The Winnipeg Blue Bombers can guarantee themselves a home playoff game with a victory Friday night against the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The Blue Bombers (12-2) have defeated the Roughriders (6-8) twice this season.
Each team is coming off a bye week that followed a loss. Winnipeg dropped a 48-31 decision to the host Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sept. 17, while Saskatchewan lost 26-24 to the visiting Edmonton Elks on Sept. 16.
Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros has not lost back-to-back games since 2018.
Blue Bombers coach Mike O’Shea does not take the Roughriders lightly.
“They play hard,” O’Shea said. “They’re a physical bunch. They work and you absolutely can’t afford to take them lightly. They’ve been at the top and they’ve managed to get to the West Final the last couple years. I mean, they’re a good football team. That’s what I see on tape.”
The Roughriders lost 54-20 at Winnipeg on Sept. 10, but several players and coaches had been hit by a stomach virus. Winnipeg defeated host Saskatchewan 20-18 at Regina on Sept. 4.
Roughriders coach Craig Dickenson was blunt in his assessment.
“I did talk to the group and I tried to re-emphasize the fact that after you lose to Edmonton and you lose five in a row at home and lose seven of our last nine, we need to get better,” Dickenson said. “I mentioned to them that we’re not a very good football team at this moment, but we certainly feel like we can be a good team moving forward.
“I just want everybody to look in the mirror and do what they need to do to make sure we make the improvements we need to in order to get to where we want to go.”
Saskatchewan running back Frankie Hickson (hand) and receiver Samuel Emilus (ankle) were listed as out for Friday. Defensive lineman Anthony Lanier (head) was listed as questionable.
Winnipeg fullback Mike Miller (ankle), receiver Drew Wolitarsky (knee), offensive lineman Stanley Bryant (ankle), defensive lineman Jackson Jeffcoat (hip) and defensive back Nick Taylor (Achilles) were listed as questionable.
–Field Level Media
