The league's most successful team of 2012 heads into Edmonton on Saturday to take on a team in free fall in the CFL west.
The BC Lions are the toast of the CFL heading towards Thanksgiving, tops in the West looking to be a solid choice to return to the Grey Cup in November to defend their 2011 title.
With a strong defensive unit that punishes the opposition should they dare to contemplate scoring to an offensive unit that has QB Travis Lulay clearly at the top of his game, the prospect of playing the Lions is a daunting one at the best of times, never more so we imagine, than if you are in the midst of a month long losing streak and struggling to score points regardless of who is at Quarterback.
The Eskimos will probably turn back to Steven Jyles on Saturday, the hobbled Kerry Joseph having had a decent run, all be it without much success on a team basis, will get to rest his injuries as Jyles tries to turn around an Eskimo offence that has gone horribly cold of late.
Despite some of the top running backs in the game as part of a stable for the Eskimos, the running game hasn't been able to lead the Eskimos out of their current troubles, more than a few observers have suggested that perhaps the time for Eric Tillman to trade in on his riches in the running game has arrived.
For now however, it seems that the only change in store is to provide for an extra set of eyes for offensive coordinator Marcus Crandell, who has struggled to get the Esks offensive game plan into place.
The Eskimos recently added offensive adviser David Kelly to the Eskimo mix, Kelly, a visiting coach in the pre season training camp arrives from the University of Central Florida, a place under the NCAA microscope for alleged recruiting violations.
His appearance of course spawns any number of rumours that Crandell's debut as offensive coordinator may be in peril should things not turn around quickly.
Perhaps an unfair thing, considering the hand dealt him at the start of the season when his entire offensive scheme had to be changed owing to the departure of Ricky Ray, no one, if memory serves correct was calling for Crandell's head when the Eskimos got off to that remarkable start in July, the fans in Edmonton somehow not accepting that their team may have perhaps settled to where they more likely should be in a rebuilding year.
Still, a glance at the standings gives hope in Edmonton, the Esks are but six points away from the Lions, despite their late summer slump, a turnaround heading into the fall could make things quite interesting.
Football of course is a business built on winning and losing, so the winning of course had best come if anyone seeks long term job security. The problem is that on this week, the team coming into town is the class of the league, providing for a mighty hard job order for a struggling squad to try to fill.
Game Time Pre Game 5:30 MT, 4:30 PT, 7:30 ET Commonwealth Stadium TSN
British Columbia 19 at Edmonton 18 (35,578)
Pre Game
CFL.ca-- Video Preview
Globe and Mail-- Eskimos co-ordinator Crandell has adviser breathing down his neck
Vancouver Sun-- Eskimos' Eric the Red undeterred by trade fallout
Vancouver Province-- Lions, Eskimos rivalry heats up
Edmonton Journal-- Eskimos confident heading into tilt against top-ranked Lions
Edmonton Sun-- Eskimos' Jyles to start against Lions
Team Backgrounders
British Columbia Lions
Edmonton Eskimos
Post Game
CFL.ca-- Game Recap
CFL.ca-- Video Highlights
Globe and Mail-- Late field goal lifts Lions over Eskimos
National Post-- Clock is ticking on the struggling Eskimos
Vancouver Sun-- BC Lions pick their moments to rise and shine in last minute win...
Vancouver Province-- Lions lucky to steal one in Edmonton...
Edmonton Journal-- Lack of offence in second half lets Eskimos down once again
Edmonton Sun-- Edmonton Eskimos offence not putting enough points on the board
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