The history dates back to the days of leather helmets and long before colour TV, instant replay and coaches challenges.

Yes, it’s been a long time between playoff meetings featuring the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Calgary Stampeders, dating back to the 2001 Grey Cup, and prior to that, the 1982 West Division Semi-Final.

And the last time these two met in the West Final? Try 1965, when the Bombers won a best-of-three to advance to the Grey Cup.

All this kind of stuff is often broached with players, especially leading up to a massive tilt like Sunday’s West Final in Calgary. And while the kind of stuff that provides historical context to stories, it means absolutely, positively zero to those who will suit up on Sunday.

“Just like getting asked a question about the fact that Winnipeg hadn’t won in Regina since, I don’t know, 1950 or something like that,” began quarterback Matt Nichols. “To me, it’s along the same lines: the past has no influence on what this game is. To me, none of that matters. That’s for other people to talk about. Right now, my only focus is on Calgary this week and trying to get the job done.”

Here are the historical numbers that DO matter to Nichols:

• Since the Banjo Bowl, the Bombers QB has thrown eight touchdowns against just one interception
• He did not throw an interception in last week’s win over Saskatchewan, making it four consecutive playoff games without a pick
• Nichols has now thrown 133 passes in the playoffs without an interception. That’s the third-highest total in CFL playoff history after Edmonton’s Mike Reilly (194 from November 2014 to November 2017) and Ricky Ray, (163, from November 2005 to November 2011).

“I’m very aware of that stat (the four playoff games without an interception),” said Nichols when asked if he knew of the number. “It’s something I pride myself in. It’s the most telling stat in sports, that if you win the turnover battle in this league, I think it’s something like an over 90 percent chance of winning the game.”

“If you can do that while still making plays – the other side of that is being too conservative – more often than not you’re giving your team a chance to win if you’re not turning the ball over. (Calgary) is a team that does take the ball away a lot and you want to make sure you don’t ever give that offence a short field because they are a high-powered offence. You want to make them drive the whole length of the field.”

WATCH: MATT NICHOLS

WATCH: ADAM BIGHILL

Interestingly, in Nichols’ two playoff starts before last Sunday – the West Semi-Final losses to B.C and Edmonton – his numbers were spectacular, albeit in vain. In those two games, he completed 69.3 percent of his passes for 761 yards and five touchdowns with zero picks.

The weather conditions in Regina on Sunday, plus the Bombers’ ability to run the ball while protecting a lead, meant that Nichols didn’t have to air it out so much as he completed 16-of-22 passes for 169 yards and a TD strike to Drew Wolitarsky. But he also provided an example on Wednesday of his in-the moment risk-vs.-reward decision making in that game.

“It took me a few years of making some bad decisions and learning from them,” Nichols said. “Some of it is just overriding your natural reactions to things. Even the first play of the game last week – possibly, it could have been an 80-yard touchdown (to Wolitarsky), but I felt like maybe I’m going to get hit mid-throw and I didn’t want it to get halfway there and get picked off. I didn’t want to start the game off that way.

“There are a lot of those little split-second decisions that can change games. I feel like I have a pretty good handle on when those decisions need to be made and when you can live to fight another day.”

That will be a good mantra for Nichols & Co. to take into this weekend. The Bombers and Stampeders tied for the both the league lead in turnovers forced (49) and turnover ratio (+13).

It was massive in their two meetings this year, too. The Bombers were +1 in their win over the Stamps last month; with the two clubs even in their August meeting – a Calgary win – but two Nichols interceptions leading to 10 Stampeder points.

“In this league, we preach ‘End every drive with a kick, whether that’s a field goal, convert or a punt,’” said Nichols. “That’s how you win football games. That’s something I write all over my (game) sheets and it’s something I think about a lot, for sure. It’s going out and making good decisions for my team.”

