Game Preview | Blue Bombers at Alouettes

First, there is the palpable frustration this team is experiencing with a 7-7 record and flashing an excruciating inconsistency that has them looking like contenders in one glance and playoff pretenders the next.

And, second, there is also a sense of encouragement because those flashes have been so impressively blinding, leading many in the room to still believe to their core this team can make a run when it matters most.

Well, that time is nigh what with intense jockeying for positions in the Canadian Football League's West Division and the Blue Bombers now in last place and looking up at the Calgary Stampeders -- who improved to 8-8 with Friday night's 37-31 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders, now 8-7 -- and with the B.C. Lions at 8-6 and Edmonton Elks at 11-4.

Presented with that notion -- the idea of this bunch being frustrated and encouraged at the same time -- defensive back Redha Kramdi bit down hard on its accuracy.

"One hundred percent. It is. It is. It is," he stated after practice on Thursday. "I'm not going to hide it. I'm pretty frustrated. But, at the end of the day the job has to be done and every week we come with the mindset with, 'Let's do it.' And it's about time that we do."

It's been an interesting week in Bomberland in the wake of last week's crushing 30-28 loss to the Toronto Argonauts. In the immediate aftermath the usual tough questions were asked of everyone, with the level of that self-evaluation cranked up x100 because the calendar now reads October.

What the result of that is on Saturday night is, frankly, anyone's guess.

"We're all just trying to make sure we're on the same page. That's how we keep this boat afloat -- keep trying to move in the right direction by fixing the little things," said veteran receiver Nic Demski. "I feel like all the wounds we've suffered are a little bit self-inflicted and you want to make sure you heal those wounds so that they don't reopen.

"How do you fix that? You look in the mirror, make sure you keep your accountability and keep coming to work -- not only for yourself, but for the people around you. Maybe that's me talking to myself a little bit to make sure I'm clued in on those things but I'm hoping everyone has that mindset, which is what we've been imposing around here. If we do that, we're going to be OK."

THE WEST RACE A look at the remaining games for each team in the West Division: EDM (11-4) -at Hamilton; vs Winnipeg; at Saskatchewan B.C. (8-6) -at Toronto; vs. Ottawa; at Calgary; vs. Winnipeg SASK (8-6) -vs. Calgary; at Montreal; vs. Montreal; vs. Edmonton WPG (7-7) -at Montreal; vs. Calgary; at Edmonton; at B.C. CAL (7-8) -at Saskatchewan; at Winnipeg; vs. B.C.

The chart above offers a glimpse at how daunting the task is for the Blue Bombers. Three of their four remaining games are on the road and against arguably the three best teams in the CFL in Montreal, Edmonton and B.C. They also now line up this weekend against an Als team coming off a bye and a heated loss in Vancouver against the Lions.

Winnipeg's lone remaining home game, meanwhile, comes against the team in its rear-view mirror in the Stampeders.

To be succinct, it's put up or shut up time.

"I talked about it with you a couple weeks back... we can't keep talking about potential and then not live up to our standard," said Demski. "Everyone here knows the standard. Everyone here has shown flashes as well. But being a great team is not about showing flashes; it's about being consistent. That's what we have to hone in on -- becoming a consistent team that plays to that consistent standard of great football.

"This is another opportunity to go out there and prove to ourselves this is the standard we've set; this is the standard we hold ourselves to... and then play to that as well.

"It really is crunch time for us. There's no more just saying that. We've got to go out there and do it."

BLUE BOMBERS (7-7) at ALOUETTES (11-3) Kickoff: Saturday, October 3rd, 6 p.m. CT; Percival Molson Stadium, Montreal TV/Streaming: TSN; RDS; CFL+ Radio:680 CJOB; Play-by-play: Derek Taylor | Analyst: Doug Brown Streaks: Wpg.: 1L; Mtl.: 1W

A question we put to Mr. Kramdi: what gives him and his teammates hope that this potential will be realized now with four games left?

"Any time you line up and the ball is down and the referee blows the whistle anything can happen," he reasoned. "We've showed it in the year. We beat Montreal and played Edmonton pretty tough, and someone could argue we should have won one of these two games at least.

