The Ottawa REDBLACKS are well-rested after their bye week and set to take on the red-hot Winnipeg Blue Bombers Friday evening at TD Place Stadium.
Both teams are on two-game winning streak streaks and are jockeying for playoff position in their respective divisions.
Ottawa (8-5, 1st in East) turned in one of their best performances of the season against the Bombers in August. The REDBLACKS beat Winnipeg on their home turf 44-21, accumulating 500 offensive yards in the process.
The Blue Bombers (7-7, 3rd in West) stunned the Edmonton Eskimos on the road last week. Winnipeg has won their last two games by a combined score of 61-17.
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STORYLINES
Ward kicks for history – Lewis Ward has kicked 37 straight field goals this season and is eyeing the all-time record for consecutive field goals. The record is 39 and owned by Rene Paredes. Ward broke the single-season record against Edmonton in week 15.
Time to clinch – The REDBLACKS have put themselves in a position to clinch both a playoff spot and a home post-season game on Friday night. A win or tie by the REDBLACKS (or loss by the Toronto Argonauts, who play in BC on Saturday) will ensure that Ottawa plays at least one playoff game in front of RNation at TD Place.
Two top rushers – Ottawa’s William Powell and Winnipeg’s Andrew Harris and ranked one-two in CFL rushing yards. Both are well ahead of Edmonton’s C.J. Gable in third place and have each cracked the vaunted 1,000-yard plateau.
SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
The Bombers have been streaky this season. They were marred in a four-game losing streak from week 10 to week 13, but that losing skid was sandwiched between three-game and two-game winning streaks.
Winnipeg boasts – statistically – the best running game in the league, placing first in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Andrew Harris is as dangerous as ever, and he is aided by arguably the best run-blocking offensive line in the CFL.
That said, the REDBLACKS limited Harris to 72 yards on 12 carries in week 10 – the majority of which came in garbage time.
Matt Nichols has been inconsistent for the blue and gold. While he has quarterbacked the team to several key victories, he has not thrown for over 300 yards this season and has committed eight interceptions in his last five games. Ironically, Nichols’ best game came in that week 10 loss against Ottawa, when he threw for 291 yards and two touchdowns.
One of the reasons for the Bombers success is ball security. Winnipeg and Ottawa are tied for the fewest turnovers in the league with 32 apiece.
Winnipeg’s defence has taken a step forward this season. Craig Roh and Jovan Santos-Knox are playmakers on the line, while Kevin Fogg leads the team with four picks and is a factor in the return game.
GAME INFO
Ottawa REDBLACKS vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers | Week 17 – October 5, 2018
Kickoff – 7:30 p.m. | TD Place Stadium
BROADCAST INFO
TV (EN): TSN | Web: TSN.ca/LIVE / TSN GO
TV: (Int’l): ESPN+ | BT Sport (UK/Ireland)
Radio (EN): TSN 1200 | TSN1200.ca
Radio (FR): 104,7 fm | FM1047.ca
Radio (Satellite): SiriusXM Canada Channel 167 (EN) and 174 (FR)
