Consistency has been hard to come by for the B.C. Lions this season.
After starting the campaign with a 5-1 record, the Lions (7-8-0) have struggled through the middle of the season as their offence stalled and injuries plagued their defensive corps.
B次元官网网址淚 just donB次元官网网址檛 think weB次元官网网址檝e been consistent enough,B次元官网网址� said head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell. B次元官网网址淚 think we do some really good things at times, but we donB次元官网网址檛 seem to do it all together for 60 minutes. And itB次元官网网址檚 cost us. WeB次元官网网址檝e lost some close games.B次元官网网址�
B.C. will look to rebound from last weekB次元官网网址檚 devastating 32-29 overtime loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Friday when it hosts the struggling Calgary Stampeders (4-9-1).
While the Leos are looking to secure a playoff spot, the Stamps need a victory to prevent being eliminated from post-season contention.
B次元官网网址淓verybodyB次元官网网址檚 fighting for their lives now,B次元官网网址� Campbell said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e done with hypothetical situations. ItB次元官网网址檚 people trying to clinch playoff spots, people trying to avoid elimination, all those things. So thereB次元官网网址檚 a whole bunch to play for.B次元官网网址�
In order to clinch a post-season berth this week, the Lions not only need a win, but some help around the league.
B.C.B次元官网网址檚 magic formula requires a win over the Stamps on Friday, the Ticats losing to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers the same night, and the Edmonton Elks dropping their Saturday game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
ItB次元官网网址檚 a complicated scenario in a West Division where just one team B次元官网网址� the 9-6-0 Blue Bombers B次元官网网址� has secured a playoff spot, and the remaining four clubs are separated by just six points.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 kind of a funky thing thatB次元官网网址檚 going on in the West,B次元官网网址� said veteran Lions defensive back Garry Peters. B次元官网网址淏ut itB次元官网网址檚 also cool at the same time, because weB次元官网网址檙e all right there fighting for position to get in the playoffs, and nobodyB次元官网网址檚 kind of eliminated. So itB次元官网网址檚 kind of like itB次元官网网址檚 already the playoffs right now for us.B次元官网网址�
Calgary, meanwhile, heads to Vancouver on a six-game winless skid (0-5-1). The Stampeders have not gone winless in seven straight since 1977.
In order to make its 19th straight post-season appearance, Calgary needs to win all four of its remaining games B次元官网网址� and defeat Saskatchewan by nine or more points when the two sides meet in the final game of the regular season on Oct. 26.
B次元官网网址淩ight now, Calgary, theyB次元官网网址檙e fighting for their life. They need everything they can get,B次元官网网址� said B.C. wide receiver Keon Hatcher. B次元官网网址淪o IB次元官网网址檓 sure theyB次元官网网址檙e going to come throw everything thatB次元官网网址檚 in their book at us. We just gotta be ready and come to play.B次元官网网址�
The Lions and Stampeders have already met twice this season, and FridayB次元官网网址檚 matchup could be the tiebreaker in the season series. B.C. drew first blood with a 26-17 victory on June 15, but Calgary edged the visitors 25-24 on July 21.
B次元官网网址淐algary is always good. Despite their record, I think theyB次元官网网址檙e a very good team,B次元官网网址� said Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke. B次元官网网址淎nd theyB次元官网网址檝e gotten us once before this year, and theyB次元官网网址檒l definitely have a plan. And we have to match them with our intensity, and we have to find a way to win in BC Place.
B次元官网网址淓very game going forward is going to be a playoff type game for us. ItB次元官网网址檚 got to be that type of mentality.B次元官网网址�
CALGARY STAMPEDERS (4-9-1) AT B.C. LIONS (7-8-0)
Friday, BC Place
A TALE OF TWO HALVES: The Lions have a +52 point differential in the first half of games this season. The second half and overtime are a different story, with B.C.B次元官网网址檚 point differential sitting at -53.
CATCHING LIGHTNING: Stamps receiver Reggie Begelton is on a tear, amassing an average of 92 yards in his last six appearances. The 31-year-old American has 46 catches for 645 yards across the stretch and has gone 66 straight games with at least one reception.
MAJOR MAIER: Calgary quarterback Jake Maier has the second-best completion percentage (72.7) in the CFL and sits third in the league for most passing touchdowns (18).
