The 2018 Winnipeg Blue Bombers season was the 61st season for the team in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and their 86th season overall. This was the fifth season under head coach Mike O'Shea and the fifth full season under general manager Kyle Walters. Following a week 20 win over the Calgary Stampeders, the Blue Bombers qualified for the playoffs for the third consecutive season, rebounding from a 5–7 record to start the season.Updated Playoff Scenarios: Bombers punch their ticket, eliminate Esks The Blue Bombers defeated the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Division Semi-Final to start the postseason and appeared in their first Division Final since 2011, playing against the Stampeders in the 2018 edition. The team lost against the Stampeders 22–14, extending the franchise's Grey Cup drought for a 28th year.

Offseason CFL draft The 2018 CFL draft took place on May 3, 2018.CFL draft date announced The Blue Bombers had seven selections in the eight-round draft after trading their first and second round selections to the BC Lions for their second round pick in the 2018 draft and their first round pick in the 2019 CFL draft.BC acquires first round pick in swap with Bombers The Bombers also lost a third-round pick after taking Drew Wolitarsky in the 2017 Supplemental Draft but gained Toronto's after dealing Drew Willy to the Argonauts in 2016.Blue Bombers ship Willy to Argos; acquire Glenn in trade with Als

Round Pick Player Position School/Club team 2 12 Rashaun Simonise WR Calgary 3 26 Daniel Petermann WR McMaster 4 33 Arnaud Gendron-Dumouchel OL Montreal 5 41 Tyrone Pierre WR Laval 6 49 Matthew Ouellet De Carlo OL Bishop's 7 58 Jacob Firlotte DB Queen's 8 67 Ben Koczwara OL Waterloo

Preseason

Week Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score Record A Bye B Fri, June 1 7:30 p.m. CDT vs. Edmonton Eskimos W 33–13 1–0 None Investors Group Field 23,034 Recap C Fri, June 8 9:30 p.m. CDT at BC Lions L 21–34 1–1 TSN BC Place 15,237 Recap 2018 Schedule

Regular season Standings

Schedule Week Game Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score Record 1 1 Thurs, June 14 7:30 p.m. CDT Edmonton Eskimos L 30–33 0–1 TSN/RDS2/ESPN2 Investors Group Field 25,458 Recap 2 2 Fri, June 22 6:00 p.m. CDT @ Montreal Alouettes W 56–10 1–1 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 Molson Stadium 19,498 Recap 3 3 Fri, June 29 6:00 p.m. CDT @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats L 17–31 1–2 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 Tim Hortons Field 23,721 Recap 4 4 Sat, July 7 7:30 p.m. CDT BC Lions W 41–19 2–2 TSN Investors Group Field 26,567 Recap 5 5 Sat, July 14 9:00 p.m. CDT @ BC Lions L 17–20 2–3 TSN BC Place 19,541 Recap 6 6 Sat, July 21 3:00 p.m. CDT @ Toronto Argonauts W 38–20 3–3 TSN BMO Field 10,844 Recap 7 7 Fri, July 27 7:30 p.m. CDT Toronto Argonauts W 40–14 4–3 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 Investors Group Field 27,116 Recap 8 Bye 9 8 Fri, Aug 10 7:30 p.m. CDT Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 29–23 5–3 TSN/RDS Investors Group Field 26,454 Recap 10 9 Fri, Aug 17 7:30 p.m. CDT Ottawa Redblacks L 21–44 5–4 TSN/RDS Investors Group Field 27,602 Recap 11 10 Sat, Aug 25 2:30 p.m. CDT @ Calgary Stampeders L 26–39 5–5 TSN McMahon Stadium 27,800 Recap 12 11 Sun, Sept 2 2:00 p.m. CDT @ Saskatchewan Roughriders L 23–31 5–6 TSN Mosaic Stadium 33,350 Recap 13 12 Sat, Sept 8 3:00 p.m. CDT Saskatchewan Roughriders L 27–32 5–7 TSN Investors Group Field 33,134 Recap 14 Bye 15 13 Fri, Sept 21 7:30 p.m. CDT Montreal Alouettes W 31–14 6–7 TSN/RDS Investors Group Field 24,349 Recap 16 14 Sat, Sept 29 6:00 p.m. CDT @ Edmonton Eskimos W 30–3 7–7 TSN/RDS2 Commonwealth Stadium 28,788 Recap 17 15 Fri, Oct 5 6:30 p.m. CDT @ Ottawa Redblacks W 40–32 (OT) 8–7 TSN TD Place Stadium 21,027 Recap 18 16 Sat, Oct 13 1:00 p.m. CDT Saskatchewan Roughriders W 31–0 9–7 TSN Investors Group Field 26,070 Recap 19 Bye 20 17 Fri, Oct 26 7:30 p.m. CDT Calgary Stampeders W 29–21 10–7 TSN Investors Group Field 25,173 Recap 21 18 Sat, Nov 3 3:00 p.m. CDT @ Edmonton Eskimos L 24–33 10–8 TSN Commonwealth Stadium 27,749 Recap

Post-season Schedule The Winnipeg Blue Bombers win against Saskatchewan in the 2018 West Division Semi Final was the first playoff win for the Blue Bombers franchise since their 19-3 victory against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 2011 East Division Final. Their West Final game against the Calgary Stampeders team marked the first time since the 2001 Grey Cup Game that both the Blue Bombers and Stampeders met in playoff contention (the Winnipeg Blue Bombers were then representing the CFL's East Division when there were only eight teams in the Canadian Football League).

Game Date Kickoff Opponent Results TV Venue Attendance Summary Score RecordWest Semi-Final Sun, Nov 11 3:30 p.m. CST @ Saskatchewan Roughriders W 23–18 1–0 TSN/RDS/ESPN2 Mosaic Stadium 30,609 RecapWest Final Sun, Nov 18 3:30 p.m. CST @ Calgary Stampeders L 14–22 1–1 TSN/RDS/ESPNews McMahon Stadium 29,268 Recap

Roster 2018 Winnipeg Blue Bombers final roster Quarterbacks

Running backs

Receivers

Offensive linemen T G G/T C T G

Defensive linemen DE DE DT DE DE DT

Special teams K/P LS Linebackers

Defensive backs

Practice Roster RB DE DB LB RB WR DE G

Injured list DE T G DB DB DB LB LB C SB SB Italics indicate International players

Coaching staff Winnipeg Blue Bombers Staff Front office Owner – Community owned (non-profit corporation owned by members) Chairperson of the board of governors – Brock Bulbuck President/CEO – Wade Miller General manager of football operations – Kyle Walters Assistant General Manager / Director of U.S. Scouting – Danny McManus Assistant general manager / director of player personnel – Ted Goveia National scout – Craig Smith Team services coordinator – Matt Gulakow Head equipment manager – Brad Fotty Assistant equipment manager – Kevin Todd Assistant equipment manager – Jared Cronk Video coordinator – Kent Anderson Assistant video coordinator – Colin Thurston Head coaches Head coach – Mike O'Shea

Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator/receivers – Paul LaPolice Quarterbacks – Buck Pierce Running backs – Kevin Bourgoin Offensive line – Marty Costello

Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Richie Hall Defensive Line & Linebackers – Glen Young Defensive backs – Jordan Younger

Special teams coaches Special teams coordinator – Paul Boudreau

→ Coaching staff

References