Bombers confident in Cup quest

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This article was published 31/10/2018 (2506 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have one regular-season game remaining, Saturday in Edmonton, but the fate of their playoff placement has been sealed.

Whatever happens, Winnipeg will finish third in the West Division and that scenario has a lot of history stacked against it.

In fact, since the CFL went to an 18-game regular-season format in 1988, only two teams — the Edmonton Eskimos in 2005 and Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1989 — have turned a third-place divisional finish into a triumph in the Grey Cup game.

Those numbers mean little to Winnipeg running back Andrew Harris. He is quick to remind reporters his team has won five consecutive games.

“Who won the Grey Cup last year, man?” Harris said after practice Wednesday. “Toronto, they were 9-9. Anything can happen. For us, it’s about getting hot at the right time. It’s about who’s the healthiest, who’s the most explosive, who’s peaking at the right time? I think right now, we’re one of the hottest teams in the league and it doesn’t matter what our record is.

“We’ve beat everyone in this league and we can beat everyone in this league and we know that. There’s a certain confidence about that.”

Head coach Mike O’Shea prefers to accentuate the positive aspects of needing to win two road playoff games in order to reach the big game.

“I think we have over the last couple of years played well on the road,” O’Shea said. “It’s something that players enjoy, being out on the road together. They obviously have a great understanding of playoff football and any opponent on the road is challenging. I don’t think it’s anything to shy away from. I don’t think we’re going to spend any time talking about it.”

WHO’S ON FIRST?

The Roughriders (12-6) are on a bye week but can still claim first in the West if the Calgary Stampeders (12-5) lose in B.C. against the Lions Saturday night.

Winnipeg quarterback Matt Nichols said he doesn’t have a preferred opponent for the West division semifinal game.

“No idea,” Nichols said. “It’s not even something really I’m thinking too much about. Both teams we can potentially play, we’ve played recently and so it’s fresh in our minds a little bit. We understand regardless it’s going to be a tough team, hostile environment. Obviously, playoffs just kinda ramp up a little more.”

The uncertainty has prevented the Bombers from any large-scale planning for the West semifinal.

“It’s hard when you don’t know exactly who you’re playing,” Nichols said. “There probably would be more happening if you knew exactly who you’re playing… Kinda prepare for both of them and ramp it up when Saturday’s over.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

Last spring, Adam Bighill signed a one-year contract with the Bombers. His impending free agency isn’t a topic the linebacker was interested in discussing Wednesday.

“I don’t want to get too much into that, just because I’m really focused on this year and finishing this season off right and winning the Grey Cup up here,” Bighill said. “As far as what happens next year, I’ll just take it as it comes.”

SHUFFLING THE LINEUP

With Saturday’s game in Edmonton having zero playoff implications, expect to see some key starters rested.

Nichols appears unlikely to play, with rookie quarterback Chris Streveler and No. 3 man Bryan Bennett expected to get some playing time. Don’t be surprised to see Harris get limited duty to earn the eight yards he needs to pass Ottawa Redblacks tailback William Powell for the league rushing title before giving way to Kienan LaFrance.

At Wednesday’s practice, backup receivers Daniel Petermann, Corey Washington, Rashawn Simonise and Charles Nelson saw duty with the first unit, while reserve lineman Michael Couture could fill in for banged-up starting offensive lineman Sukh Chungh.

Bighill expects to play, but he could be replaced by reserve Kyrie Wilson.

IMPOSTER ON THE FIELD

Special teams ace Mike Miller took on another role at practice, impersonating O’Shea with a superb Halloween recreation of the head coach in throwback gear as a 1990s CFL star. It was good fun.

“It was a spitting image of all the clips I’ve seen of Osh,” Nichols said. “I think he had a good laugh about it. It was a very well-done Halloween costume… The grey short shorts with some off-white socks and the old-school cleats, the cowboy collar. The whole getup was pretty good.”

O’Shea enjoyed the show but quibbled with some of the details.

“It was pretty funny,” O’Shea said. “He had it down pretty pat, but I’m not sure about the visor and hand warmer.”

mike.sawatzky@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @sawa14