What happens when you pin the CFL’s two most experienced teams against one another in a game that could very well determine who finishes atop the West Division?
We’re about to find out, as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers welcome the B.C. Lions to town for a critical Week 9 matchup at lG Field Thursday night.
The Bombers (5-2) have finished first in the West the last two years, and with relative ease, doing so with weeks to spare in the regular season. Their campaign to host the West Final in 2023 is on shaky ground, however as the Lions have roared to a 6-1 start, including a 30-6 beatdown against the Blue and Gold in Week 3.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be looking to make a statement in their game against the B.C. Lions after being humiliated 30-6 by their Western rivals at home on June 22.
Winnipeg is coming off the bye week, with 11 days between its last game and Thursday’s affair, while the Lions are on a short week after playing against the Edmonton Elks Saturday night. The past won’t matter much once the opening whistle blows, with the adrenaline sure to take over and both clubs understanding what’s at stake.
To get you better prepared for kickoff, let’s dig a little deeper into this one in the latest edition of 5 Storylines.
Best in the West
Win or lose, the result of the game won’t cement who finishes atop the division. When all is said and done, however, don’t be surprised if people look back at this week as a significant moment in determining who’s the best in the West.
Another loss to the Lions would secure B.C. the season series against the Bombers, meaning it would have the tiebreaker in the event both clubs finish with the same number of points. A victory by the Lions would also create some breathing room in first place, making the West feel like less of a two-horse race (the Saskatchewan Roughriders are currently third in the division, at 3-4).
Although the Lions managed to get the best of the Bombers weeks ago, history suggests they could be in tough for another victory, having not won twice in Winnipeg in the same season since 1988. Winnipeg has also been dominant when playing after a bye, posting an 11-1 record dating back to the 2017 season.
It’s also important to note with the first two games being played in Winnipeg, the third and final regular-season game between the two will be in enemy territory. That certainly won’t be a cakewalk, as the Lions are 3-0 at BC Place this season and 9-3 at home since the start of last year.
A statement game
The Bombers losing at IG Field has been a rare occurrence over the last few years. Winnipeg has won 29 of its last 32 games on home turf, with the loss to the Lions marking the first time a rival West club has won in Winnipeg since the middle of the 2018 campaign.
That’s what made it so perplexing that the Bombers not only lost in front of their home fans, they didn’t stand much of a chance right from the opening kickoff. The Lions looked like they were two steps ahead on nearly every play, almost as if they had a copy of Winnipeg’s playbook.
The Bombers will never publicly admit it, but they’re no doubt still reeling from the loss and are eager to send a message to the rest of the league with a strong performance. They’ve heard the chatter from fans, many of whom look at Winnipeg’s 5-2 record as falling short of heady expectations, with a narrative building the team is too old and to slow to remain the class of the CFL.
Call it a statement game, call it whatever you want, but the Bombers have a real good opportunity to silence their critics with a win. This one feels a lot like the Week 4 matchup against B.C. last season; the Lions had garnered all this hype around the emergence of QB Nathan Rourke and the Bombers took exception, reminding their opponent and the rest of the CFL that the Grey Cup goes through Winnipeg with a convincing 43-22 victory at BC Place.
On the attack
The biggest difference between the Bombers wins and losses this year — beyond the score, of course — has been the play of the offence, particularly when it comes to sustaining drives to stay on the field. In Winnipeg’s two losses this season, including a meltdown against the Ottawa Redblacks in Week 6, it’s Achilles heel has been a struggling offensive attack.
The Bombers were averaging more than 40 points per game through the first two weeks but have cooled down in the last five games, with that total dropping by half. They had a particularly rough time against the Lions, who boast the top defence in the CFL, scoring six points and none in the second half.
Winnipeg surrendered a season-high seven sacks against the Lions, making QB Zach Collaros’ night a rough one. The offensive line isn’t completely responsible, but expect an inspired effort from the front-five to ensure Collaros can go through his reads and move the chains. Having all-star receiver Kenny Lawler back should also help.
The challenge doesn’t get any easier, as the Lions D continues to tear up the league. B.C. is coming off a 27-0 win over the Elks — their second shutout against Edmonton this season, marking the first time any team in league history has achieved such a feat — and are leading in almost every defensive statistical category, allowing just five offensive TDs against in seven games.
Bombers D gets a boost
The Bombers defence has been fairly steady this season, often making up for the club’s blemishes in other areas. Despite the lopsided score, Winnipeg played pretty well against the Lions offence in Week 3, limiting B.C. to a modest 305 yards.
They get a major boost with the return of linebacker Kyrie Wilson and defensive back Winston Rose. Both are talented and experienced players, and while they will likely have some rust to shake off, both are raring to make their 2023 debut.
Wilson, who will start at weak-side linebacker, hasn’t played since tearing his Achilles tendon in a Week 4 win over the Toronto Argonauts in 2022. Meanwhile, Rose, who was injured in training camp, will take over for Abu Daramy-Swaray at field corner.
Winnipeg’s secondary will also be asked to do a lot, having to limit a receiver group that rivals any in the league. It’s also the first time all season that they’ll be at full health, with Dominique Rhymes back in the fold after missing last week, joining fellow starters Lucky Whitehead, Alexander Hollins, Keon Hatcher and Jevon Cottoy.
Evans loving life
Dane Evans had a tumultuous season in Hamilton last year, during which he struggled to find his game while also dealing with his mental health. Now with B.C., the 29-year-old said Wednesday he’s enjoying life on and off the field, thrust into the starting QB role following an injury to No. 1 Vernon Adams Jr.
Evans is making his second straight start this week and will look to build on a strong performance against the Elks, in which he completed 25 of his 32 passes for 330 yards and a pair of TDs. Unlike Adams, Evans has shown a reluctance to run, rushing three times for 14 yards.
Evans can do plenty of damage with his arm, and perhaps no one knows that better than Winnipeg. Evans torched the Bombers the last time he played them, in what was arguably the best game of his career, throwing for 327 yards and five touchdowns in a dominating 48-31 Hamilton win in Week 15 last year.
Evans is playing for the future, and another strong performance against Winnipeg, especially with Adams close to a return, could go a long way in changing some minds around the league after last year’s roller-coaster season. Given the quality of QBs around the league right now, Evans is certainly playing for another chance to be a full-time starter in 2024.
Twitter: @jeffkhamilton
Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer
After a slew of injuries playing hockey that included breaks to the wrist, arm, and collar bone; a tear of the medial collateral ligament in both knees; as well as a collapsed lung, Jeff figured it was a good idea to take his interest in sports off the ice and in to the classroom.
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