Winnipeg @ Calgary preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2017 ) Calgary 29, Winnipeg 10

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers look to clinch a home playoff date when they close out the regular season on the road against the Calgary Stampeders on Friday. The Blue Bombers have failed to lock up second place following back-to-back losses, including a disappointing 36-27 setback to the BC Lions in Week 19, and aim to beat the Stampeders for the first time in more three years.

Winnipeg could be without one of its biggest stars after quarterback Matt Nichols suffered a leg injury against the Lions and will be a game-time decision as the Blue Bombers strive to host their first postseason game since 2011. Calgary is in unfamiliar territory after suffering back-to-back defeats for the first time in more than five years. The Stampeders, who have already secured the West Division title and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, dropped a 29-20 decision to the Edmonton Eskimos, and hope to rediscover their mojo by knocking off the Blue Bombers for the eighth consecutive time. "I don't think the momentum is turning. It's just two hiccups that we're going to take care of in practice," Calgary defensive end Charleston Hughes told reporters. "That's going to be our main focus to get back out there and finish the season with a win."

TV: 9:30 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (11-6): Nichols, who is second in the league with 28 touchdowns passes, suffered a leg injury on a non-contact play in the first quarter against BC and did not return. "It's too early now but I don't think it's anything serious," Winnipeg coach Mike O'Shea told reporters. "We'll have to take a look at it again and see what happens overnight." Andrew Harris rushed for 64 yards and caught four passes to become the second running back in CFL history to have 100 receptions in a season before leaving the game late in the fourth quarter after taking a hit to the head, but is expected to play Friday.

ABOUT THE STAMPEDERS (13-3-1): Bo Levi Mitchell completed 24-of-35 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns against Edmonton to go over 300 yards passing for the first time in eight games. Hughes registered two sacks against the Eskimos to equal the franchise record set by Will Johnson (99) while linebacker Alex Singleton had six tackles to eclipse George White's (116) single-season mark. Calgary will be without wide receivers Marken Michel (hamstring), Marquay McDaniel (undisclosed injury) and kick returner/running Roy Finch (ankle), but the trio is expected to return in time for the West Division final Nov. 19.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Calgary leads the league in fewest points allowed (17.1) and sacks (2.9) per game.

2. Stampeders RB Jerome Messam is 40 yards behind William Powell with a game in hand in the race for the rushing title.

3. Harris needs seven receptions to break the record for most catches by a running back set by Craig Ellis (106) in 1990.

PREDICTION: Blue Bombers 27, Stampeders 24