Where exactly are the Calgary Stampeders going to finish in the regular season? The answer is still a few months away, but the next few weeks could go a long way towards deciding the team’s status.
Starting Friday, in Vancouver, the Stamps have a series of five games – with all kinds of implications.
They face the BC Lions in Vancouver; then an Aug. 26 (vs. Toronto Argonauts) and Sept. 16 date at McMahon Stadium (again, against the Lions). The Stampeders also have the traditional Labour Day set with the Edmonton Eskimos.
How big are those games going to be? Well, they may not be very big if the Stampeders stub their toe on Toronto.
This stretch of games will allow the Stampeders to face their closest rivals in short order. Sweep them and the team rockets to the top of the western standings. Split and they will likely be fighting for home field in the playoffs.
Any other combination of results will only serve to muddy up the already muddied western waters.
The urgency ramps up when you consider how strong the west is this year. Four teams are jockeying for playoff positions, while Saskatchewan hangs around on the fringes.
One development that may serve the Stampeders well, is health. Their lengthy injured list is starting to shrink. That is a good thing, adding depth at various positions.
Of course, there still are too many injuries in the receiving core. Plus, there are inevitable injuries to come.
But hang on, the core of the Stamps season has arrived!
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