B.C. Lions, Calgary Stampeders can clinch playoff berths in Week 19

Photo courtesy: Zach Dittberner/B.C. Lions

The B.C. Lions and Calgary Stampeders can officially clinch playoff berths in Week 19, the CFL confirmed on Tuesday.

In order to secure a spot in the postseason, the Lions must beat the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday night. The two teams last met in late-August at TD Place Stadium, where B.C. won by a score of 45-24. Zander Horvath was dominant along the ground, rushing 24 times for 164 yards and four touchdowns in the win.

The Lions have made the playoffs for four-straight seasons, and won last year’s West Semi-Final over Calgary before losing the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The club has the longest Grey Cup drought in the West Division, having not appeared in the CFL’s championship game or won it since 2011.

The Stampeders can also punch their ticket to the playoffs with a win this week, as they’re set to visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Saturday.

The teams have split two meetings so far this season. Winnipeg won the first game 30-28 back in Week 1, when Sergio Castillo kicked a 38-yard walk-off game-winning field goal. Calgary won the second matchup in Week 8 by a score of 52-30, when Dru Brown threw four interceptions.

The Stampeders have made the playoffs in 19 of the last 20 seasons, with the lone miss coming in 2024. The club hasn’t hosted a postseason game since 2019 or won in the playoffs since 2018, when they defeated the Ottawa Redblacks to win the 106th Grey Cup.

Calgary is riding a three-game winning streak, having swept a recent home-and-home with Ottawa, and upset the Roughriders this past week.

As has been previously announced, the Montreal Alouettes, Edmonton Elks, and Toronto Argonauts have each clinched postseason berths, while the Redblacks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats have been eliminated from playoff contention.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders cannot clinch playoff berths or be eliminated from postseason contention this week.

The B.C. Lions (9-6) will host the Ottawa Redblacks (0-15) on Friday, October 9 with kickoff scheduled for 10:00 p.m. EDT. The Redblacks are coming off a loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, while the Lions have won seven of their last eight matchups.

The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on TSN 1200 in Ottawa and 730 CKNW (English) or Sher-E-Punjab Radio AM 600 (Punjabi) in Vancouver.

The Calgary Stampeders (8-8) will visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7-8) on Saturday, October 10 with kickoff scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EDT. The Stampeders are coming off a 37-31 upset win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, while Winnipeg got crushed by the Montreal Alouettes.

The game will be broadcast on TSN in Canada and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune-in on 770 CHQR in Calgary or 680 CJOB in Winnipeg.