Big Blue can prove they’re for real by beating the Stamps

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/07/2015 (4044 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY — No one, it must be said, has ever won a Grey Cup in Week 4 of a CFL regular season.

And whatever happens at McMahon Stadium tonight between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Calgary Stampeders will almost certainly be a long-forgotten footnote by the time the last Sunday of November rolls around and they play the final game of the 2015 CFL season on the frozen tundra of Investors Group Field.

But still, even against that backdrop of qualifiers, what the Bombers have an opportunity to do tonight is exceedingly rare. Just consider:

With a win over Calgary (the two teams are currently tied atop the West Division at 2-1), Winnipeg would be in sole possession of first place in the West Division for the first time since 2004. Yes, the Bombers played in the East Division from 2006 through 2013, but the point stands — this kind of opportunity doesn’t come around often. At least not in Winnipeg, anyway.

The enormity of the opportunity the Bombers have this weekend doesn’t end there. The Bombers have won just once in Calgary since 2002 and it came in the final game of last season in a game in that meant nothing to either team.

With Winnipeg now playing in the West Division, that kind of singular dominance by a division rival just cannot stand any longer. And it’s not just at McMahon the Stamps have dominated Winnipeg — Calgary is 9-1 against the Bombers in the last 10 meetings between the two teams.

In a season in which the Bombers have already ended a long losing streak at Regina’s Mosaic Field, they have a chance to make another statement in the home of a division rival in a game that means something to both teams.

No, it’s not the Grey Cup. But yes, a win over the Stamps would be a big step towards one.

There was no telling that to Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea, who’s had his team united all this week behind the message this weekend’s game is just one more on the schedule, nothing more or less.

“I don’t think it bears the significance you might be suggesting,” O’Shea insisted Friday afternoon shortly after his team’s plane touched down.

“It’d be a good win and it’d be against the defending Grey Cup champions… But I don’t think we’re raising any banners.”

Winnipeg offensive tackle Stanley Bryant was similarly low key about facing Calgary, almost to the point of ridiculousness.

“It’d be just another victory, man,” said Bryant. “It’s just the next game of the season… They’re pretty good. They’re all right.”

The Stampeders are a little better than just pretty good and alright, having made the playoffs in ten consecutive seasons and having won the Grey Cup twice in that time.

Bombers safety Moe Leggett got closer than anyone in the Bombers organization to hinting that this weekend’s game is not just another date on the calendar. “It’d be a big confidence booster,” said Leggett, “And it’d be one game closer to a playoff run. But it’s still early.”

The Bombers are catching Calgary at what appears to be a vulnerable moment. The Stamps lost both their starting offensive tackles to injury during a win over Toronto on Monday night and have had a short week of practice to scramble to get replacements and get everyone on the same page.

The Bombers are also catching Calgary at a time when Stamps tailback Jon Cornish — the very best part of the Calgary offence the last few seasons — has been uncharacteristically ordinary.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Thursdays

Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.

Sign up for Mike McIntyre | On Sports

Sign Up

I consent to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies.

I consent to CASL agreement.

Cornish is fourth in league rushing right now and has averaged just 4.7 yards per carry through three games, although Calgary head coach John Hufnagel said Cornish has been playing much better than those numbers might suggest.

“He’s running hard, he’s catching the football,” said Hufnagel, before seemingly alluding to the difficulties Calgary has had on their offensive line this year. “Jon can only do so much himself. I’m not disappointed in his play.”

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @PaulWiecek