The Winnipeg Blue Bombers representing the West Division at the Grey Cup has become tradition over the last half decade. But there was a time earlier this season where a fifth straight trip was anything but guaranteed.

The Bombers started 0-4 and were 2-6 eight games into the season. Superstar receivers Kenny Lawler (Week 1) and Dalton Schoen (Week 3) both went down with long-term injuries. Then centrepiece linebacker Adam Bighill sustained a season-ending injury in early September.

You could easily have chalked this up in the “not their year” column. But Winnipeg wasn’t interested in going down that road. Instead, the Blue Bombers closed the regular season on a 9-1 run and wrapped up first place in the West once again.

111th GREY CUP
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