The Calgary Stampeders bought themselves another week in the CFL playoff race Saturday. Now comes the hard part: getting past the teams standing directly in their way.
Calgary’s 45-31 road victory over the Ottawa Redblacks improved its record to 7-8 and delivered a second straight win after a four-game losing streak threatened the season. The Stampeders remain fifth in the West Division, but they are within one victory of a playoff position.
“We know what’s at stake,” Stampeders receiver Jalen Philpot said to Stamps TV. “We know what we had to do today. We know with this win now we got obviously we’re on a two-game win streak, but we got momentum, and that’s huge going into Saskatchewan next week. So we just got to keep going. Just believe in each other and just go out there and play full 60 minutes.”
The win left Calgary tied with Winnipeg at 14 points, although the 7-7 Blue Bombers hold a game in hand. Saskatchewan and B.C. are both 8-6 and sit two points ahead of the Stampeders.
Calgary’s final three games could not be more direct. The Stampeders visit Saskatchewan on Friday, Oct. 2, travel to Winnipeg on Oct. 10 and finish at home against B.C. on Oct. 17. Every opponent is part of the same crowded West race.
There is also a crossover route. Hamilton’s overtime loss to Edmonton later Saturday eliminated the Tiger-Cats and guaranteed that a West team will cross into the East playoff bracket. Calgary must still climb ahead of at least one of Winnipeg, Saskatchewan or B.C. to claim either the crossover or a top-three West position.
That made beating winless Ottawa essential, even if the Redblacks again made Calgary sweat.
One week after René Paredes’ career-long 62-yard field goal rescued a 40-38 home victory over Ottawa, the Stampeders produced a more convincing encore behind Vernon Adams Jr. and an explosive passing attack.
That attack included Philpot reaching a milestone. His six catches for 127 yards pushed him past 1,000 receiving yards for the first time, giving the fourth-year Canadian 1,042 yards on 71 receptions this season.
“It means a lot, man,” Philpot said. “There’s a lot that goes into it—off-season preparation, but just trusting the coaches, trusting the O-line, my quarterback and just being put in position to make the plays. I couldn’t do it by myself. It’s a full team effort, so I’m very thankful.”
Speaking of his quarterback, Adams himself had a strong game. He completed 24 of 30 passes for 422 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Calgary generated 520 net offensive yards and had three receivers surpass 100 yards.
“Our biggest goal was to stay on the field and give our defence a rest,” Adams said to Stamps TV. “We just kept working. We kept plugging at it. I still had that same belief that we had last week.”
Clark Barnes opened the game with a 45-yard reception before Adams found Deonta McMahon for a 12-yard touchdown. Tyreik McCallister added a 28-yard rushing score, and McMahon scored again on a four-yard run as Calgary built a 25-13 halftime advantage.
Philpot’s 42-yard reception helped set up McCallister’s touchdown. Tevin Jones made a 46-yard catch before McMahon’s second score, then caught a 15-yard touchdown on the final play of the third quarter. Jones finished with eight receptions for 122 yards, while Barnes had three for 109.
“I just try to go through my reads, and I trust my guys when it’s one-on-one out there,” Adams said. “I think of it as a 90-10 ball for those guys, and I believe they’re going to come down with the rock.”
Calgary led 35-13 entering the fourth quarter, but the Redblacks refused to disappear. Touchdowns by Mario Anderson Jr. and Justin Hardy, followed by Brett Lauther’s 28-yard field goal, reduced the margin to 38-31 with less than two minutes remaining.
Barnes finally slammed the door. He took a quick pass against an Ottawa blitz, made a defender miss and sprinted 60 yards for a touchdown with 45 seconds left.
“This is the CFL. Every game comes down to the fourth quarter,” Jones said to Stamps TV. “Our coaches did a good job, our line did a good job, the defence did a good job, special teams did a good job, and we came out and did what we were supposed to do.”
Jones’ touchdown was his fourth of the season, and he appreciated helping Calgary’s late push after wondering earlier this year whether he would continue playing.
“I’m just glad to be a part of the offence,” Jones said. “Now that I’m back on the field, I’m just glad to be part of my brothers. I’m glad to contribute.”
The Stampeders have scored 85 points during their two-game recovery against Ottawa, but the margin for error remains tiny. Their playoff chase now becomes a three-game sprint through Saskatchewan, Winnipeg and B.C.
Calgary is alive. Staying there will require beating the clubs guarding every available door to November.
