Kickoff: Friday, July 18th, 7:30 p.m. CDT; Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg
TV/Streaming: TSN 1/3, RDS2, CBS SportsNetwork; CFL+
Radio: 680 CJOB (pre-game begins at 5:30 p.m. CDT); Play-by-play: Derek Taylor/analyst: Doug Brown; Sirius XM (ch. 167)
Scene Setter
They took a punch — a series of them, actually — right to their collective mugs and then had almost two weeks to gaze at the black eyes and busted lips staring back at them in the mirror.
So, as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers sat and stewed following their first defeat of the season a couple weeks ago in a 37-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders which then led into a bye week, we now get the chance to see how well this 2025 edition can take a punch and then get up off the mat.
“We’re going to show what we’re about coming off this loss with the bye week and having a chance to rest,” said veteran defensive end Willie Jefferson. “Plus, it’s a chance to play at home so this is a chance to show the league we can bounce back and how we bounce back.
“You’ve got take a punch, but you’ve got to get up and keep swinging.”
Now 3-1, the Blue Bombers will play the Stampeders for a second straight game in what will be the fifth consecutive matchup against a divisional opponent. That’s especially critical Friday night with the club already having swept the season series with the B.C. Lions and being up 1-0 on the Edmonton Elks. Winnipeg will face Calgary again — in Cowtown — on August 9th in what will be the final regular-season matchup between the two clubs of the year, meaning this week is massive for any potential tiebreaker down the road.
Deatrick Nichols
“This is one of the things that is interesting about the CFL — even though it’s early in the season this is a very important game,” said defensive back Deatrick Nichols. “You try not to look too far into the future, but you have to have an awareness of how the season could unfold and you want to be spot on in a situation like this with a season series at stake.
“The reaction from everybody this week has been good. In football it’s about wins and losses, so you don’t go into a season really expecting to go undefeated. There’s a sense of urgency that comes after losing a game and then it’s about coming back prepared and ready to go. It was there for us this week.
“You learn who you are as a team in a time like this. You can build character coming off some losses. We’ve got another opportunity to play against the same team now.”
A stat that could be massively relevant if the trend continues and soon forgotten if the Blue Bombers don’t get it done Friday: Winnipeg is a remarkable 12-0 when coming off a bye week since 2021.
“That last game wasn’t the outcome we were expecting, obviously,” said running back Brady Oliveira. “We went there and they whupped us pretty good. What’s good is we get to see them again. We don’t have to wait weeks for that rematch against them. It’s going to be good to get another opportunity against a really good Stampeders team.
“We have had a really good week of practice. Having that bye week allowed us to have a chance to really think about where we can improve and how each guy can demand more from himself while trying to get better.
“We came back ready to work. That’s why maybe the bye week came at a good time — to get our asses whipped like that has brought us back to work hungry and motivated. We’re in good spot. We’re 3-1 and with still a lot of football left to be played.”
THE LINEUP: The Blue Bombers depth chart features two changes for this week, both with significant implications to the offence. Off are future hall of fame left tackle Stanley Bryant and receiver Dalton Schoen, who is third on the team with 17 receptions for 197 yards and a TD.
Micah Vanterpool will slide over from left guard to tackle to replace Bryant, with Gabe Wallace moving into the guard spot. And at receiver, Kody Case will come on at slotback to replace Schoen, who has been moved to the six-game injured list. Bryant, FYI, is just on the one-game injured.
Dalton Schoen has been moved to the six game injured list
Brant, LS Mike Benson, LB Jonathan Jones, RB/KR Peyton Logan, WR Dillon Mitchell and DT Tanner Schmekel are on the one-game injured with Schoen joining DB Jake Kelly, OL Eric Lofton — both practising — along with DB Enock Makonzo and DT Jamal Woods on the six-game list.
