Eternal optimist

Hey guys, we beat a team that was above .500.

These are the clowns we're up against for a crossover spot?

Any given Saturday doesn't have quite the same ring to it... but every game starts 0-0, right? Cautiously optimistic.

Even the Bombers can't lose a game being played between Calgary and Toronto.

Lots of people here confusing writing off bad debt with forgiving it - two entirely different things.

Well that'll be too bad if Demski can't go, but great news on Harris...that guy is the heart and soul of this team.

You guys are thinking about this the wrong way - we should keep him in the organization... and force him to wear Buzz or Boomers mascot costume and cheers on Regina's rival till the end of time.

Someone has to be!

Well I stand corrected. Hopefully we can steal one on Saturday.

Winnipeg: Edmonton - We lost to them by 3 with Streveler at the helm, they're also in free-fall lately (lost 3 of 4) ... no reason we can't take advantage here. (W) Ottawa - This is the Jekyl/Hyde team this year - sometimes they look stellar, other times... not so much. Likely a loss though. (L) Saskatchewan - These bums barely beat Toronto last night, and their offense is nonexistent... can't see us losing 3 to them, especially since it is at home. (W) Calgary - Realistically Calgary will probably have locked up 1st in the West at this point, so we might luck out and play a game against their scrubs like last year. (W) Edmonton - If this game has any meaning, hopefully our team can step up. (W) Record: 10-8 B.C. Hamilton - They'll be ticked about blowing that late lead yesterday, also the Tabbies are at home. (L) Toronto - BC probably has the edge here, realistically. Toronto's been pretty bad this year. (W) Calgary - Calgary's is just too good, and they'll likely still be playing for something here. (L) Edmonton - Spanked the Lions earlier in the year, though this is in BC and is the tiebreaker. (W) Saskatchewan - This game is in Saskatchewan, and the Lions have been atrocious on the road. (L) Calgary - Similar to our game against them, could be playing at home against Calgary's second stringers (W) Record: 9-9 I fully expect an incoming storm of anger and disgust relating to how this post is unrealistic and optimistic and how I have no idea what I'm talking about. As a fan, I welcome it and would like to point out that this is my casual, slightly-home-biased opinion. I would also like to point out I am entitled to it, just as much as the doom-and-gloomers on this site are entitled to theirs.

Injuries directly impact the product on the field - which directly affects the outcome of the game... I don't understand what is flawed with this logic.

Man... you guys are all over Jones for not kicking the FG when up 7... but honesty what did Hajrullahu do in the game to show Jones he could trust his kicker? I'm not saying I agree with the call, but at that point in the game, he had already missed one FG, and Rainey had burnt the tabbies on punt returns quite a bit. Oh and what did our good buddy Lirim do in OT? Oh yeah, miss a FG... Tabbies should play mean next week at home and hopefully beat B.C.

Nichols had a great game, I just hope Harris/Demski/Bighill are alright. As for Johnny Football he threw a few lame ducks last night... that final score flattered the Als', if Randle catches that one pass he jumped it's a pick-6, if Roh's endzone fumble recovery isn't called back... that's another TD. Another fun fact... Mr. Manziel hasn't thrown a TD pass in the CFL yet, would be interesting to see what he could do with any semblance of an offensive line, but right now looks like the Ti-cats fleeced 'em.

Time for Nichols (and the rest of the Bombers) to nut up or shut up... hopefully they can make some noise.

Even Streveler - we only got a look at because Durant left the Bombers... even a blind dog eventually finds a bone, I guess.

Manziel has done nothing to show he's changed as a football player, his ugly attitude reared its ugly head again last week... if anything I think Manziel will underestimate the Bombers... just like he's underestimated the entire CFL league to date.

To be perfectly honest - I haven't heard anything at all about Kaepernick coming North, with his new Nike deal he's probably fine for cash, and to date he's shown no interest in doing so. Lots of former NFL players don't make the transition to the CFL mainly because there's a substantial drop-off in salaries between the CFL/NFL. It's the same reason you see CFL stars go south (if they're good enough) - even if it is just to kick around on some practice rosters, part of it is chasing the dream, but the pay in the US is much better. Also - the Als have Kaepernick's negotiation rights, so if anybody, they'd be the team to go after him. As for Manziel - I can't see this regime (or any team, really), even considering trading for him. To date, he's played two games (0 TDs, 4 INTs), and shown nothing to warrant going after him - combine that with poor attitude and him complaining about being on the depth chart behind Pipkin, and you have a toxic QB nobody wants. Lots of former NFLers burnout in the CFL, Manziel wouldn't be the first, and he won't be the last. As it stands right now though, boy did Hamilton ever fleece Montreal in that trade. It's the CFL - get into the playoffs hot and anything can happen. The only thing ever Grey Cup champ has in common, is they won at least two playoff games in a row..

I'm not normally a Redblacks fan, but tonight I'll be a Redblacks fan.

You are correct - must've blacked out that WPG loss (which was a CAL win) from my memory...

Well, with the Bombers on the sidelines and hoping for the crossover, mathematically speaking we actually want Calgary to win here (since it is pretty much impossible for us to catch them). Agree with szaroz71's assessment here though, Calgary is just too good of a team to lose three straight.

West division basement for the Bombers? West division basement...

Go for it Wally do eeeet BE A MAN

Not just the Blue and Gold though, it is pretty much universal across the league that if you give up a FG, you take the 35 yard-line... the exception being when the rules prevent you from doing so (final 3 minutes), or if there is an excessive wind for the kicking team...

I think the biggest reason we're seeing less kick returns for TDs is because teams are more often electing to take the ball at the 35 yard line instead of having the opponent kickoff after a FG. Less kick offs...less kick returns.

On the whole, I agree with this. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if Nichols is playing hurt or not 100% right now, he's definitely looking over his shoulder and feeling the heat from Streveler.Although the D on the whole has been passable - in the Banjo Bowl with an amped up crowd and a lead (albeit 1 point) in the waning minutes - they just couldn't get it done.