Bombers still hold playoff fate in their own hands

The possibilities are endless for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers heading into their final five games.

There’s still a path to hosting a playoff game at home. There’s also a scenario in which they finish fifth in the West Division and miss the post-season altogether.

“That’s not on the table for us,” assured receiver Tim White after Thursday’s walkthrough.

Wherever they end up, Friday’s result will play a big part in determining their fate. The Bombers are fresh off their final bye week and host the Toronto Argonauts (8-6) for the second time this season. The two clubs met back in Week 6, with a Brown-led Bombers team prevailing 30-21.

A lot has transpired since then.

Toronto has won three straight and is coming off a 24-19 victory over the Edmonton Elks to clinch a home playoff game out of the East Division.

The Bombers haven’t suited up since the Banjo Bowl, when they grabbed everyone’s attention by dominating the Saskatchewan Roughriders 19-6. The Blue and Gold will need more performances like that to climb the West standings, which currently have Edmonton (10-4), Saskatchewan (8-5), B.C. (7-6), Winnipeg (7-6) and Calgary (6-8) jockeying for position.

“All these games are going to be very important down the stretch,” said head coach Mike O’Shea. “You like playing meaningful football right to the very end and in the West, that’s the way it’s going to be. I think it’s great for the league.”

To get you ready for kickoff (7 p.m.), here’s the latest edition of 5 Storylines.

Collaros out, Brown in

It remains to be seen when — or if — starting quarterback Zach Collaros returns this season.

The Bombers placed the 38-year-old on the six-game injured list Thursday with a head injury, although he can be activated before the six games are up.

Dru Brown will once again take over under centre and make his fifth start of the season.

His first game back as starting pivot was in Week 6, and looked sharp. He completed 80 per cent of his passes for 339 yards, one touchdown and one interception. But in his three starts since, he left plenty to be desired.

To build a stronger case for why he should be Collaros’ heir — or a full-time starter elsewhere — a strong showing this week would go a long way.

Collaros is in the final year of his contract, and given his injury history, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he isn’t back in Blue and Gold next season. Meanwhile, Brown is also in the final year of his deal.

“As far as that goes, that’s out of my control — all I can do is try to play good football and help us win right now,” said Brown, who is 2-2 in 2026.

Playing Toronto might bring out the best in him. Brown is 3-1 all-time against the Argos and has thrown for 300-plus yards in all four of those showdowns.

Negative yards

To say the Bombers have a massive advantage on the ground this week would be an understatement.

Everyone knows Winnipeg leans heavily on Brady Oliveira who is one of — if not the — best running back in the CFL.

Then there’s Toronto, which is somehow coming off a win over the top team in the West despite finishing the contest with minus-one rushing yard.

The Argos are just the second team in CFL history to win a game with negative rushing yards, joining the 1995 Birmingham Barracudas.

Canadian rookie running back Isaiah Smith carried three times for minus-eight yards for Toronto.

To make the Argos’ win over Edmonton even more bizarre, they had the lowest recorded time of possession in CFL history — data was first compiled in 1994 — at 21:15.

Toronto has made it clear it’s capable of winning ugly.

Air battle

Something has to give.

Argos quarterback Chad Kelly leads the CFL in passing yards with 4,777. He’s averaging 341.2 yards per game, putting him on pace for 6,142 — which would rank third all-time behind Doug Flutie (6,619) and Kent Austin (6,225) for the single-season record.

Kelly has thrown for 300-plus yards 10 times this season, including that Week 6 meeting with Winnipeg, when he finished with 320 yards and two touchdowns. Meanwhile, the Bombers have had a quarterback eclipse 300 yards just four times — twice by Collaros and twice by Brown.

Kelly also spreads the ball around, with Kevin Mital, Tyler Kahmann, David Ungerer III and team receiving leader Damonte Coxie and just eclipsed 1,000 yards in Week 16.

But if anyone can slow Kelly down, it’s likely Winnipeg.

The Bombers boast the league’s best pass defence, allowing 272.2 passing yards per game, and are coming off a brilliant outing in the Banjo Bowl where Riders quarterback Trevor Harris was limited to a 53 per cent completion rate, 231 yards and an interception.

Rookie cornerbacks Ridge Texada and Major Williams have proved to be excellent finds. Veteran halfbacks Evan Holm and Deatrick Nichols have rounded into form after slow starts. Then there’s safety Redha Kramdi, who showed his worth by forcing two turnovers against Saskatchewan in his first game back after missing six with an injury.

The knock on the group has been its inability to finish plays, with far too many interceptable passes hitting the turf. Winnipeg is dead last with just five interceptions, but this will be a prime opportunity to increase that number because Kelly — a notorious gunslinger — has thrown a league-leading 22 interceptions.

Blocking the Boatmen

The Bombers aren’t the only ones who are stellar on defence. The Argos lead the CFL with 33 sacks, including nine games with two or more.

Their pass rushers — most notably Shawn Lemon, who is tied for second in the league with eight sacks — should be licking their chops this week considering the Bombers have surrendered a league-high 32 sacks.

Toronto’s defence has improved as the season has progressed. Through its opening nine games, it was conceding 32.3 points per game. In its last five, that number has dropped to 22.4.

White for 1K

Tim White has been Mr. Reliable for the Bombers. He hasn’t missed a game and leads the club in catches (66), receiving yards (820) and receiving touchdowns (five).

With Ontaria Wilson (hand) on the six-game injured list, White’s importance to the offence cannot be understated.

The first-year Bomber is still searching for his first 100-yard receiving game in Blue and Gold, though. With Toronto giving up 313.8 passing yards per game — the second-most in the CFL — there’s a chance White finally gets there this week.

Even with the former Hamilton Tiger-Cat being in double digits on a weekly basis, White is still on track to reach 1,000 receiving yards for a fifth consecutive year.

winnipegfreepress.com/taylorallen