Game Preview | Blue Bombers vs Argonauts

"That's the hardest part right now -- not looking beyond this week," said veteran Blue Bombers receiver Nic Demski as the club wrapped up final preparations for Friday's home date with the Toronto Argonauts. "But that's really what comes down to with the position we're in; we really have to focus on going 1-0, as cliché as it is.

"We're still in the position where we dictate our own future. With how tight the West is and the back part of our schedule, our fate really is in our hands. I guess the good thing is we're the first game of the week and we can then sit back and see what happens after."

The Blue Bombers, 7-6, return to work Friday following their final bye week and now heading into the stretch run of the regular season. Tied with the B.C. Lions, also 7-6, they are two points back of the second place Saskatchewan Roughriders at 8-6, six back of the Edmonton Elks at 10-4 and just ahead of the 6-8 Calgary Stampeders.

THE WEST RACE A look at the remaining games for each team in the West Division: EDM (10-4) -vs Hamilton; at Hamilton; vs Winnipeg; at Saskatchewan SASK (8-5) -at B.C.; vs. Calgary; at Montreal; vs. Montreal; vs. Edmonton WPG (7-6) -vs. Toronto; at Montreal; vs. Calgary; at Edmonton; at B.C. B.C. (7-6) -vs. Saskatchewan; at Toronto; vs. Ottawa; at Calgary; vs. Winnipeg CAL (6-8) -at Ottawa; at Saskatchewan; at Winnipeg; vs. B.C.

"It's so cliché, you want to take it one week at a time and focus on tomorrow but the reality is we've got five games left guaranteed and we hold our own destiny with that and how we want the rest of this year to look and where you want to be seeded in the post season," said running back Brady Oliveira.

"Who knows? We could be anywhere from first place in the West, second place or shoot, we could be last. That's the way the West is shaping up right now."

Or, as head coach Mike O'Shea said Thursday: "It's tight. It's fantastic. All these games are going to matter for trying to get in, for seeding, to feel good going through the playoffs.

"All these games are going to be very important down the stretch and you like playing meaningful football right to the very end and in the West, that's the way it's going to be."

The Blue Bombers came through their most recent four-game stretch with a 2-2 record -- wins over Montreal and Saskatchewan, a loss to Edmonton that came on a last-play field goal and an OT setback in the Labour Day Classic -- still upbeat about where their collective game is right now.

"Everything is still in front of us, all the goals we want to accomplish are still there. Our record doesn't define who we are," said cornerback Major Williams. "The opportunity is right in front of us.

"Our team found our identity through those last four games. Look, 2-2 is not what we wanted for a record, but we also proved we can play with anybody. We showed we were a team, we showed we had fight and we showed we are a brotherhood and those are the things that will show up in the last five games of the year."

BLUE BOMBERS (7-6) vs ARGONAUTS (8-6) Kickoff: Friday, September 25th, 7 p.m. CT; Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg TV/Streaming: TSN; RDS; CBS SportsNetwork; Crave; CFL+ Radio:680 CJOB; Play-by-play: Derek Taylor | Analyst: Doug Brown; pre-game begins at 5:15 p.m. Streaks: Wpg.: 1W; Tor.: 3W

Still, the proof needs to be more concrete now in the results. The margin for error changes now with just five games left and the fight for playoff spots now in a full sprint.

"We've been talking about potential a lot and how we can come together," said Demski. "The big thing for us now is to be consistent. It's a tough thing to do in this league but if you want to be a great team in this league you've got to be consistent.

"We've set our standards high and we have big expectations for this team. Again, it's potential. But it's one thing to talk about potential, it's another to go out there and do it."

DRU ON CUE

The big story in Bomberland this week is Dru Brown stepping behind centre for his fifth start of the season and with Zach Collaros being moved to the six-game injured list.

Let's note here that moving QB1 to the six-game list is primarily for salary cap reasons and O'Shea said this when asked if Collaros was going to play again this season: "I presume so."

What this does now in the short-term is provide Brown to re-establish himself as a bona fide starter in this league and potentially stake an early claim to the gig here, what with Collaros operating on an expiring contract.

"I just try and play good football every time I'm out there," said Brown. "I try to do what's asked of me. As far as that (re-establishing himself) goes, that's out of my control. All I can do is just try to play good football and help us win right now."

FACING THE GUNSLINGER

Toronto's win over Edmonton last weekend provided a perfect snapshot of the Argos' attack led by quarterback Chad Kelly who -- as Redha Kramdi said earlier this week -- is the ultimate gunslinger who will 'die with his finger on the trigger.'

In the victory Kelly completed 19-of-31 passes for 373 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. And bite down on this number to get a full feel for the gunslinger description -- Kelly had five completions of 33 yards or more for 245 of his 373 yards.

Kelly leads the CFL in passing (4,777 yards), in passing TDs (31), in interceptions (22) and is second to Calgary's Vernon Adams, Jr. with 30 completions of 30 yards or more. He's also the second-most sacked QB in the league, having been taken down 25 times.

Translation: the dude is forever looking for the big-time score and killshot.

"He's going to go out there and sling it no matter what," said defensive end Willie Jefferson. "We've got to limit those opportunities to make big plays. He can chuck it from any angle and when he gets outside the pocket, he's able to assess what's open downfield. If we can keep him inside the pocket and get him off his rhythm, it could be a good day for us."

MORE MOJO FROM THE 'O'

The Blue Bombers special teams units have been sensational all season and the defensive work in the 19-6 win over Saskatchewan in the Banjo Bowl earned universal praise.

Now this team needs the offensive attack to take that proverbial next step -- even with the change at quarterback and game-breaking receiver Pokey Wilson still on the shelf.

"Right now, I figure we're about 80 percent of where we could be," said receiver Tim White. "We're continuing to build on what we do really well. We definitely need to score more points and that's what we're focussing on down the stretch -- finishing more drives, being more productive in the red zone."

That's the number that needs the most work now for the Blue Bombers. Heading into this week Winnipeg's attack is tied with Ottawa for last in the CFL in red zone productivity.

Translation: too many field goals and not enough touchdowns.

"There's too many games this year where we haven't scored enough touchdowns offensively," said Oliveira. "I'm excited for Dru, man. He's a true vet. He's been in and out of the lineup this year, he gets to learn behind Zach and now he gets another opportunity.

"He's had an amazing week of prep and usually that translate on game day."

THE LINEUP: The Blue Bombers have made just one change to the lineup from the Banjo Bowl but it's a big one, with Collaros moved to the six-game injured list and rookie Taylor Elgersma added in his place.

The six-game injured list now features Collaros, defensive backs Cam Allen, Ethan Ball, Jaiden Woodbey, Michael Griffin II and Jonathan Moxey, linebackers Brody Clark, Dylan Hazen and Jovan Santos-Knox and receiver Pokey Wilson.