From beautiful (if you can call minus 2 & sleet/snow/rain beautiful) IGF Stadium at the University of Manitoba campus.
Today’s afternoon affair has all playoff number-crunchers crunching.
The first duty of football is to WIN GAMES. This is a litmus test for the bombers - they’ve already barfed up a couple losses to the superior riders.
With Zaccalero coming on as Rider QB, the bomber defense needs to hold to hold out any chance for victory.
Bombers are teasing the dressing of one key player - Weston Dressler - but history shows that when Dressler is wonky a day or two before - he seldom can make it to the starting line. Look for Dressler to be a late scratch this morning.
Bomber offense vs. Rider defense. If Riders continue their aggressive and strong play the bomber o could be severely crimped - even with Nichols coming out of his mid-season funk. Harris our only real weapon - could be useful if our o-line can open some small space for Andrew H. If not - 40 yds rushing or less in meaningful time.
Adams is Nichols main target - if he’s doubled or walled off - look for Nichols to panic in the pocket, either swallowing the pigskin (sacks) or trying to force the ball into tight coverage (picks). In any event the bomber passing attack will be largely comprised of short passes for anywhere from minus 5 to plus 5’s.
Weather is the biggest game factor!
Bomber advantages - a rowdy dowdy home crowd of 22,000 to 25,000 (should be curtailed by weather) and pinpoint punting to pin Sask’n in their own end; Plop also a superior OC to McAdoo
Rider advantages - clear advantage of CJ Jones over O’Panic Mike; Mike will leave Nichols in to die if he’s getting schmeered - Jones will make changes.
Always a couple reffing poops - but thats kinda expected in the current CFL.
Came in a bit late - had to attend a funeral for a friend . . . . wonderful ceremony by the way - she was a YUGE Elvis fan . . .
31-0 - in yo’ dreams baby!
WOW!
My predict for final score - 34-20 Bombers, as Winnipeg notorious for going ultra-conservative in full 2 'n out mode while Bridge could rack up some easy TDs vs. soft defensive prevent!
Love Gord Miller on the stick - Black was screamin’ mad to get to Winnipeg but couldn’t catch the coueur de bois special via Lake of Da Woods!!!
Kind of hard to get much offense going when you don’t have a decent OL. Zach was sacked a few times and seemed to be running for his life just about every play. Reminds me of the early part of the 2017 season in Hamilton! Hard to believe that Chris Jones’ team is being shut out - not even a defensive play for a score! :o :o :o
Predicted a Winnipeg win and low scoring game - just didn’t think only one team would be doing all the scoring. Winnipeg D has be lights out!
Sara Orlesky awarded bomber player of the game by TSN crew (Lord Gord & Suitor) for being “out in the cold” (her job) and not getting her pretty little head bitten off by Furious Chris Jones (again, her job)
……Biggest signing for the Bombers this year, Mr. Bighill and partnered up with Santos Knox they are a force…Let’s be honest though…Riders came into IGF on a short week BUT even taking that into account doesn’t explain their deplorable play,which resulted in a blanking …Not even 3 from Zack and company…c’mon…Bombers looked superior in every facet of the game…including the coaching…Riders left a beaten bunch and not only on the scoreboard…They’ve lost a few of their stalwarts for the year…which is going to haunt them down the stretch…Too late to acquire any trade help and their depth was weak before this
I think it all came crashing down for them in this game and showed that the Bombers are finding themselves at just the right time…We will be a force postseason…a fact I was very dubious about not that long ago
