GAME DAY: sa国际传媒 AT WINNIPEG, 5 P.M.
Glenn January knows it all begins with the hogs.
The left tackle and his fellow Winnipeg offensive linemen will have to give starting quarterback Joey Elliott time to try to pick apart the sa国际传媒 Lions' topranked defence if the Blue Bombers want to come out on the winning end of tonight's home contest.
The Lions haven't allowed an opponent to score a touchdown the past 13 quarters and have given up only 22 points in their current three-game win streak.
"I feel like every game starts with the hogs," January said after Winnipeg's walk-through on Thursday.
"It's on us to get the run-ning game going, it's on us to make sure that Joey's protected and comfortable back there in the pocket.
"It's not a job that comes with a lot of notice or praise, but it is one that's necessary and we accept the challenge and we welcome the good competition with a good defensive line."
sa国际传媒's powerhouse defence leads the CFL with 19 quarterback sacks, including a league-high seven from defensive end Karon Williams.
Winnipeg's young offensive line has allowed a league-high 21 sacks.
Last season's Grey Cup combatants are at opposite ends of the win column heading into the game. The defending-champion Lions sport a CFL-best 5-2 record, while the Bombers are in the loop's cellar at 2-5.
Winnipeg's "Swaggerville" defence was the cream of the crop last season, but the accolades have flipped to the Lions this year.
sa国际传媒's defence is tops in the league in allowing the fewest first downs (114), fewest net yards (1,924) and fewest average points per game (17.7).
Winnipeg's defence is third in first downs (137), but seventh in net yards (2,940) and points per game (32) and fifth in QB sacks with 14.
Making his first start of the season last week and third of his three-year career, Elliott was named CFL offensive player of the week for completing 33 of 43 pass attempts for 406 yards with one TD and no interceptions. He was the first Bomber pivot to go over 400 yards since Michael Bishop in October 2009.
