The chilly will not be an element, however the crowd can be. That and extra in a take a look at the Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. B.C. Lions’ West Division closing on Saturday.
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B.C. Lions (13-6) at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (14-4)
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Saturday; TV: TSN; radio: AM730; line: Bombers -4.5
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Climate: 1 C, Partly cloudy, wind 14 km/h
FEEL NO PAIN
The B.C. Lions’ follow had wrapped Wednesday however there was nonetheless a cluster of gamers huddling at an in any other case empty B.C. Place.
Quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. and his receivers circled up at midfield within the cavernously empty stadium, speaking about their emotions — or extra precisely, ache.
The Leos’ QB was reminding them of what was at stake in Winnipeg this weekend, identical to it was nearly precisely a yr in the past: The West Division crown, and a berth within the Gray Cup.
In 2022, it resulted in a 28-20 loss and bitter defeat. It was a sense, a painful one, that the Lions aren’t eager to expertise once more. Although Adams was on the sideline whereas pivot Nathan Rourke guided the offence, it was nonetheless a stinging loss that has caught with Adams since.
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“I used to be simply telling the fellows on the market: ‘Keep in mind the sensation from final yr.’ We’re not attempting to really feel that once more,” he stated. “It was powerful. We solely misplaced by eight factors. It down got here to the final drive. We don’t wish to should really feel that once more.”
COLD WELCOME
The most important home-field benefit that the Bombers have is the climate. Biting, swirling prairie winds, an IG Area turf and receivers’ fingers turned to stone by freezing temperatures … it’s an disagreeable feeling for a lot of southern-born American gamers. IG Area may as effectively be referred to as the IGloo.
“I instructed them to go play in a distinct soccer League in the event that they’re scared off by a bit of little bit of climate,” stated B.C. Lions coach Rick Campbell. “The ‘C’ in CFL stands for Canadian.
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“I instructed them if you wish to make an enormous deal out of it and stew about it each day, you possibly can — and it’ll change into an enormous deal. Or (deal with it as) it’s what it’s.”
However the climate is definitely anticipated to be delicate, Manitoba-wise, at +1 C at kickoff and hovering round zero for the remainder of the sport. Normally, an out of doors follow schedule may need been within the playing cards for the Lions — the icy rain in Surrey is a lot chilly — however Campbell wished his crew to prepare for the opposite issue: noise. The Lions have practised all week at B.C. Place, with the stereo system turned up full blast.
“We wish to make it so we will’t hear,” he stated Wednesday. “There are occasions within the sport in Winnipeg the place you can not talk, our offence received’t be capable of talk. And I simply wished to verify we’re dwelling in that world.
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“That was one of many massive motivations for me to get into B.C. Place; to have correct crowd noise since you don’t get that except you’re in a stadium with a full speaker system. And so we acquired three days in the place we (realized to) perform at a excessive stage. It’s going to make an enormous distinction for us.”
WRINKLE-FREE FOOTBALL
Saturday’s sport would be the fourth of the season between the 2 golf equipment, and second straight playoff assembly. There’s little new that may be realized from the movie or previous expertise. Win or lose, each side will know the others had been precisely who they thought they had been.
It’s clearly been a speaking level, with gamers hitting on the identical verbiage.
“We all know them, what they do. They know us,” stated Leos linebacker Bo Lokombo. “At this level, at this stage, it’s nearly lining up and taking part in — and taking part in quick. After all there’s going to be a few wrinkles right here and there, however so far as simply taking part in, they’re gonna run their bread-and-butter performs. We’ve acquired to be prepared for it, after which simply play laborious.”
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“It could be a couple of wrinkles or one thing totally different, however we all know what they do, they know what we do. It’s simply who can execute higher,” stated receiver Dominque Rhymes. “On the finish of the day, it’s simply buckle your chinstrap up, and let’s go battle.”
It’s the identical for the Bombers.
