Bob Irving
CFL.ca
In a season filled with frustrating losses, the Winnipeg Blue bombers took it to a new level on Sunday in Toronto when they dropped a 17-13 decision to the Argos.
Coming off a dominating 31-2 rout of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders in the Banjo Bowl, the Bombers felt they were on the verge of getting their season headed in the right direction, but dropped passes, penalties, and generally inept offensive play came back to haunt them as they lost for the Second time this season to the Argos.
Bomber head coach Paul LaPolice opened himself up to second-guessing with a couple of fourth quarter decisions. Early in the final quarter, the Argos Justin Medlock missed a 56-yard field goal, but rather than concede the single point and take the ball at their 49-yard line, the Bombers had Jovon Johnson bring the ball out of the end zone. Johnson only made it to the 15 and after a two-and-out and a net 30-yard punt, the Argos wound up with the ball on the Winnipeg 50 yard line. From there the Argos went on to score their only offensive touchdown of the game.
And then, the call that has all of Winnipeg talking came with one minute and 47 seconds remaining in the game and the Bombers trailing 17-13, facing a third and two at the Argos 27 yard line. LaPolice says he considered kicking a field goal but was afraid his team might not get the ball back. So, he elected to gamble, and sent backup quarterback Alex Brink onto the field with instructions to run a fullback dive play with Andre Sadeghian.
The Argos stuffed the play completely, forced a turnover on downs, and were able to run out most of the rest of the remaining time. The call raised eyebrows because Sadeghian had not carried the ball once all season. LaPolice said they had noticed something in the Argos defensive alignment that convinced him the play could work, but he admitted that if he had it to do over, he would probably call something different.
Still, Lapolice argued that the game wasn’t won or lost on that particular play. He said the Bombers overall poor offensive execution is what led to their demise. Quarterback Steven Jyles committed a costly fumble on the final play of the third quarter. Three dropped passes were also critical in stopping Bomber drives. Two of the drops were made by Adarius Bowman, the other by Terrence Edwards, who otherwise had a big game catching 4 passes for 140 yards and a touchdown.
The Bomber offensive line also had a shaky outing with right tackle Kelly Butler guilty of two holding penalties and an illegal procedure call.
It’s becoming an all too familiar refrain for the Bombers. Play almost well enough to win, but always come up short. Five times this season the Bombers have lost by seven points or fewer.
Perhaps the worst part of their one and only trip to Toronto this year is that the Bombers wasted another magnificent defensive effort. Seven of Toronto’s points came on an 80-yard punt return by Chad Owens. The Bomber defence held the Argos to 231 yards of offence and only 90 yards passing. When was the last time a team in the CFL won a game with just 90 yards passing?
If the Bombers haven’t perfected the art of shooting themselves in the foot, they have come mighty close. Now, at 3-8 and 6 points behind both Toronto and Hamilton in the East, their best bet for a playoff hope would appear to be via the cross-over route. They are currently tied with the 3rd place team in the West, the B.C. Lions.
The Bombers don’t have any time to feel sorry for themselves. They have to pick themselves up, yet again, and dust themselves off because the East Division leading Montreal Alouettes will visit Canad Inns Stadium on Friday night.
