2018 BC Lions season

{{Infobox NFL_season

| logo =

| team = BC Lions

| year = 2018

| record = 9–9

| division_place = 4th, West

| coach = Wally Buono

| general manager = Ed Hervey

| stadium = BC Place Stadium

| playoffs = Lost East Semi-Final

| MOP = Ty Long

| MOC = Boseko Lokombo

| MOR = Claudell Louis

| uniform = File:CFL BCL Jersey 2016.png

}}

The 2018 BC Lions season was the 61st season for the team in the Canadian Football League (CFL) and their 65th overall. The Lions improved upon their 7–11 record from 2017 and clinched a playoff berth following a week 19 win over the Edmonton Eskimos.[https://www.cfl.ca/2018/10/14/playoff-scenarios-close-western-race-now-even-tighter-week-19/ Lions punch their ticket] They returned to the playoffs following a one-year absence where they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1996. However, the team lost the East Semi-Final to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats by a 40-point margin, which is the largest in the Lions' playoff history.[https://www.cfl.ca/2018/11/11/lion-tamers-cats-claw-bc-dominant-eastern-semi-showing/ Lion Tamers: 'Cats claw BC in dominant Eastern semi showing]

On November 30, 2017, Wally Buono stepped down as general manager, being replaced by Ed Hervey in that role. Buono stayed on as head coach, which was his 12th and final season in that role.[https://www.bclions.com/2017/11/30/bc-lions-appoint-ed-hervey-gm-buono-coach-final-season-2018/ BC Lions appoint Ed Hervey GM; Buono to coach final season in 2018] He finished his Lions coaching tenure with a record of 129–86–1, making the playoffs in 11 of his 12 seasons coached and winning two Grey Cup championships.

This was the ninth consecutive season that the Lions held their training camp at Hillside Stadium in Kamloops, British Columbia.[https://www.bclions.com/training-camp/ BC Lions 2018 training camp] Main camp opened Sunday, May 20, 2018, with rookies reporting earlier.

Offseason

=CFL draft=

The 2018 CFL Draft took place on May 3, 2018.[https://press.cfl.ca/cfl-draft-date-announced CFL draft date announced] The Lions had seven selections in the eight round draft, but have made several trades for positioning. They traded their fourth-round pick to Ottawa for Odell Willis, but got first and second-round picks from Winnipeg in exchange for the Lions' second-round pick this year and a first-round pick next year.[https://www.cfl.ca/2018/02/02/lions-acquire-willis-trade-esks-redblacks/ Lions acquire Willis after trade from Esks to Redblacks][https://www.cfl.ca/2018/05/02/lions-acquire-first-round-selection-pick-swap-bombers/ BC acquires first round pick in swap with Bombers] The team acquired Saskatchewan's sixth-round pick in exchange for Mike Edem and the Lions' eighth-round pick.[https://www.cfl.ca/2017/05/11/riders-acquire-safety-mike-edem-trade-lions/ Riders acquire safety Mike Edem in trade with Lions][https://www.cfl.ca/draft-tracker/2018/ 2018 CFL Draft tracker]

scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" \| Round ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" \| Pick ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" \| Player ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" \| Position ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" \| School ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" \| Hometown
class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
align="center" \|align=center\| 1	3	Peter Godber	OL	Rice	Toronto, ON
align="center" \|align=center\| 1	7	Julien Laurent	DL	Georgia State	Toronto, ON
align="center" \|align=center\| 2	16	David Mackie	RB	Western	Jackson's Point, ON
align="center" \|align=center\| 3	21	David Knevel	OL	Nebraska	Brantford, ON
align="center" \|align=center\| 5	34	Isaiah Guzylak-Messam	DB	Wilfrid Laurier	Hamilton, ON
align="center" \|align=center\| 6	47	Rashari Henry	DL	Wilfrid Laurier	Ottawa, ON
align="center" \|align=center\| 7	54	William Watson	WR	British Columbia	Surrey, BC

Preseason

=Schedule=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Week ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Date ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Kickoff ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Opponent ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" colspan=2 \| Results ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| TV ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Venue ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Attendance ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Summary
scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" \| Score ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" \| Record
align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" ! align="center" \| A \| colspan=9 align="center" valign="middle" \| Bye
align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" ! style="text-align:center; background:#F6791F;"\|B \| align="center" \| Fri, June 1 \| align="center" \| 6:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| at Calgary Stampeders \| align="center" \| W 36–23 \| align="center" \| 1–0 \| align="center" \| None \| align="center" \| McMahon Stadium \| align="center" \| 24,681 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2461/bc-lions-vs-calgary-stampeders/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" ! style="text-align:center; background:#F6791F;"\|C \| align="center" \| Fri, June 8 \| align="center" \| 7:30 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers \| align="center" \| W 34–21 \| align="center" \| 2–0 \| align="center" \| TSN \| align="center" \| BC Place \| align="center" \| 15,237 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2464/winnipeg-blue-bombers-vs-bc-lions/ Recap]

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|BC Lions|border=2}};" rowspan=2 | Week

! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|BC Lions|border=2}};" rowspan=2 | Date

! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|BC Lions|border=2}};" rowspan=2 | Kickoff

! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|BC Lions|border=2}};" rowspan=2 | Opponent

! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|BC Lions|border=2}};" colspan=2 | Results

! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|BC Lions|border=2}};" rowspan=2 | TV

! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|BC Lions|border=2}};" rowspan=2 | Venue

! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|BC Lions|border=2}};" rowspan=2 | Attendance

! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|BC Lions|border=2}};" rowspan=2 | Summary

scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|BC Lions|border=2}};" | Score

! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|BC Lions|border=2}};" | Record

align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff"

! align="center" | A

| colspan=9 align="center" valign="middle" | Bye

align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"

! style="text-align:center; background:#F6791F;"|B

| align="center" | Fri, June 1

| align="center" | 6:00 p.m. PDT

| align="center" | at Calgary Stampeders

| align="center" | W 36–23

| align="center" | 1–0

| align="center" | None

| align="center" | McMahon Stadium

| align="center" | 24,681

| align="center" | [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2461/bc-lions-vs-calgary-stampeders/ Recap]

align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd"

! style="text-align:center; background:#F6791F;"|C

| align="center" | Fri, June 8

| align="center" | 7:30 p.m. PDT

| align="center" | vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers

| align="center" | W 34–21

| align="center" | 2–0

| align="center" | TSN

| align="center" | BC Place

| align="center" | 15,237

| align="center" | [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2464/winnipeg-blue-bombers-vs-bc-lions/ Recap]

[https://www.bclions.com/schedule/?season=2018 2018 BC Lions Schedule]

:{{color box|#F6791F|#|black}} Games played with colour uniforms.

