Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Terrence Edwards (82) celebrates a touchdown during second half CFL football action against the Montreal Alouettes in Montreal, Sunday, Sept., 18, 2011. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham HughesGraham Hughes/The Canadian Press
On second and long, the quarterback takes off, runs into open space and, untouched, tumbles awkwardly to the turf, inexplicably fumbling the ball.
After the home team has drawn to within a field goal, their sack leader sniffs out a misdirection play, shapes up to put a hurting on the opposing quarterback, and mauls air instead.
Does anyone even need to raise the four missed tackles on a short pass that would result in a 92-yard gain in the opening minutes? Or the first-quarter play where the former all-star running back rumbled unmolested for a 47-yard score?
These are not mistakes championship teams make, and if the Als looked every inch the defending Grey Cup champions last week in demolishing Hamilton, on Sunday they looked like a team that has gone 3-5 since July 24.
The result? The Winnipeg Blue Bombers squeaked out a 25-23 win in historically hostile surroundings – they are 5-18 in Montreal since 1996 – holding their nerve in a first-place showdown with the Alouettes.
"It's a huge win in a place where we don't win often," Winnipeg coach Paul LaPolice said. "We made some mistakes but we overcame them."
After back-to-back pastings at the hands of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, some of the strut has returned to Swaggerville.
"We fixed the flat and the bus is up and running again," defensive back Jovon Johnson said.
The Blue Bombers and the Alouettes will meet again on Sept. 30 in Winnipeg, and again on Oct. 8 at Canad Inns Stadium.
True, the Bombers (8-3) punished the Als (6-5) for their myriad mistakes, but the home side had ample opportunities to score points and arguably did as much damage to itself as Winnipeg inflicted.
"We were just one or two plays away," Alouettes defensive end Anwar Stewart said. "We're still in it, we've got first place on our minds, we've still got them two more times."
The Bombers used a recipe that will sound familiar to the Als: strike early and often through big plays – they had gains of 92, 37 and 47 yards in the first quarter – and hang on for dear life in the second half.
The Als simply aren't the same team when they don't score early, and the Winnipeg defence, powered by a fearsome pass rush, shut them out in the first quarter, the first time that's happened to Montreal in 2011.
Given his sustained brilliance over an 18-year career, it seems unfair to single out Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo for one third-quarter turnover – the self-inflicted fumble with no defenders within touching distance – but on this occasion it typified the Als' performance.
Calvillo also tackled himself on a keeper play late in the game, stumbling to the turf with no one around him.
"How we play starts with me, and it was unacceptable today," said Calvillo, who was beside himself after the game. "Poor play by me, period."
That Calvillo, who passed for two touchdowns, would willingly shoulder the blame for defeat speaks to his character, but there is plenty of blame to go around.
There were turnovers in the red zone, and enough missed tackles to compile a how-not-to video.
And the Bombers took full advantage of Montreal's largesse.
On Winnipeg's first series, which started from the two-yard line, quarterback Buck Pierce tossed a short pass to Montreal native Cory Watson, who galloped 92 yards, shedding tackles all the way.
Two plays later, Greg Carr caught a ball over Montreal defensive back De'Audra Dix – who was victimized several times – in the end zone.
"We were licking our chops all week because they play an aggressive style of defence," said Pierce, who threw for two touchdowns and passed for 312 yards. "We knew we had opportunities so we put it on ourselves that if we had a chance to make big plays, we had to make big plays."
The Als turned the ball over twice and though they made it interesting at the end when Calvillo hit Jamel Richardson for his league-leading ninth TD, suffered two final lapses.
Calvillo misfired on the two-point try, and with just over a minute to play, the Als decided to pass on second and two near midfield rather than run.
"That's the one I'll look back and say, man, I'd like to have that one back," Als coach Marc Trestman said.
Two incompletions later, Winnipeg took the ball back and killed the clock.
With a report from The Canadian Press