with 2 games left to decide if the Elks are hosting the West Semi-Final or the West Final. The magic is number is officially 1, any combination of Edmonton Elks wins or BC Lions losses would send the Elks to the West Final. The belief is higher than ever for the club and their fanbase, the second phase of their plan officially completed now that they know the road to the Grey Cup will involve Commonwealth Stadium.

NEXT UP: EDMONTON ELKS VS WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS OCTOBER 16TH 2026

The Green and Gold will host the Blue and Gold next Friday night for the second-last Regular Season game of the season and the second last game at home. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are fighting for a spot in the playoffs and they'll be coming to Edmonton hungry for a win. The Elks will have home field advantage, and depending on the attendance that advantage could get better. Weather is also unpredictable in Edmonton as it's currently snowing while I write this, fingers crossed that the snow stays away until after the upcoming game. Kickoff is at 7:30PM and the Tailgate Party starts at 4:30PM!

Buckle Up!