The BC Lions take their show on the road again to Ottawa for a Week 4 matchup vs the REDBLACKS.
The Lions come into the game 1-2, after a loss in the home opener vs the Edmonton Elks. Unlike the Elks, there have been no positive COVID-19 cases on the Lions roster, despite just having played.
The REDBLACKS are 1-1 coming in, and this is their home opener, so after losing their last game to the Riders, they look to make a big splash in front of the home crowd.
BC Lions
The Lions need a rebound after losing their last one close to the Elks. Finding the endzone will go along way to doing that.
QB Mike Reilly was the only one to score a TD a week ago, settling for special teams to count the points. But the REDBLACKS won’t be so friendly, despite the 1-1 record.
Reilly is averaging over 330 yards a game despite missing some of Week 1. That’s good, but it hasn’t turned into wins.
RBs James Butler and Chris Rainey need to become bigger pieces of the offense. Both have been efficient, but not utilized to their full potential, yet.
WRs Lucky Whitehead and Bryan Burnham lead the team in receiving thus far, averaging more than 100 yard a game. Even though the backs should get more touches, they can’t afford to neglect these 2.
Defensively, they have to keep the pressure up. Currently the Lions have 6 INTs, and 5 sacks in 3 games. That’s great from the secondary, but the front needs get to get to QB Matt Nichols, who has been struggling thus far. More pressure on the QB, and that tend can continue.
Ottawa REDBLACKS
The Redblacks are coming off a big loss vs the Roughriders in Week 3, despite their stunner against the Elks to start the season. They need to get this win at home to regain any momentum going forward.
QB Matt Nichols has not been as efficient as Ottawa would like. BC doesn’t give up as much through the air as Ottawa does, so his game has to step up. If they intend to improve on their 4-0-2 record in home opener since 2014, Nichols has to do more than he’s averaged so far. Which is a paltry 120 yards per game. No TDs and 1 INT through 2 games also needs to change.
Of the starting RBs in the league, Timothy Flanders ranks toward the bottom in all-purpose yards thus far. Now, they have only played 2 games, but the average of 44 a game total has to increase somehow. He’s a guy that they have to feed.
The only WR to have over 100 yards at this point is RJ Harris. That’s total. His average of 60 a game has to get better, and against a defensive backfield like the Lions have, they have to find a way to get into the end zone.
Their defense, however has played really well. In 2 games, Ottawa has 3 sacks and 3 INTS, including one returned for a TD. Applying pressure up front and keeping the ball on the ground is key for the REDBLACKS, if they wanna get the win.
