Bombers search for piece of 2nd place in West vs. visiting Lions

The BC Lions may have a game in hand on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, but the latter will look for a piece of the second-place pie when the two square off Saturday at Investors Group Field.

The Lions are coming off a 40-33 victory over the Ottawa RedBlacks last week, while the Blue Bombers suffered their second straight defeat at the hands of the Edmonton Eskimos by a score of 40-26. With four weeks left following Saturday's game, the outcome could go a long way in determining playoff seeding in the West.

Quarterback Jonathon Jennings has been nothing but consistent for the Lions this season, sitting third in the league in passing yards with 3,656, while posting a respectable 101.3 efficiency rating. He'll be opposed by Bombers pivot Matt Nichols, who, despite having thrown for more than 1,000 yards less than Jennings, has only given up three interceptions in his 11 games this season.

The Lions hold a distinct advantage in the running game over the Bombers when it comes to season totals. BC has averaged 107.4 yards on the ground to Winnipeg's 82.6, and the Bombers' defense will need to be prepared if it hopes to keep Jeremiah Johnson and Co. at bay in Week 16.

With the Calgary Stampeders running away with the division thanks to a 12-1-1 record, and the Eskimos nipping closely at the Bombers' heels, Saturday's game stacks up as one of the most important for both teams heading into the final stretch of the season.

Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. CT from Investors Group Field in Winnipeg.

The Lions and Bombers haven't yet faced each other this season, but Saturday's game will mark the first half of a home-and-home series.