Five takeaways: Redblacks take advantage of sloppy Calgary Stampeders in Ottawa

National Post

3 days ago

Article content
Only this night, it went the way of the opposition.
Article content
For the first time on the 2025 Canadian Football League season, the Stampeders were dominated by a rival.
Article content
The host Ottawa Redblacks stuffed the run game, won the turnover battle — including a pick-six — and stayed more disciplined than the visitors in winning a 31-11 affair at TD Place.
Article content
Not enough offence.
Article content
Too many turnovers.
Article content
And far too many penalties.
Article content
'We didn't make any plays,' Stampeders GM/head coach Dave Dickenson told CHQR. 'But actually, guys kept fighting. There was a lot of heart — you could see it.
Article content
'There was just no plays being made. And the plays we normally do make, we didn't make. And then we started turning the ball over and taking too many penalties.
Article content
'I'm not down on the group — they had fight. I'm just down on the performance.'
Article content
The loss dropped the Stamps to 5-3, as they dropped a second-straight game for the first time in 2025. Meanwhile, the Redblacks got a badly needed win to improve to 2-6 in the CFL standings.
Article content
Article content
With Vernon Adams Jr. sidelined by a head injury, backup quarterback P.J. Walker was in the spotlight for the Stamps, making his first-ever CFL start.
Article content
Just as it did in last week's fourth-quarter oopsy, it didn't go well for the former NFL pivot.
Article content
Article content
Walker's basic stats were solid. The 30-year-old QB was 20-of-37 for 273 passing yards and his first-ever CFL touchdown pass — to Dominique Rhymes over the middle covering 29 yards to get the Red and White back in the game in the fourth quarter.
Article content
But three interceptions proved to be Walker's — and the Stamps' — undoing. He underthrew his target on the first one, overthrew his intended receiver on the second one. And then game the dagger on an INT runback of 61 yards by A McGee in the fourth quarter that saw Walker turn a fire a hitch pass right into the arms of the Redblacks defender.
Article content
It was an easy pick-off. Too easy.
Article content
'You can't win games having three turnovers,' Walker told reporters. 'We connected on a couple of plays, but the outcome could be a little different. Gotta be better the next time we get an opportunity to go out there and play.
Article content
'I felt like, honestly, I got into my rhythm,' continued Walker. 'I felt good, and I was throwing it around the field. Sometimes you just don't make all the plays you need to, but it's part of the game.