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<\/p>\nThey\u2019ve given us some masterpieces this season and served up other efforts that, while lacking in artistic merit, would still be eye-catching enough to find a place on a refrigerator beside a kid\u2019s finger-painting.<\/p>\n
And so, by comparison, the best description of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 17-16 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in front of another capacity crowd Friday night at Princess Auto Stadium \u2014 and this is being exceptionally kind \u2014 would be to peg it as a dog\u2019s breakfast.<\/p>\n
Yes, the Blue Bombers exited with a critical \u2018W\u2019 in the fight for a Canadian Football League playoff spot, but this one looked like it fell out of the ugly tree and bounced off every branch on the way to the ground.<\/p>\n
\u201cUgly win, man. Ugly win,\u201d said running back Brady Oliveira inside the Blue Bombers clubhouse afterward. \u201cIf we want to get to where we want to go, we\u2019ve got to play a lot better than that. Our defence played outstanding. Special teams did what they did \u2014 Trey (Vaval) put us in some good field position. But as an offence, we\u2019ve got to be better. We\u2019ve got to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Indeed, while the victory improved the Blue Bombers to 9-8, it had some considerable warts that are going to leave this bunch seething when it goes over the game film.<\/p>\n
The Blue Bombers turned the ball over three times \u2014 including a Vaval fumble on the opening kickoff \u2014 was 0-for-3 in the red zone, took some ill-timed penalties and really struggled to move the ball until late in the game. Let\u2019s remember that, because when it mattered most Oliveira, Zach Collaros & Co. were able to move the ball deep into Roughrider territory before a 22-yard field goal by Sergio Castillo on the last play gave them the \u2018W.\u2019<\/p>\n
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That said, the offence scored on its first possession on a 28-yard Collaros to Pokey Wilson score and followed that up with a Castillo 12-yard field goal but then bogged down completely after that. And it wasn\u2019t pretty, as the next 12 possessions featured eight punts, an interception, a turnover on downs, and a pair of field goals.<\/p>\n
Asked what he liked or didn\u2019t like about the offence after the game, Collaros was blunt:<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t like anything. We didn\u2019t do anything well.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026 What did our defence give up, four points? So, they did a great job. And Trey did a great job of bouncing back, especially after that first one. That shows tremendous character in him. They were great, our specials, all night in giving us great field position, especially in the fourth quarter. There\u2019s a lot of things we can do better.<\/p>\n
\u201cWinning is great, winning is hard. But we need to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n
More\u00a0on the Blue Bombers ninth win of the season from our view in the press box\u2026<\/p>\n
WHAT IT MEANS\u2026<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what is most important at the end of the night: the Blue Bombers win, coupled with the B.C. Lions 37-24 win over the Edmonton Elks later in the evening meant the club has now qualified for the playoffs for a ninth straight season.<\/p>\n
anything can happen in november. #ForTheW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/pBQmmUA0H5<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n So, yup, no such thing as an ugly win, given what unfolded in Vancouver after the Blue Bombers win.<\/p>\n \u201cNot in the six or seven hours post win,\u201d said head coach Mike O\u2019Shea. \u201cIt gets ugly at whatever time in the morning we show up to break it down. You try to move on and enjoy it. That\u2019s one of the hard things in pro sport.<\/p>\n \u201cYou talk to coaches, players, everybody \u2014 Olympians \u2014 and I don\u2019t think we give ourselves enough of an opportunity to enjoy the fact that we accomplished the one goal we set out to accomplish \u2014 whatever it looks like.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s always something to fix. We\u2019ve just got to give ourselves a bit of grace, enjoy each other\u2019s company, celebrate a little bit and then get back to work. That\u2019s what we do every single week.\u201d<\/p>\n DEFENCE COVERS THE SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS<\/p>\n It started with Vaval\u2019s fumble on the opening kickoff, which was followed by a pass interference call against Demerio Houston in the end zone on the Roughriders first offensive snap.<\/p>\n And so the game was just over a minute old before the Blue Bombers were in a 7-zip hole. They did rally to tie the game at 10-10, but some questionable decisions \u2014 including a third-and-two gamble late in the first half which was stuffed \u2014 saw Winnipeg trail 11-10 at the intermission despite hold a Roughrider squad missing a ton of regulars to just five first downs and 48 yards of net offence.<\/p>\n Saskatchewan finished the night with 169 yards of net offence, including just 29 yards on 12 rushing.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m proud of the whole team tonight, not just the defence,\u201d said defensive end Willie Jefferson. \u201cIt was a resilient game by the offence, Papi (Sergio Castillo) made his kicks, special teams locked in and our defence locked in and handled its business.<\/p>\n \u201cWe needed a win. In this game, you can\u2019t criticize how you get it. That\u2019s a win against a great team. Yeah, they were resting some guys. But as long as we continue to keep moving forward, we\u2019ll be fine.<\/p>\n MORE \u2018O\u2019 CHATTER<\/p>\n The word \u2018ugly\u2019 was tossed around a ton post-game. But when it mattered most the Blue Bombers were able to piece together a 10 play 42-yard drive that chewed up the final two minutes and 54 seconds and ended with Castillo\u2019s game winner.<\/p>\n So\u2026 there is that.<\/p>\n \u201cI know the guys we have in this locker room,\u201d said Oliveira. \u201cWe\u2019ve played a lot of football and won a lot of games \u2014 especially meaningful games. But, obviously this needs to start clicking. Unfortunately, right now it wasn\u2019t clicking tonight. So we need to find a way. How does this thing go?<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got to get back to the drawing board. Everyone has to look in the mirror, clean up their play so when the play is called we have to go out there and execute it. Simple as that.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026 I\u2019m proud of the guys for the way we fought all game, but obviously that was an ugly win. We stayed with it through the highs and lows.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have an extremely high standard in here. Extremely high. We know the level of football we can play at. Yeah, a win\u2019s a win and we got the playoffs, which is great. Hopefully we can extend our football into the postseason but, not good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n ONE SPECIAL MOMENT<\/p>\n Missing both Nic Demski and Dalton Schoen, the passing attack managed just 182 yards. But for the second straight game, Pokey Wilson found the end zone.<\/p>\n THAT IS HOW WE DREW IT UP.<\/p>\n TIE GAME.#ForTheW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Nzaq1KxlZn<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) October 18, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n 13\u2026 AND COUNTING<\/p>\n An amazing number that doesn\u2019t get talked about enough across the CFL: Friday\u2019s capacity crowd makes 13 straight sell-outs for the Blue Bombers, including all eight this season. With one more home game remaining next weekend the team has an opportunity to do something never before done in the franchise\u2019s modern history \u2014 sell out every game in the season.<\/p>\n So, take a bow \u2014 a couple of them \u2014 Bomber fans. And merci beaucoup.<\/p>\n tonight\u2019s game is OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT!<\/p>\n LET\u2019S MAKE IT FOURTEEN STRAIGHT. NEXT WEEK\u2019S GAME HAS LESS THAN 1400 TICKETS LEFT \u203c\ufe0f<\/p>\n tickets \u00bb https:\/\/t.co\/CzaPcltnrn<\/a>#ForTheW<\/a> | @GMCcanada<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/I5qx4AF9hI<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/3rd-4-Large.jpg\")
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