Toronto Argonauts all hat and no cattle in Stampede Bowl loss (& eight other thoughts)

Photo: Raphael Williams-Claudio/RWC Photography/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

Yee’haw, y’all. The Toronto Argonauts were trampled by the Calgary Stampeders in the Stampede Bowl by a score of 58-36.

Here are my thoughts on the game.

A touchdown stampede from Adams

The Calgary Stampede may start on Friday, but Vernon Adams Jr. was already roping and riding all over the Argonauts’ defence on Thursday night. He carved them up through the air, going 20-of-25 for 405 yards and six passing touchdowns — tying a Stampeders franchise record — while also adding a 22-yard rushing score. It started with his command of the offence and quick decision-making, consistently getting the ball out before pressure could arrive. He was only sacked once by Andrew Chatfield.

Adams was a problem all night, leaving the Argonauts searching for answers and raising a bigger question: what made him so difficult to contain for the entirety of this game?

“He’s an explosive player,” head coach Mike Miller said post-game. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to (contain him) enough tonight. Give him the credit. He’s a good player, and we will learn from this, for sure.”

Rodeo clown in the secondary

The play of the Argonauts’ defensive backs has been a roller coaster throughout 2026. Last week, I highlighted James Caesar for his strong performances; this week, it’s a lowlight from Benjie Franklin.

The 29-year-old looked out of sorts on more than one occasion, starting with a lacklustre tackling effort against former teammate Dejon Brissett, who hauled in a 20-yard touchdown to extend the Stampeders’ lead. His biggest miscue came when Franklin gambled by jumping a route late in the first half on a pass intended for Tevin Jones and mistimed it. Jones made the catch and took it 73 yards to the house with seconds left on the clock.

While Franklin also missed on a later attempt to secure an interception, resulting in another big gain from Jones, Miller defended his risky decisions.

“I love the aggressiveness,” he said. “We want to play aggressively.”

Different Philpot, same problems

In Week 2, Tyson Philpot absolutely torched the Argonauts for 194 yards and two touchdowns. Fast forward 20 days, and insert his twin brother Jalen, who put up seven receptions for 83 yards and two touchdowns

On two separate occasions this season, the Philpot brothers have made the Argonauts’ defensive backs look as inept in coverage as Jalen and teammate looked while attempting to line-dance after his first touchdown of the night.

This all ties back to the criticism of Benjie Franklin and the rest of the Argonauts’ defensive backs, who had a burn-the-film kind of night. They probably shouldn’t, though, as it is one they should absolutely revisit to find ways to improve going forward.

Legs Kelly

When it comes to Chad Kelly, it’s usually been his arm carrying the Argonauts through the first three games of the season. In Calgary, it was his legs doing much of the work, especially with the absence of a true running game. Kelly ran for 37 yards on four attempts and added a rushing touchdown.

The 32-year-old also had to utilize his athleticism to escape the pocket and extend plays, finishing with 294 yards and three touchdowns. However, he also threw two interceptions, bringing his season total to eight.

Kelly is still working his way back from a gruesome leg injury, but his elusiveness and ability to escape pressure help the Argonauts move the ball effectively. It will continue to provide a boost to the offence as the season progresses.

Welcome to your first rodeo, kid

The news that offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley has landed on the six-game injured list with a back issue was a tough blow for the Argonauts, especially with three human-sized bulls — also known as the Stampeders’ defensive line — on deck as a key factor in this matchup.

With Shepley out, Peter Nicastro shifted to right guard while rookie Domenico Piazza got the start at centre. Piazza held up well in his first start, and the offensive line allowed just one sack against a Calgary front that can pressure the quarterback.

The Argonauts’ offensive line struggled with both consistency and health in 2025, and while Shepley works his way back, the hope is this group can stabilize and give the team a chance to stack wins in the weeks ahead.

A Cow-Polk of a receiver

Makai Polk was always expected to be an integral part of the Argonauts’ offence in 2026; however, through the first three games, players like Tyler Kahmann and Kevin Mital had taken over that spotlight with standout performances at receiver.

On this night, though, Polk delivered both on the field and for a certain 3DownNation contributor’s fantasy team, finishing with six receptions for 71 yards and two touchdowns.

While his performance may be overshadowed by the 58 points put up by Calgary, outings like this are an encouraging sign of what Polk can do and what he can continue to bring as the 2026 season unfolds.

Did you need to do that?

Much like last week, when it was fair to question Miller’s in-game decision-making for a questionable challenge, his choice to go for two on multiple occasions seemed unnecessarily risky.

A successful attempt in the second quarter turned what would have been a five-point game into a four-point game, which doesn’t move the needle much. A failed attempt in the third quarter would have made it a 10-point game, which makes sense. However, an attempt in the fourth quarter, when the deficit was 14, left me confused given that it would have been a two-touchdown game either way.

“(It was) just kind of what we were seeing on the scoreboard, and then trying to build on that momentum,” Miller explained post-game.

I’m not convinced. Decisions like these highlight the growing pains of a rookie head coach, where situational awareness and game management are still developing. In this case, it may have done more harm than good for the Argonauts.

It should be noted that the Argos did attempt the kick on their final touchdown, but Lirim Hajrullahu missed it to maintain a 22-point gap.

The next rodeo

After playing three straight games with just six days between each, the Argonauts now get an eight-day break before their next matchup. They’ll travel to Winnipeg to face the Blue Bombers, who could be reeling if they lose Sunday in Hamilton.

Following a tough outing against a rejuvenated Stampeders squad, Toronto has work to do before heading to the Peg next Friday night. It is a crucial game, as they enter the final stretch of road contests before their long-awaited home debut.