Calgary Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson understands why most pundits across the country are picking the B.C. Lions to win the West Semi-Final on Saturday, though he doesn’t think his team should be counted out.
“We get it. B.C.’s playing as good anybody — I think they’ve won six in a row or something like that. They’ve got a lot of weapons, their defence is gelling at the right time, they’ve got a really good special teams group — they’re really good at coverage, they’ve found a good returner. We get it and we’re on the road, but I’ve always said that in any game, any team can beat any other team, especially in the playoffs,” Dickenson told the media in Calgary.
“If you can get the lead, get a little more pressure on their side. I’ve been there. It can gel and sometimes a team can get hot and win it all even though they might finish third in their division.”
The Stampeders were swept by B.C. during the regular-season, losing 52-23 in Calgary in mid-September and 38-24 in Vancouver earlier this month. Both victories are part of a six-game winning streak the Lions generated to close out the regular-season and earn a home playoff game, while the Stampeders went 6-6 over the last two-thirds of the season following a 5-1 start.
After missing the playoffs last season, Dickenson was asked when would consider this season to be a success. The team finished the regular-season with a record of 11-7, winning six more games than last year to earn a playoff berth.
“I don’t think just if you win the Grey Cup that means you’re successful,” he said. “These guys have put a lot of time and work into it and gotten better and have already accomplished something that not a lot of people thought they would, so that’s already a success, but what level of success? We want to win in the playoffs. It’s been a while.”
Calgary hasn’t won a playoff games since 2018, which is also the last time the team won the Grey Cup. The Stampeders lost four straight West Semi-Finals from 2019 to 2023, only one of which came by one score.
Jalen Philpot was a full participant in practice on Tuesday despite a knee injury that held him out of the last game of the regular season. The former first-round draft pick caught 61 passes for 830 yards and three touchdowns this season to lead the Stampeders in receptions and finish 56 yards back of Dominique Rhymes for the lead in yardage.
“Jalen’s playing if he’s healthy, that’s easy,” said Dickenson. “We’re gonna have some change for sure, but I think we’ll have more options than we’ve had in the last few weeks.”
The 52-year-old head coach, who also serves as Calgary’s general manager, also indicated that the Stampeders have signed Canadian offensive lineman Hunter Steward.
Calgary is banged up along the offensive line with Joshua Coker (knee), Tomas Jack-Kurdyla (calf), and Preston Nichols (ankle) all non-participants in practice on Tuesday. Dickenson indicated that Jack-Kurdyla and Nichols could be available, though it might be as game-time decisions.
The Calgary Stampeders (11-7) will visit the B.C. Lions (11-7) in the West Semi-Final at BC Place Stadium on Saturday, November 1 with kickoff slated for 5:30 p.m. EDT. The Stampeders won their final three games of the regular season, including a 20-10 victory over the Edmonton Elks, while the Lions knocked off the Saskatchewan Roughriders to finish second in the West Division standings.
The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on 770 CHQR in Calgary and 730 CKNW in Vancouver.
