Riders Playing Like Turkeys Heading into Fina Three Regular Season Games

The Riders came out flat in what was billed as a must win game, or at least show they are a Grey Cup capable team. What happened was probably the biggest letdown at Mosaic Stadium since the game a few years ago after the passing of George Reed when Hamilton came to down and with the Reed family in the stands, got ran over in the lowest spot in the relatively brief history of the new stadium.

Running back Quali Conley was on the roster as kick returner for some reason. He fumbled the first punt sent his way, which was recovered by the Stampeders and allowing them to score a touchdown to put them ahead and they never looked back.

Last week I thought about the disconnect the Riders have been showing on the field and wondered whether the death of Jhayden Dalke was having more an influence on the players than what was being acknowledged. After sitting through the Calgary game, I am going to have to add coaching on the list of problems the Riders have three weeks to resolve, or they can start their off-season in under a month.

The first-year defensive coordinator Joshual Bell is notable for the lack of interceptions, uncontested intermediate to deep passes down the middle, and tackling that would be laughed at the Pee-Wee level. With the absence of Rolan Milligan and Tevaughn Campbell, the Riders have tried to compensate for those two players by playing zone coverages and with no consistent pass rush and no adjustments in game plans, the Riders are the gift that keeps giving to their opponents.

Calgary did what they had to do and shut down the Riders running game to make the Riders job even harder. The Riders wanted a running game to keep Calgary’s defensive line from Trevor Harris but utterly failed to accomplish that goal.

The Riders offensive line seems better suited to pass protection than run blocking because even Tommy Stevens had problems converting second down or third down and short yardage. When Keesean Johnson went out of the game in the second half, the Riders were basically sunk.

The Riders back up receivers may evolve into starters, but they are going to have to learn to be more aggressive going after the ball and demonstrate they have some speed. Having both AJ Ouellette and Conley on the roster before the game raised some hope about a consistent running game, but Ouellette didn’t do much and Conley just returned kicks and there was an opportunity lost to explore new offensive looks.

The Rider defense continued their practice of defensive backs looking at each other after a long gain and wondering whose responsibility was looking after the receiver. They also continued their aggravating tendency not to wrap up tackles and go for a big hit instead., The problem is the big hit being done by the defense results in the receiver or running back bounce off the initial hit and pick up additional yards and the Riders look like fools.

The Riders are slowly bringing in players off the injury list, but they are in danger of slipping out of the playoffs and if the Riders cannot address their psychological state, then missing the playoffs might be a blessing in allowing the team to figure out what they need to do next year. Otherwise, the Riders will likely slide to fourth and a crossover spot taking then to Toronto for the eastern semi-final and if they win, they go to Montreal for the eastern final.

The Riders go to Montreal for their first meeting since the 2025 Grey Cup and after demolishing the Blue Bombers, Montreal is on a mission and looking to make various statements before the playoffs. For the Thanksgiving game on Monday, Montreal is going to blitz the Riders, go deep down the middle and demonstrate to their fans this year will be different.

Some Rider fans thought Montreal in clinching first in the east would be tempted to sit some starters and maybe the Riders get a sliver of a chance. I don’t see that as likely because Montreal Head Coach Jason Maas is very competitive and wants to send the Riders a message that aside from a Shea Patterson fumble in the fourth quarter of the Grey Cup, Montreal should have won.

Montreal will come to Saskatchewan five days after this game, and I can see Montreal sitting starters then because there is really no point in playing everyone unless you want to make another statement for bruised ego reasons and then Montreal is risking exposing their players to potential injuries. I recall Calgary in the 2013 season when in their last regular season game they lost Micah Johnson and Cory Mace to injuries and allowed the Riders to run the ball down their throat in the western final.

Sitting players is a Montreal problem. The Riders need to show they are somebody other than the whipped puppies who have taken to the fields in the last three weeks and if they don’t, they will star in the public whipping and humiliation Montreal is delighting in inflicting on the rest of the league.

That is a Rider problem, and I am not sure they have any idea of what to do about it. I hesitate to question Mace after what he did in the last couple of minutes of the 2025 Western Final, but Mace was also the defensive coordinator, and he had the pass rush and defensive secondary needed to rack up wins at crucial times.

The Riders biggest loss in free agency was Malik Carney who provided a relatively consistent pass rush. The 2026 defensive line is in the close but no cigar category in that they are getting close to the quarterback but not closing the deal, especially against mobile quarterbacks.

The Riders will lose this game, but the question is how badly they will lose it. I remember the Riders giving up over 60 points in Montreal a few years ago and that could easily happen again. I am not going to lean that way, although I won’t be surprised if it turns out like that and will pick Montreal to win 31-28. If the Riders win, I will likely need to check into intensive care.

Edmonton goes to Hamilton and Edmonton can probably clinch first place with a win. Hamilton managed to put Ottawa away in the second half of their game last week, but that was Ottawa and Edmonton does have something to play for.

Edmonton would like to put away first place and get their rotation set for their remaining games where everyone gets a chance for game action and vets can take much needed vets days. Hamilton is playing for their jobs next year but I suspect they will not make many changes since they will get Bo Levi Mitchell back at quarterback and their supporting cast is not bad.

Edmonton will win this game 31-25.

Ottawa takes their road show to BC and while attempts to get their first win, BC is looking to continue the roll they are on and if they don’t get into first place, they can clinch second. The only rational conclusion about the Redblacks 2026 season is they are cursed and maybe their stadium is built on some ancient burial ground.

BC will win this one 34-25.

Calgary goes to Stony Mountain to face the Bombers to determine which is better, Calgary’s Ebola or the Bombers Black Death. Calgary’s win over the Riders have given them hope of playing in a hometown Grey Cup and with kicker Rene Parades announcing his retirement at the end of the season, the plot seems to be writing itself and the Stampeders could move past the Bombers and bump the Riders to third with a win.

The Bombers are wildly consistent and can beat top teams one week and get beaten like a gong the next week. Zach Collaros announced this week he would like to return for another season because you could see during the Grey Cup telecast Collaros was almost in tears at not playing at home in front of his fans.

Collaros has been practicing this week, but regardless of who the Bombers start, they need to run the ball at the Calgary defensive line to break it down. I don’t think the Bombers offensive line can do much in pass or run blocking and Calgary won’t be resting starters because they see a path to the Grey Cup this year.

Calgary wins a playoff style football game 32-30.