The Lions are in a tight race for a playoff spot. BC currently sits last in a log jammed division, but is only two points back of fourth place Edmonton and four points back of third seated Winnipeg.
While the Argos have not mathematically been ruled out of the playoffs, their chances of making the post-season are bleak, but the defending Grey Cup Champions can stay alive with a win Saturday night.
The Double Blue dropped to 3-10 on the season with a lopsided 38-16 loss to the Calgary Stampeders last week. Toronto trailed by only four points heading into halftime, but the Stamps proved why they own the best record in the league, galloping away in the second half.
Pivot McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw for 273 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. The loss was Toronto’s fifth straight.
Despite a disappointing year for the reigning Grey Cup Champs, Head Coach Marc Trestman is determined to finish the season strong.
“I tend to see the glass half full,” Trestman told Argonauts.ca after the game. “I think we’ve got good leadership on this team. I think we’ll find a way to weather the storm. We know it’s going to pass eventually. We’re building some backbone along the way and we’re learning some life lessons.”
This wasn’t the season the Argos envisioned. They lost their leader Ricky Ray to injury in Week 2. The team has struggled to find an identity ever since.
Neither Bethel-Thompson or James Franklin have been unable to fill the huge shoes left by the future hall of famer, leading to offensive struggles.
The Boatmen are averaging just 21.6 points per game this season, the second lowest in the league behind only the Montreal Alouettes.
The Argos have also yet to win a game on the road this season, making the matchup at BC Place even more daunting.
“They’re a great team,” said defensive back William Likely. “They’re playing at home so they’re going to have a lot of momentum. They’re trying to make a playoff run. We’ve just got to go out and execute and play defence and play Argo football.”
Th Lions have only lost once at BC Place all season, tipping the scales in favour of the home team.
Newly acquired DeVier Posey will be playing against his former team for the first time on Saturday. Despite only signing a few weeks ago, Posey knows there is a lot on the line for the Lions.
“It’s an important game in our season for us,” Posey told BCLions.com. “It’s a turning point to keep up in the Western race. A win is important, and that’s what I’m focused on this week. “
The Lions playoff hopes took a hit last week with a 40-10 loss against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The game was over before the half as the Ticats led 30-3 after 30 minutes of play. Quarterback Jonathon Jennings struggled, throwing for only 146 yards and three interceptions before being replaced by Cody Fajardo in the second half. Two of those interceptions were returned for pick sixes.
The 26-year-old says he is ready to turn the page on a disappointing game.
“You can’t win football games like the way we turned the ball over,” said Jennings. “That’s a big emphasis on my part. I think that we’re locked in and focused on what we need to do to be better than last week.”
The Argos narrowly edged the Lions 24-23 at BMO Field in their only previous meeting back in Week 10. Wilder Jr. had a big performance for Toronto with 18 carries for 91 yards and four catches for 49 yards. Lions running back Jeremiah Johnson kept pace with Wilder, racking up 117 total yards and a rushing touchdown.
That was the last game the Argos won. They have since dropped five straight. The Lions are 3-2 during that same time span.
“I really just think we’re a better team than when we played against them the first time,” said defensive back Otha Foster. “Of course, we’re playing them at home. Our home field record is good. We feel we have a good game plan going in and we feel like we can take them down this time.”
While linebacker Solomon Elimimian is close to returning to the field after having wrist surgery, he will sit out Saturday’s contest. Quarterback Travis Lulay is still battling a shoulder injury after taking a hard hit in Week 14. Jennings will once again get the start.
By The Numbers:
5 – Straight years that the Lions and Argos have split their season series.
21 – Sacks made by the BC Lions defence in the last five games.
37 – Average points allowed by the Argos in their last four contests (42, 36, 30 and 28). Toronto is allowing a league-worst 31.8 points per game through 17 weeks.
784 – Team leading receiving yards for Toronto’s S.J. Green.
The BC Lions can’t afford to make any mistakes.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers picked up a crucial 40-32 victory over the Ottawa REDBLACKS on Friday night. A Lions loss on Saturday would put them further behind in the division with just few weeks left in the season.
This is the last game against an East opponent for BC. The final four matches on the schedule are versus divisional rivals, including two meetings with the powerhouse Stamps.
With favourable home field advantage and a 4-3 record against teams in the East, the Lions need to play to their advantage on Saturday.
The first step is taking care of the Argos.
– With files from Argonauts.ca/BCLions.com
AFI, Yare Media and the CFL
American Football International is collaborating with Yare Media and the Canadian Football League to present 2018 CFL games live. This is more than a livestream. This is a stream of the top flight TSN network television broadcast.
LIVE STREAM PPV: CFL – BC Lions @Toronto Argonauts, Oct. 6, 4p (7p ET, 1a CET)