It’s been an all-over-the-map four months and 14 games for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, from losing QB1 Zach Collaros for chunks, to rocketing out to a 3-0 start, to skids and spurts and everything in between.
And here we all are with the leaves turning, the days getting shorter and oodles of opportunity still ahead for a .500 team with so much success over the years in the rear-view mirror still trying to find the right gear heading into an autumn playoff push — whether that’s through the Canadian Football League’s West Division or as a crossover club through the East.
“It’s a huge opportunity,” quarterback Zach Collaros said in his media conference Friday afternoon. “We talk about this all the time — I say it to you guys often — you don’t get a lot of opportunities in this game.
“It’s something I’ve echoed to the guys during the week and just a little bit out there during the walk-through — the opportunities are dwindling. Big picture-wise, however that all plays out, we do have a say in that, which is nice, with our play. You always cherish those opportunities to get out there and play this game because you don’t get that many.
“We’re excited for it. History has shown throughout this league if you get in, you’ve got a chance. We just want to be playing good football tomorrow.” — Zach Collaros
That part — a complete game — has been elusive for much of this season. But with two-thirds of the team standing up in last week’s win in Ottawa and Collaros returning behind centre, there is the belief this squad’s best is yet to come.
“All I care about is we got the win. I’m never going to apologize for that. Really,” said head coach Mike O’Shea when asked about the passing numbers (3-of-8, 54 yards) in last week’s victory. “And however it’s going to look this week, if we get the win we’ll feel good about it.”
The Blue Bombers got some mixed results from the West Division in Friday night’s doubleheader, with the Calgary Stampeders falling 38-20 in Montreal to the Alouettes to drop to 8-6, while the Lions improved to 8-7 with a 27-22 win over the Toronto Argonauts. That puts Winnipeg into fourth spot in the West with 14 points heading into today but also further opens the window that crossover spot through the East.
ICYMI, here is our Game Preview from yesterday:
Game Preview: Hamilton at Winnipeg
And follow along here as we present a collection of notes/quotes/anecdotes to help get Blue Bombers fans up to speed for today’s matchup with the Tiger-Cats in this week’s GAME DAY HQ…
THREE?!?!?!
We’ve beaten this to a pulp all week — and will do so for at least one more day — but the Blue Bombers are coming off a win with historically poor passing numbers, as the 54 yards passing was the lowest for the club in a win since 1975.
Yet, ask around the clubhouse and there’s this consensus: don’t underestimate the work of the ground game — 172 yards rushing and a TD — along with what the squad got from the special teams and defence.
“I said it earlier in the week, I’ve played in games where I had six completions, five completions,” said Collaros. “Sometimes those things just happen and the way the game is moving — if it’s a defensive struggle, if it’s a wind game, all those things play a factor in play-calling and what we want to get to within the game plan.
“I think that’s something that’s been a bit over-blown. From Chris’ perspective, the quarterback’s perspective, there’s times when you’re only able to execute what you’re being asked to do. There’s times when you go out there and 40 drop backs are called and you can get into a rhythm and you can see the game and it cleans things up for you.
“Speaking back to those times when I completed five or six passes, when I think back to those times it’s hard when you only complete one pass in a quarter and then go another quarter and a half before you’re even asked to throw another one. I’m not questioning the play-calling here at all, I’m just saying I’ve been in those situations before. And playing the quarterback position a lot of it revolves around getting into a rhythm early in the game and then you’re seeing the pictures clearly, you’re able to anticipate those windows a little better. You’re just throwing with more confidence at the end of the day.”
OUT OF THE WOODS
Kudos to Blue Bombers defensive tackle Jamal Woods, who makes his 2025 debut today after both battling injuries and getting caught in the ratio game before getting his shot to return.
The second-year man dressed for 17 regular-season games last year, 14 of them starts, and after missing the Western Final, also suited up for the 111th Grey Cup. He seemed on the cusp, too, after registering two sacks last year.
“It was in the best for the team for me to be down so that other people could be brought up,” said Woods of having to wait. ” I’m just blessed for this opportunity now. It’s been a roller-coaster this season, but I’m exciting to get a chance now.
“I had high expectations coming into this year but being down gave me time to sit down and evaluate myself and evaluate what this teams needs so that when I do get the opportunity to be out there they can’t put me back down now.”
Woods has been dynamic at practice this week and noticeable in his energy from play to play.
“That’s what was instilled in me since I was little,” he said. “I was always that kid that was going to run to the ball, fly around the field. That’s just my DNA. That will never leave me. I’ll always have that energy throughout the whole season.
“It was definitely tough to not be out there but I was there to support my team and give whatever they needed. If it was energy, I’m bringing it. If a guy needed a good look in practice, I’m bringing it. Now that I’ve got my opportunity I’m going to go out there and be there for the team.”
BRAVO
Thanks to your continued support, together with @Wpg_BlueBombers more than $32,000 has now been raised!
Huge thanks to everyone who donated so far to benefit student-athletes at @MTA_Football and @McMasterSports 💛
🔗 | https://t.co/48AxhjT5ay https://t.co/afF7ZUwhE6
— Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats) September 26, 2025
NOTABLE
Both LB Tony Jones and DT Cam Lawson were fined an undisclosed amount by the CFL this week for their high hits on Ottawa QB Dru Brown last week, both of which were penalized in the game.
Collaros is 31-7 at home as a Blue Bomber.
Brady Oliveira has posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing games and has never rushed for over 100 in three consecutive games. He ranks #7 all-time for Winnipeg with
5,190 career rushing yards.