No matter what kind of team they have been over the last decade, the Saskatchewan Roughriders always managed to somehow find a way to win the Labour Day game.

That was their gimme.

That is until yesterday when they suffered a 28-25 loss.

Their labour day win streak over the Bombers finally stopped at 11.

For the first time since 2004 the Bombers left town with a victory.

But one streak manages to keep rolling along.

The Riders have now lost six straight this season as their record plummets to 1 and 9.

That matches the record of the 2015 Riders who didn't win their first game of the year until Labour Day.

Durant hasn't won a game since Labour Day of 2014

Even Darian Durant was choked for words after this loss.

"That second half we came out and played some good football. We played the type of football that it takes to win games and for us to fight back like that," he said. "It still hasn't sunk in yet so maybe we can talk about it in a day or so, its tough to explain that emotion right now."

Once again we can say there are signs of life.

Somewhere underneath all those losses, there's a team that's waiting to come out.

Ask Weston Dressler, who played his first Labour day game as a member of the opposition.

"Their record definitely doesn't show the type of team they have over there. They are a good football team, their defence plays hard, those guys fly around. I imagine they are going to find a way to win some games real quick here," said Dressler, post-game in the tiny visitors room at Mosaic Stadium.

When asked after the game if he had a touch of sympathy for his buddies in the Riders' locker room, Weston Dressler said 'No, sorry guys.'

Over in the spacious home room, Chris Jones agreed there's a victory lurking, he just doesn't have a clue how it will happen.

"I'm looking for a book that I can read that can tell me that answer," said the head coach after his 9th loss in 10 games since winning the Grey Cup.

One thing Chris Jones can do is lie to his players about the start time for games and have them show up one hour earlier.

I don't want to get fined $25,000. - Chris Jones

The Riders have not scored a single point in the opening quarter in their last four games.

Whatever Jones and staff have been doing to get their team ready to play, try something else.

"We have to be able get out of the chutes a little quicker and not always play behind the eight ball. We have to look at what we're doing pre game or what we can do as coaches to try and make sure they're ready and focused and ready to go."

A bittersweet moment for the Riders' Kendial Lawrence. An 85 yard punt return touchdown followed by a heartbreaking loss moments later (THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Imagine how Sunday's game could have gone if only the Riders didn't have to make up a 19-3 deficit.

Imagine the Rider nation celebration if Kendial Lawrence's 85-yard punt return for a touchdown with a minute left led the team to victory.

But again, the Riders had to find some way to lose.

Normally their most consistent player, kicker Tyler Crapigna played like someone ran over his dog before the game.

Two field goals and a convert missed. Seven points stranded.

Football is a team game unless you happen to be a kicker.

When kickers have an off night, all fingers point to them.

"I'll just tell him to keep his head up, keep working," Jones said of his young kicker. "I'm not going to execute the kid. He's probably a lot harder on himself than anybody else is. I'm sure he's crushed."

Crapigna politely declined to be interviewed by a second wave of reporters.

Chris Jones has now lost 9 of 10 games since winning the Grey Cup

Where Jones is not as forgiving is towards the league in general.

Whether it's the officials, the boys tucked away in the tiny command centre, or the man in the big chair himself, Jones is ready to vent.

The pass interference the Riders didn't get in the 2nd quarter, which Jones challenged and lost.

And the pass interference that went against the Riders, late in the 4th, wiping out a Justin Cox interception which would have produced a win for Saskatchewan.

Chris Jones was all out of flags at that point. He says he has to be more efficient in that department.

The league would throw a big orange one at him if the Riders' coach finally explodes and says what he wants to say.

"They've already fined us $65,000 for doing the same thing everybody else in the league does, so I don't want to get fined $25,000 for them viewing me as saying or even commenting on anything that has to with the officiating," he said.

It is safe to say 2016 is a write-off in more ways than one.