Argos beat Bombers in defensive brawl

Offence puts fans in the seats. Defence and special teams win football games.

That theory was on display Sunday at the Rogers Centre where the host Toronto Argonauts beat the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 17-13 in a defensive war played in front of a lot of empty seats warming in a mid-September sun.

It was a key victory for the Double Blue, who came into this one on a three-game losing string, but improved to 6-5, tied with Hamilton for second place in the East and four points back of the first place Montreal Alouettes.

Winnipeg (3-8) killed the momentum that should have been built up by an emotional 31-2 beat down of the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week.

Now, the Bombers are six points back of second and have lost the season series (the first tie-breaker) to both Hamilton and Toronto. However, there is still a chance of a playoff spot because Winnipeg remains tied with B.C. for a possible cross-over post-season position.

Spectacular punt return

Toronto, trailing 6-0 in front of just 19,662 fans, scored all of its points in the second half, starting with an 80-yard punt return by Chad Owens a minute into the third quarter. Owens had 218 total yards in punt and kick returns on the day.

"We needed a spark, someone to get us started, and the best thing was C.O. got everyone fired up," said receiver Jeremaine Copeland, whose touchdown catch in the fourth quarter helped seal the deal. "This was the start of us getting into the playoffs.

"We needed to win this game, we all knew that. It turned out good because we needed a win bad."

Justin Medlock, signed this week to replace the inconsistent Grant Shaw, kicked a 50-yard field goal, and then quarterback Cleo Lemon hit James Robinson in the end zone for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.

TD closed gap

Winnipeg had two field goals and a quick answer to the Robinson touchdown when Steven Jyles hit Terrence Edwards for a 39-yard six-pointer that closed the gap to 17-13.

But any chance to come back ended when the Bombers went for it on third and two far inside Toronto territory with under two minutes to go and Fred Reid was stopped by Alex Buzbee. A field goal would not have helped them.

"I was surprised because I thought they were going to do a QB sneak, then he turned to hand it off, and I was like, 'Here we go, I'm right there,"' Buzbee said. "We talked all week about just getting our swagger back, our confidence, making big plays, and I think we were able to do that."

Defences dominate

That play was indicative of the whole afternoon — one dominated by two defences playing at the peak of their skills but approaching their jobs differently.

Winnipeg's hadn't given up a point in almost seven quarters when Medlock hit his field goal. They sacked Lemon five times and only allowed 90 yards in passing.

Toronto, boosted by the signing this week of 2009 top Canadian defensive lineman Ricky Foley, swarmed the Bombers backfield all game while playing more of a bendable defence that never broke when it counted. 

And they forced three turnovers and sacked Jyles three times.

Game started slowly

The first half was either a revolting display of inept offence or a glorious revival of old-time defence, depending on your view. 

Toronto's attack started slowly, got worse and limped to the dressing to a chorus of boos after putting up just 99 yards of offence and eight punts (they would finish with 11 kicks overall).

Despite all that, the Bombers may have had more to be embarrassed about, including two bad drops — one each by Terrence Edwards and Adarius Bowman (he would finish with two) — that helped kill the attack. As well, the Argos' front line was in the Bomber backfield the whole time.

Overall, the 171 yards of offence should have produced more points, though 81 of that was on a Jyles-to-Edwards pass and run on Winnipeg's first possession that resulted in a field goal.

"There's seven games left, that's 14 points on the board. You can get into the East or the West, still," said Winnipeg head coach Paul LaPolice. "It was such an important game, but if you can't execute you can't win, and we have to [win]."

Toronto hadn't produced a point on offence for four quarters by the half.