Winnipeg Blue Bombers look to clinch first in the West Division

The CFL playoffs are just around the corner, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are still fighting to clinch first in the West Division. They head to Montreal to take on the Alouettes for the final game of the regular season, and with a win or tie, they would take first for the fourth straight season.

“This is a confident group, they know that anytime they prepare the way they should and play the way they should they got a chance to win every game,” said Mike O’Shea, the head coach of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

“We understand the ramifications of the outcome of this game, but you really can’t be thinking about the outcome throughout the week you know, sort of prepare the way you should play hard the way you should play the game the way it’s supposed to be played and then the outcome, you look up at the scoreboard at the end and it’ll tell you what happened.”

If the scoreboard isn’t in favour of the Bombers on Saturday, they would need the Saskatchewan Roughriders to lose in order to stay at the top of the West Division.

Ahead of their final matchup, the Blue Bombers announced their six-team award winners. Running back Brady Oliveira was a unanimous selection for both Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Canadian Player.

“He certainly has that desire to be excellent all the time, and I think if you asked Brady he’d be talking about his offensive line, and his running back coach, and the offensive coordinator and the o-line coach, and you know the amount of guys that put work into allowing him to run the ball,” said O’Shea.

The other “Most Outstanding Award” nominees included cornerback Tyrell Ford, left tackle Stanley Bryant, placekicker Sergio Castillo, and receiver Ontaria Wilson. The next round of voting will see the West and East Division winners announced, followed by the CFL’s player awards.