"So, we have the right people in this locker room. We know it. It's just a matter of putting it all together, which is pretty annoying to say because we've been saying it since Week 1. So, at some point we've got to put our foot down and say, 'No more' and freakin' put it together."

STEP UP, THREE PHASES

Winnipeg's 44-28 win over Montreal in late August offers the perfect template for the Blue Bombers not only this weekend, but in the final four regular season games and the push to the playoffs.

The Blue Bombers knocked off the Als -- then 9-1 and on a seven-game heater -- by getting contributions from all three phases.

The attack cranked out 447 yards of net offence, scored five touchdowns -- two from Bryce Perkins and one from Brady Oliveira along the ground; and two from Pokey Wilson on passes from Zach Collaros.

The defence held Montreal to under 30 points for the first time all season while the special teams got a punt block from Tanner Cadwallader that led to a score, three field goals from Sergio Castillo and the usual contributions from returner Trey Vaval.

Add that all up and that's exactly how a team with a thin margin of error needs to get it done on a weekly basis.

"That was a great showcase not could be, but should be and can be and in our train of thought, will be," said Demski. "Any time you go into an environment like Montreal where they're fans come out in full support and they're coming off a bye and have a lot of energy... I mean, what a great time for us to put our foot down and live up to our standard, impose our will on them, and play our type of football."

FACING DAVIS AND TYSON AND...

It says something about a squad's attack when there are a legit couple-three MOP candidates sharing the same huddle.

Alouette QB Davis Alexander has already thrown for 4,414 yards and 29 TDs against just three interceptions and Tyson Philpot has an astonishing 108 receptions for 1,528 yards and 12 TDs.

Add to that weapons like receiver Tyler Snead (79-1,282-11 TDs), running back Travis Theis (831 yards and seven TDs in a dozen games) and the Montreal attack features more weapons than a Schwarzenegger flick.

Little surprise, then, that the Als lead the CFL with a gaudy first-down average of 8.05 yards per game (Winnipeg, by comparison, is fifth at 6.85).

"They're rarely behind the sticks, rarely in second and long," explained Kramdi. "They do a good job of protecting the quarterback -- they've only allowed 12 sacks all season, which is No. 1 in the CFL. Davis is Davis. He is arguably the MVP of this league. You could argue as well that Philpot is the MVP of this league. And for me, Snead is the best slot receiver in the CFL

"So, it's a great offence and always fun to play against."

MORE JEKYLL, LESS HYDE

We mentioned this in last week's Upon Further Review, but the 2026 Blue Bombers have been all over the map and, unfortunately, shown a propensity for an inability to finish some games in critical moments.

And it was there again last week as the Blue Bombers built a 21-7 lead, only to be out scored 16-7 in the second half and surrender two field goals late after taking a 28-24 lead with less than six minutes remaining.

Again, there is a feeling that this team is better than the .500 record it has compiled through 14 games.

"I know for a fact that's how some of the veteran guys feel, especially on the defensive side of the ball," said defensive end Willie Jefferson. "The last game... it was the defence that could have closed that game. We had plenty of opportunities, it was just the penalties that we had that kept their offence on the field and kept giving them opportunities to put points on the board. Granted, we didn't let them score any touchdowns but for them to be able to continuously put field goals on the board and our offence not being able to put points on the board, that put them ahead.

"We've got to get off the field on second down, eliminate the penalties and eliminate the mistakes."

THE LINEUP: The Blue Bombers have made four changes to the lineup from last week's loss to Toronto. The biggest moves see the return of receiver Pokey Wilson to the starting lineup, along with versatile defensive back Michael Griffin II.

Also on board are DB Ethan Stuart and DE Thiadric Hansen. DB/LB Jaylen Smith has been moved to the one-game reserve list while WRs Gavin Cobb and Kenneth Womack and DE Matt Jaworski are out of the lineup.

The six-game injured list features QB Zach Collaros, defensive backs Cam Allen, Ethan Ball, Jaiden Woodbey, and Jonathan Moxey, linebackers Brody Clark, Dylan Hazen and Jovan Santos-Knox, Jaworski and Cobb.