An aberration, or was rout the real deal?

Blue Bombers bounce back in a big way in romp over Lions, writes Paul Friesen.

The evidence continues to trickle in, and it’s as confounding as any whodunit. One day you think the Winnipeg Blue Bomber defences looks guilty of repeating its crimes from the last two seasons, the next it looks like a changed unit.

On a hot and steamy Saturday night in Winnipeg, with the liquor and the sweat flowing freely around it, the Bombers’ dirty dozen stood steadfast and true in a 41-19 manhandling of the B.C. Lions.

A statement game, perhaps? “You tell me,” linebacker Adam Bighill, the star of the show, replied. “What’s in the headline?”

But it was murder on Lions quarterback Jonathan Jennings, who was sacked four times, picked off three times and held to less than 200 yards passing. The thing is, the up-and-down nature of the Bombers defence through four games raises the possibility of a stinker next weekend.

“They executed a good plan,” coach Mike O’Shea said. “They took advantage of play calling that was quite timely, they made plays, they played tougher on the football than they did previously. But statement games. I’m not sure what that even means.”

It means you’ve figured it out and can count on a high level of play, week to week, the serious problems behind you. You’ll be consistent, to use Bighill’s measuring stick.

The jury is still out on that

Teammates were raving about Bighill’s two-interception, one-touchdown game against the Leos. There’s nothing quite like sticking it to your old team, apparently.

“Adam was on fire,” running back Andrew Harris, another former Lion, said. “I know how good that feels. I’m right there with him.”

A coach like O’Shea may downplay the notion of getting more fired up for certain games, but it’s real.

“He was focused all week,” corner Chris Randle said of Bighill. “I’m not saying that he’s never focused, but it’s that extra element to it, being that it’s his old team.”

Quarterback Matt Nichols had downplayed the thought of having to work off any rust, but it turned out that rust was also mixed with too much adrenalin, resulting in some early overthrows.

“Being truthful, I probably was a little juiced up there at the beginning,” Nichols acknowledged. “I’ll get that under control a bit and be better next week.”

Nichols says he began to feel right after his deep sideline throw to Darvin Adams on Winnipeg ’s second series, even if the apparent completion was overturned after a review.

“Right there it was just, ‘Alright, I’m back playing football,’ ” is how he put it.

Nichols, coupled with Chris Streveler in short-yardage situations, did lead the offence to 28 unanswered points in the first half.

Long after the fans had cleared out, receiver Adarius Bowman was with his wife and baby girl at one of the exits, taking pictures in front of a poster of Bowman.

Cradling that baby girl, Bowman looked as happy as if he’d just scored a Grey Cup-winning touchdown. On the field, though, Bowman, who celebrates his 33rd birthday on Tuesday, has yet to make an impact.