Roughriders, Bombers poised for high-stakes showdown
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have encountered a string of misfortunes since the Banjo Bowl.
Following a 35-10 CFL homefield victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sept. 7, the Blue Bombers have suffered back-to-back losses — and in rather unsightly fashion.
On Sept. 21, Winnipeg gassed a 24-point lead and succumbed 38-37 to the host Montreal Alouettes. Six days later, the Hamilton Tiger-cats handed the host Blue Bombers a 33-13 defeat.
The Roughriders, meanwhile, have responded to the Banjo Bowl blowout by posting two consecutive victories and ascending into a first-place tie with the Calgary Stampeders in the West Division standings. Saskatchewan and Calgary have 9-4 records, with Winnipeg next in line at 9-5. Based upon recent performances, the disparity between Winnipeg and the West’s other two first-place contenders appears to be wider.
The Blue Bombers’ defence, such a carnivorous unit for most of this season, has been lacerated in each of the past two games.
Chris Streveler has been carved up by critics who contend that Winnipeg cannot possibly capture an elusive championship with him playing quarterback in place of Matt Nichols, who is shelved for the season after undergoing shoulder surgery. Hold on for a second ...
The very same Chris Streveler created some headaches for the Roughriders in the Labour Day Classic — won 19-17 by Saskatchewan on Sept. 1 at Mosaic Stadium — and the Banjo Bowl.
Streveler, remember, guided the Bombers on an 11-play, 63-yard touchdown drive that helped Winnipeg assume a 17-16 lead with 31/2 minutes left in the fourth quarter on Sept. 1.
He is not to blame for the fact that Winnipeg’s vaunted defence proceeded to buckle, allowing quarterback Cody Fajardo to move the Roughriders’ offence 87 yards in 10 plays to set up a game-winning, 26-yard field goal by Brett Lauther.
Members of the Blue Bombers’ defence made amends in the rematch, limiting Saskatchewan to 267 yards of net offence. Roughriders tailback William Powell had just one yard to show for four carries, three of which were for a loss.
Streveler, meanwhile, completed 15 of 21 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to rushing 11 times for a gamehigh 70 yards and two more scores. And now he is being dissed and dismissed? It does seem to be a bit much. Consider, too, that the Roughriders are poised to face Blue Bombers tailback Andrew Harris for the first time this season.
Harris was the leading candidate for CFL most-outstanding-player honours until he was issued a two-game suspension for testing positive for a banned substance. That suspension coincided with the season’s first two Roughriders-bombers games.
Factor Harris into the equation for Saturday’s game. Keep in mind how dominant the Bombers looked when they last met Saskatchewan. Be mindful of the stakes, for both teams, as the rubber match of the season series looms.
“Our guys know it’s a big game and they’re looking forward to it,” Roughriders head coach Craig Dickenson said.
“It’s a big one. It’s the tiebreaker. We know Winnipeg ’s going to put up a good fight and we fully expect it to be a long, 60-minute game.”
Anyone who expects otherwise, in light of the Blue Bombers’ recent regression, is likely in for a surprise.