SECOND SEASON IS KEY
Riders must improve for playoffs
“Why not us?”
That was a popular sentiment among the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ players after Saturday’s 28-13 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos, a CFL contest that was witnessed by 31,627 spectators at Mosaic Stadium.
The defeat meant the Riders finished fourth in the West Division and will cross over to the East Division for the playoffs. The Riders are to play the Ottawa Redblacks in the East Division semifinal Sunday at noon.
Nine teams have crossed over to the East Division for the playoffs since the format was introduced in 1996, but none has reached the Grey Cup. Saskatchewan lost crossover games in 2002 (to the Toronto Argonauts) and 2005 (Montreal Alouettes).
“Why not get excited about the fact that you can be the first team to do something?’’ Riders receiver Rob Bagg said. “That’s the way I’m going to look at it. I’m sure that the whole team collectively will take the same approach.’’
Saturday’s game marked the regular-season finale for both teams. The Riders and Eskimos had already qualified for the playoffs and were playing for post-season positioning.
Edmonton (12-6-0) finished third and will travel to Winnipeg to play the Blue Bombers (12-60) in the West Division semifinal (Nov. 12, 3:30 p.m.).
The Edmonton-Winnipeg winner will face the first-place Calgary Stampeders (13-4-1) in the West Division final Nov. 19. The winner between the Riders and Redblacks (8-9-1) will play Toronto (9-9-0) in the East final, also on Nov. 19.
The division winners are to meet in Ottawa for the Grey Cup on Nov. 26.
“The second season starts now for us,’’ Riders cornerback Jovon Johnson said. “We have to win three games and that’s the main thing. We know now that we have to go out East and it’s going to be a long stretch. We have to go out there and prepare.’’
Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, said the team will be based in Ontario as long as it is in the playoffs.
“That’s what we’ve done in the past and we’ll stick with what works,’’ he said.
The Riders have been on similar trips in the past, but during the regular season. In 2016 and 2017, they remained in Ontario and won back-to-back games against the Redblacks and Argonauts in both seasons.
“It gave us some good experience to know what it feels like to be on the road for a long time,’’ Johnson said. “We know that we’re going out east to a different time zone and have to play good football teams. Hopefully we go out there with the right mindset.’’
The Riders split their season series with the Redblacks. On Sept. 29, the Riders roared back from a 17-0 second-quarter deficit to eke out an 18-17 win in Ottawa. On Oct. 13 at Mosaic Stadium, the Redblacks rallied from a 32-20 fourthquarter deficit to win 33-32.
“Stuff that happened in the regular season doesn’t really dictate what will happen in the playoffs,’’ Riders quarterback Kevin Glenn said. “Going out there on that two-game stretch will be similar to what this could be and in those same two spots. It gives us a little confidence.’’
Jones confirmed Glenn remains the Riders’ starting quarterback. Brandon Bridge will be used in relief if a change-up is needed.
“For the last five or six games we’ve been going with two QBs and I don’t think anything is going to change,’’ Bridge said. “I’m going to prepare as if I’m starting. If I’m called up, at least I’m ready.’’
Glenn, who started on Saturday, was 5-for-10 for 63 yards, without a touchdown or an interception. Bridge was 12-for-18 for 162 yards, with one touchdown (to Marcus Thigpen) and no interceptions.
Three Riders receivers surpassed 1,000 yards for the first time since 2013. Bakari Grant had three receptions for 38 yards on Saturday. He finished the season with a teamhigh 84 receptions, good for 1,033 yards. Duron Carter led the Riders with 1,043 receiving yards, followed by Naaman Roosevelt (1,035).
Thigpen was the Riders’ leading rusher Saturday, with seven carries for 32 yards and one TD.
The Riders announced Sunday Thigpen has signed a contract extension through the 2018 season. As well, long-snapper Jorgen Hus has signed an extension through 2019.