There were some serious bumps in the road but the Saskatchewan Roughriders will host a home playoff game after they beat the B.C. Lions 35-14 on Oct. 19.
Unlike early in the season when the offence was on fire, it was the Riders' defence that made the biggest difference against the Lions, forcing seven turnovers that resulted in 28 points, including an incredible four turnovers in just five plays. Lions quarterback Thomas DeMarco was often the target of relentless defensive pressure, throwing four interceptions and losing a fumble during a night to forget.
The Riders survived a subpar day from quarterback Darian Durant, who completed less than half of his passes and only threw for 187 yards, 107 of which went to Weston Dressler, who also caught Durant's only touchdown pass.
Running back Kory Sheets had another spectacular day, rushing for 148 yards on 25 carries and adding a one-yard touchdown run. Considering how much the team's rushing attack suffered when he missed two games to a knee injury, it's safe to say Sheets is the team's most irreplaceable player.
Looking forward, the Riders have guaranteed themselves a home playoff game. They have two games left in the regular season: in Calgary on Oct. 26 and home against Edmonton on Nov. 2. If they win their last two games and Calgary loses their last two (home against Saskatchewan and in B.C.) Saskatchewan will host the West final and could theoretically play at home all the way through to the Grey Cup.
There will also be some economic benefits to playing at home so much. John Hopkins, president and CEO of the Regina and District Chamber of Commerce, estimates that a home playoff game could generate between $10 and $20 million. The week leading up to the Nov. 24 Grey Cup could be even more lucrative, with up to $123 million expected to be pumped into the local economy. That's a lot of beer.
Regardless of who the Riders play in that lucrative opening playoff game, there's a lot to like by taking a quick look at the team's stats. The Riders are in the top four in the CFL in total offence, passing yards and rushing yards. On the defensive side of the ball, they are fourth in stopping the pass and second in stopping the run. Having a stout run defence could be critical during cold playoff games when throwing the ball can become nearly impossible. The Riders can also get pressure on opposing quarterbacks as evidenced by their second-place ranking in total sacks.
Overall, it's a well-rounded team without any glaring weaknesses. The passing game is probably their weakest point, but they were still fourth in the league in passing yards per game this season. Durant has been a bit shaky from time to time this season but still boasts a lower interception percentage and higher quarterback rating than he did last year. Kory Sheets is the Adrian Peterson of the CFL and is a tremendous safety valve whenever the passing game bogs down.
The Riders will take on the Stampeders in Calgary this Saturday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. Both teams are on winning streaks (Calgary has won four in a row, Saskatchewan three) and there's a very good chance these are the two best teams in the CFL. Given that they both play in the West Division they can't meet for the Grey Cup. This might be one of those years where the winner of the West final will have already faced its toughest test. Win or lose this weekend, the Riders need to show they can hang with the Stampeders as this likely won't be the last time the two teams face off this fall.
