A Heavy Loss for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers

A few seconds into the fourth quarter, Brady Oliveira took matters into his own hands. The 2024 CFL Most Valuable Player raced 63 yards into the end zone to give the Winnipeg Blue Bombers their first lead of the game.

That play sparked a 34-10 victory over the British Columbia Lions, securing the Blue Bombers a spot in the playoffs.

It was, however, a daunting challenge. The Bombers absolutely had to win to qualify, and they were trailing 10-3 at halftime. The Lions had taken the lead early in the game on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Kaiden Salter to Nate Demontagnac.

The situation grew more complicated late in the third quarter when starting quarterback Zach Collaros left the game after a hard hit by Nathan Cherry. Winnipeg, however, responded spectacularly, dominating the second half 31-0.

With this win, the Bombers finish the season at 9-9, tied with the Calgary Stampeders. However, they edge out their rivals thanks to their two wins in three matchups this season. They'll have to wait for the outcome of Saturday's game between the Edmonton Elks and the Saskatchewan Roughriders to find out who their first-round opponent will be.

Dru Brown Flawless as Backup

Called in as a backup, Dru Brown was flawless. He completed all 11 of his passes for 185 yards. He first tied the game with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Dorian Singer late in the third quarter. After Oliveira's long run, he connected with Nic Demski on a six-yard play with 6:28 remaining for an insurance touchdown.

Oliveira sealed the deal with a second touchdown late in the game. He finished the night with 149 yards on 15 carries. Singer was Brown's favorite target with four catches for 119 yards. Collaros's health will be something to watch ahead of the playoffs.

Created by humans, assisted by AI.