After a strong offensive performance in an opening win against the BC Lions, the Saskatchewan Roughriders look to carry their momentum forward against the Calgary Stampeders. Wes Cates, Grey Cup champion and former CFL All Star with Riders, broke down the three major things to look out for at Saturday’s game. ‘More of a mental battle’ Even as the defending Grey Cup champions, Cates said the Riders will have to overcome the hurdle of beating a team that had their number last year. Saskatchewan lost twice to Calgary in 2025. “I think this week is just going to be more of a mental battle” he told CTV News. Cates added that Calgary’s offence and defence look similar to last year. “The question is going to be, how is the Riders offence going to be able to handle that situation? I know they’re going to have some confidence based on all the studs we have on that offence, but at the same time, this is the only team they couldn’t get over the hump on,” he said. “It should be interesting to see how it plays out early and hopefully they can get the offence going quick again as they did this past week with B.C.” Students vs. teacher Both Riders head coach Corey Mace and offensive coordinator Marc Mueller previously worked under Stamps head coach Dave Dickenson while in Calgary. Cates said the mutual familiarity of the three could have an impact on the game. “Can you beat the sensei or does the sensei still have some tricks in his bag that he didn’t show you?” he said. “I think that’s a little bit of what you’re going to see. I think if you kind of tutored a guy and he came up under you, you always think that, the teacher is going to always beat the student, but obviously this Riders defence is going to have something to say about that as well.” Cates said Mueller is likely going to prepare a few wrinkles for his former head coach, but Dickenson will likely have add a few wrinkles in preparing his own defence. Ultimately, Cates said it will come down to how each defence manages to play against the two high-powered offences. Containing Vernon Adams Jr. Cates said containing Calgary’s signal-caller will be a major key to the game. “This is running quarterback league for the most part. You either got to get rid of it quick or be able to extend plays,” he said. Cates said he liked what he saw from the defence, particularly Antoine Brooks Jr. but said the Green and White will have a “tall task” in stopping a quarterback that can move outside the pocket and extend plays.
