Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Montreal Alouettes Preview and Predictions
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers look to bounce back from their Week 1 loss when they hit the road to battle the Montreal Alouettes on Friday. The Blue Bombers were seemingly on their way to the first win of a new season before giving up 11 points in the final 1:22 of the 33-30 setback to the Edmonton Eskimos, and hope to get back on track by knocking off the Alouettes for the fourth consecutive time.
Chris Streveler, who became the first rookie quarterback to start a season opener since Anthony Calvillo in 1994, filled in admirably for an injured Matt Nichols and hopes to lead the Blue Bombers to their first road win over an East Division opponent since a 34-31 double-overtime victory against Montreal on Aug. 24, 2017. The Alouettes began the 2018 campaign where they left off last season as they suffered a 22-10 setback against the BC Lions to extend their losing streak to a franchise-worst 12 straight games. The same old problems continued to plague Montreal as it was held scoreless for the final three quarters of Mike Sherman's CFL coaching debut as the Alouettes failed to score 20 points for the ninth time in their last 10 games. "We have to do a lot better on offence," Montreal running back Tyrell Sutton admitted to reporters. "You can write that this is the same Alouettes, but whatever, it's game one."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN2
ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (0-1): Streveler completed 15-of-28 passes for 178 yards and three touchdowns, and showed veteran poise in the pocket during one of the longest games in CFL history due to two separate weather delays that lasted a combined 2 hours and 55 minutes. "I thought he got better and more comfortable as the game went on," Winnipeg head coach Mike O'Shea told reporters. "If that kind of growth can be shown again through the next few games he's just going to keep getting better and better." Winnipeg added Mitchell Gale to the practice squad after backup quarterback Alex Ross suffered a lower-body injury against the Eskimos and will be sidelined four to six weeks.
ABOUT THE ALOUETTES (0-1): Right tackle Ruben Carter, who suffered a shoulder injury in the second quarter last week, is expected to be sidelined for the foreseeable future and will likely be replaced by either Sean Jamieson or Ryan Bomben. Drew Willy went 25-of-35 for 281 yards through the air with a touchdown pass to Geno Lewis before the offence came to a screeching half in the second half. Jeff Mathews is the backup quarterback after Montreal released Antonio Pipkin while the Alouettes also parted ways with wide receiver Seydou Haidara and former Notre Dame running back Amir Carlisle.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Winnipeg is 13-5 on the road since the start of the 2016 season.
2. The Alouettes have dropped five consecutive home games.
3. Blue Bombers WR Darvin Adams needs 44 receiving yards to reach 3,000 for his career.
PREDICTION: Blue Bombers 27, Alouettes 18
