Blue Bombers face win-or-go-home finale against Lions

It all comes down to Friday night for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as they close out the regular season in Vancouver against the B.C. Lions.

A victory would clinch a playoff berth for the Blue Bombers (8-9), who hold tiebreakers over the idle Calgary Stampeders (9-9) and Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-8). Winnipeg's playoff destination would then depend on Saskatchewan's result Saturday.

A loss to the Lions (10-7), who have already clinched second place in the West and a home playoff game, would leave the 12-time Grey Cup champions out of the postseason for the first time since 2015.

"It's all about us. We've got to win or our season's over," Winnipeg defensive back Redha Kramdi said. "So, from the coaches, the whole organization top-down, we've got to be our best and win that game.

"There's no one to blame but ourselves. We put ourselves in this situation. We can't cry about it. That's not going to change anything. So, we've got to be ready to play on Friday and get that win if we want to have another week together."

The Blue Bombers are in a do-or-die situation after losing four of their last six games, including a 35-27 loss at Edmonton last week. They also lost their previous meeting against BC, 35-19, in Winnipeg on July 30, a game that ignited a 9-1 stretch for the Lions.

The Blue Bombers may catch a break Friday as Lions coach Buck Pierce rests several starters, including quarterback Nathan Rourke, ahead of the Oct. 31 West Division semifinal.

Rookie Kaidon Salter, who played college football at Liberty and Colorado, will be under center for the Lions. He stepped in this summer after Rourke sustained a shoulder injury and has seen action in three games, completing 22 of 42 passes for 330 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

Salter made his first CFL start in that July 30 victory, passing for 96 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 160 yards.

"They have a very big and physical defense," Salter said of Winnipeg, per TSN. "They're going to come out and they're going to fight and they're going to play hard. They're a team that plays to the end, so we just got to go out there and do the same."

--Field Level Media