B.C. Lions Solomon Elimimian (56) celebrate the interception against the Edmonton Eskimos during first half CFL action in Edmonton, Alta., on Saturday November 1, 2014. Elimimian and Toronto Argonauts quarterback Ricky Ray are the finalists for the CFL's outstanding player award.The Canadian Press
The 2014 season hasn't quite gone the way the B.C. Lions envisioned.
Key injuries and inconsistent play have been the main culprits in a roller-coaster campaign, but a fresh start in the CFL playoffs means the club has a shot at redemption.
"It does not matter what happened in the regular season," Lions head coach Mike Benevides said after Thursday's practice. "For us, it's just going in and playing the best game we can, playing to the best of our abilities.
"There have been times throughout the season we've done that, but now we've got one chance to make it happen. All the challenges and adversities that have come before us have made us stronger, and now we've got to go and show that we can do it."
The Lions (9-9) – who finished with the fourth-best record in the West Division – earned the crossover playoff berth and will face a road test against the Montreal Alouettes in Sunday's East semifinal.
"It is a fresh start because everybody's record is 0-0," said Lions quarterback Kevin Glenn. "I don't understand why people keep talking about the regular season because it doesn't even matter anymore – we're in the playoffs. We're one of six teams that's in the playoffs and we have an opportunity to fight for a Grey Cup."
While players and coaches are focused on looking ahead, the up-and-down 18-game schedule is the reason the Lions find themselves having to win twice on the road in the Eastern time zone in order to get to the Grey Cup at BC Place at the end of November.
The Lions were decimated by injuries in 2014, with running back Andrew Harris and wide receiver Courtney Taylor among the important pieces lost for the season, while No. 1 quarterback Travis Lulay missed has most of the campaign with a shoulder ailment.
"Guys are ready and prepared to take on this challenge," said running back Stefan Logan, who also missed significant time. "We've just got to go over there and handle business. Everybody knows what's on the line. You lose and you go home. You win and you keep going."
The host team has won the past three Grey Cups – each doing so after overcoming daunting challenges head-on – and B.C. is hoping the trend continues.
"You never know," said linebacker Solomon Elimimian. "You have to get hot at the right time and once you get in anybody can win."
The Lions were victorious in 2011 after starting the season 0-5, the Toronto Argonauts took the title in 2012 following a 9-9 regular season, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders lifted the trophy last year after stumbling down the stretch ahead of the playoffs.
"Any championship team has gone through adversity in some shape or form," said Benevides. "You just look at history and you learn from history. You can't relive it, you can't try and emulate it … but there's a lot of lessons to be learned."