Playoff picture

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I'm as down as anyone right now after Saturday's game, but I'm not sure everyone remembers 2019 all that well. I think a lot of people (I'm guilty as well) kinda remember it either as the season where we won it all and broke the draught or where we were essentially total losers and then scrapped it out after squeaking into the playoffs to win 3 games in a row on the road.

The reality was more complicated (like everything in life). It ended up being a roller coaster of a season, which was not the expectation as we were coming off 3 consecutive years of playoffs finishing: WSF L @BC (2016); WSF L vEDM (2017) and WF L @CGY (2018) and were expecting the take the next step and get to the Grey Cup game. What actually materialized was a total rollercoaster with huge promise and tons of disappointment mixed in. We went

5-0
4-4
1-3

giving us a 10-7 record going into the last game. That record is fine, but look at the trend from the start to the middle to the end. Not good for a team looking to peak and break a 29 year draught.  It looked like we were about to regress from the previous years and certainly not take the next step.

This year was the emergence of Strev who came in multiple times for injured Matt Nichols with some ability (although not near starter level) plus astonishing athleticism and heart. Then we signed some injury prone wash up named Zach Collaros and decided to give him the start in our last game of the season at home against Calgary. I don't need to tell you what happened after that.

Guess my point is, even though I'm pretty worked up about the Edmonton game still, there is precedent to turn it on (as we have done this year, just not consistently) and get into the playoffs and then not look back.

Definitely the glass half full outlook but I do think it's more than just a hope and prayer at this point. We need Zach to be good Zach and not the version on Saturday who throws 5 yards too short or 5 yards too long and honestly, that might be enough to make the difference. Even though I don't think we are a super great team, I'm not blown away by Sask or anyone else. They all look - and are - very beatable. It's just up to us to pull ourselves together and play the way I know we can.

The biggest impediment the team had in 2019 was QB injuries, Nichols started out 7-2 before being wiped out for the season with a shoulder injury.  Once Streveler took over their record slumped to 11-7 and 3rd place as he also struggled to stay healthy, that's when they traded for Zach and the rest is history.

Sad that we have a good and a bad Zach now, more like inconsistent Zach as good Zach only showed up for 2 games.

[Jesse]

I'm as down as anyone right now after Saturday's game, but I'm not sure everyone remembers 2019 all that well. I think a lot of people (I'm guilty as well) kinda remember it either as the season where we won it all and broke the draught or where we were essentially total losers and then scrapped it out after squeaking into the playoffs to win 3 games in a row on the road.

The reality was more complicated (like everything in life). It ended up being a roller coaster of a season, which was not the expectation as we were coming off 3 consecutive years of playoffs finishing: WSF L @BC (2016); WSF L vEDM (2017) and WF L @CGY (2018) and were expecting the take the next step and get to the Grey Cup game. What actually materialized was a total rollercoaster with huge promise and tons of disappointment mixed in. We went

5-0
4-4
1-3

giving us a 10-7 record going into the last game. That record is fine, but look at the trend from the start to the middle to the end. Not good for a team looking to peak and break a 29 year draught.  It looked like we were about to regress from the previous years and certainly not take the next step.

This year was the emergence of Strev who came in multiple times for injured Matt Nichols with some ability (although not near starter level) plus astonishing athleticism and heart. Then we signed some injury prone wash up named Zach Collaros and decided to give him the start in our last game of the season at home against Calgary. I don't need to tell you what happened after that.

Guess my point is, even though I'm pretty worked up about the Edmonton game still, there is precedent to turn it on (as we have done this year, just not consistently) and get into the playoffs and then not look back.

Definitely the glass half full outlook but I do think it's more than just a hope and prayer at this point. We need Zach to be good Zach and not the version on Saturday who throws 5 yards too short or 5 yards too long and honestly, that might be enough to make the difference. Even though I don't think we are a super great team, I'm not blown away by Sask or anyone else. They all look - and are - very beatable. It's just up to us to pull ourselves together and play the way I know we can.

I remember being 100% out on the 2019 team until Zach hit that TD pass to Darvin Adams against Calgary.

[Tecno]

It would be nice if either MTL or WPG had nothing to play for next week.  If we have nothing then we can rest the "important" guys.  If MTL has nothing then they'll take the gas off, even if Maas says "we don't do that" -- he doesn't want to see running Alexander get Kelly'd.

By my calculations a CGY win tomorrow guarantees they beat us in standings and any tie-breaker.  But it won't guarantee where we end up vs BC (should CGY win both their games).

