Bombers were gifted a much needed win in Ottawa

OTTAWA – There’s no denying the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ 26-18 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks at TD Place on Saturday was a gift.

It was a win that required a monumental effort from the defence and special teams to overcome an anemic offensive performance that, against any other opponent, would have surely resulted in a loss. There’s a reason the Redblacks are the CFL’s worst team and they showed it on this day.

Riding a three-game losing streak, the Bombers desperately needed the two points to stay afloat in the CFL West Division playoff race. And while they succeeded in that goal, the way they secured the win should raise serious concerns.

The Bombers were completely outplayed on offence, and it was only the Redblacks’ inability to capitalize on their own promising drives and a series of devastating mistakes that allowed Winnipeg to escape with the win.

This was a much-needed victory, but it was far from a confidence-building one.

The fact that the Bombers managed to win while completing only three passes is only further evidence of the pure dominance that was required in the other two phases of the game, and a sobering reminder of just how far Winnipeg’s offence must go for the Blue and Gold to be considered true contenders.

This was a much-needed victory, but it was far from a confidence-building one. The win may have put the Bombers in a better spot in the standings, but it did nothing to silence their critics who doubt the club’s ability to make a sixth straight Grey Cup appearance.

The Bombers will welcome the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to town for a Week 17 matchup at Princess Auto Stadium Saturday, in what will be another game with serious implications on the league standings. But before we move on to this week’s tilt, let’s take a closer look back at Saturday’s unorthodox win over the Redblacks in the latest edition of 5 Takeaways.

What was that?

The game provided confirmation that quarterback Chris Streveler is not the long-term solution to the Bombers’ offensive woes. While he was effective with his legs, running for 72 yards and a touchdown, his passing performance was abysmal.

Streveler attempted just eight passes all game, completing only three for 54 yards and an interception. He didn’t connect on his second pass until well into the fourth quarter, going the entirety of the second and third frames without a completion.

It’s not fair to lay all the blame on Streveler, with the play-calling from rookie offensive co-ordinator Jason Hogan feeling predictable on far too many occasions. The offensive game plan seemed to be stuck in a different era, with a heavy reliance on the run game and very little in the way of a vertical passing attack despite ideal weather conditions.

The Bombers were held to only 210 yards of total offence — the lowest of the season, against a defence ranked near the bottom of the league. Their quarterback situation remains a significant question mark, and unless things change, it’s hard to see Winnipeg making another notable post-season run.

I’d expect Zach Collaros to return from a head injury this week but we’ll know more once the Bombers return to practice on Tuesday.

The magnificent Trey Vaval

If there was one player who deserves a significant amount of credit for the victory, it’s rookie return man Trey Vaval. His performance on special teams was nothing short of spectacular and provided the spark the team needed, especially with the offence spinning its tires.

Vaval returned two missed field goals for a combined 199 yards, including a highlight reel 128-yard touchdown return early in the second quarter. This record-breaking play — the longest missed field goal return in Bombers franchise history and the third-longest in CFL history — instantly shifted the momentum of the game, giving Winnipeg its first points and tying the score at 7-7. Vaval’s 199 yards on missed field goal returns also broke the CFL single-game record.

Winnipeg’s return game was the difference-maker. Without Vaval’s significant impact, the outcome of this game could have been much different.

Bombers D bends but doesn’t break

While the offence was sputtering, the Bombers defence was a dominant force despite surrendering significant yardage through the air. The unit was stellar, particularly in its ability to limit the Redblacks to field goals and force turnovers.

Ottawa’s offence — led by former Bombers quarterback Dru Brown, who returned after missing the last three games with a knee injury — moved the ball at will for large portions of play, outgaining Winnipeg 452-210 in net offensive yards. Brown finished with 406 passing yards, but the Bombers defence tightened up in the red zone and forced the Redblacks to settle for three points instead of seven.

The only touchdowns the defence gave up was on Ottawa’s first offensive drive of the game and a garbage-time score at the end. Rookie defensive back Cam Allen was a standout, notching the first two interceptions of his career — key turnovers that led to 10 points for the Bombers.

The Bombers entered the game with the league’s worst turnover ratio, understanding they needed to be better in this area. The defence was able to force three of Winnipeg’s four turnovers, winning that battle 4-1, in what was the main reason the team was able to weather the storm and hold on for the win.

Bombers in thick of playoff race

With Saturday’s win, and some help from other teams around the league, the Bombers are right back in the thick of the CFL playoff race. The victory improved their record to 7-7, tying them with the B.C. Lions for the third and final playoff spot in the West Division.

The Lions are coming off a surprising and dominant 52-23 win over the Calgary Stampeders, but the 5-9 Edmonton Elks’ loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday created some breathing room for both Winnipeg and B.C. While the Saskatchewan Roughriders (10-3) seem out of reach, the Calgary Stampeders (8-5) are not.

The Bombers also have a comfortable lead over the teams behind them. They find themselves in a great position to lock down a playoff spot, as they remain in full control of their destiny.

Redblacks a complete mess

Losing at home to a team that completed just three passes is a telltale sign of a broken franchise, and the Redblacks seem beyond repair. While their defence played an admirable game, they struggled on offence and special teams were a complete embarrassment.

Kicker Lewis Ward missed two field goals, including the one Vaval returned to the house. The other led to a 71-yard return that, while not a touchdown, gave Winnipeg a huge momentum boost.

On top of that, returner DeVonte Dedmon fumbled a punt, leading to another Winnipeg field goal just before halftime. And while Brown might have thrown for more than 400 yards, his two interceptions gifted the Bombers 10 points.

Time for the organization to take a long look in the mirror. With their season effectively over, the questions in Ottawa will now undoubtedly shift to the futures of general manager Shawn Burke and head coach Bob Dyce, the duo most responsible for this mess.

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca