Here’s the difference between Riders, Stamps
Calgary triumphs despite having up to four starting receivers sidelined with injuries
One has to marvel at the Calgary Stampeders.
They play a game with three starting receivers out due to injuries — and four for a time, when Marken Michel went down.
A new centre makes his debut and does this team miss a beat? Not at all.
Despite all the personnelrelated adversity, the Stampeders still defeated the Hamilton Tiger-cats 43-28 on Saturday at Tim Hortons Field.
It is very impressive and almost difficult to believe that success can be maintained under these circumstances.
It’s a huge credit to the management, players and, obviously, Dave Dickenson and his coaching staff for making this work.
At one point this past weekend, one could have made a case that Calgary could have been in a race with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and possibly the Edmonton Eskimos for top spot in the CFL’S West Division. Forget that. It’s not happening. Imagine taking three receivers out of Saskatchewan’s crew. (Cue the joke that it likely doesn’t matter with the Riders’ offence.)
Saturday’s games really underlined the difference between Calgary and Saskatchewan.
The Stampeders had every reason to lose. They won.
They gave up touchdowns on fumble, kickoff and interception returns ... and emerged on top.
During Saturday’s 30-25 loss to the visiting Ottawa Redblacks, Saskatchewan performed its usual routine scoring every way possible except on offence — at least until a late touchdown pass from Zach Collaros to Naaman Roosevelt.
I guess two special-teams touchdowns made up for the Riders’ defence not scoring in this game.
When a strong statement could have been made as far as potentially hosting a playoff game, the door was instead left wide open for Edmonton, and possibly the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and B.C. Lions, to join the race.
The Riders now go on the road to win their next two games against the bottom clubs in the East Division — the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes.
A sweep of these games is a necessity and no doubt expected by all.
Losing a game to Ottawa isn’t the end of the world. Losing a game to Toronto or Montreal will seem like it in the tightly packed West.
Now for the weekly predictions, with contributions (?) from Rob Vanstone for some reason ...
MONTREAL AT WINNIPEG (FRIDAY, 6:30 P.M.)
Taman: The perfect tonic for the Blue and Gold. Bombers by 12. Vanstone: It’s a Montreal game. Enough said. Bombers by 11.
EDMONTON AT OTTAWA (SATURDAY, 2 P.M.)
Taman: I can’t figure these teams out on the best of days. Coin flip. Tails. Road team by three. Eskimos by three.
Vanstone: Coin flip? Wasn’t that your drafting strategy? Redblacks by two.
SASKATCHEWAN AT TORONTO (SATURDAY, 5 P.M.)
Taman: Saskatchewan wins in a bounce-back. Duron Carter held off the scoresheet. Roughriders by seven.
Vanstone: The loss to Ottawa was an aberration for the Green and White. Roughriders by five.
HAMILTON AT B.C. (SATURDAY, 8 P.M.)
Taman: Battle of the cats goes to the black and gold kind. Losing Travis Lulay is a big blow for the Lions. Tiger-cats by four. Vanstone: With Jeremiah Masoli, the Tiger-cats win the quarterbacking duel. Tiger-cats by eight. Records after Week 13: Taman 36-17 (1-2 last week); Vanstone 34-19 (2-1 last week).
FANTASY PLAYERS TO WAT C H
Taman: Andrew Harris is on a mission to reclaim the rushing lead this week, but I will select Matt Nichols. The Winnipeg quarterback comes back with a solid performance. Even if he doesn’t get the start, it likely means I will still make the smarter selection, as Rob’s picks are as good as Saskatchewan’s offence.
Vanstone: Duron Carter. Period.
Review of Week 12 fantasy picks: It was a blah week, especially for the hapless Vanstone. I chose
B.C. tailback Jeremiah Johnson, who had 12 carries for 50 yards and one catch for 12 yards in a 32-14 victory over the host Alouettes. Vanstone selected Roughriders kicker Brett Lauther, who hit his only field-goal attempt (from 21 yards) and two of three converts. Thank goodness that it doesn’t take much to defeat Vanstone. If I took Roughriders equipment manager Gordon Gilroy, I would still be the fantasy winner.