Courtesy of TSN:

WINNIPEG - Terrence Edwards figures the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are long overdue for a great performance in all three phases of the game.

The last time that happened against a tough opponent was back on Sept. 9, when Winnipeg trounced the visiting Saskatchewan Roughriders 34-15. Their record since that game is 3-4 and now they sit at 9-7-1, one point back of the East Division-leading Toronto Argonauts.

The Bombers will need another strong all-around performance when they finish the regular season at home against the Montreal Alouettes (8-9-0) on Friday night. Watch the game live on TSN, TSN Broadband and TSN HD at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt.

“If we can get a complete game in all three phases with the talent we have on this team, it’s going to be very difficult for us to be beaten,” said Edwards, who leads the league in receiving with 1,279 yards.

“I just take my experiences in the CFL. Even last year with the Alouettes, we won our first seven games, we lost six in a row and we ended up in the Grey Cup so it can happen.”

The Bombers will also be watching as the Argonauts (10-7-0) travel to Saskatchewan on Saturday (CBC, 3 p.m. ET).

Winnipeg, which is 6-2 at home, will try to get momentum rolling without star running back Charles Roberts, who’ll miss a second straight game because of a deep thigh bruise.

Head coach Doug Berry said he left the decision up to Roberts. He believes he’ll be ready for the next game.

Winnipeg cornerback Juran Bolden (back) is missing his third game in a row, defensive back Davin Bush (ankle) is out for a second straight game and defensive lineman Tom Canada is sitting with a shoulder injury.

However, defensive lineman Doug Brown, the East Division finalist for the league’s most outstanding Canadian award, is back with a visor on after missing one game because of a broken bone around his eye.

Linebacker Ike Charlton and receiver Arjei Franklin are also returning after sitting two games each.

In Winnipeg’s 16-8 loss to Toronto last week, it was the offence’s turn to have a bad outing. Quarterback Kevin Glenn overthrew a number of passes and receivers dropped at least six passes.

A few weeks before that, the Bombers defence allowed 516 yards in a loss to Calgary.

And Winnipeg’s special teams has been inconsistent all season long. Last week, Toronto got its two touchdowns off a blocked punt and a fumble on a punt return.

“I don’t think we’ve played many games this year, maybe two or three, where we have actually excelled in all three phases,” Berry said.

“(It’s) because we’re not a dominating team yet. Nobody’s dominating anybody on a regular basis, but I think the important thing is to go out there and say, `Are we competitive and can we win, do we have a chance to win?’ And the answer for me is, yes we do.”

Berry would like his squad to finish first in the division and get the week to rest, but it’s not the end of the world if they don’t.

“Health-wise it would be good to get a bye, but I’ve also seen a lot of teams finish in first place and in the last 24 years only half of them have made it to a Grey Cup,” Berry said.

The Alouettes are adapting to being without quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who’s supporting his wife while she goes through cancer treatments.

Marcus Brady and Jason Maas have taken over the controls, and it’s Brady who’ll start against Winnipeg.

Brady relieved Maas last week and helped the Als defeat Calgary 33-32. He believes his team can be the sleeper surprise of the season.

“This is a game where Winnipeg needs to win to try to get first place so they’re going to bring it all,” Brady said.

“If we go out there and beat them and hand it to them, then teams are going to look and say, `OK, they’ve kind of got things right back on the right track and they’re going to be a team that’s going to be tough in the playoffs.”‘

Montreal running back Jarrett Payton is out with a rib injury and could be back next week. Offensive lineman Josh Bourke tore his anterior cruciate ligament and is done for the season.

“When we’ve been able to win the turn-over battle this season we’ve pretty much won the football game,” Montreal head coach Jim Popp said.

“We’ve been in one extreme or the other. We’re trying to balance that out and trying to get away from the critical penalties.”

Notes: Winnipeg had 10 players named Division all-stars, the most since 1993 when they had 17. Montreal had four.