The BC Lions travel to Edmonton Friday night to take on the Elks who they are 2-0 against so far this season. Both the Elks and the Lions made 4th quarter comebacks to win their games last week.
BC Lions (8-4): BC is fresh off of a remarkable comeback in which they scored 20 points in the final 2:06 minutes of the game to overcome a 19-point deficit. It tied for the 5th largest comeback in CFL history and was BC’s greatest at-home comeback. A win in Edmonton will clinch a playoff spot for the Lions.
Edmonton Elks (4-10): The Edmonton Elks overcame a 10-point deficit against Saskatchewan outsourcing their opponent 16-0 in the 4th quarter. The Edmonton Elks have turned things around offensively since they last played BC and got shut out. Since that 27-0 loss from the Lions in Edmonton the Elks have averaged 29.2 points per game after scoring just 13.1 points per game in the first 8 games.
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Game Details:
Date/Location: Friday, September 22 /Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, AB
Kickoff Time: 9:30 PM ET, 6:30 PM PT
Channel: TSN (Canada), CFL+ (USA, International)
Odds:Â
Spread: BC -6.5 (-110), Edmonton +6.5 (-110)
Moneyline: BC -310, Edmonton +250
Over/Under: 49.5 (Over -110, Under -110)
Keys to the Game
Protect Vernon Adams Jr.
Similar to Ottawa, Edmonton has an underrated pass rush. Lorenzo Mauldin had 6 total pressures on Vernon Adams Jr. last week in a game in which the Lions gave up 3 sacks.
For Edmonton Jake Ceresna and A.C. Leonard can be a problem for offenses. Ceresna had a big game last week in Edmonton’s win generating 2 sacks and 5 total pressures.
Contain Tre Ford
The Edmonton Elks are a similar matchup to the Lions’ game last week against Ottawa. Dustin Crum for Ottawa has the most rushing yards and touchdowns among quarterbacks. Tre Ford for Edmonton has the most rushing yards per game among quarterbacks. Tre Ford has run 29 times after dropping back to pass in his last 5 games.
Last week against Ottawa Crum picked up 46 rushing yards on 9 rushes as well as 3 touchdowns. It is going to be imperative to contain Tre Ford this week for BC.
In the last 2 meetings between Edmonton and BC the Lions’ pass rush was unstoppable as Taylor Cornelius had no time to make plays and was often lucky to escape with an incompletion. Matthiue Betts was particularly effective in those 2 games pursuing the quarterback often and generating frequent pressure.
Stop Kevin Brown
Kevin Brown is coming off of 2 very big games in which he has rushed 318 ards in the last 2 games. Last week Brown rushed 19 times for 175 yards (8.7 average) and a touchdown.
The last time an Elk had more rushing yards in a 2 games span was John Avery with 338 rushing yards in 2002.
Ahead of BC’s game against Ottawa, Devonte Williams was fresh off of a career-high in rushing yards in a game as he rushed 17 times for 146 yards (8.6 average). BC held Williams to 3.7 yards per carry last week as he rushed 18 times for 66 yards. In the 4th quarter, they held him to 13 yards on 7 rushes with all but 2 of the rushes being 4 yards or less. BC also had 3 tackles for a loss against the run in the 4th quarter.
The run-stopping played a big part in the four 2-and-outs BC’s defense generated in the 4th quarter last week.
Get the Run Game Going Again
Mizzell has rushed 47 times for 187 yards (4 yards per carry) in the last 5 games. Mizzell was averaging 69 yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry in his first 6 games. Mizzell was given only 5 carries last week in the win against Ottawa during which he had 13 yards on the ground.
5 Lions to Watch
QB Vernon Adams Jr.
Vernon Adams Jr. has 300 passing yards in each of his last 6 games. The only other time a BC QB has gone more than 4 games with 300+ passing yards was in 1991 when Doug Flutie did it in 6 straight games. The CFL record is 9 games in a row with 300 plus passing yards or more.
Terry Williams’ missed field goal return in the 4th quarter last week was a big part of the Lions’ comeback win. Williams has been on PFF’s Team of the Week 3 times in the last 8 games.
Hladik had 9 tackles last week and is on pace for 94 this season.
Tibo was named to the PFF Team of the Week for the 2nd time last week. He had a QB hurry, 4 tackles, and a big 4th quarter run stop last week against Ottawa.
