Blue Bombers open stretch of three straight West Division contests

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Edmonton Eskimos are going to get to know each other well these next couple of few weeks.

Winnipeg (1-2), fresh off its first win of the season, hosts Edmonton (1-1) on Thursday night. It will be the first of three straight games against West Division rivals for the Bombers, who’ll face the Calgary Stampeders (1-1-1) at Investors Group Field on July 21 before visiting the Eskimos on July 28.

The head-to-head games are important for Winnipeg and Edmonton, who are tied for third in the West Division standings. They’re a point behind second-place Calgary (1-1-1).

B.C. (2-1) sits atop the division while Saskatchewan (0-2) is fourth.

Winnipeg and Edmonton are both coming off close wins.

The Bombers forced six turnovers in a 28-24 road victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week. Maurice Leggett had two interceptions, returning one 50 yards for a touchdown.

Edmonton earned a 39-36 overtime win over Saskatchewan to secure Jason Maas his first victory as a CFL head coach. The Eskimos also spoiled the return of former coach Chris Jones, now the Roughriders head coach/vice-president of football operations.

Winnipeg’s win took some heat off head coach Mike O’Shea. Many Bombers fans were calling for O’Shea’s ouster on social media following the club’s 36-22 road loss to Calgary on July 1.

Still, the victory did have its warts. Hamilton managed 411 total offensive yards and despite the abundance of turnovers the Ticats were still in a position to steal the win before quarterback Jeremiah Masoli lost a fumble at the Winnipeg 22-yard line with 14 seconds remaining.

Edmonton trailed Saskatchewan by 12 points at one point before seemingly taking control after scoring four straight touchdowns. But twice Joe McKnight fumbled attempted punt returns and the Eskimos needed Sean Whyte’s 51-yard field goal with no time left in regulation to force overtime.

Another concern must be an Edmonton defence that’s allowing a whopping 40.5 points per game, although the offence has averaged 38 points. Then again, Winnipeg hasn’t been able to mount consecutive victories since July 2014, a span of 32 games.

Pick — Edmonton.

Ottawa Redblacks versus Toronto Argonauts (Wednesday night)

Trevor Harris leads unbeaten Ottawa (2-0-1) in his first game against his former team. Harris spent four years with the Argos and last season posted a 9-7 record as the starter while Ricky Ray recovered from off-season shoulder surgery. This off-season, Harris signed with the Redblacks as a free agent and currently leads the CFL in passing yards (1,083) and TDs (nine). Chris Williams is the league’s leading receiver with 25 catches for 493 yards and six touchdowns. Ottawa not only boasts the top-ranked passing attack but is second overall in rushing. Ray is healthy and back under centre with Toronto (2-1), which returns to BMO Field following road wins over Saskatchewan and B.C. This begins a stretch of three straight games versus East Division opponents for the Double Blue.

Pick — Toronto.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats versus Montreal Alouettes (Friday night)

The timing of a road trip couldn’t be better for Hamilton (1-2) following home losses to B.C. (28-3) and Winnipeg (28-24). Quarterback Zach Collaros (knee) has resumed practising with the Ticats but Masoli will make his fourth straight start. Masoli is third overall in passing with 933 yards but has almost as many interceptions (four) as touchdowns (five). Veteran starter Kevin Glenn has been bothered by an eye infection but is expected to play for Montreal (1-1). Receiver Duron Carter, who’s appealing his one-game suspension for bumping Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell, battled headaches this week but is also expected to suit up.

Pick — Hamilton.

B.C. Lions versus Saskatchewan Roughriders (Saturday night)

Saskatchewan (0-2) might be winless under Jones but quarterback Darian Durant has been a definite bright spot. After suffering season-ending injuries the last two years, Durant has completed 58-of-86 passes (67.4 per cent) for 627 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions. Durant threw for 317 yards and four TDs in Saskatchewan’s 39-36 overtime loss last week to Edmonton. B.C. (2-1) is coming off a 25-14 setback to Toronto in Vancouver. Jonathan Jennings and Travis Lulay combined to complete 23-of-33 passes for 288 yards with a TD and two interceptions.

Pick — B.C.

Last week: 1-2-1.

Overall record: 2-9-1.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press

©2016 The Canadian Press