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ETHAN CAIRNS \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros (8) throws the ball against the B.C. Lions during the first half in Vancouver on Friday. <\/p>\n
Luckily for them, they survived three horrendous quarters to prevail. A loss would have ended their season and handed a playoff spot to the Calgary Stampeders instead.<\/p>\n
With the Saskatchewan Roughriders beating the Edmonton Elks over the weekend, the Bombers (9-9) finish fourth in the West Division and will cross over to play Saturday\u2019s East semifinal (12 p.m. CT) against the Toronto Argonauts (9-9) at BMO Field.<\/p>\n
Before we look ahead to that, let\u2019s revisit this one with 5 Takeaways.<\/p>\n
BROWN IS BRILLIANT<\/p>\n
Dru Brown to the rescue.<\/p>\n
The Bombers trailed 10-3 with 3:42 remaining in the third quarter when a hit knocked starting quarterback Zach Collaros out of the game.<\/p>\n
Winnipeg was stuck in neutral and playing some of its worst football of the season \u2014 which is saying something \u2014 when Brown was thrust into action.<\/p>\n
Like a superstar reliever coming out of the bullpen, Brown made an immediate impact, firing a 46-yard strike to rookie receiver Dorian Singer. A few plays later, he found Singer again, this time for a 30-yard touchdown to tie the game at 10-10 with 90 seconds remaining in the third quarter.<\/p>\n
Brown never looked back, leading the Bombers on five consecutive scoring drives \u2014 four touchdowns and a field goal \u2014 as they blew out the Lions.<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t ETHAN CAIRNS \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Nic Demski (10) misses a pass during the first half against the B.C. Lions in Vancouver on Friday.<\/p>\n One of his best throws was a dime to Nic Demski at the back of the end zone in the fourth quarter, extending Winnipeg\u2019s lead to 24-10 with 6:30 remaining.<\/p>\n \u201cI kind of knew it was just a matter of time before we could string some success together,\u201d said Brown after the game.<\/p>\n \u201cIronically, that was when I came out there. I don\u2019t necessarily think that was the factor in it. I think it would\u2019ve happened regardless because Zach is the best to ever do it. But, yeah, that\u2019s what I\u2019m supposed to do, I\u2019m supposed to be prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n Brown\u2019s stock has cooled in 2026. Ottawa gave up on him after head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie criticized his arm talent, trading him to Winnipeg in June. Brown went 2-4 in six starts with the Bombers and was average at best.<\/p>\n But after Friday\u2019s performance, perhaps the 29-year-old could be Collaros\u2019s heir apparent after all.<\/p>\n DOWN GOES COLLAROS<\/p>\n Not again.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a scene Bomber fans have grown all too familiar with this season: Collaros ending a game on the sideline with an injury.<\/p>\n Defensive lineman Nathan Cherry was flagged for roughing the passer after driving Collaros into the turf. The 38-year-old pivot stayed down for several minutes before being ruled out.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t ETHAN CAIRNS \/ THE CANADIAN PRES<\/p>\n SB.C. Lions\u2019 Parker McKenna (42) and Robert Carter Jr. (0) stop Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Brady Oliveira (20) during the first half in Vancouver on Friday. <\/p>\n Collaros has already missed six games this season, and his latest setback puts his status for the playoffs in question.<\/p>\n If he\u2019s healthy, though, the Bombers at least have to consider turning to Brown.<\/p>\n Collaros was bad \u2014 really bad \u2014 completing nine of 20 passes for 105 yards and an interception. He also whiffed on a deep shot to Tim White in the second quarter that should have resulted in a gain of more than 40 yards.<\/p>\n He wasn\u2019t solely responsible for Winnipeg\u2019s putrid start, but the offence began to click immediately after he left.<\/p>\n Still, it would be shocking if head coach Mike O\u2019Shea benched a healthy Collaros in favour of Brown.