“We’ve said it in the past — we can’t just talk about it, we have to be about it.”

There’s a path to over-think all of this for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — especially as they exited out of their bye week Friday with the sting of their most recent loss perhaps still lingering for some.

The Blue Bombers dropped a 14-11 decision to the Toronto Argonauts last Friday, losing their first opportunity to lock up top spot in the Canadian Football League’s West Division.

Their final shot at scratching that critical item off their to-do list comes next Saturday in Montreal against the Alouettes. Win and they grab first. Lose and they have to hope the Saskatchewan Roughrider lose or tie at home against the Calgary Stampeders later that same day.

And so while a bye week is supposed to provide a little R&R — rest and relaxation — it can also be a little big about regret and remorse.

“I was really let down with how we performed on offence,” said veteran guard Pat Neufeld after Friday’s practice. “I took it pretty hard. I just didn’t think our unit played even remotely close to the standard of where we need to be given the magnitude of that game.

“Protection-wise we have to be more solid in protection and give Zach (Collaros) the time he needs to do what he’s got to do. We’ve got to get the ball in the end zone on the one-yard line. That’s obvious, but it’s simple and it’s something that put us behind the eight ball for the rest of the game. We’ve just got to execute.

“We just have to do a better job of not letting things snowball and learning from what happens in the game, put it into the next play and just play that play.”

Still, here’s where the over-thinking comes into play: the Blue Bombers had previously cranked out eight straight wins before the loss to the Argos, essentially overcoming their 0-4/2-6 start to the season to put themselves into this position to still lock up first place. They dropped a three-point game to Toronto despite surrendering seven sacks, committing four turnovers — including being stuffed on the Argos one-yard line — and missing two field goals.

And, indirectly, that was part of the message Collaros delivered to the team in the aftermath of the Toronto loss.

“It was about believing in how good we can be, in executing in critical moments and not faltering and just trusting each other,” said Neufeld of the Collaros address. “We feel like we’re a damn good team, a damn good offence with a damn good defence and special teams unit. We’ve got to trust that and execute it.

“We’ve said it in the past — we can’t just talk about it, we have to be about it. That was the message and, obviously, there were some fiery words included in there because it came from Zach’s passion.”

Neufeld said the Argo loss — as disappointing as it was — has been shelved. Now it’s on to preparing for an Alouette team which is in Vancouver to face the B.C. Lions in a game that has no impact on the standings with Montreal locked into first in the East and the Leos in third in the West.

And there might be a possible benefit of having a meaningful game at the end of the regular season for a Blue Bombers side that has locked up first much earlier over the last three years.

“There’s probably benefits any way it shakes down — you just have to find them,” said head coach Mike O’Shea. “I don’t even notice the challenges.”

“For a group of the vets it’s going to be a little bit different.” said Neufeld. “I mean, for the last few years we were in in that first round bye week earlier.

“But you also want to be playing meaningful football at the end of the season and this is an opportunity for us to turn things up and get things back on track, get back to playing that pedal to the metal football — the football you need to be playing going into the playoffs.”

Collaros spoke of Friday’s practice being important before next week’s full prep for the Alouettes.

“… It’s important to get back out and get our feet out from beneath of us… just jumping right back into it on a Day 1 (next week) I don’t think is good for everyone.

“It’s good to be back around the guys and obviously getting the jumpstart on Montreal is big. All those things play a factor. It’s just good to be back around your teammates.”

Added Collaros:

“The last couple of seasons it’s been a different feel. I guess for guys maybe (it is) for guys who have a hard time staying locked in… it allows you that opportunity. (Otherwise) it would be like three weeks of nothing before the West Final.

“Every game is important, but just for it to be meaningful from a standings standpoint is something that can be beneficial, for sure.”