The EE logo of the Edmonton Eskimos stood for Early Exit this year.

The longest run of consecutive playoff appearances in North American professional sports came to an end with a 28-25 Toronto Argonauts victory that knocked the reigning Grey Cup champions out of playoff contention Saturday.

Edmonton had made it to the CFL playoffs 34 years in a row.

``I'm definitely not feeling very good,'' said quarterback Ricky Ray. ``You feel like you fail and that's what we did.

``Every team's goal is to get to the playoffs and win the championship and we didn't do it this year. You definitely don't want to be the team that ends a streak like this. It's frustrating. But I guess you have to be proud that you were a part of a streak like that as well. It just shows how amazing that streak was.''

Even Argos head coach Michael Clemons admitted to being somewhat sorry to see Edmonton's post-season prowess end.

``It's a bittersweet moment,'' he said. ``It was sweet because we needed the victory in terms of what we are trying to do, but what they have done here in Edmonton is really special so I'm not the type of guy who takes pride in ending a streak like that _ especially with all the adversity they have had to deal with this year.

``I'd just as soon be knocking someone else out of the playoffs rather than this football team.''

Trailing 21-10 late in the game, the Eskimos made a furious attempt to keep their post-season streak alive as Ray found Jason Tucker in the end zone from 12 yards for a touchdown. Ray hit Tucker again for the two-point convert to make it 21-18 with less than four minutes left.

They kept fighting for more and were almost within field goal range when Ray was picked off for the second time in the game by Byron Parker, who ran the ball 75 yards with little more than a minute remaining to put the Argos up 28-18.

Ray engineered one more drive and ran the ball in from seven yards as time expired.

The Eskimos who had 30 first downs to Toronto's 10 and led in net offence 477-261, but all season long it just seemed like it wasn't meant to be for the defending champs.

``Something like this was bound to happen some time,'' said Eskimos CEO Hugh Campbell. ``I'm just glad it didn't happen last year.

``It is what it is. It was this year. It's unfortunate and we tried to avoid it but it happened.''

Head coach Danny Maciocia said the future of the organization remains as strong as it has ever been despite the snapped streak.

``This is a little hiccup,'' he said. ``We'll wake up tomorrow and the sun will rise.

``The question is how are we going to handle it. We will be back and we will still be the Edmonton Eskimos that everyone has witnessed over the last number of years. This year we didn't get a few breaks and some of the other stuff was self-inflicted and here we are.''

Toronto, 10-6, moved into first place in the East Division two points ahead of Montreal.

Edmonton dropped to 5-11, and its loss clinched a playoff berth for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Toronto was hemmed in from the opening kickoff and opted to concede a safety, and the Eskimos looked as if they were going to build on their 2-0 lead during their ensuing drive before Parker picked off Ray in the endzone.

Edmonton had another solid drive on its second possession but a 37-yard field goal attempt by Sean Fleming was blocked at the line of scrimmage by Eric England.

Yet another in-close opportunity fizzled when the Eskimos faked a field goal and went with an on-side kick that Mike Bradley was able to touch first but then was recovered by Toronto's Khalil Carter.

Edmonton's defence forced Argo punter Noel Prefontaine to concede a safety early in the second quarter to make it 4-0.

The Argos got their offence going midway through the second with a 94-yard drive. A Damon Allen-Tony Miles pass-and-run play of 51 yards led to a 23-yard rushing major by John Avery and a 7-4 Toronto lead.

Fleming put the Eskimos ahead with a pair of field goals but then another Eskimo miscue gave the lead right back to the Argos.

Edmonton kick returner Tony Tompkins fumbled on his 29 and Michael O'Shea picked up it and drove with the pack to the Eskimos 9. On the next play, Allen threw a TD pass to a wide-open Andre Talbot for a 14-10 Toronto lead.

Toronto added to their side of the scoreboard when Allen hit Arland Bruce for a 28-yard TD to put Toronto ahead 21-10 early in the fourth quarter. The Eskimos then rallied but couldn't pull out a win for the Commonwealth Stadium crowd of 39,533.

Notes: The Argos complete the regular season at home against Saskatchewan on Friday and against Montreal on Oct. 28 . . . The Eskimos finish up at Montreal on Saturday and back home against Saskatchewan on Oct. 27 . . . The Argos clinched a fifth consecutive playoff berth. It's their longest streak since they made the playoffs in six consecutive seasons from 1986 to 1991 under the guidance of three different head coaches.