Surging Calgary Stampeders brace for tough rematch challenge from Blue Bombers in Winnipeg
The Stampeders face a daunting task playing a Winnipeg Blue Bombers team that excels at home and is coming off a blowout loss in Calgary.
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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a load at home on any given football day.
Their ridiculously successful record on their own field the last four-plus Canadian Football League campaigns is proof of that.
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Surging Calgary Stampeders brace for tough rematch challenge from Blue Bombers in Winnipeg Back to video
But throw in a pinch of motivation — such as the vengeance they’re likely to have on their minds over being dominated two weeks ago at McMahon Stadium — and the Blue Bombers are potentially fuelled to bring even more bite than usual to play the visiting Calgary Stampeders.
“Yeah … I call it a challenge,” said GM/head coach Dave Dickenson, with a chuckle, looking ahead to the rematch between his Stampeders (4-1) and the Blue Bombers (3-1) on Friday at Winnipeg’s Princess Auto Stadium (6:30 p.m. MT, TSN, CHQR 770 AM/107.3 FM the Edge).
“It’s a super big challenge.”
How big?
The Bombers boast an eye-popping 31-5 home record dating back to the return of league games following the COVID pandemic.
Included is a 2-0 mark so far this season, after 34-20 and 36-23 victories over the BC Lions and Edmonton Elks, respectively.
“I mean … we understand what they’re about,” continued Dickenson. “But we’re going to focus on ourselves. Just make sure we show up, play a solid game where we don’t make mental errors and play with poise and understand taking care of the football is priority one.
“If we do those type of things, we kind of let the result take care of itself.”
That was the case when the Stamps surprised the Bombers two weeks back in the Stampede Bowl.
The Red and White got out of the gate fast and did nearly everything right in riding to a 37-16 stampede of the five-time division kings.
“Of course we don’t expect them to like us (after that game),” said Stamps quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. “But that’s another great opponent coming up for us— you know … five-time West (Division) champions.
“And they’re at home — sold-out crowd — and they’re coming off a bye, so they’re going to be fresh and ready to go. So we’ve got to bring our ‘A’ game.”
VENGEFUL BOMBERS OR GALVANIZED STAMPS?
Ah … yes … the Bombers coming off a bye week doesn’t make it any easier for the Stamps heading into The ’Peg.
It’s an extra week to help Winnipeg determine what went wrong at McMahon Stadium …
Although they don’t usually need any added motivation, given their penchant for bounce-back football.
The Stamps certainly know that.
“Yeah … we’ll have to play through adversity, fight through adversity,” said Adams, recognizing the task ahead. “We’ll show the character that this team has, that no matter what, we’re going to show up ready.
“We want to be prepared for the opportunity.”
So far, Adams & Co. have shown they can be that in any situation.
First came that K.O. of the undefeated Bombers at McMahon, which stunned a whole bunch of pigskin savants.
Then came last week’s surprise win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders — another dominant effort against an unbeaten foe in 24-10 fashion — this time on the road.
That came with added adversity having to wait out a health crisis, when wildfires smoked out Friday night’s original kickoff and eventually postponed the game until Saturday afternoon in Regina.
“We’ve played in weird stuff,” admitted Dickenson. “Like the Ottawa game (in a monsoon at McMahon last month) was craziness. Never probably had a worse weather game that I’ve ever played or coached than that one.
“And then obviously the smoke in Regina.”
That delay — and eventual postponement — forced the franchise to scramble to find accommodations — in the face of limited availability — to stay overnight in Saskatchewan.
Starters for the Stamps were shuttled to scattered hotels across the provincial capital, while most of the team and coaching and staff members found respite in University of Regina dorm rooms.
Not ideal.
“I think what we’re seeing is that the guys, they just kind of take it in stride and understand that football players are kind of at the mercy of (situations),” added Dickenson. “We’re going to play in all conditions and needing to get yourself ready to go mentally. I think it’s more mental than physical.”
ARE THE STAMPS READY FOR THE REMATCH?
Whatever the case, they’ll need to be both mentally and physically prepped come Friday in Winnipeg.
Because the Bombers are bound to come out loud and proud.
As are, as per usual, their fans.
“Crowd noise,” said Adams, when asked what gives the Bombers perhaps the biggest edge on their home turf. “You know that it’s going to be definitely louder than Saskatchewan, and we’re going to have to go on a silent count. So we just have to deal with it and limit the mistakes.
“You’ve got to take control.”
Even more so than how they took control of the Stampede Bowl.
“We’ve still got a lot of things to clean up,” continued Adams. “It’s not all just flowers and roses. So we want to keep working and not getting complacent. You know … we get all this love and stuff when we win. But when we lose, it’s all this hate and all this stuff.
“We’re not trying to get all into all that. We just want to get better … try to bring our ‘A’ game.”
They’ll need it against the big, bad host Bombers.
“They do what they do, and they do it well,” added Adams. “They’re hungry, man. That’s a good team. So we can’t be sitting over here saying, ‘Oh … we beat them a couple weeks ago and blah, blah, blah.
“It’s time to get back to work.”
SHORT YARDAGE
The Stampeders lost DB Tyler Richardson and rookie LB Nicky Farinaccio to undisclosed injuries in the win over the Riders. Richardson went down late in the game, and it was DB Anthony Johnson taking most of the reps at Richardson’s starting spot at boundary-side corner during Tuesday’s practice … Also sidelined from practice Tuesday was WR Clark Barnes (ankle), while RB Jeshrun Antwi (ankle), WR Malik Henry (knee) and DB Ben Labrosse (hamstring) were limited in the session … With Farinaccio on crutches Tuesday, the Stamps brought in fellow Canadian LB Justin Herdman-Reed. The special-teams star is a veteran of 94 career CFL regular-season games with the Toronto Argonauts — who drafted him in 2017 — and for the past four seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Simon Fraser University product has produced double digits in special-teams tackles four times during his pro career, including each of the past three seasons with the Roughriders and a career-best 19 with Argonauts in 2018. The 6-foot, 225-lb. Herdman-Reed has a total of 67 career special-teams tackles to go with 52 defensive tackles — including two for a loss — two sacks, two forced fumbles and two knockdowns … Blue Bombers WR Dalton Schoen (knee) and OT Stanley Bryant (ankle) haven’t practised early this week ahead of the meeting with the Stampeders.
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