Blue Bombers lose to the Toronto Argos in CFL action

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Sports Football CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers

“People aren’t going to like hearing this, but I am very relaxed with the situation because I see what is happening and the answers are easy,” head coach Mike O’Shea said.

Published Jul 28, 2025 • Last updated 33 minutes ago • 4 minute read

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Bombers toronto Toronto Argonauts quarterback Nick Arbuckle (4) runs the ball past Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive lineman Jake Thomas (95) during first half CFL football action in Toronto on Saturday, July 26, 2025. Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette /Winnipeg SunArticle content

Even when mild bouts of turmoil ensue, the captain of this ship stays true.

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“People aren’t going to like hearing this, but I am very relaxed with the situation because I see what is happening and the answers are easy,” head coach Mike O’Shea told the reporters in Toronto.

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The Blue Bombers dropped their third consecutive game, this one a 31-17 loss to the Argonauts on Saturday night.

Some of the issues plaguing the team in the two previous losses against the Calgary Stampeders were, once again, issues in Toronto.

Not including turnovers on downs, where the number reached seven, the Bombers offence turned the ball over three times; the defensive back core got beat on two explosive plays on Toronto’s opening drive of the first quarter, and the team trailed at halftime for the third straight game, 24-10 in this case. drive of the game, and the team trailed at halftime for the third consecutive game.

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Now, granted the playing conditions weren’t ideal, but as O’Shea referenced in his post-game availability both teams had to adapt to the soggy conditions.

O’Shea was calm and rational in his summations of the 14-point loss to an Argos team that was on a two-game losing streak coming into Week 8 action. The Bombers The Bombers

“(The effort was) not nearly good enough,” O’ Shea said. “We have to prepare our guys to play smarter. We put ourselves in a hole early, but nothing unsurmountable. It was a weird game, and we certainly didn’t play well enough.”

O’Shea views the turnovers, the completed 30-plus yard passes and less than ideal starts as mental and physical errors, and not from a lack of talent.

“If we were talking about fixing my car I would be panicking because I have no clue what you are talking about,” O’Shea said. “But if we are talking about football and how a play worked against us or why a play worked for us, it is easy to understand from one play to the next. We have a bunch of guys who understand (we need to) make some corrections, go to work and be better. That is one of the reasons why it is easy to just stay even keeled.”

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And O’Shea has plenty of experience in keeping a level head.
Going back to the last season, the team lost four consecutive games before earning its first win in Week 5 action against the RedBlacks. From there, the team went 11-3 and won the division.

Quarterback Chris Streveler echoed the same message as his head coach: it’s time to lace up the proverbial work boots and get work on issues that have remedies.

“We do understand it is a long season and there is still time to get better and make things right,” Streveler said. “It is going to start (with watching the game film) and being critical of ourselves. And that doesn’t happen because you trust it is a long season, but you have put in extra and you have to do a little bit more and you have tough conversations with yourself, and as a team, and figure out why we are not winning and correct the mistakes so we can get better.”

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Streveler went 11-for-18 for 148 yards and one touchdown in relief action. He ran the ball four times for 16 yards. Zach Collaros connected on five passes for 79 yards and two interceptions. The Bombers did not say why the team’s starting quarterback was on the sidelines to begin the third quarter.

Last Friday night Collaros did not play in the second half against the Stampeders after getting smacked by Clarence Hicks with less than seven minutes left in the second quarter.

Streveler’s touchdown was an 18-yard completion to Jerreth Sterns late in the third quarter, With the convert, the Bombers trailed 28-17 heading for the fourth quarter. Brady Oliveira had 82 yards rushing on 13 carries with one lost fumble and no touchdowns.

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O’ Shea says his process about possible lineup changes for next week’s re-match, because the question was asked, will be based on longstanding principles.

“We are going to look at this game and figure out why we lost play one or play two, whatever the plays are, we are going to look at the exact reason why you win or lose plays and then why you win or lose games,” he said. It is the same process we have used since 2014, and I don’t think there is a reason to change it.”

And not based on reactionary measures.

“We are going to stick to that process and get some answers, and then with the information, you make all sorts of decisions,” he said. A change in personnel doesn’t necessarily mean everything changes. Having faith and trust in the coaching and coaching hard and working to get results with younger guys is important stuff.”

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Blue Bombers lose to the Toronto Argos in CFL action

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