Unexpectedly, the Stamps find themselves with the same record after seven games this season as they had at the same juncture a year ago.

It’s a surprise mainly because Calgary had to work a rare tie into the early-season going – and, even more strangely, the draw took place in Ottawa in both cases – to get to 5-1-1 after seven outings.

There are some similarities in the way Stamps got to this point in each of the past two seasons, starting with the fact that each edition of the squad was 3-0 at home and 2-1-1 on the road through seven games.

In addition, discipline and caution have played a key role in the Stamps’ positive record. In 2016, the Stamps had been called for the fewest penalties in the CFL through seven games and were second in turnover differential at plus-5. This year, the Red and White are second in penalties and first in turnover differential.

Dave Dickenson’s crew also had relatively wonky starts in both years – 1-1-1 in 2016 and 2-1-1 this year – before putting together a winning streak.

On the other hand, there’s been one significant difference in how the Stamps have gotten to this point in the past two seasons. While Calgary faced West Division in six of their first seven games in 2016, posting a 5-1 record, only two divisional games – both victories – have been on the 2017 docket to date.

Also, while 5-1-1 was good enough for first in the West a year ago, the 2017 Stamps currently have to settle for second place, one point back of the undefeated Edmonton Eskimos heading into Week 8 action.

Which brings us to a crucial stretch of schedule as this year’s Stamps come out of their summer break. Five of Calgary’s next six games are against West rivals including a pair of matchups apiece with the first-place Esks and the third-place BC Lions.

Calgary, Edmonton and BC have a combined record of 16-3-1 heading into Week 8 while the league’s other six clubs have accounted for a dozen victories.

From an individual standpoint, it should come as no surprise that Bo Levi Mitchell, Jerome Messam and Marquay McDaniel are again leading the way on offence for Calgary.

Mitchell’s completion percentage is almost exactly the same (65.5 this year compared to 65.4 at this time a season ago). He has thrown for 113 fewer yards – thanks in part to turning the controls over to Andrew Buckley in the second half of a blowout win over Hamilton – while throwing one more touchdown pass and one fewer interception.

On the ground, Messam has rushed for 59 more yards at the seven-game mark (490-431) and currently leads the CFL whereas at this time a year ago he trailed Winnipeg’s Andrew Harris by 74 yards.

Through the air, McDaniel again leads the team in catches although Kamar Jorden is tops on the 2017 club when it comes to receiving yards.

The biggest change is in the supporting cast of receivers. A year ago at this point in the calendar, DaVaris Daniels was still on the practice roster and pass-catchers such as Bakari Grant, Joe West, Greg Wilson and Simon Charbonneau-Campeau were part of the rotation.

This year, Jorden has played a larger role in the offence and newcomer Marken Michel has played well when pressed into action because of injuries.

The offence has been generously supplemented by the special-teams units (three punt-return touchdowns) and defence (two pick-sixes and a fumble-return score) to produce 254 points, which is 43 more than at the same point a season ago.

Defensively, Calgary has allowed 145 points, seven fewer than in 2016.

The Stamps’ play on the defensive side of the ball is all the more remarkable when you consider that four of their key cogs – defensive linemen Cordarro Law and Junior Turner, linebacker Deron Mayo and defensive back Brandon Smith – have yet to make a start in 2017.

Stepping in to fill the void have been the likes of Alex Singleton – who didn’t become a full-time starter in 2016 until the Labour Day Classic – as well as Maleki Harris, James Vaughters, Michael Kashak, Jameer Thurman and Shaquille Richardson.

Then there’s old standby Charleston Hughes, who despite missing two games this season has matched his sack total of six through the Stamps’ first seven contests.

On special teams, the Stamps are off to a great start, especially in the return game as Roy Finch has two punt-return touchdowns and rookie Tunde Adeleke has one.

Finch has 11 games to tie or surpass Derrick Crawford’s single-season franchise record of three punt-return scores in a season. With 514 punt-return yards, he’s well ahead of the pace to top the team record of 993 he set in 2016.

Kicker Rene Paredes has a nearly identical field-goal percentage (85.0 this season compared to 85.7 through seven games in 2016).