Courtesy Calgary Herald:

Much will be written and spoken about the directions the two teams clashing tonight at Commonwealth Stadium are heading.

The homestanding Edmonton Eskimos have lost seven straight regular-season games, and opened the season with a miserable 34-13 loss at Saskatchewan.

The visiting Calgary Stampeders, meanwhile, opened in impressive style with a 28-18 win over the presumptive West Division favourites, the B.C. Lions, and arrived in Edmonton with an early-season swagger.

But trust Stampeders head coach and general manager John Hufnagel to provide a dose of reality to the proceedings in advance of the kickoff (8 p.m., TSN, QR77).

“How many games did the Stamps lose in a row before we beat B.C. last week?” pointed out Hufnagel, who, you can be assured, knew the answer was four (including the playoffs), and seven of the past eight.

“So, you can write whatever storyline you want for the game. We’re just trying to prepare to win a football game against a very good opponent that we know will be very highly motivated.”

Yes, the Eskimos will be motivated for a home opener, not to mention avoiding their first eight-game losing streak since 1971.

But Calgary shouldn’t lack in that department, either, considering it’s been eight years since a Stampeder team opened a season with two straight wins, and considering that 12 months ago, the Stamps lost their road opener by 41 points, at Saskatchewan.

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