Blue eyes rubber-match rebound
Winnipeg seeks quick return to winning ways against familiar foe
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/09/2016 (2757 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers were winning so often it had almost become routine. A stretch that began July 28 and included seven consecutive victories came to a sudden halt Saturday, with the Blue and Gold falling to the Stampeders in Calgary, 36-34 — a game that was decided on a last-second field goal.
The Bombers (8-5) hope they return to their winning ways tonight when they welcome to Investors Group Field the defending Grey Cup champion Edmonton Eskimos (6-7) — the team they beat to kick off their streak two months ago.
“You’re not going to win every game in this league, but how you respond is big,” said Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols. “It would be great to start another winning streak against the same team.”
With that, here are five storylines to keep an eye on tonight:
1 It will be the third and final time this CFL season — barring playoffs, of course — these teams will meet. Edmonton took the first: a 20-16 win over Winnipeg at IGF in Week 4, dropping the Bombers’ record, at the time, to 1-3.
Nichols replaced Drew Willy (who was later traded to the Toronto Argonauts) two games later in a rematch against the Eskimos — marking Nichols’ season debut against the team that traded him to Winnipeg midway through the 2015 season.
The Bombers won, 30-23, in what turned out to be a pivotal moment not only for the team as whole but also for Nichols, who has gone on to become the Bombers’ No. 1 quarterback.
“That was a game that we kind of found our identity as a team,” said Nichols. “It’s something we look to continue moving forward.”
There’s also something about winning a season series against the defending Grey Cup champions, which the Bombers will have the chance to do in the deciding rubber-match game tonight.
2 Winnipeg won’t be the only team with plenty of motivation heading into the game. At 6-7, the Eskimos need a win to make up ground in what’s been a competitive West Division. They currently sit in fourth place, behind the Bombers, B.C. Lions (8-4) and Calgary (11-1-1).
A victory over Winnipeg would put the Esks in striking distance, just two points back. As for the Bombers, they’d like nothing more than to distance themselves from Edmonton while also hurting the Eskimos’ playoff chances in both the West and as a potential crossover team in the East Division.
Add it all up, and it should be a spirited match between division rivals.
“It’s going to be a battle no matter what,” said Eskimos head coach Jason Maas. “You can throw out the records, you can throw out that we’ve played already twice. It’s just a totally different atmosphere and game the way it’s set up right now.”
3 Maas couldn’t come up with a clear answer when asked which part of the game he believed will have the greatest impact in determining a winner tonight, suggesting all three phases (offence, defence, special teams) will be critical.
Though that’s certainly the case in any matchup, there’s no secret where this game will be won or lost: the battle between Edmonton’s prolific offence and the Bombers’ stingy defence.
Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly has averaged 406 passing yards against Winnipeg this season. However, during the recent run, Winnipeg’s defensive players have been dubbed “ball hawks” for their penchant for creating turnovers. The Blue Bombers are tops in the CFL in turnover ratio (plus-25), with a league-best 44 forced turnovers.
“You want to be playing your best football at the most crucial time of the year when it’s all on the line,” said Bombers defensive end Jamaal Westerman.
Though the Eskimos have put up big numbers in two games against the Bombers, they haven’t been able to put up a lot of points, averaging 21.5 per game. Edmonton is averaging 28.8 points in its 13 games thus far, but Mass says it needs to be better.
“Once we cross the 40 (-yard line) we have to put points on the board and I don’t care if they’re field goals or touchdowns, we just have to produce points,” said Maas.
4 If the Bombers are going to be successful in shutting down Reilly and the Eskimos offence, it starts with stopping the two big threats at receiver.
Adarius Bowman and Derel Walker are both on pace to reach 100 receptions this season — if successful, they’ll be just the second CFL pairing to do so. (Calgary’s Dave Sapunjis and Allen Pitts were the first in 1995.)
Bowman, who played two seasons with the Blue Bombers (2009-10), sits at 1,400 receiving yards (Walker is at 1,248) and needs an average of 120 yards in the final five games to reach 2,000. Bowman and Walker each have seven touchdowns this season.
It’s a dangerous duo that has also done its fair share of damage against the Bombers, combining for 31 receptions, 430 yards and two touchdowns.
“Those guys, with what they can do and the dynamic play ability that they have, they’re in a class of their own,” said Bombers defensive back Chris Randle. “They’re one play away from turning the game around. Preparing for that is a task in itself and as a defence, we got to prevent those big plays from happening.”
5 Timothy Flanders will get the start at running back for the Bombers for the third consecutive game. Andrew Harris was a light participant in practice this week but was ruled out Thursday as he continues to heal a lower-body injury.
Flanders, 25, has been solid in relief of Harris, rushing 19 times for 102 yards and one touchdown against Toronto two weeks ago in his debut as the starter.
Last week, against Calgary, he ran for 95 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown run in the first half. Flanders, a standout at Sam Houston State University, also has 10 catches for 82 yards.
“I’ve got to,” Flanders said of taking advantage of his current status as the No. 1 back. “That’s the only way to try to stay on the active roster. I feel like I’ve done a pretty good job with what I can do.”
John White will counter for Edmonton, replacing Shakir Bell after Bell was injured at practice Wednesday. White was No. 1 to start the season but had since taken a back seat to Bell.
“We’re ready to roll with John,” said Maas.
jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @jeffkhamilton
Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer
After a slew of injuries playing hockey that included breaks to the wrist, arm, and collar bone; a tear of the medial collateral ligament in both knees; as well as a collapsed lung, Jeff figured it was a good idea to take his interest in sports off the ice and in to the classroom.
History
Updated on Thursday, September 29, 2016 9:13 PM CDT: attached photo