Elks beat Blue Bombers 35-27, clinch CFL West final at home
Edmonton improved to 13-4 with the win, securing hosting rights for the West final for the first time since 2015.
Why it matters
The win gives Edmonton its first home playoff game in over a decade, a significant boost for the franchise and its fans.
The Edmonton Elks defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 35-27 on Friday night, clinching the right to host the CFL West final for the first time in 11 years. Quarterback Cody Fajardo ran for two touchdowns and threw for two more as Edmonton rallied from behind to improve to 13-4 on the season.
Winnipeg (8-9) jumped ahead early behind quarterback Zach Collaros, who threw for 331 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice, including one that set up an Edmonton score. The Elks trailed 21-17 at halftime after a late touchdown pass from Fajardo to Austin Mack, then took the lead for good in the third quarter.
Edmonton head coach Mark Kilam and Fajardo both said clinching a home playoff game in front of Elks fans was a major milestone for the team. The win marked Edmonton's third straight victory over Winnipeg this season, the first season sweep of the Blue Bombers since 1979.
Winnipeg's loss eliminated the Blue Bombers from automatically clinching a playoff spot, though they could still qualify if Calgary loses to B.C. on Saturday. Winnipeg closes its regular season at B.C. next Friday, while Edmonton finishes the regular season against Saskatchewan next Saturday.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.