BANJO BOWL FINAL: BLUE BOMBERS 17 ROUGHRIDERS 10
WINNIPEG – Matt Nichols ran in for a pair of touchdowns Saturday as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers extended their winning streak to six games with a 17-10 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The victory in front of a sold-out Banjo Bowl crowd of 33,234 at Investors Group Field was the first time the Bombers (7-4) have won six straight games since 2001.
Saskatchewan (1-10) has now lost seven in a row.
Nichols completed 21-of-32 pass attempts for 247 yards and no interceptions. He’s thrown only one interception since taking over for starter Drew Willy and has led the team on its winning streak.
Saskatchewan quarterback Darian Durant was 23-of-36 passing for 283 yards with one TD and no picks.
Bombers kicker Justin Medlock booted one field goal from 34 yards and went wide on attempts from 49 and 48 yards. He was good on his two converts.
(The Canadian Press)
CHRIS JONES POSTGAME COMMENTS
– We’re not gonna talk about (trading Durant). We’re gonna watch the film and see where we’re at. It’s not something I’m gonna answer. Darian’s our QB. For me to answer that, especially coming off a loss, that’s not something I’d even consider right now.
– We will bounce back. Don’t think this team will ever quit. I talked to them five minutes ago and they’re taking responsibility for the mistakes they made.
– When it came crunch time we failed to execute in all three phases. We turned the ball over and allowed them to go downfield with a lack of completing plays. We didn’t execute in the kicking game and defensively on that drive we didn’t hit our gaps and they were able to burn more time by getting nine yards on 1st and 10.
– Again, I thought the guys executed fairly well on defense but we need to play our best football in the fourth quarter and we failed to do that.
– The penalties were very evident in tonight’s game. We gotta address that when we start back on Monday. We can’t consistenly play in 1st and 15 and 1st and 20.
– On the field goal fake, we need 2 yards and that play usually gets more than that. Ottawa and Winnipeg run it. It usually garners more than 2 yards. We’ve been practicing it but we failed to finish the play.
– We played somewhat better in spurts. We gotta finish drives. We got it to the 1 early in the game and failed to get it in the endzone. We have to avoid that if we’re going to win football games. If you’re at the 1, you should come out with 7 points.
– When you hold somebody at the 1, defensively, you get a lift. QB sneak has been a problem all season long and we need to keep coaching it hard and hopefully we’ll be able to do it.
JEFF KNOX JR.
– The guys still got their heads up. We still got a family and are still one. But it’s still losing, especially a rival game, and with that said, it’s going to be a tough couple of days ahead.
– That’s football (not scoring on the opening drive). They got a great defense and we came out with points. It’s not just that one drive. We got a lot of things to clean up. They got a really good defense.
– We gotta stay outta the penalties. Some calls and challenges don’t go your way but we gotta fight through. The refs don’t matter to us. We gotta play football.
– It’s definitely frustrating because we never expect to lose. Coach Jones and the coaches put it into our mind that we’re going to win. We started as a family and we’ll end as a family. I don’t know about next year, I can’t speak on that.
NAAMAN ROOSEVELT
– We fought hard all game. We just gotta finish as an offense. Whether it’s penalties or a mess up here or there. It’s on us to get better.
– You gotta keep fighting. It’s like it was last year. You’re still fighting for a job and showing coaches that belong. We gotta keep playing hard and playing for each other.
– It’s our first year. We’re still trying to get to know each other. We’re still trying to get that vine down. I feel like coach is doing a great job. We just have to keep moving ahead.
– It hurts when calls aren’t going the way that we think should. But we just gotta go out there and play and that’s what Coach tells us. When fakes like that don’t work, we just have to keep fighting and try to get over that hump.
– 2000 yards this year sounds good but winning sounds better. That’s our biggest goal.
Durant 3 completions half way through the 2nd Q. Not good enough, but that may be the best he has left.
Rider O firing blanks. DD has no answer.
The Riders are playing a good D game for once but then become undisciplined…Jones is sure not taking care of that part neither, another loss for the Riders coming
Yet again, apart from one great play by Roosevelt, the offense staggered their way through the first half. Where's the O line? Luckily D and teams is keeping us in the game. We could easily have been down by more than 7.
Hopefully Durant can pull out a second half similar to last week's.
