Looking back on Bombers shocking, and convincing, win over CFL’s top team

It was getting harder and harder to believe in the 2026 edition of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

If anyone outside their locker room picked them to beat the Montreal Alouettes, they must’ve kept it to themselves, as pundits — this one included — and armchair quarterbacks across the nation doubted their chances heading into Friday night.

And honestly, rightfully so. The Bombers had left a lot to be desired through their opening 10 games.

But no matter what the stats say or what outsiders think, they play the games for a reason.

Not only did the Bombers upset their East Division visitors, but they outplayed them in all three phases to come away with a convincing — and shocking — 44-28 victory.

Did the Bombers really think they had that in them?

“We felt like it, yeah,” said right guard Patrick Neufeld.

“It just finally came to fruition this game. Obviously, we would’ve liked to have been doing it earlier and more consistently, but it couldn’t have come at a better time than now against a team like Montreal.”

The now 6-5 Bombers can feel good about themselves heading into Sunday’s Labour Day Classic in Regina. Meanwhile, the Als — who have only beaten the Bombers three times in their last 16 regular-season meetings — drop to 9-2.

Before we shift gears to the annual home-and-home series with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, let’s revisit Friday with the latest edition of 5 Takeaways.

PROPS TO COLLAROS AND CONDELL

Now that’s the type of quarterback play the Bombers need from Zach Collaros.

He turned 38 on Thursday, but turned back the clock to produce his finest showing of the year, completing 26 of 32 passes for 324 yards, two touchdowns and, most importantly, no turnovers.

“I don’t know what the numbers say about everybody else or whatever, but in this building, this is the guy that we want,” said head coach Mike O’Shea.

The Bombers dominated the time of possession (37:50-22:10), had 32 first downs compared to Montreal’s 17 and had punted only once heading into the final two minutes, when their lead was already safe and secure.

Running back Brady Oliveira was his usual self, rushing 16 times for 106 yards and a touchdown.

“Tonight was just a great example of what we can do,” said left tackle Stanley Bryant.

“When we’re on our A-game, as everyone knows, we’re unbeatable.”

Offensive co-ordinator Tommy Condell also deserves praise for calling his best game of the year from start to finish.

PADDY’S PENALTIES

Patrick Neufeld hasn’t played nearly 200 career regular-season games by being reckless.

But the 37-year-old right guard was just that on Friday, committing three penalties.

“I think it’s actually the most penalties I’ve ever taken in a game,” admitted Neufeld.

He was flagged for holding and penalized twice for unnecessary roughness after delivering late blows on blocks.

The second unnecessary roughness call came in the fourth quarter after Brady Oliveira ran for four yards on a first-and-goal from Montreal’s five-yard line. Neufeld’s infraction pushed the Bombers back 15 yards and ultimately resulted in them having to settle for a field goal, putting them up 37-21 with just less than 13 minutes left.

“I was just trying to play on the edge, just trying to play a physical brand of football,” said Neufeld.

“And then the second one in the end zone, probably a combination of trying to run my feet, getting grabbed, not hearing the whistle, and just trying to play nasty. So, just penalties that probably shouldn’t be taken. But I think it was a game that we just needed to play with an edge. We need to try to play as physical as we could because we know what kind of defence they are.”

Outside of Neufeld’s penalties, the O-line was excellent and surrendered just one sack.

HOT POTATO

One of the weirdest plays of the season transpired midway through the third quarter.

Facing pressure from Bombers rookie defensive tackle Michael Fletcher, Als pivot Davis Alexander flicked the ball to running back Travis Theis, and all hell broke loose.

Theis fumbled after being hit, and the ball ping-ponged between the teams until Bombers linebacker Tony Jones finally secured it.

“That would be a first for me, for sure,” said Fletcher on if he’s ever been a part of a play like that.

The hilarity of the sequence quickly shifted to a serious tone. Montreal’s entire sideline was forced to hold its breath as Alexander remained down on the field for several minutes while the team’s training staff assessed his lower right leg. He eventually walked to the sideline on his own and entered the medical tent before returning to the game on Montreal’s next possession.

Alexander was not made available to media after the game.

BLOCK PARTY

The Bombers led the entire way, but it didn’t feel like they were truly in the driver’s seat until special teams ace Tanner Cadwallader blocked a Montreal punt deep in its own end at the start of the third quarter.

The Bombers recovered at the one-yard line, and short-yardage QB Bryce Perkins scored on the next play to put the home side ahead 31-21.

To get the best of Montreal, Winnipeg was likely going to need a scoring play from its special teams or defence, and it got just that from Cadwallader.

“We’re always trying to keep up our part of the deal on special teams,” said Cadwallader.

“Tonight it happened to be my opportunity to make a play, and I made it which I’m thrilled about, but it really could be any of us at any point.”

It also made up for what happened right before halftime, when Bombers receiver Tommy Nield fumbled near the goal line after getting smacked by Als defensive back Nate Beachemin.

And speaking of blocks, defensive end Willie Jefferson recorded his 100th career pass knockdown, the third-most in CFL history.

GREAT ON D

The Bombers’ defence deserves a round of applause.

Were they perfect? No, but you can’t be against the Als and their star-studded attack.

But to their credit, they stood tall despite rolling with a new-look secondary. With Deatrick Nichols out with an ankle injury, Trey Vaval made his first start of the season on defence at corner, while rookie Major Williams shifted to halfback.

Alexander threw four TDs, three of them to Tyler Snead, but the league’s leading passer was held to 257 yards — well below his 332.4 average.

“We just did what we said we were gonna do,” said Williams. “We’ve been planning on this for a long time and it finally showed. Keep knocking at the tree and it’s eventually going to fall.”

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