Stampeders crush Roughriders

The Calgary Stampeders did what they had to do to stay in the race for first place in the CFL's West Division. The defending Grey Cup champions cruised to a 42-19 win over the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday.

Tied with the Edmonton Eskimos at 13-4, Calgary's playoff prospects shift to a game they will watch, not play.

The Stampeders await the outcome of Sunday's game between the Esks and the Montreal Alouettes to know which post-season game Calgary might host.

The Eskimos are positioned to end the suspense as a victory against the Als (6-10) gives Edmonton top spot in West and the division final. An Edmonton loss keeps first place on the table for the Stampeders in their final game of the regular season.

"I just told the team we'll keep an eye on the game, but we'll take whatever path we need to take to try to accomplish what we want to get to," Stampeder head coach and general manager John Hufnagel said.

Calgary is already guaranteed a home playoff game — either the division semifinal Nov. 15 or division final Nov. 22. The Eskimos won the season series between the Alberta rivals, which means Edmonton is seeded higher in the event of a tie.

While Edmonton finishes the regular season on a bye week, Calgary closes out against the B.C. Lions (7-10) next Saturday in Vancouver.

The Stampeders went 8-1 at McMahon Stadium this season, which equals their season-high in eight seasons under Hufnagel. Calgary's home record was 8-1 in 2013.

"We definitely would have liked to be 9-0, but it's good to win at home," Stampeder receiver Eric Rogers said. "We know we're going to have a home playoff game, so that's important."

Rogers caught touchdown passes on Calgary's first two possessions of the game.

Fast start the key

"We made a conscious effort to start fast," said Rogers. "We haven't scored off an opening drive, just field goals really. We wanted to get a touchdown and that was big just to know we can do that."

With 96 receiving yards in the game, Rogers padded his league-leading total to 1,448. Joe West rang up 102 receiving yards and caught a touchdown pass.

No playoff scenario applies to the Roughriders (2-15), who close out their season against the Alouettes next week.

"Everybody at this time of the year wants to be playing for something," Roughrider defensive lineman John Chick said.

"We've got one more (game) to try to shine and do something positive, end on a high note, but no, this season is no where near what we wanted it to be. We've got a lot of work to do."

Mitchell said he won't be glued to the television Sunday afternoon.

"Can't control anything and I'm not going to get my feelings upset about whether or not we get first place this year," Calgary's quarterback said.

Sunday's game also impacts the post-season prospects of the Lions. The Eskimos can knock the Alouettes out of contention for a cross-over playoff berth and ensure B.C. finishes third in the division.