What is going on with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers?

For the first time since 2012, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have started the season 0-3. In 2012, the Blue Bombers started the season losing four consecutive games. After a 2-6 start, the team fired Head Coach Paul LaPolice and Tim Burke took over coaching duties. Winnipeg finished the season 6-12 tied for third place with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Eastern Division. 

Fast forward to 2024, the Blue Bombers are eerily headed to that same situation. Three games into the 2024 season, the Blue Bombers are averaging 18.3 total points per game which ranks last in the league. They are also ranked last in average offense points (17.0), and net offense (310.7), and the rushers are averaging 78.7 yards per game which ranks sixth in the league.

Quarterback Zach Collaros in the first three games of the season has completed 58 of 94 passes (62%) for 741 yards, three interceptions, and two carries for nine yards. In the first three games of last season, Collaros was 59 of 87 (68%) for 838 yards, five touchdowns, one interception, four carries for 32 yards, and one touchdown. That is a big difference from a year ago.

On defense, the Blue Bombers have allowed 76 points (25.3 PPG), which is tied for fourth with the B.C. Lions. They also rank seventh in average opposing net offense (385.0), opposing rushing yards (103.0), sixth in opposing passing yards (296.7), and fourth in opposing touchdowns (7).

For the last five seasons, fans have been accustomed to watching the Blue Bombers dominate game after game putting opponents away early. So far, that is not the case. After the 2023 season, Winnipeg was over the salary cap and it was a given they were going to lose players. Winnipeg was one of three teams fined by the CFL for exceeding the salary cap.

As it turned out, the Blue Bombers lost a ton of players including trading quarterback Dru Brown to the Ottawa Redblacks but managed to re-sign guys like Brady Oliveira, Dalton Schoen, and brought back quarterback Chris Streveler, and signed offensive lineman Eric Lofton. Here are the players Winnipeg lost in the offseason.

Losing players, especially those that have helped Winnipeg appear in four Grey Cup championship games, and winning two of them is tough. However, they did the right thing by letting some of those guys go.

With the new players Winnipeg brought on board including the new draft class, chemistry is important. Winnipeg had great chemistry in the last five seasons but so far, nothing is clicking this season. During the pre-season, most of the starters did not play including quarterback Zach Collaros and that has clearly affected the team. They are having trouble on both sides of the ball. The offense has not been able to put together drives consistently, the play calling has not been great, and the offensive line can’t protect Collaros.

On the other side, the defense has three sacks this season and the secondary is losing the one-on-one battles and blowing coverages. The team looks lost out there at times but in this last showed some signs of life and nearly beat the B.C. Lions last week.

If this losing streak continues, Winnipeg might have to start the process of rebuilding the team. They might have to trade players that otherwise they would not necessarily get rid of unless other teams are going to offer a package in return that they can’t pass up on. But I don’t see this happening yet.

When it comes to this Winnipeg Blue Bombers team, I think they are going to find a way to get back to playing the Blue Bombers football that we’ve watched in the last five years. This weekend, they play the Calgary Stampeders and I think they have a chance to beat them. Luckily, the season is early and Winnipeg can bounce back from this horrible start. This team is better than their record shows and head coach Mike O’Shea and his staff will find a way for this team to start winning again.