Photo courtesy: CFL.ca
The Toronto Argonauts’ third “home-away-from-home” game ended in disaster, as they fell 24–23 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Hamilton Stadium.
Here are my thoughts on the game.
A Lirim and a missed prayer
On most nights, you never hear about a kicker needing to “burn the film.” For Lirim Hajrullahu, this was one of those rare nights where that label fits.
Hajrullahu finished just one-for-three on field goal attempts, with his only make coming from 12 yards out. The defining moment came on a 31-yard attempt that could have won the game, which he pushed wide left. Under the league’s new rouge rules, that miss immediately ended the game, eliminating any chance at overtime redemption.
The veteran kicker also missed an extra point following Nick Arbuckle’s second touchdown of the night, a kick that would have tied the game. Add it all up, and it goes down as a nightmare performance from a kicker who, prior to this season, had been as reliable as they come. He now sits at 66.7 percent on field goals in 2026, a far cry from the 89.1 percent clip he posted last year.
The key now is how quickly Hajrullahu can reset. Performances like this have to be put behind you fast, especially at a position where confidence is everything. While it’s unlikely the Argonauts seriously consider a change, continued inconsistency would start to raise questions, and they did add rookie Canadian Brady Lidster to the practice roster this week. As seen with Brett Lauther in Saskatchewan last season, fan patience with kickers can wear thin very quickly.
Running like an F-150
The Argonauts’ defence has been a recurring issue for much of the season, and once again, Tre Ford made the unit look outmatched.
Ford consistently put defenders in a blender, using his mobility to escape pressure and turn broken plays into first downs. Through the air, he was efficient, completing 21-of-27 passes for 218 yards, a touchdown and an interception, but the real damage came on the ground. On 10 carries, the Canadian QB racked up 109 rushing yards, with a long of 24, repeatedly exploiting running lanes and extending drives with his legs.
It’s one thing to be burned like that by an elite running back, but when a backup quarterback puts up those numbers on the ground, it raises serious concerns. Performances like this don’t just hurt in the moment; they also create a blueprint for other mobile quarterbacks to attack this defence the same way.
Keep Kahm and carry on
One of the few bright spots for the Argonauts this season has been the emergence of Tyler Kahmann. With Jake Herslow still out of the lineup, Kahmann stepped up once again, recording his second 100-yard game of the year with six receptions for 106 yards, including a long of 41.
What initially felt like a pleasant surprise is quickly turning into something much more meaningful. Kahmann is establishing himself as a legitimate weapon in an offence already loaded at receiver.
The question now is when, if ever, will Herslow return to the lineup. Based on what Kahmann has shown so far, it’s becoming harder to justify taking him off the field. His performances have done enough to cement him as a reliable, every-game contributor, and it will take an injury elsewhere to save Herslow from the reserve list.
Kelly’s pick
Chad Kelly put together a solid stat line, completing 25-of-35 passes for 322 yards with one touchdown and one interception. But the interception, hauled in by former teammate Jamal Peters, is the play that stands out.
The throw was intended for Damonte Coxie, but Peters was draped all over him, leaving little to no window. It raises the question of what Kelly saw on the read, because Coxie was effectively covered, if not double-covered. Quarterbacks can get away with threading the needle at times, but this wasn’t one of those situations. It was a forced, avoidable mistake.
That turnover marked Kelly’s ninth interception of the season, and it came at a costly moment. With the Argonauts now sitting at 2–4, these are the types of errors that have to be eliminated. In a tight East Division race, this is the kind of loss that can come back later in the season and make the difference between securing a playoff spot or falling just short.
In the Nick of time
With Chad Kelly back under centre this season, Nick Arbuckle has largely been limited to mop-up duty, most notably during the blowout loss in the Stampede Bowl two weeks ago. But in this one, Arbuckle played a key role in short-yardage, keeping the Argonauts within striking distance of the Tiger-Cats and nearly helping pull off a win.
In critical goal-line situations, having a quarterback you can trust to punch it in is invaluable. Arbuckle delivered in those moments, capitalizing on his opportunities and executing when his number was called.
That’s the reality in football. You might not always be the starter, but when you get your chance, you have to produce. Arbuckle did exactly that.
That’s the Hicks we know
Sam Hicks has been a welcome presence in the Argonauts’ backfield in 2026, and he made his impact felt again in this one. Hicks carried the ball seven times for 47 yards, with his longest run going for 20.
While that stat line may not jump off the page, it continues to show steady progress from a run game that struggled mightily in 2025. Hicks has brought a noticeable boost, giving the Argonauts a more balanced offensive attack, instead of relying almost entirely on the passing game.
When he touches the ball, there’s a sense that he can create something, and that’s something this offence has been missing. If Hicks can continue to develop, particularly as a pass blocker to complement his work on the ground, the Argonauts’ concerns at running back could quickly become a thing of the past.
The finish line
The Argonauts have now reached the seventh and final road game of their season-opening stretch, a byproduct of the World Cup schedule. To their credit, they’ve taken the challenge head-on, but cracks have started to show, highlighted by Chad Kelly’s comments following last week’s loss in Winnipeg.
The road isn’t over just yet. Toronto will spend one more week based out of the University of Guelph before heading west to face the B.C. Lions in their long-awaited home opener at BC Place next Saturday at 7:00 p.m. EDT. Like the Argonauts, the Lions have also been displaced due to the World Cup.
This sets up as a prime opportunity. With the possibility of not facing Nathan Rourke and going up against a defence that has struggled just as much as Toronto’s at times, the Argonauts have a real chance to play spoiler before heading into their bye week and finally returning home to BMO Field.
This is a game they need to have. A loss would drop them to 2–5, cap off a winless July, and leave little margin for error heading into August. A win, however, puts them at 3–4 and firmly back in control of their own destiny moving forward.
