Bombers catch playoff fever

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This article was published 11/10/2016 (3288 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There were no ribbons or balloons, streamers or kazoos or any celebratory cake on hand Tuesday morning.

In fact, there was nothing apparent to suggest the 9-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers had made the playoffs for the first time since 2011 just hours earlier on Thanksgiving Monday. With three games to spare, no less.

Make no mistake, each Bomber had their eyes peeled as they watched the Calgary Stampeders take on the Toronto Argonauts. Winnipeg needed a Calgary win to ensure their chance of competing for the Grey Cup and their West Division rivals obliged.

You might expect a team that started off 1-4 and then rattled off eight wins in their next 10 games would be sporting wider grins and walking with an adjusted swagger.

Instead, the Bombers were all business during a chilly first day back to the practice field, and it became evident quickly why there wasn’t much celebrating following their on-field session.

“We’re not satisfied with just being in the playoffs, nor is anyone else,” said starting pivot Matt Nichols. “You’re still jostling for position. Everyone’s goal behind Calgary right now is trying to get a home playoff game. That’s our goal.”

That goal will take some work. The Bombers leave on Thursday to the West Coast to take on the second place B.C. Lions for a Friday night affair.

A second win in as many weeks over the Leos won’t guarantee them a home playoff date next month, but it will go a long way to ensuring its possibility. Winnipeg heads into their final bye week in Week 18 before back-to-back home-and-home dates with the Ottawa Redblacks to close out the season.

“These next three games are huge for us,” said Andrew Harris, who returned from injury Saturday and rumbled for 66 yards to go along with a receiving touchdown. “We have to give it all that we got to build it up and peak at the right time. Nothing really changes. We want to win these next three games and have a home playoff game.”

The Bombers haven’t hosted a home playoff game since 2011 when they welcomed the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to Canad Inns Stadium and promptly sent them packing in the East Division Final. The win booked the Blue and Gold a date in the Grey Cup, a game they’d lose to the B.C. Lions, 34-23.

Bombers bench boss Mike O’Shea downplayed any sense of accomplishment.

“I would have thought it would happen sooner,” said O’Shea, who is in his third year coaching the club. “I know the guys are excited. It’s certainly the step that needs to take place before we can get to where we need to get to. I think we had a smile about it today, but the guys are focused on B.C. this week. They understand how tough this next game will be.”

Between the staff and players, only four remain with the club’s 2011 team. Kyle Walters, now the team’s general manager, was the special-teams coordinator. Paul LaPolice was the head coach back in 2011 and is now the offensive co-ordinator after being re-hired by the club this past off-season. Buck Pierce was the starting quarterback and is now the quarterbacks coach. And Clarence Denmark, who was released in the off-season and then re-signed by the club in July, is the lone player still playing on the roster from five years ago.

“This team hasn’t been (in the playoffs since 2011), so for this to be my first year and to be able to come in and help them make the playoffs… I’m just loving it,” said defensive back Kevin Fogg, who has made a strong case for a rookie of the year nod. “The fans, the city and this team deserves this.”

Meanwhile, the hero of Saturday’s 37-35 win didn’t practise Tuesday. Cornerback Maurice Leggett made a crucial fourth-quarter tackle that prevented the Lions from converting a third-down, short-yard situation deep in Bomber territory.

Leggett had initially been removed from the game in the third quarter after suffering a lower-body injury. O’Shea said he’ll give Leggett the time he needs to heal this week.

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.caTwitter: @scottbilleck