Kadie Smith
Is there any better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than taking in a football game? No. No there is not. Luckily, we’ve got an exciting matchup for you as the BC Lions (4-5) look for back-to-back wins Sunday afternoon as they return to The Den to play host to the Ottawa REDBLACKS (5-4). Fans across BC and those heading down to the game can tune into the TSN1040 pregame show starting at 11:00 am.
Heading to the game? Be sure to check out our Gameday Playbook for all the events, entertainment, and Tailgate specials, including drink specials, going on at BC Place as you gear up for some afternoon football!
Following a big road win last week over the Montreal Alouettes, the Lions are trying to keep it rolling in the right direction back at home versus a resurgent Ottawa club which is coming off a bye week and finds itself in a tight divisional race in the East.
The win last week was vital as the Lions make the halfway turn on the regular season and now set their eyes on a home playoff berth. The victory also proved costly however, as the Leos will be without quarterback Travis Lulay in the short-term and will line-up second-year pivot John Beck under centre Sunday. Look for Beck, who hooked up with former college teammate Austin Collie on a TD strike last week, to try and get off to a quick start against a stingy Ottawa defence.
As the former NFLer tells us, “I’m just going to go out and play my game.”
Here are you Week 12 3 Keys to the Game:
Change at the Helm
John Beck gets the start for the Leos in place of the injured Travis Lulay who went down with a knee injury midway through the first quarter against Montreal. The former NFLer completed 14/22 passesd for 114 yards and two TDs in the Lions win and says he’s looking forward to taking on the REDBLACKS and getting his first career start in front of a home crowd.
“I thought he did a a really nice job,” said Jeff Tedford when asked about Beck’s performance against Ottawa. “I think he lead the offence well.” While stepping in for an injured QB is one thing, knowing you’re the starter heading into a game and taking in a full week of reps is another. Beck says he feels more confident and was able to build more chemistry with the offence over this past week, often sticking around with his receivers well after practice for extra work.
“It’s getting better everyday,” said Beck when asked about the relationship with his receivers. “I just have to go out and play my game.”
Defence Riding High
On defence, the Lions are coming off a dominating performance last Thursday in which they notched five interceptions including Eric Fraser’s 56-yard effort for a touchdown in the third quarter. The defensive major in Montreal marked back-to-back games in which Mark Washington’s crew racked-up a pick-six and they’ll need an equally strong performance on Sunday versus Ottawa’s Henry Burris.
Washington says he’s very proud of his defensive unit. “They played a full 60, never gave up,” he said. The Lions forced a season-high 7 turnovers in Week 11 including 5 interceptions, while allowing a season-low 216 yards and only 103 passing yards. 17 points for the Lions came off of turnovers. “That’s how we expect our defence to play,” said the CFL’s tackle leader, Adam Bighill, who leads the league with 63 tackles.
Veteran Ryan Phillips says the confidence is high in the Lions’ locker room and the unit is starting to feel like the top-ranked defence they were last season. “Everyone’s coming together.” While the DB notes that the REDBLACKS’ receivers have been performing at a high level, he says his group is prepared to face them head on. “Everything starts with the quarterback, We have to get pressure on Henry [Burris], force him to make mistakes.”
Receiver Matchups
Ottawa has three receivers in the top 15 in the league in Brad Sinopoli, Chris Williams, and former Lion Ernest Jackson who have racked up a collective 1,516 yards. The Lions will need to put constant pressure on Ottawa’s offence to disrupt the flow and get momentum early. “We have to play close to them,” said Jeff Tedford when asked how the defence covers big-bodied receivers like Jackson and Sinopli.
For the Lions, Andrew Harris continues to lead the league in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage, fighting for every inch against Montreal with 78 yards on 23 touches. “Andrew doesn’t give up anything,” said Tedford on his star running back. For his part, Harris is looking forward to taking on Ottawa’s D-Block. “They’re a team that plays a lot of man [coverage],” said Harris. “I think that lets us utilize our skills. We get to go one-on-one with their DBs.”
It should be a heated battle Sunday afternoon as the Lions look for some Week 2 redemption over the REDBLACKS, who are in a tight divisional race of their own. Coverage starts with the pre-game show on TSN 1040 at 11am with kickoff at 1pm and TSN and TSN 1040!