Confident Matthews more worried about ‘The Grinch’ than Bomber D

CALGARY — Leading the league in takeaways, turnover ratio and points off turnovers, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have not been nice to opposing offences in 2018.

For Calgary Stampeders receiver Chris Matthews, however, they aren’t all that scary.

Asked about the Bombers’ secondary, Matthews shrugged his shoulders, paused, then gave an honest answer about his thoughts on Sunday’s opponent.

“I don’t know,” he said. “I saw The Grinch this weekend. The Grinch is a pretty good movie. He takes away a lot of gifts. I’d worry about him before I’m worried about anybody else.”

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Just a month after his return to the CFL, which came after four seasons south of the border, Matthews certainly doesn’t lack confidence going into Sunday’s Western Final.

Matthews is likely to get the start as the Stamps take on the Bombers, with the winner going to the Grey Cup. The 29-year-old, who started his career with Winnipeg playing two seasons in 2012 and 2013, has 12 catches for 252 yards and a touchdown in four games.

The Bombers’ defence has been one of the CFL’s best over the last two months, winning six of their last seven games to advance to their first division final since 2011. Throughout those six wins they’ve allowed just 284.5 yards per game and own a turnover differential of plus-15.

Matthews doesn’t want to hear it.

“Our defence is doing great though,” he said. “They’re making plays, getting sacks, making it tough out there for people. Going against them, it’s only going to make us better, whoever we’re against.

“We’re going up against anybody, anybody. I don’t care who it is. You can put the 2000 Tampa Bay Buccaneers out there with the best defence in the world and we’ll still go out there and I believe we’re going to make plays and we’re going to win.”