With 19 wins, it’s a battle of the best
Storyline
This is another one of those final-third of the season football games that everyone’s been waiting for and should be among the most physical of any CFL match this year.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are technically atop the West, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats indisputably atop the East. They rank first and second, respectively, in overall scoring, and second and first in preventing points.
Neither has their original starting quarterback in uniform, but the Ticats’ Dane Evans and Bombers’ Chris Streveler have both acquitted themselves well and pose their own threats to defences: Evans with his arm and Streveler more with his feet.
The Bombers lead the league by a mile in rushing, and are also ranked first at stopping the run. The Ticats can be susceptible to the run but, despite Winston Rose’s league-leading eight picks, the Bombers are suspect against the pass. The problem for the Ticats will be in protecting Evans long enough for him to make proper reads against a tough Winnipeg defensive line that has the most sacks in the league and is led by Willie Jefferson, on his way to the league’s defensive player of the year with absolutely ridiculous numbers: 10 knock-downs, 11 sacks and six forced fumbles.
“Is he disruptive? Absolutely. He’s a game wrecker,” says Ticats head coach Orlondo Steinauer. “You better account for him.”
With serial injuries to running backs, the Tiger-Cats have had to be creative and versatile, but their lack of experienced power running has shown late in some recent games. However, both Maleek Irons, who is listed as the starter, and Tyrell Sutton are back on the roster, so that should help, particularly with the blocking.
The Bombers are undefeated at home, but only the Stampeders (4-2) are better on the road than the 4-3 Ticats, who probably should have won a couple they lost. They’re in every game, and keep finding different ways to win.
Both teams are dangerous to kick to: Nearly half of the CFL’s 19 return touchdowns are represented in this game. Winnipeg’s Janarion Grant has three return majors and Lucky Whitehead has one, while the Ticats can respond with a pair each from Frankie Williams and Speedy Banks, who only does it part-time. So special teams could be a deciding factor in what is likely to be an otherwise smash-mouth affair.
Hamilton roster notes
RB Maleek Irons, injured since Aug. 1, is back, as is RB Tyrell Sutton . ... WR Luke Tasker remains on the one-game injured list and CB Delvin Breaux is still on the six-game IL, but could return next week.
Winnipeg roster notes
DE Jackson Jeffcoat returns to action after six games on the injury list . ... QB Chris Streveler gets his fifth start for injured Matt Nichols, who is done for the season after have surgery on an injured shoulder . ... Depth WR Daniel Petermann is a graduate of Cardinal Newman and McMaster.
Numbers game
0 — Blue Bombers among the top 23 in CFL receiving yards. RB Andrew Harris is 24th with 449 yards, Lucky Whitehead 25th at 427.
2 — Blue Bombers among the top six in CFL rushing yards: No. 1 Harris at 984 yards, and No. 6 Streveler with 490.
2 — Number of two-point converts attempted, both successfully by the Ticats, following the 23 CFL TDs last weekend. That’s less than 9 per cent, compared to 29 per cent through the first half of the season.
15 — Number of different Ticats who have scored touchdowns this year.
30 — Number of tackles by Simoni Lawrence since Week 10 (this is Week 16).
38 — Number of catches, for 568 yards, by Ticats’ Bralon Addison since Week 10. Both are most in the CFL in that period.