The Bombers returned to the practice field Wednesday for their first session in advance of Sunday’s West Final. Here are some other items to help get you up to speed in this week’s NEED TO KNOW…

GREEN LIGHT:

LB Adam Bighill, who missed the last three minutes of the West Semi, declared himself good to go for this week in Calgary.

“I’m good. Good. I’m ready to go,” he said.  “No issues.”

And when it was suggested everyone who plays the game is dealing with some sort of pain, Bighill added:

“Yeah. I mean, your healthiest day in this football season was the day before training camp started. That is what it is. That’s just the reality of it. As a true professional, you’re just trying to keep yourself as healthy and feeling as good as you can. Sometimes injuries happen; bumps, bruises and nicks happen and you’ve got to figure out how to be the best you can be with what you have.”

Bighill practised on Wednesday, while both Darvin Adams and Weston Dressler were mainly spectators. Both are expected to play this weekend, but the status of LB Jovan Santos-Knox, who missed last week’s game with a foot injury, is unknown.

“He’s getting better every day,” said Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea. “We’ll see. I don’t think he’s going to practice (Thursday), but maybe the next day.”

NO NEWS… YET:

The Bombers have yet to hear from the CFL on possible disciplinary action for DE Jackson Jeffcoat, who hit Riders QB Brandon Bridge late in Sunday’s West Semi, but was not penalized.

Jeffcoat repeated Wednesday the same thing he said immediately after the game:

“Same thing I said before. No malicious intent. I came in with the shoulder.”

Coach O’Shea also offered up his thoughts on the hit, especially now after being able to see a replay of it.

“I’ve seen it. I’ve watched at least an hour of it back and forth,” he said. “I can see the league’s standpoint and their concern of where football is going, but I can watch that clip and talk about it for another hour and defend Jackson. I don’t see this hit as anywhere like (the hit by B.C. Lions DE Odell Willis on Zach Collaros). Do I think Jackson will get fined? Probably. But he did use his left shoulder to hit Brandon Bridge’s right shoulder, so his head was in front of Bridge on contact. As contact is made, bodies move and things happen and another of our players (Tristan Okpalaugo) hit Jackson back toward the quarterback at the exact same time. I’m sure people don’t see it the way I see it.

“I can see how it didn’t get called. I don’t want to put all the onus on the official. Just like the Odell Willis one, the way the ref is aligned and the ump is aligned on the play I can see how it gets missed. You can’t just blame officials for everything… It’s not easy from (CFL commissioner) Randy Ambrosie to the rules committee to the officials to the players. It’s not an easy thing to navigate in all levels, but we’ll keep on trying.”

POUNDING THE ROCK:

The Bombers’ ground game was dominant when it mattered most in Regina, and Andrew Harris – who was brilliant in the second half – spoke about how powerful a feeling it is to be able to run the football when everyone at Mosaic Stadium knew it was coming.

“I think it’s demoralizing to another team,” said Harris. “For us as an offence, that’s the best part of the game – when everyone knows what you’re doing and you’re still able to be successful. That’s a big achievement for us and it was exciting to be a part of that, but it’s tough to do, that’s for sure.

“(The Bombers O-line) were flying around. Sometimes it didn’t even really look like football. It was a dogfight out there. It was awesome to watch on film after and great to be part of it. You could hear the pads… as soon as I was getting the ball you could hear the pads talking and I could hear the physicality. You’ve got to bring that. In playoff football, the speed of the game just speeds up so much more and you really felt it. Every round you go on and get closer to the Grey Cup, it just turns up that notch a bit more. The games get that much more faster, it’s more intense, there’s more physicality and we brought it. We’ve got to be better this week.”

1-0, 1-0, 1-0, 1-0:

It’s become the Bombers catchphrase of late, just wanting to ‘go 1-0 this week.’ And Harris’ session with the media began with CJOB’s Bob Irving opening with ‘So, is the goal to go 1-0 this week?’

“That’s the goal,” said Harris with a grin. “Are you guys sick of hearing that, or what? But yeah, the goal is to go 1-0. Absolutely.”