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Whether blocking or getting blocked, the Bombers were out-muscled.

Three losses in their last four have them at 9-5, just behind Calgary and Saskatchewan, both 9-4.

“We didn’t match their intensity level at all,” Harris agreed. “We need to take a look in the mirror and step up to the challenge. When the games get colder and gets to this point the pace starts getting faster and the physicality is ramped up, and we’ve got to be able to foot that bill.”

The issues are on both sides of the ball.

The offence scored a touchdown on its first possession against Hamilton, then vanished.

The defence, one week after imploding in Montreal, was handing out real estate to the Ticats like it was playing banker in a Monopoly game.

“We’re not a sinking ship, here,” safety Jeff Hecht said. “We’ve got some holes that need to be plugged.”

Hamilton quarterback Dane Evans dipped into those holes for 300 yards passing in the first half.

In Montreal, the collapse came in the fourth quarter.

“The game against Hamilton is the first game where we really got beat,” Hecht said. “We were out of the game before the whistle went. I would say it’s more of a positive that in Week 14 that’s the first time that’s happened all year.”

Hecht blamed missed assignments for the recent passing frenzy against his defence, taking responsibility for one against the Ticats.

He may pay for the mistake: Brandon Alexander came off the injured list to practise at Hecht’s spot on Tuesday.