Blue Bombers light up Argonauts for 7th straight win

With the quarterback he beat out in another hue of blue, Matt Nichols directed three consecutive touchdown drives as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Toronto Argonauts 43-29 on Saturday for their seventh win in a row.

Winnipeg (8-4) has fashioned their win streak largely through an opportunistic defence, sound special teams, and an offence that makes few mistakes. With backup QB Dan LeFevour maintaining a hot hand for Toronto, the Blue Bombers fell behind in the third quarter before Nichols sewed together marches of 59, 62, and 69 yards. Winnipeg's former starter, Drew Willy, was dressed as Toronto's emergency QB after being moved east for DB T.J. Heath on Sunday.

The Blue Bombers, who started the season 1-4, are tied for second in the West Division with the B.C. Lions (8-3). Winnipeg has a stiff test next week against the league-leading Calgary Stampeders.

Toronto (5-7), which has lost five of their last six games, remains third in the East. The Argonauts have the rubber match of their season series against the Ottawa RedBlacks on Friday.

Nichols essentially sealed the win by scoring on a 1-yard quarterback sneak with 3:02 remaining. The backbreaking score was facilitated largely through OLB Maurice Leggett tearing off a 48-yard return after Lirim Hajrullahu was wide on a 49-yard field-goal try. Winnipeg quickly got in the red zone thanks to a 20-yard scamper from RB Tim Flanders and a 40-yard pass interference on Argonauts rookie DB Aaron Berry.

The Blue Bombers got points out of the other two phases. Interceptions from Leggett and CB Chris Randle led directly to 10 points, while WR Quincy McDuffie also had a touchdown on a 98-yard kickoff return. That helped Winnipeg win handily in spite of being outgained 445-353.

Nichols was 24-of-33 for 232 yards with one touchdown pass, along with his rushing score. Winnipeg opted to have Andrew Harris rest an injured ankle, giving Flanders his first start. The 25-year-old Sam Houston State product, who had a one-game cameo appearance last season with B.C., had 19 rushes for 102 yards and his first CFL touchdown, while also chipping in 34 receiving yards.

Slotback Weston Dressler made eight receptions for 93 yards, while Clarence Denmark (three for 30) had a touchdown catch that tied the game 29-29 late in the third quarter. Winnipeg's Justin Medlock was 6-of-6 on field goals, including a 53-yarder on the final play of the first half.

LeFevour was 22-of-34 for 271 yard with four TD passes and two picks, while also chipping in with nine rushes for 57 yards. Veteran RB Brandon Whitaker had nine rushes for 85 yards. Kenny Shaw led Toronto's receiving corp with six receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns, while Diontay Spencer (6-58) and Tori Gurley (4-31) also scored.

Hajrullahu was 0-of-1 on field goals, but averaged 44 yards on five punts with a 54-yard single.