Grey Cup in Winnipeg without Bombers is the psychological scar driving 2025 urgency

Winnipeg missed the CFL championship game for the first time in six years in 2025, losing to Montreal in the East Semi-Final as a crossover team. The Grey Cup was played in Winnipeg last November, where Saskatchewan beat Montreal 25-17—meaning the Bombers watched rivals hoist the trophy in their own stadium. Now at 8-8, a loss to Edmonton (12-4) and a Calgary win would delay their clinching and turn a nine-year playoff streak into a front-office referendum.