<\/p>\n Few coaches in professional football are as loyal to their veterans as O\u2019Shea. He\u2019s also repeatedly called Collaros the best quarterback in the league \u2014 even though his numbers over the past few seasons suggest otherwise.<\/p>\n This could be the end of the road for Collaros in Winnipeg. He\u2019s 38 and isn\u2019t under contract for 2027. Given everything he\u2019s done for the franchise since arriving in 2019, it would be tough to see his tenure in blue and gold \u2014 and perhaps his CFL career \u2014 end as a backup.<\/p>\n Perhaps the best approach would be to start Collaros, provided he\u2019s healthy, but keep him on a short leash.<\/p>\n BRUTAL START<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t ETHAN CAIRNS \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Trey Vaval (23) stops B.C. Lions\u2019 Jaden Williams (80) during the first half in Vancouver on Friday. <\/p>\n At the end of the day, the Bombers needed a win, and they got one.<\/p>\n They dominated the fourth quarter and accomplished the task at hand.<\/p>\n However, their start cannot be ignored.<\/p>\n How does a team that needs a win to extend its season come out so flat and uninspired against a lineup full of backups?<\/p>\n The defence surrendered a touchdown four plays into the game. Star right tackle Jarell Broxton gave up a sack. Trey Vaval fumbled a punt. Bryce Perkins was stuffed on a third-and-one. Collaros underthrew a pass to the end zone for an easy interception. Sergio Castillo missed a field goal.<\/p>\n And that was just the first half.<\/p>\n As great as Brown was, it was evident that the Lions \u2014who had nothing to play for \u2014 took their foot off the gas down the stretch.<\/p>\n Winning by four scores is nice and all, but the Bombers did little to convince anyone they\u2019re capable of making a playoff run.<\/p>\n BRADY BREAKS LOOSE<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t ETHAN CAIRNS \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Trey Vaval (23) runs with the ball as B.C. Lions\u2019 Parker McKenna (42) chases during the first half in Vancouver on Friday. <\/p>\n Brady Oliveira was due.<\/p>\n The star running back had gone three straight weeks with single-digit carries and fewer than 45 rushing yards before turning in one of the finest performances of his career Friday.<\/p>\n He opened the fourth quarter with a bang, breaking off a career-long 63-yard touchdown run with receiver Ontaria Wilson helping pave the way downfield.<\/p>\n Oliveira had just 32 rushing yards through the first half but finished with 149 on 15 carries and two touchdowns.<\/p>\n It was his highest rushing total since Sept. 29, 2023, when he piled up 169 yards on 25 carries against Toronto.<\/p>\n STOPPING THE RUN<\/p>\n The Bombers got what they needed from their defence.<\/p>\n Winnipeg stumbled out of the gate, allowing Lions quarterback Kaidon Salter to connect with Canadian receiver Nate DeMontagnac for a 36-yard touchdown just two minutes into the game.<\/p>\n The defence put up a wall after that.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t ETHAN CAIRNS \/ THE CANADIAN PRESS<\/p>\n Winnipeg Blue Bombers\u2019 Tim White (12) avoids B.C. Lions\u2019 Ronald Kent Jr. (21) and Parker McKenna (42) during the first half in Vancouver on Friday. <\/p>\n \n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t Rookie cornerback Major Williams recorded two INTs, picking off Salter before intercepting Chris Oladokun, a former Kansas City Chiefs backup who made his CFL debut in the fourth quarter.<\/p>\n Most importantly, the Bombers righted a previous wrong by holding the Lions to 109 rushing yards.<\/p>\n When the teams met in Winnipeg in late July, Salter \u2014 starting in place of an injured Nathan Rourke \u2014 helped the Lions pile up a franchise-record 377 rushing yards.<\/p>\n Salter scampered for 160 yards in that game. On Friday, he managed just 11 rushing yards.<\/p>\n winnipegfreepress.com\/taylorallen<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t Taylor Allen Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree\/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor<\/a>.<\/p>\n Every piece of reporting Taylor 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
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