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They make for an interesting concoction, these ever-evolving Winnipeg Blue Bombers now just three games into their 2025 Canadian Football League schedule.
Some, not all, of the familiar faces still remain in place from a crew that has appeared in five straight Grey Cup games, with championships in 2019 and 2021 and the early indicators are they have been mixed with a tasty crew of newcomers and second-year pros who are bringing their own magic to the potion.
The results — including Thursday night’s 36-23 victory over the Edmonton Elks in front of another sold out crowd of 32,343 on another postcard night at Princess Auto Stadium — have been especially impressive, especially considering it’s still just June and there is a whole pile of highway yet to travel.
The Blue Bombers are now 3-0 in what was a solid performance that, save for a lull in the third quarter, flashed all the signs of a championship contender.
Leading 23-10 at halftime, they were then tied 23-23 heading into the final quarter before the hammer game down in the final 15 minutes with the home side outscoring the visitors 13-zilch.
“That’s Winnipeg football, three-phase football with offence, defence and special teams doing their thing,” said veteran defensive end Willie Jefferson. “We came out with the mentality of keeping them out of the end zone — we talk about going zero, one, three (points allowed) — and the zero was a big emphasis for us going into the fourth quarter.
“We were trying to get the offence the ball back; the special teams had the opportunity to flip the field and change the field position for the offence, we did that. That’s a good all-around team game, especially in the fourth quarter.”
More on the Blue Bombers third straight victory to open 2025 from our view in the press box…
Let Zach cook
This was one for the Collaros time capsule, as the veteran Blue Bombers quarterback was at his vintage best. The 36-year-old pivot finished the night 25-of-30 for 334 yards with three touchdowns — two to Nic Demski, the other to Keric Wheatfall — while also running for a critical score in the fourth quarter.
WHAT A THROW & CATCH
— Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) June 27, 2025
KERICCCCCC TOUCHDOWN #ForTheW pic.twitter.com/vn9gWhNn0M
“It just felt good to get a win. None of them are easy,” said Collaros. “We have to do a better job on first down and making second down more reasonable, but I thought we executed when it mattered. In the third quarter we’ve got to do a better job — everybody in here knows that. But great job by the offensive line, the running backs, the receivers, everybody blocking there at the end.”
“Zach was dialled in today, right from the get-go,” added Demski. “He started off good and he was hot all day. That’s why I love playing with him.”
Collaros’s 334-yard effort allowed him to move past Ken Ploen (16,470) into fourth spot on the franchise’s all-time passing yardage list at 16,511, now behind only Dieter Brock (29,623), Khari Jones (20,175) and Kevin Glenn (18,116).
The number that matters most to him? The Blue Bombers are now 59-18 in games he has started since his arrival in 2019.
GTD - Go Time Demski
Nic Demski had been listed as a ‘GTD’ — game time decision — on the Blue Bombers depth chart after suffering an ankle injury last weekend in the win over B.C. We suggested on X that the GTD should stand for ‘Go-Time Demski’ after the veteran receiver served up a sensational effort, especially in the first half. His first catch was an eight grab from Collaros for Winnipeg’s first score and his second was an absolute thing of beauty as he went up and snatched a pass for a 61-yard score.
GTDEMSKIIIIIIII#ForTheW pic.twitter.com/AqylniHtgL
— Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) June 27, 2025
Demski now has four TDs this season and his first reception extended his consecutive games streak with at least one catch to 74, the longest active run in the CFL. Saskatchewan’s Don Narcisse holds the league record at 216 consecutive games with a reception, set over a stretch from 1987-99.
He said he got the green light to go early on game day after visiting with head athletic therapist Al Couture.
“I don’t want to look into it too much but after what happened last week with personal production (just one catch for one yard)… of course it’s always good to get a win but it’s always about bouncing back for this team and I thought Zach put me in a good position to go out there and make plays and Jason (Hogan, offensive coordinator) put me in position to go make plays,” he said. “It worked out”
It more than worked out as Demski now has four touchdowns in three games and his 97 yards receiving allowed him to move past Darvin Adams in 10th spot on the Blue Bombers all-time receiving yardage list. Demski is now at 4,710; Adams finished his career at 4,667 yards.
Slow cap, long clap and a thank you
The sold-out crowd Thursday marked the seventh straight capacity crowd in south Winnipeg since last season — and it’s trending toward eight with just 2,000 tickets left to be sold for the next home date on July 18th vs. the Calgary Stampeders.
This from the CFL on the sold-out streak: the last time the club had a run of sell outs this long was back in 2011-12 at the old building, Canad Inns Stadium.
SEVEN. STRAIGHT. SELLOUTS ‼️
— Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) June 26, 2025
LET'S MAKE IT EIGHT STRAIGHT. ONLY 2K REMAINING FOR JULY 18 VS CGY 🤯
friends don't let friends miss bomber games 🫡
🎟️ » https://t.co/78oossggi8#ForTheW pic.twitter.com/Fp5MC8biKw
Notable
The win was Winnipeg’s 13th straight against Edmonton, a franchise record for consecutive wins against any team.
Of note: during this 13-game run the margin of victory has been less than 10 points only three times.
Key moment
The Blue Bombers led 26-23 in the fourth quarter when the club took possession on their own 24-yard line with 11:29 left in the game. Collaros & Co. then pieced together an impressive 11 play drive that covered 86 yards and took six minutes off the clock.
It was capped by a 13-yard Collaros run — just his third in the last 10 years.
ZACHARY WHAT A RUN #ForTheW pic.twitter.com/p6gncdDab5
— Winnipeg Blue Bombers (@Wpg_BlueBombers) June 27, 2025
Key stat: 151.3
The quarterback efficiency formula is a complicated bit of math, but we do know this: a rating of 151.3 — which is what Collaros did Thursday night — is jaw-dropping good.
Three TDs passing, 300-plus yards AND a rushing score? Those are Most Outstanding Player numbers.
NEXT: The Blue Bombers travel to Calgary next Thursday for a matchup with the Stampeders in the inaugural Stampede Bowl. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. CDT.
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This story originally appeared at bluebombers.com and is republished here with permission.