Jamie Nye: Riders need Argos win to be the norm as road games increase

After getting thumped in back-to-back games by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Saskatchewan Roughriders needed to check off some boxes against an underrated Toronto Argonauts defence.

First was discipline. The most-penalized team in the league only had seven accepted penalties Friday and while two of them were unnecessary roughness and selfish penalties, for the most part, the Riders got the message this week.

Protecting Cody Fajardo was another crucial element to the game and while he took a lot of big hits, many were Fajardo engaging in the hits or taking cheap shots rather than the offensive line. And the worst hit he took was to what he described as his McNuggets.

Third was finishing drives. From the opening drive of the game it was clear the Riders were checking this box.

Finally, there was a 100-yard rushing game by William Powell and a commitment to run by offensive co-ordinator Jason Maas.

The Riders now have six road games in their final eight before the playoffs, amplifying the necessity that this game wasn’t a one off.