{"id":173615,"date":"2025-09-27T18:49:06","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T18:49:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/173615\/"},"modified":"2025-09-27T18:49:06","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T18:49:06","slug":"game-day-hq-tiger-cats-at-blue-bombers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/173615\/","title":{"rendered":"Game Day HQ | Tiger-Cats at Blue Bombers"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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 \u2014 whether that\u2019s through the Canadian Football League\u2019s West Division or as a crossover club through the East.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a huge opportunity,\u201d quarterback Zach Collaros said in his media conference Friday afternoon. \u201cWe talk about this all the time \u2014 I say it to you guys often \u2014 you don\u2019t get a lot of opportunities in this game.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s something I\u2019ve echoed to the guys during the week and just a little bit out there during the walk-through \u2014 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\u2019t get that many.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re excited for it. History has shown throughout this league if you get in, you\u2019ve got a chance. We just want to be playing good football tomorrow.\u201d \u2014 Zach Collaros<\/p>\n

That part \u2014 a complete game \u2014 has been elusive for much of this season. But with two-thirds of the team standing up in last week\u2019s win in Ottawa and Collaros returning behind centre, there is the belief this squad\u2019s best is yet to come.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAll I care about is we got the win. I\u2019m never going to apologize for that. Really,\u201d said head coach Mike O\u2019Shea when asked about the passing numbers (3-of-8, 54 yards) in last week\u2019s victory. \u201cAnd however it\u2019s going to look this week, if we get the win we\u2019ll feel good about it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Blue Bombers got some mixed results from the West Division in Friday night\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

ICYMI, here is our Game Preview from yesterday:<\/p>\n

Game Preview: Hamilton at Winnipeg<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

And follow along here as we present a collection of notes\/quotes\/anecdotes to help get Blue Bombers fans up to speed for today\u2019s matchup with the Tiger-Cats in this week\u2019s GAME DAY HQ\u2026<\/p>\n

THREE?!?!?!<\/p>\n

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We\u2019ve beaten this to a pulp all week \u2014 and will do so for at least one more day \u2014 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.<\/p>\n

Yet, ask around the clubhouse and there\u2019s this consensus: don\u2019t underestimate the work of the ground game \u2014 172 yards rushing and a TD \u2014 along with what the squad got from the special teams and defence.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said it earlier in the week, I\u2019ve played in games where I had six completions, five completions,\u201d said Collaros. \u201cSometimes those things just happen and the way the game is moving \u2014 if it\u2019s a defensive struggle, if it\u2019s a wind game, all those things play a factor in play-calling and what we want to get to within the game plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that\u2019s something that\u2019s been a bit over-blown. From Chris\u2019 perspective, the quarterback\u2019s perspective, there\u2019s times when you\u2019re only able to execute what you\u2019re being asked to do. There\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeaking back to those times when I completed five or six passes, when I think back to those times it\u2019s hard when you only complete one pass in a quarter and then go another quarter and a half before you\u2019re even asked to throw another one. I\u2019m not questioning the play-calling here at all, I\u2019m just saying I\u2019ve 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\u2019re seeing the pictures clearly, you\u2019re able to anticipate those windows a little better. You\u2019re just throwing with more confidence at the end of the day.\u201d<\/p>\n

OUT OF THE WOODS<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was in the best for the team for me to be down so that other people could be brought up,\u201d said Woods of having to wait. \u201d I\u2019m just blessed for this opportunity now. It\u2019s been a roller-coaster this season, but I\u2019m exciting to get a chance now.<\/p>\n

\u201cI 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\u2019t put me back down now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Woods has been dynamic at practice this week and noticeable in his energy from play to play.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what was instilled in me since I was little,\u201d he said. \u201cI was always that kid that was going to run to the ball, fly around the field. That\u2019s just my DNA. That will never leave me. I\u2019ll always have that energy throughout the whole season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt 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\u2019m bringing it. If a guy needed a good look in practice, I\u2019m bringing it. Now that I\u2019ve got my opportunity I\u2019m going to go out there and be there for the team.\u201d<\/p>\n

BRAVO<\/p>\n

Thanks to your continued support, together with @Wpg_BlueBombers<\/a> more than $32,000 has now been raised!<\/p>\n

Huge thanks to everyone who donated so far to benefit student-athletes at @MTA_Football<\/a> and @McMasterSports<\/a> \ud83d\udc9b
\ud83d\udd17 | https:\/\/t.co\/48AxhjT5ay<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/afF7ZUwhE6<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats) September 26, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

NOTABLE<\/p>\n

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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.
\nCollaros is 31-7 at home as a Blue Bomber.
\nBrady 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.<\/p>\n