# Better Than Expected But Still Disappointing

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By Don Cruickshank · Published 2026-11-12 01:10 UTC · Updated 2026-11-12 01:11 UTC

If you ask any of the Winnipeg they will all tell you that this season was not better than expected. It was just disappointing.

However, if you ask many fans or if you ask me, I’ll say this season ended better than expected, at least better than expected partway through the season.

At some point, I did not think the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were going to make any noise in the playoffs and I was wrong.

**My Take**

They got past Toronto, and even though the score differential in the Montreal game was 10 points they were within one play of tying the game up. If you told me that would be the case before kickoff I would not believe you.

However, somewhere in the second quarter of the game leaned over to my son and said, “This one feels weird. Something weird is gonna happen.” And when I said that I was actually hoping that whatever the weird thing that was gonna happen would actually propel the Bombers to a win.

Zach Collaros did not play fabulously, but he didn’t play poorly.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers kept Davis Alexander in check.

Yah, 373 yards is a lot...but it only resulted in 2 throwing touchdowns. And if you do not like that assessment, 33 points was Montreal's average points per game this year. I would say that Winnipeg keeping Montreal to their average points *is* keeping Alexander in check!

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers entered the game as massive underdogs and rightfully so. The last time they played in Montreal Montreal had their way with Winnipeg. And as for Montreal up into this game, and even after they didn’t lose a game at home all year.

**But Winnipeg was in the game… until they weren’t**

Some might look at that missed pass between Callaros and Demski as what flip the game in Montreal’s favour. But more than that, I look to the fumble that Zach had, which was absolutely no fault of his own, where if the ball was not stripped, Winnipeg probably kicks a field goal and ties the game with two minutes to go. At that point, absolutely anything could happen.

**But here’s why it was disappointing**  
Sure, Winnipeg was not expected to make it to the Grey Cup. I did not even have them making it to the Eastern Final.

But then when they get to the Eastern Final, there is a little bit of hope. And then when they right in the game at hope builds up to belief.

And then when the belief is shattered, that is when it is disappointing.

I do not think this loss would have been as disappointing if the Bombers' got blown out from the first whistle to the last whistle. It would have just been like, “Urg! That is the way our season is gone.” A blowout in the game might actually have been more digestible.

It is one thing to watch your team playing a game and have absolutely no chance. It is another thing to watch your team playing a game they probably should not be in and look like they possibly might win.

**Final Thoughts**

Wherever the Bombers go from here (I will write about that in future articles) might be anyone’s guest at this point.

But one thing is plainly clear the Bombers did not put up nearly enough offence this year being ranked seventh or eighth offences in the league, and surprisingly their past defence was ranked number first (optically it did nor look that way, but statistically it was.)

When the season comes to a close and many free agents are set to hit the market the Bombers are going have to figure out how they keep their pass defence on top of the league, while highly elevating their pass offense.

What do you think? Let me know wherever you are reading this.

**Catch all my articles**[**here**](https://profootballnewshub.com/authors/don-cruickshank)**!**

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