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Blue Bombers look to snap 2-game skid with win vs. division rival Eskimos

Christine Muschi / REUTERS

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are hoping Matt Nichols will be the man to turn the tide on their season in Week 6.

Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea made the call to pull Drew Willy from the starting job at quarterback in favour of Nichols this week in hopes of a turnaround victory over the Edmonton Eskimos (2-2). The Bombers are only one of two teams in the CFL to put up less than 100 points so far this season (98), so Week 6 marks a pivotal point on the team's path this season.

The Eskimos enter the week firmly planted in the middle of the Western Division, and remain perfect against divisional opponents so far in 2016 (2-0). Quarterback Mike Riley leads all others in passing through five weeks, going 119-for-164 with a league-best 1,580 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Nichols has seen only limited action so far this season, completing just 10 passes on 16 attempts in two games.

The Bombers have had a stronger presence on the defensive side of the ball thus far, averaging two forced fumbles per game to go along with 1.4 sacks, both numbers superior to those of the Eskimos.

With such an offensive discrepancy between the two teams thus far this season, the Eskimos dominating the Bombers with a surplus of 95.8 total average yards per game, Nichols will need to step up to keep the Bombers from falling further down into the basement.

Game time is set for 7 p.m. CT from Commonwealth Stadium.

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