The Toronto Argonauts will be out to extend their four-game winning streak Saturday when they visit the Calgary Stampeders.
The East Division-leading Argonauts (8-5) have defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and the Ottawa Redblacks twice apiece on their winning streak.
Coming off a 45-15 win over Ottawa last Saturday, the Argonauts are out to avenge a 22-19 home loss to the Stampeders (9-5) on Aug. 20.
“You have Winnipeg (Blue Bombers) at the top of the class and then you have Calgary,” Argonauts coach Ryan Dinwiddie said. “To be the best you have to beat the best. We’re looking forward to the challenge. We understand we’re going to a place where they don’t normally lose. They’ve made the playoffs 17 years in a row. We know what’s at stake.”
The Stampeders, who defeated the host B.C. Lions 25-11 last Saturday, are 3-3 at home this season and 4-0 against the East Division. The Argos are 4-2 on the road and 2-3 against the West.
The Stampeders need one more victory to assure themselves of a 14th consecutive winning season.
The Argonauts have allowed the second-most net yards in the CFL this season (357.8 per game) but have yielded the second-fewest points (22.5 per game).
That’s because Toronto has the league’s best red-zone defense. The Argonauts have allowed opponents to score just 13 touchdowns on 33 trips to the red zone.
“They’ve got their guys playing hard and they’re very opportunistic,” Stampeders coach Dave Dickenson said. “They do seem to find the ball and when they do, a lot of the time they’re scoring.
“For us, it’s going to be about trying to have some different looks, some different wrinkles. We can’t just line up and do the same things. They’ll recognize our plays, so we have to have some wrinkles and hopefully they’ll pop.”
Argonauts defensive lineman Damontre Moore (quadriceps) and wide receiver Eric Rogers (quadriceps) have been ruled out Saturday.
Stampeders linebacker Brad Cowan (head), offensive lineman Derek Dennis (ankle) and defensive linemen Romeo McKnight (knee) were listed as out.
–Field Level Media