Inside the CFL: Riders hold West division playoffs in their hands

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on October 16, 2025.

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Does a team have an obligation to do everything it can to win?

Specifically, now that Saskatchewan has clinched first place, are they obligated to pull out all stops in Winnipeg tomorrow, knowing the outcome will have a big impact on determining final playoff positions for the other four teams?

Going into the penultimate week of the regular season, B.C. has clinched a spot, but which one? Winnipeg and Calgary can still knock the Lions out of second place. The Elks are still alive for the cross-over position.

Saskatchewan coach Corey Mace has decided to rest some starters, former Stampeder Jake Maier will be at the controls tomorrow night. Canadian receivers Samuel Emilus and Kian Schaeffer-Baker will likely sit out even though both just recently came off the six-game injury list. Ajou Ajou and Dhel Dubcan-Busby are talented replacements. Running back A.J. Ouellette will give way to Mario Anderson.

Usually offensive linemen never get a day off, strange in my opinion, because next to losing your quarterback the most devastating injuries would be to the centre and left tackle. Mace will rest snapper Logan Ferland and right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick but Payton Collins stays in on the left. The defence will be pretty much intact. Despite the missing stars, this is still a pretty formidable lineup. Given Winnipeg’s penchant for turnovers and penalties and Zach Collaros’ struggling to find secondary receivers and the injury to Nic Demski, beating their arch rivals is by no means certain.

What are the ethics of the situation? Don’t teams have an obligation to do their very best to win?

The other three teams don’t want the Riders boosting the Bombers’ playoff positioning. Considering the fans are paying hard-earned money to attend the game, aren’t both sides obligated to put on the best show they can?

I say “yes” but realistically I know those who pay the freight, the Winnipeg fans, will be happy if the Riders leave their stars at home. So will the denizens of Rider nation who want their team healthy for the all-important Western Final. So what if the fans in the rest of the division are unhappy? That’s their problem. And they would want their team to do the same thing in the same situation.

If the Bombers win, the Lions will have to follow suit. Winnipeg has the tie-breaker with B.C. for second place and hosting the semifinal not settled until next week when the Leos go to Regina and the Blue Bombers face red-hot Montreal.

To stay alive, the Elks have to run the table and have the Bombers lose both their remaining games. If that happens the Old Men from Manitoba would finish last.

Where does all this leave Calgary?

The Stampeders went from 8-3 Grey Cup contenders after Labour Day through a free-fall four game losing streak finally halted with their 37-20 win in Hamilton. They host the Barnacled Boatmen from Toronto Saturday, a team with a third-string quarterback and nothing to play for but pride. But remember Calgary lost to Ottawa twice.

Calgary has a quarterback, Vernon Adams Jr. muses publically that he may have lost his confidence. This is not good. Quarterbacks are leaders, they personify confidence. Hard for his teammates to keep their heads when the quarterback has lost his. While superb at the deep pass, he has trouble in the red-zone. He ranks last among starting quarterbacks in completion percentage and efficiency.

Still, despite having to settle for field-goals on their first four trips into scoring range at Tim Horton’s Field, the offence rushed for 211 yards with rookie Canadian Ludovick Choquette adding 73 yards to Dedrick Mills’ 105.

A potent ground game and solid defence are usually a winning combination at this time of year. The defence, after giving up 159 points during the losing streak still ranks second in points allowed. They did well in Tiger-Town.

Even if the Stampeders lose their final two games they can still make the playoffs if B.C. beats Edmonton tomorrow night, not a given by any means seeing how well the late-bloomers have been playing.

If Calgary wins tomorrow, they’re in. If they lose while the Elks beat B.C., they might have to win in Edmonton to make the playoffs.

Can Vernon Adams get it done?

Graham Kelly has covered the CFL for the Medicine Hat News for 53 years. Feedback for this column can be emailed to sports@medicinehatnews.com.