Bombers clinch first place in the West as Lions lose to Stampeders
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The Winnipeg Blue Bombers clinched first place in the West Division Friday night without even setting foot on the football field.
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The Bombers will host the West Final for the third straight year, thanks to a 41-16 win by the Calgary Stampeders, over the B.C. Lions on Friday night in Vancouver.
The Bombers (12-4) thought they would need a win over the Edmonton Elks on Saturday night at IG Field to lock up first place and the right to host the West Final on Nov. 11, but the Lions (12-6) made that game meaningless by losing to the Stamps.
The Bombers won the season series against the Lions 2-1, so even if the teams finish tied in the standings, Winnipeg gets the higher spot.
It’s not clear whether the Bombers will alter their roster for Saturday night’s game against the 4-13 Elks — they originally planned to play all their available starters — but it’s likely they change their plans for star quarterback Zach Collaros and other stars.
Though Collaros is likely to still play in the Bombers final home game of the regular season, he could give way to backup Dru Brown at some point in the game. The Elks have already missed the playoffs and the game is meaningless to them as well.
The Stampeders, now with a 6-11 record, have a great chance to make the playoffs in the West Division. Even if the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-11) can beat the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, the Stampeders will be able to claim the playoff spot with a win against the Bombers next Friday in Calgary. A Saskatchewan loss on Saturday afternoon would lock up the final playoff spot for Calgary.
The Bombers beat the Riders in the West Final at IG Field in 2021 and went on to win the Grey Cup in Hamilton. They beat the Lions in the West Final at IG Field in 2022 but lost the Grey Cup to the Argos. It’s the first time the Bombers have won West Division in three consecutive years since 1960-1962, when they were coached by the legendary Bud Grant.
The Lions seemed somewhat resigned to the fact that they would finish second in the West after losing 34-26 to the Bombers in a crucial game in Vancouver on Oct. 6.
They rested starting quarterback Vernon Adams after the first half on Friday, with Dane Evans taking over for the second half.
Twitter.com/Ted_Wyman
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