The BC Lions and host Winnipeg Blue Bombers both look to remain unbeaten when they face each other on Thursday night in an early clash of styles in the West Division.
The stingy Lions (2-0) are coming off a 22-0 shutout against Edmonton on Saturday, while the high-scoring Bombers (2-0) are looking to follow up last Friday’s 45-27 win against Saskatchewan with another victory.
The Lions are allowing just 7.5 points per game after holding the Elks to 139 yards with zero trips to the red zone. It was the first time Edmonton got blanked by a CFL opponent since 1976 and the first time BC had pitched a shutout since 1977.
“I don’t want to ever feel like we reached our peak in Week 2, but the way that we’re flying around … I feel like we give ourselves the best chance to win,” Lions defensive coordinator Ryan Phillips told The Province.
“I’m confident in my group. Some people might take that as being cocky. … No, I just know the work they put in. I know the value of my guys. I know they want to win and they’re going to do what it takes.”
BC has lost its last five visits to Winnipeg’s IG Field, including a 45-0 drubbing in 2021.
The Blue Bombers are currently lighting it up for 43.5 points per game, led by CFL passing leader Zach Collaros, who has thrown for 647 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions through two starts.
Collaros threw for two touchdowns and rushed for one — his first since 2015 — in last week’s victory against the Roughriders.
Collaros said there is still plenty of room for improvement.
“There’s things we can clean up,” he told TSN. “As a whole, I thought we did a good job execution-wise. … When we get an opportunity down close to the end zone, we’ve been able to get it in this year.”
The Lions will be without star Dominique Rhymes (foot), although fellow wide receiver Lucky Whitehead is back after missing last week with a hamstring injury.
Receiver Dalton Schoen (hip) and defensive backs Alden Darby Jr. (illness) and Demerio Houston (not injury related) are questionable for the Bombers. Running back Brady Oliveira (thorax) is doubtful.
–Field Level Media
