Calgary @ Ottawa preview
TD Place Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jun 15, 2019 ) Ottawa 32, Calgary 28
The Calgary Stampeders look to ride their opportunistic defence to their second straight win when they travel to the nation's capital to face the Ottawa Redblacks on Thursday. The Stampeders, who lead the CFL in interceptions, forced seven turnovers, including four picks en route to a 26-16 victory over the Toronto Argonauts in Week 6, and hope to exact a measure of revenge on the Redblacks following a 32-28 loss in the season opener.
"We want to generate some momentum and move forward as a team," Calgary coach Dave Dickenson told reporters. "We want to climb that mountain, go forward and take another step this week." Ottawa is heading in the wrong direction following their third consecutive loss. The Redblacks suffered a 31-1 setback to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 6 and hope to kickstart a struggling offence, which has been held to fewer than 20 points in each game during their current skid, by completing the season sweep of Calgary for the first time in franchise history. "We're not happy and we're not in a position where we feel this is OK," Ottawa running back John Crockett told reporters. "We're very pissed and we still have a lot of work to do, but it's a long season."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS
ABOUT THE STAMPEDERS (3-2): Juwan Brescacin caught five passes for 64 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win over Toronto after missing the previous two games with a concussion. Starting cornerback Jamar Wall, who has recorded 22 tackles this season, is questionable after suffering a rib injury against the Argonauts while linebacker Eric Mezzalira is likely to miss the next six weeks with a severe ankle sprain. Romar Morris practiced for the first time this season after tearing his Achilles tendon in the West Division final last year, but is still a few weeks away from game action while Calgary added defensive lineman Da'Sean Downey to the practice roster.
ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (2-3): Jonathon Jennings was limited to 45 yards passing with an interception before he was pulled in the second half against Winnipeg, but will get the nod once more with Dominique Davis still nursing an undisclosed injury. Crockett was one of the lone bright spots on offence as he rushed for 88 yards on 15 carries in his first CFL start while wide receiver R.J. Harris is expected to return after missing last week's game. Depth at safety is a pressing concern for Ottawa with Kishawn McClain questionable with an undisclosed issue after he started in place of Antoine Pruneau, who was placed on the six-game injured list with a hand issue last week.
EXTRA POINTS
1. The Redblacks have finished without a touchdown pass in four of five games this season.
2. Calgary DB Tre Roberson leads the league with five interceptions.
3. Ottawa K Richie Leone tops the CFL in punting average (51.9).
PREDICTION: Stampeders 29, Redblacks 20