2024 season week 18

[SammyGreene]

Bombers rout Ti-Cats 31-10 for their 8th straight win and all but clinch top spot in the West for the 5th straight year.

Sad the once 5-1 Lions had a heathy cushion on the once 2-6 Bombers. With plenty of new faces Winnipeg’s defence has been impressive during their current run that started with a 25-0 win over BC back on Aug. 1.

[B.C.FAN]

The Hamilton and Calgary losses mean the Lions can clinch a playoff spot with a Saskatchean win over Edmonton Saturday. An Edmonton win would give the Lions a chance to clinch a home playoff game by beating Saskatchewan next week.

[SammyGreene]

The Hamilton and Calgary losses mean the Lions can clinch a playoff spot with a Saskatchean win over Edmonton Saturday. An Edmonton win would give the Lions a chance to clinch a home playoff game by beating Saskatchewan next week.

Tough call on who to cheer for this afternoon. Stay in front of the Riders with an Elks win or clinch a playoff spot. Will probably chose the later given the Lions form of late. They will still have to win next weekend at Mosiac regardless and Elks have the Stamps next so they would have a good chance of winning two in a row.

[B.C.FAN]

If you need confirmation that Rick Campbell is a conservative coach, he says he’s cheering for Saskatchewan so the Lions can clinch a playoff spot with 2 games remaining. I’m cheering for Edmonton so the Lions can stay in second place, needing only to beat the Riders next week to clinch a home playoff game for the third straight year.

[SammyGreene]

Great contested catch after great contested catch. Definitely not watching a Lions game. lol

Hopefully they are paying attention to it as they will definitely need some big plays next week to keep pace.

[don corleone]

Edmonton got no breaks. The off season begins.

I think Calgary is also now out.

[B.C.FAN]

Rick Campbell got his wish. Saskatchewan held on to beat Edmonton 28-24, eliminating the Elks and allowing the Riders and Lions to clinch playoff spots. Saskatchewan sits second with 2 games remaining. The Lions need to win next week in Regina and at least tie Montreal the following week to clinch second place and avoid the prospect of back-to-back playoff trips to Regina and Winnipeg on the road to the Grey Cup. A B.C. win next week and a loss against Montreal would allow the Riders to clinch second place with a win against Calgary in the final week of the season, when the Lions are idle.

[SammyGreene]

So Montreal game will be an opportunity to clinch 2nd at home or a meaningless game before the bye week.

Front 4 has to show up at Mosiac or Harris and his receivers will have a field day against the B.C. secondary.
For the Lions to have any chance they need Cottoy, Mackie and hopefully Broxton back.

[David]

Front 4 has to show up at Mosiac or Harris and his receivers will have a field day against the B.C. secondary.
For the Lions to have any chance they need Cottoy, Mackie and hopefully Broxton back.

Agreed Sammy. Trevor Harris can pick apart soft coverage better than pretty much anyone in the CFL.

According to Farhan who was getting his info from Rick Campbell, the club expects all three back (but we have heard false optimism from him before). Alex Hollins would be a nice addition too, especially if he can regain his early season form. The issue for him wasn't getting open, it was hanging onto the ball. But he can certainly take the top off a defense.


DH

[don corleone]

Tough week for CFL officiating.

On the T.J. Lee td the refs did not blow the whistle and let the play play out while a fumble by Trevor Harris is whistled prematurely and explained as the ref thought the ball was recovered when it had not been. It makes a difference.

Seems like this has been the worst year yet for the command center. The more they get involved the worse it gets.

[SammyGreene]

Edmonton got no breaks. The off season begins.

Going to be really interesting to see what happens in Edmonton in the coming weeks, As of now Geroy and to a lesser extent Jarious are dead men walking. Did going 0-3 against the Bombers and Riders with the season on the line seal their fate?

Like we saw when Doman came in as new owner a few years ago it all starts with Rick Lelacheur heading back into retirement and hiring a new president who will then make the decision on whether Geroy stays.

And what happens to Tre Ford?

[don corleone]

Edmonton got no breaks. The off season begins.

Going to be really interesting to see what happens in Edmonton in the coming weeks, As of now Geroy and to a lesser extent Jarious are dead men walking. Did going 0-3 against the Bombers and Riders with the season on the line seal their fate?

Like we saw when Doman came in as new owner a few years ago it all starts with Rick Lelacheur heading back into retirement and hiring a new president who will then make the decision on whether Geroy stays.

And what happens to Tre Ford?

From what I see Deb is pretty hands on and Larry is the money guy. Right now Lelacheur is the brains. Personally I expect some growing pains. Also think he got the team for pennies on the dollar even if he paid $50 million which he likely did not so good for him for that. I expect the plan is to poach a current CFL employed person. Maybe Danny Mac.

As for the Lions:

I suggest they give first team reps to VA this week now that they have clinched a playoff spot. I don't see it any more controversial than all the rest of it has been and it adds a bit of intrigue to the upcoming semi final. It's not like VA is incapable and he is healthy. Nathan will know he is back for the next game and it might be good for him to watch the Riders. I like the plan.

[Dusty]

As for the Lions:

I suggest they give first team reps to VA this week now that they have clinched a playoff spot. I don't see it any more controversial than all the rest of it has been and it adds a bit of intrigue to the upcoming semi final. It's not like VA is incapable and he is healthy. Nathan will know he is back for the next game and it might be good for him to watch the Riders. I like the plan.

I understand your thinking, but point out that if Rourke does not play next week, he will have had a 2 week break from playing before the Western Semi final. I see that as a difficult break,.... two weeks off between games.....much too long a break.

[don corleone]

I understand your thinking, but point out that if Rourke does not play next week, he will have had a 2 week break from playing before the Western Semi final. I see that as a difficult break,.... two weeks off between games.....much too long a break.

Challenge against the Riders will be on the defensive side imo. Keeping Trevor Harris off the field with a ball control offense will help although the Riders are tough against the run. Time of possession will be a key statistic.

Agree with your comment about time between games and believe teams have not played well for the most part coming off the 17 day breaks they worked into the schedule this season. As is the Lions have Montreal on the 19th so Rourke could play then before the bye. It's going to be 2 weeks off either way.

VA has been off for 2 months and might be the spark the team needs under the guise of resting the starter. Lions D will be the ones that decide the game imo.

Might also raise the ante on a potential trade with a good showing.

[B.C.FAN]

I was hoping that VA would get some playing time to shake off the rust in fourth quarter of the Calgary game after the back-to-back Betts and Lee touchdowns, but when Matt Shiltz came in for the Stamps and quickly threw a 53-yard TD pass, the Lions’ lead didn’t appear so safe.