Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell knows that his Calgary Stampeders need to win B次元官网网址渘o matter whatB次元官网网址� this weekend.
Heading into the final week of the CFLB次元官网网址檚 regular season, the Stamps are still locked in a battle with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for first place in the West B次元官网网址� with a crucial bye week and home playoff spot on the line.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檇 love to be in first place, have it locked up, be resting guys because weB次元官网网址檙e not the healthiest team in the world,B次元官网网址� Mitchell said Friday. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got guys who are banged up. IB次元官网网址檓 sure everybody does. But weB次元官网网址檇 love to have that bye week to get guys ready to go.B次元官网网址�
In order to cement their position atop the standings, however, the Stamps (11-6) need to beat the B.C. Lions (5-12) in Vancouver on Saturday night.
Calgary will also need some help from its Alberta rivals. If Saskatchewan (12-5) beats or ties the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday, the Riders will automatically lock up a first-place finish, regardless of how the Lions-Stamps game ends.
Mitchell and Calgary wide receiver Reggie Begelton both admitted that theyB次元官网网址檒l likely watch a bit of the Esks-Riders matchup before turning their attention to game prep.
That doesnB次元官网网址檛 mean the Stampeders are pinning their playoff hopes on another teamB次元官网网址檚 results, however.
B次元官网网址淚t just doesnB次元官网网址檛 change anything for us. No matter what, we have to win our game, whether itB次元官网网址檚 for first or third or second,B次元官网网址� Mitchell said. B次元官网网址淪o weB次元官网网址檒l see if we get a little bit lucky in that sense. But weB次元官网网址檙e just going to go out there and fight for what we can fight for.B次元官网网址�
Calgary heads into SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 contest on a two-game losing skid after dropping back-to-back games against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The last couple of weeks have made the team realize they need to have some urgency to their play, Begelton said.
B次元官网网址淭hroughout the year you lose a game, youB次元官网网址檙e like B次元官网网址極h, OK. Well, we got to back on our feet,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏ut now itB次元官网网址檚 to that point where you have to be extra critical of the things that you want to fix because you really donB次元官网网址檛 have any more time. ItB次元官网网址檚 playoff football. You have to get it now.B次元官网网址�
Heading into the post-season, Stamps coach Dave Dickenson feels that his group still has a lot of work to do if they want to get to the Grey Cup final and defend last yearB次元官网网址檚 title.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e not playing at championship level yet,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漌eB次元官网网址檝e got to get there if we want to have a chance. But IB次元官网网址檓 confident in the guys in the room that we can get there.B次元官网网址�
The squad has been B次元官网网址渟cratching and fightingB次元官网网址� all year, Dickenson said, and he wants to see more consistency from the group come Saturday. That means seeing special teams deliver more plays, while the offence and defence string together a solid 60 minutes.
B次元官网网址淲e know itB次元官网网址檚 not going to be perfect but I do need to see some play makers,B次元官网网址� the coach said.
B.C. was ruled out of post-season play weeks ago after starting the year with a dismal 1-10 record.
But Lions coach DeVone Claybrooks said the home still has something to prove heading into its final game of the season on Saturday.
B次元官网网址淵ou want to make sure that youB次元官网网址檙e building a solid foundation to be competitive and compete for championships. And I think weB次元官网网址檙e trending in that direction,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got some holes and some things you want to clean up and the key to that is identifying what you need to fix and how you need to fix it and those steps and thatB次元官网网址檚 a process in itself as well.B次元官网网址�
The Lions have yet to beat a West Division rival this year B次元官网网址� a fact that isnB次元官网网址檛 lost on the teamB次元官网网址檚 top receiver, Bryan Burnham.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been rough. WeB次元官网网址檝e been in some games, but itB次元官网网址檚 been rough,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址漇o it would definitely feel good to go out on a high note and beat a good Calgary team thatB次元官网网址檚 going into making another Grey Cup run.B次元官网网址�
Burnham heads into SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 matchup with a career-high 1,401 receiving yards, good for second in the league.
CALGARY STAMPEDERS (11-6) VS. B.C. LIONS (5-12)
Saturday, B.C. Place
WORST CASE SCENARIO: A Saskatchewan win and a Calgary loss on Saturday would see the Stampeders finish third in the West. In that case, Winnipeg would host Calgary in the western semifinal on Nov. 10.
CLOSE GAME: The Stampeders have gotten used to tight scores this season B次元官网网址� 13 of CalgaryB次元官网网址檚 games have been won by seven points or less.
RUSHING TO FINISH: Lions running back John White comes into SaturdayB次元官网网址檚 contest having rushed for 960 yards this year. If the 28-year-old can add at least another 40 yards against Calgary, it will mark WhiteB次元官网网址檚 first 1,000-yard CFL season.
LAST HURRAH: Stampeders defensive back Brandon Smith will play his last regular-season game on Saturday. The 35-year-old California native announced last month that he will retire at the end of this season. Smith has spent his entire 12-year CFL career in Calgary, tallying 641 tackles in 156 career games and winning three Grey Cups.
Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press
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