August 18, 2014

They dont ask how: Riders know a win’s a win

CFL.ca

Mitchell Blair | Riderville.com Staff

REGINA — A win is a win no matter how the game plays out. And after the Saskatchewan Roughriders trudged their way to a 16-11 win over the Montreal Alouettes, Riders receiver Rob Bagg summed it up perfectly.

“Would you rather have us throw for 500 yards and lose?” Bagg questioned. “We are going to protect the football and that’s our main thing. When we had to make plays, we made them. They had more yards than us, but we won the game and that’s what matters.”

It was Bagg who made the big play of the game when on the first play of the 4th quarter, he hauled in a Darian Durant pass for a 30-yard touchdown to give the Green and White some breathing room in what was a defensive battle. 

Like Bagg, the Riders quarterback shuffled off the criticism against the offence saying at the end of the night the team had what it wanted: A win.

Related: Als vs. Riders

» Riders edge Als in Saturday action
» Highlights: SSK 16, MTL 11
» View Game Stats
» Photos: Alouettes vs. Riders
» Must Watch: Carter’s 122-yard TD
» Video: Rob Bagg’s 30-Yard TD Grab

“You know what? We’re winning, and we’re beating some pretty good teams.” Durant told reporters as a sold-out crowd of 33,427 filed out of Mosaic Stadium.

“At the end of the day, as long as we win games, no matter how you win it that’s what matters.  I think our day will come where we will statistically fill up the stats sheet but, at the end of the day, if we win, then I’m happy.’’

Durant was also quick to brush off talk that the team is putting too much confidence into its defence which continues to be very stingy when it comes to giving up points.

“No. It’s a team game. There are going to be some games this year where we’re going to have to take the bull by the horns and we’re going to have to lead the defence.” Durant insisted.

“I don’t think they’ll hold teams without scoring a touchdown each and every week. If they do, great, but at the end of the day, it’s a team sport. Whenever we had to move the ball and score, we did, and that’s all we can do as an offence.’’

Head Coach Corey Chamblin was asked after the game if it was poor offensive football or good defensive football. He opted to choose for the latter.

“It was a tough game on both sides and they have one of the best defensive coordinators in this league in Noel Thorpe. “ Chamblin said.

“Because of that, I will say it was good defensive football. I think both offences have some things to work on, but at the end of the day it was good defensive football.”

Chamblin added the artistic value of the game doesn’t matter and at the end of the day, the key thing is to walk off the field victorious which is what happened.

“It doesn’t matter how we win,” Chamblin explained. “There are always things you need to fix whether you win by 30 points, 20 points or 5 points.”

The win was the team’s 4th straight and improves them to 5-2. They won’t hit the practice field again until Wednesday to get ready for their next contest which is a big Western Division showdown in Vancouver against the B.C Lions.  That game will go Sunday in a 5 o’clock kickoff.