The West-leading Stampeders haven't won a game Ottawa since a 32-7 victory in the Redblacks' inaugural season in 2014. They've gone 0-1-2 At TD Place against the Redblacks since, and suffered a devastating 27-24 Grey Cup loss to Toronto at the stadium last fall.
But while the Redblacks would like to think home field will serve as an advantage again when they host Calgary on Thursday, they're more concerned with their most recent performance against the Stamps.
The two teams met two weeks ago in Calgary, with the Stampeders getting the better of the Redblacks with a 24-14 victory. Ottawa feels it might have been its own worst enemy that night.
"We've got to make sure that we up our plan and make sure we execute our game plan a little bit better,'' said Ottawa quarterback Trevor Harris. "We've just got to be better all around and we will be.''Harris was less than impressed with his own performance in the previous meeting as Ottawa's offence struggled to find any rhythm to its game with the exception of running back William Powell, who had 13 carries for 123 yards.
Kyries Hebert returns to the Ottawa lineup after serving his one-game suspension for a hit on Calgary's DaVaris Daniels.
The veteran linebacker has no plan to change his style of play.
"I've had over 800 career tackles and I've been in trouble five times maybe, so the ratio is not like it's an every play incident where I have a play that's illegal,'' said Hebert. "I want to clean it up, the most important thing is our team and for me to be available to them.''
That being said Hebert knows he has little room for error.
"They're (the league) going to keep a closer eye because I'm me,'' Hebert said.
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Jonathon Jennings is frustrated with how he's been playing so far this CFL season, and his poor start may be leading to a quarterback controversy in Vancouver.
"I'm very disappointed. I didn't play up to my standards at all,'' Jennings said. "Back to the drawing board once again. There's no excuses, just got to find a way to get it done.''
This season's start is a far cry from Jennings' breakout year in 2016, where he made 371 completions, passing for 5,226 yards.
The quarterback is a pivotal position for any team's psyche and confidence, said Lions coach Wally Buono.
"Quarterbacks go through tough spells,'' he said. "At this point, (Jennings) isn't playing his best football. We know that and I think he knows that, too.''
Buono added that he hasn't yet made any decisions about who he'll start this weekend.
The loss in Winnipeg saw the Lions fall to 1-2 on the season. The teams are set for a rematch in Vancouver on Saturday.
Whether B.C.'s veteran quarterback Travis Lulay could step in to take over the No. 1 role in that game remains to be seen, Buono said.
Lulay hasn't played yet this year after having off-season knee surgery.
"He'll definitely be in the lineup. What his role will be is to be determined,'' Buono said.
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It will be a homecoming of sorts for Adam Bighill.
The veteran linebacker makes his first regular-season appearance at B.C. Place Stadium on Saturday since 2016 when he was with the Lions. But the five-foot-10, 230-pound Bighill is now a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, signing with them in May shortly after being released by the NFL's New Orleans Saints.
Bighill has already made a major impact against his former team. He had six tackles and two interceptions - returning one 55 yards for a touchdown - in Winnipeg's 41-19 home win over B.C. last weekend, earning one of the CFL's top performer nods Tuesday."I wouldn't say I spend a lot of time thinking about (return to B.C.) but I've definitely had it in my mind,'' Bighill said. "At the end of the day it's not a big deal but it's a lot easier (after facing Lions last week).
"There's a layer of difference here, but it's the same.''
Bighill, 29, enjoyed a productive tenure in B.C. (2011-16). The CFL's top defensive player in 2015, Bighill registered 489 defensive tackles, 69 special-teams tackles, 33 sacks, eight interceptions, eight forced fumbles and a defensive touchdown with the Lions.
Bighill has picked up with Winnipeg where he left off in 2016 with 27 tackles, second only to Montreal's Chris Ackie (30).
"It's been like riding a bike,'' Bighill said of his CFL return. "The toughest part was coming in and getting the terminology down.
"That took about three days and then I was back to full go.''
But Bighill expects to face a determined B.C. squad Saturday night. And that could also include a different quarterback in the form of veteran Travis Lulay, who led the Lions to the 2011 Grey Cup title after being named the CFL's outstanding player.
"I don't think we got their best shot,'' Bighill said. "From that standpoint we're going to be hard at work making sure we're on top of our stuff and ready for anything they have.''
(Canadian Press)
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