Ottawa's Redblacks are in early-season trouble, and the path ahead isn't offering much relief.
Through two games, Ottawa sits at 0-2 — a rough spot in a league where momentum matters and every loss in the short CFL season carries real weight. But what's making fans nervous isn't just the record. It's what's coming next.
Tough Opponents on Deck
The Redblacks' next two matchups are against the teams that played in last year's Grey Cup — a brutal gauntlet for a squad that hasn't found its footing yet. Facing elite, battle-tested competition while still working out the kinks could make a bad start snowball into a genuine crisis.
In the CFL's 18-game regular season, there's no margin for a prolonged slump. An 0-4 start would put Ottawa in a deep hole that even a strong mid-season stretch might not be able to dig out of — especially in the competitive East Division.
Why Slow Starts Are So Dangerous in the CFL
Unlike the NFL with its 17-game schedule or MLB with 162, the CFL's compact season means every loss is magnified. Teams can't afford to "find themselves" over the first month. Chemistry, execution, and confidence have to come fast.
For Ottawa, that means the coaching staff faces real urgency. Whether the issues are on offence, defence, or special teams, they need to be identified and corrected before the Redblacks fall into a hole that's too deep to climb out of.
Redblacks Resilience
That said, Ottawa fans have seen this team bounce back before. The Redblacks have a history of fighting their way into playoff contention after difficult stretches, and the talent on the roster isn't suddenly gone because of two early losses.
The question is whether the team can make adjustments quickly enough. Grey Cup-calibre opponents have a way of exposing problems — but they can also serve as a wake-up call that galvanizes a squad.
What to Watch
In the next two games, keep an eye on how the offensive line performs under pressure, how the defence handles top-tier CFL quarterbacks, and whether the special teams can flip field position in Ottawa's favour. Those three factors will go a long way toward determining whether this is a blip or the beginning of a long, difficult season.
Ottawa football has had its highs and lows, but the city hasn't given up on the Redblacks — and the team can't afford to give up on itself.
Source: Ottawa Citizen