Did I see it right when Bartel kicked the ball and bounced it on the side lines in the first quarter? A WPG player ran out of bounce and then back to the ball AND THEN the Riders were called for no yards!
Why so many penalties AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!
DD missed Lawrence on the short passes. Lawrence is an athlete but not a running back!
D is playing hard!
C'mon Riders
GpS
GpS, I saw that too, but the Bomber that went out of bounds (Fogg I believe) was careful not to touch the ball after he came back in. Still stupid for him to run out in the first place. He had no idea where the ball was.
Look no further than Jones. Running impact players like Dressler out of town to save money and bring in guys who have no more of a clue than the coach.
Roosevelt has easily replaced Dressler let it go.
I've had it. For 2 years, I have religiously bought my season tickets, hoping to be entertained.
Instead, my money has been taken away by a "snake oil salesman" selling I do not know what. This is pathetic.
Jones refuses to shake hands after the game – another classey move by Jones
Hope he gets fined and oh yes fired as well
Do you not remember last weekends game the bombers turned there back on us when we tried to shake hands b4 the game
Good defensive battle but there is always something getting in our way from playing a complete game. Can't blame unfair penalties today but we can blame penalties. It's hard to be a loyal fan when they struggle so much but I will stay with them. Darian didn't look as sharp today but I'm sure it took all his concentration to deal with the crowd noise and Wpg defense. Hats off to both. Unfortunately Dressler had a good game, but I knew he would. It's always hard to see our past players get the opponents fans going but good for him.… Read more »
Roosevelt and Holley along with Collins are all very good receivers and I think that over time they'll be great receivers for the team. No disrespect to Dressler but he's not the reason the Riders are losing games. The defence gave up 17 points, that should win a game in the CFL.
As for trading DD to Toronto maybe given the state of the franchise they should consider that to get a few players or draft picks. And that doesn't preclude signing him back in the offseason either.
Durant has been mediocre this season, and no amount of sugar coating can change that fact. Defense was better but still not great. Cox was brutal and almost zero pass rush. The O-line looked like men against boys.
Jones had better realize that some of the talent he brought in simply IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
Sorry coach but this was another poor effort on both sides of the ball and from the coaches. Durants best days as a Rider are gone.
Danny Boy
Moral victory for Sask
The best gesture that Rider management can make for the fans is to sign Durant and Roosevelt to long-term contracts. We do need better talent on the O-line (which in fact we do have two all-stars), but they sit on the injury list. Also, the Riders will pick #1 in 2017 in the Canadian draft and can improve their O-line depth further if necessary. A consistent running game is needed to power our offense. I did like the effort and running ability of Canadian running back #22 Greg "Mercury" Morris. A fine display of speed and mobility today when given… Read more »
Well, maybe the QBS in BC, Cal, Edm, Hamilton and Ottawa.
For the last few years since the new regime took over in Winnipeg they were slaughtered year after year. Everybody there is saying what some are saying here. It's time for the morons who never go to game, to get real. Winnipeg had to go through a process so why do we think we're any different. Over that time they lost a lot of close games but were always just shy. They kept adding and building and they have started to play better. They started out this year 1-4 and only after they changed QB's did the team start to… Read more »
Edmonton and Winnipeg are making the playoffs because one will cross over. There is only one team in the West that won't be there.
There isn't a QB in the league that would be effective behind that O-line.
Calgary has had similar injuries on their OLine, they played D-linemen to finish the double OT game yesterday. Look at Jones for why we keep losing!
What was Marshall's record when he got the boot? He didn't dismantle the team or have a big ego. I bet he is sitting back and chuckling. It will be interesting to see the bottom line (financial) this year with the revolving door. Do you think all the assistant coaches moved to Regina for the same salary they recieved in Edmonton? What about the players? Unfortunately we are stuck with Jones. The CEO and Board need to be accountable. There needs to be a meeting in the bosses office and the Riot Act read. No more basketball players, no more… Read more »
What the heck is with the Riders coach? Poor decisions! No wonder it's 1 and 10. Time to give Jones the boot
And get who???…pay for more fired coaches ….give ur head a shake
DD is carrying the team
Face it the riders have no RB
only 1 good receiver
the 2 off tackles are crap
all this because of jones very poor player assessment and recruiting
Riders are 1- 10 and you need not look any further than Jones for why
Durant is not carrying the team, he is abysmal.
In DD we trust