WEEK 17 | MISSED CHANCES

The Riders came up short in Edmonton.

Despite piling up over 300 passing yards from Trevor Harris, turnovers and late defensive breakdowns cost Saskatchewan in a 26–18 loss to the Elks. Edmonton leaned on Justin Rankin’s two fourth-quarter touchdowns and capitalized on a pair of Harris interceptions to secure a much-needed win. For the Riders, it was a night where the effort was there, but the execution wasn’t.

🟢 Fan Outlook: Slipping, But Still Strong

Rider Nation rated their outlook at 7.61/10, a step down from recent weeks but still firmly in positive territory.

• 30% scored their outlook 9–10 (confident)
• 47% landed at 7–8 (cautious but optimistic)
• 24% dipped into the 1–6 range (concerned)

The takeaway? Fans are still backing this team, but patience is being tested. The optimism remains, but cracks are starting to show as playoff pressure mounts.

🟩 Performance in One Word: Disappointing

(Word Cloud Snapshot)

The fan word cloud said it all: “disappointing,” “meh,” and “bad” dominated the conversation. Sprinkles of “exciting” and “tough” came through, reflecting a game that was competitive but frustrating.

This wasn’t a collapse — but it wasn’t the standard Rider Nation expects, either. With both QBs over 300 yards, it felt like the Riders should have been in better position. Instead, costly turnovers told the story.

📊 Performance Rating: 32% Happy

Only 32% of fans said they were happy with the Riders’ performance in Week 17 — a low mark that matches the postgame sentiment. The defence held strong for much of the night, but allowing Rankin’s two late majors and giving up field position after turnovers left a sour taste.

The message from Rider Nation is clear: Flashes aren’t enough. Consistency must be evident in all four quarters.

🔮 Fan Prediction: Week 18 Bounce-Back

Looking ahead, Rider Nation hasn’t lost hope. In fact, 93% predict a Riders win over Ottawa in Week 18.

That overwhelming confidence suggests fans see this loss as a stumble, not a spiral. The Redblacks are struggling, and Rider Nation expects their team to respond with urgency.

💬 Rider Nation, We Hear You

This one stung. Edmonton wanted it more down the stretch, and it showed. But Rider Nation hasn’t wavered — your belief is still there, loud and clear.

Week 18 is about one thing: answering back. The offence has the firepower, the defence has the pride, and the fans have spoken. Now it’s time for the Riders to prove it on the field.