The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will try to do what no other Canadian League team has been able to accomplish in over a decade on Sunday night (6 p.m.): win back-to-back Gray Cup championships.
The last one who did it? The Marc Trestman Alouettes, in 2009 and 2010. Despite their success, the Calgary Stampeders have never won the Gray Cup twice in a row in the past 15 years.
When they defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2019 final, the Blue Bombers ended an embarrassing 29-year non-championship spell. In an eight- or nine-team circuit, depending on the year, it was indeed a bit of a shame to have been almost three decades without a triumph.
It is now the Tiger-Cats who have the longest food shortage, having not lifted the Gray Cup since 1999. They will seek to stop this long streak in front of their fans at Tim Hortons Field. Hamilton has lost in the final on three occasions since 2013.
Two years ago, it was the Tiger-Cats who were nevertheless favored to win. They finished the season with a 15-3 record and crushed the Edmonton Eskimos 36-16 in the Eastern Final. The Blue Bombers ended the season 11-7 and finished third in the West. The 107e The Gray Cup game had surprisingly been a complete domination of the Bombers, who had beaten (it is the case to be said) the Tiger-Cats 33-12. The latter had been unable to compete in terms of robustness and in all three phases of the game.
The scenario is different this time. The Blue Bombers finished the season with an 11-3 record, the league’s best, and two of their losses came in November as they rested their best players, already assured of the top spot in their division. Orlando Steinauer’s team finished the year with a modest 8-6 record, good for second in the East.
The cream of the CFL in defense
It wasn’t easy for either team in the divisional finals last weekend. The Blue Bombers made no less than six turnovers, including three interceptions by Zach Collaros, in their 21-17 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
PHOTO RYAN REMIORZ, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros
Returning to the game from a two-month absence with a knee injury, Canadian forward Andrew Harris rushed for 136 rushing yards and the Bombers’ defense was even on its own, limiting the Roughriders to 318 yards of attack and totaling 5 sacks. The dreaded Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat each pulled off. It was enough to win.
JOHN WOODS PHOTO, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Foreground Blue Bombers players Nic Demski (10) and Andrew Harris (33) celebrate their victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Western Final.
Fans will also have the chance to see the two best defenses in the CFL at work this Sunday evening. Winnipeg has allowed just 188 points in 14 games this season (13.4 avg), while the TiCats have given up 244 (17.4 avg).
Like the Blue Bombers, the Tiger-Cats’ defensive front is not restful with players like Ja’Gared Davis, Dylan Wynn, Ted Laurent and Julian Howsare. Both teams can also count on two of the best linebackers in the CFL in Adam Bighill (Winnipeg) and Simoni Lawrence (Hamilton). What’s more, head coaches Mike O’Shea and Orlando Steinauer are also former CFL defensive players, which certainly doesn’t hurt.
A necessary decision
Steinauer admitted earlier this week that it was very difficult for him to pick Dane Evans over Jeremiah Masoli as the starting quarterback for the ultimate game. But it was a necessary choice. His team’s chances of winning will be better with Evans behind the center.
PHOTO NATHAN DENETTE, THE CANADIAN PRESS
Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Dane Evans
Bleached to this point, the Tiger-Cats gave the ball to Evans in the second quarter of the Eastern Final on Sunday. The Toronto Argonauts led 12-0 after the first half. Thanks to the play of Evans, who succeeded in each of his 16 attempted passes, the Tiger-Cats won 27-19.
PHOTO CHRISTOPHER KATSAROV, ARCHIVES THE CANADIAN PRESS
Tiger-Cats players celebrate victory over Toronto Argonauts in Eastern Final
At the time of writing, Bralon Addison’s presence remains uncertain, but the Tiger-Cats have depth when it comes to their receivers. Brandon Banks, Jaelon Acklin, Tim White, and Steven Dunbar are all capable of making significant contributions. Running back Don Jackson gained 95 yards on 16 carries against the Argos.
Like Evans, Zach Collaros is well surrounded on the Bombers side. Kenny Lawler led the league with 1,014 yards from the air, Darwin Adams and Nic Demski are good veterans, and Rasheed Bailey caught 52 passes and scored 5 touchdowns in his first full season. The group of running backs is also talented, starting with Harris, who finished first in the league in rushing yards every season from 2017 to 2019.
Time for revenge
On paper, the Tiger-Cats and Blue Bombers have comparable formations. The Bombers are slightly superior and have the experience of a championship behind them. On the other hand, the Tiger-Cats will play at home and will want to forget their failures in the finals of 2013, 2014 and 2019.
Not easy to say. Winnipeg is the favorite to win by 4 points, but when a team commits six turnovers in a playoff game, it may be a sign of a slight lack of focus. Or the Bombers were maybe only a little rusty after going a month without playing with their full forces.
As was the case in 2019, I think the underdog team will win. It won’t be easy against a machine like the Blue Bombers, but Evans will allow the Tiger-Cats to win their first final in 22 years. And the Alouettes will then become the team whose last title will date the most (2010).
Our prediction: Winnipeg 23, Hamilton 25