Canadian football is regarded as a passing game, and Sunday's Grey Cup is offering a very intriguing aerial matchup.
B.C. quarterback Travis Lulay, the CFL's outstanding player this season, was the league's second-leading passer with 4,815 yards and finished tied with Montreal's Anthony Calvillo with 32 TD tosses. The Lions also were ranked second overall in passing, averaging 282.9 yards per contest.
By comparison, Winnipeg's defence was the league's toughest against the pass. The Blue Bombers gave up a paltry 223.1 yards per game through the air and not only posted a CFL-high 55 sacks, but also had the most interceptions (25).
Leading the way was cornerback Jovon Johnson, the CFL's top defensive player this year with eight interceptions, including two he returned for touchdowns.
But B.C. will counter with a big-play receiving corps anchored by veteran slotbacks Geroy Simon and Arland Bruce III. Simon was the CFL's second-leading receiver with 84 catches for 1,350 yards and eight TDs while he re-energized his career with the Lions, catching 58 passes for 859 yards and eight TDs.
The Bombers must also be wary of Lions tailback Andrew Harris. The Winnipeg native had 30 catches for 395 yards and seven TDs.
A big reason for B.C.'s passing success is an offensive line that allowed a league-low 29 sacks.
Here's a look at other things to watch Sunday:
-- B.C. Place. The 28-year-old venue underwent $563 million in renovations earlier this year and will be front and centre for a national television audience. Initial reviews are terrific, with the crowning achievement being an impressive replay screen located above the turf at centre field. There were issues earlier this week with water leaks, but CFL commissioner Mark Cohon expressed confidence Friday all would be taken care of by Sunday's kickoff.
-- Discipline. Winnipeg was the CFL's most penalized team (191 calls for 1,717 yards while B.C. received the fewest flags (127 for 1,016 yards). This could be an important factor, especially in a close game.
-- Retirements. This game will be the end of the line for B.C. tailback Jamal Robertson and Winnipeg defensive tackle Doug Brown. The always dependable Robertson began his CFL career in 2001 winning a Grey Cup with Calgary and has the chance to go out with another championship. A Bombers' win would be Brown's first and a fitting end to an 11-year career that began with Brown appearing in Winnipeg's championship loss to Calgary in '01. Of note, too, talk is Lions veteran defensive end Brent Johnson, a native of Kingston, Ont., might be appearing in the final game of his CFL career. And, of course, Lions coach/GM Wally Buono will ponder his future on the sidelines after the game.
-- Canadian rock band Nickelback will perform at halftime. It will mark the second half-time performance this week for the multi-platinum group from Hanna, Alta. Nickelback received a less than warm reception at the Detroit Lions-Green Bay Packers game Thursday at Ford Field. Nickelback's performance will be the first musical event at B.C. Place since its facelift.
-- Sadly, this game officially marks the end of yet another CFL season. So enjoy this while it lasts because when the Grey Cup is officially awarded to the winning team, it's six months before the start of training camp.
-- Both teams will have more than championship aspirations to play for. Winnipeg players are dedicating the game to the memory of assistant coach Richard Harris, who died in July. Meanwhile, Lions' trainer Bill Reichelt, lost his son, Dylan, in a car accident and B.C. slotback dedicated a TD in the West Division final to Reichelt's son
-- Will Winnipeg quarterback Buck Pierce make through the entire game? There's no questioning Pierce's determination and toughness but his rugged playing style has resulted in him suffering a number of injuries throughout his career. Fortunately for the Bombers, backup Alex Brink saw a lot of playing time this year and is more than capable of stepping in and leading the offence if Pierce goes down.
