Bombers get desperately needed win over Eskimos thanks to backup QB Matt Nichols
Winnipeg gets 1st victory in Edmonton since 2006
A switch to Matt Nichols as the starting quarterback paid off as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers snapped a two-game losing skid, coming away with a 30-23 victory over the Edmonton Eskimos on Thursday.
Nichols, who got the nod over starter Drew Willy, was effective out of the gate and put together a long opening drive that saw a 39-yard pass to Weston Dressler set up a one-yard TD plunge by Andrew Harris on a third-down gamble. They added a single on the ensuing kickoff.
Nichols finished the game 26-of-33 passing for 304 yards and one touchdown.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bombers?src=hash">#Bombers</a> first win in EDM since this epic finish in 2006...<a href="https://twitter.com/MiltStegallTSN">@MiltStegallTSN</a><br> <a href="https://t.co/YLVdVkOLZc">https://t.co/YLVdVkOLZc</a> via <a href="https://twitter.com/YouTube">@youtube</a>
—@RodSmithTSNWinnipeg improved to 2-4. Edmonton (2-3) lost its second straight, the latest coming after allowing one of the biggest comebacks in league history in its previous game, when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats erased a 31-6 deficit for a 37-31 victory.
Winnipeg made it 11-0 on a 30-yard Justin Medlock field goal with four minutes left in the first quarter.
After a 35-minute rain delay, Medlock kicked a 34-yard field goal and followed that up with a 28-yarder midway through the second.