Winnipeg @ Calgary preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 3, 2017 ) Winnipeg 23, Calgary 5

The Calgary Stampeders look to bounce back from their first loss of the season when they host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday. The Stampeders dropped a 40-27 decision to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Week 10 to see their lead at the top of the West Division shrink to two points and hope to stay on course for their third straight division title by improving to 5-0 at home.

"We have to realize it's going to be a war each and every week and we can't just go out there and expect to win," Calgary coach Dave Dickenson told reporters. "We have to be prepared mentally and physically to take everyone's best shot." The Blue Bombers saw their three-game winning streak come to an abrupt end following a 44-21 home defeat to the Ottawa Redblacks. Winnipeg gave up 494 yards of offence en route to their first home loss in more than two months and hope to get back on track by notching their second straight road win in the series following a 23-5 victory at McMahon Stadium in 2017. "I want to find out what kind of team we are and obviously going against a 7-1 team will be a good test," Winnipeg quarterback Matt Nichols told reporters. "More than anything we want to make a statement to ourselves."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN Plus

ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (5-4): Nichols threw for 291 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Ottawa, but was booed by the home crowd when he re-entered the game after missing a possession with a sore elbow. Andrew Harris rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown against the Redblacks to become the 14th player in CFL history to reach 7,000 for his career (7,060). Offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick will be sidelined for at least a week after suffering a lower-body injury against the Redblacks and will likely be replaced by Manase Foketi, who hasn't played since 2016.

ABOUT THE STAMPEDERS (7-1): Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 275 yards and four touchdowns, including a pair of scoring strikes to DaVaris Daniels, but was sacked five times and threw a pick six against the Roughriders. Offensive lineman Shane Bergman is expected to play after leaving the game early with a bout of vertigo while fullback William Langlais will likely be sidelined for the foreseeable future with a foot injury. Defensive back Emanuel Davis was ejected for "physical abuse of an official" and may receive a fine later in the week while running back Don Jackson is ready to return after missing the last three games with a pulled hamstring.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Calgary has won seven of the last eight meetings with Winnipeg.

2. Nichols is 0-7 in his career against the Stampeders.

3. The Stampeders have given up 14 points or fewer in three of their four home games in 2018.

PREDICTION: Stampeders 31, Blue Bombers 23