‘Give it our best shot’

MONTREAL — Why not us?

That’s the motto for a Winnipeg Blue Bombers side who is trying to defy the odds this post-season and make it back home for the Grey Cup as a crossover team.

It all starts in Montreal Saturday (1 p.m. CT kickoff) where they must find a way to outlast an extremely talented Alouettes team in the East Division semifinal to keep the dream alive.

“It’s the same mindset no matter how you get to it. It’s been a tough season. It’s a tough conference in the West with the teams that we’ve played,” said Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson on Friday.

“We were still able to have a good enough record to make it to the playoffs and that’s all the opportunity that we need. As long as we get a chance to fight for the Grey Cup then we’re going to give it our best shot.”

To get you ready for the big game, here’s this week’s edition of 5 Storylines.

DOUBTFUL DEMSKI

Nic Demski has 494 receptions for 6,285 yards, and 42 touchdowns in his 10-year CFL career.

Those are better numbers than the other six receivers on the Bombers who are expected to dress — Ontaria Wilson, Jerreth Sterns, Keric Wheatfall, Gavin Cobb, Joey Corcoran, and Kevens Clercius — combined as they equal 384 catches for 5,017 yards and 21 touchdowns.

If Demski, who’s listed as a game-time decision with a hamstring injury, is unable to suit up against the Als, the Bombers’ passing attack is in deep trouble.

Demski hasn’t practised since he got hurt in Edmonton on Oct. 11, so even if he does play, it’s hard to imagine he’ll be 100 per cent.

“It is a challenge, for sure. Nic brings a lot to the table,” said quarterback Zach Collaros on Friday.

To make matters worse, the Als have allowed the fewest passing yards in the league (256.9) and the Bombers, with or without Demski, rank last in passing (235.0 yards per game) and pass efficiency (86.1).

The Bombers don’t have the guns to keep up in a shootout. They also can’t afford to be sloppy. They’re 1-7 when on the wrong side of the turnover battle.

BRADY BALL

It’s not all doom and gloom in Bomberland.

The last time the Blue and Gold played Montreal in a meaningful game was back in Week 12 and running back Brady Oliveira carried the team to a 26-13 victory. Demski and Sterns had to leave with injuries, forcing the Bombers to trot out backup pivot Chris Streveler at receiver.

The Als knew Oliveira was getting the ball and they still couldn’t stop the Winnipegger. The reigning MOP finished with over 200 yards (137 on the ground and 73 through the air) and he will likely need a similar showing if the Bombers want to be in Hamilton next week for the East final.

“If there needs to be a few more opportunities for myself and the offensive line this game, then so be it. But I have a whole lot of belief in the guys we have in this room when it comes to the offensive side of the ball,” said Oliveira.

“And there’s also many other ways to win a football game, so if we’ve got to run the ball, great, but I love my chances of Zach being back there, us protecting him, keeping a clean pocket, and letting him deliver the ball down the field. So, whatever, it’s gonna take to win, we just got to win the game.”

Montreal ranks sixth in the CFL against the run (103.1 rushing yards per game). They don’t run the ball particularly well either as they sit in eighth at 85.9 yards per game.

When the two clubs met in the 2023 Grey Cup, Oliveira ran 19 times for 119 yards and a score.

ALEXANDER THE GREAT

Now for the bad news: these aren’t the same Als from Week 12.

Star quarterback Davis Alexander was out at the time with an injury, and when he’s under centre, they are a completely different team.

It’s been advertised all week that he’s 11-0 as a starter, but perhaps a more telling stat is the Als have averaged an incredible 34 points per game in his seven starts this season.

He has arguably the best trio of receivers in the league in Tyler Snead, Austin Mack and Tyson Philpot, and Alexander can extend plays with his legs to give his pass catchers even more time to get open.

The only glaring knock on the 27-year-old — who finished the season completing 72.5 percent of his passes for 2,024 yards, 10 touchdowns, and three interceptions — is his lack of experience. He’s also not familiar with the Bombers considering he’s only played two quarters against them and that was last season in relief duty.

He doesn’t lack confidence, though.

“Bring Willie (Jefferson) over, bring Winnipeg over. What does he say? Come on down to Winnipeg? Well, come on down to Montreal, let’s see what happens,” said Alexander.

CROSSOVER WOES

Everyone knows this by now but we’ll repeat it one more time: no crossover team in CFL history has made it to the Grey Cup.

Twelve have tried, and all 12 have failed, but these Bombers aren’t your typical fourth-place squad.

“I think out of all the teams that have crossed over, they’re as confident as anybody that they’ll continue winning, and it’s up to us to stop that,” said Als head coach Jason Maas.

“I’m sure in their minds it’s a ‘Why not us?’ kind of thing, well, we’re gonna show them why.”

As flawed as the 2025 edition of the Bombers may be, they’re still a group that’s been to five consecutive Grey Cups. Make it six, and they’ll tie the Edmonton dynasty (1977-82) for a CFL record.

The Bombers have downplayed the significance of that all week — mostly because they lost the last three Grey Cups — but they have fully leaned into the crossover role and are genuinely excited about having a chance to do something that has never been done before.

“We’d all be lying to you if we said we hadn’t thought about how cool it would be to make that kind of a run,” said Collaros. “So, yeah, the opportunity’s there, it’s really exciting, but you got to go out there and play a good game (Saturday).”

D-WHAT?

Nothing travels better at this time of year than a stout defence.

The Bombers have that going for them as defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger has his troops rolling on all cylinders heading into Montreal.

They don’t lead the CFL in sacks or turnovers, but they are ranked first in the most important stat of all: fewest offensive points allowed (21.4 per game).

That number is even lower since Labour Day (17.8 points per game).

If they can hold the Als to that mark or lower, they might just have a chance to escape with a victory.

“Give our offence and special teams an opportunity to win late,” said Younger on the defence’s goal for the game. “We’ll hold it together no matter what’s going on.”

Younger’s unit is at full strength, but the same can’t be said about Montreal’s.

It was revealed late Friday 33-year-old veteran defensive tackle Shawn Oakman (recorded six sacks, 34 defensive tackles, and two forced fumbles in 17 games this season) had been suspended “indefinitely” for violating the CFL’s Gender-Based Violence and Harassment Policy. He was later released by the Alouettes.

The league was made aware of allegations on Thursday and immediately inacted an investigation through a third-party that interviewed Oakman and the complainant.

The investigation revealed that Oakman threatened to send sexually explicit material to an intimate partner’s child, who is a minor.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca