vs.
Playoff spot? Check. Home playoff game? Check. Opponent known? Check.
For the first time in a very long time, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will play a meaningless regular-season game, but for a good reason. Over the last 10 years we've seen the Cats play many meaningless games because they were eliminated from playoff contention, but I cannot recall the last time the Tabbies played a meaningless game because they had already clinched everything.
For the Lions, this game means everything. Win, and there is still a glimmer of hope regarding the playoffs. Lose, and it's all over.
There is some bad blood between these two teams based on events of the past 12 months. One day less than 51 weeks ago, the Lions came into Hamilton and eliminated the Cats from the playoffs. Less than two months ago, Ti-Cat O-Lineman Jason Jimenez took a cheap shot at Lion D-Lineman Brent Johnson. There was a bit of a hubbub over the hit for about a week, with some members of the Lions vowing revenge.
Despite what Head Coach Marcel Bellefeuille says, I would expect to see backups play in the second half. There is no point in getting players hurt when absolutely nothing is on the line.
This is the final regular-season home game for the Cats, and it is also Fan Appreciation Day. Hopefully there will be plenty of people coming to the park. But, if you can't make it, there is always AM900 CHML and Y108 for you radio listeners, or TSN and TSN HD for you television buffs.
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