What are we going to do with our Roughriders?
The Green & White brought a four game losing streak home from Vancouver where the club was upset 23-17 by the B.C. Lions Sunday at Empire Field.
The Riders held an early 3-0 lead but an 88-yard punt return by B.C.'s Yonus Davis in the second quarter broke the game open and gave the Lions a lead they would not relinquish.
The Riders were on the hook for five turnovers while the Lions only gave it up once and quarterback Darian Durant had one of his roughest outings of the year, throwing three interceptions.
The alarm bells have been sounding for weeks, and they're deafening. Still, head coach Ken Miller remains confident in his troops and was encouraged by what he saw.
"We had a lot of players who played their fannies off and I'm really proud of a lot of them," Miller confirmed. "I'm proud of our defense. We just didn't take care of the ball on offense. It's hard to muster enough in other areas when you give the ball away. And to give up another punt return touchdown really makes me beside myself."
It seems that as the losses mount, the team's confidence is falling. B.C.'s win kept their slim playoff hopes alive and if you're searching for an excuse, you could say the Riders couldn't match the Lions' intensity as it was a meaningless game in the standings for Saskatchewan.
It's not a strong argument but hey, it's all we've got! It's clear though, that the Riders have fallen into a rut.
"It is tough losing. I hate losing," huffed Rider linebacker Barrin Simpson. "It's tough to lose four games. We want to at least get a win going into the playoffs and the best way to do it is going back home. We feel good about going into next week and getting the ship right going into the playoffs. We'll get it together and win next week."
That next game is Saturday at home against Eric Tillman's Edmonton Eskimos. A Rider win would eliminate B.C. from playoff contention and ensure a return date with the Eskimos in the western semifinal November 14 at Mosaic Stadium.
What a colossal showdown that would be! Tillman would return with a cast of ex-Riders from the 2007 Grey Cup including Kerry Joseph, Richie Hall and Maurice Lloyd. However the Riders could help ensure that doesn't happen with a win on Saturday.
There are so many opinions out there. Some with the Riders feel momentum going into the playoffs is overrated (ask the 2010 Washington Capitals of the NHL!). Some feel they have everybody right where they want them; many feel the Riders are the worst team in the CFL right now but they could rise up and bite teams in the playoffs.
However you know what opinions are like. The truth is no one knows how the 2010 season will end.
But we're about to find out.
