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July 5, 2019

Quick Hits | Wpg 29 Ott 14

Winnipeg Blue Bombers Drew Wolitarsky (82) celebrates his touchdown with Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Chris Streveler (17) during second quarter CFL action against the Ottawa Redblacks in Ottawa on Friday, July 5, 2019. (CFL PHOTO - Patrick Doyle)

5 Quick Takes on the Bombers win in Ottawa over the REDBLACKS:

1.  The Bombers are 3-0 for the first time since 2014 after a 29-14 victory on a spectacular night at TD Place Stadium in the nation’s capital.

The victory also leaves the Bombers as the only unbeaten squad in the Canadian Football League, with Ottawa now falling to 2-1 and after Montreal’s win over Hamilton on Thursday night. Worth noting: Winnipeg has also now won four straight in Ottawa.


2. Matt Nichols posted some juicy numbers Friday, but unfortunately had his night end early. Nichols was 16 of 20 for 262 yards and one TD, before exiting the game in the third quarter after taking a shot following an 18-yard run on a quarterback draw. He did return to the sidelines in the fourth quarter, but was in shorts and a T-shirt.

Chris Streveler had been productive running the short-yardage offence even before replacing Nichols, throwing to Drew Wolitarsky for a two-yard TD and also bulling in for two one-yard sneaks. Streveler finished the night six of eight for 42 yards.


3. The Bombers defence has its fingerprints all over the third victory of the season, not allowing a TD for the second consecutive game. (Ottawa’s lone score came on a Jonathon Rose fumble recovery after Streveler had completed a pass to Charles Nelson). Winnipeg limited Ottawa’s offence to just 241 yards and has now defended 34 consecutive possessions without surrendering a TD.


4. Justin Medlock missed both his field goal attempts – hitting the upright on a 51-yard attempt and going wide right on a 43-yard attempt – but ended up making a critical play that was the game’s turning point. Medlock had boomed a 46-yard punt inside the Ottawa five-yard line, but as Ryan Lankford watched the ball spin on the ground, the veteran kicker hustled downfield to knock the ball out of bounds to give the Bombers possession. Two plays later Streveler scored to put the club up 29-14.


5. The Bombers return home for two straight Friday nights now, beginning with a visit from the Toronto Argonauts on July 12th and then another matchup with Ottawa on July 19th. Winnipeg is in a stretch of five straight games against East Division opponents, with the two home dates then followed by visits to Hamilton and Toronto.