Toronto Argonauts 32

Hamilton Tiger-Cats 15

To borrow a phrase from Charles Dickens, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times. But mostly, it was the best. Yes, your now first-place Argonauts won, but did so in front of an embarrassingly small — but enthusiastic — gathering.

The Good

To repeat: The Argos won! They didn’t just win, they won emphatically and with gusto. Veteran quarterback Ricky Ray threw for a career-best 506 yards, new star receiver S.J. Green put on a catching clinic, and the Argos defence denied Hamilton any offensive touchdowns. We knew coach Marc Trestman’s overhaul of the team meant that it would look and play much differently than last year’s dismal squad, but almost no one expected this, and so quickly. The new-look Argos are for real and are already a force to be reckoned with in the East.

The Bad

Despite the incredible team performance, only 13,583 spectators took the spectacle at BMO. Yes, that includes the nasties from Hamilton who came to watch their team fall flat. There’s much work to be done here: the Argos are paying the price for last year’s dismal season, and have effectively fallen off the Toronto sports map. However, if the Boatmen keep playing like this, slowly but surely … we remain hopeful that fans will return.

The Ugly

The Argos dominated the game from start to finish but the score was flattering to the Tabbies. Blame that on silly mistakes — like receiver Devier Posey dropping an easy touchdown pass at the end of a long march up the field. And just when you thought that was the worst of it, the ensuing field goal attempt was blocked and returned for Hamilton’s only TD of the game. And when was the last time you saw two field-goal attempts blocked in the same game? These are things that may cost us later against stiffer opposition if they aren't addressed immediately

Image: View of the Argonauts Home Opener vs. Hamilton

Image Source: Kubota Canada