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choke: to lose one’s composure and fail to perform effectively in a critical situation.

(i.e. He had a chance to win the game but he choked)

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— Merriam-Webster dictionary

It is, quite simply, the Stampeders way.

Dominate during the regular season, then choke in the Grey Cup.

Call Sunday’s 27-24 loss to a wildly outplayed Toronto team a meltdown or an implosion, if you want to be kind.

If you want to be honest, call it a choke.

Few franchises in pro sports are better at it than the Calgary Stampeders.

They have all but perfected the art.

Outside of putting 13 men on the field, what better way to cough up a game firmly in your grasp than by fumbling on the opposition’s three-yard line to give up a 109-yard touchdown, followed by a quarterback’s decision to throw into double coverage when a throw wasn’t even needed.

In both cases, ball security should have been the only concern.

The Toronto Argonauts didn’t win the 105th Grey Cup, the Calgary Stampeders lost it.