The hard-luck Winnipeg Blue Bombers look for their first win of the season Friday when they host the Ottawa Redblacks.
The Blue Bombers are 0-4 for the first time since 2012, losing their last three by a combined margin of nine points.
Winnipeg is coming off a 22-19 defeat at Calgary last Saturday on Rene Paredes’ 52-yard field goal in overtime.
The Bombers’ injury-plagued offense was missing three receivers for that game. They lost struggling quarterback Zach Collaros in the second quarter when Stampeders defensive tackle Josiah Coatney delivered a hit to his chest.
Collaros, who did not practice Tuesday, has passed for 796 yards with four interceptions and zero touchdowns this season. Backup Chris Streveler threw one TD and one pick after coming on in relief of the two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player.
Winnipeg started 4-1 last season before ultimately losing to Montreal in the Grey Cup.
“Kind of like a flood here,” wide receiver Nic Demski said, according to the Winnipeg Sun. “It’s definitely a different season, different situation. But you’ve just got to take what comes your way. It’s all about how you react to it, how you bounce back.”
Ottawa (2-1) improved to 2-0 at home with a 24-22 win Sunday against Hamilton, but the Redblacks have not won a road game in nearly a year (July 23, 2023 at Calgary).
Ottawa snapped a 10-game losing streak to the Tiger-Cats last weekend on Lewis Ward’s 46-yard walk-off field goal, his fourth of the game.
“(That) will never get old,” Ward said, according to the Canadian Press of his game-winner. “That’s something that’s always exciting, always nerve-racking, and hopefully we don’t have too many of those.”
Former Atlanta Falcons wideout Justin Hardy caught his second touchdown pass of the season in the Redblacks’ win and ranks second in the league with 109.3 receiving yards per game.
The Ottawa defense ranks seventh in the CFL in points (29.3) and last in yards (391.3) allowed per game, but the Winnipeg offense is last in points scored (18.5) and yards gained (307.3).
–Field Level Media
