The Edmonton Elks start their West Division battle with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In the last 5 seasons, the Elks are 13-39 vs their west opponents, while the ‘Big Bad’ Bombers are 39-13 vs western opponents.
Elks West vs West Record
2021: 2-7-0
2022: 1-11-0
2023: 2-9-0
2024: 5-5-0
2025: 3-7-0
Total: 13-39-0
If the Edmonton Elks are going to help themselves make the playoffs, they need to start by winning these 4 point games against their division opponents and especially the Bombers. The Bombers have been king of the hill, finishing first in the west from 2021-2024 and the Elks going 1-13 vs the Bombers in the past 6 seasons. The schedule makers do not help the Elks out with Winnipeg coming off their bye week and 14 days rest.
CFL Week 12 – Game 2 Analysis – Friday August 21 at Commonwealth Stadium
This mid-season test will provide an opportunity for one team to win the season series. Hopefully the Elks are not looking forward to their bye week and Labour Day Series against the Stampeders as this will be their 10th consecutive week of football.
The Bombers and Elks have played 2 other times on this date: In 1979, Edmonton won 41-13 with Tom Wilkinson, Warren Moon and Waddell Smith each throwing a TD pass while Dave Cutler tied the CFL for rouges, 123, with his only missed FG of the night. Ray Jauch accused the Eskimos of running up the score and was quoted “There’ll be a day when the tables will be reversed”. In 1998, Jimmy Kemp threw for 2 TD’s, Dwayne Prove had a 49 yd pick-6 early in the 3rd quarter and Gizmo Williams went over the 10,000 yd punt returns in his career as the Elks handed Winnipeg their 8th consecutive loss in 1998. The Bombers would lose 2 more to start the season 0-10 and finish 3-15.
CFL Week 20 – Game 3 Analysis – Friday October 16 at Commonwealth Stadium
It is the Elks last home game of the season and the second last week of the regular season. It is the first of 2 against western opponents for the Elks. For the Bombers, they finish the season with 3 consecutive games against western opponents. Both teams are looking to finish off strong as playoff berths may be on the line.
The Elks have an outstanding 10-2 record on this date but 1 of the 2 losses came against the Bombers in 1966. Winnipegs, Norm Winton had an 18 yd scope-and-score and a FG to lead the Bombers to a 16-14 victory.
The History
Winnipeg was Game 2 of the 1949 season and Edmonton’s first win as the Eskimo’s outscored the visiting Bomber 14-11 with TD’s from Edmonton born Gene Kiniski and QB, Chuck Fenenboch. Over the next dozen seasons, Edmonton and Winnipeg played in 1 West division Semi Final and 9 Western Division final series (West final was the best of 3 series). Edmonton won 4 of those 9 series they played in, winning 2 Grey Cups. From decade-to-decade, the teams are relatively even with the exception of the 1970’s where Edmonton had a 20-9 record and 2020’s where Winnipeg has a 11-1 advantage. Winnipeg has played in the West and East Division (1987-1994, 1997-2001 and 2006-2016) which has also allowed for Eastern playoff and Grey Cup battles. With all post season games combined, the Elks have played the Bombers more than any other team playing in 39 of 130 total postseason games with a 21-18 record.
The 2 cities have played in:
8 Western Division Semi-Final (4-4)
1 East Division Semi Final (1-0)
12 West Division Finals (15-13)
2 Grey Cup Games (1-1)
Grey Cups
- 1990 Winnipeg 50 – Edmonton 11
- 1993 Edmonton 33 – Winnipeg 22
Common Players/Staff between the two Organizations
Current: Mike Benson, Sergio Castillo, Tyrell Ford, Aaron Grymes, Richie Hall, Jim Jauch, Willie Jefferson, Tony Jones, Jonathan Kongbo, Eric Lofton, Enock Makonzo, Danny McManus, Mike Miller, Jordan Younger