Regular season

=Standings=

=Schedule=

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"
scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Week ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Game ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Date ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Kickoff ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Opponent ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" colspan=2 \| Results ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| TV ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Venue ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Attendance ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" rowspan=2 \| Summary
scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" \| Score ! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle\|BC Lions\|border=2}};" \| Record
align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" ! align="center" \| 1 ! style="text-align:center; background:#F6791F;"\|1 \| align="center" \| Sat, June 16 \| align="center" \| 7:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| Montreal Alouettes \| align="center" \| W 22–10 \| align="center" \| 1–0 \| align="center" \| TSN/RDS/ESPN2 \| align="center" \| BC Place \| align="center" \| 20,182 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2469/montreal-alouettes-vs-bc-lions/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="#ffffff" ! align="center" \| 2 \| colspan=10 align="center" valign="middle" \| Bye
align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" ! align="center" \| 3 ! style="text-align:center; background:white;"\|2 \| align="center" \| Fri, June 29 \| align="center" \| 7:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| @ Edmonton Eskimos \| align="center" \| L 22–41 \| align="center" \| 1–1 \| align="center" \| TSN/ESPN2 \| align="center" \| Commonwealth Stadium \| align="center" \| 29,940 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2476/bc-lions-vs-edmonton-eskimos/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" ! align="center" \| 4 ! style="text-align:center; background:white;"\|3 \| align="center" \| Sat, July 7 \| align="center" \| 5:30 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers \| align="center" \| L 19–41 \| align="center" \| 1–2 \| align="center" \| TSN \| align="center" \| Investors Group Field \| align="center" \| 26,567 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2481/bc-lions-vs-winnipeg-blue-bombers/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" ! align="center" \| 5 ! style="text-align:center; background:#F6791F;"\|4 \| align="center" \| Sat, July 14 \| align="center" \| 7:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| Winnipeg Blue Bombers \| align="center" \| W 20–17 \| align="center" \| 2–2 \| align="center" \| TSN \| align="center" \| BC Place \| align="center" \| 19,541 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2484/winnipeg-blue-bombers-vs-bc-lions/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" ! align="center" \| 6 ! style="text-align:center; background:white;"\|5 \| align="center" \| Fri, July 20 \| align="center" \| 4:30 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| @ Ottawa Redblacks \| align="center" \| L 25–29 \| align="center" \| 2–3 \| align="center" \| TSN/RDS \| align="center" \| TD Place Stadium \| align="center" \| 21,319 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2486/bc-lions-vs-ottawa-redblacks/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ffffff" ! align="center" \| 7 \| colspan=10 align="center" valign="middle" \| Bye
align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" ! align="center" \| 8 ! style="text-align:center; background:white;"\|6 \| align="center" \| Sat, Aug 4 \| align="center" \| 6:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| @ Calgary Stampeders \| align="center" \| L 18–27 \| align="center" \| 2–4 \| align="center" \| TSN \| align="center" \| McMahon Stadium \| align="center" \| 25,075 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2496/bc-lions-vs-calgary-stampeders/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" ! align="center" \| 9 ! style="text-align:center; background:#F6791F;"\|7 \| align="center" \| Thurs, Aug 9 \| align="center" \| 7:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| Edmonton Eskimos \| align="center" \| W 31–23 \| align="center" \| 3–4 \| align="center" \| TSN/ESPN2 \| align="center" \| BC Place \| align="center" \| 17,745 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2497/edmonton-eskimos-vs-bc-lions/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" ! align="center" \| 10 ! style="text-align:center; background:white;"\|8 \| align="center" \| Sat, Aug 18 \| align="center" \| 1:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| @ Toronto Argonauts \| align="center" \| L 23–24 \| align="center" \| 3–5 \| align="center" \| TSN/RDS2 \| align="center" \| BMO Field \| align="center" \| 18,104 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2501/bc-lions-vs-toronto-argonauts/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" ! align="center" \| 11 ! style="text-align:center; background:#F6791F;"\|9 \| align="center" \| Sat, Aug 25 \| align="center" \| 7:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| Saskatchewan Roughriders \| align="center" \| L 21–24 \| align="center" \| 3–6 \| align="center" \| TSN \| align="center" \| BC Place \| align="center" \| 22,873 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2507/saskatchewan-roughriders-vs-bc-lions/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ffffff" ! align="center" \| 12 \| colspan=10 align="center" valign="middle" \| Bye
align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" ! align="center" \| 13 ! style="text-align:center; background:#F6791F;"\|10 \| align="center" \| Fri, Sept 7 \| align="center" \| 7:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| Ottawa Redblacks \| align="center" \| W 26–14 \| align="center" \| 4–6 \| align="center" \| TSN \| align="center" \| BC Place \| align="center" \| 17,529 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2512/ottawa-redblacks-vs-bc-lions/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" ! align="center" \| 14 ! style="text-align:center; background:white;"\|11 \| align="center" \| Fri, Sept 14 \| align="center" \| 4:30 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| @ Montreal Alouettes \| align="center" \| W 32–14 \| align="center" \| 5–6 \| align="center" \| TSN/RDS \| align="center" \| Molson Stadium \| align="center" \| 15,346 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2516/bc-lions-vs-montreal-alouettes/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" ! align="center" \| 15 ! style="text-align:center; background:#F6791F;"\|12 \| align="center" \| Sat, Sept 22 \| align="center" \| 7:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| Hamilton Tiger-Cats \| align="center" \| W 35–32 (2OT) \| align="center" \| 6–6 \| align="center" \| TSN \| align="center" \| BC Place \| align="center" \| 18,794 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2522/hamilton-tiger-cats-vs-bc-lions/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" ! align="center" \| 16 ! style="text-align:center; background:white;"\|13 \| align="center" \| Sat, Sept 29 \| align="center" \| 1:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats \| align="center" \| L 10–40 \| align="center" \| 6–7 \| align="center" \| TSN \| align="center" \| Tim Hortons Field \| align="center" \| 23,623 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2524/bc-lions-vs-hamilton-tiger-cats/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" ! align="center" \| 17 ! style="text-align:center; background:#F6791F;"\|14 \| align="center" \| Sat, Oct 6 \| align="center" \| 4:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| Toronto Argonauts \| align="center" \| W 26–23 \| align="center" \| 7–7 \| align="center" \| TSN \| align="center" \| BC Place \| align="center" \| 18,535 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2528/toronto-argonauts-vs-bc-lions/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" ! align="center" \| 18 ! style="text-align:center; background:white;"\|15 \| align="center" \| Sat, Oct 13 \| align="center" \| 5:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| @ Calgary Stampeders \| align="center" \| W 26–21 \| align="center" \| 8–7 \| align="center" \| TSN \| align="center" \| McMahon Stadium \| align="center" \| 23,563 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2534/bc-lions-vs-calgary-stampeders/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ddffdd" ! align="center" \| 19 ! style="text-align:center; background:#F6791F;"\|16 \| align="center" \| Fri, Oct 19 \| align="center" \| 7:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| Edmonton Eskimos \| align="center" \| W 42–32 \| align="center" \| 9–7 \| align="center" \| TSN \| align="center" \| BC Place \| align="center" \| 20,463 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2536/edmonton-eskimos-vs-bc-lions/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" ! align="center" \| 20 ! style="text-align:center; background:white;"\|17 \| align="center" \| Sat, Oct 27 \| align="center" \| 4:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| @ Saskatchewan Roughriders \| align="center" \| L 16–35 \| align="center" \| 9–8 \| align="center" \| TSN \| align="center" \| Mosaic Stadium \| align="center" \| 30,091 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2541/bc-lions-vs-saskatchewan-roughriders/ Recap]
align="center" bgcolor="ffbbbb" ! align="center" \| 21 ! style="text-align:center; background:#F6791F;"\|18 \| align="center" \| Sat, Nov 3 \| align="center" \| 7:00 p.m. PDT \| align="center" \| Calgary Stampeders \| align="center" \| L 9–26 \| align="center" \| 9–9 \| align="center" \| TSN \| align="center" \| BC Place \| align="center" \| 24,114 \| align="center" \| [https://www.cfl.ca/games/2546/calgary-stampeders-vs-bc-lions/ Recap]

class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%;"

scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|BC Lions|border=2}};" rowspan=2 | Week

! scope="col" style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|BC Lions|border=2}};" rowspan=2 | Game