Bombers look to extend dominant streak against Elks

Life is good in Bomberland.

The 2-0 Winnipeg Blue Bombers will try to stay perfect Thursday night at Princess Auto Stadium when they host the Edmonton Elks at 7:30 p.m.

Last year, the Blue and Gold didn’t get their second win until Week 6 after they stumbled out of the gate to 0-4. It’s a different story this summer as they’ve hit the ground running with back-to-back wins over the B.C. Lions to put them on the right path in 2025.

Then there’s the Elks, who look like, well, the same old Elks after after opening the year with a 31-14 loss against the B.C. Lions followed by a 38-28 setback against the Montreal Alouettes to begin at 0-2.

Edmonton should be ready for this one, though, as they played last Thursday and had a full week to prepare, while Winnipeg is fresh off of battling the Lions in Vancouver on Saturday.

To get you ready for kickoff, here’s the latest edition of 5 Storylines.

WINNIPEG OWNS EDMONTON

The Bombers have won 12 in a row against Edmonton — their longest win streak against any opponent — and are 15-2 against them since 2017. You’d have to go all the way back to Week 1 in 2018 to find the last time the Green and Gold left Chancellor Matheson Road with a win.

Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros has Edmonton’s number as he’s prevailed in his last 11 meetings over them. He also had a career day against the Elks when he tossed a career high six touchdowns last year at home on Sept. 27.

Elks pivot Tre Ford is 0-3 against Winnipeg, but came close to slaying the giant on Aug. 10, 2023, when he helped his team to a 22-0 lead at home before then Bombers backup QB Dru Brown came in for an injured Collaros and threw four touchdowns en route to an improbable 38-29 victory.

Edmonton is hoping things will be different now with first-year head coach Mark Kilam in charge.

“I don’t think that it’s they’ve given us trouble, they’ve given everybody trouble,” Tre Ford said Wednesday shortly after landing in Winnipeg.

“They’ve been really good the last five years and going into Winnipeg in their own house is tough. It’s a tough task for any team, but we’re looking forward to it this week… We definitely haven’t been doing great in the past, but we have new coaches and we’re a new team.”

RETURN OF FORD

There will be a familiar face on the Edmonton sideline with defensive back Tyrell Ford making his return to Winnipeg after signing with the Elks in free agency.

Tyrell Ford established himself as one of the top Canadians in the game last year with the Blue and Gold when he finished second in the league with seven interceptions.

It was a major loss, but the Bombers and their secondary have looked just fine without him. Second-year American Marquise Bridges has taken over at corner and hauled in two interceptions in Week 2. Then there’s Jamal Parker, who was asked to shift over to safety to replace veteran Brandon Alexander, who is fresh off his best game as a pro in Saturday’s 27-14 win at B.C. He knocked down a pass at the goal-line and pounced on a dropped lateral to take it back 57 yards to the house.

The Bombers head into Week 4 as the No. 1 defence as they’re allowing just 17 points per game so far. They’re hoping they can make life difficult for Tre Ford who’s completed 71 per cent of his passes for 486 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks after two games.

SACK WATCH

The Bombers have been getting it done on defence, but where are the sacks from their defensive ends? Willie Jefferson and James Vaughters have yet to take down a quarterback, and this week, it won’t be easy with Tre Ford being the CFL’s most athletic passer.

Jefferson will also try to be on his best behaviour after he was tossed out of the game in Vancouver. He received a misconduct penalty for taunting the B.C. bench and got another one — which leads to an automatic ejection — for getting into a physical and verbal match with Lions offensive lineman Kory Woodruff late in the game. Jefferson got heck for it when he got home from his wife and kids, and the six-time CFL all-star assured reporters earlier this week it won’t happen again. He’ll have to work his way off the naughty list as he was already fined for an illegal block in the first date with the Lions.

Vaughters, who registered 21 career sacks in four seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, has two tackles this year.

STILL NO BRADY

Star running back Brady Oliveira will miss a second consecutive game with a shoulder injury.

His replacement, second-year Canadian Matthew Peterson, exploded for 130 yards and a touchdown in the opener but was held to 42 yards on 11 carries last weekend. Rookie American tailback Quinton Cooley looked far more effective with 43 yards on seven touches and could be in line for a bigger workload.

With Cooley in the lineup, Canadian guard Gabe Wallace will once again replace American Micah Vanterpool at left guard to make the ratio work.

Oliveira might not be the only Winnipegger out of action as receiver Nic Demski is currently listed as a game-time decision. An ankle injury prevented Demski from practising this week, but he said Wednesday his chances of playing are high.

WHEATFALL’S WORLD

If there was a most improved player award, Bombers receiver Keric Wheatfall would be a front-runner.

He’s been Winnipeg’s most productive pass catcher through two games with 11 catches for 213 yards and a touchdown. In seven games last year as a rookie, Wheatfall had 13 grabs for 273 yards and one score.

With Kenny Lawler taking his talents to Hamilton, the Bombers needed Wheatfall to take a step up and so far, he’s delivered.

Dalton Schoen has had a bit of a quieter start as he’s yet to eclipse 50 yards in a game. His last two times squaring off against Edmonton, which were in 2023 as he missed most of 2024 with a knee injury, Schoen was held to a combined five catches for 87 yards.

Schoen is due for a big outing, and the Elks are currently giving up 327.5 passing yards per game which is the second most in the nine-team circuit.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca