Week Eighteen: Red Five Standing By
This could go two ways. Either the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will continue this steep trajectory they’re on and hand the Montreal Alouettes their first loss at home this season, a win that would certainly give the promoters some ammo in the legitimacy section of the illegitimate CFL, or the club will lose as expected — and as expected — deny all suggestions that they were looking ahead to the be-all, end-all game against the Hamilton Tigercats next weekend.
Personally, I think the Bombers have enough momentum to win tomorrow. WHAT? Yes, it’s true. I’m not a fan, and I really don’t care either way if the team wins or loses, so despite the idea out there that I’m nothing but a hater, the fact is I can throw some love around when I think it’s warranted. Sigh. When did objectivity get such a bad rap? Oh well, a question (or post) for another day, I guess. Back to the Bleu et Or. Do I think the Bombers are a good team? Let me answer that with the name Michael Bishop. Do I think the Bombers are a bad team? Let me answer that with that extremely solid offensive line — the only reason this club is still a regular season concern, in my humble opinion.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (7-9) at Montreal Alouettes (13-3)
La Brewhouse Molson
Noon, opposite the Giants game so let me know how it ends
1. Are the Bombers really convinced Anthony Calvillo isn’t a factor?
Everyone, from the players to the coaches to the boosters, has stayed on the message this past week that Cavillo wouldn’t have been a factor in the last game (a big Bombers win before friends and family at Polo Park). The reasoning: Cavillo is on the offensive side and would have no bearing on the offensive explosion Winnipeg concocted. While that is true, what the peeps seem to realize is that with AC at the controls of the Montreal offence, there would have been a very good chance of three or four or five long, clock-eating drives that would have not only resulted in Alouettes scores, but would have also kept the Bombers offence off the field. Do I really have to bring this up?
2. How have the Bombers done in Montreal, and can this game set any tone for a potential fifth meeting in the Eastern final?
Well, they already dropped a game there this year, but so has everyone. Here’s the bad news for the Bombers — they are 4-15 in the last 14 seasons. Not a great trend. As for how this game will impact a potential Eastern final, here’s where it gets interesting. If the Bombers win they would have a two game win-streak going against the Als and both clubs would be headed in opposite directions. Anyone who knows anything about sports knows the stronger team will usually rise to the challenge when it matters most, but the Winnipeg side would be hard to beat if the dominoes fell that way.
3. “The bottom line is we have to continue to win games in order to gain respect that we haven’t really been shown yet.” — WBB head coach Mike Kelly.
Some would say people’s opinion of the 7-9 Bombers is exactly where it should be. Some would say you have to earn respect, not demand it. Others might say that if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s a duck. Some other people, those folks over there, would say the proof is in the pudding. A couple people who couldn’t be here today wonder if that respect the Kelly wants should be coming from the league or the Bombers fans themselves. I might say something to the effect about a two-way street, but I just can’t summon the energy right now.
