GC 2024, 111th Grey Cup Game

[B.C.FAN]

This loss was all on the Winnipeg coaching staff. It was a 17-16 game in the fourth quarter when the Bombers were caught with only 11 players on defence on two successive defensive series. On the first one, Nick Arbuckle found an uncovered Dejon Brissett for a TD to make it 24-16. The Bombers were again a man short on the next Winnipeg defensive series. Mike O’Shea recognized it at the last second and called a timeout but Deatrick Nichols took an objectionable conduct penalty after the whistle to set up an Argo field goal.

In between those two defensive blunders, O’Shea made the biggest coaching blunder of the game by letting Zach Collaros return to the game wearing a glove after getting stitches and a numbing agent applied to a cut finger in his throwing hand. It was obvious on the sideline that Collaros couldn’t grip the ball and throw accurately, which O’Shea admitted after the game, but he still felt Collaros was their best hope to win the game. Collaros promptly threw 3 interceptions with the injured finger, burying the Bombers for good and sending them to their third straight Grey Cup defeat.

With their second Grey Cup win in three seasons, sandwiched between a CFL-best 16-2 season in 2023, the Argos are clearly the best team in the league.

[Toppy Vann]

Did any of you take a picture of the woman streaker who ran on to the field in the fourth quarter?

I did a poor video but have no idea how you post even a pic from that.

[almo89]

Last year Fajardo led the Als to a Grey Cup. This year Arbuckle does it. Makes me wonder if paying Rourke 700k next year will end up biting the Leos in the butt.

[TheLionKing]

Wished the league forced the Lions to partially open the roof or doors to let out some of the smoke from the pyrotechnics to clear. Hazy in the stadium.

[don corleone]

Forget about the Bombers, who from the Argos should we be interviewing. Mace leaves and their defence doesn’t miss a beat. Both lines superb.

John Murphy

[SammyGreene]

Last year Fajardo led the Als to a Grey Cup. This year Arbuckle does it. Makes me wonder if paying Rourke 700k next year will end up biting the Leos in the butt.

Great point. Amazing what teams can do with stellar offensive and defensive lines, along with good coaching.

East Final was this year's Grey Cup. Toronto and Montreal went a combined 4-1 against the Bombers and it took a near miracle for their lone win in a mean nothing game for the Als. Yet not Winnipeg's fault the rest of the West has been subpar for so long. No team regressed more this season than BC.

Maybe there would be no Bombers' Western dominance if the Stamps hadn't allowed so many key free agents to head East. Argos are loaded with them and the Als have their share too.

[don corleone]

It brings me great delight to see the arrogant Bombers humbled. So far on their boards Zach Collaros is done and Buck Pierce needs to be fired.

[don corleone]

Two Nationals who stood out for me yesterday were Royce Metchie and Lirim Hajrullahu.

[B.C.FAN]

The Argo defence most impressed me. DBs were tracking the ball in the air and making picks. MLB Wynton McManis was a beast against the run and the pass, jumping Winnipeg’s shallow crossing routes to break up passes. After enduring a season of passive deep zone defence from B.C., the aggressive defensive play was a delight to watch.

[B.C.FAN]

Here’s the Argo TD pass to Brissett that broke the game open. The Bombers seemed to have no awareness that they had only 11 players on the field.

[redrover]

Did any of you take a picture of the woman streaker who ran on to the field in the fourth quarter?

I did a poor video but have no idea how you post even a pic from that.

a good number of videos uploaded to twitter

very NSFW

https://x.com/jeremiahpeters_/status/18 ... 1131099515

[Toppy Vann]

It brings me great delight to see the arrogant Bombers humbled. So far on their boards Zach Collaros is done and Buck Pierce needs to be fired.

Zach Collaros cut his hand for stitches and couldn't throw. I didn't know that but for a while I tried to spot him on the sidelines as Wilson played - and not badly but not as bad as the numb fingered Zach did.

Mike O'Shea made it very clear that Collaros deserved to be out there.

In the stands with my phone running low, I had no idea what was going on.

Buck I thought didn't use of their under stuff nor more plays out of the backfield for others like Demski and mabye it was Toronto dresssing some 8 DL that deterred that.
Toronto's DEF won that game but playing a nunb-fingered QB with a glove he never wears might have been unwise BUT Collaros has got them to the top of the West consistently and as the best QB W/L ratio since going to WPG of any QB.

Demski seemed underutilized.

The Argos believed in that team - and some of that comes from their coaching, I criticized Dinwiddie for the Kelly debacle (mostly due to the silence) and Argos not working with the young woman to fix the issue but he created something quite special in that team.

He has a strong belief in Nick Arbuckle from his Calgary days. I thought that was misplaced after what I see of him here. Yesterday, the HC's belief - and that of his team - proved to work.

If you were an Alouette yesterday watching that game and knowing that but for silly ball protection failures in easy FG range, you could be holding that trophy, I assume Jason Maas coach of the year was there yesterday likely with a low enough seat there was no danger of a jump off a balcony.

[Merolamas56]

Did any of you take a picture of the woman streaker who ran on to the field in the fourth quarter?

Is she related to Nadia Stooshnoff?

Nadia went barefoot, but she did have on some sort of thin shorts. This one went for the boots and nothing else, but held on to her coat in case she couldn't make it back to her seat

[Hambone]

Here’s the Argo TD pass to Brissett that broke the game open. The Bombers seemed to have no awareness that they had only 11 players on the field.

I noticed that pre-snap. I saw 2 Bombers come off in the shuffle with only one going on. Thought the D was signalling like they needed 1. 1 of the guys looked like he was turning around to go back in but was called back to the bench. I counted heads twice and kept coming up with 11. Then the ball was snapped. O'Shea still had a timeout so no idea why they didn't use it.

[Hambone]

Don't know if it was mentioned but one thing that speaks volumes to the Argos' offensive game plan to help a backup in succeeding was the way they spread the ball around. 9 different targets recorded a reception.