Blue Bombers Face Stampeders in CFL’s Stampede Bowl Showdown

The Canadian Football League’s so-called “Stampede Bowl” kicked off Thursday night at McMahon Stadium in Calgary, pitting the unbeaten Winnipeg Blue Bombers against the host Calgary Stampeders. Winnipeg entered the contest 3-0 with 97 points scored and 57 allowed, propelled by veteran quarterback Zach Collaros, a three-time Grey Cup champion with nearly 33,000 passing yards in his career. Calgary opened play at 2-1 under signal-caller Vernon Adams Jr., looking to rebound from last week’s 20-12 loss to Ottawa. Early action favoured the Stampeders when wide-out Jalen Philpot hauled in a 66-yard reception, electrifying the home crowd. The nationally televised matchup on TSN and CBSSN is part of the city’s annual Stampede festivities and offers Calgary a chance to hand Winnipeg its first defeat of the season while drawing level in the West Division standings.