Are the Winnipeg Blue Bombers peaking too soon?

By Olivia Lawrence

RP Show Intern

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have had a next to perfect season this year sitting at 10-1 and have already clinched a playoff spot with three games remaining for them in the regular season. Rod Pedersen and Winnipeg CFL fans are enjoying the historical dominance, but other CFL fans are questioning if this great performance can continue in the playoffs and lead to a Grey Cup win for the team. 

“People are bringing up the 1989 Edmonton Eskimos 16-2 on their way to being the best team in CFL history, and then the UPSET in the West final, as you know by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Are you hearing that at all in Winnipeg? That you’re getting so far out in front, come playoff time, you could stub your toe, has that been brought up at all?,” said Rod Pedersen to Winnipeg Sports Doctor Dave Petrishen on Tuesday’s episode of The Rod Pedersen Show.

“It has not been brought up at all in Winnipeg, there were a few people saying that prior to Saturday’s game against the BC Lions but it didn’t work out like that.” said Petrishen. “Not only did we pitch a perfect shutout on Saturday night, but the Bombers have allowed six points, in the last how many games? Nine games or so in the fourth quarter.”

A similar winning streak for the Bombers happened back in 2011, they went into Labour Day sitting 7-1, calling themselves ‘Swagger-Ville’. Unfortunately, their season struggled from there. They did make it to the Grey Cup that year but got beat by the BC Lions. 

“It’s going to be a challenge for [head coach] Mike O’Shae to keep people focused because the next three games are meaningless because they have clinched first place,” said Petrishen. “So you know, maybe cut back a little bit on the practices and use your 60 minute games, the next three games for practices. I don’t know what the solution is.” 

It will indeed be a challenge for the Bombers who are also on a bye this week, and will not return to play on Nov 6. The Bombers have two games remaining against the Montreal Alouettes and one against the Calgary Stampeders before the CFL Division Finals. 

“There’s always that thing in the back of your head that, you know, maybe you’re getting too good, maybe you’re getting cocky,” said Petrishen. “I think the coaching staff, the general manager, fans in Winnipeg, people in restaurants and stuff need to keep the team focused and saying that we got to win these next few games and keep that pressure on. You know, it’s hard enough going into a bye-week with playoffs, let alone three meaningless games, so the eye has to be kept on the football.”