Toronto @ BC preview
BC Place
Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2019 ) BC 18, Toronto 17
The BC Lions look to extend their longest winning streak of the season when they host the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday. The Lions stuffed the Montreal Alouettes on a third-and-goal from the 1-yard line the final minute to preserve a 25-23 victory while staving off playoff elimination and hope to stretch their winning run to four games for the first time since July 2017 by sweeping the season series with the Argonauts.
"It shows the fight in the guys and they're not quitting," BC coach DeVone Claybrooks told reporters. "The mental toughness that we've been trying to build here is slowly taking form and we laid the bricks and now the water is finally drying." Toronto is on the brink of elimination from the postseason following a 41-16 loss to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. James Franklin accounted for a pair of touchdowns in his first start since July 1, but the Argonauts fell to their fifth loss in the last six games and they hope to stay alive by exacting a measure of revenge on the Lions following an 18-17 loss July 6. "When you look at James it looked as if it was his first start," Toronto coach Corey Chamblin told reporters. "Tough day for him at the office as well and there were times you saw some flashes but overall it wasn't successful."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN
ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (2-11): Franklin went 21-of-30 for 208 yards and a touchdown to go along with a rushing score but Chamblin remained tightlipped about the the starter Saturday, with Franklin, McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Zach Collaros, who hasn't played since suffering a concussion in Week 1, all in the running to get the nod. Derel Walker caught three passes for 46 yards to move within five of surpassing 1,000 receiving yards for the third time in his career. S.J. Green finished with five receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown to pull within 95 yards of reaching 10,000 receiving yards for his career.
ABOUT THE LIONS (4-10): Mike Reilly continued his late-season surge as he completed 30-of-34 passes for 309 yards and a touchdown in the win against Montreal to become the 15th player in CFL history to reach 31,000 yards. Lemar Durant hauled in five passes for a team-high 107 yards while John White added 78 yards on the ground with a touchdown against the Alouettes. Bryan Burnham caught seven passes for 77 yards and a touchdown to give him a TD reception in four of his last five outings.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Bryan Burnham leads the CFL in receiving yards (1,155).
2. Toronto is 1-8 against West Division opponents in 2019.
3. Reilly has thrown a touchdown pass in five straight games.
PREDICTION: Lions 31, Argonauts 17