The Saskatchewan Roughriders are 5-2 entering their bye week. They are not in first place in the West Division, or in the CFL’s overall standings. The Calgary Stampeders, at 6-1, hold those distinctions.

Fans of the Green and White need to realize that their position in the standings doesn’t matter much. And anything in the regular season doesn’t matter much, either.

That is the burden of great expectations.

If the Riders were 5-2 to start the season in 2003 or 2004 – back when the uninspiring goal was merely to have a home playoff game – then fans would be giddy.

But this isn’t 2003 or 2004. The Riders have established themselves as a top franchise in recent years, with one Grey Cup, two Grey Cup appearances and three home playoff games. And when you become a top team, your attitudes shift as well.

As long as the Riders remain relatively healthy, anything short of a Grey Cup appearance this year should be viewed as a disappointment. This team should be the best team in the West Division this year. And while they aren’t in first place in the west now, they’ll probably be in first place when the season ends. (Especially when you consider that Calgary’s schedule is much more difficult than the Riders’ schedule, and that the final two meetings between Saskatchewan and Calgary this year are in Regina).

A lot can happen between now and the end of November. If star quarterback Darian Durant suffers an injury, the Riders are in deep trouble. But they’re contenders as long as Durant is healthy, thanks to the dangerous offensive options that the Riders possess.

It’s been a long time since the Riders have legitimately had a “Grey Cup or bust” philosophy. Even when they won the Grey Cup in 1989 and 2007, they needed to pull off what many viewed as upset victories on the road just to reach the Grey Cup. If the Riders would have lost by three in the Western Final in 1989 or 2007, fans probably would have characterized the seasons as a success.

Last year’s team started the season as an underdog, and they kept that status until September, when Durant started to play like an all-star.

Winning is fun, and it’s great to cheer a great play. But keep in mind it is only August. Yes, wins in July and August are important. You probably won’t make the playoffs if you win only one or two games before the September long weekend.

But if this team falters in November, and fails to return to the Grey Cup, then any accomplishments during the regular season will quickly be forgotten, and those victories in July and August will seem hollow.