The "Close Game" Narrative Was a Red-Zone Efficiency Mirage

Winnipeg's 44-point outburst against Montreal's top-ranked defence (allowing just 17.4 PPG entering the game) wasn't a schematic breakthrough—it was a correction of a chronic red-zone failure. The Bombers entered Week 13 converting just 52% of red-zone trips into touchdowns (28th in CFL), but against the Als they punched in 5 TDs on 6 trips inside the 25. Zach Collaros's pre-game emphasis on "attention to detail in execution" in the red zone wasn't coachspeak—it was a direct response to film showing the offence settling for field goals on 11 of their previous 19 scoring drives inside the 20.