The Calgary Stampeders are in an unusual position after Saturday's commanding 32-13 victory over the B.C. Lions — they've done everything in their power to save their season, and now they have to wait and hope.
Sitting at 9-9, Calgary avoided playoff elimination with the win, but their postseason fate doesn't rest in their own hands anymore. The Stampeders must watch from the sidelines this Friday as the Lions face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a matchup that will determine Calgary's entire playoff picture.
If B.C. wins, the Stampeders are in. If Winnipeg prevails, Calgary's season ends.
The Awkward Wait
It's an unusual scenario for any team — particularly one that just delivered a dominant performance on its home field. Calgary's defence was stellar, and the offence was efficient, but none of that guarantees anything now.
"It's a little awkward," admitted Calgary quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. after the game. "We could have helped ourselves out earlier in the year. You can't go back on it. It is what it is. We're just going to sit back and see what happens."
Adams hit on a painful truth: the Stampeders had opportunities throughout the regular season to pad their record. Close losses early in the campaign that could have swung either direction are now haunting them as they wait in limbo during the season-ending bye week.
A Crowded West Division Picture
The West Division landscape solidified Friday when the Edmonton Elks clinched first place with a victory over Winnipeg. That same win allowed the Lions to secure second in the division at 10-7.
The defending Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders, meanwhile, knocked off Montreal 16-12 earlier Saturday, finishing at 9-8 and guaranteeing themselves a spot in the playoffs.
That left Calgary needing to beat B.C. just to keep their season alive — a hurdle they cleared, but barely.
Where the Stampeders Could Land
Should the Lions topple Winnipeg on Friday, Calgary could finish anywhere from third to fifth in the West Division standings. The tiebreaker scenarios are complex, but the bottom line is simple: they need B.C. to do them a favour.
The Lions are primed to play the role of spoiler — or saviour, depending on your perspective. Vancouver hosts its divisional semifinal on October 31, and a win over Winnipeg would set that up nicely while simultaneously propelling Calgary into playoff contention.
For Calgary, the path forward would see them facing either a trip to Vancouver for the West semifinal or a crossover matchup against Toronto in the East Division semifinal, depending on where they finish.
The Reality Sets In
Adams acknowledged the frustration while trying to stay optimistic about what comes next.
"We know the West, it's always tight and it's a really good division," he said. "It just sucks that so many close games we lost early on in the season that could have gone a different way — a play here and a play there. Just can't do anything about the past. Hopefully some things shake our way."
The Stampeders will spend the next few days watching film, staying sharp, and refreshing their phones for Friday's B.C.-Winnipeg result. It's not the position any team wants to be in after the regular season, but it beats the alternative: going home early.
For Calgary football fans, it's time to rally behind an old divisional rival — at least for one Friday night.
This article is based on reporting from CBC Calgary.