Winning’s all that matters

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This article was published 25/08/2017 (3134 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MONTREAL – It wasn’t the prettiest of wins. Then again, not many victories for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been this season.

But how they look isn’t important, so long as that they come. And the Bombers, following a thrilling 34-31 double-overtime affair over the Montreal Alouettes at Molson Stadium Thursday night, now have seven wins in their first nine games.

“It’s not easy coming in here; Montreal was 3-1 at home for a reason,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea after the game. “They play tough football here. So however the win happened, to get a win, to go on a couple days off for the players with a win is very satisfying. We’ll clean up whatever we need to clean up when we get back.”

The Bombers, now 7-2 at they hit the official midway mark of the season, will have five days off before returning to work in preparation for a home-and-home with their prairie rival Saskatchewan Roughriders, beginning next Sunday in the annual Labour Day Classic game.

But before we move too far ahead, here are five takeaways from Thursday’s win over Montreal…

 

BLUE EARN A PASS

It’s just third time since the 1985 season that the Bombers have recorded at least seven wins in their first nine games (the two other years – in 2001 and 2011 – they made the Grey Cup). Winnipeg has won their last five games, having not trailed on the scoreboard for a single second in their last four.

Given that, it only seems fair they be forgiven for whatever mishaps took place against the Alouettes – but that doesn’t mean we won’t mention them.

Despite a strong start by the offence, which included points on their first two drives and a 10-point lead, they sputtered for long stretches in the game. Even when they were able to put together long drives – most notably, back-to-back series in the fourth quarter that accounted for a combined 14 minutes and 40 seconds – they were forced to settle for field goals.

Matt Nichols was averaging 334 passing yards in his last four games heading into Thursday, but mustered just 227 against Montreal. Clarence Denmark was impressive, finding the end zone twice, including on the Bombers’ first series in OT. But he, too, dropped some crucial passes. T.J. Thorpe, arguably the most reliable pass-catcher for the Bombers of late, got dinged with his first CFL fumble.

As for the defence, their four turnovers in the game helped overshadow Montreal’s 435 yards on offence, including 119 on the ground. The Bombers also had trouble tackling at times, especially when it came to wrapping up Montreal quarterback Darian Durant. Not too mention the defence surrendered a 10-point lead in the final 3:23.

 

READY FOR SOME R & R

It won’t be until Wednesday that the Bombers return to practice to prepare for their upcoming tilt against the Riders. While some players have opted to spend their free time in Winnipeg, others returned home to see family and friends.

All will enjoy the rest and relaxation, but it will be particularly good for a number of players that looked visibly banged up by the end of the game.

Corner Brandon Alexander, who returned to the lineup after missing the previous three games with a knee injury, appeared slow to get up late in the fourth quarter. Kevin Fogg was helped off the field after tweaking something following a successful two-point conversion by Montreal in the first overtime. Meanwhile, Harris was in some noticeable discomfort in the second quarter, though he was feeling well enough to finish the game.

“We get a little bit of a rest here and then those are going to be a couple of fistfights with Saskatchewan (beginning with) Labour Day,” said quarterback Matt Nichols. “We’re going to try to get our bodies healed up and get ready for a crazy couple of weeks. Enjoy this for a couple of days and then get right back to work.”

No injury updates were given after the game, so the extent of the damage done won’t be known until later next week. But if the Bombers can escape mostly unscathed – and with Weston Dressler nearing a return and Ian Wild close to practising – there are few reasons to believe the Bombers are primed to start the second half strong.

 

WHAT WAS MISSED

There are so many plays in a football game that it’s not uncommon for a few exceptional moments to go unnoticed over the span of four quarters.

That included a pair of plays by receiver/kick returner Ryan Lankford.

The first came on special teams late in the first quarter, when Lankford used his quick wheels to catch up to a speedy Stefan Logan. Logan had found a hole on a kickoff return, with just daylight between him and the end zone. That is, until Lankford chased him down, catching up to Logan just in time to prevent the touchdown, stopping him at the Bombers 24-yard line. What made the play all the more important was that shortly after Maurice Leggett forced a sack-fumble on Durant that he also recovered, giving the ball back to Winnipeg.

The other play came in a bizarre sequence in the final seconds of regulation time. After Boris Bede kicked a 48-yard field goal that just squeaked through the uprights to tie the game with nine seconds left, his ensuing kickoff landed in the hands of Timothy Flanders. Flanders then lateralled a pass to Lankford, who promptly punted the ball down field in hopes the Bombers might recover the onside kick. But there was no way Flanders was going to catch the ball, not with Lankford’s boot sailing nearly 60 yards.

For those of you who didn’t know, Lankford is the team’s backup punter.

Another play that was overshadowed was Nichols’ completion to Darvin Adams on the two-point conversion in overtime. Nichols, facing a tight window, delivered a bullet pass to Adams, who made the catch look routine.

“People aren’t going to know it but in my opinion that was one of the best throws I’ve ever made because it was an extremely tight window,” said Nichols. “I put it on the money, right on his outside shoulder. If I put it anywhere else, it was probably incomplete. I’m happy to be able to make that play in that situation.”

 

RANDLE’S STOCK CONTINUES TO RISE

I wrote last week about the play of veteran defensive back Chris Randle, and how after two injury-riddled seasons with the Bombers he was back to his usual form. At the time, Randle, 29, was third on the team in defensive tackles – and in his three previous games returned a fumble for a touchdown against Ottawa, recorded a sack against Hamilton – a rare occurrence for a corner – and intercepted Mike Reilly, arguably the league’s top quarterback, in a win over then unbeaten Edmonton.

On Thursday, Randle added to his list of game-changing plays, finishing the night with two interceptions. His first came on the Alouettes’ opening drive, when he broke on his coverage to pick off Durant’s pass near the sideline that had no Montreal receiver in sight. The Bombers offence went on to score a touchdown – a six-yard strike to Clarence Denmark that put Winnipeg up 10-0 early.

But Randle’s biggest play would come on Montreal’s last offensive series. With the Alouettes on their second and final shot in overtime, Randle stepped in front of a pass intended for Ernest Jackson. That would all but seal the game for the Bombers, who after two rushes from Andrew Harris called out Justin Medlock to hit the game-winning field goal.

If it wasn’t clear before this game, it is now: Randle is the clear favourite at this point for the team’s most outstanding defensive player.

 

LEWIS LEAPS TO NO. 1

It’s hard not to notice Nik Lewis on the field. At first glance, with his 5-10, 240-pound frame, the 14-year CFL veteran looks more like a bruising fullback than a receiver.

But then you see Lewis leap in the air, as he did in the third quarter when he turned up field after a catch before jumping over a diving tackle attempt by Bombers safety Taylor Loffler. But as impressive as that was, it paled in comparison to what he would achieve later in the game.

Needing nine catches to surpass Geroy Simon for first all-time in career receptions in the CFL, Lewis finished the game with 10 for 88 yards, brining his total to 1,031. League commissioner, Randy Ambrosie, honoured Lewis for his achievement after the game and Simon delivered a heartfelt video message. The praise continued throughout the night over social media, with fans and current and former players congratulating Lewis on the milestone.

What’s scary is that Lewis, 35, still has plenty of time to build on his record – nine games still remain this year and Lewis has already said he plans to play another season. It’s an incredible feat – and journey – for Lewis, who before gaining CFL stardom was a walk-on at Division II Southern Arkansas.  

 

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton