This might have been the best game the Bombers have played all year. While the final offensive stats look close, the game was not that terribly close at half time.

Yet, since the CFL does not provide half-time stats, here are the stats at the end of the game.

Toronto

Winnipeg

When looking at the stats, the other thing that should be noted is that Toronto leads the CFL with explosion plays. If you were not at the game, I can tell you that at half time the receiving yard were not even close. Winnipeg was totally outpacing Toronto.

Credit to Toronto, they did make a game of it, and with Chad Kelly at quarterback, you are never really out of it. He will continue to push the ball downfield regardless of the score.

Notables

Vaval Does His Thing
It was not so many years ago that a fumble as a returner got you sat on the Bombers’ bench. In fact, last year after Trey Vaval dropped one, I thought that might be the end of him. The Bombers’ head coach Mike O’Shea may be faulted for being too loyal, but his tenure as the Bombers’ head coach has shown me that such loyalty stops when balls are dropped.

However, Mike O’Shea has had a different approach with Vaval. It is easy to say that Mike’s approach with Vaval has been the right one. Vaval had 4 returns last year, and won both the Most Outstanding Rookie, and the Most Outstanding Special Teams Player awards in 2026!

So, when Vaval dropped one early against Toronto, I was not worried. And sure enough, not too long later that drop, Vaval took back the longest possible return, in the CFL, for a touchdown.

It is a great thing that the CFL commissioner, in all of his wisdom is moving the field goal posts next year which will make that play a near impossibility in 2027. But until then, I hope Vaval makes a few more house calls!

The Sellout?
After some debate, no, the Bombers did not keep the sellout streak alive. Why they would not just donate the remaining tickets (less than 200) to charity is beyond me. I did hear that Toronto got part of the gate revenue, but even if that is true, sell out the game…who cares if Toronto gets a bit more money.

What may have played into the Bombers not guaranteeing a sellout is that there could have been some confusion around if this were a home game for Toronto, or a home game for Winnipeg. After the game I hear something like this, ‘For statistical and historical accuracy, the CFL is viewing this as a home game for Winnipeg.’ I would like to know if Toronto got any credit for the fan attendance. If they did, that would be equal to a whole season of their home game attendance in just one game.

The Crowd!
That was by far the loudest I have heard Princess Auto Stadium this year! In the fourth quarter when the Bombers were on defence the fans showed why they truly ate the loudest fans in the CFL. It did not even matter when Toronto completed a long play. There was no let down from the fans. They brought the noise, and it was observable how hard it was for Toronto to hear the call from their quarterback.

What Do You Think?

What about you? What stood out for you that I did not touch on?

Maybe something from this highlight package or something else.

Let me know in the comments section wherever you are reading this. Catch all my articles here.