The Edmonton Elks visit the Calgary Stampeders on Saturday afternoon with little more than bragging rights at stake.
The CFL West Division rivals already have been eliminated from playoff contention, marking the first time since 1945 that both Alberta teams have missed the postseason in the same year.
The Elks (5-11) and Stampeders (4-10-1) have the two worst records in the league as they meet for the third time this season.
Edmonton swept the first two meetings, winning 35-20 on the road on Sept. 2 and 37-16 at home five days later. Those represent the Elks’ only wins since mid-August.
Calgary is winless (0-6-1) in its last seven games and is missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004, when star receiver Reggie Begelton was 11 years old.
“It’s just one of those weird years,” Begelton told the Calgary Herald.
Begelton, who needs six receiving yards to reach 1,000 for the third time since 2019, said the Stamps are motivated to win their last three games.
“We get paid for a job to do, and our job is to play football game, right?” he said. “Everything is an evaluation, even for individuals who are not under contract for next year. I mean … you hopefully want to continue to play football, right? So, your film is who you are.”
Calgary is coming off a 32-15 loss at the BC Lions last weekend in which it was outscored 23-7 in the fourth quarter.
Scoring has not been Edmonton’s problem this season, as the Elks rank first in the CFL with 450 points. They have surrendered 452 points, however.
Elks interim coach Jarious Jackson announced a quarterback change this week, with Tre Ford replacing McLeod Bethel-Thompson.
Jackson said his team “better be prepared to go out and fight” on Saturday.
“At the end of the day, you’ll get punched in the mouth if you’re not prepared,” Jackson told the team website. “It’s a physical game and I don’t want guys going out there half doing things and mess around and get hurt, right? We definitely want to finish the season on a high note and healthy.”
–Field Level Media
