The Corbett Report, October 25, 2025

Introduction

Against all odds.  Indeed.  The Bombers had the dice rolling against them right from the start of the 2025 season.  Consider this:

• Only one team in the 47-year history of the CFL has ever played in six consecutive Grey Cups.  The Edmonton Eskimos did from 1977-1982, winning five of those six games.

• The host team has played in their own Grey Cup only 13 times since the league was formed in 1978. The most recent? Hamilton in 2021, a loss to the Bombers.  Before that, you have to go back to 2013 for a host team getting to the big game.  That year it was Saskatchewan.  In other words, the host team has made it to the Grey Cup only twice in the past 12 years. What’s more, even when they get to the big game on home turf, a victory isn’t guaranteed.  In the 13 times a team played in the Grey Cup at home, their record is 5-7.

• Never in the history of the CFL has the same starting Quarterback lead their team to 5 (let alone 6) consecutive Grey Cups.  The Eskimos, in their aforementioned six-year run, started the run with Tom Wilkenson in 1977, split the starting QB position from 1978-1981 between Wilkenson and Warren Moon, and in 1982 it was Moon alone at the starting QB position.

In short, the odds were against the Bombers this year before a single pass had been thrown.

Still, as has been said, they have to play the games.   That’s why the Bombers making the playoffs for a record ninth straight year could set up a storybook ending to what’s been a difficult season for the Blue and Gold.

In all likelihood the road to the Grey Cup for the Bombers will head east.  That sets up the unlikely, but much desired (at least by me) matchup for the Grey Cup between . . . wait for it . . .

Saskatchewan and Winnipeg

The odds don’t favour this, but hey, let’s hope for it . . . against all odds.

Welcome to week 21.            

Welcome to the Corbett Report.

Standings

Team	GP	W	L	T	Pts	Pts for	Pts Against
West
Saskatchewan	17	12	5	0	24	451	382
BC	17	10	7	0	20	532	479
Calgary	17	10	7	0	20	468	406
Winnipeg	17	9	8	0	18	440	414
Edmonton	17	7	10	0	14	412	470
East
Hamilton	17	10	7	0	20	490	481
Montreal	17	10	7	0	20	435	411
Toronto	18	5	13	0	10	497	583
Ottawa	17	4	13	0	8	402	502

There is only one outcome that will result in Winnipeg finishing third in the West:  BC loses, Calgary wins and Winnipeg wins.  Under that scenario, Winnipeg finishes third and plays on the road in Calgary.  Otherwise, the Bombers finish fourth and cross over to the East.  Looking at who they’re starting for this game the Bombers are hoping for the cross over.

Bombers

As mentioned, it’s been a difficult year for Blue.  Think back to other difficult years where making the playoffs was just a dream.  Something other teams did.  So, to suffer a difficult year and still make the playoffs says a lot about the people in charge.  Making the playoffs is one thing though, winning in them is another.  Last week’s 17-16 win over Saskatchewan, while clinching a playoff position for the Bombers, exposed so many of the weaknesses that have plagued this team this year.  No more than on offense where week in and week out they just can’t seem to get it going.  Zach Collaros has thrown 16 interceptions.  About as many TD’s as he’s thrown (17).  Chris Streveler? Well, let’s hope he comes back in 2026 as a running back because his days as a QB must be numbered.  He’s thrown 11 interceptions in just 96 attempts.  An interception ratio of 7.6%!  The combined interception total by Bomber starting Quarterbacks of 27 by far leads the league in a category usually reserved for teams that are out of the playoff picture by Labour Day.

There’s lots of different ways to point your finger for this:

• Coaching
• One too many hits against Zach
• Age
• Porous offensive line
• Anemic receivers

Take your pick.  The Bombers have had 17 games to get it together and it just hasn’t happened.  It might still come together.  If so, it’d be against all odds.

Alouettes

The Alouettes’ fortune revolves around Davis Alexander.  As long as he’s healthy the Als are Grey Cup contenders, especially given the Ti-Cats struggles over the past few weeks.  They aren’t, however, a team without some depth.  Particularly on defence where they are second only to the Riders in yards allowed per game.   Who plays today will depend on whether the Als are playing a meaningful game.  A Ti-Cat victory Friday night against the woeful Ottawa Red Blacks and this becomes a meaningless game for the Als, who might (and should) rest Alexander for the playoffs.

Keys to the game

The Bombers aren’t even dressing Collaros or Oliveria so there’s that.  Fortunately, the Alouettes are likely not playing their best team either.  So………..

For the Bombers to win

• Get an early lead
• Bombers QB hits more TDs than INTs
• Our B-Team beats their B-Team

For the Alouettes to win

• Win the turnover battle
• Sack Bomber QBs often
• Score early and silence the crowd

The predictions

The Corbett report is 46-31so far this year, 9-8 in Bomber Games.  Here are this week’s predictions:

• Hamilton at home, playing for first place, should get it together enough to beat Ottawa

• Calgary travels to Edmonton.  This one could get ugly, fortunately most everyone will have switched to the Blue Jay game before this one starts.  Pick Calgary over Edmonton

• In Saskatchewan, BC could very well be fighting for a home playoff game.  It won’t matter though as Rourke has them on a roll.  Pick BC over the Riders

And in our feature game, it’ll be our B-Team vs. The Alouettes B-Team.  It’ll come down to home field advantage and it’ll be:

Bombers 21 Alouettes 20

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