As the Winnipeg Blue Bombers get ready to do battle against the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders in the second half of a home-and-home series Saturday afternoon, there’s still one question on everyone’s mind…
Has the Banjo Bowl morphed into the Revenge Bowl?
It certainly felt like it was headed that way in the immediate aftermath of a thrilling 35-33 victory for the Blue and Gold over the Riders in last week’s Labour Day Classic in Regina.
Zach Collaros suffered a late hit to the head from Riders defensive lineman Miles Brown, knocking the club’s star quarterback out for the second half. The illegal headshot left many on the Bombers fuming after the game, including president and CEO, Wade Miller, who had some choice words for CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie and the league’s officials.
However, cooler heads seem to have prevailed, as the Bombers spent all week downplaying their post-game angst, keeping the focus on the task at hand. Indeed, there are more important things at play right now, including the season series — the first tiebreaker in the standings — up for grabs after splitting the first two games on the schedule.
“Honestly, nothing really changes during the week,” Collaros said after Friday’s walk-through practice. “Thinking about last week, it’s just unfortunate that I didn’t finish the game. That’s the most disappointing part for me. Once that first snap happens, you’re just locked into your job, so looking forward to that, for sure.”
The 6-6 Bombers are in a tie for first place in the West Division with the B.C. Lions and will be looking to maintain their spot atop the mountain with a fifth consecutive win. Meanwhile, the 5-6-1 Riders dropped to third place with the loss last week, arriving in Winnipeg as desperate a club and any in the CFL, mired in a six-game winless (0-5-1) streak that dates back to the middle of July.
That sets up what should be a spirited game between the two Prairie rivals, with Princess Auto Stadium once again sold out for the annual clash. Let’s dive even deeper into the game with the latest edition of 5 Storylines.
The Banjo Bowl's Dominating History
It’s the 20th edition of the Banjo Bowl, which was first played in 2004. The name was inspired by former Bombers kicker Troy Westwood, who had referred to Riders fans as a “bunch of banjo-pickin’ inbreds” following the 2003 LDC.
While it didn’t go over well with many of our neighbours a province over, it has created quite an atmosphere around the city, including attracting several fans clad in green. While the Banjo Bowl began as a back-and-forth affair, history has heavily favoured the Bombers in recent years.
In the last four Banjo Bowls, the Bombers have outscored the Riders by a combined 173-45. That includes a dominating 51-6 win for Winnipeg last season, which is the largest margin of victory to date in the Banjo Bowl.
There’s something about this game that seems to bring out the best in the Bombers. With the chance to keep pace in the West, there will be no shortage of motivation in this one.
Collaros' Return: Can He Pick Up Where He Left Off?
Collaros was playing arguably his best game of the season before taking the hit from Brown. Despite the offence struggling to maintain drives for much of the year, Collaros looked like his vintage self in Regina last week, helping orchestrate three series that ended with touchdowns in the game’s first two quarters.
Before leaving, Collaros torched the Riders defence for 218 yards on 12-for-18 passing, including a 44-yard TD to Nic Demski that helped build a 29-14 lead at the break.
The Bombers offensive line has vowed to do a better job of protecting Collaros while he’s in the pocket. While Stanley Bryant will miss a second game in a row as he continues to recover from an illness, the group welcomes back veteran guard Patrick Neufeld, who missed the last four games with a knee injury.
The Bombers did a superb job limiting the Riders to just one QB sack last week. Saskatchewan still leads the CFL with 29, meaning the battle in the trenches isn’t about to get any easier.
Speaking of last year’s Banjo Bowl, Collaros and the offence scored TDs on all six of their first-half drives, including four passing scores from Collaros. Perhaps Collaros can pick up where he left off last week, as Winnipeg’s offence looks to finally have found its groove in what’s been an inconsistent season so far.
Oliveira's Touchdown Drought: Can He Break the Curse?
Brady Oliveira is in the midst of another strong season.
Oliveira leads the CFL with 851 rushing yards and has already tied his single-season high in receptions, with 38. With 305 receiving yards in 11 games, he’s also on pace to smash his previous career-high of 482 yards set last year.
While Oliveira has made a positive impact all season long, it’s hard not to notice one glaring part of his stat sheet: 0 touchdowns.
It’s truly unbelievable Oliveira has yet to cross the goal line with the ball in 11 games, either on the ground or through the air. That’s especially true when you consider that, at this point last year, the 27-year-old had eight to his name, including six rushing scores.
When asked about it, Oliveira took the team-first approach, noting all that matters is getting the win. He did admit to feeling a bit cursed.
Perhaps this is perfect timing for the Winnipeg native to pull that monkey off his back. What better way to get your hometown crowd rocking than a big TD against a hated rival?
Can the Bombers Defense Put Pressure on Harris?
If there’s one area the Bombers defence would like to improve on from last week, it’s making Riders QB Trevor Harris feel a lot more uncomfortable holding onto the ball.
Winnipeg won the sack battle by downing Harris twice, but for a vast majority of the evening, the Riders pivot had all the time in the world to complete his throws. He finished the game 30-for-49 passing for 368 yards and three TDs, and those numbers could have been even better if not for a few dropped balls by the receivers.
