The Three Keys
1 The X-factor
In Chris Rainey, the Lions have the most unique weapon in the CFL. Between kick returns, rushing and receiving, Rainey accounted for 2,945 yards, a team record. He’s also taken a more prominent role in the offence over the last two games and he played a huge role in the West semifinal win over Winnipeg. Rainey caught three passes during the Lions’ final two touchdown drives and, in the second quarter, supplied one of the game’s key plays when he turned a simple checkdown into a 37-yard gain. Rainey has returned four kicks for touchdowns in his year-and-a-half with the Lions, all against Calgary. These teams are known quantities to each other, but Rainey is the wild card. He can change the course of a game with one touch.
2 Pressure drop
There is one statistic from last week’s game that should concern the Lions: They failed to sack Bombers quarterback Matt Nichols. Against the Stamps, they have to make things uncomfortable for the CFL’s leading quarterback. Calgary surrendered just 20 sacks this season, mostly because Mitchell gets rid of the ball in a hurry. But the Lions recorded eight of those sacks in their three meetings. It’s important that they generate consistent pressure on Mitchell. If he has time, he can pick any team apart. It’s a different story if he’s under duress, which is true of any quarterback. On the other side of the ball, the Lions have to contain rush end Charleston Hughes, who led the CFL with 16 sacks and always seems to have a big game against the Leos.
3 A meeting of the minds
Look at the experience of the two head coaches — Wally Buono is in his 23rd year leading a CFL team, while Calgary’s Dave Dickenson is in his first season — and you would assume there’s a big edge for Buono. But Dickenson didn’t look like a rookie in leading the Stamps to a 15-2-1 record in his debut season. Will Buono’s experience be a factor? Hard to know, but there’s considerable personal history between the two organizations. Dickenson played quarterback for Buono for nine years. John Hufnagel, now the Stamps’ GM, was Buono’s offensive coordinator in Calgary. There aren’t a lot of secrets among these three. One other thing to consider: Since Hufnagel arrived in Calgary in 2008, the Stamps are 3-0 against the Lions in the playoffs.