Brown rescues Bombers
Backup QB leads late charge to lock up playoff spot
Taylor Allen
5 TAKEAWAYS
DON’T let the final score fool you. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers clinched a playoff berth with a 34-10 victory over the B.C. Lions on Friday night in Vancouver, but it was anything but pretty.
Had they not been facing a lineup loaded with second- and third-stringers, the Bombers might be preparing for the off-season instead of another game right now.
Luckily for them, they survived three horrendous quarters to prevail. A loss would have ended their season and handed a playoff spot to the Calgary Stampeders instead.
With the Saskatchewan Roughriders beating the Edmonton Elks over the weekend, the Bombers (9-9) finish fourth in the West Division and will cross over to play Saturday’s East semifinal (12 p.m. CT) against the Toronto Argonauts (9-9) at BMO Field.
Before we look ahead to that, let’s revisit this one with 5 Takeaways.
Brown is brilliant
Dru Brown to the rescue.
The Bombers trailed 10-3 with 3:42 remaining in the third quarter when a hit knocked starting quarterback Zach Collaros out of the game.
Winnipeg was stuck in neutral and playing some of its worst football of the season — which is saying something — when Brown was thrust into action.
Backup QB Dru Brown led the Blue Bombers on five straight scoring drives. (ETHAN CAIRNS / THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Like a superstar reliever coming out of the bullpen, Brown made an immediate impact, firing a 46-yard strike to rookie receiver Dorian Singer. A few plays later, he found Singer again, this time for a 30-yard touchdown to tie the game at 10-10 with 90 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Brown never looked back, leading the Bombers on five consecutive scoring drives — four touchdowns and a field goal — as they blew out the Lions.
One of his best throws was a dime to Nic Demski at the back of the end zone in the fourth quarter, extending Winnipeg’s lead to 24-10 with 6:30 remaining.
“I kind of knew it was just a matter of time before we could string some success together,” said Brown after the game.
“Ironically, that was when I came out there. I don’t necessarily think that was the factor in it. I think it would’ve happened regardless because Zach is the best to ever do it. But, yeah, that’s what I’m supposed to do, I’m supposed to be prepared.”
Brown’s stock has cooled in 2026. Ottawa gave up on him after head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie criticized his arm talent, trading him to Winnipeg in June. Brown went 2-4 in six starts with the Bombers and was average at best.
But after Friday’s performance, perhaps the 29-year-old could be Collaros’s heir apparent after all.
Down goes Collaros
Not again.
It’s a scene Bomber fans have grown all too familiar with this season: Collaros ending a game on the sideline with an injury.
Bombers star Brady Oliveira runs for a career-long 63-yard TD, with receiver Ontaria Wilson alongside and Lions defender Stantley Thomas-Oliver III chasing, in Vancouver on Friday. PHOTOS BY ETHAN CAIRNS / THE CANADIAN PRESS
Defensive lineman Nathan Cherry was flagged for roughing the passer after driving Collaros into the turf. The 38-year-old pivot stayed down for several minutes before being ruled out.
Collaros has already missed six games this season, and his latest setback puts his status for the playoffs in question. If he’s healthy, though, the Bombers at least have to consider turning to Brown.
Collaros was bad — really bad — completing nine of 20 passes for 105 yards and an interception. He also whiffed on a deep shot to Tim White in the second quarter that should have resulted in a gain of more than 40 yards.
He wasn’t solely responsible for Winnipeg’s putrid start, but the offence began to click immediately after he left.
Still, it would be shocking if head coach Mike O’Shea benched a healthy Collaros in favour of Brown.
Few coaches in professional football are as loyal to their veterans as O’Shea. He’s also repeatedly called Collaros the best quarterback in the league — even though his numbers over the past few seasons suggest otherwise.
This could be the end of the road for Collaros in Winnipeg. He’s 38 and isn’t under contract for 2027. Given everything he’s done for the franchise since arriving in 2019, it would be tough to see his tenure in blue and gold — and perhaps his CFL career — end as a backup.
Perhaps the best approach would be to start Collaros, provided he’s healthy, but keep him on a short leash.
Brutal start
At the end of the day, the Bombers needed a win, and they got one.
They dominated the fourth quarter and accomplished the task at hand.
However, their start cannot be ignored.
How does a team that needs a win to extend its season come out so flat and uninspired against a lineup full of backups?
The defence surrendered a touchdown four plays into the game. Star right tackle Jarell Broxton gave up a sack. Trey Vaval fumbled a punt. Bryce Perkins was stuffed on a third-and-one. Collaros underthrew a pass to the end zone for an easy interception. Sergio Castillo missed a field goal.
And that was just the first half.
As great as Brown was, it was evident that the Lions — who had nothing to play for — took their foot off the gas down the stretch.
Winning by four scores is nice and all, but the Bombers did little to convince anyone they’re capable of making a playoff run.
Brady breaks loose
Brady Oliveira was due.
The star running back had gone three straight weeks with single-digit carries and fewer than 45 rushing yards before turning in one of the finest performances of his career Friday.
He opened the fourth quarter with a bang, breaking off a career-long 63-yard touchdown run with receiver Ontaria Wilson helping pave the way downfield.
Oliveira had just 32 rushing yards through the first half but finished with 149 on 15 carries and two touchdowns.
It was his highest rushing total since Sept. 29, 2023, when he piled up 169 yards on 25 carries against Toronto.
Stopping the run
The Bombers got what they needed from their defence.
Winnipeg stumbled out of the gate, allowing Lions quarterback Kaidon Salter to connect with Canadian receiver Nate DeMontagnac for a 36-yard touchdown just two minutes into the game.
The defence put up a wall after that.
Rookie cornerback Major Williams recorded two INTs, picking off Salter before intercepting Chris Oladokun, a former Kansas City Chiefs backup who made his CFL debut in the fourth quarter.
Most importantly, the Bombers righted a previous wrong by holding the Lions to 109 rushing yards.
When the teams met in Winnipeg in late July, Salter — starting in place of an injured Nathan Rourke — helped the Lions pile up a franchise-record 377 rushing yards.
Salter scampered for 160 yards in that game. On Friday, he managed just 11 rushing yards.