The last time the Winnipeg Blue Bombers won their first four games, they eventually had a 9-0 start to crow about.
Three years later, the Blue Bombers are looking for another 4-0 start when they visit the Calgary Stampeders on Thursday night.
Winnipeg and the Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-0) are the lone unbeaten teams in the nine-team league.
“We wanted to start fast and implement that physicality, that grit and that tough mindset to everybody on this team,” Blue Bombers defensive end Willie Jefferson said. “We’re just trying to ride that wave right now.”
Jefferson had his first sack of the season and 75th of his CFL career last week in Winnipeg’s 36-23 victory over the visiting Edmonton Elks.
Zach Collaros set a career best with 14 consecutive completions to open the contest and finished with 334 yards and three touchdowns. It was the 36th time he passed for 300 or more yards in a game.
Winnipeg also is feeling good about the return of star running back Brady Oliveira, who injured a shoulder in the season-opening game. Oliveira was CFL Most Outstanding Player last season when he rushed for 1,353 yards, the second-highest output of his career.
“Bringing more leadership into the huddle is huge,” Collaros said of Oliveira. “He’s a great teammate, it’s huge to have him back.”
The Blue Bombers lead the league in scoring defense (19.0 points per game) as they look to silence the offense of the Stampeders (2-1), who had a bye last week.
Calgary averages a league-high 388.7 yards per game but is the lone team in the league without a passing touchdown.
Vernon Adams Jr. has passed for 803 yards, but none of his 85 pass attempts have ended with a teammate reaching the end zone.
“It is what it is,” Adams said. “As long as we’re winning, I’m OK with that. But I’m sure they will start rolling in soon.”
Dedrick Mills has picked up the slack with a league-high four rushing touchdowns. He also has a league-best eight runs of 10-plus yards and ranks fourth with 218 yards on the ground.
Mills thinks the Stampeders can hang with Winnipeg, which has played in the last five Grey Cups, winning twice before losing the past three.
“We’ve got to play our game,” Mills said. “We’ve got to play together and be a unit. We’ve got to come out, execute, dominate and be the better team.”
–Field Level Media
