A must-win game for Bombers

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This article was published 03/10/2023 (770 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

This is not an exaggeration.

Friday’s road tilt at BC Place is the most important regular season game the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have had in years.

It will decide the season series between the 11-4 Bombers and the 11-4 B.C. Lions. More importantly, the result will likely determine which side will claim the division crown and host the Western Final on Nov. 11.

“For what’s at stake, you’re probably right,” said quarterback Zach Collaros after Tuesday’s practice at IG Field.

“Every week is a must win. That’s how we go about it. You don’t go in to lose, you go in to win. Obviously, the goal is to have a great regular season and win the West. That’s the goal, so it’s a must win.”

The first two battles between these foes took place in Winnipeg. The Lions caught the Bombers off guard in Week 3 and came away with an impressive 30-6 victory. In Week 9, it was a totally different story, as the blue and gold stomped the Lions 50-14.

The last time they met in a meaningful game in Vancouver was last season in Week 5 when the Bombers prevailed 43-22 in an early battle of the unbeaten.

Wide receiver Drew Wolitarsky doesn’t seem to be phased by the environment they’re heading into.

“It’s not hard. I like how it’s indoors. There’s no wind, there’s no atmosphere other than a small crowd in there,” said Wolitarsky.

“It’s a nice place to play.”

Head coach Mike O’Shea also isn’t stressed about the team having to pack their bags for enemy territory this week.

Although, it’s important to note three of Winnipeg’s four losses have come on the road this season against teams with losing records.

“I’d usually say that the road part, I’m not sure where that even enters into it. And then I think about our fans, and I think our fans make it tough. So, I mean, if they have a packed house with that enclosed roof, it can be loud and make it tougher,” said O’Shea. “But once the game starts, you kind of probably don’t hear much of that anyway as a player. I think a lot of teams think having to go on the road is pretty good for their team. You have a chance to hang out a little longer together.”

Opposing teams typically don’t enjoy hanging out at IG Field, especially in November. For Defensive end Willie Jefferson, getting to skip past the division semi-final is just as crucial as securing home turf.

“It’s very important. Very important. Especially to a team like us with a lot of older guys,” said Jefferson. “You want to try to roll into the playoffs hot and it’s always a good thing to have that bye week in your back pocket, especially knowing you’re going to have a home game the next week, too.”

The last two seasons saw the Bombers lock up the top spot in the West with three regular season games left on the schedule. In 2019, they had to settle for the No. 3 seed — which worked just fine as they won two playoffs games on the road en route to capturing the Grey Cup — but they did clinch their post season spot on Sept. 21 after starting 9-4.

“I think it’s good. You’re kind of forced to stay locked in as opposed to the last couple seasons. I’m not saying people weren’t locked in, but every game means a lot,” said Collaros.

The Bombers took down the Toronto Argonauts 31-21 at home last Friday. After the game, players stood in the locker room and watched the Lions beat the Saskatchewan Roughriders 33-26.

The Lions close out the season with a road game against Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-8), a home date with the Calgary Stampeders (4-11), and then a bye. The Bombers will enjoy a bye week after their Vancouver trip before hosting the Edmonton Elks (4-11), followed by a game in Calgary.

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Over in the East, the Argos secured first place back on Sept. 15 and will finish the season with six games that have no bearing on their position in the standings.

“We need these kind of, I would just say, situations. To have that before playoffs is really big,” said Wolitarsky.

“When you haven’t been in that atmosphere or that feeling, it gets a little bit harder to get into that flow and execute as cleanly as we want when your adrenaline is pumping so high. The last couple years, we’ve gone into that West (final) not having played our best. We’ve gotten away with it, but we had a couple turnovers and all that stuff. I just think this is something that will help us in the long run. We’re excited.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31

Taylor Allen
Reporter

Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.

Every piece of reporting Taylor produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.