The Winnipeg Blue Bombers celebrate defeating the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL West Final football game in Regina, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
5 Quick Hits on the Bombers’ win over the Riders Sunday afternoon in the Western Final:
1. Keep next Sunday clear, Winnipeg Blue Bombers fans – your squad is headed to the 107th Grey Cup next weekend in Calgary.
The Bombers knocked off the Saskatchewan Roughriders 20-13 in the Western Final this afternoon at Mosaic Stadium and as a result, will play in the championship game for the first time since 2011. They’ll face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who knocked off the Edmonton Eskimos 36-16 in the Eastern Final.
The Grey Cup will feature the two teams with the longest current championship droughts in the CFL – Winnipeg’s last title dates back to 1990, while the Ticats last won in 1999.
2. It was the Bombers’ defence that made the game’s critical plays, stuffing Riders QB Cody Fajardo on a third-and-one from the Winnipeg one-yard line with 2:14 left and then holding the Riders on a last-second drive that ended at the eight-yard line – both plays which protected the 20-13 advantage. Winnipeg’s defence forced five turnovers.
3. Zach Collaros finished 16 of 24 for 262 yards and a touchdown to Kenny Lawler. Fajardo offered up a gritty performance by completing 27 of 41 for 366 yards.
4. Other notable numbers/nuggets:
- The Bombers’ 107-yard TD drive, capped by the Lawler score, was the longest in CFL playoff history since 2011 when the Eskimos drove 108 yards against B.C. in the West Final.
- Collaros becomes the first QB in CFL history to start a Divisional Final having been on each team’s roster that season.
- Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea lost his challenge a play in the second quarter most in the building thought would be overturned, as it appeared Fajardo had crossed the line of scrimmage before releasing his pass attempt.
Here’s the explanation from the CFL Footbal Operations department:
Play 56 (cont.) The rule states that the QB’s back foot, whether in the air or on the ground, has to be beyond the Line of Scrimmage. In this case, the LOS was a ball length inside of the 27-yard line. The ruling on the field stands as called (2/2) #GCPlayoffs
— CFL Football Operations (@CFLFootballOps) November 17, 2019
5. The Bombers will charter home after the game, regroup and then head to Calgary on Tuesday.
