BC @ Winnipeg preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 8, 2018 ) Winnipeg 21, BC 34

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers look to avoid their second 1-3 start in three years when they host the BC Lions in the first game of a home-and-home series on Saturday. The Blue Bombers dropped a 31-17 decision to Hamilton in Week 3 to fall four points behind Calgary in the West Division standings and hope to stay in the race by beating the Lions for the fourth time in the last five home meetings.

Winnipeg quarterback Matt Nichols, who suffered a knee injury a month ago, was taken off the six-game injured list on Tuesday and shared first-team reps in the lead-up to what could be his first start of the season on Saturday. BC suffered its first defeat of the 2018 campaign as it squandered a double-digit lead late in the second quarter en route to a 41-22 setback against Edmonton last Friday. The Lions have lost 12 of their last 15 road games against West Division rivals and hope to avoid falling into the division cellar after missing the playoffs last season for the first time since 1996. "This is our first taste of adversity," BC coach Wally Buono told reporters. "Now we'll see what kind of team we are and we'll see what kind of veteran players we have."

TV: 8:30 p.m. ET, TSN

ABOUT THE LIONS (1-1): Jonathon Jennings was limited to 199 yards on 13-of-24 passing against Edmonton and finished without a touchdown toss for the first time since Nov. 4. Jeremiah Johnson rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown while short-yardage quarterback Cody Fajardo added a rushing TD, but it wasn't enough as the Lions surrendered 511 yards of offence. Either Hunter Steward or Chris Greaves will get the start at left tackle on Saturday while defensive back Marcell Young, who was picked on repeatedly by Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly, could be replaced by Winston Rose.

ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (1-2): Chris Streveler struggled in his third career start as he was held to 146 yards passing and finished without a touchdown pass in the loss to Hamilton after throwing six in his previous two outings. "There's not really a worse feeling in the world," Streveler told reporters. "The feeling of losing is what motivates me every week to get better and try to fix some of those mistakes." Special-teams standout Derek Jones suffered a lower-body injury against the Tiger-Cats and is expected to be placed on the six-game injured list while defensive back Brandon Alexander is likely to miss his second straight contest with an undisclosed ailment.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Winnipeg has lost four of its last five home games, including playoffs.

2. Streveler is tied for the league lead with six touchdown passes.

3. BC is ranked last in time of possession (26 minutes, 29 seconds).

PREDICTION: Blue Bombers 33, Lions 24