Defence does it again

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This article was published 18/08/2024 (468 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

VANCOUVER – Brady Oliveira, still dripping in sweat, didn’t mince words inside the locker room at BC Place when sharing the significance of a 20-11 Winnipeg Blue Bombers victory over the B.C. Lions Sunday night.

“Huge game,” was how the Bombers running back started. “This can really be a difference maker in our season and how we want to finish. This is a whole different team, man. You learn so much going through those hard times, those trials and tribulations, starting the year 0-4 and really being critical with ourselves. This group never wavered.”

After a slow start to the season, the Bombers have now won two straight to improve to 4-6 and are starting to look a lot more like the team that went to the Grey Cup the last four years. As for the Lions, they’re trending in the opposite direction, their fourth straight loss dropping them to 5-5.

Let’s dig deeper into this one.

THE ROURKE EFFECT

There was a lot of buzz heading into the game with the return of Nathan Rourke, who inked a three-year deal with the Lions earlier this week after chasing the NFL dream for the last nearly two years.

Rourke took the league by storm in 2022 and would have likely been crowned the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player had a foot injury not limited him to just 10 games. But after going more than 600 days without playing a full game and having to readjust to the unique intricacies of three-down football, many wondered if Rourke would be able to regain that magic in time for Sunday.

To say Rourke had a slow start would be a massive understatement, with the 26-year-old completing just five of his 15 passes for 48 yards before the break. He also threw a pair of interceptions for a dismal QB efficiency rating of -12.4 through two quarters.

The night wouldn’t get much better for the Lions pivot, with Rourke finishing eight-for-25 passing for 126 yards and the two picks — resulting in a QB rating that was only slightly better at 16.4. Rourke looked visibly frustrated as the game wore on, and it’s hard to imagine he envisioned No. 3 QB Chase Brice finishing the game.

What’s most troubling for the Lions attack was that there were times Rourke had plenty of time to deliver the ball, the issue being there just weren’t any open receivers to deliver it to. The only real bright spot was running back William Stanback, who finished with 100 rushing yards on 15 carries.

“We just wanted to show him that we weren’t worried about him,” Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson said. “Maybe he’ll get better as time goes on, but this week wasn’t his week.”

Rourke is now 0-4 against the Bombers.

BOMBERS D LEADING THE WAY

It will be interesting to see where this Bombers defence falls when it comes to the best groups in franchise history, assuming they can continue to trend upwards.

The score certainly flattered the Lions, who weren’t able to reach the end zone until the dying moments. The one-yard score was set up by a defensive pass interference call on Evan Holm, with fullback David Mackie punching the ball past the goal line with two ticks remaining on the clock.

It was the first TD allowed by the Bombers defence since allowing one early in the second quarter of a Week 7 loss to the Riders – an incredible stretch of 40 drives. It also snapped their shutout streak at 106 minutes and five seconds.

The final statistics weren’t as impressive compared to the 25-0 shutout over B.C. in Week 9, but they were solid. The Lions were limited to 303 net offensive yards, while the defence registered three turnovers – interceptions by Tyrell Ford and Deatrick Nichols, as well as a turnover on downs – and a pair of sacks from Willie Jefferson and Jamal Woods.

“One thing about this team is nobody cares who gets the credit,” Nichols said. “Everybody’s just playing and doing their job and keeping their head down. We’re all equal.”

SLOW BUT STEADY

As is the case with every game, the offence will want some plays back, including a pair of turnovers in the second half that suddenly seemed to make it a game. But that would he nitpicking in an otherwise solid effort from Winnipeg’s attack.

QB Zach Collaros looked like his old self, delivering the ball to six different targets, ending his night 23-for-31 passing for 288 yards, one TD and one interception. The touchdown – a 22-yard strike to Nic Demski – came on Winnipeg’s opening drive, while the pick was sandwiched between drives ending with a one-yard rushing TD from Chris Streveler and a 38-yard field goal from Sergio Castillo, who finished two-for-three.

Demski led all receivers with 109 yards on six catches, taking full advantage of the extra space owing to the return of Kenny Lawler, who added four catches for 54 yards. Oliveira scampered for 78 rushing yards on 10 carries, with none better than the 23-yard gain that ended with an embrace from head coach Mike O’Shea.

“I know what I’m capable of doing, so when the ball comes my way, I expect myself to make a play,” Demski said. “I feel I did my job tonight, along with everybody else.”

The offence finished with 392 net offensive yards.

PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS

It was hard to imagine a month ago that the Bombers would be within striking distance of the Lions, who were atop the West Division standings while Winnipeg was closer to the basement.

The victory not only brings the Bombers to within one game of the Lions and the Saskatchewan Roughriders for first place in the West, but Winnipeg has also secured the season series against B.C. two games to one, which is the first tiebreaker in the standings. Interestingly, it’s the third straight season B.C. and Winnipeg have had to play the third game of the season series to determine a winner, with the Bombers having now clinched the season series in six straight years.

The Bombers officially control their destiny, and if they keep stacking up wins, they could be atop the West by the time the Banjo Bowl has been played in a few weeks. Winnipeg welcomes the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to town next week, before a pair of back-to-backs against the Riders and Edmonton Elks.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton