Winnipeg heard all the noise about the B.C. Lions and at least slowed the hype around Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke with a convincing 43-22 win that drew the largest television rating in Week 5 on TSN.
The two-time defending Grey Cup champion Blue Bombers pressured Rourke with star ends Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat leading the way while intercepting the national QB twice. Reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player Zach Collaros put forth his best performance of the 2022 season so far with three touchdown passes to lead the offence to a season-high 43 points.
An average audience of 585,200 watched Winnipeg walk into BC Place and prove to the rest of the CFL they remain the class of the league, even if people are tired of the blue and gold dominating. That number was the highest-rated Blue Bombers game on TV this year.
Week 1 vs. Ottawa: 434,000
Week 2 at Ottawa: 517,000
Week 3 vs. Hamilton: 393,500
Week 4 at Toronto: 523,000
The 2022 NHL Draft stole some attention from the CFL in Week 5 as round one on Thursday night drew 782,900 average onlookers who tuned in to Sportsnet to watch the Montreal Canadiens selected forward Juraj Slafkovsky first overall. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays game on Friday night aired on Apple TV which left the Canadian TV sports spotlight for the Roughriders.
Saskatchewan’s efficient performance against the Redblacks was overtaken by Garrett Marino’s low hit on quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and his ensuing celebration and violation of the CFL’s code of conduct. His actions tainted the win according to head coach Craig Dickenson and Marino was subsequently suspended for four games by commissioner Randy Ambrosie.
2022 Week 5 TV ratings:
Thursday
Calgary at Edmonton — 367,700
Friday
Ottawa at Saskatchewan — 463,400
Saturday
Winnipeg at B.C. — 585,200
Total Week 5 average: 472,100
