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![\"ETHAN](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Zach-Collaros.jpg\")
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tETHAN CAIRNS \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll think about that game forever, as we always talk about, but not this week,\u201d said Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The offence has sputtered, the defence has been picked apart and the collective has hurt itself more than helped in the last two games.<\/p>\n
This ship is swaying, and it needs to find calm waters again.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only things that probably creep into my mind are just some of the (defensive) looks that seem similar,\u201d said Zach Collaros. \u201cThe CFL, most of the time there\u2019s a lot of turnover, right? There\u2019s been a lot of turnover on that defence, so not too many things have fled back into my memory.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll think about that game forever, as we always talk about, but not this week.\u201d<\/p>\n
With that as a backdrop, here are the storylines that are burning the hottest leading up to kickoff in the latest edition of Five Storylines.<\/p>\n
Still no Kelly<\/p>\n
Before last year, Collaros and Chad Kelly had accounted for the previous three Most Outstanding Player awards, and with the latter missing last year\u2019s Grey Cup due to a broken fibula he sustained the week prior, this home-and-home was circled as a big-time game with two of the league\u2019s best quarterbacks set to square off.<\/p>\n
That won\u2019t be happening, though.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Toronto Argonauts quarterback Chad Kelly is \u201cday-to-day, maybe week-to-week\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Toronto\u2019s pivot is still working back from his leg injury and is \u201cday-to-day, maybe week-to-week\u201d as of Friday, according to head coach Ryan Dinwiddie. So, there\u2019s a strong chance Kelly also misses the second half of this back-to-back series, which goes next week in Winnipeg.<\/p>\n The Bombers will take every break they can get, and while the on-field product might not be as great without Kelly, Winnipeg is fine with him taking some extra time to return.<\/p>\n With that said, if there was one takeaway from last year\u2019s Grey Cup, when Nick Arbuckle was named the game\u2019s MOP, it\u2019s that no one can be taken lightly.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Uncharacteristic squads<\/p>\n Dinwiddie and Bombers head coach Mike O\u2019Shea, by all accounts, are two of the best coaches in the Canadian Football League; however, their squads haven\u2019t played that way recently.<\/p>\n This is the first time since 1998 that Winnipeg and Toronto have entered a head-to-head meeting while both riding two-game losing streaks.<\/p>\n The Argos have found ways to lose games. They barfed on themselves in Week 7, blowing an 18-point lead in the second half and losing on a touchdown in the dying moments to the Montreal Alouettes.<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t BROOK JONES \/ FREE PRESS FILES<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n \u201cI think the guys on the defence want to play better, obviously,\u201d said Bomber head coach Mike O\u2019Shea.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Winnipeg has lost two straight games by 20-plus points for the first time since 2014 while committing several untimely penalties. Collaros and Chris Streveler have combined for six interceptions \u2014 three returned for touchdowns \u2014 in the last two games, while the Bombers\u2019 defence has been used for target practice.<\/p>\n Several players have mentioned that there was a heightened sense of urgency in practice this week and that they are eager to bounce back.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the guys on the defence want to play better, obviously,\u201d said O\u2019Shea. \u201cThey\u2019re not happy with the explosions they\u2019ve given up, the mistakes they\u2019ve made, the lack of communication in certain plays. They want to be the reason why the team wins. Every phase does right?<\/p>\n \u201cI think the overall idea is just work to play better, and if they have a little more urgency, then that\u2019s probably a positive thing.\u201d<\/p>\n The Argos are in desperation mode near the bottom of the East Division standings, while the concern for the Bombers has only grown.<\/p>\n One streak must come to an end.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Top red zone offences collide<\/p>\n A good drive doesn\u2019t matter unless it ends with points.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been the sentiment echoed by leaders of the Bombers\u2019 offence all week after the red zone interception thrown by Streveler, intended for Kevens Clercius early in the third quarter of last week\u2019s game, ended up being the turning point in the contest.<\/p>\n Mistakes inside the opponent\u2019s 20-yard line have been rare for the Bombers this season, as they carry the CFL\u2019s No. 1 red zone offence into this contest, converting their opportunities into touchdowns at a 79 per cent clip.<\/p>\n They face an Argos defence that has been respectable in that area, allowing opponents to score on 11 of their 18 trips to the red zone.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Toronto has the league\u2019s No. 2-ranked red zone offence at 73 per cent efficiency. The Bombers\u2019 defence has struggled with its back against the wall, allowing its opponents to go eight-for-10 this season.<\/p>\n It\u2019s important to note that while Toronto and Winnipeg have enjoyed offensive success in that area, their opportunities have been limited, as their 14 and 13 trips, respectively, rank seventh and eighth in the league.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Tight contests<\/p>\n The Bombers and Argos have been a good bet for a close game when they meet up.<\/p>\n Six of their last seven meetings have been decided in the last three minutes of the game, while the Argos have won the two most recent contests by five points combined.<\/p>\n Winnipeg has also experienced some recent misfortune in The Six.<\/p>\n The club has lost in three of its last four visits to Toronto, and a victory this week for the Argos would extend their regular-season win streak to three games over Winnipeg for the first time in over a decade.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, it\u2019s something in the water, I guess, here in Toronto,\u201d said Brady Oliveira. \u201cSeems like we don\u2019t have our greatest games out here in Toronto, but hopefully that can change tomorrow night, and we come out here with a great performance. Start fast, play all three phases and come out with the victory.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t NATHAN DENETTE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Oliveira says its critical that the club gets out to a fast start against the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Back to the bread and butter<\/p>\n Earlier this week, Oliveria noted how critical it was that Winnipeg gets out to a fast start on Saturday. It can have a similar effect as a basketball player watching their first shot attempt go through the hoop.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it brings a whole lot of good energy to not just the offence, but the team in general,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The Bombers did a great job of turning their early possessions into points to begin the season, but have tapered off in recent weeks. A fast start for this club typically means running the ball effectively, and there appears to be a terrific opportunity to do that in this matchup.<\/p>\n The Argos are conceding the third-most rushing yards per game to their opponent (118), while the Bombers \u2014 despite their recent drop off \u2014 remain home to one of the most potent ground attacks in the league.<\/p>\n Winnipeg has averaged a second-best 123.8 rushing yards per game, while Oliveria has posted an efficient 5.9 yards per carry.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s contagious,\u201d Oliveira said. \u201cWe\u2019ve done that before in the past, and we know that feeling, so I think we just have to go out there tomorrow and, again, just start fast and make sure that we finish this time and kind of hold our end of the deal up and make sure we get it done.\u201d<\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t joshua.frey-sam@freepress.mb.ca<\/p>\n X: @jfreysam<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Joshua Frey-Sam Josh Frey-Sam reports on sports and business at the Free Press. Josh got his start at the paper in 2022, just weeks after graduating from the Creative Communications program at Red River College. He reports primarily on amateur teams and athletes in sports. Read more about Josh<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Josh produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print \u2014 part of the Free Press\u2018s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press\u2019s history and mandate<\/a>, and learn how our newsroom operates<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber<\/a>.<\/p>\n Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.<\/p>\n \t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNATHAN DENETTE \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
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