It’s not how you start but how you finish.

Coaches say that all the time, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are embodying that cliche this year.

After starting out 2-6 and looking like a team whose run atop the CFL was ending, the Blue Bombers head to Hamilton on Friday night with a seven-game winning streak and an eighth straight playoff berth.

Winnipeg (9-6) wrapped up its latest postseason bid in style a week ago, plastering Edmonton 55-27 as Zach Collaros threw for 432 yards and six touchdowns. The Blue Bombers led 34-6 at halftime and never looked back.

“I don’t think it means anything today,” Collaros said of that performance after a practice this week. “What matters is what we did on the practice field today and what we’re going to do in the game here and moving forward.”

If Winnipeg wins and Saskatchewan loses to Edmonton, the Blue Bombers can seal their fourth straight West title and an automatic berth to the conference final, which they would host.

While Winnipeg tries to wrap up home-field advantage, the Tiger-Cats (6-9) continue their surge for the final East playoff spot. Their 32-29 overtime win last week at the B.C. Lions extended their winning streak to four and left them two games behind Toronto with three games remaining.

Hamilton’s recent surge has been sparked by veteran quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who leads the league with 4,359 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. Rookie receiver Shemar Bridges has 83 catches, just six off Derel Walker’s league record of 89 for a first-year player.

Ti-Cats coach Scott Milanovich said his team will face an opponent which has strengths in all three facets of the game.

“We’re going to have our hands full,” Milanovich said. “We’re going to have to play one of our best games.”

The teams met in Winnipeg on Aug. 23, with Collaros connecting with Kenny Lawler on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds left for a 26-23 Blue Bombers win.

–Field Level Media