The Calgary Stampeders easily handled the Winnipeg Blue Bombers earlier this month.
The rematch is Friday night when the Blue Bombers aim to avenge the 21-point setback when they host the Stampeders.
Calgary (4-1) is tied with the Saskatchewan Roughriders for first place in the West Division, while Winnipeg (3-1) is just a half-game behind.
An interesting aspect is that the Blue Bombers had a bye last week while the Stampeders were posting a 24-10 win at Saskatchewan.
Two straight games against Calgary is just fine with Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros, who will be seeking redemption.
The Blue Bombers trailed by 23 points at halftime in the 37-16 loss. And Collaros threw two interceptions that were returned for touchdowns by Calgary’s Damon Webb (30 yards) and Derrick Moncrief (70).
“Nothing changes. The beauty of this sport is you get to move onto the next one and try to execute and for us we’re lucky we get to play them again,” said Collaros, who passed for 288 yards and one touchdown.
“… You should be champing at the bit to get back at it. I think you are every week, win or lose. But to not play up to your expectations that you have for yourself, to be dominated in a game, is not a fun thing.”
Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. passed for 222 yards and two touchdowns against the Blue Bombers.
Last week, he threw for 428 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions against Saskatchewan in a game pushed back a day to Saturday due to wildfires in the area.
Now Adams is expecting to see a very intense Winnipeg team trying to deliver some payback.
“Of course we don’t expect them to like us,” Adams said of the Blue Bombers. “But that’s another great opponent coming up for us.
“And they’re at home — sold-out crowd — and they’re coming off a bye, so they’re going to be fresh and ready to go. So we’ve got to bring our ‘A’ game.”
Calgary has allowed a league-low 18.2 points per game, while Winnipeg ranks fourth in scoring at 28.3.
The Stampeders (28.0) are fifth in scoring and the Blue Bombers are third in points allowed (23.5).
Calgary coach Dave Dickenson is aware the Blue Bombers are tough to slay at home.
“It’s a super big challenge,” Dickenson said. “I understand what they’re about. We got to focus on ourselves. Just make sure we show up and play a good solid game.”
Winnipeg doesn’t want to fall to 0-2 against the Stampeders this season.
“It’s early in the season, it’s one loss and we’ve all got to realize that it’s not time to panic,” Winnipeg receiver Nick Demski said. “It’s time to get back to our standard of football and go out there and compete.”
–Field Level Media
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