Chris Streveler (17) of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the CFL game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg, MB on Friday Sept. 27, 2019. (Photo: Johany Jutras / CFL)
5 Quick Takes on the Bombers’ loss to the Ticats Friday night at IG Field:
1. The Montreal Alouettes gashed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last week in an epic comeback-slash-collapse that opened some painful wounds.
And the Hamilton Tiger-Cats followed that up by not just rubbing salt in those wounds, but opening up a few more. The Ticats dominated the Bombers in a battle of division heavyweights, knocking off the home side 33-13 in front of an announced crowd of 25,086.
The loss, Winnipeg’s second straight and first at home this season, drops them to 9-5. The Calgary Stampeders, 9-4, have a bye this week while the 8-4 Saskatchewan Roughriders can join the nine-win club with a victory in Toronto Saturday afternoon.
The Ticats, meanwhile, improved their league-best record to 11-3.
2. The game was the first since the announcement late Thursday that Bombers QB Matt Nichols had shoulder surgery and would be lost for the season.
Chris Streveler drove the Bombers to a TD on the first possession – capped by a seven-yard strike to Andrew Harris – and finished the night by completing 31 of 42 for 304 yards with the one TD and two interceptions, including a critical one in the fourth quarter.
Trailing 27-13, the Bombers had forced a turnover on an Adam Bighill interception that set Winnipeg up on the Hamilton 32-yard line. But an attempted screen pass was then intercepted by Justin Tuggle and returned 79 yards to set up another Ticats score that put the dagger in any comeback hopes.
Hamilton’s Dane Evans was sensational, throwing for 308 yards in the first half and 359 overall as the Bombers were really out-done by a terrible first half in which the Ticats cranked out 338 net offensive yards.
3. Andrew Harris achieved two milestones on the night, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark for the third straight season and fifth time in his career – three as a Bomber. No other Canadian running back in CFL history has had five 1,000-yard seasons.
Harris also moved past Charles Roberts into 10th place on the CFL’s yard from scrimmage list.
4. Other notable numbers:
- The Bombers opening possession TD marked the third-consecutive game they have accomplished that feat.
- Darvin Adams’ first reception of the game was the 300th in his CFL career – 21 as a member of the Toronto Argonauts, the rest with the Bombers.
- Jackson Jeffcoat returned to the lineup for the Bombers after a six-game absence and registered a sack, his fourth of the season.
- Unofficially, Hamilton’s Simoni Lawrence set a CFL record for tackles in a single game with 17.
- Kenny Lawler led all Bombers receivers with 10 catches for 144 yards.
5. The Bombers are on the road next Saturday in Saskatchewan for a critical matchup with the Riders. Winnipeg is next at home on Saturday, October 12th vs. the Alouettes.
