For the Calgary Stampeders, it is a playoff tune-up. For the Saskatchewan Roughriders, it is the last game of what turned into a long, forgettable season.
The West Division rivals will meet for their regular-season finale Saturday night at Calgary with nothing at stake except contractual obligations and personal pride.
Calgary (11-6) is locked into the third playoff seed in the West and a date next week on the road against the B.C. Lions. Saskatchewan (6-11) will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016 after following a 4-1 start by losing 10 of its next 12 games.
Last week’s 32-21 home loss to the Stampeders was the Roughriders’ sixth consecutive setback. The team changed quarterbacks, benching veteran Cody Fajardo for Mason Fine, and Fine delivered 196 yards and a touchdown on 18-of-28 accuracy.
But Saskatchewan couldn’t stop Calgary’s ground game, giving up 212 rushing yards. The Riders’ shortcomings on both sides of the line — the offensive line has ceded a league-worst 71 sacks — have wasted solid seasons like the one from Kian Schaffer-Baker.
Schaffer-Baker needs 65 yards for a 1,000-yard receiving year, which would make him the youngest Canadian receiver in franchise history to reach the milestone.
“Something that I carry on my shoulder every day is that underdog mentality,” Schaffer-Baker said. “That’s what makes me want to work so hard every day.”
As for the Stamps, they’ve done what the Roughriders couldn’t — finish strong. They have won five of their last seven, and the two losses in that span came by a total of five points.
Calgary had offensive balance last week, getting 103 yards on the ground from Dedrick Mills and another 205 in the air from Jake Meier. But their hopes of hosting B.C. in the Western semifinals were quashed by the Lions’ 31-14 win at hapless Edmonton.
Calgary expects to get more good news this week with the return of veteran receiver Kamar Jorden, who missed the last six games due to a leg injury.
“Hopefully, he goes out there and does what he always does — play hard and make plays,” said Stampeders coach Dave Dickenson.
–Field Level Media