Edmonton @ BC preview
BC Place
Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2018 ) Edmonton 23, BC 31
The BC Lions can clinch a playoff spot when they host the Edmonton Eskimos in a pivotal West Division clash Friday. The Lions languished in last place for the better part of July and August, but have roared back with five wins in their last six games, including an impressive 26-21 road victory against the Calgary Stampeders in Week 18, to move on the cusp of securing a postseason berth after missing out on the playoffs for the first time in 21 years in 2017.
"If you can win in Calgary you can win anywhere," BC quarterback Travis Lulay told reporters. "The challenge going forward is not to feel too good about it as we've got some huge games going forward." The Eskimos stayed alive in the race for a playoff spot with a 34-16 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks. Edmonton ended a touchdown drought of 152 minutes, 21 seconds en route to their highest scoring output in more than a month and hopes to overtake the Lions by posting their first road win since July 26. "We've got two games left and the ball's in our court in terms of getting to the postseason," Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly told reporters. "We've been terrible on the road so we've got to figure it out because the next game is even bigger than the last one we just played."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN
ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (8-8): Reilly was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after throwing for 369 yards and a touchdown despite battling the flu against Ottawa while C.J. Gable rushed for 87 yards and a pair of TDs. Bryant Mitchell was the main beneficiary of Reilly's big day as he hauled in a career-high 13 passes for 190 yards and a touchdown while D'haquille 'Duke' Williams, who leads the league in receiving yards (1,454) and touchdown catches (10), was held to five receptions for 39 yards. Defensive end Almondo Sewell, who has been selected to the West Division all-star team in the last five seasons, inked an extension that will keep him Edmonton until 2020.
ABOUT THE LIONS (8-7): Tyrell Sutton racked up 106 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns in his first game action since being acquired from the Montreal Alouettes on Sept. 25. Travis Lulay completed 14-of-26 passes for 193 yards after missing the previous three games with a separated shoulder to help BC post its first win in Calgary since 2014. Linebacker Micah Awe suffered a knee injury against the Stampeders and is questionable for Friday's clash while running back Chris Rainey, who leads the league in kickoff return yards, is likely to be a healthy scratch for the second straight game.
EXTRA POINTS
1. BC is 6-1 at home this season.
2. Edmonton has dropped five consecutive road games.
3. The Eskimos have turned the ball over a league-worst 47 times.
PREDICTION: Lions 24, Eskimos 23