LIVESTREAM CFL: Ottawa REDBLACKS @ Calgary Stampeders, June 21, 22:00 CET (10 pm, 4 pm ET)

AFI | American Football | 06/21/2025

The Calgary Stampeders (2-0) welcome the Ottawa RedBlacks (0-2) to McMahon Stadium on Saturday, June 21, aiming to extend their perfect start while handing Ottawa a third straight loss in a matchup critical for both teams’ early-season trajectories.

Stampeders’ offensive balance without Begelton
Calgary faces its first test without star receiver Reggie Begelton, placed on the six-game injured list with a knee injury. Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. (301 passing yards, 54 rushing yards in Week 2) remains the focal point, having accounted for 91.5% of the Stampeders’ total offense last week. Jalen Philpot, fresh off a career-high 117 receiving yards, steps into a leading role alongside Clark Barnes, whose Week 1 breakout (112 yards) contrasts with his quiet Week 2. Adams’ mobility and connection with Philpot on deep routes (40-yard completion in Week 2) could exploit Ottawa’s league-worst pass defense (310.5 yards allowed per game).

Stampeders’ defensive adjustments
Calgary’s defense, dominant against the run (league-low 78.0 yards allowed per game), must tighten its secondary after surrendering 306.5 passing yards per contest. Adrian Greene’s two-interception performance in Week 2, including a pick-six, provides momentum. Linebacker Micah Awe (15 tackles) anchors a unit tasked with containing Ottawa’s Bralon Addison (164 receiving yards) and Eugene Lewis. Pressure on Ottawa’s third-string quarterback Dustin Crum (3-11 career starts) will be critical, with Calgary’s front seven aiming to build on its five sacks through two games.

Historical trends and milestones

Calgary seeks its first 3-0 start since 2022 and aims to avenge 2024’s sweep by Ottawa, who outscored them 64-31.
Kicker Rene Paredes (2,310 career points) needs seven field goals to reach 600, bolstering Calgary’s red-zone reliability.
Adams Jr. sits 225 yards shy of 17,000 career passing yards and four touchdowns short of 100.

RedBlacks’ defensive woes loom large
Ottawa’s defense ranks last in points allowed (70) and yards per game (402.0). Defensive back C.J. Coldon (two interceptions) and Global lineman Blessman Ta’ala (one sack) are lone bright spots. Slowing Adams’ dual-threat prowess and containing Philpot’s yards-after-catch ability (42 in Week 2) will require disciplined gap control—a challenge for a unit that allowed Montreal’s Cody Fajardo to throw for 306 yards in Week 2.

Quarterback uncertainty plagues Ottawa
The RedBlacks start their third quarterback in three weeks, with Dustin Crum replacing injured Dru Brown (hip) and struggling backup Matthew Shiltz (three interceptions in Week 2). Crum, winless since 2023, inherits a passing attack featuring Addison and Justin Hardy but must overcome Calgary’s opportunistic secondary. Ottawa’s league-high 25 penalties (231 yards) compound its offensive instability, though its time-of-possession dominance (32:34 average) offers a potential lifeline.

Key matchups to watch

Adams Jr. vs. Ottawa’s secondary: Can Calgary’s QB exploit Ottawa’s vulnerable pass defense for his first TD throw of 2025?
Philpot vs. Coldon: The rising receiver’s speed tests Coldon’s ball-hawking instincts.
Calgary’s front seven vs. Ottawa’s O-line: Ta’ala and Ottawa’s line must curb Calgary’s pass rush to protect Crum.

Outlook and stakes
A win solidifies Calgary’s status as West Division contenders ahead of clashes with Winnipeg and Saskatchewan. For Ottawa, avoiding an 0-3 start hinges on minimizing turnovers and penalties while reigniting a passing game that showed promise under Brown (413 yards in Week 1). The RedBlacks’ second-quarter struggles (outscored 33-3) must end to challenge the Stampeders’ momentum. Saturday’s matinee at McMahon Stadium could define both teams’ trajectories in a season where early wins carry outsized weight.