Saskatchewan Roughriders (10-8-0)
at Ottawa Redblacks (8-9-1)
Sunday, noon, TD Place
TSN, CKRM
THE FORECAST: Environment Canada is calling for a mainly cloudy day with a high of 2 C.
THE LOWDOWN: The Roughriders and Redblacks are to meet for the third time this season. The teams split their regular-season games, with each club winning on the road. Saskatchewan prevailed 18-17 in Ottawa on Sept. 29 and the Redblacks won 33-32 in Regina on Oct. 13 … Teams from Saskatchewan and Ottawa haven’t met in the CFL playoffs since the 1976 Grey Cup game. The Rough Riders beat the Roughriders 23-20 in the league final in Toronto on Nov. 28, 1976 … Saskatchewan is the 10th West Division team to cross over into the East Division playoffs since the format was adopted in 1996. No crossover squad has ever reached the Grey Cup game … The Roughriders haven’t won a playoff game since 2013, when they claimed the CFL title with a 45-23 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Mosaic Stadium. Ottawa won the 2016 championship with a 39-33 overtime victory over the Calgary Stampeders at Toronto’s BMO Field.
THE RIDERS’ ROSTER: Kevin Glenn is to start at quarterback for the Roughriders. The 17-year veteran has started 11 playoff games in his CFL career and has a 4-7 record. Neither of his backups — Brandon Bridge and Vernon Adams Jr. — has appeared in a post-season game in their CFL careers. But head coach-GM Chris Jones pulled Glenn in four of Saskatchewan’s final five regular-season games, so a quarterbacking change Sunday isn’t out of the realm of possibility … Marcus Thigpen, who played well in Saskatchewan’s 28-13 loss to the Edmonton Eskimos on Nov. 4, will be the Roughriders’ international tailback Sunday as Cameron Marshall (knee) and Trent Richardson (ankle) continue to recover from injuries. Kienan LaFrance, who helped the Redblacks win the 2016 Grey Cup title, and Greg Morris will be the Roughriders’ national tailbacks … Slotback Naaman Roosevelt didn’t play in the final three regular-season games due to a concussion, but he returns to the roster Sunday. That bumps Caleb Holley to a backup role … The rest of the starting receiving corps remains intact, with Rob Bagg, Duron Carter, Bakari Grant and Chad Owens … The Roughriders’ offensive line suffered a huge loss in the regular-season finale when guard Brendon LaBatte sustained an injury to his left leg. LaBatte has been moved to the one-game injured list. But the Roughriders have a more-than-capable replacement in Derek Dennis, who missed the final three regular-season games with a back injury … The rest of the line remains the same as the Edmonton game, with Dan Clark at centre, Peter Dyakowski at right guard, and Bruce Campbell and Thaddeus Coleman at the tackle spots … The D-line rotation comprises Tobi Antigha, Rakim Cox, Makana Henry, Willie Jefferson, A.C. Leonard, Ese Mrabure and Eddie Steele. Antonio Longino has been placed on the one-game injured list … The starting linebacking corps once again comprises Derrick Moncrief on the strong side, Henoc Muamba in the middle and Jeff Knox Jr., on the weak side. Sam Eguavoen, who missed three of the last four games with a concussion, comes onto the roster as a backup … The starting secondary remains intact, with Jovon Johnson and Kacy Rodgers II on the corners, Crezdon Butler and Ed Gainey at halfback, and Mike Edem at safety … Christion Jones, who sparked the Roughriders in their victory over the host Redblacks with a 97-yard punt return for a touchdown, will handle returns for Saskatchewan. He joins fellow specialists Josh Bartel (punter), Tyler Crapigna (kicker) and Jorgen Hus (long-snapper) … Bartel, by the way, kicked the game-winning single in the victory in Ottawa — the first decisive rouge of his career … Eguavoen’s return to the roster sends Taylor Mays to the one-game injured list. Roosevelt replaces Longino on the roster and offensive lineman Josiah St. John takes LaBatte’s roster spot.
For the full depth chart click here
For the full game notes click here
