Hamilton @ Winnipeg preview
Princess Auto Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 26, 2019 ) Winnipeg 15, Hamilton 23
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats look to reach 11 wins for the first time since 2001 when they visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday. Lirim Hajrullahu banked in a 34-yard field goal off the left upright as time expired to lift the Tiger-Cats to a 27-24 road win over the Edmonton Eskimos that clinched a playoff berth, and they hope to take a big step toward their first East Division title in five years by improving to 7-2 against West Division opponents in 2019.
"I'm proud of our football team for their response to adversity," Hamilton coach Orlondo Steinauer told reporters. "We're going to enjoy this one and then we'll put it behind us and gear up for Winnipeg." Winnipeg is left to pick up the pieces after it blew a 24-point lead in the 38-37 loss to the Montreal Alouettes in Week 15. The Blue Bombers led 34-10 late in the second quarter before they were outscored 28-3 the rest of the way to relinquish sole possession of first place in the West Division, but return home to the friendly confines of Investors Group Field, where they have won nine consecutive games - including all six this season. "It was a monumental collapse and it's sickening but it's on all of us," Winnipeg coach Mike O'Shea told reporters. "The number one thing to do now is learn from it."
TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, TSN, RDS2
ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (10-3): Dane Evans completed 22-of-30 passes for 336 yards and three touchdowns in the win against Edmonton to surpass 300 yards for the third straight game and fourth time in his last five contests. Brandon Banks continued to make his case for the East Division's Most Outstanding Player award as he caught five passes for 72 yards and a touchdown to reach 1,000 receiving yards for the third consecutive season. Defensive back Tunde Adeleke could return to the lineup after a one-game injury absence while wide receiver Luke Tasker did not practice and is likely to miss his fifth consecutive game with an unspecified ailment.
ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (9-4): Chris Streveler threw for 180 yards and a touchdown to go along with 84 rushing yards and three scores against Montreal. Running back Andrew Harris was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week as the league's rushing leader (984) accounted for 188 yards from scrimmage in his first action since serving a two-game suspension for violating the CFL's drug policy. Winnipeg added quarterback Trevor Knight, defensive back Trey Johnson and running back Jordan Robinson to the practice roster while cutting loose defensive back Chris Humes and running back Larry Rose.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Streveler has seven rushing touchdowns in his last four games.
2. Harris needs 16 rushing yards to reach 1,000 for the third straight year.
3. Banks leads the East Division in receiving yards (1,039).
PREDICTION: Blue Bombers 31, Tiger-Cats 28