Winnipeg @ Saskatchewan preview
Mosaic Stadium
Last Meeting ( Oct 5, 2019 ) Winnipeg 6, Saskatchewan 21
The Saskatchewan Roughriders hope that Cody Fajardo is fully healthy when they host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday in the West Division final. Fajardo has been a revelation after throwing for a CFL-best 4,302 yards while adding 28 total touchdowns en route to leading the Roughriders to their first division title since 2009, but suffered an oblique injury which kept him out of the regular-season finale and hopes to recover in time as Saskatchewan searches for its first Grey Cup appearance in six years.
"It feels as good as I think it would feel at this point but it's not going to be 100 percent," Fajardo told reporters. "We're progressing along and I think that things are looking up." The Blue Bombers surprised the Calgary Stampeders with a two-pronged attack at quarterback in the second half of the 35-14 victory in the West Division semifinal. Zach Collaros, who began the season with Saskatchewan, handled passing duties while Chris Streveler came in for running situations despite being hobbled by a leg injury, and the strategy worked to perfection as the Blue Bombers scored the final 30 points to advance to a division final for the first time since 2011. "It was definitely unique but it's at that point where you do whatever you got to do to win football games," Streveler told reporters. "The coaches did a great job of mixing in different stuff and getting everybody involved."
TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS, ESPN2
ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (12-7): Collaros threw for 193 yards and a touchdown in his second start since being acquired by Winnipeg just before the trade deadline Oct. 9 while Streveler added 82 rushing yards and score against Calgary. Darvin Adams caught two passes for 105 yards and a touchdown while Nic Demski came up big with a 33-yard TD run in the third quarter to start a 27-point second-half blitz by the Blue Bombers. Defensive end Willie Jefferson was named a finalist for the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player award after registering 24 tackles, a CFL-record 16 pass knockdowns and career-high 12 sacks.
ABOUT THE ROUGHRIDERS (13-5): Backup quarterback Isaac Harker completed 23-of-28 passes for 213 yards with Fajardo on the sidelines to lead Saskatchewan to a 23-13 win over the Edmonton Eskimos, which earned it a bye into the West Division final. Fajardo was named a finalist for the CFL's Most Outstanding Player award after going 12-4 as the starter en route to earning a two-year contract extension. Shaq Evans, who leads the team in receiving yards (1,334), missed practice with a toe injury, but is likely to play Sunday while Saskatchewan added quarterback Justice Hansen to the practice roster with Fajardo not at 100 percent.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Winnipeg and Saskatchewan meet in the Western Final for the first time since 1972.
2. Fajardo has thrown for nine touchdowns compared to one interception over his last six starts.
3. Blue Bombers K Justin Medlock has made 16 straight field goals.
PREDICTION: Blue Bombers 28, Roughriders 27