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News July 25, 2026

Upon Further Review | Cal 52 Wpg 30

Brady Oliveira in Friday night's 52-30 loss to the Calgary Stampeders; photos by Cameron Bartlett

@EdTaitWFC

Just imagine how difficult the task is for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers through this weekend and the days that follow.

First, they get handed a scalpel and a bone saw and then are asked to conduct their own autopsy after Friday night’s 52-30 home loss to the Calgary Stampeders that was an across-the-board meltdown in which all three phases took turns administering self-inflicted wounds.

One after another after another after another.

And so, while they escaped last Sunday’s overtime win over the Ottawa RedBlacks, some of the mistakes evidently masked over in that result were promptly exposed by the Stamps five days later.

So… now what?

“First things first, we’ve got to be accountable,” said veteran defensive end Willie Jefferson inside a morose Blue Bombers locker room late Friday night. “We took the ‘L’ and we have to accept that. Now it’s about making the corrections.

“Too many mistakes. Too many penalties. One of the things we talked about before the game was playing a clean game and we sure didn’t do that.

“We have to lock in, focus up and take ownership of all that — the penalties, the mistakes, all the mishaps. We’ve just got to be better.”

Indeed, what’s massive now for this squad is how it responds. They’ll have another short practice week ahead with the B.C. Lions in town on Thursday before the club’s second bye of the season.

That matchup with the Leos will be telling on so many fronts because what follows after the bye are dates with Ottawa at home, Edmonton on the road, Montreal at home and then the Labour Day Classic-Banjo Bowl home and home with Saskatchewan.

Said Jefferson: “That’s how we judge how tough we are and how resilient we are — the bounce-back game.”

“It’s concerning but it’s not unmanageable or unfixable because it’s football,” added guard Pat Neufeld. “Sometimes it’s just not your week.

“We’ll take a look at the film with a lot of intent and make the corrections because we can’t dwell on this for too long with B.C. coming in here after another short week.”

ICYMI, here is our Game Recap from Friday night:

Game Recap | Cal 52 Wpg 30

And what follows is this week’s edition of UPON FURTHER REVIEW…

THREE NUMBERS WHICH JUMPED OUT AFTER… a second glance at the stats package, which can be found here:

1 There were so many mistakes in Friday’s loss and all of them seemed to be daggers, including the missed field goal return TD and a punt block on specials, the busts which led to wide open targets on defence and the four interceptions by Dru Brown, one of them in the end zone and two in the fourth quarter.

Winnipeg’s turnover differential is now -6, a shocking total for a team still over .500 at 4-3.

2 The Blue Bombers made just one visit to the red zone (an opponent’s 20-yard line and in) Friday night and scored on Brady Oliveira’s first of two touchdowns in a 13-yard run.

Still, a disturbing number which has unfolded over the first seven games: Winnipeg has had just 20 red zone opportunities this year, which ranked tied for seventh heading into this week. Even worse, their now nine red zone touchdowns is the lowest in the CFL.

Just by comparison, the Stamps were 2-of-4 on their red zone trips and now have a league high 23 touchdowns in those situations.

3 We mentioned this in the Game Recap, but the usage of Oliveira was sporadic Friday.

Yes, the Blue Bombers were in a trail position — again — and that can impact his touches. And yes, the injury to right tackle Jarell Broxton just before halftime caused three shifts along the offensive line with Gabe Wallace moving from left guard to Broxton’s spot, centre Tyler Elsbury moving into the guard spot and Tui Eli then taking over in the middle.

But Oliveira’s 45-yard TD run inside the final minute of the third quarter cut the Stampeder lead to 39-27 and following a forced turnover courtesy of rookie defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth on a strip-sack on Vernon Adams, Jr. that led to a field goal, Winnipeg had pulled to within 39-30 with almost 14 minutes remaining.

Yet, Oliveira’s next touch after the 45-yard run — the longest of his career — didn’t come until there were 56 remaining in the game. He finished the night with 14 carries for 128 yards or a 9.1-yard average.

COACH O’SHEA POST-GAME… referenced a couple of times the Stamps repeatedly breaking tackles or poor tackling, which certainly was a problem Friday.

“There’s been a prior game where we didn’t tackle very well,” he said. “But I thought we shored it up pretty good. Some guys are just naturally better tacklers.

“The start of the third (a Jalen Philpot 69-yard TD strike from Vernon Adams, Jr. on the first play from scrimmage), that was embarrassing, right? Those guys, obviously they don’t want to watch that play, but we’re going to have to.”

AND FINALLY…  for those of you who have read this far, thank you. And for those who missed the game or want to relive all the highs and lows of Friday’s loss, check out the condensed game here: