Calgary @ Edmonton preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2018 ) Edmonton 20, Calgary 23

The Calgary Stampeders look to take another big step toward their third straight West Division title when they visit the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday. The Stampeders edged the Eskimos 23-20 courtesy of a 43-yard field goal by Rene Paredes as time expired to claim their seventh consecutive win in the Labour Day Classic and hope to pull eight points ahead of the Eskimos with another victory in the Battle of Alberta.

"These games test what's inside of you," Calgary defensive end Ja'Gared Davis told reporters. "It will be another test and another slugfest." Edmonton is left to wonder what could have been as an illegal contact penalty following a sack on second down extended what ended up as the game-winning drive for Calgary. The Eskimos led on two different occasions, but untimely penalties and five turnovers were the difference as they fell to their fifth defeat in six meetings against the Stampeders. "You can't make mistakes against them and we made 'em," Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly told reporters. "It doesn't feel good and it feels sickening as we keep losing games we could win if only we got out of our own way."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE STAMPEDERS (9-1): Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 255 yards and a touchdown despite leaving the game for a series in the second half after hyper extending his knee, but he's expected to play Saturday. Kamar Jorden, who leads Calgary in receptions (55), receiving yards (944) and touchdowns (six), suffered a knee injury in the first half and is likely to miss some significant time while defensive back Ciante Evans is questionable after the former Nebraska Cornhusker left the game with an apparent leg issue. Don Jackson rushed for a game-high 115 yards despite being hobbled by a lower-body injury and is expected to suit up for the Labour Day rematch.

ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (6-5): Mike Reilly passed for 250 yards and a touchdown while C.J. Gable added 93 yards from scrimmage and a TD, but had a costly fumble which Calgary turned into points. D'haquille 'Duke' Williams hauled in six passes for 116 yards and a touchdown to register his seventh 100-yard game of the campaign while reaching 1,000 yards receiving for the first time in his CFL career. Wide receiver Derel Walker, who has 51 receptions for 875 yards and is tied for the league lead with eight touchdowns, suffered a leg injury against Calgary and his status for Saturday is unknown.


EXTRA POINTS

1. The Stampeders are 36-9 against West Division rivals since 2014.

2. Calgary WR DaVaris Daniels has four touchdown catches in his last three games.

3. Williams leads the league in receiving yards (1,063).

PREDICTION: Eskimos 23, Stampeders 21