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And fast, with dynamic Alouettes in town for rematch Saturday at McMahon Stadium.
Published Jul 15, 2026 • Last updated 5 minutes ago • 6 minute read
Calgary Stampeders vs. Montreal Alouettes
Montreal Alouettes quarterback Davis Alexander rushes the ball upfield against the Calgary Stampeders at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in Montreal on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Photo by Tim Snow /Postmedia
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Stopping the opposition has been a challenge so far for the Calgary Stampeders in the 2026 Canadian Football League season.
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But they’re not alone.
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Touchdowns are up 26% compared to 2025, says the CFL, with 23% of drives resulting in a major — the highest rate on record.
The second-down conversion rate is 51.3%, with the record being 48.3% set in 2016.
Games have averaged six big plays.
And the current rate of 3.4 giveaways per game is the lowest ever.
Indeed, offences are getting the job done, with the eyeball test — and stats packages — telling us quarterback play is better than it’s been in a long time.
“It has been,” agreed Stampeders defensive leader Folarin Orimolade, of QB improvement. “There are a lot more big plays and a lot more touchdowns we’re giving up.
“I don’t think we’re giving up that much of a difference yardage-wise,” continued Orimolade, talking of his own team’s defensive performance. “But we’re giving up a few more explosive plays, and we’re giving up a few more touchdowns. So if we can tighten up in the redzone and take away a few of the explosive plays, I think we’ll be OK.”
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Right now, the Stamps — with a 2-3 record heading into Saturday’s rematch with the Montreal Alouettes (4-1) at McMahon Stadium (2 p.m., TSN5, QR Calgary 770 AM) — are just OK on the campaign.
And having allowed the league’s third-most points and yards against — 176 and 2,169, respectively — it is the defence that has been less than OK on most occasions.
“I mean … when you let them score that many points, it proves a bigger challenge,” said rush-end Orimolade. “But at the end of the day, we just have to keep on climbing, keep on getting better each week and getting better this week.”
DIDN’T WE JUST SEE THE ALS LAST WEEK?
Yes … it’s the Alouettes playing the Red and White in a rematch of last Saturday’s tilt in Montreal.
That Week 6 deal went down to the wire, with the hosts holding on to a 37-30 decision over the Stampeders, who lost out in a bid to win a third straight contest.
“We just didn’t make enough plays and never could kind of really get that lead to the point where felt like we could we could take control of the game,” said Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson. “We were fighting hard — a great effort, a lot of heart — so I thought we played with great intensity. Just not quite enough of a detailed performance and a lack of communication in a loud, loud environment, I think, hurt us a bit.
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“But credit to Montreal … they played well.”
The back-to-back affairs with the Als represent the first of three such situations for the Stamps on the season.
Of course, they play the Labour Day Classic and Labour Day Replay against the rival Edmonton Elks in early September.
Folarin Orimolade
Stampeders defensive leader Folarin Orimolade says back-to-back games against the same opponent are“cool,” noting “they’re going to have counters, and we’re going to have counters for them as well.” Photo by Darren Makowichuk /Postmedia
Then, the Red and White follow with another home-and-home with the Ottawa Redblacks later in September.
“The back-to-backs are a little bit less work for a coach,” Dickenson said. “So … you know … you do what you do. You kind of start trying to predict. It’s like, ‘OK, if they did this, what is the counterpunch to that?’ But sometimes it’s actually counterproductive to do that.”
“I think it’s cool, honestly,” continued Orimolade, when asked of the home-and-home series. “They have the same plan as us. They’re going to have counters, and we’re going to have counters for them, as well. So it’s fun. And you don’t have to wait to get your opportunity to play them again.”
Hopefully, the Stamps can turn this set into a split, so they can return to .500 and feel good about taking down arguably the league’s best team these days.
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“For us as a team, when you lose the first one, it certainly stings,” Dickenson said. “So you’d like to get another shot on them.
“But also you realize you have to play better in order to get that win. I mean … if you could ever sweep them — which we’ve already lost, so we ain’t doing that — it’s a huge boost to your team. So I’m sure that’s what Montreal is getting preached at right now … ‘Go sweep them, and that’ll be a huge boost for our record.’”
WHAT DOES THE DEFENCE HAVE TO DO THIS WEEK?
To stop the Als from boosting themselves to a healthy 5-1 start, Orimolade & Co. have to get to QB Davis Alexander and stop his link with a couple of key receivers.
On the season, Alexander himself has 1,779 passing yards — second only to Chad Kelly’s 1,804 with the Toronto Argonauts.
So the Als helmsman is one of those players helping to up the QB play in the league.
“I mean … there are a bunch of good quarterbacks in this league that we’re going to play, and we’re going to play a great one again this week,” Orimolade said. “But we’ve got to do the job …
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“That’s the business.”
Alexander has quite the connection with Tyson Philpot, who sports a CFL-best 719 receiving yards — a whopping 240 more than the next, Saskatchewan Roughriders hands-man KeeSean Johnson. Next on the receiving chart is Riders pass-catcher Kian Schaffer-Baker with 471 — eight back of teammate Johnson’s 479. Then, it’s another threat for Alexander in Als’ Tyler Snead, with 470 pass-catching yards.
Against the Stamps in Week 6, Philpot racked up a sparkling 132 yards on nine catches, including hauling in a TD pass from fellow receiver Snead on a trick play pulled off by the Alouettes. And Snead himself rolled up 86 receiving yards on six catches.
“I think it all starts with us, our communication and our detail,” Orimolade said. “That’s all it is.
“And we have to be better on first down, stopping the big play.”
Certainly it’s ever-frustrating for the Stamps’ defence to be scuffling to start the season, especially since the unit was a pleasant — and super strong — surprise to begin 2025, helping guide the club to an 11-7 record and third place in the West Division.
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“Yeah … it can be frustrating,” agreed Orimolade. “But at the end of the day, nothing good comes easy. I mean … it started fast for us last year, but it didn’t end the best last year on defence. So, hopefully, we want to be ending at our best at the end of the year.
“I do think we’re close (to turning it around),” added Orimolade. “I think the thing about it is everyone wants to start really great. but it’s a long season, and we just have to make sure we’re continuing to climb. I think we are.
“Close doesn’t cut in this business, right? But we’re getting better. I believe that.”
SHORT YARDAGE
Illness has hit the Stampeders’ receiving corps, with starters Erik Brooks and Tevin Jones both sidelined. Neither practised early this week with the club … Two others did not practise — DL Tristan Marois (ankle) and DB Jaydon Grant (ankle) — while WR Reggie Begelton (knee), K René Paredes (hip), DL Elijah Hills (hamstring) and DB Anthony Johnson (head) were all limited in their precipitation … DB Ashton Miller-Melancon has been a full participant at practice … The Red and White have released DB Morice Blackwell II. The American defender signed with the Stamps in June of 2025 and made eight appearances last year, recording six special-teams tackles. Blackwell played in the Week 3 game this season against the Roughriders and did not record any stats.
tsaelhof@postmedia.com
www.x.com/ToddSaelhofPM
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