Top Insights on Three (3) Massive Stats That May Loom Large In The Western Final
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders are both teams designed for November showdowns.
With the top two defenses in the CFL in terms of yards allowed, they are also backed by powerful running backs who thrive on punishing their opponents.
These two teams may be separated by the narrowest of margins. The Blue Bombers are aiming for their fifth consecutive Grey Cup appearance, while the Roughriders seek to return to the championship game for the first time since 2013. During that time, Saskatchewan faced Winnipeg in two Western Finals, falling short in closely contested matches in 2019 and 2021.
CFL.ca highlights three key stats that could play a significant role in the upcoming Western Final between the Bombers and Riders.
NO. 1 AND NO. 2 – DEFENCES IN YARDS ALLOWED
The adage that “defense wins championships” holds true, especially in determining which team will represent the West in the 111th Grey Cup.
The Blue Bombers ranked first in net yards allowed (328.6), closely followed by the Roughriders (356.1), as both Mike O’Shea and Corey Mace relied heavily on their defenses to advance to the Western Final. Winnipeg led the league in pass defense (234.8), while Saskatchewan excelled against the run (80.3).
Conversely, in terms of offensive output, Winnipeg and Saskatchewan ranked sixth and seventh respectively in net yards gained, suggesting that fans can expect a low-scoring, hard-fought matchup in November between these two teams.
27 – INTERCEPTIONS
The Riders ranked second in the league with 24 interceptions during the 2024 regular season, and they added three more in their victory over the BC Lions in the Western Semi-Final. Rolan Milligan Jr. led the team with eight interceptions in the regular season and also picked off Vernon Adams Jr. in Saturday’s game, helping to secure the Riders’ victory.
For the Bombers, quarterback Zach Collaros finished the season with 15 interceptions, his highest total in his career, while throwing only 17 touchdowns—the fewest he’s had as a full-time starter in Winnipeg. The team has heavily depended on Brady Oliveira to advance the ball, but Collaros will eventually need to take risks against Milligan Jr. and the opportunistic Roughriders secondary. The outcome of that matchup could very well determine the game’s winner.
4.8 – YARDS PER RUSH ALLOWED
Establishing a strong running game will be crucial for both teams to gain control in this matchup. The Riders have allowed just 4.8 yards per carry in 2024, ranking third among all teams, so they’ll need to focus on stopping Oliveira, the back-to-back rushing yards leader.
Winnipeg is clear about its strategy, having finished second in rushing attempts with 406 during the regular season, as Oliveira rushed for 1,353 yards and three touchdowns. To stay away from the dangers of throwing against a skilled secondary, the Bombers will need to give the ball to their tailback 15-20 times and hope he can break through one of the toughest run defenses in the CFL.
On the flip side, AJ Ouellette will be looking to make an impact for the Riders. He rushed for 70 yards on 14 carries in the Western Semi-Final and was integral to the Riders’ offensive success. Quarterback Trevor Harris played a solid game against the Lions without making any mistakes, but he’ll be up against a defense that intercepted him twice in Week 14. However, Harris did lead the Riders to a victory over the Bombers during the OK Tire Labour Day Weekend, throwing for 368 yards and three touchdowns—a performance that could be key in helping Saskatchewan reach the 111th Grey Cup.