Edmonton Eskimos (11-6-0)
at Saskatchewan Roughriders (10-7-0)
Saturday, 5 p.m., Mosaic Stadium
TSN, CKRM
THE FORECAST: Environment Canada is calling for periods of snow, a wind becoming northwest at 20 km/h in the afternoon and a high of -4 C. The evening is expected to be cloudy with a low of -10 C.
THE LOWDOWN: The Roughriders and Eskimos are to meet for the second time in the 2017 regular season. Saskatchewan won the first game 54-31 on the road on Aug. 25 … The Roughriders have known for a while that they’re going to be on the road for the playoffs, but this game will help tell them where they’re headed. If Saskatchewan wins, it will finish third in the West Division and will visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the division semifinal on Nov. 12. If Edmonton wins or ties, the Roughriders will cross over into the East playoffs … Saskatchewan hasn’t swept a season series against Edmonton since 1969. The Roughriders have recorded a sweep of the Eskimos just four times since 1938 … The Roughriders are coming off a 37-12 victory over the Montreal Alouettes on Oct. 27. The Eskimos beat the Calgary Stampeders 29-20 on Saturday.
THE RIDERS’ ROSTER: The Roughriders used a three-man quarterbacking rotation against Montreal, so it’ll be interesting to see if they do the same Saturday. Kevin Glenn started and played the first and third quarters, Brandon Bridge ran the offence in the second quarter and part of the fourth, and Vernon Adams Jr., got playing time in the fourth … Glenn threw two touchdown passes against the Als, giving him 25 on the season. It’s the first time he has reached that number in a season since 2012, when he was a member of the Stampeders … Glenn also is 25 yards shy of 4,000 for the season; the last time he exceeded that number was 2012, when he threw for 4,220 yards with Calgary … Bridge has nine TD passes this season, which means Saskatchewan quarterbacks have thrown 34 scoring passes. In 2016, the Roughriders’ QBs threw 16 TD passes … Marcus Thigpen, who was brought to Saskatchewan for his kick-returning abilities, comes off the injured list to start at tailback. Also back in the lineup is Kienan LaFrance, who missed the past two games with an injury. Those two join Greg Morris in the backfield … Trent Richardson, who set CFL career highs with 20 carries, 127 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns during the victory over Montreal, is out with an ankle injury. He joins fellow tailback Cameron Marshall (knee) on the one-game injured list … The Roughriders’ receiving corps has received an injection of enthusiasm in the form of Chad Owens. The 35-year-old slotback has played two games in place of the injured Naaman Roosevelt and has led Saskatchewan’s receivers in catches and receiving yards both times … The rest of the starting receiving corps remains the same as the one that faced Montreal, with Rob Bagg, Duron Carter, Bakari Grant and Caleb Holley filling the spots … Grant is five yards away from his first 1,000-yard receiving season in the CFL. He’s also still stinging from his lapse of judgment against Montreal. He started celebrating a touchdown early and was stripped of the ball before crossing the goal line … The Roughriders’ offensive line stays intact from the Montreal game, with Dan Clark at centre, Brendon LaBatte and Peter Dyakowski at guard, and Bruce Campbell and Thaddeus Coleman at tackle … Saskatchewan’s defensive line features the now-familiar eight-man rotation of Tobi Antigha, Rakim Cox, Makana Henry, Willie Jefferson, A.C. Leonard, Antonio Longino, Ese Mrabure and Eddie Steele … The starting linebacking crew of Jeff Knox Jr., Henoc Muamba and Derrick Moncrief also returns intact … Defensive back Ed Gainey recorded his 10th interception of the season last Friday, leaving him one off the single-season club record of 11 set by Terry Irvin in 1984 … Crezdon Butler (two sacks) and Kacy Rodgers II (two knockdowns) also had standout games against the Alouettes. They’ll once again join Gainey, corner Jovon Johnson and safety Mike Edem in Saskatchewan’s starting secondary … Johnson and Rodgers each had a pick-six the last time the Roughriders faced the Eskimos … Punter Josh Bartel, kicker Tyler Crapigna, long-snapper Jorgen Hus and returner Christion Jones once again will serve as Saskatchewan’s specialists … In addition to LaFrance and Thigpen, linebackers Brandyn Bartlett and Taylor Mays and defensive back Elie Bouka have been activated. The game will be Mays’ first in the CFL … Linebacker Glenn Love and offensive lineman Josiah St. John have been put on the one-game injured list and fullback Albert Awachie has been moved to the practice roster.
For the full depth chart click here