Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Hamilton Tiger-Cats look to defend their winning streaks in the Week 18 matchup

A lot has changed for Scott Milanovich and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats since their last meeting with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Zach Collaros’s 10-yard touchdown strike to Kenny Lawler with 19 seconds left gave Winnipeg (9-6) a 26-23 home victory over Hamilton on Aug. 23. It was the Bombers’ third straight win in their current seven-game winning streak. That has catapulted the club to first place in the West Division standings.

But Hamilton (6-9) hasn’t lost since. The Ticats have won four straight and remain in playoff contention in the East Division.

Last week, Hamilton rallied from a 16-0 halftime deficit to earn a 32-29 win over the BC Lions.

Watch the Blue Bombers take on the Tiger-Cats LIVE at 7:00 PM ET/4:00 PM PT on TSN1/4, TSN.ca and the TSN App.

“I always think that each game is its own entity,” Milanovich said. “BC crushed us (44-28 in Hamilton on July 7) and I didn’t think it would hold up in the game (last Friday in Vancouver) and it didn’t.

“They (Bombers) are a different team now than when we played them, and so are we. I think it should be a good match. I’m looking forward to it, it will be an exciting match.”

Winnipeg is coming off a 55-27 win over the Edmonton Elks on Friday night. Collaros threw for 432 yards and a career-high six TD passes in the game.

Lawler had eight catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns, while Nic Demski added four receptions for 117 yards and two touchdowns. CFL rushing leader Brady Oliveira (1,107 yards) ran for 86 yards on 16 carries, but also had a 33-yard touchdown grab.

“There are a lot of keys to our defense,” Milanovich said. “They have talented receivers, they have a Hall of Fame quarterback and one day they will have a Hall of Fame running back.

“There’s a lot going on that our defense has to respond to.”

Hamilton has his own offensive weapons.

Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell leads the CFL in passing yards (4,359) and TDs (26). Hamilton’s offense leads the CFL in net yards (394.7 per game), passing yards (323.5) and passing touchdowns (29) and is second in offensive touchdowns (40).

Receiver Shemar Bridges is also closing in on the CFL record for most catches by a first-year player. He has 83 receptions, just six shy of Derel Walker’s mark of 89.

But Winnipeg counters with a defense that ranks top in fewest offensive points allowed (20.5 per game), net offensive yards (330.9) and passing yards (233.6). Canadian cornerback Tyrell Ford also ranks second in interceptions (six).

“They play great defense, Jordan (defensive coordinator Jordan Younger) does a great job,” Milanovich said. “With Osh (head coach Mike O’Shea)’s skill on special teams, they’re always good on special teams, and the game Zach played last week shows what kind of player he is.

“We will have our hands full, we will have to play one of our best games.”

Despite the current run, Hamilton’s playoff hopes remain hanging by a thread. The Ticats are four points behind third-place Toronto (8-7), with both teams having three regular season games remaining.

Hamilton won the three-game series with Toronto but will still need help to get past the Argos, who are on hold this week. And even then, there’s the threat of a crossover in the West Division, with Edmonton (5-10) currently in fourth.

Hamilton will have history on his side Friday night after winning four straight home games against Winnipeg. The Bombers’ last win at Tim Hortons Field came in 2017, when Matt Nichols was their starting quarterback.

Hamilton’s starter in that game was none other than Collaros, who was twice the CFL’s outstanding player with Winnipeg.

Over his last four starts, Mitchell has amassed 1,323 passing yards with seven touchdowns and two interceptions. Hamilton receiver Tim White also needs just 52 yards to reach the 1,000-yard plateau for the third year in a row.

A win in Winnipeg would give inactive Ottawa (second in the East with an 8-6-1 record) a spot in the playoffs. The Redblacks were last in the CFL post-season in 2018 when they lost 27-16 to Calgary in the Gray Cup.

Winnipeg would also cement its first place in the West on Saturday with a win over Hamilton and Saskatchewan (7-7-1) losing to Edmonton (5-10).

NOTES: Hamilton signed American receivers Isaiah Wooden and Daniel Arias on Tuesday, while import receivers Jordan Byrd and Jalon Calhoun were released.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2024.