5 takeaways from Calgary Stampeders' first road win of the 2025 CFL season

Calgary Herald

16-06-2025

Another game, another win for the Calgary Stampeders?
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Yes … it happened for the Red and White, with a solid road decision — a 29-19 defeat of the defending Grey Cup champions Saturday afternoon.
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'Good team win,' Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson told Stamps TV after the triumph over the host Argonauts (0-2). 'I thought it was important.
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'You know … just keep stacking good quality performances early in the year. Try to get your wins in early and see where it takes you.'
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If that road victory doesn't have anybody thinking the Stampeders (2-0) have at least halted the free-fall of the last few Canadian Football League campaigns, then perhaps nothing will leave an impression.
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It is a keeper, though, and one the Stamps can hang their hat on.
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'Great crowd, loud crowd … best crowd I've seen in Toronto in a long, long time,' said Dickenson, of the 17,902 fans on hand at BMO Field to take in the battle and the pre-game ceremony to honour the 2024 Grey Cup champ Argos. 'It was an environment you enjoy playing in, but the defence, I think, fed on that emotion and that intensity. And in the first half, both defences really did take it to the offences.
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'I think we just had a second half that had a little bit more rhythm.'
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1. Cue the defence
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If the Week 1 win at home in a 38-26 result over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats was a credit to the offence, let's say this one was on the backs of the defence.
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But just like the season-opener wasn't all due to Vernon Adams Jr. and the Stamps attack, this win wasn't all on the defenders.
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Bob Slowik's crew, however, was full marks for the decision, especially early with the Red and White offence slow to start the contest.
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The defence allowed just four first-half points and just four more in the third quarter, stuffing the Argos assault behind former Stamps QB Nick Arbuckle time and again. It wasn't until the final frame when the home side finally found some stride, but the 11 points didn't compare to the 17 put up in the fourth quarter by the Stampeders.