Blue Bombers 31, Alouettes 14: Matt Nichols threw for 256 yards and a touchdown as host Winnipeg stayed in the hunt for a playoff spot by beating Montreal for the fifth straight time.

Nichols completed 18-of-25 passes and finished without an interception for the first time in five games while Kienan LaFrance rushed for a touchdown as the Blue Bombers (6-7) ended their four-game losing streak. Kenbrell Thompkins had five receptions for 94 yards while Andrew Harris caught a TD pass before sitting out the second half with a lower-body injury for Winnipeg, which moved into fourth place in the West Division.

Johnny Manziel was 18-of-25 for 212 yards and an interception in his first start since Aug. 11, but the Alouettes (3-10) dropped their second straight game to put a dent in their slim playoff hopes. William Stanback rushed for 71 yards on 12 carries and short-yardage quarterback Antonio Pipkin scored the lone touchdown for Montreal, which has given up 12 sacks in its last two contests.

Justin Medlock drilled a 50-yard field goal and Nichols found a wide-open Harris for a 10-yard touchdown to put Winnipeg in front 10-0, but Boris Bede made a 47-yard kick to pull Montreal within seven at the end of one quarter. Medlock (43 yards) and Bede (31) traded field goals before LaFrance took a quick pitch seven yards for a score to help the Blue Bombers build a 20-6 halftime lead.

Manziel converted a couple of second-down scrambles and Pipkin capped an impressive drive with a 2-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter to bring the Alouettes within 21-13. Medlock converted a 43-yard attempt with 3:07 remaining in the fourth to give Winnipeg a 10-point cushion and Marcus Sayles picked off a pass by Manziel to set up Chris Streveler's 1-yard TD run on a quarterback sneak that sealed the victory.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Harris gained 44 yards on seven carries to surpass the 1,000-yard plateau for the fourth time in his career. … Winnipeg WR Weston Dressler caught three passes for 27 yards to become the 13th player in CFL history with at least 700 receptions. … Manziel fell to 0-3 as a starter and still is looking for his first CFL touchdown pass. … Winnipeg DE Craig Roh finished with seven tackles and three sacks.