Ottawa @ Winnipeg preview
Princess Auto Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 5, 2019 ) Winnipeg 29, Ottawa 14
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers look to stay unbeaten when they host the Ottawa Redblacks on Friday. The Blue Bombers jumped out to a 28-point lead en route to a 48-21 win over the Toronto Argonauts in Week 5 to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2003, and hope to keep rolling by knocking off the Redblacks for the second time in as many weeks following a 29-14 victory in the nation's capital on July 5.
"We're excited about getting another win," Winnipeg quarterback Matt Nichols told reporters. "It's showing up on gameday the work we're putting in all week." Ottawa is heading in the wrong direction following a 36-19 loss to the Montreal Alouettes. The rebuilding Redblacks defied preseason expectations with two straight wins before dropping their next two games, and are likely to make a change at quarterback as Jonathon Jennings was reportedly taking first-team reps in practice on Tuesday after Dominique Davis failed to throw a touchdown pass for the third time in four games. "I don't question our guys' work ethic or desire but we need to come up with some key plays," Ottawa coach Rick Campbell told reporters. "We're obviously a work in progress and not where we need to be, but we're 2-2 and we're going to keep fighting and scratching."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS
ABOUT THE REDBLACKS (2-2): Davis completed 23-of-37 passes for 268 yards and his league-leading seventh interception while adding a pair of rushing touchdowns in the loss to Montreal. John Crockett is poised for a bigger role in Week 6 after rushing for 62 yards on his CFL debut while Mossis Madu Jr. gained 47 on 11 carries to finish with 50 yards or fewer for the third consecutive outing. Wide receiver Seth Coate is set to be sidelined for the foreseeable future after he was spotted on crutches during Tuesday's practice while starting safety Antoine Pruneau is doubtful after suffering an arm injury against the Alouettes.
ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (4-0): Andrew Harris was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after rushing for 116 yards and catching a touchdown pass in the win against Toronto en route to becoming the 12th player in CFL history to reach 8,000 rushing yards for his career. Linebacker Jesse Briggs suffered an arm injury is likely to miss the next few games while offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick and safety Jeff Hecht, who both were hurt against the Argonauts, did not practice on Tuesday and are question marks for Friday's clash. Linebacker Adam Bighill, who led Winnipeg with 105 tackles last season, is questionable once more after missing the last two games with a sore hamstring.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Nichols leads the league in touchdown passes (10).
2. Ottawa K Lewis Ward has made 61 consecutive field goals.
3. Winnipeg tops the CFL in scoring offence (34.5) and scoring defence (19.8).
PREDICTION: Blue Bombers 34, Redblacks 25