{"id":5033,"date":"2025-07-18T08:44:08","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T08:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/5033\/"},"modified":"2025-07-18T08:44:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T08:44:08","slug":"game-preview-5-cgy-at-wpg","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/5033\/","title":{"rendered":"Game Preview #5 | CGY at WPG"},"content":{"rendered":"

Kickoff: Friday, July 18th, 7:30 p.m. CDT; Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg
TV\/Streaming: TSN 1\/3, RDS2, CBS SportsNetwork; CFL+<\/a>
Radio: 680 CJOB (pre-game begins at 5:30 p.m. CDT); Play-by-play: Derek Taylor\/analyst: Doug Brown; Sirius XM (ch. 167)<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Scene Setter<\/p>\n

They took a punch \u2014 a series of them, actually \u2014 right to their collective mugs and then had almost two weeks to gaze at the black eyes and busted lips staring back at them in the mirror.<\/p>\n

So, as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers sat and stewed following their first defeat of the season a couple weeks ago in a 37-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders which then led into a bye week, we now get the chance to see how well this 2025 edition can take a punch and then get up off the mat.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to show what we\u2019re about coming off this loss with the bye week and having a chance to rest,\u201d said veteran defensive end Willie Jefferson. \u201cPlus, it\u2019s a chance to play at home so this is a chance to show the league we can bounce back and how we bounce back.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got take a punch, but you\u2019ve got to get up and keep swinging.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now 3-1, the Blue Bombers will play the Stampeders for a second straight game in what will be the fifth consecutive matchup against a divisional opponent. That\u2019s especially critical Friday night with the club already having swept the season series with the B.C. Lions and being up 1-0 on the Edmonton Elks. Winnipeg will face Calgary again \u2014 in Cowtown \u2014 on August 9th in what will be the final regular-season matchup between the two clubs of the year, meaning this week is massive for any potential tiebreaker down the road.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Deatrick Nichols<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is one of the things that is interesting about the CFL \u2014 even though it\u2019s early in the season this is a very important game,\u201d said defensive back Deatrick Nichols. \u201cYou try not to look too far into the future, but you have to have an awareness of how the season could unfold and you want to be spot on in a situation like this with a season series at stake.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reaction from everybody this week has been good. In football it\u2019s about wins and losses, so you don\u2019t go into a season really expecting to go undefeated. There\u2019s a sense of urgency that comes after losing a game and then it\u2019s about coming back prepared and ready to go. It was there for us this week.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou learn who you are as a team in a time like this. You can build character coming off some losses. We\u2019ve got another opportunity to play against the same team now.\u201d<\/p>\n

A stat that could be massively relevant if the trend continues and soon forgotten if the Blue Bombers don\u2019t get it done Friday: Winnipeg is a remarkable 12-0 when coming off a bye week since 2021.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat last game wasn\u2019t the outcome we were expecting, obviously,\u201d said running back Brady Oliveira. \u201cWe went there and they whupped us pretty good. What\u2019s good is we get to see them again. We don\u2019t have to wait weeks for that rematch against them. It\u2019s going to be good to get another opportunity against a really good Stampeders team.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have had a really good week of practice. Having that bye week allowed us to have a chance to really think about where we can improve and how each guy can demand more from himself while trying to get better.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe came back ready to work. That\u2019s why maybe the bye week came at a good time \u2014 to get our asses whipped like that has brought us back to work hungry and motivated. We\u2019re in good spot. We\u2019re 3-1 and with still a lot of football left to be played.\u201d<\/p>\n

THE LINEUP: The Blue Bombers depth chart features two changes for this week, both with significant implications to the offence. Off are future hall of fame left tackle Stanley Bryant and receiver Dalton Schoen, who is third on the team with 17 receptions for 197 yards and a TD.<\/p>\n

Micah Vanterpool will slide over from left guard to tackle to replace Bryant, with Gabe Wallace moving into the guard spot. And at receiver, Kody Case will come on at slotback to replace Schoen, who has been moved to the six-game injured list. Bryant, FYI, is just on the one-game injured.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Dalton Schoen has been moved to the six game injured list<\/p>\n

Brant, LS Mike Benson, LB Jonathan Jones, RB\/KR Peyton Logan, WR Dillon Mitchell and DT Tanner Schmekel are on the one-game injured with Schoen joining DB Jake Kelly, OL Eric Lofton \u2014 both practising \u2014 along with DB Enock Makonzo and DT Jamal Woods on the six-game list.<\/p>\n

FULL DEPTH CHART<\/a><\/p>\n

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