A few weeks ago this might have been the most anticipated match of the season thus far, the defending Grey Cup Champs up against the rising star of the CFL East, the Bombers in full swagger (as they once said) arriving to announce that the new guard is taking over the CFL.
But all plot lines need a twist and so on cue for the showdown at Molson we find a Bomber team that is reeling a bit after a pair of convincing defeats at the hands of their rivals the Roughriders add on some key injuries to that once dominant Bomber defence and suddenly Winnipeg isn't quite as intimidating.
Health concerns for Buck Pierce also come along for the ride to Montreal, Pierce took a heavy hit against the Riders last Sunday and has had limited practice reps all week, while the Bombers have been closely guarding his status it's expected he'll be in the line up for today's game.
Things are so bad for coach Paul LaPolice these days that he can't even count on the players to make the team flights it seems, the Winnipeg Sun recounts the coach's problems with four Bombers who didn't quite make it to the departure gate, leaving him to wonder aloud if he at times isn't coaching a junior high squad.. ouch, he'll be in a bad mood we suspect.
And Marc Trestman, Anthony Calvillo and the rest of the Als just may make that mood even darker.
The Als bounced back last week against Hamilton, delivering a withering defeat to the Cats, shaking their confidence quite a bit and reminding everyone that watches the CFL that the Als have not been the leagues most dominant team over the last decade by accident.
The Alouettes seem to turn it up a notch when they play at home, Calvillo's passes find their mark more often than not, the running game eats up the yardage at Moslon Stadium and defensively the Als find ways to make offensive coordinators rethink their career plans. While things have been a little less machine like in Montreal these days, of late the Als appear to be getting it all back in place, a bad thing for Winnipeg as beat up and lacking in focus of late as they are.
With Hamilton losing again yesterday, the space between third and first is going to grow, Montreal with a victory can reclaim a familiar spot, while Winnipeg will be wanting to hold on as best they can to what they have laid claim to through the first eleven weeks of the season.
It is a most important game for both, though not quite as much of a marquee matchup perhaps as we all probably thought back before Labour Day.
Game Time 1 PM (2 CT, 10 AM PT) TSN
Pre Game
Winnipeg Sun-- Bombers still team to beat: Als' Bowman
Winnipeg Free Press-- True Blue identity revealed Sunday
National Post-- Grey Cup last on list for Winnipeg's Brown
Canada.com-- Alouettes to target hurting Pierce
Quick Snaps Montreal
Quick Snaps Winnipeg
Post Game
Winnipeg 25 at Montreal 23
Attendance-- 24,642
Winnipeg Sun-- Bombers get their swag on
Winnipeg Free Press-- Bombers beat Als, hold onto East Division first spot
Globe and Mail-- Bombers hold on to down Als 25-23
National Post-- Alouettes' offence falls flat in loss to Bombers
Canada.com-- Bombers regain swagger with win in Montreal
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