We all know how the story of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2024 season ended.
It ended without the Hollywood ending featuring a last second touchdown or defensive stop, without another championship for the franchise and without this crew earning the status of legends.
The heartache that comes from the Grey Cup loss to the Toronto Argonauts six weeks ago does tend to leave a sour taste in the mouths of everyone in Bomberland, yet the chapters leading up to championship Sunday were no less compelling.
Having already revisited the Blue Bombers early-season stumble in the first part of our annual Year in Review series looking back at the top stories of 2024, it’s important to remember the compelling August-through-November run this club went on to not only salvage the campaign but put it in a position to chase another title — even if that pursuit ended one step short.
And, sure, go ahead here and point the accusatory finger at this corner for doing the silver-lining thing, but the 10-2 run this crew went on to finish the season — including the Grey Cup loss — certainly added some drama to a campaign that seemed all but lost in late July when this bunch fell in overtime in Toronto to the Argonauts to leave them at 2-6.
What followed next was ‘The Turnaround’ when the team cranked out eight straight wins with critical two-game sweeps of West Division foes Saskatchewan, B.C. and Edmonton along with two wins over Hamilton that took the squad from 2-6 to 10-6.
A late season stumble at home against the Argonauts delayed the chance to clinch first in the division, setting up a dramatic regular-season finale in Montreal which served up a compelling moment that was thrilling, bizarre and wacky — even by Canadian Football League standards — all at once.
Needing a win on the last day of the regular season — or a loss or tie by the Roughriders — the Blue Bombers overcame an 11-point deficit early in the second half and trailed by two when Sergio Castillo was trotted out to attempt a 61-yard field goal with 1:12 remaining.
And when the kick fell short, it seemed like first place was about to slip away.
Enter Mother Nature to breathe life back into the Blue Bombers first-place hopes and snuff out those same dreams held by the Roughriders. Winnipeg’s defence held the Alouettes on their final possession and, just as Joseph Zema lined up to punt, a swirling wind storm accompanied by rain appeared out of nowhere and limited the kick to 21 yards.
A short Oliveira run was then followed by Castillo crushing a 51-yarder with no time remaining.
“Going into the 61 yarder when I missed it I said, ‘We’re done,’” said Castillo. “I’m pissed. I’m walking down the sideline with my head down.
“The next thing I know, Osh (Mike O’Shea), Tanner (Cadwallader) and B. Cole (Brian Cole) were like, ‘It’s second down… we’re going to get another shot.’ Then I’m like, ‘Holy moly… ok… ok.’
“It hasn’t hit me yet. I was grateful for the opportunity. And for it to come down to that… it makes for good TV ratings, I guess.”
“That was divine intervention,” added defensive end Willie Jefferson inside a celebratory Blue Bombers locker room that night. “That’s exactly what we needed. Serge went out to kick that 60 yarder and it fell short by inches and then the defence went out there and did what we had to do to get their offence off the field and make them punt the ball.
“The wind started blowing, the rain started coming down – there hadn’t been much the whole game, really – and then for it to come when it did… like I said, divine intervention.
“And at that moment the wind was blowing in our favour to make their punt go short. Then Serge goes out there and nails it. Right on time, man, right on time.”
The win meant the Blue Bombers had locked up first place in the West for a fourth straight season, marking the first time the franchise had accomplished that feat in over 62 years and since a run of five straight first-place finishes from 1957-62.
As well, league statistician Steve Daniel confirmed the Blue Bombers turnaround from 0-4/2-6 to a 9-1 run to end the regular season was the largest in franchise history. In fact, it was one of the biggest reversals of fortune in CFL history, rivalled only by B.C.’s 0-5/1-6 start in 2011 that saw them finish 11-7 and the 1985 Hamilton Tiger-Cats who were 1-6 and finished first at 8-8 as well as the 2014 Tabbies who opened 1-6 and won the division at 9-9.
“This is so huge, man,” said running back Brady Oliveira. “Another West Final at home… that’s something we’ve been working for all season.
“It doesn’t matter how we got it done, but we got it done. Some might say it was an ugly one, but we’ve got another one coming for our fans and Princess Auto Stadium – I swear it gets even louder for a West Final.
“We get a chance to rest, another week to prep which is ultimately huge and now if we win one more game we’re going to the Grey Cup again. I’m proud of this group and how we fought today. We’re resilient.”
Next: Year in Review #3: Outstanding Oliveira