Historic: Johnny Adams, Joe Aguire, Kojo Aidoo, Donovan Alexander, Sandy Annunziata, Tobi Antigha, Jason Armstead, Chris Armstrong, Derick Armstrong, Ray Ash, Adrian Baird, Shalon Baker, Kelly Bates, Graeme Bell, Kerwin Bell, Roy Bennett, Eric Blount, Kwaku Boateng, Travis Bond, Mathieu Boulay, Adarius Bowman, Chris Brazzell, Dieter Brock, Charlie Bryant, Gregg Butler, Selvish Capers, Malik Clements, Billy Cooper, Mike Cornell, Carl Crennell, Euclid Cummings, Rob Davidson, Scott Diebert, Marcus Dowdell, Matt Dunigan, Craig Ellis, Jerome Erdman, Bob Fritz, Shannon Garrett, Bennie Goods, Robert Gordon, Brandon Hamilton, Aaron Hargreaves, Craig Hendrickson, Gord Hinse, Dan Huclack, Taylor Inglis, Ray Jauch, Steven Jyles, John Kalin, Dan Kearns, Sean Kehoe, Tony Kehrer, Dave Knetchel, Kyle Koch, John Konihowski, Gerald Kunyk, Mike Law, Stefan LeFors, Gilles Lezi, Pascal Lochard, Moris Lofton, Damion Lyons, Leon Lyskiewicz, Paul Markle, Willie Martin, Mercy Maston, Rob McLaren, Ray McLeod, Glenn McWhinney, Justin Medlock, Lou Mogul, Tom Muecke, Matt Nichols, Don Oramasionwu, Elfrid Payton, Greg Peach, Art Perkins, Fred Perry, Kamau Peteron, Dale Potter, Dakota Prukop, Brock Ralph, Terry Ray, Chad Rempel, Peter Ribbins, Jovon Santos-Knox, Tom Scott, Glen Scrivener, Mike Sellers, Justin Sorensen, Nick Taylor, Jeff Treftlin, Charlie Turner, Don Unamba, Harry Van Hofwegan, Chris Vargas, Brian Walker, Larry Washington, Corey Watson, Rio Wells, Dave West, David Williams, Marcus Winn
The Stats
Elks Record when:
Elks Record vs Winnipeg: 103-97-3 (0.515)
Elks Record vs Winnipeg at Home: 60-39-2 (0..604)
Elks Record vs Winnipeg at Away: 43-58-1 (0.426)
Elks Record on June 25: 1-3-0 (0.250)
Elks Record on August 21: 5-3-0 (0.625)
Elks Record on October 16: 10-2 (0.833)
The last 10:
Elks Record vs last 10 Winnipeg Games: 1-9-0 (0.100)
Elks Record vs last 10 Winnipeg Games at Home: 2-8-0 (0.200)
Elks Record vs last 10 Winnipeg Games on the Road: 2-8-0 (0.200) *Current 7 game losing streak
Last time Edmonton swept season series: 2015
Last time Winnipeg swept season series: 2019-2024
| 2025 Head-to-Head Statistical Comparison | ||||||
| Edmonton Offensive Rankings | Winnipeg Defensive Rankings | |||||
| Rank | Total | Avg | Rank | Tot | Avg | |
| 8 | 422 | 23.4 | POINTS FOR/ALLOWED | 3 | 424 | 23.6 |
| 6 | 40 | TDS | 1 | 34 | ||
| T8 | 35 | FGS | 5 | 45 | ||
| 9 | 5665 | 314.7 | NET OFFENCE | 3 | 6197 | 344.3 |
| 5 | 1766 | 98.1 | RUSHING YARDS | 3 | 1694 | 94.1 |
| 8 | 4392 | 244 | PASSING YARDS | 2 | 4705 | 261.4 |
| 6 | 6.2 | AVG YDS/PLAY | 4 | 6.53 | ||
| 4 | 5.2 | AVG GAIN RUSH | T3 | 5 | ||
| 8 | 6.1 | AVG GAIN 1st DOWN | 6 | 6.7 | ||
| 9 | 43.6 | 2nd DOWN CONV % | 1 | 43.6 | ||
| 5 | 118 | 1ST DOWN by RUSH | 2 | 108 | ||
| T8 | 185 | 1ST DOWN by PASS | 2 | 206 | ||
| T4 | 26 | 1ST DOWN by PEN | 2 | 18 | ||
| 1 | 71.9 | COMPLETION % | 1 | 62.2 | ||
| 9 | 19 | PASSING TD’S | T1 | 21 | ||
| 4 | 102.5 | PASS EFFICIENCY | 2 | 90.8 | ||
| 8 | 52 | SACKS ALLOWED/BY | 9 | 23 | ||
| 1 | 12.9 | PUNT RET AVG | 3 | 9.9 | ||
| 5 | 22.5 | K/O RET AVG | 3 | 21.2 | ||
| 2 | 3 | KICK RET TDS | T5 | 2 | ||
| Edmonton Defensive Rankings | Winnipeg Offensive Rankings | |||||
| Rank | Total | Avg | Rank | Tot | Avg | |
| 5 | 490 | 27.2 | POINTS ALLOWED/FOR | 6 | 459 | 25.5 |
| T6 | 44 | TDS | T7 | 38 | ||
| 7 | 47 | FGS | 4 | 48 | ||
| 9 | 7013 | 389.6 | NET OFFENCE | 5 | 6222 | 345.7 |
| 5 | 1831 | 101.7 | RUSHING YARDS | 2 | 2234 | 124.1 |
| 9 | 5336 | 296.4 | PASSING YARDS | 9 | 4230 | 235 |
| 8 | 6.84 | AVG YDS/PLAY | 5 | 6.38 | ||
| T3 | 5 | AVG GAIN RUSH | T2 | 5.5 | ||
| T3 | 6.5 | AVG GAIN 1st DOWN | T4 | 6.6 | ||
| 9 | 51.2 | 2nd DOWN CONV % | 6 | 46.5 | ||
| 6 | 123 | 1ST DOWN by RUSH | 1 | 145 | ||
| T7 | 245 | 1ST DOWN by PASS | T8 | 185 | ||
| T3 | 24 | 1ST DOWN by PEN | 7 | 20 | ||
| 8 | 71.5 | COMPLETION % | 5 | 69.2 | ||
| T6 | 29 | PASSING TD’S | T6 | 23 | ||
| 8 | 104.3 | PASS EFFICIENCY | 9 | 86.1 | ||
| T7 | 24 | SACKS BY/ALLOWED | 6 | 37 | ||
| T6 | 11.9 | PUNT RET AVG | 4 | 12.1 | ||
| 5 | 22.2 | K/O RET AVG | 4 | 22.7 | ||
| 7 | 3 | KICK RET TDS | 1 | 4 | ||
