Burn these numbers into memory.

Tape them on the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ dressing room walls. Draw temporary tattoos on each defensive back’s forearms.

If these numbers don’t motivate the visiting Roughriders for Saturday’s CFL rematch against the Edmonton Elks, nothing will:

510 yards, four touchdowns, zero interceptions.

Those are the passing totals surrendered by the Roughriders during their recent loss to the Elks, with former Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo turning in a scintillating, career-best performance that would have been even better if he hadn’t nailed a goalpost on one end-zone throw.

“It looks bad, you know, when you look at the stats and you see he throws for 500 yards and things like that,” said Roughriders cornerback Marcus Sayles.

“For the majority of the game, I feel like we played well. We just had a couple busts and that’s just unlike us. We just gotta get those things cleaned up.”

There were indeed some defensive breakdowns, most obviously when Edmonton’s Austin Mack caught an 83-yard touchdown pass so far behind Saskatchewan’s coverage that he might have used the ol’ sleeper play.

Shhhh! Don’t tell the CFL’s God Centre or there might be another unnecessary video review.

“In our defence we all pretty much gotta see the same thing,” said Sayles. “And when one person doesn’t see the same thing, it can mess up the whole defence.”

The Roughriders attributed their mistakes to communication breakdowns, which was unexpected with on-field leader Rolan Milligan returning to the lineup after being sidelined since the season opener with a shoulder injury.

Milligan left practice early Wednesday with a knee injury and has been ruled out of Saturday’s game, throwing some uncertainty into the lineup for the second game of a home-and-home set between the West rivals.

Edmonton’s 36-34 victory on July 23 kept the Elks atop the division with a 6-1 record while the second-place Roughriders fell to 4-2.

“I saw the Elks — 100 per cent of what we expected, 100 per cent,” said Roughriders defensive co-ordinator Joshua Bell.

“We’re excited for (the rematch) but it also gets your blood boiling a little bit to go see a guy that punched you in the mouth the last time.”

Bell, a former DB who was Saskatchewan’s secondary coach before being promoted this season to defensive co-ordinator, was especially animated when asked again about his backfield not getting an interception.

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Through six games — one third of the regular season — the Roughriders have intercepted only two passes, both by linebacker Josh Woods.

“Ooh, ooh, ooh,” said Bell, with a smirk as he reached into his pocket. “Right now, if I can tell you when an interception is coming for the back-end guys, I might need to go to the casino.

“I might bet a loonie or a toonie on Josh Woods getting another one. I would most definitely bet that.”

Sayles actually made a terrific, leaping catch along the sideline before being shoved out of bounds by an Edmonton receiver during the last game, negating the possible interception. So the DBs can catch footballs.

The oh-fer obviously pains Bell, whose zone-reliant defence is designed to create turnovers. Particularly interceptions.

Sayles, cornerback Tevaughn Campbell and halfback DaMarcus Fields have had chances, so they’re bucking the odds considering the entire defensive group last season grabbed 23 interceptions, second only to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ 27.

“We’re excited though because we know who we are,” said Bell. “And not having interceptions on the board is something that we haven’t seen for a six-game stretch. Ever.”

“Every year is a new journey, so we’re excited to see it. And when it comes, they’ll come. Sayles had his hands on one!”

It’s also a good bet the Elks will try throwing again against the Roughriders. Maybe worth a loonie or a toonie.

Why would’t Fajardo want another crack at — just remember these numbers — 510 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions?