Can the Bombers get revenge in Sunday's Banjo Bowl, or will the Riders maintain their streak?

Games between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders always carry plenty of stakes, but Sunday's Banjo Bowl (4 p.m. Eastern, TSN/ESPN) may be even more important than most. The Roughriders edged the Bombers 35-30 in last week's Labour Day Classic to improve to 7-2, posting their sixth-straight win in the process, and another victory could help them keep the pressure on the West-leading Calgary Stampeders (9-1). Meanwhile, the Bombers will be out for revenge after Sunday's loss, and they'll be looking to boost their 6-4 record and stay in playoff contention in the crowded West. Which team will be able to pull off a victory Sunday?

For the Roughriders, the key to victory may again be their defensive line. They have a league-leading 36 sacks on the year, and defensive end John Chick has a CFL-high 12. The Bombers were able to hold Chick off the stat sheet last week, but that opened space for the rest of the Saskatchewan defensive line, which recorded four sacks of Winnipeg quarterback Drew Willy and had him under pressure on a lot of his dropbacks. If the Roughriders can record another defensive effort like that, it's going to be very tough for Winnipeg to do much on offence.

The Bombers will also be pinning a lot of hopes on their defence, though, and those may not be unrealistic. Winnipeg's defence has generally been middle-of-the-pack this season, but Saskatchewan's attack isn't the most formidable, especially in the passing game. Heading into last week, the Roughriders' 204.1 passing yards per game were the second-worst number in the league, ahead of only Montreal, and quarterback Darian Durant threw for just 204 again against Winnipeg Sunday. Things aren't going to get easier for them in the hostile, noise-enhancing environment of Investors Group Field. If the Bombers can contain Durant, they'll have an excellent chance to pull off a victory.

While both of these teams are over .500, they each have offensive issues to address. Saskatchewan's passing game has particularly struggled, but their rushing game hasn't been great in recent weeks either. Meanwhile, Willy got off to a hot start this year, but hasn't shone over the last few games, and he threw for just 171 yards last week. The Bombers' rushing game has also been struggling, averaging a league-worst 4.2 rushing yards per carry heading into last week's game. With both defences looking strong, this could come down to a question of whose offence is able to produce more.

There's still a lot of football left to play, so Sunday's Banjo Bowl won't necessarily define the season or the playoff race for either team. It should be an important game, though, and it could carry a lot of meaning for both teams. A Saskatchewan win would keep their streak alive and would help them keep pressure on the Stampeders, and a big win in a road rivalry game is always important. For Winnipeg, it's a chance to not just get some revenge on their rivals, but also bolster their standing in the crowded West Division. We'll see who's able to pull it off.