B.C. Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke was the top story of the CFL for much of 2022.
Toronto Argonauts counterpart Chad Kelly was pretty much the same thing for the majority of 2023.
On Friday at BC Place, the quarterbacks square off as starters for the first time in their careers. The Lions (7-6) and Argos (6-6) both are hoping the best is yet to come for their two stars.
Rourke is 2-2 after being cut by the Atlanta Falcons and Kelly is 1-2 after returning from a nine-game suspension for violating the CFL’s gender-based violence policy.
The talking points around the quarterbacks are very different.
Kelly, the league’s reigning most outstanding player, has been no better than so-so this year. The Argos survived without Kelly in the first half of the season, but have not taken the expected leap forward with the native of Buffalo in the lineup.
Kelly threw four interceptions last week (some were not his fault) as the Argos fell behind big in the first half and lost 41-27 to the Ottawa Redblacks. It was Toronto’s second loss in a row, and the third-place Argos are now well back of the Redblacks (8-3-1) and Montreal Alouettes (10-2) in the East.
Still, the Lions know Kelly is capable of finding top gear at any time. The Argos went a league-best 16-2 last year before disaster struck in a horrific East final against the eventual Grey Cup champion Als.
“They’ve hit a little bit of a rut, but they’re a really good team,” Lions coach Rick Campbell said, per The Canadian Press. “They’re very athletic. And you can really see (Kelly has) got zip on the ball. When you see him in there, he can make all the throws. So, we’re expecting their best shot.”
The Lions, meanwhile, have won two in a row with Rourke after he experienced a few struggles in his return to the CFL. While the Canadian QB threw three interceptions last week against the Als, his receivers didn’t do him any favours on a few balls. Rourke completed 22 of 28 passes overall as the Lions upset the Als on the road to maintain a share of top spot in the West with the surging Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
But even though Rourke appears to be heading in the right direction, there are no guarantees he keeps his job beyond this week. Vernon Adams Jr., who was playing at MOP form before suffering a knee injury last month, will dress as the backup for the second week in a row and Campbell has said they’ll re-evaluate their quarterback situation after next week’s bye.
It’s a good problem to have for the Lions, of course, as they try to earn a berth in a home Grey Cup.
If Rourke plays a third strong game in a row, it would be stunning if the Lions take the ball out of the Victoria native’s hands next time out.
There’s also a bit of a subplot to this week’s game. Rourke, on his X account in April, was critical of the CFL and Argos for not yet (at the time) announcing supplementary discipline for Kelly in the aftermath of a lawsuit.
It will be interesting to see if the two quarterbacks interact after what should be a fun Friday nighter.
Capital gains
Give plenty of credit to Redblacks GM Shawn Burke and coach Bob Dyce for turning things around this year.
Burke’s acquisition of QB Dru Brown from Winnipeg has led to much-needed stability at QB and now the Redblacks are a win away from clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 2018.
The Redblacks — who have a point differential of just plus-four, meaning they have been excellent in close games — can seal the deal with a win at last-place Hamilton on Saturday.
First place also isn’t out of the question. The Redblacks, sitting three points back of Montreal, have two games left with the Alouettes.
The Tiger-Cats, meanwhile, will start veteran QB Bo Levi Mitchell for the third game in a row as Taylor Powell returns from the injured list. Hamilton had named Powell the starter last month before he went down with a head injury.
Game of the week
The Argos haven’t lost three in a row since their horrible 4-14 season in 2019.
That run will end if they fall short against the favoured Lions. What’s more, a loss here will have the Argos in a fight for their playoff lives down the stretch, potentially trying to fend off a West crossover from the struggling Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-7-1) or much-improved Edmonton Elks (5-8).
The Lions, meanwhile, finish the season with four of five at BC Place, where the team is 3-1 this season. The Lions have had to go to Winnipeg for the last two West finals (both losses), so home-field advantage would be huge this time around.
Here is the full Week 15 schedule.
Friday: Toronto Argonauts (6-6) at B.C. Lions (7-6), 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Saturday: Ottawa Redblacks (8-3-1) at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-9), 3 p.m. ET / noon PT
Saturday: Montreal Alouettes (10-2) at Calgary Stampeders (4-8), 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT