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DEFENSIVE DIFFERENCE: The roles are reversed when it comes to net yards allowed, where the Eskimos have surrendered a league-low 285 yards per game, while sixth-ranked Hamilton has given up 362 yards per game. But in points-against, the Ticats lead the pack with just 19.7 surrendered per game, while Edmonton has trouble translating once again, sitting fourth with 21.6 points allowed per game.

SLOW STARTERS: The Eskimos have been notoriously slow starters this season, having gone minus-44 in first-quarter scoring over the season. They pick up the pace from there, however, ending up plus-80 over the second to fourth quarters. Hamilton took a 21-0 lead in the first 15 minutes of their previous meeting two weeks ago, a 30-27 win on a walk-off field goal by the Ticats.

PENALTY PROBLEMS: An Eskimos team that has led the league in penalties and penalized yards all season long may have the playing field – albeit a flag-filled one – levelled a little against Hamilton. Both teams sit eighth and ninth out of nine when it comes to penalty yards, with the Ticats surrendering 81 yards per game and Edmonton penalized 89 yards per game.

BEATING BETTER TEAMS: No team beaten by the Eskimos at any point this season has had a winning record at the time. The Ottawa Redblacks were the closest at 3-4 coming into Week 9, and they still have yet to win again coming into Week 17. The only team Edmonton’s defeated that has gone on to post a winning record is the Montreal Alouettes (7-6). But beat first-place Hamilton (11-3), and that all disappears.