Harris is facing a much bigger challenge this week playing behind a banged-up O-line. Centre Peter Godber (ankle) and guard Zack Fry (elbow) have both been added to the six-game injured list, joining fellow O-lineman Jermarcus Hardrick, Philip Blake, Ryan Sceviour and Jacob Brammer.
The loss of Godber is particularly significant, as the centre is the brains of the operation, responsible for picking up different coverages on the opposing defence and then relaying that info to the rest of the group. When you have that many injuries, you have no choice but to lean on less experienced options, creating a recipe for broken plays.
The Bombers have struggled to get pressure on QBs this season, with their 19 sacks better than only Calgary’s 17. This week provides an ample opportunity to build on those numbers, while taking away Saskatchewan’s biggest weapon and path to victory.
The Bighill Blow: Can The Bombers Defense Survive His Absence?
The Bombers remain quiet on the status of Adam Bighill, who was added to the six-game injured list after suffering a knee injury late in the LDC. Sources tell the Free Press the veteran linebacker is expected to be out long-term, with a very strong likelihood he misses the rest of the season.
That’s a massive blow to Winnipeg’s defence, someone Bombers defensive co-ordinator Jordan Younger said earlier this week was impossible to replace. Alas, life must go on without Bighill in the lineup, and the Bombers now look to another veteran in Shayne Gauthier to fill the massive hole left behind.
Bighill left the game with just more than three minutes remaining. During that time, the Riders were able to march the field and nearly tie the game with a 10-play, 89-yard TD drive.
The Bombers have had a full week of practice to work out any kinks. It’s now an open audition, with Gauthier getting first crack at keeping the job full-time.
The Hostilities and Bedlam Are Back
“Extremely grateful,” Neufeld said. “And I’m going to go out and play like it.”
The Neufeld home in Winnipeg was not exactly church-like last Sunday. At least, not in the room where father Pat was watching the big screen, his Blue Bombers teammates taking on the Saskatchewan Roughriders in that harrowing Labour Day Classic. “I was at home, pacing, yelling at the TV. My heart was pounding, but glad we pulled it out,” the Bombers offensive lineman said, Friday, comparing the experience to being on a rough flight. “You’re just there for the ride, going through the turbulence of it.”
On Saturday, Neufeld will be back inside the cockpit with at least some control of the Banjo Bowl rematch. Missing the last four games because of a knee injury was another reminder for the 35-year-old how precious this game is. Having it taken away from you, even for just a month, just fuels the appetite for it.
In recent years the Bombers sure haven’t taken this game for granted. As hard as it is to win the Labour Day Classic in Regina, this one has been a cakewalk. The last four games read like romps by a college team over a high-school team: 51-6, 54-20, 33-9 and 35-10. That’s a combined 173-45 beating, an average margin of 32 points. In one of those, a handful of Riders were sick. Saskatchewan fans felt like throwing up after all of them. The last one produced a career game from Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros: 18-of-21, 319 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions. “Did what you always want to do as an offence,” Collaros recalled. “Extend drives and score touchdowns. What I always remember about the Banjo Bowl, though, is our crowd. And just how crazy it is in there.”
The contrast between the last handful of Labour Day games, which usually go down to the wire, and this one is stark. “It’s always hard playing on the road at a rivalry game,” Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson said. “Knowing that the team you’re going against doesn’t like you, they’re going to be their most physical. And that the fans don’t like you. The fans are right behind you screaming, yelling, talking smack.
“Now it’s time for them to come over here and feel it.”
The Bombers barely survived it last week, escaping Regina with a 35-33 win in which quarterback Collaros was knocked out of the game with a late head shot by Riders defender Miles Brown. Brown comes into the rematch not only claiming innocence but accusing Bombers president/CEO Wade Miller of delivering inflammatory comments about him, when Miller called for ejections for hits like his. “That was too far, a little egregious,” Brown told reporters in Regina. “When a president of a team is calling a player dirty, naturally you influence the emotions of some people. He can’t control what happens. It’s really dangerous when you say things like that, especially in the media.
“We’ll see what Saturday holds for us.”
Winnipeg players are taking the high road, steering clear of any talk of retribution, or even acknowledging the hit has provided extra fuel for a game that needs none. “That’s not who we are,” Jefferson said. “We’re a clean team, a physical team and we play as a team. We’re not worried about it.”
Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea says he had his conversation with the league about the hit and the subsequent penalty – Brown was fined – and wasn’t thrilled with the result. “No, I don’t think I’d be satisfied with this one,” O’Shea said. “There’s nothing I can do about it. And I do catch myself sometimes getting heated, and you realize it’s not me, it’s not going to make a difference and the person I’m getting heated with is not the decision maker. But they know how I feel.”
Extracurriculars aside, the stakes are high again on Saturday. In short, losing this one would virtually negate the progress the 6-6 Bombers made in leapfrogging the Riders (5-6-1) and claiming first place in the CFL West last week. As running back Brady Oliveira pointed out, it’s the rubber match, too, of the three-game season series. “The fact we were able to go there and tie the series up, and now they have to come to us, in front of a sold-out crowd that’s going to be even louder here than it was at Labour Day, they’ve got to deal with that,” Oliveira said. “So we did put ourselves in a better position. But it’s a new week.”
