THE CANADIAN PRESS
WINNIPEG — It’s a game cloaked in desperation and hopefulness.
With identical 3-8 records, the loser of game between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, will officially be the CFL’s worst team.
It’s not what either side wants and that’s why both squads are predicting a battle.
"I think it’s a good matchup," Winnipeg quarterback Michael Bishop said Friday after his team’s final preparations. "We’re both fighting for wins right now, we’re both fighting to keep the playoff hopes alive."
They’re also trying to win back skeptical fans.
"The way we feel right now, one (win) here could turn it around for us, could be a spark for us," said Bishop, whose team has lost its last three games. "We’re definitely going to go out there and try to get that done.
"A win here (Saturday) and everybody’s back on board with us. We won’t have as many people doubting us as there is."
The game marks the final regular-season meeting between the teams. Each has beaten the other, with a 19-5 Toronto win on July 24 and a 13-12 Winnipeg victory the following week.
Nowhere have the teams’ struggles mirrored each other more than on offence.
Bishop wasn’t the quarterback who started the season with the Bombers. He was parachuted in after Stefan LeFors struggled then went on the nine-game injured list with a shoulder injury.
Toronto began the season with 2007 CFL most outstanding player Kerry Joseph, but he was benched five games ago in favour of third-year quarterback Cody Pickett.
Pickett, who has a 1-4 record over that span, feels he’s getting better each week and views Saturday’s game as a must-win situation.
"We have that pretty much every week," Pickett said. "We’re here to win games and every game’s important …
"We’ve had so many losses that it really, really matters."
One big difference between the two offences this week is their receiving corps.
Toronto will go with the same group it fielded in last week’s loss to B.C., but Winnipeg’s corps has been decimated by trades and injury.
The Bombers shipped out Romby Bryant and Arjei Franklin to Calgary on Sunday and their leading receiver, Terrence Edwards, is sitting out with concussion symptoms after a hit in last week’s loss to Montreal.
Winnipeg’s receivers will feature seven-year veteran Brock Ralph and second-year players Adarius Bowman and Aaron Hargreaves. Dudley Guice Jr. will play in his second CFL game, Otis Amey will suit up for his first contest while receiver/kick returner Titus Ryan is on the roster after being part of the Calgary trade.
Receiver Jabari Arthur also came over from Calgary and was supposed to come off the nine-game injured list this week. However, Bomber doctors determined a bone in his broken foot still needed surgery.
"I know we’re going to make mistakes out there, it’s inevitable … " Bombers head coach Mike Kelly said of his receivers. "Where I think the balance will come is that we have the best play-making group that we’ve had here this season.
"Collectively, all these guys, when they get the ball in their hands, can make something happen with it."
.Toronto linebacker Kevin Eiben is aiming to put the pressure on Bishop and shut down running back Fred Reid.
While Reid is the league’s leading rusher (149 carries for 926 yards), he’s been held to 131 yards on 34 carries in Winnipeg’s last three games.
"There’s a lot of things that go into this game," Eiben said. "It’s definitely a must-win to get to where we want to be."
Winnipeg’s defence includes new defensive end Otis Willis, who was also part of the Calgary trade.
Bombers defensive tackle Doug Brown said change may actually be a good thing.
"You get guys that haven’t been here through the tough times that we’ve experienced already this season and it’s an infusion of enthusiasm," Brown said.
Even though it’s a battle between the league’s cellar dwellers, Toronto head coach Bart Andrus predicted fans should get their money’s worth.
"I think that it’s going to be a battle and it’s going be a good game," Andrus said. "It’s going to probably be one that the people that end up at the game are going to be thoroughly entertained."
NOTES : At halftime, the newest inductees into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame will be honoured. They include builder Tony Anselmo and former players Alondra Johnson, Jim Mills, Rudy Phillips and Glen Weir.
