1987
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 8:33 pm
1987
The Lions began the post-Mervyn era in impressive style disposing of their first four opponents. The team seemed to lack focus through the middle of the season, looking invincible in one game and lethargic the next. Entering the last half of the year, the Lions were still in contention for first place but not playing like a team driving for a title. When the team suffered a three-game losing streak, General Manager Joe Galat fired Don Matthews, the winningest coach in Lions history with just four games to go. They instantly responded to new Coach Larry Donovan, winning the final four games including a thrilling come-from-behind 33-32 victory over Edmonton at Commonwealth Stadium that many observers called the greatest comeback ever witnessed in the league. The win gave the Lions first place for the fourth time in five years. The home field advantage wasn't enough however to stave off an Eskimo team destined to win the finest Grey Cup game ever played.
West Division Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
British Columbia Lions 18 12 6 0 502 370 24
Edmonton Eskimos 18 11 7 0 617 462 22
Calgary Stampeders 18 10 8 0 453 517 20
Saskatchewan Roughriders 18 5 12 1 364 529 11
East Division Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 18 12 6 0 554 409 24
Toronto Argonauts 18 11 6 1 484 427 23
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 18 7 11 0 470 509 14
Ottawa Rough Riders 18 3 15 0 377 598 6
Semi-Finals - Edmonton 30 - Calgary 16
Semi-Finals - Toronto 29 - Hamilton 13
Finals - Edmonton 31 - B.C. 7
Finals - Toronto 19 - Winnipeg 3
Grey Cup - Edmonton 38 - Toronto 36
The Lions began the post-Mervyn era in impressive style disposing of their first four opponents. The team seemed to lack focus through the middle of the season, looking invincible in one game and lethargic the next. Entering the last half of the year, the Lions were still in contention for first place but not playing like a team driving for a title. When the team suffered a three-game losing streak, General Manager Joe Galat fired Don Matthews, the winningest coach in Lions history with just four games to go. They instantly responded to new Coach Larry Donovan, winning the final four games including a thrilling come-from-behind 33-32 victory over Edmonton at Commonwealth Stadium that many observers called the greatest comeback ever witnessed in the league. The win gave the Lions first place for the fourth time in five years. The home field advantage wasn't enough however to stave off an Eskimo team destined to win the finest Grey Cup game ever played.
West Division Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
British Columbia Lions 18 12 6 0 502 370 24
Edmonton Eskimos 18 11 7 0 617 462 22
Calgary Stampeders 18 10 8 0 453 517 20
Saskatchewan Roughriders 18 5 12 1 364 529 11
East Division Team GP W L T PF PA Pts
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 18 12 6 0 554 409 24
Toronto Argonauts 18 11 6 1 484 427 23
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 18 7 11 0 470 509 14
Ottawa Rough Riders 18 3 15 0 377 598 6
Semi-Finals - Edmonton 30 - Calgary 16
Semi-Finals - Toronto 29 - Hamilton 13
Finals - Edmonton 31 - B.C. 7
Finals - Toronto 19 - Winnipeg 3
Grey Cup - Edmonton 38 - Toronto 36