![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MNP_logo343C-772-300x97.png\")
<\/p>\nFeel free to exhale for a moment and slowly back away from the proverbial panic button, all you loyal followers of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.<\/p>\n
The roof hasn\u2019t completely caved in on the local football side and the earth hasn\u2019t spun off its axis after all, and as a result, the Blue Bombers will now carry a smidge of momentum into the second half of the 2026 Canadian Football League season following a 33-21 win over the Ottawa RedBlacks Friday night in front of 31,312 at Princess Auto Stadium.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The result stops the bleeding from a two-game losing skid \u2014 both losses at home \u2014 and settles the Blue Bombers into sole possession of third place in the West Division with a 5-4 record, trailing the Saskatchewan Roughriders, 6-2, and the Edmonton Elks at 6-3.<\/p>\n
The B.C. Lions, 4-5, and the 4-6 Calgary Stampeders are right there in Winnipeg\u2019s rear-view mirror, too.<\/p>\n
The RedBlacks, meanwhile, drop to 0-9 on the season and have now lost 15 in a row \u2014 the longest losing streak in CFL history since the Hamilton Wildcats of 1948-49 lost 16 straight.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Jaiden-Woodbey-3-64-Large.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was a big win. A big win in terms of getting back on track but also just a statement on getting to where we needed to be,\u201d said receiver Nic Demski, who finished with six catches for 79 yards. \u201cAgain, we could always be better. We\u2019re going to look at that and everybody is going to be true to themselves and know that we can be better as well. But at the end of the day, we did a lot of great stuff out there and it resulted in a win.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe still feel like there\u2019s untapped potential. For us, we\u2019ve got to keep grinding, we\u2019ve got to keep working but tonight was definitely a step in right direction. We\u2019ve got a lot more to give, and we proved that to the fans, to the league as a whole and, most importantly, to ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
More thoughts on the Blue Bombers fifth win of the season from our view in the press box\u2026<\/p>\n
5 INSTANT TAKEAWAYS<\/p>\n
1 The return of Zach Collaros did provide a spark for the Blue Bombers offence, but his night didn\u2019t come without some iffy moments. He was sacked four times, including taking a violent shot by RedBlacks Lucas Cormier in the second quarter that saw him down on the turf for a few minutes before heading to the sideline under his own steam and returning just five plays later.<\/p>\n
The veteran QB finished the night 21-of-31 for 222 yards with no TDs and no interceptions, although a sure score was lost when Pokey Wilson dropped a pass in the third quarter. Collaros, FYI, said the shot from Cormier \u2018hurt\u2019 but it just knocked the wind out of him.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Zach-Collaros-8-89-Large.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt good. Always there\u2019s some plays we\u2019d like to have back but I thought we did a good job sticking together,\u201d said Collaros. \u201cWe need to finish more drives, but it was a great three-phase win \u2014 special teams did a great job giving us great field position all night long. We\u2019ve got to do a better job at times of extending drives but for me personally I felt comfortable as the game started going there.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of that (the four sacks against), is all-encompassing. It\u2019s 12 guys and a lot of it has to do with the quarterback, so I\u2019ll take the blame for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
2 Brady Oliveira was dominant in the win for the Blue Bombers rushing 11 times for 74 yards and a TD and finishing with 80 yards on a season-high eight receptions. All this from a guy who was listed as a game-time decision heading into the night because of a wonky ankle.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s 19 touches for 154 combined yards of offence.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Brady-Oliveira-20-88-Large.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u201cI appreciate Zach trusting me out there and with me being an outlet for him and allowing me to break tackles for this team and put us in positive field positions,\u201d said Oliveira, who had just one reception in each of his previous five games. \u201cAgain, whatever it\u2019s going to take \u2013 this is a huge win for us tonight, obviously. We all know that we needed to get back in the win column and especially here at home. Whatever it\u2019s going to take. Run, pass, we\u2019ve got a lot of weapons on this team. They asked a lot of me today and you\u2019ve got to respond.\u201d<\/p>\n
Oliveira credited head athletic therapist Al Couture and the training staff for helping him get ready to suit up against the RedBlacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m home last night, trying to do everything that I can to get right,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd really, I owe a lot, all of this, really, to Al and his staff. I mean, that guy spent so much time with me the last few days \u2013 literally doing anything and everything to give me a chance to play. Shout out to our head therapist Al and his staff and Brayden (Miller, strength coach). They do a good job for all of us to give us a chance to play on a weekly basis.<\/p>\n
\u201cI woke up and felt pretty good. I was communicating with Al; I came in here a little bit earlier and I kind of did my routine. I got in the pool and I felt like I was good enough to go and went out there for warmup and felt good.\u201d<\/p>\n
BALLS TO THE WALLS BRADY.#ForTheW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Wa2XXKAiaX<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) August 15, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n 3 All eyes were on the Blue Bombers defence \u2014 especially their work against the run \u2014 after their performance in the loss to the B.C. Lions after setting an inglorious record with an astonishing 377 yards surrendered along the ground in that loss. The RedBlacks had hardly established themselves as a serious ground threat coming into the game, averaging a league-low 53.4 rushing per game.<\/p>\n Winnipeg held the RedBlacks to 27 rushing yards on just eight carries while Jake Maier completed 28 of 43 attempts for 314 yards with two scores while being picked off once by defensive end David Reese for his first career interception.<\/p>\n 4\u00a0Winnipeg improved its home record to 2-4 after two straight double-digit losses to Calgary and B.C. As well, the club played in front of another 30,000-plus crowd \u2014 the 21st consecutive 30K plus audience.<\/p>\n 5\u00a0\u201cOf course, winning feels better,\u201d said head coach Mike O\u2019Shea. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean we don\u2019t need to play better. We\u2019ll take it and fix it tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n More from the head coach here:<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Winnipeg had the RedBlacks up against the ropes a few times in the second half but missed a few opportunities to deliver a kill shot until late in the game.<\/p>\n Leading 26-21 with 2:34 remaining and on a first-and-10 from the Ottawa 35, Collaros connected with Demski for a 33-yard gain \u2014 the veteran receiver pulling in the pass despite a pass interference call \u2014 that put the Blue Bombers on the two-yard line.<\/p>\n Bryce Perkins, who has been so sensational on short yardage this season, then punched it in on the next play to give the Blue Bombers their 12-point cushion.<\/p>\n BALLS TO THE WALLS BRADY.#ForTheW<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/Wa2XXKAiaX<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/KEY-MOMENT.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/KEY-STAT.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Trey-Vaval-23-86-Large.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/NEXT.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n