CFL.CA STAFF
WINNIPEG — Two of the league’s three undefeated teams will put their unbeaten records on the line Friday night in Winnipeg, where the hometown Blue Bombers will entertain the Calgary Stampeders.
Head coach Mike O’Shea’s Bombers (1-0) kicked off their 2017 campaign with a thrilling 43-40 overtime win in Saskatchewan last week, and are anxious to get the home portion of their schedule under way against Dave Dickenson’s Stamps (1-0-1) at Investors Group Field.
The Stampeders have only lost two regular season games since the start of 2016 but the Bombers won’t be intimated when they take the field on Friday.
On facing the perennial-contender Stampeders O’Shea likes the challenge:
“I think it makes guys rise to the challenge. I enjoy watching them play, I enjoy when (Calgary power back Jerome) Messam get the ball and lowers the shoulder, or catches the ball out of the backfield and squares up on somebody. It’s good football.”
Photo: Canadian Press
Despite taking three of a possible four points off the Ottawa REDBLACKS in a season-opening home-and-home set, Dave Dickenson and the Calgary Stampeders feel there is significantly more in their collective tank as they prepare to visit Winnipeg in Week 3 action.
Dickenson thinks this game is key to eliminating mistakes:
“Sometimes it pulls the sheet over your eyes if you win, but we’re not playing well enough. I don’t want to wait for a loss to address things — I think this week the guys have taken what we’ve said to heart, they’re executing, and hopefully it shows in Winnipeg.”
The Stamps are a perfect 5-0 at Investors Group Field since Winnipeg opened its new stadium in 2013, and quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has been deadly on Manitoban turf.
The gunslinger out of Eastern Washington has once again set the standard amongst CFL quarterbacks in 2017; Mitchell is tied for first in touchdown passes (5) and is the only starting QB, along with Edmonton’s Mike Reilly, who has yet to throw an interception.
Mike O’Shea and the Bombers understand the unique threat posed by Mitchell, Messam and co. on the Calgary side of the equation.
“They’re talented across the board. It’s tough to get pressure on (Mitchell), he gets rid of the ball very quickly, makes good decisions (and) knows where he wants to go with the ball before the snap.”
Photo: David Moll
Running backs Jerome Messam (Calgary) and Andrew Harris (Winnipeg) were the numbers one and three leading rushers in 2016. Messam averaged 66.6 yards a game while Harris averaged 64.9.
Winnipeg quarterback Mike Nichols, also an Eastern Washington product, threw for 336 yards last week in the win against Saskatchewan. The two teams met three times in 2016 but Nichols and Mitchell only went head to head once, in the Stampeders 36-34 win. In that one Mitchell threw for 361 yards and two touchdowns while Nichols completed 27 of 44 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns.
This one may well come down to the wire as well.
American Football International is collaborating with Yare Media and the Canadian Football League to present every 2017 CFL game live. This is more than a livestream. This is a stream of the top flight TSN network television broadcast.