Blue Bombers can clinch home playoff game with win over B.C. Lions

Justin Medlock and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have another chance to clinch a home playoff game.

Medlock’s errant 40-yard field goal attempt gave the Toronto Argonauts a 29-28 home win over Winnipeg on Saturday night. Had Medlock been successful, the Blue Bombers (11-5) would’ve cemented second in the West Division and their first home playoff contest since 2011.

Winnipeg has another opportunity to do so Saturday afternoon when it hosts B.C. (6-10). The Bombers are 6-2 at Investors Group Field, including a 26-20 decision there over the Lions on Oct. 14 when Medlock made all three field goals he attempted.

Medlock is the CFL’s scoring leader with 194 points despite having made 46-of-60 field goals this season. His 76.7 per cent average ranks last among league kickers and in a 28-19 win over Edmonton on Sept. 30 he missed all three boots he tried.

Winnipeg is just 1-2 since then but there are plenty of reasons why.

Quarterback Matt Nichols hasn’t had a 300yard passing performance since throwing for 319 yards and two TDs in a 29-9 win over Ottawa on Sept. 22.

Winnipeg native Andrew Harris, attempting to become the first CFL player to record 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season, has run for 903 yards (48 behind league-leader Jerome Messam on Calgary) but his last 100-yard game was a 105-yard performance in August against Edmonton.

Harris had 32 yards rushing against Toronto and added two catches for four yards, giving him 96 receptions for 820 yards.

One positive was Weston Dressler. The veteran receiver had eight catches for 129 yard and a TD against Toronto after missing three games with an upper-body injury.

But Winnipeg’s defence allowed 572 yards against Toronto. Veteran quarterback Ricky Ray passed for 423 yards in becoming just the fourth player in CFL history to crack the 60,000-yard plateau.