![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/canada\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Leake.jpg\")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhoto courtesy: Chris Lindsey\/Toronto Argonauts<\/p>\n
On Saturday afternoon in Edmonton, the Toronto Argonauts looked more like the halftime wrestling entertainment than legitimate contenders, getting worked over by the Elks in a 41\u201312 loss that left fans wincing long after the final whistle.<\/p>\n
Here are my thoughts on the game.<\/p>\n
Swaggerless Kelly<\/p>\n
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\t\tBy signing up you agree to receive daily emails from 3DownNation, as well as our Last Thursday, Chad Kelly endured a rough outing, recording his second four-interception game of the season while trying to avoid becoming \u2018Checkdown Charlie.\u2019 He finished 21-of-31 for 265 yards in this game, but for the second straight week, surrendered a pick-six. That blow helped seal a dominant performance by the Edmonton Elks defence.<\/p>\n After that interception return for a touchdown, Kelly arguably should have been pulled. The game was effectively out of reach, he wasn\u2019t at his best, and there was little to gain by risking further damage. Head coach Mike Miller, however, saw things differently and kept Kelly in until the final two minutes.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, I did not consider (pulling Kelly) at that time,\u201d Miller said post-game. \u201cI was gonna try to continue to work and try to build some momentum, and then at that point after that, I just thought, well, that was the one more drive.\u201d<\/p>\n Backup Nick Arbuckle ultimately threw four passes, completing two of them for 14 yards while also being intercepted once.<\/p>\n The Lidster is leaking<\/p>\n Brady Lidster had a strong CFL debut against the B.C. Lions, demonstrating the leg strength and confidence that made him an intriguing long-term option for the Argonauts. However, the rookie\u2019s performance since has not been flawless. He missed two kicks on Saturday, including a 35-yard attempt, raising questions about his consistency in a job predicated on trust.<\/p>\n Lidster was brought in to fill the void left by Lirim Hajrullahu, but the pressure that comes with replacing a proven veteran is significant. One encouraging performance may not be enough to settle the position, particularly if missed opportunities continue to affect close games.<\/p>\n \u201cI take everything day by day, and I\u2019m not trying to board anything,\u201d Miller told me when asked about the Argonauts\u2019 kicking situation.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to evaluate the film. We evaluate it one day at a time, and then we\u2019ll make decisions that we feel are best for the football team.\u201d<\/p>\n Hit with a Cody cutter<\/p>\n Cody Fajardo was clicking on all cylinders for Edmonton, posting an impressive stat line of 25-of-31 for 301 yards and one touchdown, while adding 50 rushing yards, including a career-best 44-yard scramble. Those are the kinds of numbers usually associated with Chad Kelly, but on this afternoon, it was Fajardo who steadied his squad and helped the Elks get back on track.<\/p>\n Fajardo carved up the Argonauts\u2019 secondary, spreading the ball to seven different offensive players. It wasn\u2019t just his receivers benefiting. Running back Justin Rankin led all Elks pass-catchers with 61 yards on four receptions, including a 37-yard grab that set up Rankin\u2019s lone rushing touchdown of the day.<\/p>\n Burn the film, Damonte<\/p>\n After a 161-yard performance last week against Calgary, Damonte Coxie took two giant steps back against Edmonton. He finished with five receptions for 37 yards and a long of nine, a quiet day by his standards, but made other mistakes that didn\u2019t show up on the stat sheet, including letting the game-changing pick-six deflect off his hands.<\/p>\n The connection between Kelly and Coxie usually can\u2019t miss and has been a weapon capable of propelling the Argonauts to victory on any given week. When that rhythm is off, it\u2019s always interesting to watch how a quarterback and receiver work to get back on the same page.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve just both got to be better,\u201d Kelly said post-game. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to be on the same page; we\u2019ve got to work on this.\u201d<\/p>\n For the Argonauts, getting Coxie back into a groove could be key as they look to find more consistency through the air. The chemistry is clearly there, but after a quiet outing, both Kelly and Coxie will be looking to re-establish the connection that has made them so dangerous.<\/p>\n He\u2019s a dual threat, you know<\/p>\n Justin Rankin has been one of the CFL\u2019s most dynamic running backs, and after a couple of down weeks for the team, he led the charge to help the Elks get back on track against the Argonauts. In addition to his 61 receiving yards, Rankin added 47 yards on 16 carries, helping Edmonton rack up 158 rushing yards.<\/p>\n This performance was a stark reminder of how vulnerable the team\u2019s run defence can be when they fail to set the edge and maintain gap integrity. Rankin\u2019s\u00a0 47 rushing yards on 16 carries may not look explosive at first glance, but Javon Leake added 58 on six carries, and Fajardo also had a strong game on the ground. More concerning for Toronto is that their entire offence managed only 45 rushing yards, two fewer than Rankin alone \u2014 highlighting a night where they were outphysicalled and outexecuted in the trenches<\/p>\n The Bubba\u00a0bright spot<\/p>\n Finding bright spots was difficult, but defensive back Bubba Bolden stood out for the Argonauts \u2014 both today and throughout the season. Signed just over a month ago after being released earlier this year by the Montreal Alouettes, Bolden has quickly turned a fresh start in Toronto into a showcase of his playmaking ability and football IQ.<\/p>\n Against a tough opponent, Bolden registered 10 tackles, including one of the team\u2019s three sacks. His activity around the line of scrimmage, sure tackling in space, and ability to read the offence helped limit big plays and kept the defence competitive despite the overall result. Whether dropping into coverage or flying up to support the run, he was consistently around the ball.<\/p>\n He was one of the few positives for Toronto on either side of the ball. He led all defenders in the contest, and in his brief time with the Argonauts, he has already become a key contributor to Greg Quick\u2019s defence.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a generous teammate, loves being an Argo, loves his teammates,\u201d Miller said post-game about Bolden.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a very physical player. You\u2019d be hard-pressed to find a tougher guy. Grit comes to mind again, like a lot of those guys on this team.\u201d<\/p>\n Let\u2019s go to the Argonauts game<\/p>\n The Argonauts return to BMO Field next Saturday as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats make their lone trip up the QEW for the clubs\u2019 annual CNE matchup. The Argonauts will be out for revenge after Lirim Hajrullahu\u2019s 31-yard field-goal attempt sailed wide as time expired in a 24\u201323 loss back in July. That heartbreaker still stings in the locker room, and the Argonauts have a chance to settle the score in front of their home faithful.<\/p>\n This is the Argonauts\u2019 CNE game, and every ticket holder receives free admission to the Canadian National Exhibition, making it a natural double-header for fans looking to cap off a day at the Ex with a night of football. Exhibition Place already buzzes with energy during the CNE, with live concerts, midway rides, food vendors, and attractions. The hope is that the Argonauts deliver a performance that turns it into a truly fun night for the home crowd.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Griff can\u2019t get enough of football. He\u2019s the man that keeps fans up to date on everything Toronto Argonauts.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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