Roughriders Mailbag: West favourites? Negotiation list? 'Drive-ending' bombs?
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After a 4-0 start to the 2025 season, the Green and White have wrapped up their first bye week of the season and are set to host the Calgary Stampeders on Friday.
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Before we look ahead to that game, let's answer some reader-submitted questions surrounding the Roughriders entering Week 6:
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At this point, yes, the Roughriders are the West Division favourites. Especially after what went down on Thursday night.
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In fact, the Roughriders might have increased their odds of being the favourites without even playing this week.
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At 4-0, the Roughriders have gotten off to a good start and look to be contenders this season after falling in the West final last year against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
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As for Winnipeg, after a 3-0 start, the Blue and Gold lost 37-16 to the Calgary Stampeders on Thursday night in a game that certainly didn't make the five-time defending West Division champions look like they have in recent years.
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While it's a long season, at this point, Saskatchewan is the favourite followed by Winnipeg. Or would Calgary now be second considering they are also 3-1 and just beat Winnipeg. When B.C. has a healthy Nathan Rourke, they will be better. And then there's Edmonton.
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While Saskatchewan may be considered the favourite, since the Bombers are five-time defending West division champs, all roads lead through Winnipeg when it comes to claiming the West Division. I get that it's a new team every year but Saskatchewan needs to find a way to beat Winnipeg in the playoffs, which is something they haven't been able to do in years.
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The playoffs will decide who advances to the Grey Cup but there are a few measuring-stick games coming up for the Riders. After Calgary in Week 6, the Riders head to B.C. in Week 7. Saskatchewan will then host Edmonton before visiting the Montreal Alouettes on Aug. 2, which could be a big test for the Riders.
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Following games against Hamilton and Calgary, we then finally get the Riders-Bombers matchup on Labour Day followed by the rematch the following week, which is a series that could determine who finishes first in the division.
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By then, we'll have a better indication of who the favourite is, but at this point, the Roughriders are definitely the favourites. And they even gained some steam during the bye week.
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