# Early Look! Eastern Semi-Final: Bombers vs. Montreal

Source page: https://profootballnewshub.com/cfl/news/eastern-semi-final-bombers-vs-montreal

By Don Cruickshank · Published 2026-11-06 03:39 UTC · Updated 2026-11-06 03:39 UTC

It is true that no team has ever crossed over and made it to the Grey Cup. But the Bomber have the opportunity to be the first and the last team to do so.

In 2027, the CFL playoff format with change with the result that there will be no such thing as the "cross over."

**Winning Path For Winnipeg Over Montreal**  
There is always a path to victory in every CFL game...sometimes that path is just more difficult. And that certainly will be the case for the Bombers this Saturday.

But this season the Bombers already have beaten Montreal, and also got spanked by them.

**Bombers Win vs Montreal**

**WPG Stats**

**MTL Stats**

That game had a bit of everything including a blocked punt by Winnipeg and a massive run by Montreal's Snead!

And while Alexander got his touchdowns, Winnipeg was able to put up 5 touchdowns and 3 field goals.

Yet it was a very different story in Montreal.

**Bombers Loss To Montreal**  
Before we look at the stats, and they are ugly, remember that this is the game that Winnipeg only had 6 first downs in the whole game!

Another difference in the game that the Bombers lost to Montreal is that Dru Brown played that game, whereas in the Winnipeg win Zach Collaros played.

**WPG Stats**

**MTL Stats**

The Bombers had zero answers for Montreal and Montreal seemed to be able to do whatever they wanted to.

Yes, Tyson Philpot with 207 receiving yards will jump off the page. But there is another important stat that might be overlooked because of how dominant a win that was for Montreal.

Although throwing for 440 yards, Davis Alexander only threw 1 touchdown! Yes, there were some short yardage touchdowns there, but only 1 passing touchdown is that type of game was odd.

**Observations**  
It really was the tale of 2 different games. In the Bombers 44-28 win against Montreal Winnipeg was poised and in control. They methodically moved through the game, had some big plays and let up some big plays.

Both teams scored 7 points in the first quarter. Then in the second quarter Winnipeg scored 17 points and Montreal scored 14 points. (Also at the end of the second quarter Neild fumbled the ball on the Montreal 2 yard line. Had he not done that, Winnipeg scores another 3 points at least, and very likely gets a touchdown to end the half).

Then in the third quarter the Bombers distanced themselves from Montreal by putting up 10 points, and Montreal not scoring any points.

The fourth quarter was fairly even again with Winnipeg scoring 10 points and Montreal putting up 7 points.

In the Bombers 37-10 loss against Montreal it was embarrassing! Dru Brown was 11 for 16 with 161 yards passing. And the night was not any better for Bombers Oliveira who had 9 carries for 44 yards, an average of 4.9 yards per carry. The Bombers' play was poor and the play calling was highly questionable.

**Bombers Silent**  
As of Wednesday, November 5th the Bombers were not giving any indication at who was starting at quarterback!

"I'm not going to share anything," were the words of Bombers' head coach Mike o'Shea. "

"Why would I do that? Why would I share the roster? It's the time of year," he said. "I'm not going to share anything." - [source](https://bluebombers.com/article/need-to-know-eastern-final?fbclid=IwY2xjawVZcMJleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mBWJyaWQRMWhoVm9PSDJaVVlTMmhaODFzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEf1x5GgKPdeHfeJMiBDU2pALh5PI8DxfS7ZlT5E4v0QYVG0klns87xd_e1bVo_aem_k2PcWbn6p6jZNXSmtpKVqQ)

**Final Thoughts**  
Yes, the Bombers have won against Montreal and lost against them this season; the win with Collaros and the loss with Brown. And it is true that Winnipeg beat Toronto to get to the Eastern Final, with Brown as their quarterback.

But here is the other thing. If the Bombers play this Saturday the way they played against Toronto...this one is going to be over early, regardless of who in in at quarterback for the Bombers.

Yes, Brown seems to play better when he comes in off the bench...but neither Brown nor Collaros are as good today as Montreal's quarterback Davis Alexander.

And while that is not great for the Bombers, and as inconsistent as the Bomber have been, and how this is likely the last time the Bombers roster looks like this (I do not see Collaros and others back as starters in 2027)...all the pressure must be on Montreal.

If you are the Bombers, and some of the younger playmakers on the team you have to be wondering, "Why can't we win? We just beat Toronto in a game where our offence did not get it going but our defence held us in their."

If you are a Blue Bomber fan you are probably skeptical or cautiously optimistic that the Bombers might beat Montreal.

But if you are a Bomber player, you have nothing to lose...you probably should not be in this game. And that mindset might just be enough for the Bombers to put out a good enough performance to topple the favored Montreal team.

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

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

From Pro Football News Hub. More at https://profootballnewshub.com/llms.txt