Jamie Nye: Riders answer the bell, again

Whenever the Saskatchewan Roughriders have been questioned this season, they have answered.

At the start of the year, there were questions about the changes, injuries in camp and what this team will look like early. Saskatchewan started 3-0.

Then after the losses to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, it was a big game against Toronto to get back on track. The Riders won.

Then it was the B.C. Lions in a battle for second spot in the West. The Riders won.

Of course the Riders lost back-to-back games to Calgary, but when pushed into the corner and needing a victory over a hot Stampeders team for the Riders to maintain control of second in the West Division, the Riders won.

The team still has problems. The offensive line still allows too much pressure. The play-calling at times leaves fans wanting more. The big plays from the offence are non-existent.

Overall, however, the Riders have put themselves in a great position to host a home playoff game and have shown they can overcome their deficiencies to be competitive.

Unless, of course, they play Winnipeg. They’ll have five weeks to figure that one out.