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Burris responds to critics as RedBlacks grind out ugly win over Eskimos

Trevor Hagan / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Henry Burris and the Ottawa RedBlacks backed up the veteran quarterback's defiant halftime remarks, overcoming a pick-six and 200-plus yards in penalties to beat the Edmonton Eskimos 23-20 on Saturday.

Ottawa (4-2-1) was not sharp and fell behind by a converted touchdown with 5:12 left. Edmonton linebacker J.C. Sherritt returned an interception - on a ball that had ricocheted upward off wide receiver Chris Williams' foot - 43 yards for a touchdown to give Edmonton (2-4) its first lead. A two-point convert opened a seven-point lead.

Burris responded with a seven-play, 78-yard drive to tie the game. The 41-year-old quarterback extended a play and found Williams for a 7-yard tying touchdown with 2:28 left. On the first play of Edmonton's ensuing possession, RedBlacks safety Jermaine Robinson intercepted Mike Reilly on a deep ball and reeled off a 48-yard return to Edmonton's 24-yard line. That set up a go-ahead Chris Milo field goal, and the Redblacks forced a turnover on downs to end a two-game losing streak.

Ottawa's reshuffled defence ended Reilly's bid for a ninth consecutive 300-yard game and did not allow a TD. Reilly, pressured frequently, was 25-of-41 for 255 yards.

Burris, in his second game back since missing a month with a torn ligament in his right pinky finger, was 26-of-39 for 341 with two touchdowns and one INT. It was enough to get the job done on a night where Burris lit up social media with an inflammatory on-field interview at halftime.

"There's these guys at TSN who always want to jump on me every week," Burris told sideline reporter Matthew Scianitti. "I'm out here playing hard, trying to help turn around every team in this league - and for people who are out there, I've turned around four teams in this league - and I've helped to do it here, too. So all you people talking junk out there, you can take that and shove it."

Related: Watch furious Burris tell critics to 'shove it'

Ottawa had lost both games since Trevor Harris went down with a leg injury against Saskatchewan. The RedBlacks overcame 14 penalties for 204 yards against the Eskimos, including four roughing-the-passer penalties. Edmonton drew 13 penalties for 106 yards.

With new starters such as cornerbacks Mitchell White and Nick Taylor, Ottawa contained Reilly and also limited Derel Walker and Adarius Bowman, who entered the game first and third in CFL receiving. Bowman made 10 receptions for 96 yards, while Walker had just three for 26.

Edmonton's Sean Whyte was 3-for-4 on field goals. Chris Getzlaf had a two-point convert, while punter Grant Shaw added a 60-yard single.

Greg Ellingson made six receptions for a game-high 121 yards for Ottawa, while Williams added seven for 62. Ernest Jackson added a 20-yard touchdown reception. Milo made 3-of-4 field goals.

Ottawa reached the red zone five times, but could only get in the end zone twice. Milo hit the upright on a 22-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.

Both teams' next outing is against the Montreal Alouettes (2-4), who are last in the East. Edmonton hosts Montreal on Thursday. Ottawa has a bye in Week 8 before facing Montreal for the first time since the incident on June 25 where Alouettes wide receiver Duron Carter bumped into Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell while trying to return to his bench, which precipitated a fracas.

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