Winnipeg @ Saskatchewan preview
Mosaic Stadium
Last Meeting ( Sep 7, 2019 ) Saskatchewan 10, Winnipeg 35
The Saskatchewan Roughriders look to continue their winning ways when they host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a crucial West Division clash Saturday. The Roughriders have won eight of their last nine games, including a 41-16 victory against the Toronto Argonauts in Week 16, to clinch a playoff spot and hope to leapfrog the Blue Bombers in first place by winning the season series while claiming the all-important tiebreaker in the process.
"You always want to be able to be the driver of the bus and we're in that situation," Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo told reporters. "The cool thing is that we control our own destiny." Winnipeg is heading in the wrong direction following a 33-13 home setback to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Blue Bombers looked poised to win their first division title in eight years but have dropped three of their last four games to relinquish sole possession of first place and they hope to get back on track by knocking off the Roughriders for the second time in as many games following a 35-10 victory in the Banjo Bowl on Sept. 7. "We got our butts kicked," Winnipeg offensive lineman Pat Neufeld told reporters. "We have to find a way to look inside to get better and make sure we're holding each other accountable by doing the right things going forward."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN
ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (9-5): Chris Streveler completed 31-of-42 passes for a career-high 304 yards and a touchdown against Hamilton, but it wasn't enough to prevent Winnipeg from losing its first home game since Sept. 8, 2018. Kenny Lawler Jr. caught 10 passes for a career-best 144 yards while Andrew Harris added 71 yards from scrimmage, including 37 on the ground to reach 1,000 rushing yards for the third straight season. Wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky and linebacker Kyrie Wilson missed practice and are questionable for Saturday's clash.
ABOUT THE ROUGHRIDERS (9-4): Fajardo was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after he went 23-of-27 through the air for 278 yards and three touchdowns while adding 80 rushing yards and a score against Toronto. Manny Arceneaux caught two passes for 72 yards and his first touchdown since joining Saskatchewan in the offseason from BC to extend his streak of games with at least one reception to 111. The Roughriders added offensive lineman Devon Johnson, defensive end Sterling Shippy, who appeared in four preseason games with the Indianapolis Colts in 2019, and running back Atlee Simon to the practice roster.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Saskatchewan DE Charleston Hughes leads the CFL in sacks (15).
2. Winnipeg's last three road losses have come by a combined four points.
3. Fajardo has accounted for seven touchdowns in his last three games.
PREDICTION: Roughriders 33, Blue Bombers 24