Regular-season record back in Stamps’ sights

A year ago at this time, the possibility of seeing the Calgary Stampeders finish the 2016 CFL season with the best regular-season record in history was all anyone could talk about.

This season, it seems the possibility of the Stampeders finishing the season with a 16-1-1 record is barely being discussed.

Why? Maybe it’s fatigue with the story in the media, especially after the Stamps rolled out a depleted lineup in last year’s regular-season finale and blew their shot at the record by losing to the Montreal Alouettes.

The Stamps are doing their best not to focus on it, either, although quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell admitted this week he’ll be disappointed if they don’t pull it off.

“I was disappointed (last year) because I play this game not to just play the game and get paid ... I play this game to leave a legacy and be a part of history,” Mitchell said.

“It’s not your goal, but your goal is to win every game. In turn, if winning every game gives you a record,thenIthinkyou’refocusedonit because you should be focused on just every single game.”

Every Stampeders player who spoke about the possibility of finishing 16-1-1 essentially echoed Mitchell’s comments.

The Stampeders would love to break the record — of course they would — but the nature of their opponents over the season’s final months mean each win is hugely important, even if the Stamps have first place in the West Division all but wrapped up.

After Friday’s game against the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5 p.m., TSN/News Talk 770), the Stamps will be facing West Division rivals in their remaining games.

There’s a home tilt against the Saskatchewan Roughriders Oct. 20, then an away trip to Edmonton on Oct. 28 and, finally, the Stamps’ regular-season finale at McMahon Stadium against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers Nov. 3.

All three games are against opponents the Stamps could possibly see in the West Division final.

“I don’t think it’s the record thing,” Stamps linebacker Alex Singleton said. “You just don’t want to slip up ... Playing the teams in the West that are going to make the playoffs, it’s about setting a tempo. You don’t want to go in there and just say, ‘Oh we weren’t playing well because we already made the playoffs.’

“That’s an excuse, but we want to set the tempo and win every game going into the playoffs.”

Finishing the season with the best regular season record ever will just be a byproduct of the Stampeders ensuring they assert their authority over the rest of their West Division opponents in the regular season.

If doing that gives them any sort of psychological advantage in the playoffs, that’s all the better.

Regular-season accomplishments are great and all, but going 16-1-1 in the regular season won’t count for much if they fall short again in the post-season.

“Since I’ve been out here in Calgary in 2013, it’s the most games I’ve ever won in my life,” said Stampeders defensive lineman Micah Johnson. “Every year, we win like 13-plus games, so you want to win ball games, but also, we’ve got to start finishing, and we’ve gotta win when it counts, as well, so that’s kind of how guys are looking at it.”

I play this game not to just play the game and get paid ... I play this game to leave a legacy and be a part of history.