‘We still have a chance’: Roughriders need help when it comes to CFL playoff race

The Riders are back at practice ahead of Saturday’s game against the Toronto Argonauts with their season on the line

Published Oct 17, 2023 • 3 minute read

The Saskatchewan Roughriders run a drill during practice at Mosaic Stadium on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 in Regina. Photo by KAYLE NEIS /Regina Leader-Post

The Saskatchewan Roughriders need a win and a loss this weekend.

To clinch a spot in the CFL post-season, the Riders (6-11) need to beat the Toronto Argonauts (14-2) on Saturday (2 p.m., TSN, Mosaic Stadium) and have the Calgary Stampeders (5-11) lose to the B.C. Lions (12-5) on Friday night.

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However, if the Stamps win against the Lions, it sets up a must-win scenario for Saskatchewan, as they would need to beat the Argos to keep their playoff hopes alive.

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“We’re trying really hard to focus on the here and now,” said Riders’ head coach Craig Dickenson. “So, we want to play our best game regardless and we want to win that ball game because we feel like we want to put on a good show for the fans, the fans that have supported us all year long, and we want to play well for each other.

“There will be pressure on the guys to play well, there will be pressure on us to win but no more pressure than we’ve had in the last month.”

If both the Riders and Stamps end up with the same result this weekend, then the Riders — who have a bye next week — will need a Calgary loss in Week 21 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (12-4) on Oct. 27.

“It’s crazy that we’re just putting the fate in the other team’s hands, but it is what it is,” said receiver Shawn Bane Jr. “We’ve just got to keep moving forward and obviously hope that they lose.”

Last Friday, the Riders had a chance to clinch a playoff spot with a victory against Calgary but fell short in a 26-19 loss to the Stampeders, which was Saskatchewan’s sixth straight loss.

It also took the Riders out of the driver’s seat in the post-season race.

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“We’ve still got to go out and win anyways,” said running back Jamal Morrow. “We’ve been saying that for a long time, but we’ve still got to go out there and take care of our business.

“We still have a chance and everything’s still on the table for us so we’re not going to get too low and get too high, but we know we still have an opportunity so we’ve just got to take advantage of this opportunity.

“It starts at taking one play at a time and executing one play at a time and making sure we’re not shooting ourselves in the foot and making it difficult for ourselves.”

After Saskatchewan’s loss to Calgary on Friday, Dickenson said he was going to take the team bowling — which he did on Sunday — to try to help get the team out of the rut they are currently in.

“I think the guys had a great time,” said Dickenson. “Anytime you can bring people together it helps your team, not only on the field but it helps the working environment and it’s a fun thing to do.

“It was a fun night and I think the guys enjoyed being able to spend some time together and talk about something other than football.”

Back at practice on Tuesday, with the focus back on football, the Riders head into their final game of the season with everything to play for while the Argos — who have already clinched first place in the East — have nothing on the line when it comes to the standings.

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Still, the Riders expect a tough test from Toronto on Saturday.

“In this league, you can’t sit everybody,” said Dickenson. “You only have so many guys on your team so they’re going to bring most of their guys, if not all of them.

“And they may play their top guys. We’re expecting to see their best players and we’re expecting to see their best game.”

Injury report

As the Riders returned to practice, kicker Brett Lauther (illness) was absent after being a late scratch before Friday’s game. Ryan Meskell was brought off the practice roster and made all four of his field goals in his season debut.

Defensive lineman Micah Johnson (illness) also missed Day 1, along with defensive lineman Christian Albright (hip), linebacker Jaylen Moody (knee) and defensive back Jaxon Ford (hamstring).

Linebacker Derrick Moncrief (shoulder/neck) was a full participant after missing Friday’s game while defensive back Jeremy Clark (knee) and linebacker T.J. Brunson (neck) remain out.

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