“Given the scenario, the magnitude of the sport, there’s at all times going to be wrinkles,” Winnipeg head coach Mike O’Shea instructed Postmedia Information this week. “Saying that, groups will rely closely on what they’re greatest at. You don’t wish to trick your self out of success.”
Winnipeg took no possibilities, although, closing their practices on Thursday and Friday.
“Oh, bizarre,” operating again Brady Oliveira stated. “I don’t know why they do closed practices. I might allow them to come watch a follow. Why not? Folks know our id. No secrets and techniques. We’ve simply acquired to proceed to do what we’re good at.”
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THE TURNOVER BATTLE
It had been 5 video games and 6 years because the Lions had gone into Winnipeg and crushed the Bombers, however that’s what they did in Week 3, throttling the blue-and-gold 30-6. Winnipeg had 4 turnovers to B.C.’s zero in that sport.
The tables had been turned in Week 9 when Winnipeg acquired their revenge with a 50-14 rout, and holding a 5-2 turnover benefit.
“The turnover battle is big … we’d like at the very least one or two,” stated Lokombo. “If we will produce extra turnovers, so far as even pressured fumble and get better or interception … I really feel like we might actually carry it residence.”
TRENCH WARFARE
Within the first assembly of the season, the Lions set the tone bodily, their all-out tackles sounding like Mike Tyson working the heavy bag. Bombers QB Zach Collaros was beneath fixed siege, getting sacked seven instances, and the Bombers’ chagrined offensive line promised redemption of their subsequent sport.
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They acquired it.
As lopsided as the primary sport was, the second match closely tilted again within the Bombers’ favour. This time, Winnipeg received that battle on the road, with Collaros staying sack-free, which allowed him the time to hit the deep-developing performs that put B.C. right into a 27-4 halftime deficit they couldn’t claw out of.
Within the third assembly, it was Adams getting pummelled and sacked six instances, however that was due to a sage sport plan that noticed three-man strain and deep dropping linebackers who spoiled his learn progressions.
Adams confirmed towards Calgary, who tried the identical tactic, that it wouldn’t be as efficient, as he scrambled for constructive yards rapidly if he couldn’t discover a goal — as a substitute of being one, like we was in Recreation 3 towards Winnipeg.
The Lions additionally made some changes within the short-yardage sport, which had bedevilled them towards groups with stout defensive strains this yr. Dom Davis stayed on the sidelines towards Calgary, with Adams getting the decision within the jumbo bundle. He snuck one in for a landing, and scrambled for 2 extra TDs on passing performs that broke down.
The winner on the road of scrimmage will win Saturday’s sport.
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KEY MATCHUP
Bombers RB Brady Olivera vs. Lions LB Josh Woods
The Lions did an admirable job of limiting Collaros within the 2022 West closing. Although they solely sacked him as soon as, he was beneath fixed strain and throwing beneath duress, finishing 14-of-20 passes for 178 yards, one landing and one help. He had only one cross go for greater than 40 yards.
However taking part in whack-a-mole with the QB allowed their honey badger, Olivera, to undermine the Lions. He rushed for 130 yards on 20 carries, permitting the Bombers to regulate the sport. This season, he’s the MOP front-runner after main the league in speeding.
And he’ll be going through a defence down beginning linebacker Ben Hladik, with Woods transferring over to cowl his duties within the center. When Hladik was harm towards Calgary, Woods crammed his footwear, flying sideline-to-sideline whereas making a game-high 11 tackles, together with three for a loss — as many as each different participant within the sport mixed.
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STATS PACK
B.C. Winnipeg
27.5 (third) Factors for 33 (1st)
24.4 (4th) Factors allowed 20.9 (1st)
315.1 (1st) Yards passing 292.4 (2nd)
77.3 (ninth) Yards speeding 139.1 (1st)
371.2 (third) Internet yards offence 414.7 (1st)
328.8 (2nd) Internet yards allowed 298.8 (1st)
* Ultimate regular-season stats
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