Game 15: Tiger-Cats (9-5) at Blue Bombers (7-7)

Kickoff: Saturday, September 27th, 2 p.m. CDT; Princess Auto Stadium
TV/Streaming: TSN 1; CTV; CFL+
Radio: 680 CJOB (pre-game begins at noon, CDT); Play-by-play: Derek Taylor/analyst: Doug Brown; Sirius XM (ch. 167)

Scene Setter

It’s been cleverly dubbed ‘Falcons Flight’ and when the spiffy new roller coaster opens sometime later this year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia it will be the world’s tallest, fastest and longest and feature a massive, lunch-losing drop of 525 feet.

And the collective reaction to all that from sports fans in these parts?

‘Meh. C’mon… Have you been on the ride the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have taken everyone on so far this season?’

And there’s more thrills coming, what with the Blue Bombers entering the stretch run of their Canadian Football League campaign tomorrow against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the annual Orange Shirt Game at 7-7 and with four games left on their slate and — worth adding here — 51 days until the 112th Grey Cup is played right in their own backyard.

Now, there is hope in Bomberland again with Zach Collaros returning to the lineup and following last week’s unique win over the Ottawa Redblacks which featured a missed field goal return touchdown by Trey Vaval and some stellar play by the defence and special teams to counter only having three completions on eight attempts by the Blue Bombers offence.

That dramatic in-game up and down mirrors what has unfolded this entire season for the club, what with it rocketing out to a 3-0 start, then dropping three in a row to fall to 3-3 and then winning three of four, following by losing three of four.

Chris Streveler has managed to guide the squad to a 3-1 record in his four starts with Collaros sidelined and QB1 has been unable to finish three other games — all which were losses — due to injury.

“He does a lot. I love Zach. Everybody knows how I feel about Zach,” said Nic Demski earlier this week of the potential return of Collaros. “He does a tremendous amount. Him just being there should open up the playbook, plus there’s just his presence as well.”

The return of Collaros — and keeping him healthy — is massive for the Blue Bombers in the run to the postseason, but last week’s win in Ottawa also serves as evidence that this team will need contributions from all three phases when the games matter most.

Vaval’s return touchdown, all part of a CFL record 199 yards in missed field goals, was part of an effort that saw Brady Oliveira (100 yards) and Streveler (72 and a TD) crank out 172 rushing yards behind a solid offensive line performance and with Cam Allen picking off two passes as the defence continues to show flashes every week.

Consider this: in the last six games opposition quarterbacks have thrown for over 300 yards against Winnipeg just once, and that came in last week’s win when Ottawa’s Dru Brown hit for 406 — 93 of that coming on the last drive with the game all but sealed away and the Blue Bombers’ D backing off in its aggressiveness. That run includes three losses in which the defence kept the club close by limiting the damage done by Most Outstanding Player candidates Trevor Harris of Saskatchewan (239 and 219 yards) and Bo Levi Mitchell of the Ticats (230) through the air.

Allen has his fingerprints on that, just as much as Vaval has his all over the kick return game. And that’s what is also critical now for the Blue Bombers — this isn’t just about Collaros and Oliveira, Demski, Jefferson, Kramdi, Holm, et al. It’s about some of the newer faces having settled in and now making more significant contributions.

With this much action now to their names, the Blue Bombers newcomers are rookies in name only.

“Trust me, that’s already been said a whole bunch,” said Allen. “And I already know that, especially being a safety. You can see everything on the field when you back the line up like that, so it’s easier for you to make that communication to your guys.

“They’ve been on me for me to start getting like that; for me to have the role in our defence where I’m the one communicating and getting everybody lined up. I’m definitely getting more comfortable with that role.

“… Everybody in here — vet, rookie, no matter what — I feel like you’ve got to come in here every single day and earn your stripes. You come in here fighting for a spot. Me, when I first came here, I was looking to start right off the rip. I know how things go with the Canadian numbers, but I wanted to come in here with that mentality.

“But with me and Trey making a play for us (in the Ottawa game), I feel like it’s a big confidence booster for other rookies and other young guys when it’s their turn to step up. Also, for the vets — I feel that makes them more confident in our ability and they’re not on the field trying to make up for our mistakes.”

Yes, it’s been a roller-coaster all right for everyone, not just rookies learning on the job.

Now the Blue Bombers hope the nasty drops are behind them and it’s now a steady ascent to the postseason.

THE LINEUP: The Blue Bombers depth chart features four changes from last week’s win over Ottawa. On are Collaros, WR Jerreth Sterns, DT Jamal Woods and DB Nick Hallett. Off are QB Chase Artopoeus, WR Keric Wheatfall, DB Jamal Parker, Jr. and DT Collin Kornelson

The one-game injured list now includes Parker and Wheatfall along with DB Michael Griffin II, RB/KR Peyton Logan and OL Micah Vanterpool. The six-game injured list includes WR Dalton Schoen, LB Lane Novak, DT Tanner Schmekel, OL Eric Lofton, CB Terrell Bonds, WR Kody Case and DB Enock Makonzo.

FULL DEPTH CHART