Stats and storylines heading into this week’s action
CENTRE OF ATTENTION
- Reigning MOP Zach Collaros has carried over his strong play from the previous season.
- First nine starts: 2021 vs. 2022
- Completions: 184 vs. 173
- Completion percentage: 71.0 vs. 67.4
- Passing yards: 2,355 vs. 2,204
- Passing TDs: 13 vs. 17
- Efficiency: 107.9 vs. 105.4
- TD percentage: 5.0 vs. 6.8
- Team record: 8-1 vs. 9-0
- Since joining the Bombers, Collaros is 21-2 as a starter with 37 touchdowns to 13 interceptions.
THE LION KING
- Last week, Nathan Rourke was 34-of-37 passing for 91.2 per cent – establishing a new CFL record, while posting a perfect passer efficiency rating of 158.3
- His six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing) set a new Canadian benchmark, breaking his own previous record of 5 held alongside Russ Jackson (1969).
- Rourke’s 477 yards was the highest single game total by a Canadian, eclipsing his own record of 433 established in Week 3.
- The last quarterback to throw for 400+ yards with five touchdown passes was Anthony Calvillo in 2011. Rourke’s performance was the 37th time in league history that the feat was accomplished.
- Gerry Dattilio holds the single season record for completions by a Canadian (194 set in 1982). Rourke has 187 through seven games, putting him on pace for 481, which would tie Henry Burris’s 2015 season for the league record.
WINNING YOUR SPURS
- Bo Levi Mitchell (32,186) needs six passing yards to surpass Henry Burris (32,191) for the franchise record.
- Career spotlight in Calgary: Burris vs. Mitchell
- Time as a Stampeder: 97-99, 05-11 vs. 2012-present
- Starts: 118 vs. 115
- Record: 71-45-2 vs. 89-24-2
- Home record: 40-17-2 vs. 47-11
- Completions: 2,267 vs. 2,469
- Completion percentage: 61.7 vs. 64.5
- Passing yards: 32,191 vs. 32,186
- Passing TDs: 203 vs. 186
- 300+ yard games: 50 vs. 37
- MOPs: 1 vs. 2
- Burris finished his career with the third most passing yards (63,639) in league history. Mitchell sits 15th behind Michael Reilly (34,805).
QUICK SLANTS
- Montreal’s Eugene Lewis leads the league in receiving yards (742), thanks in large part to a combined 277 yards on 17 catches in his last two games.
- Montreal is looking to avoid its first in-season three-game losing streak since October of 2018.
- Winnipeg will play for its 400th home victory. Since 1936 and the founding of the modern-day West Division, the team has amassed a record of 399-245-5 at home.
- With a win, Winnipeg would also become the seventh team in league history to start 10-0, while tying the team record set in 1960. Every team that has started 9-0 has reached 10-0.
- Janarion Grant has six career kick return touchdowns (5 PR, 1KO), and he is tied with Keith Stokes for the Bombers’ franchise mark. His 57-yard effort last week marked the first punt-return touchdown of 2022.
- Winnipeg’s Brady Oliveira has rushed for 202 yards with an average of 6.3 yards per carry in his last two games.
- Toronto has not swept a back-to-back set with the Tiger-Cats since 2012.
- Last week, Toronto’s Wynton McManis notched 10 tackles in a game for the second time this season. Only two other players have accomplished the feat in 2022: BC’s Marcus Sayles and Edmonton’s Nyles Morgan.
- Dating back to September 2009, the Argos are 3-14 when playing in Hamilton. The combined margin of victory in those wins: 12 points.
- Bryan Burnham returned to the Lions’ lineup last week, tallying six receptions for 82 yards, pushing his career total to 6,764. He moved past Mervyn Fernandez (6,690) and sits fourth in franchise history; next is Emmanuel Arceneaux (8,169).
- Through nine career starts, Nathan Rourke is 7-2. Bo Levi Mitchell was 8-1.
- The Stampeders are in search home victory no. 400. Since 1945, the team is 399-214-10 in Calgary. The matchup will also mark the team’s 200th game against BC, with Calgary holding a 111-83-5 advantage.
- BC and Calgary sit first and second in several key offensive categories:
- Average offensive points: BC 35.7 vs. CGY 25.7
- Average net offence: BC 447.9 vs. CGY 355.9
- Average yards per play: BC 7.7 vs. CGY 6.6
- Average rushing yards: CGY 114.4 vs. BC 109.0
- Saskatchewan is coming off a bye; teams are 6-4 on a week’s rest this season. Following their previous five byes, the Riders are 4-1.
- The Riders have not lost four straight since a stretch between the 2016 and 2017 seasons. The team has won its last three games in Edmonton.
- Cody Fajardo is a career 4-0 against Edmonton.