WINNIPEG — Brady Oliveira doesn’t lack confidence, but even the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ star running back needed a moment to let the feeling sink in. After all, few would have predicted the Bombers, with losses in three of their last four games, could defeat a Montreal Alouettes club at the top of the CFL standings and riding a seven-game win streak. Winnipeg, backed by a total team effort, stunned the Alouettes 44-28 in front of a sold-out crowd at Princess Auto Stadium Friday night. “We needed that one, man,” Oliveira said. “We’ve had some really tight games, games that haven’t gone our way. That’s going to be every team, but I just feel like we’ve been on the short end of it a little bit this year.” With five losses through 10 games, including four at home, many were doubting the Bombers as legitimate Grey Cup contenders. Oliveira said a victory over the league’s hottest team should help build momentum for their upcoming back-to-back games with the rival Saskatchewan Roughriders. “I would say it was our most complete game of the year,” Oliveira added. “We learned from the mistakes last week and throughout this entire season. Just proud of the guys.” With the victory, the Bombers improved to 6-5. 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 but still have a healthy lead atop the East, four games up on the second-place Toronto Argonauts (5-5). “We don’t call games losses; it’s a learning opportunity for us,” Alouettes head coach Jason Maas said. “It will be a hard ride home, we’ll all take it to heart.” 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 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. 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). Alexander, who briefly left the game with a lower-body injury, was not made available for interviews after the game. “You respect every team and Winnipeg is a known team, especially the last few years,” Snead said. “You know what you’re going to get from them — they’re going to play fast, they’re going to play physical, and they’re going to be disciplined. They did all three of those things tonight.” Montreal’s offence totalled a season-low 284 net yards and lost the turnover battle 3-1. Running back Travis Theis, who was averaging more than 100 rushing yards in the last six games and had a touchdown in seven of his last eight, was kept out of the end zone and limited to 31 yards on eight carries. Like seasoned boxers, the two sides went punch for punch, with five touchdowns — totalling 35 points — in the first 20 minutes. The Bombers finished with five touchdowns, the Alouettes four. “There are always things to correct, but we should enjoy this one tonight,” Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said. “I do think we’ve got to keep going. You’ve got to have more. The other thing is if you’ve been listening, I’ve been saying that we’re close. We’re getting closer and closer and it’s down to the more finite details. And I think that tonight, the guys were pretty damn good.” The Bombers held a slim 24-21 lead at halftime, but started to pull away as the second half wore on. Winnipeg’s special teams forced a critical turnover to open the second half, blocking a punt deep in Montreal’s end. The next play, Perkins punched in his second TD to put the Bombers up 31-21. “Huge,” Collaros said of the punt block. “Our special teams has been great all season long. Any time you can have a momentum swing like that, is massive.” Another fumble recovery by Winnipeg set up a Castillo 43-yard field goal that put the Bombers up 34-21 through three quarters. He added a 20-yarder early in the fourth to increase the lead to 16 points. Wilson’s second touchdown made it 44-21, with Snead adding his third score with just more than two minutes remaining. UP NEXT Alouettes: Host the B.C. Lions on Friday, Sept. 4. Blue Bombers: Visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Sunday, Sept. 6. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 28, 2026. Jeff Hamilton, The Canadian Press
