Following a highlight reel performance in which he hauled in nine catches for 208 yards, Lions wide receiver Bryan Burnham has taken home Player of the Week honours as announced by the CFL today. The Herculean effort came in a 37-35 loss in Winnipeg, one where the Lions erased an early 21-point deficit.
“It was like a boxing match. They threw their punches, then it was our turn to counter and we did. We dug ourselves out of hole but unfortunately we just couldn’t finish,” Burnham said of the back and forth affair.
It was the first 200-yard performance by a Lions’ receiver since Geroy Simon in 2007 and the second-highest single game total in the CFL this season. The University of Tulsa product has also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for 2016. “I’m not going to lie, it feels good personally, but at the end of the day we have one job and that is to win.”
Burnham’s total on Saturday was the highest single-game performance by a Lions receiver this season. He also surpassed his previous career-high of 138 yards, set on August 4th in a 38-18 win at Montreal.
Burnham and his teammates are preparing to host the Blue Bombers in a critical rematch on Friday at BC Place. The playoff-bound Lions can clinch second in the West and a November home game if the beat Winnipeg by three or more points, then take care of business at home against Edmonton next week.
“It’s crunch time for us,” Burnham added. “We don’t just want to make the playoffs. We want to set ourselves up to make a run for the Grey Cup and be in Toronto.”
Friday also marks the annual Purolator Tackle Hunger night. Fans who bring non-perishable food items or cash donations can get their picture taken with the Grey Cup.