The Canadian Press
WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers moved to 11-4 and clinched a playoff spot with their 26-20 home victory against the BC Lions on Saturday. But in a season where the Bombers have had massive success on offence, it was the team’s defence and special teams that led the way and punched their playoff ticket in Week 17.
“They’re the ones that won us the game tonight,” Matt Nichols told TSN after the win. “We’ve got to be better on offence. We had a couple injuries at key positions, but we’ve got to be better at filling those spots and continuing to roll as an offence. It always feels great to win. Winning’s never easy, it was a grind. We did a few things we needed to win as offence, but it’s hard for me to really feel great about this one. We need to go back and make sure we get better.”
With the Bombers losing leading receiver Darvin Adams to an upper body injury early in the first half, the team would look to its defence and special teams for big plays and momentum. Defensive back Kevin Fogg stepped up with a phenomenal performance, registering a key interception and returning a punt for an 88-yard touchdown to give Winnipeg the early lead.
Fogg said it felt good for the team to return to form after surrendering 30 points in a loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week.
“Especially after last week, we didn’t play our best. We didn’t play Bomber football,” Fogg told TSN after the win. “So it was good that we came out here. We still let them come back a little bit, but like I said at halftime, it’s the CFL so you never really know what’s going to go on and happen. I’m just glad we finished, came through and got the W.”
While Nichols admitted the offence needed to pick things up moving forward, one thing that will not be hindering their production is the quarterback’s throwing hand. After leaving last week’s game against the Ticats with an injury to his right hand, Nichols said that things felt good against the Lions despite having to wear a modified glove.
“I felt like the ball was leaving my hand fine,” Nichols said. “I don’t think that it affected my game other than the fact that I could just kind of feel it and it’s there, so that’s a little bit different. But overall I felt like I threw the ball pretty well, and everyone’s out here playing hurt.”
The playoff-bound Blue Bombers will look to get their offence back on track when they travel to Toronto to take on the Argonauts next Saturday.
