Willie Jefferson has done his thing along football’s trenches long enough to fully understand this: the Winnipeg Blue Bombers may have dropped four of their last five games, but a victory tonight against the Ottawa RedBlacks and all will be right again in the world.
Food tastes better and the sun shines brighter after a win, after all.
“The vibe inside the locker room and out there on the field is simple. It’s, ‘Let’s just get a win this week,’” Jefferson told bluebombers.com after Wednesday’s walk-through practice. “Look, we’ve dealt with losses before. We’re not going to have that mindset that, ‘This is what it is and what it’s going to be.’ We know all of us — offence, defence and special teams — can all make plays when we’re all on the same page.
“We just have to lock in, focus up and finish some drives on offence, get off the field on second down on defence and on special teams communicate and make the plays we need to make.”
The Blue Bombers face a RedBlacks squad which has breathed life into its season after two straight wins, including last Saturday’s 46-21 thriller over the Toronto Argonauts in which Dru Brown threw for five touchdowns.
Winnipeg, as everyone is aware, blew a 17-0 lead in last week’s loss to Calgary, falling 28-27 on a last-play field goal by Rene Paredes.
“I’m a very optimistic person. I never want to look at things like the glass is half empty. It’s always half full for me,” said Jefferson. “One play from the defence, offence or special teams last week and that’s a totally different game. We played against a good Calgary team and a hostile McMahon Stadium, and it came down to one play.
“The vibe is still positive. The guys are excited. It’s been a short week, but nobody is complaining about that. Plus, we get to play in front of another sold out stadium — what could be better? How can you complain about that?”
THURSDAY NIGHT? SOLD OUT. THAT’S 10 STRAIGHT SELLOUTS 🫡 (AND THE BANJO BOWL IS ALREADY LOCKED IN FOR 11)
we’ve only got THREE home games left with tickets available. GET ‘EM BEFORE THEY’RE GONE 👇
tickets » https://t.co/1FlCx1lkSI#ForTheW pic.twitter.com/q9RWS2nuWH
— Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) August 12, 2025
ICYMI, here is our Game Preview from Wednesday:
And follow along here as we present a collection of notes/quotes/anecdotes to help get Blue Bombers fans up to speed for tonight’s matchup with the RedBlacks in this week’s GAME DAY HQ…
STEP RIGHT UP, MR. ALLEN
Cam Allen makes his CFL debut tonight
The Blue Bombers secondary has seen a revolving door of personnel changes over the last few weeks, with Jamal Parker, Jr. moving from safety to corner to the injured list; with Redha Kramdi moving from dime to safety; with cornerback Marquise Bridges released and replaced by Dexter Lawson, Jr. and with Trey Vaval getting his first start tonight at corner and the debut of Allen at safety.
(Exhale here).
Allen is an intriguing addition. He excelled in training camp, but the club opted to go with Parker, Jr. at safety. Since then, the 25-year-old Purdue product — who had a look from the Denver Broncos last year — has been waiting for his turn on the practice roster.
“It’s just an opportunity for me to go out there and show these coaches and my teammates that I belong,” said Allen. “I’ll do anything I can and do my job to help us win.”
A cornerback/quarterback before heading to Purdue, Allen hopes his understanding of the game from both perspectives will help him in his transition to the three-down game.
“I feel like I have a very good sense of where the quarterback wants to go, reading concepts, being able to break on the ball and knowing when the quarterback wants to throw the ball and where he wants to throw the ball,” said Allen. “It’s read and react. That’s where I think I’m best at.”
The Blue Bombers secondary will now feature a couple of CFL rookies in Allen and Vaval along with Lawson, Jr. — making his second start for Winnipeg — and halfbacks Deatrick Nichols and Evan Holm along with Kramdi and Michael Griffin II.
“Me going into the game I’m expecting a couple of shots of them (Ottawa) coming at me,” said Allen. “A guy like me, I’m very confident in my play. I want those plays. If they go away from you all game, you don’t have an opportunity to make a play. I’m just ready for the opportunity.”
WELCOME BACK, DRU
Dru Brown in action against Winnipeg last year
There’s a lot of ton of respect for Ottawa QB Dru Brown in the Blue Bombers clubhouse, as he’d gone to battle and help Winnipeg win games as the understudy to Zach Collaros before his departure to the RedBlacks.
“Dru’s a great guy. I love the guy like a brother,” said Collaros. “It’s been really cool to watch his maturation and like I said to you guys years ago he’ll just continue to get better and better. He loves the game and has got a great coach over there.
“It’s been cool to watch.”
Brown’s five TDs last week was a new career high and in his last two games his TD:interception differential is 7:1.
“He’s been in that system for a couple years now and it’s his system,” added Jefferson. “He knows where he wants to go with the ball and he can get the ball out of his hands in a bunch of different ways — over the shoulder, sidearm, leaning away from defenders and still get the ball out.
“But as long as we can get to him early and often, get in his face and make it hard for him to get the ball to his receivers and running backs we’ll have a good day.”
THE COACH SAYS
NOTABLE
Willie Jefferson has seven pass knockdowns in his past three games.
Nic Demski needs 40 yards to pass Jeff Boyd (5,110) for ninth on Winnipeg’s all-time receiving list.
Ottawa’s 21-point comeback last week was the third largest in franchise history.
Winnipeg has not lost to Ottawa at home since August 17, 2018.
Check out this piece on Blue Bombers CFL Draft pick Taylor Elgersma’s journey to crack the Green Bay Packers roster/practice roster as a QB.