Inside the CFL: The battle of ifs begin as CFL playoffs kick off

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on October 30, 2025.

sports@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

Calgary dominated the first half of the season, sweeping the Roughriders and Bombers.

The Lions were dominant down the stretch and go into the semifinal on a six-game winning streak.

Which teams will show up Saturday at B.C. Place?

“We are kind of a team that gets on runs,” Calgary coach Dave Dickenson observed. “We beat some of the top teams in the league. We feel like our formula for winning, which is physicality and running the ball and limiting turnovers, translates well to cold weather, translates well to the playoffs.”

The weather won’t be a factor in B.C. Place.

The Lions trounced the Stamps 52-23 at McMahon and 38-24 in Vancouver. They sacked Vernon Adams Jr. eight times. The sackers came from all over the defence so it’s not a matter of stopping one individual, although keeping rush end Mathieu Betts at bay is a good idea.

Nathan Rourke led the league in passing efficiency and rushed for 559 yards. He tied with Blue Bomber Zach Collaros in throwing the most interceptions, 16. He does have a terrific arm and receivers to throw to, like CFL leader Keon Hatcher and No. 3 Justin McInnis.

Stampeder DB Godfrey Onyeka, corner Adrian Green must have big games. D-linemen Clarence Hicks and Jaylon Hutchins must make Rourke hurry his throws, and MLB Marquel Lee must keep him from running wild.

In their 37-20 win in Hamilton on Thanksgiving weekend, they got to the red-zone four times in the opening quarter, only to come away with four field goals. Last Friday in Edmonton they got within striking distance three times, settling for three field goals. Calgary can’t beat B.C.’s high powered offence with field goals.

Dickenson acknowledged as much after the 20-10 victory over the Elks.

“We weren’t great inside the five offensively. When you get six points on three trips to the red-zone, normally you lose those games. We need to be better inside the red-zone to take us to the next level.”

They have effective receivers like Jalen Philpot, Dominique Rhymes and Erik Brooks. Dedrick Mills is the league rushing champ. The problem in the red-zone is Adams Jr., whose collar seems to gets a little tighter. Fifty yard strikes? No problem. Ten or less? Big problem. He thinks too much in deep.

Stamps special teams were bad both ways. Opponents had excellent field position and Calgary’s offence ranked last in field position.

Dave Dickenson has had a stellar career as a head coach and won’t make serious mistakes. Buck Pierce is a rookie who made grievous errors in last year’s Grey Cup as Winnipeg’s offensive coordinator.

Said Dickenson, “We’ll play fast, play violent and get to the next level.”

If the 8-3 team shows up, they have a chance to win. Against Rourke, that still might not be enough.

Meanwhile, the Old Men from Manitoba are crossing over to play the Alouettes in Montreal. The Bombers won both their matchups with the Larks but Davis Alexander, 11-0 as a starter in this league, didn’t play in either of those games due to injury.

Future Hall-of-Fame quarterback Zach Collaros has had a dismal season, throwing 16 interceptions in 13 games. The Bombers gave up the most sacks of all the playoff teams. They are without star receivers Dalton Schoen and Nik Demski. To have a chance, the O-line must be much better and Brady Oliveira will have to 20 times for nearly 200 yards.

The Alouette defence is up to the challenge. Tyrice Beverette had eight takeaways including seven sacks. Darnell Sankey had more than 100 tackles. The Alouettes had the most sacks, while Winnipeg had the fewest.

Statistically Montreal’s offence isn’t much better than their opponent. They don’t have a running game, their passing attack is mediocre. But Winnipeg had the fewest interceptions in the league.

Like Nathan Rourke, Alexander is a dynamic, young quarterback who can put a team on his back and carry it to victory.

With Trey Vaval who had three TD returns, the Bombers have an edge on special teams.

If Willie Jefferson, who leads the league in knockdowns with his airplane-like wingspan, has one more dominating game in him, if the greatest O-lineman of all-time Stanley Bryant can reach down deep, and if Collaros can find that old magic, Winnipeg can win.

Big ifs indeed.

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.