But CGY plays their last game a day before we play ours... but BC plays after...  Ugh, clear as mud.

The east is easier: HAM wins their last (only) game and they are 1st.  It's vs OTT, so it's basically guaranteed, unless it's raining (maybe).  That game is the first game next week, so everyone (read: MTL) can have a better picture of where they are.

So MTL might (should!) indeed have nothing to play for vs us in the final week.

But since BC plays last, and we may still be battling BC, we likely have to play it straight.  MOS will definitely rest people if given the chance, but I can't see MOS trying to lose just so he can crossover!  MTL won't be much easier to beat than CGY or BC -- if at all.

If we crossover and beat HAM in the EDF, those fans are going to hate us even more, for all eternity.  Denying them their cups, and maybe a trip to another cup!   

[55 Stick Car]

Can we actually still finish second if we win and B.C. and Calgary lose the rest of their games.

[Jesse]

Can we actually still finish second if we win and B.C. and Calgary lose the rest of their games.

Yeah, but nearly impossible.

[The Zipp]

second place would be in play if we had won some of the games we should have. 

[Pete]

It would be nice if either MTL or WPG had nothing to play for next week.  If we have nothing then we can rest the "important" guys.  If MTL has nothing then they'll take the gas off, even if Maas says "we don't do that" -- he doesn't want to see running Alexander get Kelly'd.

By my calculations a CGY win tomorrow guarantees they beat us in standings and any tie-breaker.  But it won't guarantee where we end up vs BC (should CGY win both their games).

But CGY plays their last game a day before we play ours... but BC plays after...  Ugh, clear as mud.

The east is easier: HAM wins their last (only) game and they are 1st.  It's vs OTT, so it's basically guaranteed, unless it's raining (maybe).  That game is the first game next week, so everyone (read: MTL) can have a better picture of where they are.

So MTL might (should!) indeed have nothing to play for vs us in the final week.

But since BC plays last, and we may still be battling BC, we likely have to play it straight.  MOS will definitely rest people if given the chance, but I can't see MOS trying to lose just so he can crossover!  MTL won't be much easier to beat than CGY or BC -- if at all.

If we crossover and beat HAM in the EDF, those fans are going to hate us even more, for all eternity.  Denying them their cups, and maybe a trip to another cup! 

by far the most
Likely outcome is that when we play mtrl next week to stay out west wed have to win, and BC lose to Sask backups.
to me its unlikely BC loses, and its not a big deal whether we play the crossover or in the west.
  I'd rest as many starters to be healthy esp Zac after that rider game
Besides knowing they will play us on semifinal Mtrl would be taking all the opportunities they can to knock Zac out and guarantee a semifinal win

[Sway]

My calculations show Calgary win today means Crossover for Bombers.

Would be Meaningless game vs MTL next week.

Start Terry and get a QB controversy going into the playoffs     

[Pete]

My calculations show Calgary win today means Crossover for Bombers.

Would be Meaningless game vs MTL next week.

Start Terry and get a QB controversy going into the playoffs     

if calgary wins today and beats edm next week they have 2nd place and if Bc loses and we beat mtrl then we stay out west. Still not worth playing our starters

[dd]

My calculations show Calgary win today means Crossover for Bombers.

Would be Meaningless game vs MTL next week.

Start Terry and get a QB controversy going into the playoffs     

MOS will go with Zach,bank on it. He needs to get the offense going if we are to make any noise the following week. Wilson doesn't play a down this year and is released in off season.

[Sway]

MOS will go with Zach,bank on it. He needs to get the offense going if we are to make any noise the following week. Wilson doesn't play a down this year and is released in off season.

Absolutely.  Oshea will throw Zach out regardless if he can walk or do 1 +1

[Sway]

if calgary wins today and beats edm next week they have 2nd place and if Bc loses and we beat mtrl then we stay out west. Still not worth playing our starters

Oh right.  We'd be 3rd place and we go to Calgary.

I don't see BC losing.


I hope next week vs MTL is a meaningless game, if for anything when the offense plays terrible again we can say it was only exhibition

[dd]

Absolutely.  Oshea will throw Zach out regardless if he can walk or do 1 +1

Exactly, this is the same coach who put him back into play in the GC game with a hand split open and unable to throw a football, but he kept throwing him back in. He'll NEVER yank Collaros, NEVER.

[TBURGESS]

Watching Alexander's throwing arm injury today, I doubt he plays next week. Of course even without Alexander, Montreal's a better team than we are. 

[Pete]

whoever we play in the semifinal lets hope its a snowstorm, cause the way were playing we need something