Game Preview: Calgary Stampeders (4-1) vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1)

The rematch between the Calgary Stampeders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers might just be the biggest game of the early season.

Don’t let the fact that Calgary beat Winnipeg comfortably just two weeks ago fool you; this is a big matchup.

The two teams are ranked 1st and 3rd, respectively, in the CFL News Hub Power Rankings. And, they also sit in 1st and 3rd position in the West Division.

The West Division standings showing the Calgary Stampeders in first place and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 3rd.

Will Calgary start to gain some separation in the West Division standings?

or

Will Winnipeg come out and prove that their early-season loss to the Stamps was simply an off day?

Either way, it will be a fun matchup to watch.

Game Details

Date and Time: Friday, July 18, 8:30 PM (ET)

Location: Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg, MB

Broadcast: CBSSN, CFL+, and TSN

Betting Odds per FanDuel (July 17th)

Spread: Blue Bombers: -3.5

Moneyline: Calgary Stampeders: +146, Winnipeg Blue Bombers: -176

Over/Under: 49.5

Calgary Stampeders Keys to Victory

After only winning 5 games a year ago, the Stampeders’ 4-1 start has been a pleasant surprise.

But it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Despite the early-season success, Calgary still has a long way to go.

After knocking off two straight undefeated teams, this week is a perfect chance for Calgary to show that they aren’t letting the success go to their heads.

If they want to beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for a second time, they need to do these three things.

Establish the Run

The Calgary Stampeders are rushing for a CFL-best 130.6 yards per game.

Dedrick Mills has been great all season. He’s the CFL’s 2nd leading rusher and leader in rushing TDs.

Mills’ success has provided the offense with a level of balance that most teams can only dream of. But the rushing attack’s success isn’t all on him. The short-yardage package has been great as well.

Canadian rookie Quincy Vaughn is perfect this year in short-yardage situations. The combination of Mills, Vaughn, and Vernon Adams Jr. gives the Stamps legitimate rushing threats on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd down.

That’s not easy to defend.

Keep the Winnipeg Blue Bombers out of the end zone

The Stamps’ defense is somewhat of an enigma.

They allow an average of 379 yards per game, which is 7th in the CFL.

But they only allow 18.2 points per game, which is best in the league.

The reason for the discrepancy?

Takeaways and keeping teams out of the endzone.

In just five games, Calgary has 16 takeaways.

  • 10 downs
  • 4 ints (3 pick-6s)
  • 2 fumbles

They will need to keep taking away the ball at a high level to find success.

Take care of the ball

One thing that got lost in the conversation about last week’s big win last week vs Saskatchewan is the slow start.

The first two drives of the game ended with turnovers by star players.

On the first drive, Vernon Adams Jr. threw an interception.

On the second drive, Dedrick Mills lost a fumble.

Turnovers have been an issue all season. As well as Adams has played, he also has 5 ints in 5 games. They need to take care of the ball better to win this week.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers Keys to Victory

At 3-1, the only blemish on Winnipeg’s record is the loss in Calgary.

The Blue Bombers didn’t look good at all in the first matchup.

But was that game a fluke?

Or, a sign of things to come?

Coming off a bye week, the Blue Bombers have a great chance to stop Calgary’s early-season momentum, if they can do the following.

Finish Drives

In the first three weeks of the season, the Blue Bombers scored 34, 27, and 36 points.

Against Calgary, they only scored 16.

The most interesting part of the 16-point performance is that they also had 408 yards of total offense.

How is that possible?

They didn’t finish drives.

They were forced into 3 field goals and 2 turnovers on downs.

The Bombers will need to finish their drives this week to come away with the victory.

Stop the run

The Calgary Stampeders’ offense is most dangerous when they can establish the run early.

They use their run game to set up easy second-down situations and big play action opportunities.

Stopping the run on first down would force Calgary into more situations that favor the defense.

Limit the Calgary Stampeders’ big plays

The Stampeders’ offense has been great this season, but it has two big weaknesses.

2 and outs and turnovers.

Their strength, on the other hand, is explosive plays.

Those two things go hand in hand.

If you limit the explosive plays, it forces the Stamps to put together long drives. Long drives create more opportunities for things to go wrong.

The post Game Preview: Calgary Stampeders (4-1) vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1) first appeared on CFL News Hub.

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