Stampeders in CFL's Week 16: Team in 'should win' territory with back-to-back games against Redblacks
Given the mathematics, the Calgary Stampeders are not quite in that territory yet.
But for certain, it is a ‘should win’ for their year, for their confidence and for the future ahead.
Because even if they don’t make the playoffs in the 2026 Canadian Football League season — one that ends with the Grey Cup finale being played on their field — they have to find victory during these next two weeks against the winless Ottawa Redblacks.
“No way can our team look past anybody,” said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “We didn’t even talk about (who were playing) because we’re saying ‘professional sports’ here and we’re not playing our best football.
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“Let’s make sure we play better. We understand it’s a critical time of the year that we need wins, and it has to start this week.”
It starts Saturday when the Redblacks (0-12) visit McMahon Stadium, and continues a week later when the Stamps (5-8) travel to the nation’s capital for the rematch.
The Red and White have lost playoff footing after consecutive losses to the Edmonton Elks and sit four points behind both the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (and the BC Lions (both 7-6) for the two final CFL playoff spots.
The Stamps are mathematically alive with five games remaining, but that all dies without wins against the Redblacks.
And they would look especially dead with even one fall to a team that’s lost all 12 of its games on the season.
The Redblacks came achingly close to changing their fortune last week, losing 26-23 to the Toronto Argonauts on a last-second field goal.
“It’s not going to be easy,” said Stampeders quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. “They almost went to overtime with Toronto last week — a last-second field goal won it — so that’s a good team. They’re coming in desperate. We’re desperate.
“You know what I’m saying? They’re trying to find a win, and we are, too.”
5News aggregated this summary from the outlet’s public feed. The full article, with all the context, is on calgaryherald.com — the content belongs to Calgary Herald.
