Winnipeg @ Edmonton preview

Winnipeg at Edmonton

Last Meeting ( Jun 27, 2019 ) Edmonton 21, Winnipeg 28

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers look to overcome the loss of their starting quarterback when they visit the Edmonton Eskimos in a pivotal West Division clash Friday. Matt Nichols, who leads the league with 15 touchdown passes, was put on the six-game injured list after hurting his throwing arm in the 32-16 victory over the BC Lions in Week 10, and the Blue Bombers hope Chris Streveler can keep the offence rolling as they aim to extend their lead to four points at the top of the division.

"My job is to just step in and continue to put wins together and move the ball offensively," Streveler told reporters. "It's not about me it's about the team." Edmonton took sole possession of second place following a 41-26 win against the Toronto Argonauts. The Eskimos had dropped nine of their previous 10 road games, including a 28-21 setback to the Blue Bombers on June 27, before setting a season high in points against Toronto, and can catch Winnipeg in first place by continuing their sizzling home form, which has seen them win six straight games at Commonwealth Stadium. "It's going to be a great matchup … and we're happy that we're playing in a big game like this," Edmonton coach Jason Mass told reporters. "We both earned it so now it's about going out and seeing who's the best."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN2

ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (7-2): Nichols was 10-of-12 for 179 yards and a touchdown before he was injured in the fourth quarter of the win against BC. Andrew Harris added 73 yards on 14 carries to move past Dave Thelen (8,463) for 10th place on the CFL's rushing yards list while becoming the all-time leader in yards from scrimmage by a Canadian after vaulting past Ben Cahoon (13,368) in second place. Winnipeg added offensive lineman Na'Ty Rodgers to the practice roster with right guard Cody Speller still nursing an undisclosed injury and signed linebacker Nick Taylor, who made 46 tackles in 14 appearances with Edmonton last season.

ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (6-3): Trevor Harris was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after completing 28-of-41 passes for 420 yards and three touchdowns to go along with a pair of TDs on the ground to lead Edmonton to its first win in Toronto since 2016. Left tackle Tommy Draheim was placed on the six-game injured list after leaving early against the Argonauts with an upper-body injury. Edmonton added offensive lineman Eric Lofton to the active roster with Draheim sidelined for the foreseeable future while 12-year veteran fullback Calvin McCarty is ready to return after missing the previous game with a lower-body injury.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Streveler is 1-3 as a starter in the CFL.

2. Trevor Harris has completed 20 or more passes in 22 consecutive regular-season games, which is two shy of matching the longest streak in CFL history.

3. Trevor Harris leads the league in total touchdowns (19).

PREDICTION: Eskimos 30, Blue Bombers 24