The Saskatchewan Roughriders finished the team’s 2024 season second in the West Division with a 9-8-1 record and secured a home playoff game.
“Regardless of what anybody’s done this season — playoffs — it’s a clean slate,” head coach Corey Mace told the SportsCage. “You’ve seen it from teams in the past who hoist the cup, who finished .500 or less in the season, found their way in and made a run for it. On the flip side, you see teams that are outstanding through the season and fumble the ball for a lack of a better term.”
One team that won a Grey Cup with a record below .500 going into the playoffs was the Ottawa Redblacks in 2016. The Redblacks finished 8-9-1 and beat the Calgary Stampeders in the 104th Grey Cup 39-33.
The 2023 Toronto Argonauts had a great regular season with a 16-2 record but lost to the eventual Grey Cup champions, the Montreal Alouettes in the East Final 38-17.
The last time the Green and White hosted a playoff game at Mosaic Stadium was 2021 when the Riders beat the Stamps in overtime 33-30.
“Myself, the staff, the guys are elated, man. We’re so happy we can bring a playoff game back to Saskatchewan to see our fans, hear our fans and get these things rolling,” Mace said. “We can get the other team going backwards and using silent cadence off the noise we create — it’s such an advantage.”
Mace did not have to think long when asked about a turning point for the Riders in his first season as bench boss.
“I think the main one was coming back off the bye versus Calgary on September 20,” Mace said. “Seeing what that felt like and how it galvanized the room, the belief was still high, but finally, the work that we put in it paid off.”
Prior to that game, the Riders were on a seven-game winless streak, but after beating the Stamps, Saskatchewan rumbled off three straight wins.
Mace hopes Saskatchewan fans show up for the home playoff game against the B.C. Lions because he knows what it is like on the opposite side going against the Green and White.
“I’ve heard nothing but crazy stuff about this place. I’ve been in playoff games as a player and I remember what that was like, how difficult that was for our teams,” Mace said.
The Riders host the B.C. Lions in the Western Semi-Final at Mosaic Stadium on Saturday. Countdown to Kick-off begins with a chance to watch Justin Dunk and Wes Cates live at 1:30 p.m. on YouTube. Dave Thomas and Luc Mullinder join at 3:30 p.m., with kick-off to follow at 4:30 p.m. on the Co-operators Roughrider Radio Network.
