Ottawa's rough CFL season shows no signs of letting up. The Redblacks fell to 0-9 on Friday night, dropping a 33-21 road loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Princess Auto Stadium.
What Happened
Winnipeg running back Brady Oliveira had himself a night, rushing for 70 yards and a touchdown while adding another 80 yards through the air. That kind of dual-threat production from Oliveira was more than enough to put away an Ottawa squad that has now dropped every single game it's played this season.
The scoreline tells the story of a competitive but ultimately unsuccessful effort from the Redblacks, who put up 21 points on the road against a strong Bombers team but couldn't find enough stops on defence to keep pace.
A Tough Season for Ottawa Fans
For Redblacks supporters back home, this is shaping up to be one of the more difficult seasons in recent memory. Going winless through nine games puts serious pressure on the coaching staff and front office as the team looks toward the second half of the schedule. Ottawa's CFL faithful — who pack TD Place on game days and have stuck by the team through ups and downs since the franchise's 2014 return — are no doubt hoping for signs of life soon.
The Redblacks' struggles this year stand in contrast to the passionate fan base the team has built downtown at TD Place, where Ottawa football has always found a home even during lean years. The 0-9 start echoes some of the franchise's toughest stretches, and local fans will be watching closely to see if the team can find any momentum before the season slips away entirely.
What's Next
With the losing streak now at nine straight to open the season, all eyes turn to Ottawa's upcoming schedule for any sign of a turnaround. The Redblacks will need to tighten things up on both sides of the ball if they hope to avoid one of the more forgettable seasons in franchise history.
For now, Ottawa remains winless, and the road back to respectability runs through a demanding CFL schedule where every opponent will be looking to add to the Redblacks' misery.
Source: CBC Ottawa
