Blue Bombers put an end to Alouettes’ seven-game win streak with beatdown

WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers came up with a total team effort and stunned the CFL-leading Montreal Alouettes 44-28 in front of a sold-out crowd at Princess Auto Stadium on Friday night.

The Bombers entered the CFL contest with losses in three of their last four games, creating major doubts with a fan base that's become accustomed to greatness following five straight trips to the Grey Cup between 2019-2024.

Few had the Bombers beating an Alouettes team riding a seven-game win streak and boasting a 9-1 record. Winnipeg had suffered their worst loss of the season a week earlier, giving up a 16-0 lead in a 22-19 road defeat to the Edmonton Elks.

With the victory, the Bombers improved to 6-5 and have now beat Montreal in three straight games dating back to last season. The win also keeps Winnipeg in a hotly contested West Division playoff race, now in third place ahead of the B.C. Lions (5-5) and just behind the second-place Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-4).

The Alouettes dropped to 9-2. With a win, they could have clinched a playoff berth by the end of the weekend with a Hamilton loss.

Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros made his third consecutive start since returning from a neck injury, finishing 26-for-32 passing for 324 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bombers recorded 447 net yards of offence, with Ontaria Wilson adding two receiving touchdowns to go with a pair of rushing majors from Bryce Perkins and one from Brady Oliveira. Sergio Castillo rounded out the scoring with three field goals, hitting from 51, 43 and 20 yards.

Wilson led all receivers with 114 yards on nine receptions. Running back Oliveira rushed 13 times for 84 yards.

Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander threw for 257 yards on 20-for-31 passing, along with three touchdowns to Tyler Snead and one to Tyson Philpot. It was Alexander's first regular-season start against Winnipeg and just the second loss of his career (21-2).