Ed Tait, Winnipeg Football Club

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers came into the inaugural Stampede Bowl unbeaten and riding high in the saddle after being pegged — once again — as Canadian Football League contenders.

They are now exiting Cowtown after being thrown from their steed and then lassoed, hogtied and branded by the Calgary Stampeders in sloppy, mistake-filled 37-16 loss in front of 22,485 at McMahon Stadium, a result which drops them to 3-1 — ditto for the Stamps — and takes a whole pile of shine off what had been an impressive unbeaten start to the season.

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.

It’s early — waaay too early — to make any bold declarations and concrete proclamations. Shoot, it’s still June.

Yet, say this about the work-in-progress Winnipeg Blue Bombers two weeks into the Canadian Football League season:

There are just enough flashes of brilliance on offence and special teams — both units backed by a stifling defence — to have everyone in Bomberland sliding to the front of their collective seats wanting to witness much, much more of the 2025 edition.

Clear your November calendars, Bomber Nation, and circle the 2nd and the 9th in particular, because the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ remarkable romp right through the Canadian Football League over the last two months means playoff football is coming back to Princess Auto Stadium.

Again.

The Blue Bombers cranked out their eighth straight victory Friday night here in Steeltown with a 31-10 mauling of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in front of 22,241 at Tim Hortons Field, and in the process locked up at least second in the West Division with their 10-6 record.

It was an item on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ to-do list with about the same ho-hum urgency as breathing, fuelling up the car with the tank on empty, and grabbing bread and milk at the supermarket.

Qualify for the Canadian Football League playoffs? Well, sure. Of course.

There was a time not too long ago – way back on June 29th, if we are to be precise – when the Winnipeg Blue Bombers had been completely written off by so many across the Canadian Football League.

Saturday’s 26-21 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the annual Banjo Bowl in front of another capacity crowd of 32,343 at Princess Auto Stadium had so many savoury layers to it.

Most important: not only is it a fifth straight ‘W’ to improve the club’s record to 7-6 – the first time over .500 this season – it keeps them atop the West Division, tied with the B.C. Lions but with a tiebreaker already secured. The Riders, meanwhile, are now 5-7-1 after a 5-1 start to their season.

They don’t paint masterpieces and don’t sculpt works of art. That’s simply not been the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ style through two thirds of the 2024 Canadian Football League season.

Instead, this bunch rolls up its collective sleeves, spits in both hands and methodically swings the sledgehammer over and over again.

Call it 58 minutes and 22 seconds of pure frustration and of worry and concern for two injured comrades – coupled with offensive struggles – which was ultimately topped by a final 98 seconds of absolute ecstasy.

And, given the trials and tribulations of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers through the first chunk of the 2024 Canadian Football League season, perhaps none of us should be the least bit surprised with what unfolded on another pristine summer night in front of a sold-out crowd of 32,343 at Princess Auto Stadium.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers did more than just crash the party and spoil the Nathan Rourke coronation here on the left coast Sunday night.

It’s bigger than that. Much bigger. In mauling the B.C. Lions 20-11 in front of 30,803 at B.C. Place in a score that was flattering to the home side, they sent a crystal-clear message to the rest of the Canadian Football League: don’t let their 4-6 record fool anybody, these Blue Bombers have bolted up out of the grave after an 0-4 start and are absolutely feasting again.