Lookin’ for home cookin’
Stampeders look to become first CFL team to clinch home playoff game
They’re the first CFL team to clinch a post-season berth. On Monday, the Calgary Stampeders can become the first squad to cement a home playoff game. Calgary (11-2) can sew up home-field advantage for a playoff contest on Thanksgiving Monday with a win or tie over the Montreal Alouettes (3-11) at Molson Stadium. Should the Als manage to pull off the monumental upset, the Stampeders still would secure a home playoff contest if Winnipeg, B.C. and Edmonton all lose this week. There’s a very good reason why home-field advantage is important to the Stampeders. They’re a stellar 7-0 this season at McMahon Stadium.
The game also has playoff implications for Montreal, which will be eliminated from postseason contention with a loss. On paper, the Als-Stampeders game appears to be a huge mismatch. Calgary has the CFL’s best record and is 7-0 versus East Division competition while Montreal has the league’s worst mark and is a dismal 1-8 against Western clubs.
Calgary leads the CFL in offensive points (29.5 per game) and fewest offensive points allowed (17.2) while Montreal checks in with the league’s worst offence (15.9 points per game) and a defence allowing 28.9 offensive points, second only to Toronto (29.2).
The Stampeders’ receiving corps is hurting, with Kamar Jorden (knee), DaVaris Daniels (collarbone), Eric Rogers (knee) and Reggie Begelton (broken arm) all ailing. Rogers is expected to return soon and there’s hope Daniels might resume playing later in the year but both Jorden and Begelton are out for the rest of the season. Calgary did sign Chris Matthews, who was the CFL’s top rookie in 2012 when he had 81 catches for 1,192 yards and seven TDs with Winnipeg, this week. He also had four catches for 109 yards and a TD in the Seattle Seahawks’ 28-24 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX.
But it’s quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell who makes Calgary’s offence go. Despite the injuries to Calgary’s receiving corps, Mitchell has thrown for 3,927 yards with a CFL-high 29 TDs against just nine interceptions.
Calgary’s offensive line does a very nice job of protecting Mitchell, having allowed just 19 sacks, second only Saskatchewan (16). The Stampeders also boast the league’s top aerial attack (316.7 yards) and are fourth overall in rushing (106.8 yards per game).
Johnny Manziel makes his fifth start this season for Montreal, searching for his first CFL win. The former Heisman Trophy winner threw two TD passes - his first on Canadian soil - in the Alouettes’ 34-29 loss last weekend to Saskatchewan but still finished 9-of-16 passing for 138 yards and was sacked five times.
Prediction: Calgary.